cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contextual Behavior Therapies in the Treatment of PTSD: A Review.

Empirical evidence supports cognitive -behavioral interventions for the treatment Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with exposure therapy typically being the most frequently utilized. While the success of exposure treatments is well established there are factors which may hinder their use in “real-world” settings (e.g., poor treatment compliance, high drop-out rates, aversive nature of the procedures). These limitations indicate that the field of psychology needs to continue to search for effective and palatable PTSD interventions. Contextual behavior therapies, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy, may be these alternatives. This paper reviews the theoretical rationale and available empirical literature related to the use of these treatments with trauma populations.
Correctness within a constant of an optimal buffer allocation rule of thumb

The problem is to allocate a fixed number of buffers among the nodes of an open network of exponential servers with Bernoulli routing and Poisson arrivals so as to optimize some performance criterion associated with the time to buffer overflow, such as maximizing its mean or maximizing the probability that it exceeds some value. In earlier work, the authors used pathwise probabilistic arguments to derive a simple rule of thumb for this problem: allocate the buffers in inverse proportion to the logarithms of the effective service rates at the nodes. Effective service rate denotes the ratio of the service rate to the stationary arrival rate in the network with infinite buffers. They showed that this rule of thumb is accurate to within a known constant times the logarithm of the number of buffers as the number of buffers to be allocated becomes large. In the present paper, the authors use time reversal and Poisson clumping arguments to show that their rule of thumb is, in fact, much better than previously demonstrated. They show that the optimal buffer allocation is within a constant of the rule of thumb as the number of buffers to be allocated becomes large, although now they cannot estimate the constant. In numerical terms, the earlier result reduced the search space for the optimal buffer allocation from O(N/sup J-1/) to O((log N)/sup J-1/), where J denotes the number of nodes and N the number of buffers to be allocated. The improvement reduces the search space to O(1). >
Salvage Laryngectomy in Patients with Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer in the Setting of Nonoperative Treatment Failure

ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of salvage partial and total laryngectomy in the treatment of recurrent laryngeal cancer in the setting of initial nonoperative treatment failure and to identify factors influencing long-term survival.Study DesignCase series with planned chart review.SettingTertiary medical center.Subjects and MethodsPatients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx initially treated with either radiation or chemoradiation, who underwent salvage laryngectomy at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1997 to 2011, were identified. The cohort was divided into an early-stage group and an advanced-stage group based on initial tumor staging. Survival outcome was evaluated separately in each group against tumor staging, methods of treatment, and nodal status. Secondary endpoints of speech and swallowing were also evaluated.ResultsA total of 100 patients were identified, with 72 patients in the early-stage group and 28 patients in the advanced-stage group. The overall postsalva...
Spectroscopic Investigations of Neptunium's and Plutonium's Oxidation States in Sol-Gel Glasses as a Function of Initial Valence and Thermal History

Several oxidation states of neptunium and plutonium, Pu(III),Pu (IV), PU(VI), Np(IV), Np(V) and Np (VI), were studied in glasses prepared by a sol-gel technology. The oxidation state of these actinides was determined primarily by absorption spectrometry and followed as a function of the solidification process, subsequent aging and thermal treatments. It was determined that the initial oxidation state of the actinides in the starting solutions was essentially maintained through the solidification process to form the glasses. However, during densification and removal of residual solvents at elevated temperatures, both actinides in the different sol-gel products converted completely to their tetravalent states. These results are discussed in terms of our findings in comparable studies that only the tetravalent states of plutonium and neptunium are formed in glasses prepared by dissolving their dioxides in different molten- glass formulations.
“Killing the Elephant”: Murderous Beasts and the Thrill of Retribution, 1885–1930

At the turn of the last century, circus elephants who had, in fits of distemper, killed circus trainers, workers, or spectators were regularly put to death. That alone is not extraordinary. What is fascinating is that the killings of these animals were not infrequently staged as public executions, with the elephant playing the role of the menacing criminal facing his just rewards before a crowd of eager witnesses. News accounts in turn reported these events as they would criminal executions, framing them as stories of murder, remorse, and retribution. This article treats these remarkable events as complex rituals through which larger tensions and conflicts surrounding crime and punishment in this period became manifest. These executions, performed as extensions of the modern circus, were commercial spectacles in and of the industrial age. Still, like circuses, they were also events full of ambivalence about this new age, as they acted out popular controversies over the nature of criminality, the meaning of justice, and the role of vengeance in modern life.
An observational study of nurse staffing ratios and hospital readmission among children admitted for common conditions

