cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AN OPEN STUDY ON THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TRANSURETHRAL NEEDLE ABLATION OF THE PROSTATE IN TREATING SYMPTOMATIC BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA: THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA EXPERIENCE

AbstractPurpose: We determine the safety and efficacy of transurethral needle ablation of the prostate in patients with moderate to severe symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.Materials and Methods: Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate was performed on 45 consecutive patients. For an average prostate of 2.5 to 3 cm. long treatments were performed in 2 separate planes at 4 quadrants (2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock positions) each. The 2 planes were 1 cm. below the bladder neck and 1 cm. proximal to the verumontanum. For prostatic urethral lengths longer than 3 cm. a treatment plane was added for each additional centimeter of prostatic urethra. The procedure was performed in 26 patients under local anesthesia using 20 cc 2% intraurethral lidocaine gel (11) or supplemented with intravenous 1.25 to 5 mg. midozolam (15). Of these patients 2 had a supplemental perineal block using a mixture of equal amounts of 15 cc 2% lidocaine without epinephrine and 0.25% bripivacaine, 10 underwent the procedure under g...
Effects of heat and pressure on surface light reflectance at 660 and 880 nm

Presented is an analysis of changes in reflectance at the tissue surface resulting from heat-induced hyperemia and from applied pressure at the skin surface. Optical reflectance measurements are at wavelengths of 660 nm (red) and 880 nm (infrared). Human subject data consist of in vivo measurements from the calf of the leg. An index is calculated which is a logarithm of the ratio of reflected light intensity before and after stimulus application at each wavelength. The slope of the index curve, plotted as a function of source-detector separation, is related to the expected depth dependent physiological changes, in tissue blood fractional volume and tissue blood oxygen saturation. >
Selection of the 1.375-µm MODIS Channel for Remote Sensing of Cirrus Clouds and Stratospheric Aerosols from Space

Abstract Using spectral imaging data acquired with the Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) from an ER-2 aircraft at 20-km altitude during the NASA FIRE Phase II Cirrus field program, it was found that narrow channels near the center of the strong 1.38-µm water vapor band are very effective in detecting thin cirrus clouds. The mechanisms for the cirrus detection are straightforward. In the absence of cirrus clouds, AVIRIS channels near 1.38 µm receive little scattered solar radiance by the surface and the low-level water clouds because of the total absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric water vapor located above them. When cirrus clouds are present, however, these channels receive solar radiance scattered by the cirrus clouds that contrasts well on the black background. A near-IR channel centered at 1.375 µm with a width of 30 nm has been selected for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) for remote sensing of cirrus clouds from space. MODIS is one of the sensors on...
Decoding poxvirus genome.

Citation: Yang, Z. L., & Moss, B. (2015). Decoding poxvirus genome. Oncotarget, 6(30), 28513-28514. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.5892
Use of Robots in Assembly Automation

Summary The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of robots in assembly. An attempt is first made to develop a background for a more satisfactory definition of terms. Then follows a discussion of the economics and choice of various part presentation methods, robot types and assembly system configurations. Techniques for assessing the suitability of a product for robot assembly are described and finally the social consequences of robot assembly are discussed.
The Nazis Reform the Reich1

Revolutions shift power not only from one economic class to another, but also from one governmental level to another. Not only is there a new deal between industrialists and laborers, between financiers and merchants, between those in the higher and those in the lower income brackets, but the centers of strength also shift from one region to another and from one governmental authority to another; and there is a new balance of power between the province and the nation, between the city and the state.
Meiosis in North American and Asian Races of Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and Their Hybrids

We have examined the meiosis of North American and Asian races of Lymantria dispar (L.) and their hybrids. The 31 prophase bivalents differ in size but bear few physical characteristics that allow a karyotype. Gypsy moth females are the heterogametic sex, and we suggest possible elements of the ZW pair. The meiotic prophases are achiasmate, but the chromosomes are tightly synapsed throughout prophase. A diffuse stage occurs, during which some chromosomes bear chromomeres. Male prophases are chiasmate. Meiosis of interracial hybrid females are normal and do not show evidence of heteromorphic bivalents, inversions, or translocations. Division anomalies are prevalent in the males, most anaphase figures representing unbalanced segregations. These observations are discussed in relation to efforts to characterize the gypsy broth genome.
Effects of cytokines on the pituitary-adrenal axis in cancer patients.

ABSTRACT Cytokines, which include interferons (IFNs), interleukins (ILs), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), are immunoregulatory proteins produced by lymphocytes and inflammatory cells. Several cyto...
A chilling reminder: Pediatric facial trauma from recreational winter activities.