Background Hospital patient-to-nurse staffing ratios are associated with quality outcomes in adult patient populations but little is known about how these factors affect paediatric care. We examined the relationship between staffing ratios and all-cause readmission (within 14 days, 15–30 days) among children admitted for common medical and surgical conditions. Methods We conducted an observational cross-sectional study of readmissions of children in 225 hospitals by linking nurse surveys, inpatient discharge data and information from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey. Registered Nurses (N=14 194) providing direct patient care in study hospitals (N=225) and children hospitalised for common conditions (N=90 459) were included. Results Each one patient increase in a hospital’s average paediatric staffing ratio increased a medical child’s odds of readmission within 15–30 days by a factor of 1.11, or by 11% (95% CI 1.02 to 1.20) and a surgical child’s likelihood of readmission within 15–30 days by a factor of 1.48, or by 48% (95% CI 1.27 to 1.73). Children treated in hospitals with paediatric staffing ratios of 1 : 4 or less were significantly less likely to be readmitted within 15–30 days. There were no significant effects of nurse staffing ratios on readmissions within 14 days.
Impact of Margin Status and Local Recurrence on Soft-tissue Sarcoma Outcomes

Background: The impact of local recurrence and surgical resection margin status on survival in extremity soft-tissue sarcomas remains to be clearly defined. Our aim was to conduct a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data to determine the prognostic relavance of positive resection margins and local recurrence for extremity soft-tissue sarcomas for survival. Methods: Three hundred and sixty-three patients who underwent resection of localized primary extremity soft-tissue sarcomas with curative intent were selected from the United States Department of Defense Automated Central Tumor Registry. Outcomes for local recurrence, distant recurrence, disease-specific survival, and overall survival were analyzed according to clinical, pathological, and treatment variables with use of the Kaplan-Meier method (log-rank test) and the multivariate Cox regression model. Results: Positive margins (hazard ratio, 1.99 [95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 3.45]), local recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.93 [95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 6.23]), and distant recurrence (hazard ratio, 12.13 [95% confidence interval, 5.97 to 24.65]) were significantly associated with overall survival on multivariate Cox regression analysis. However, for disease-specific survival, local recurrence was not significant and tumor size of >10 cm (hazard ratio, 2.83 [95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 6.95]), positive margins (hazard ratio, 1.95 [95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 3.63]), and distant recurrence (hazard ratio, 9.46 [95% confidence interval, 4.37 to 20.47]) were independent adverse prognostic factors. The disease-specific survival rate for patients with localized soft-tissue sarcomas was 89% (95% confidence interval, 85% to 92%) for five years and 75% (95% confidence interval, 70% to 81%) for ten years. Conclusions: Positive surgical margins are consistently associated with adverse survival-related outcomes in localized soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremity. Local recurrence had a significant impact on overall survival, but not on disease-specific survival. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Adolescent mothers' beliefs about parenting and injury prevention: results of a focus group.

Abstract Introduction: A nonfatal injury occurs every 2 seconds in the United States, and approximately 30,000 children die each year from injury-related causes. The U.S. Department of Health identified the reduction of unintentional injuries as a major health goal. The current study reports on a focus group discussion conducted with adolescent mothers to examine their beliefs and practices regarding injury prevention. Method: Seventeen first-time adolescent mothers participated in the focus group. Participants responded to questions about important aspects of mothering, causes of injury, and strategies to prevent injuries. Responses were categorized. Results: No mother spontaneously identified injury prevention as an important part of mothering. More than half of all participants believed that injuries are unpreventable. Further, mothers identified a limited number of strategies to prevent injury. None of the mothers reported having discussed injury prevention with their child's pediatrician. Discussion: Implications for care are discussed, including the need to address issues of injury prevention during well-baby care, the potential benefits of home visits, and specific challenges in implementing The Injury Prevention Program with young mothers. J Pediatr Health Care. (2001). 15, 194-199.
A new contribution to the magnetic susceptibility of metals

Abstract The influence of the terms in the electron-electron interaction, which correspond to dielectric screening, on the magnetic susceptibility of simple metals is examined in the pseudo-potential approximation.
Formation of Mississippi Canyon: ABSTRACT