Abstract Background Winter activities offer children and adolescents an outdoor recreational opportunity during the coldest months. Our objectives were to estimate the national incidence of facial injury associated with recreational winter activities. Furthermore, we analyze demographic trends and clinical characteristics of patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs). Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a population-based resource, was evaluated for ED visits from 2010 to 2014 for children injured from “active” winter –undertakings (snowboarding, skiing, ice skating) and sledding/tubing. Entry narratives were evaluated for demographics, diagnoses, and other clinical factors. Results 841 entries amounting to an estimated 27,618 patients were evaluated. The most common injuries were lacerations (69.4%), contusions/abrasions (19.5%), and fractures (5.5%), with the most common fracture sites being the nose (60.9%), orbit (15.2%), and mandible (10.9%). Median age was 9 years (IQR 5–12), and 65.8% were male. A greater proportion of adolescents sustained fractures than younger children (8.1% vs. 4.0%). The majority of fractures were to the nose. Conclusion With nearly 30,000 ED visits over five years, participation in winter sports can be perilous. Adolescents harbor a greater risk of sustaining serious injuries than younger children, and patients injured sledding/tubing had a greater fracture risk compared to those participating in more “active” winter activities. As upper/mid-face fractures occurred in only 1.4%, these findings reinforce a very limited role for CT. These findings suggest a need for greater use of facial protection and closer supervision of older children participating in these activities.
Epistemological Observations on Sociological Thought

There is an increasing tendency in contemporary social thought to operate with a concept of reality that is accepted as a working hypothesis, although this hypothesis is but rarely stated and even less frequently analyzed in all its implications. It is often assumed that this reality corresponds to the findings of factual and statistical investigations, and that the methods employed-which are largely quantitative ones-create a picture of this reality which in itself possesses a certain objectivity and does not have to be translated into a theory. The mere fact that certain things occur in a majority of cases is assumed to give them a claim to acceptance as “natural occurrences” which derive their justification from the fact of their existence.
A novel electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure for mixed-signal system applications

A novel electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure called alternating impedance EBG (AI-EBG) for isolation in mixed-signal systems is proposed. Currently, split planes are usually used for isolation in mixed-signal systems. However, split planes show a poor isolation at high frequencies due to electromagnetic coupling through a gap. This novel EBG structure shows excellent isolation by suppressing almost all possible electromagnetic modes in stopband frequencies. The S-parameter measurements show that this novel EBG structure could suppress noise coupling between RF/analog circuits and digital circuits, especially where a single common power supply is used. Mixed-signal system simulations with and without this novel EBG structure were performed to see improvement of isolation due to this novel EBG structure.
On Adaptive Sensing of Complex Communication Channels

We consider the application of an optimal measurement selection technique to a discrete-time extended Kalman filter for tracking a complex vector communication channel. The optimal linear measurement is selected prior to taking the observation at each step of the filter. The measurement is described through a measurement matrix B that depends on the prior state covariance, the available energy, and the observation noise variance. The rows of this measurement matrix represent the complex vector excitations to the communication channel, i.e. the transmitted signals, and outputs are used for channel estimation. Two aspects of the problem are discussed: 1) inherent difficulties with complex state vectors, and 2) a dynamical system model for the time-varying channel.
The Effect of Fertilisation on the Permeability to Water and on Certain Other Properties of the Surface of the Egg of Psammechinus Miliaris

1. A photographic method is described for recording volume changes in seaurchin eggs. 2. The behaviour of the eggs of Psammechinus miliaris , both before and at various intervals after fertilisation, in relation to osmotic changes in the surrounding medium have been investigated. 3. The rate of entrance of water from hypotonic sea water into the egg increases immediately after fertilisation takes place, rises to a first maximum at about 3 min. after fertilisation. It then falls to a comparatively low value at about 5 min. after fertilisation. After this the rate increases steadily to a maximum value which is reached about 35 min. after fertilisation. It remains steady until just before cleavage when, in the single experiment continued until this stage of development, it decreased very markedly. 4. The action of hypertonic solutions on the egg has been examined. Several types of plasmolysis occur and are characteristic of different stages in the development of the egg after fertilisation. The type of plasmolysis is determined principally by the physical properties of the egg surface. The plasmolysis method is of little use in this material for the determination of relative permeability to dissolved substances at different stages of development. 5. The rate of cytolysis in tap water has been investigated and its relation to permeability of the egg surface to water is considered. There is a susceptible period followed by one of resistance during the first 5-10 min. after fertilisation. The rate of cytolysis is conditioned, not only by the rate of entrance of water but also by the degree to which the cell surface will withstand stretching. The latter may be a significant factor. 6. The rate of Zytolysis in extremely hypertonic solutions of sea water + NaCl has been examined. It increases to a maximum at about 5-10 min. after fertilisation. Thereafter it decreases. Cytolysis in the unfertilised egg and just after fertilisation is a sudden process. Later it becomes more and more gradual and progresses slowly from the surface to the interior of the egg. The relation between the rate of cytolysis and permeability is uncertain.
Benzophenone and Fimetarone Derivatives from the Coprophilous Fungus Delitschia confertaspora.

Studies of the genome-sequenced, flutimide-producing coprophilous fungus Delitschia confertaspora (ATCC 74209), originally obtained from a sample of rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) dung collected in Namibia, led to the discovery of three new highly aromatic natural products named delicoferones A–B (1–2) and fimetarone B (3). The new benzophenone derivatives 1 and 2 have a somewhat unusual skeleton that incorporates three aromatic rings linked via two ketone carbonyl groups, while 3 contains a spiro[chroman-3,7′-isochromene]-4,6′(8′H) skeleton reported only once previously. The structures of these compounds were assigned mainly by analysis of 2D NMR and HRESITOFMS data.
Aussichten — auch in die Ewigkeit

Noch wahrend seiner Freiburger Zeit hatte Friedrich von Hardenberg am 5. Dezember 1798 im Zusammenhang mit der zwiespaltigen Reaktion des Ehepaars Just auf Bluthenstaub und Glauben und Liebe Worte an Rahel Just geschrieben, die ihr Mann spater in seiner Biographie Hardenbergs zitierte: »Die Schriftstellerei ist eine Nebensache — Sie beurteilen mich wohl billig nach der Hauptsache — dem praktischen Leben. Wenn ich gut, nutzlich, tatig — liebevoll und treu bin — so lassen Sie mir einen unnutzen, unguten und harten Satz passieren. Schriften unberuhmter Menschen sind unschadlich — denn sie werden wenig gelesen und bald vergessen« (IV, 266 und IV, 548). Bei diesen Worten spielt der ubliche Bescheidenheitstopos gewiss eine Rolle; auch zeigen Hardenbergs Mitteilungen an Mitglieder des fruhromantischen Kreises eine andere Seite seines Wesens als etwa gleichzeitig verfasste Briefe an Rahel und August Coelestin Just. Aber es ist kennzeichnend fur Hardenbergs Prioritaten im Leben, dass er sich unmittelbar nach der Vollendung des ersten Teils des Heinrich von Ofterdingen an den Kurfursten Friedrich August III. von Sachsen wandte und am 10. April 1800 um die vor kurzem freigewordene Supernumerar-Amtshauptmannstelle fur Weisenfels, Heldrungen und Sachsenburg bewarb. Diese Aufgabe im Thuringischen Kreis Sachsens wollte er zusatzlich zu seinen bisherigen Aufgaben ausuben und begrundete seinen Wunsch folgendermasen: »Die damit zeither combinirten Aemter liegen in dem Bezirk meiner gegenwartigen Geschaftsreisen, und wurden mich also nicht von meinem jetztigen Beruf entfernen« (IV, 331). Hinzu kam, dass Hardenbergs erster Studiengang in Jura und seine Ausbildung beim Kreisamtmann Just ihn eher auf diesen Berufsweg als auf die Arbeit am Weisenfelser Salinendirektorium vorbereitet hatten.
Estrogen Replacement Improves Verbal Memory and Executive Control in Oligomenorrheic/Amenorrheic Athletes in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE Both estrogen and exercise may have cognition enhancing benefits; however, young oligomenorrheic/amenorrheic athletes (OA) with estrogen deficiency have not been evaluated for cognitive deficits. Our objective was to determine whether 6 months of estrogen replacement will impact cognitive domains in OA. We hypothesized that estrogen replacement would improve verbal memory and executive control in OA. METHODS We performed cognitive assessments at baseline and after 6 months in 48 OA (14-25 years) randomized to estrogen (EST+) (oral 30 µg ethinyl estradiol [n = 16] or transdermal 100 µg 17-β-estradiol patch [n = 13]) or no estrogen (EST-) (n = 19) in an ongoing clinical trial. Neurocognitive testing included California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II) (for verbal memory) and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Color-Word Interference Test (D-KEFS-CWIT) (executive control). RESULTS On average, subjects (mean ± SEM age: 19.9 ± 3.1 years, body mass index: 20.6 ± 2.3 kg/m²) participated in 10.3 ± 5.9 hours per week of weight-bearing activities of their lower limbs. The EST+ group performed better for CVLT-II verbal memory scores for immediate recall over 6 months of therapy compared to EST- (P < .05) even after controlling for baseline scores and age. Changes in D-KEFS-CWIT scores over 6 months did not differ between the groups. However, the EST+ group had greater improvements in inhibition-switching completion time over 6 months compared with the EST- group after controlling for baseline scores and age (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS OA show improvements in verbal memory and executive control following 6 months of estrogen replacement. These findings in athletes, who are in their prime of neurocognitive development, underscore the need for future studies exploring cognition in OA. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00946192.
A Drug Screen using Human iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells Reveals Cardiac Glycosides as a Potential Treatment for Hypercholesterolemia