The most prominent submarine physiographic trough in the northern Gulf of Mexico is the Mississippi Canyon. This submarine trough has an average width of 5 mi (8 km), length of 75 mi (120 km), and bathymetric relief of 985 ft (300 m). Its origin has generally been attributed to channel entrenchment of the Mississippi River during lowstands of sea level and erosion of the more distal parts by turbidity currents or submarine gravity flows. In the last 2 years, a dense, high-resolution seismic and side-scan sonar grid 1,000 ft (305 m), together with deep borings utilized to obtain samples for carbon-14 dating, has been used to establish a time-stratigraphic framework and origin for this feature. Nine horizons, chosen from borings and dated by carbon-14 and paleontologic meth ds, have been traced laterally on the seismic lines. These horizons range in age from Illinoian (~ 400,000 years B.P.) to late Holocene (3,500 years B.P.). During the interval from Illinoian to late Pleistocene (25,000 to 27,000 years B.P.), the Mississippi River deposited a series of fluvial and deltaic deposits of approximately 3,300 ft (1,000 m). There is no evidence that a submarine canyon existed in the vicinity of the present feature during this time interval. Approximately 25,000 years ago, a carbon-14-dated horizon was truncated by the initial formation of the submarine canyon. Samples dated by carbon-14, obtained near the base of the canyon fill, show that by 20,000 years B.P., canyon fill had commenced. Thus, this major submarine trough had, at most, End_Page 1427------------------------------ 7,000 years in which to remove 1,500 to 2,000 km3 of material. It is highly probable, therefore, that the canyon originated from massive shelf-edge slope failure on an unstable continental margin. A series of successive failures, each one creating an upslope instability that triggered the next failure, caused an elongate trough to form that excavated the canyon to a depth of 4,000 ft (1,220 m) below present sea level. Once the canyon had formed, its steep side walls continued to be unstable, and sediments slumped into the canyon axis, forming the initial canyon fill. This phase is well documented: the lowermost sediment fill is composed of displaced material similar to that now found on the canyon rim. Large scars from sidewall failures can also be easily mapped on the seismic data. From 20,000 years to approximately 5,000 years B.P., a series of late Wisconsin and Holocene delta lobes formed, which were responsible for the remainder of the fill of the canyon. During the past 5,000 years only a thin deep-water pelagic drape has been deposited within the canyon. Maps have been constructed that depict the various horizons, and the geometry of these horizons verify this mode of formation. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1428------------
Comparing sound localization deficits in bilateral cochlear-implant users and vocoder simulations with normal-hearing listeners.

Bilateral cochlear-implant (BiCI) users are less accurate at localizing free-field (FF) sound sources than normal-hearing (NH) listeners. This performance gap is not well understood but is likely due to a combination of compromises in acoustic signal representation by the two independent speech processors and neural degradation of auditory pathways associated with a patient’s hearing loss. To exclusively investigate the effect of CI speech encoding on horizontal-plane sound localization, the present study measured sound localization performance in NH subjects listening to vocoder processed and nonvocoded virtual acoustic space (VAS) stimuli. Various aspects of BiCI stimulation such as independently functioning devices, variable across-ear channel selection, and pulsatile stimulation were simulated using uncorrelated noise (Nu), correlated noise (N0), or Gaussian-enveloped tone (GET) carriers during vocoder processing. Additionally, FF sound localization in BiCI users was measured in the same testing environment for comparison. Distinct response patterns across azimuthal locations were evident for both listener groups and were analyzed using a multilevel regression analysis. Simulated implant speech encoding, regardless of carrier, was detrimental to NH localization and the GET vocoder best simulated BiCI FF performance in NH listeners. Overall, the detrimental effect of vocoder processing on NH performance suggests that sound localization deficits may persist even for BiCI patients who have minimal neural degradation associated with their hearing loss and indicates that CI speech encoding plays a significant role in the sound localization deficits experienced by BiCI users.
FISH for HER-2/neu in breast cancer: Standardization makes the difference!

CONTEXT: Overexpression of HER-2/neu oncogene in breast cancer patients is correlated with disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The most commonly used methods for the detection of HER-2/neu status are immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). However, therse is a lot of controversy with regard to the best method. Most of the FISH studies chose arbitrary cut-off levels for positive results (10%) and had no validation. AIM: In order to address these issues, we designed a pilot study of 38 samples with known IHC status representing all 4 categories. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: FISH was performed using Vysis Pathvysion probe. For validation, 5 cases of reduction mammoplasty were analyzed using same protocols. RESULTS: Our results showed significant discordance between FISH and IHC. The rate of discordance was much higher in the 0, 1+, and 2+ categories compared to published literature. This could be due to the lower cut-off rates for positive amplification established by validation in our study (5.7% vs 10%). Our analysis showed that FISH positive and IHC negative patients have a poor prognosis in terms of DFS and OS compared to FISH negative and IHC negative patients. Further, our results also showed that IHC in comparison to FISH has a comparable specificity (98%), but has a very low sensitivity (46%). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, we consider FISH to be the gold standard for detecting HER-2/neu status in breast cancer.
Reynolds stress modeling for rough wall turbulence: An invited Paper

A full Reynolds stress tensor model for rough wall turbulent flow is developed and presented in this paper. The basis for the model development is a two-phase averaging approach wherein the rough solid boundary is treated as the second phase. This approach leads to a set of averaged equations similar to the canonical Reynolds averaged equations, but which contain additional terms reflecting the inclusion of the roughness. The full stress model is developed from a variant of the Speziale, Sakar annd Gatski model. The primary modifications are the addition of a model for the production of turbulent stresses and kinetic energy by the roughness elements and a modification to the pressure strain modeling near the wall. The model is then reduceed to a k model. In the k model, the eddy viscosity model contain an additional term representing the roughness production of turbulence. The model is calibrated by reference to established equivalent sand grain roughness scaling.
Behavioral contrast with multiple positive and negative stimuli on a continuum