Efforts to identify pharmaceuticals to treat heritable metabolic liver diseases have been hampered by the lack of models. However, cells with hepatocyte characteristics can be produced from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Here, we have used hepatocyte-like cells generated from homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hoFH) iPSCs to identify drugs that can potentially be repurposed to lower serum LDL-C. We found that cardiac glycosides reduce the production of apolipoprotein B (apoB) from human hepatocytes in culture and the serum of avatar mice harboring humanized livers. The drugs act by increasing the turnover of apoB protein. Analyses of patient medical records revealed that the treatment of patients with cardiac glycosides reduced serum LDL-C levels. These studies highlight the effectiveness of using iPSCs to screen for potential treatments for inborn errors of hepatic metabolism and suggest that cardiac glycosides could provide an approach for reducing hepatocyte production of apoB and treating hypercholesterolemia.
Stakeholders' Perceptions of the Opportunities, Challenges, and Value of Digital Badges in Education

To understand the opportunities, challenges, and values stakeholders perceive to be associated with digital badges for learning, we analyzed discussions in an online community in which designers, educators, programmers, and others shared ideas guiding the creation of a set of standards for digital badges and badge systems. In this paper we present the themes expressed in these discussions as well as stakeholders’ values and their perceived opportunities and challenges of digital badge systems. The primary research questions guiding this study are: 1. Who is participating in the Mozilla Open Badge forum? 2. What topics are discussed in the forum, and by whom? 3. What opportunities and challenges do stakeholders identify in badges? 4. What values do stakeholders bring to the Mozilla badge forum?
Real-Time Urban Power Dispatch with Ambient Air Quality Constraints

Abstract A power dispatch methodology for urban utility company facing ambient air quality constraints is developed. This approach consists of 1) a real-time air dispersion model for the urban area and its surrounding region, 2) a fuel minimization procedure which will generate a schedule to satisfy the demand and the constraints on pollution concentration. Forecast meteorological data and ambient air quality information are assumed available for the procedure.
The Sizes of States

State size has at least four major dimensions. Two are the number of people served by any existing state and its geographical size. These are quantitative dimensions, analogous to the output produced by the typical firm of economic theory. Two other dimensions are the level of order (G) that the state produces, which is analogous to the quality (or characteristics) of the output produced by the typical private firm,1 and the level of resources used by the state, which corresponds to the traditional firm’s revenues.2 All, of course, are determined simultaneously; nevertheless, for analytical simplicity it is useful to consider their determination separately. In this chapter we inquire into the question of the level of political concentration, or the percentage of a given society’s population which will be governed by one state. Then, in Chapter 4, we look at the resource and level of order issues, seeing if and how our conclusions in this chapter must be modified.
Harmonizing investment incentives in the APEC process

Security of access to markets is critically important in international trade in goods and services. Security is also critically important to foreign direct investment. With the “globalization” of production, international attention has been turning to improving the institutional environment for FDI, especially in developing economies. In APEC, the focus has been on principles and a non-binding code, but in due course the focus will have to shift to a binding agreement with rules that instill the confidence needed for providers of capital to invest in the major infrastructure projects that will make a difference in East Asia’s development. The focus here is on limits on the level of investment incentives that governments can use to attract foreign investors.
Attentiveness: A Phenomenological Study of the Relation of Memory to Mood

This paper begins by establishing a phenomenological context by way of the sense of “world.” It then explores Heidegger’s analysis of mood with respect to one’s own “being-in-the-world.” Three points are underscored. The first is how mood discloses one’s own “being-in-the-world” by way of a “movement away” and a “movement toward” belonging to every mood. The second is how this establishes the philosophical importance of mood by virtue of the way in which it undermines the “metaphysics of presence” characteristic of the philosophical tradition from Greece to the modern age. The third is how in each mood, the “movement away,” which Heidegger identifies with forgetting, happens first. These points are illustrated by way of Heidegger’s analyses of fear, anxiety and boredom. On Heidegger’s understanding, it is the long-standing model of perception that has served as a model for the “metaphysics of presence.” The paper explores how Merleau-Ponty’s analysis of perception uncovers a “movement away” and a “movement toward” that restores an affective character of perception that pertains to mood. The paper next turns to Levinas’s accentuation of a “movement away” at the heart of mood by virtue of which the lived experience before us can only be remembered as a dream. Finally, the paper finds a clue to the basic relation between forgetting and memory in Kafka’s literary art.
Prologue: Darwin’s Apocalypse

This is not a book about the history of evolution nor a history of public receptivity toward it. It is not about questioning the validity of evolutionary theory. This is an anthropology of science education in America today. Why, when we examine the stories and experiences of students from the university, their schooling, and their lives, do we continue as a nation to produce, at least in some quarters, such antievolutionary sentiment? What explicit and implicit rationales do students and teachers employ when choosing to engage or avoid education about evolution? When we step back from the idealistic hopes of science educators and policy makers, how is evolution education handled when the peering spot light of research is turned off?
Advances and Future Direction of Magnetic Resonance Elastography

The mechanical properties of soft tissues are closely associated with a variety of diseases. This motivates the development of elastography techniques in which tissue mechanical properties are quantitatively estimated through imaging. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a noninvasive phase-contrast MR technique wherein shear modulus of soft tissue can be spatially and temporally estimated. MRE has recently received significant attention due to its capability in noninvasively estimating tissue mechanical properties, which can offer considerable diagnostic potential. In this work, recent technology advances of MRE, its future clinical applications, and the related limitations will be discussed.
Mechanisms and Measurements of Scale Invariance of Morphogen Gradients

Morphogen gradients provide positional information to underlying cells that translate the information into differential gene expression and eventually different cell fates. Scale invariance is the property where the gradients of the morphogen adjust proportionately to the size of the domain. Scale invariance of morphogen gradients or patterns of differentiation is a common phenomenon observed between individuals within the same species and between homologous tissues or structures in different species. To determine whether or not a pattern is scale invariant, others and we have developed definitions and measurements of gradient scaling. These include point-wise and global scaling errors as well as global scaling power. Furthermore, there are a number of mathematical conditions for scale invariance of advection-diffusion-reaction models that inform mechanisms of scaling. Herein we provide a deeper perspective on modeling and measurement of scale invariance of morphogen gradients.
The Agile Deployment of Machine Learning Models in Healthcare.

The continuous delivery of applied machine learning models in healthcare is often hampered by the existence of isolated product deployments with poorly developed architectures and limited or non-existent maintenance plans. For example, actuarial models in healthcare are often trained in total separation from the client-facing software that implements the models in real-world settings. In practice, such systems prove difficult to maintain, to calibrate on new populations, and to re-engineer to include newer design features and capabilities. Here, we briefly describe our product team’s ongoing efforts at translating an existing research pipeline into an integrated, production-ready system for healthcare cost estimation, using an agile methodology. In doing so, we illustrate several nearly universal implementation challenges for machine learning models in healthcare, and provide concrete recommendations on how to proactively address these issues.
Does Consumer Financial Management Behavior Relate to Their Financial Access

Financial management behavior and financial access are important to overall financial well-being, yet have not been well studied. This study contributes to the literature of financial access and financial management behavior by empirically exploring relevant factors for each and the relationship between them. The data are derived from the 2012 and 2015 National Financial Capacity Study. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was applied to derive the factors relevant for consumer financial access and consumer financial management behaviors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to establish reliability and construct validity of the identified factors. The structural equation modeling and linear regression were jointly used to examine the relationship between them. Results suggest that consumer financial access consists of a nine-element structure: savings accounts, checking accounts, retirement accounts, retirement plans, emergency funds, homeownership, investments, credit, and health insurance. Financial management behavior consists of a five-element structure: consumption, cash management, emergency savings, small-dollar consumer loans, and credit management. Financial management behavior is significantly associated with financial access. Better consumer financial management behavior is associated with better financial access. Policy implications are discussed.
Invasion of the Drones: A New Frontier for Victimization

The use of recreational drones has only recently become a possibility for the general public. However, with the addition of this new technology comes the potential for misuse. Using a national samp...
Impacts of Inorganic Material (Total Ash) on Surface Energy, Wettability, and Cohesion of Corn Stover

The impacts and variability of inorganic material (measured as total ash) on surface area, surface energy, wettability, and cohesion of corn stover samples from Iowa were examined. The impact of to...
Increasing community engagement in collective impact approaches to advance social change

The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is a large urban school district in Oakland, California where hunger and poor nutrition are prevalent. Given the critical link between nutrition and acade...
E-146 Quantitative evaluation of factors affecting tumor size reduction on wide angle fundus camera following retinoblastoma chemosurgery