After an initial period of nondifferential training, six pigeons were trained on a go/no-go discrimination involving 12 line tilts from vertical clockwise to horizontal. Responses to the first six tilts (positive stimuli) were reinforced on a variable-interval one-minute schedule, whereas responses to the other six tilts (negative stimuli) were extinguished. During the first several discrimination sessions, the highest response rate was typically to one of the positive stimuli that was relatively close to the negative stimuli or at an intermediate distance, rather than to one of the positive stimuli most distant from the negative stimuli. This effect decreased with extended training up to 50 or 80 sessions.
Using Decision Trees to Find Patterns in an Ophthalmology Dataset

We present research in decision tree analysis that studies a data set and finds new patterns that were not obvious using statistical methods. Our method is applied to a database of accommodative esotropic patients. Accommodative esotropia is an eye disease that when left untreated leads to blindness. Patients whose muscles deteriorate often need corrective surgery, since less invasive methods of treatment tend to fail in these patients. Using a learn and prune methodology, decision tree analysis of 354 accommodative esotropic patients led to the discovery of two conjunctive variables that predicted deterioration in the initial year of treatment better than what was previously determined using standard statistical methods.
Transglutaminase 2: A Molecular Swiss Army Knife

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is the most widely distributed member of the transglutaminase family with almost all cell types in the body expressing TG2 to varying extents. In addition to being widely expressed, TG2 is an extremely versatile protein exhibiting transamidating, protein disulphide isomerase and guanine and adenine nucleotide binding and hydrolyzing activities. TG2 can also act as a protein scaffold or linker. This unique protein also undergoes extreme conformational changes and exhibits localization diversity. Being mainly a cytosolic protein; it is also found in the nucleus, associated with the cell membrane (inner and outer side) and with the mitochondria, and also in the extracellular matrix. These different activities, conformations and localization need to be carefully considered while assessing the role of TG2 in physiological and pathological processes. For example, it is becoming evident that the role of TG2 in cell death processes is dependent upon the cell type, stimuli, subcellular localization and conformational state of the protein. In this review we discuss in depth the conformational and functional diversity of TG2 in the context of its role in numerous cellular processes. In particular, we have highlighted how differential localization, conformation and activities of TG2 may distinctly mediate cell death processes.
Where Wall Street Meets C Street: Reimagining Civil Rights Enforcement of Large Financial Institutions

There are persistent disparities in access to credit by racial and ethnic minorities, including both the total denial of credit and the extension of credit on inferior terms than those given to other individuals with comparable credit qualifications. While there is significant normative agreement that such discrimination is wrong, that agreement fractures over the attendant issues of how widespread such discrimination is and how to design and implement an enforcement structure that addresses discrimination based on the economic realities of lending by financial institutions. Thus far, the major civil rights statutes governing discrimination in access to credit, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act, have proven ineffective at both deterring such discrimination and in holding financial institutions accountable for violations. This paper sets out to re-consider the societal and economic costs of such discrimination, and to propose another system of enforcement informed by the securities and banking laws that emphasizes increasing transparency, frontline enforcement, and greater accountability for violations.
Prognosticators and outcomes of patients with renal cell carcinoma and adjacent organ invasion treated with radical nephrectomy.

Abstract Objective To study the natural history, prognosticators, and outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with extension of tumor beyond Gerota׳s fascia or invading contiguously into the adrenal gland (pT4) or both. Patients and methods From 1992 to 2012, we identified 61 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and were found to have pT4 disease. Clinicopathologic variables were queried using univariate analysis to identify relevant prognostic variables. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis of predictors of cancer-specific survival. Survival plots were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and survival analysis using log-rank test. Results Median age was 56 years (interquartile range: 49–64) and 49 (81.7%) patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status 0 or 1. At diagnosis, 22 (36.1%) patients showed nonmetastatic and 39 (63.9%) patients showed metastatic RCC. Overall, 49 (80.3%) patients had clear cell RCC, 24 (39.3%) patients had sarcomatoid features, and 39 (69.6%) patients had Fuhrman grade 3 to 4. There were 26 (42.6%) patients with pN0, 16 (26.2%) patients with pN1, and 19 (31.1%) patients with pNx. Median cancer-specific survival was 37 months for patients with nonmetastatic and 8 months for patients with metastatic RCC. On multivariate analysis, preoperative lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase, M stage, pN stage, and sarcomatoid dedifferentiation were significantly associated with survival. Conclusions Survival in patients with pT4 remains poor. The pT4 disease is associated with a locally and regionally invasive biology that requires specific attention and warrants careful study. Understanding the drivers of this unique phenotype would generate therapeutic interventions that can change the behavior of these uniquely aggressive tumors.
Reorganization of chromosome architecture in replicative cellular senescence