Introduction Intra-arterial delivery of chemotherapy (chemosurgery) via selective ophthalmic artery infusion has had an increasing role in the treatment of retinoblastoma. However reported success rates and enucleation rates have varied. The many differences in institutional protocols including choice of first line therapy, availability of patient follow-up and rationale for enucleation yields different results. We hypothesized that a quantitative assessment of tumor size reduction on wide angle funduscopic imaging would show differences in tumor response with regards to cycle of treatment, adjunct treatments, and prior IV chemotherapy. Materials and methods Following IRB approval, a retrospective review of pediatric patients with retinoblastoma who had been referred for chemosurgery at our institution in the past 6 years was performed. Data collected included patient demographics, retinoblastoma classification, prior and concurrent treatments, chemotherapy agents, catheterization technique, fluoroscopy time, vascular anatomy, complications, and response on funduscopic examination. RetCam wide angle fundoscopic images were digitally transferred to DICOM image processing software for analysis or digitized from hard copy. Quantitative changes in tumor volume between images were measured. Results From June 2013 to March 2019, a total of 114 chemosurgery cases were performed on 30 patients to treat 32 eyes. All patients received eye exams under anesthesia. 158 eye exams under anesthesia were reviewed including analysis of wide angle fundoscopic images when available. After the first cycle of intra-arterial chemotherapy, response to treatment progressively decreased, with greatest change in tumor volume at time of first treatment. Decrease tumor size decrease per treatment was much greater when intra-arterial therapy was utilized as a first line therapy. Combination therapy appears to be more efficacious than IA alone for cycles 3 and greater. The catheters were placed in two locations, either the middle meningeal artery or the origin of the ophthalmic artery. A slightly greater average decrease in tumor size per cycle was seen with middle meningeal infusion (17.63%) versus ophthalmic artery infusion (12.38%). Conclusion Quantitative assessment of wide angle fundoscopic imaging for tumor size helps evaluate Chemosurgery efficacy retrospectively. Utilizing this measurement allows us to more accurately assess treatment effects, which appear to be greater in IV chemotherapy naive patients. Disclosures S. Chen: None. P. Chevez-Barrios: None. M. Chintagumpala: None. F. Lin: None. P. Kan: 1; C; Stryker Neurovascular, MacDonald Research Fund. 2; C; Stryker Neurovascular, Medtronic. C. Area: None. C. Herzog: None. D. Gombos: 1; C; Houseman/Wilkin Opthalmologicl Foundation. 2; C; Abbvie, Aura, 3T Ophthalmics. 6; C; Children’s Oncology Group.
Abstract 285: Association Of Patient Out-of-pocket Costs And Financial Assistance With Prescription Abandonment: The Case Of PCSK9 Inhibitors

Background: Specialty drugs are typically subject to high out-of-pocket (OOP) costs, especially for Medicare Part D patients and commercially insured patients facing high deductibles and/or coinsur...
Effects of Volume Replacement for Urinary Losses from Mannitol Diuresis on Brain Water in Normal Rats.

It is frequently recommended that urine output following perioperative mannitol administration be replaced 1:1 with an isotonic crystalloid solution. It is possible that this strategy could increase brain water by reducing the serum osmolality achieved with prior mannitol administration. Therefore, brain water content of rats treated with mannitol alone or mannitol plus normal saline (NS) was studied over a range of urinary replacement ratios. Male Wister rats received mannitol 3.2 gm/100 gm infused over 45 min followed by hourly determinations of urine output (UO). Control animals received no additional therapy, whereas animals undergoing intervention received hourly replacement of their urinary losses with 0.9% NS in decreasing NS:UO ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3). Three hours after completion of the mannitol infusion, a final tally of UO was made. At that time in all animals, blood was obtained for determination of hemoglobin and electrolyte concentrations and plasma osmolality. Following that, the animals were sacrificed to determine brain water content. Additional groups underwent the same protocol but for 5 h with 1:1 urinary replacement, or received a volume of NS equal to that of the mannitol administered to all other control and intervention animals. 1:1 replacement of urinary loss with NS following mannitol administration was associated with brain water content indistinguishable from control animals receiving only a volume of NS equal to that of the mannitol administered to all other groups. Regression analysis demonstrated a decrease in the final brain water content of 0.67% (CI95 0.43–0.92, p < 0.001) per replacement level as NS:UO replacement ratios were decreased from 1:1 to 1:2 and, finally to 1:3. At the final NS:UO replacement ratio of 1:3, brain water content was indistinguishable from the control group receiving mannitol without NS replacement (p = 0.48) For 1:1 replacement following mannitol, brain water did not differ between experiments of 3 or 5 h duration (p = 0.52). In rats, NS replacement of UO 1:1 following mannitol administration leads to brain water content no different than if NS had been given in place of mannitol. Only when the NS:UO replacement ratio was 1:3, brain water was similar to that of control animals receiving mannitol alone. The recommendation to replace UO 1:1 with an equal volume of isotonic crystalloid following perioperative mannitol administration must recognize how this strategy could elevate brain water content compared to less vigorous replacement of UO.
A practical framework to assess the sustainability and resiliency of civil infrastructure

Research within civil engineering is focusing on newer ideas and philosophies such as sustainability and resiliency (S&R). This is evident in the development of frameworks for assessing the sustain...
Phosphatidylinositol phosphate binding domains exhibit complex dissociation properties at the inner leaflet of plasma membrane sheets

The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is a lipid targeting motif that binds with high specificity to phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) lipids. Using TIRF microscopy, we followed the dissociation of GFP-tagged PH domains from the plasma membranes of rapidly unroofed cells and found that AKT-PH and PLC{delta}1-PH dissociation kinetics can be distinguished by their effective koff values determined from fitting fluorescence traces to a single exponential equation. Our measurements for the koff of AKT-PH-GFP and PLC{delta}1-PH-GFP were significantly different (p < 0.05) at 0.39 {+/-} 0.05 s-1 and 0.56 {+/-} 0.17 s-1, respectively. Furthermore, we identified substantial rebinding events in our measurements of PLC{delta}1-PH-GFP dissociation kinetics. By applying inositol triphosphate (IP3) to samples during the unroofing process, we measured a much faster koff of 1.54 {+/-} 0.42 s-1 for PLC{delta}1-PH-GFP, indicating that rebinding events are significantly depressed through competitive action by IP3 for the same PH domain binding site as phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2). We discuss the complex character of our PLC{delta}1-PH-GFP fluorescence decays in the context of membrane receptor and ligand theory to address the question of how free PIP2 levels modulate the interaction between membrane associated proteins and the plasma membrane.
External evaluations for dyslexia: do the data support parent concerns?