Replicative cellular senescence is a fundamental biological process characterized by an irreversible arrest of proliferation. Senescent cells accumulate a variety of epigenetic changes, but the three-dimensional (3D) organization of their chromatin is not known. We applied a combination of whole-genome chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), fluorescence in situ hybridization, and in silico modeling methods to characterize the 3D architecture of interphase chromosomes in proliferating, quiescent, and senescent cells. Although the overall organization of the chromatin into active (A) and repressive (B) compartments and topologically associated domains (TADs) is conserved between the three conditions, a subset of TADs switches between compartments. On a global level, the Hi-C interaction matrices of senescent cells are characterized by a relative loss of long-range and gain of short-range interactions within chromosomes. Direct measurements of distances between genetic loci, chromosome volumes, and chromatin accessibility suggest that the Hi-C interaction changes are caused by a significant reduction of the volumes occupied by individual chromosome arms. In contrast, centromeres oppose this overall compaction trend and increase in volume. The structural model arising from our study provides a unique high-resolution view of the complex chromosomal architecture in senescent cells.
What Should Be the Role of Computer Games in Education

Game advocates call for replacing conventional schooling with educational activities based on computer games. These claims were examined by reviewing published research on games for learning and th...
Consolidation of Nickel Base Superalloys Powder by Low Pressure Plasma Deposition

The low pressure plasma deposition process has been evaluated as an improved plasma deposition and powder consolidation process. The microstructures and properties presented for these selected nickel-base superalloys demonstrate that this new development in plasma deposition can produce consolidated superalloy P/M structures equivalent to other consolidation processes. The plasma deposition parameters, alloy deposited and powder size can all affect the consolidation mechanics by affecting the amount of liquid present during particle impaction. In addition, it has been shown that the alloy can significantly affect both as-deposited and final consolidated (heat treated) microstructure and properties. Alloys which are less stabilized by interstitial elements (i.e. carbon, zirconium, and boron) seem to show more grain growth both during deposition and after final heat treatment. Alloys similar to U-700LC can be expected to show better ductilities and rupture strengths due to the increased grain size.
A Convergent Synthesis of Chiral Diaminopimelic Acid Derived Substrates for Mycobacterial l,d-Transpeptidases

Amidated and deamidated chiral DAP- d -Ala analogues were prepared by olefin cross-metathesis of 12 with modified d -allylglycines using Grubbs’ 2nd generation catalyst. Hydrogenation and deprotection of these precursors provided four chiral (2S,6R)-DAP- d -alanine derivatives that were examined as substrates for Mtb l , d -transpeptidases in a 14C- d -Ala exchange reaction.
Progress in Phony Peach Disease Eradication

The phony peach disease is an infectious systemic disease for which no cure of the diseased tree is known. It is now known to occur in twelve Southern States and in Illinois. It is generally present and severe in Georgia and South Alabama; during the last few years more than a million trees have been either pulled or abandoned and many growers have been forced out of production. Individual cases are widely scattered throughout all of the other Gulf States but its results in these areas are not yet commercially destructive; very few infections have been found in the remaining states, namely Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Illinois. An eradication campaign was begun, in 1929, by the Federal Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the State of Georgia, which at that time was the only state in which the phony disease had been recognized. This work has been continued and extended to all areas now known to be infected.
Net Worth Change: Beginning and Expanding Life Cycle Stages

Studying change in net worth enables assessment of a family's financial progress. Longitudinal panel data from 136 couples in the first 11 years of marriage were used in this study. Influences of selected variables on percentage change in net worth were examined. Change in household income and wife's change in educational level were related negatively to percentage change in net worth. Implications for researchers and for financial educators, counselors, and planners are discussed
Advances in the Treatment of Urothelial Tract Tumors