A grassroots movement of parents who fear that their children’s reading struggles are going unrecognized at school has led to dyslexia laws in all but three states in the U.S. The current study was undertaken to provide data relevant to this topic by characterizing the reading profiles of 71 children referred for testing at a center specializing in the assessment of reading disabilities. These children were receiving instruction and intervention in reading across the tiers of instructional support in general and special education within their schools. On average, the children demonstrated equivalent deficits in print literacy skills on norm-referenced assessments regardless of the intensity of their reading support, and the majority of children who were only receiving tier 1 instruction exhibited characteristics of dyslexia. Moreover, 69% of children only receiving tier 1 instruction, and all remaining children, performed below benchmark expectations on a curriculum-based measure of oral reading fluency. While these data are not an evaluation of the implementation of the state’s dyslexia laws or the statewide implementation of RTI, they provide data characterizing the real struggles and lack of identification of children whose parents seek an external evaluation of their children’s reading skills. However, they are set in the context of a state in which 66% of public-school children cannot read proficiently by the end of the third grade. The reading struggles highlighted in this clinic referral sample are unexceptional in the larger state context.
On Rapid Variation of Multivariate Probability Densities

Multivariate rapid variation describes decay rates of joint light tails of a multivariate distribution. We impose a local uniformity condition to control decay variation of distribution tails along different directions, and using higher-order tail dependence of copulas, we prove that a rapidly varying multivariate density implies rapid variation of the joint distribution tails. As a corollary, rapid variation of skew-elliptical distributions is established under the assumption that the underlying density generators belong to the max-domain of attraction of the Gumbel distribution.
Statewide implementation of automated writing evaluation: analyzing usage and associations with state test performance in grades 4-11

Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) provides automatic writing feedback and scoring to support student writing and revising. The purpose of the present study was to analyze a statewide implementation of an AWE software (n = 114,582) in grades 4-11. The goals of the study were to evaluate (a) to what extent AWE features were used, (b) if equity and access issues influenced AWE usage, and (c) if AWE usage was associated with writing performance on a large-scale state writing assessment. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear modeling were used to answer the research questions. Results indicated that the main feature of AWE (i.e., writing and revising essays) were used but some features (peer review and independent lessons) were underutilized. School and student level demographic variables explained little variance in AWE usage. AWE usage was statistically and positively associated with performance on a large-scale state writing assessment when controlling for prior performance and demographics. The study presents evidence that AWE can positively influence writing on a distal measure when implemented at-scale. Implications for large-scale AWE implementation are discussed.
Constraints on tree breeding: growth tradeoffs, growth strategies, and defensive investments.

Analysis of basic growth processes and between-species trait correlations suggests that because of growth tradeoffs, breeding for growth rate (volume increment) may adversely affect defensive and other properties of trees. This can lead to negative impacts on sawtimber quality and tree life span. Selection for yield and for pathogen resistance may conflict, separate breeding programs may be needed for pulp and sawtimber purposes, and older ages may be more appropriate for selection of plus trees. In order for breeders to consider consequences of selection on tree performance, a means is required of assessing potential adult pathogen resistance and life span. Four methods are proposed for accomplishing this using properties of young trees. The properties of young trees that may correlate with adult performance are (1) wood properties related to defense, (2) wound healing ability, (3) the allometric growth coefficient, and (4) age of sexual maturity.
Unwrapping multiple co-channel interference signals

In this work, a successive four-stage interference cancellation model to unwrap and remove two co-channel interference signals is introduced and successfully tested. This model utilizes the second order statistics of the cochannel interference signals in an interference limited communication environment for interference cancellation. In this model, interferers and the signal of interest (SOI) are considered as multiple inputs of a multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) system. Therefore, MIMO equalizers and blind MIMO channel estimator are employed for the corresponding tasks. At any stage of equalization in this model, a single signal is equalized and recovered. Later, a replica of the captured signal is cancelled from the received signal mixture. The remaining signal is fed to the next stage for equalization. The benefit of using this scheme is mainly improving the quality of the SOI by re-equalizing after interferers are completely removed. In the results section, 16 dB interference cancellation gain is shown where interferers are as strong as signal (SIR=O) and SNR is 30 dB. A Rayleigh fading (iid) channel is used for simulation.
HEALTH STATUS TRANSITIONS

present the policy implications of research carried out by member institutes of the European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes. Initiated by CEPS in 1999, ENEPRI conducts research on welfare and employment issues with the aim of diffusing existing research, coordinating research plans and increasing the awareness of the European dimension in national problems. The research presented in this Policy Brief was conducted under the AHEAD project (Ageing, Health Status and the Determinants of Health Expenditure), which was funded for a three-year period by the European Commission under the 6
Potential for interactions between the carboxy‐ and amino‐termini of Rubisco activase subunits