Recently developed combination chemotherapy programs have now produced durable complete remissions in a significant percentage of patients with advanced urothelial tract malignancies. For advanced disease, efforts must still be directed at developing new agents but must also focus on understanding drug resistance. Some tumors appear to be resistant de novo; others respond for a period of time before a resistant population emerges. Clearly multiple factors come into play. In some cases, pharmacologic factors such as bioavailability metabolism, or toxicities predominate. In other cases, specific genes expressing surface proteins such as the p-glycoprotein identified in resistant ovarian tumors have been implicated. In the 1980s, it is no longer adequate to define tumors simply by pathologic inspection. As demonstrated by Russell and co-workers xenografts of phenotypically similar transitional cell tumors in nude mice demonstrated marked heterogeneity with respect to flow cytometric DNA analysis and immunocytochemistry. With the recent adoption of flow cytometric techniques, both from bladder washings and paraffin sections, insight into the biologic behavior of individual tumors may soon be possible. Blood group antigen expression and monoclonal antibodies to tumor-associated antigens may also help in this regard. For primary tumors, attention is now being focused on protocols aimed at bladder preservation. In some cases, radiation therapy alone can produce long-term survival, despite muscle infiltrating disease. Complete remissions have also been described with chemotherapy alone. The interaction of chemotherapy and radiation therapy has only recently begun to be investigated. In these trials, complete local control must still be the primary goal. Standard criteria for staging and response evaluation, including pathologic documentation of remission status, are crucial. To demonstrate a beneficial effect of therapy, long-term randomized trials will be required. The goal of individualized therapies may soon be possible, which will ideally translate into increased clinical benefit for patients with urothelial tract tumors.
Alumni access to research databases : The time is now

Les ecoles et leurs bibliotheques proposent encore tres peu d'acces a distance aux bases de donnees a leurs anciens eleves. Les vendeurs eux-memes commencent tout juste a tenir compte de l'existence de ce marche et a offrir des produits adaptes. Ce type de services devrait pourtant contribuer a l'enrichissement intellectuel et aux objectifs d'apprentissage continu des anciens eleves, tout en renforcant leurs liens avec leur universite d'origine et sa bibliotheque.
Alternatives to Solipsism

In this chapter we will consider some principle avenues which one might take in order to flee from solipsism, provided that one comes to philosophy with the same sorts of methodological assumptions. In the next chapter we will discuss the attitudes towards solipsism of those philosophers who have quite different methodological outlooks.
The pathogenic relevance of α M -integrin in Guillain–Barré syndrome

The molecular determinants and mechanisms involved in leukocyte trafficking across the blood–nerve barrier (BNB) in the acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) variant of Guillain–Barre syndrome are incompletely understood. Prior work using a flow-dependent in vitro human BNB model demonstrated a crucial role for αM-integrin (CD11b)-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 interactions in AIDP patient leukocyte trafficking. The aim of this study is to directly investigate the biological relevance of CD11b in AIDP pathogenesis. Immunohistochemistry was performed on three AIDP patient sural nerve biopsies to evaluate endoneurial leukocyte CD11b expression. A severe murine experimental autoimmune neuritis (sm-EAN) model was utilized to determine the functional role of CD11b in leukocyte trafficking in vivo and determine its effect on neurobehavioral measures of disease severity, electrophysiological assessments of axonal integrity and myelination and histopathological measures of peripheral nerve inflammatory demyelination. Time-lapse video microscopy and electron microscopy were employed to observe structural alterations at the BNB during AIDP patient leukocyte trafficking in vitro and in situ, respectively. Large clusters of endoneurial CD11b+ leukocytes associated with demyelinating axons were observed in AIDP patient sural nerves. Leukocyte CD11b expression was upregulated during sm-EAN. 5 mg/kg of a function-neutralizing monoclonal rat anti-mouse CD11b antibody administered after sm-EAN disease onset significantly ameliorated disease severity, as well as electrophysiological and histopathological parameters of inflammatory demyelination compared to vehicle- and isotype antibody-treated mice. Consistent with in vitro observations of leukocyte trafficking at the BNB, electron micrographs of AIDP patient sural nerves demonstrated intact electron-dense endoneurial microvascular intercellular junctions during paracellular mononuclear leukocyte transmigration. Our data support a crucial pathogenic role of CD11b in AIDP leukocyte trafficking, providing a potential therapeutic target for demyelinating variants of Guillain–Barre syndrome.
The Founders: The Origins of the ANC and the Struggle for Democracy in South Africa. By André Odendaal. (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2013. Pp. xv, 569. $40.00.)

More than twenty years after the African National Congress (ANC) took power in all democratic elections, historians continue to grapple with the nature and origins of this almost legendary politica...
Integration of the “kinetic” anti-roll system with semi-active damping

Bringing together mechanical and hydraulic systems with the intelligence of electronics leads to new suspension concepts that improve vehicle dynamics. At the same time, they need less energy compared with active anti-roll systems. Tenneco has developed such a system, named Kinetic H2 /CES. CES stands for Continuously controlled Electronic Sus- pension. It combines the features of a passive hydraulic anti-roll system with added electronic intelligence through semi-active damping and adjustable roll stiffness.
Multi-configuration Scan Structure for Various Purposes