The subunit interactions of Rubisco activase were investigated using mutants containing an introduced Cys near the N- and/or C-terminus. Chemical cross-linking of the C-terminal and double insertion mutant produced subunit dimers and dimers plus high ordered oligomers, respectively. Fluorescence measurements with N,N′-dimethyl-N-(iodoacetyl)-N′-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)ethylenediamine showed that the environment around the introduced Cys near the C-terminus becomes more hydrophilic upon nucleotide binding. The Cys insertion mutants catalyzed Rubisco activation and ATP hydrolysis even when the subunits of the C-terminal or double insertion mutants were completely cross-linked. The results indicate that the termini of adjacent activase subunits are in close proximity and can be modified and even joined without affecting enzyme function.
Casein Kinase Iγ Subfamily. MOLECULAR CLONING, EXPRESSION, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THREE MAMMALIAN ISOFORMS AND COMPLEMENTATION OF DEFECTS IN THE SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE YCK GENES

Casein kinase I, one of the first protein kinases identified biochemically, is known to exist in multiple isoforms in mammals. Using a partial cDNA fragment corresponding to an isoform termed CK1γ, three full-length rat testis cDNAs were cloned that defined three separate members of this subfamily. The isoforms, designated CK1γ1, CK1γ2, and CK1γ3, have predicted molecular masses of 43,000, 45,500, and 49,700. CK1γ3 may also exist in an alternatively spliced form. The proteins are more than 90% identical to each other within the protein kinase domain but only 51-59% identical to other casein kinase I isoforms within this region. Messages for CK1γ1 (2 kilobases (kb)), CK1γ2 (1.5 and 2.4 kb), and CK1γ3 (2.8 kb) were detected by Northern hybridization of testis RNA. Message for CK1γ3 was also observed in brain, heart, kidney, lung, liver, and muscle whereas CK1γ1 and CK1γ2 messages were restricted to testis. All three CK1γ isoforms were expressed as active enzymes in Escherichia coli and partially purified. The enzymes phosphorylated typical in vitro casein kinase I substrates such as casein, phosvitin, and a synthetic peptide, D4. Phosphorylation of the D4 peptide was activated by heparin whereas phosphorylation of the protein substrates was inhibited. The known casein kinase I inhibitor CK1-7 also inhibited the CK1γs although less effectively than the CK1α or CK1δ isoforms. All three CK1γs underwent autophosphorylation when incubated with ATP and Mg2+. The YCK1 and YCK2 genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encode casein kinase I homologs, defects in which lead to aberrant morphology and growth arrest. Expression of mammalian CK1γ1 or CK1γ3 restored growth and normal morphology to a yeast mutant carrying a disruption of YCK1 and a temperature-sensitive allele of YCK2, suggesting overlap of function between the yeast Yck proteins and these CK1 isoforms.
Tracking of radiation exposure in pediatric stone patients: The time is now.

Summary Background Despite the increasing incidence of pediatric nephrolithiasis, there is little data quantifying the radiation exposure associated with treatment of this disease. In this study, pediatric patients with nephrolithiasis who were managed at a single institution were identified, and the average fluoroscopy time and estimated radiation exposure associated with their procedures were reported. Methods Stone procedures performed on pediatric patients between 2005 and 2012 were retrospectively identified. Procedures were classified as primary ureteroscopy (URS), stent placement prior to ureteroscopy (SURS), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and bilateral ureteroscopy (BLURS). Patient demographic information, stone size, stone location, number of radiographic images, and fluoroscopy times were analyzed. Results A total of 152 stone procedures were included in the final analysis (92 URS, 38 SURS, eight BLURS and 14 PCNL). Mean patient age at time of stone treatment was 15.94 ± 4.1 years. Median fluoroscopy times were 1.6 (IQR 0.8–2.4), 2.1 (IQR 1.6–3.0), 2.5 (IQR 2.0–2.9), and 11.7 (IQR 5.0–18.5) minutes for URS, SURS, BLURS and PCNL, respectively. There was a moderate correlation between stone size and fluoroscopy time ( r = 0.33). When compared with ureteroscopic procedures, PCNL was associated with a significantly higher fluoroscopy time (11.7 vs 2.1 min, P Conclusions Radiation exposure during treatment of pediatric stone disease is not trivial, and is significantly greater when PCNL is performed. Given the recommended maximum effective dose of 50 mSv in any one year, urologists should closely monitor the amount of fluoroscopy used, and consider the potential for radiation exposure when choosing the operative approach. Prospective studies are currently underway to elucidate precise dose measurements and localize sites of radiation exposure in children during stone treatment.