Recently, we must use the various scan test techniques for various purposes, for example, compression scan or LBST for mass-production test, LBIST for field test, legacy scan for fault diagnosis, and so on. Moreover, the number of the available external scan pins is different in each test process, for example, the parallel test process has a low pin count, the assembled chip test process has several pin counts depending on the assembled package types, and so on. Then, the cost-effective scan chain structure is also different for each purpose and each test process. In order to correspond to this situation, we introduce the multi-configuration scan structure which can change the numbers of scan chains. Evaluation result shows that our approach can improve test time for area overhead.
Assessing the Benefit/Risk Balance of Long-Term Anagrelide Hydrochloride (Xagrid®/Agrylin®) Treatment for Essential Thrombocythemia.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) associated with thrombohemorrhagic complications. The disease uncommonly progresses to myelofibrosis or acute leukemia; the risk of transformation may be increased by cytoreductive treatments. Anagrelide (Xagrid®/Agrylin®) is a non-cytotoxic agent that selectively reduces platelet production. A retrospective analysis of an open-label, multi-center trial including MPD patients treated by long-term anagrelide was performed.1 The total safety population comprised 3660 MPD patients (2251 with ET) with a maximum follow-up of 11.4 years. Prior myelosuppressive therapy had been administered in 81% of patients; 33% of these patients were changed to anagrelide because of previous toxicity and 31% because of poor platelet control. Efficacy and safety data hereafter are described for the ET population. There were 934 ET efficacy evaluable patients: with a response seen in 78.7% of them (complete and partial response: 67.2% and 11.5%, respectively). This was similar to that of patients who failed previous therapy (78.8%) or were intolerant (75.6%). After the first year, platelet count decreases were well maintained. Results were similar for both sexes, different age groupings and ethnic origins. AEs occurred in 40.2% of the patients and were generally mild. Anagrelide was discontinued in 38.6% of patients (adverse events accounting for 29.2% of patients stopping treatment). At baseline, 163/934 (17.5%) patients reported ET-related symptoms including GI and other bleedings, arterial or venous thrombosis, angina, pulmonary embolism, transient ischemic attacks, peripheral ischemia and paresthesia. This had reduced to 7.9% (63/796, P or =1%) were CML, reason unknown or unspecified and sepsis. Anagrelide (Xagrid®/Agrylin®) effectively reduces platelet counts and thrombohemorrhagic complications in patients with ET. This is independent of gender, age, ethnic origin and prior therapy. The drug demonstrates a recognized safety profile. Benefits are maintained during long-term follow-up without an increase in disease transformation.
Serum vitamin D and change in lipid levels over 5 y: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study

Abstract Objectives Deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, perhaps mediated through dyslipidemia. Deficient 25(OH)D is cross-sectionally associated with dyslipidemia, but little is known about longitudinal lipid changes. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of 25(OH)D deficiency to longitudinal lipid changes and risk for incident dyslipidemia. Methods This was a longitudinal community-based study of 13 039 participants from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study who had 25(OH)D and lipids measured at baseline (1990–1992) and lipids remeasured in 1993 to 1994 and 1996 to 1998. Mixed-effect models were used to assess the association of 25(OH)D and lipid trends after adjusting for clinical characteristics and for baseline or incident use of lipid-lowering therapy. Risk for incident dyslipidemia was determined for those without baseline dyslipidemia. Results Baseline mean ± SD age was 57 ± 6 y and 25(OH)D was 24 ± 9 ng/mL. Participants were 57% women, 24% black. Over a mean follow-up of 5.2 y, the fully adjusted average differences (95% confidence interval [CI]) comparing deficient ( Conclusions Deficient 25(OH)D was prospectively associated with lower TC and HDL-C and a greater ratio of TC to HDL-C after considering factors such as diabetes and adiposity. Further work including randomized controlled trials is needed to better assess how 25(OH)D may affect lipids and cardiovascular risk.
Abstract P075: Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Contributes to the Beneficial Cardiac Effects of Exercise

Exercise results in beneficial adaptations to the heart. These adaptations are observed at the level of the cardiomyocyte as increased Ca2+ cycling through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and greater fractional shortening. Interestingly, these adaptations are similar to the contractile effects of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) signaling. Thus our objective is to determine if the exercise induced adaptations at the level of the cardiomyocyte are NOS1 mediated. After an 8 week high-intensity aerobic interval training program, exercise (Ex) mice had a higher VO2max, greater citrate synthase activity, decreased weight, increased heart-to-body ratio (P<0.05), but similar heart-to-tibia ratio compared to sedentary (Sed) mice. Isolated ventricular myocytes from the Ex mice exhibited larger Ca2+ transient and shortening amplitudes and faster Ca2+ transient decline rates (RT50) compared to Sed myocytes (P<0.05). There was also greater NOS1 expression levels in Ex ventricular myocytes (P<0.05 vs Sed). The gr...
Determinacy in third order arithmetic

Abstract We investigate the strength of open and clopen determinacy of perfect information games with real number moves in the context of third order arithmetic. This work is conducted in a framework developed in 2015 by Schweber [12] , who showed that in this setting, open determinacy ( Σ 1 R - DET ) is not implied by clopen determinacy ( Δ 1 R - DET ). We give a new forcing-free proof of this result by isolating a level of L witnessing this separation. We give a notion of β-absoluteness in the context of third-order arithmetic, and show that this level of L is a β-model; combining this with our previous results on the strength of Borel determinacy, we show that Σ 4 0 -DET , determinacy for games on ω with Σ 4 0 payoff, is sandwiched between Σ 1 R - DET and Δ 1 R - DET in terms of β-consistency strength.
The HEP.TrkX Project: deep neural networks for HL-LHC online and offline tracking

Particle track reconstruction in dense environments such as the detectors of the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) is a challenging pattern recognition problem. Traditional tracking algorithms such as the combinatorial Kalman Filter have been used with great success in LHC experiments for years. However, these state-of-the-art techniques are inherently sequential and scale poorly with the expected increases in detector occupancy in the HL-LHC conditions. The HEP.TrkX project is a pilot project with the aim to identify and develop cross-experiment solutions based on machine learning algorithms for track reconstruction. Machine learning algorithms bring a lot of potential to this problem thanks to their capability to model complex non-linear data dependencies, to learn effective representations of high-dimensional data through training, and to parallelize easily on high-throughput architectures such as GPUs. This contribution will describe our initial explorations into this relatively unexplored idea space. We will discuss the use of recurrent (LSTM) and convolutional neural networks to find and fit tracks in toy detector data.
Usefulness of Two Diphenzyl Benzoyl Urea Insect Growth Regulators Against the Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Topical applications at submicrogram levels of the insect growth regulators (IGR) penfluron and diflubenzuron prevented the hatch of boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, eggs. Neither compound ...
Man Versus Machine: Does Automated Computer Density Measurement Add Value?

Kerlikowske and colleagues have evaluated whether, given the variability of radiologists' subjective assessment of breast density, machine measurements should be introduced. The editorialists discu...
The Full Price of Freedom: African American's Shared Responsibility to Repair the Harms of Slavery and Segregation

This dissertation explores the issue of reparations for black Americans for slavery and segregation. It addresses a substantial question of warranting ethical analysis unexamined in the existing literature: What responsibility do black communities have for making reparations for slavery and segregation? Without denying the significance of the traditional approach to the issue of reparations that focuses upon wrongdoers responsibility to injured groups, this query suggested a commonly neglected topic in reparations discourse - the appropriate role of injured groups in their own restoration and renewal.In order to address the most signifcant injuries inflicted upon black communities, the analysis focuses exclusively on political, economic, and educational harms. The breadth of the injuries examined necessitated an interdisciplinary approach to the project in order to understand the extent and depth of the harms and the steps required for their repair. Accordingly, as a work of Christian ethics, the dissertation flows from an engagement with law, theology, sociology, and political philosophy as vital resources for ascertaining black communal responsibility for repairing the harms of slavery and segregation.The theologoical insights of womanist scholars provide the foundation for constructing a framework for the remediation of harmed communities. This framework engages a communal perspective to recognize the harms and remedies for black enslavement and discriminiation. In conjunction with that framework, the dissertation expounds on communal self-love as the motivating force and the chief organizing principle supporting blacks' accpetance of shared responsibility for repairing the damages to black communities. The motivation for communal reparations adopted within the dissertation flows from a sense of self-love that embraces both the love of neighbor and the love of God.A communal ethic of responsibility ultimately grows out of the theological analysis as a means of guiding reparative efforts for black communities. The dissertation then explores an institutional framework for reparations as the preferred means of embodying that ethic. As a result of the investigation, the dissertation proposes the development of black political, economic, and educational institutions guided by an ethic of communal responsibility as the ethical expression of black communities' obligation to repair the harms of slavery and segregation.
Biochemistry of the Basement Membrane in Diabetes Mellitus

In recent years, extensive investigations have demonstrated that numerous biochemical and physiological abnormalities occur in various tissues of hyperglycemic animals and humans (Brownlee and Cahill, 1979). Where the effect of treatment has been studied, many, if not all of these abnormalities, are returned towards normal with insulin, and it seems likely that some of these may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic renal disease. Others are likely to be mere concomitants of the microvascular disease which reflect common metabolic abnormalities of the diabetic state, but are causally unrelated. Although it appears increasingly likely that the morphological and clinical features of diabetic nephropathy result from a complex combination of interacting variables, the relative significance of individual factors is currently unknown. Whatever the sequence of events leading from abnormal glucose homeostasis to progressive renal failure with persistent proteinuria, the final clinical manifestations reflect irreversible glomerular capillary occlusion and increased permeability of the glomerular filtration barrier. Both of these result from alterations in basement membrane.