cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between cardiac output and the end-trial carbon dioxide tension

Study objective: To further define the relationship between cardiac output (CO) and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (ETCO 2 ) at various levels of systemic flow. Design: Prospective, controlled laboratory investigation. Setting: Animal laboratory. Type of participants: Fourteen anesthetized, intubated sheep weighing 23 to 47 kg. Interventions: One hundred seventy-two simultaneous measurements of thermodilution CO and ETCO 2 were made during controlled arterial hemorrhage. After a 30-minute baseline control period, CO was sampled from approximately 0.6 to more than 8.0 L/min during a 60- to 90-minute period of controlled hemorrhage. Measurements: Thermodilution CO; arterial pressure using fluid-filled plastic 14-gauge catheters; ETCO 2 using an infrared analyzer. Main results: A plot of CO versus ETCO 2 suggested that the relationship was logarithmic rather than linear. Linear regression showed that ETCO 2 was significantly related (r = .91; P Conclusions: The relationship between CO and ETCO 2 is logarithmic. Decreased presentation of CO 2 to the lungs is the major, rate-limiting determinant of the ETCO 2 during low flow. As the CO increases during resuscitation from shock or cardiac arrest, respiration becomes the rate-limiting controller of the ETCO 2 (after the tissue washout of CO 2 has occured). Under such conditions, the ETCO 2 provides useful information about the adequacy of ventilation provided that there is little ventilation/perfusion mismatch.
Pediatric hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma demonstrated on plain film, ultrasound and MRI, and correlated with pathology

A 2 1/2-year-old boy presented with a large abdominal mass that proved to be a hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma. Radiologic studies included ultrasound and MRI which correlated well with pathologic findings.
Patterns and predictors of asthma-related emergency department use in Harlem.

Study objectives To assess the roles of poor access to care, psychological risk factors, and asthma severity in frequent emergency department (ED) use. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting Harlem Hospital Center ED and outpatient chest clinic. Participants Three hundred seventy-five adult residents of Harlem, a predominantly African-American community in New York City. Measurements Asthma severity was assessed by self-reported symptoms using National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines, health-care utilization, and psychometric scales. Results Respondents with more severe asthma were more likely to have a primary asthma care provider, and to have had more scheduled office visits for asthma in the year prior to the interview (mean number of visits for patients with severe asthma, 3.6 visits; moderate asthma, 2.4 visits; and mild asthma, 1.7 visits). Despite having a regular source of care, 69% of respondents identified the ED as their preferred source of care; 82% visited the ED more than once in the year prior to interview (median, four visits). Persons with moderate or severe asthma were 3.8 times more likely to be frequent ED users compared to those with mild asthma (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 6.6). This was the strongest predictor of frequent ED use. Other predictors of ED use were number of comorbid disorders (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1) and self-reported global health in the year prior to the ED visit (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.7). Psychological characteristics were not predictive of frequent ED use when controlling for disease severity. Conclusions Frequent ED users present with serious medical conditions. They do not substitute physician care with ED care; they augment it to address serious health needs.
Desire to smoke during spaced smoking intervals

This study examined the detailed time course of desire to smoke self-reports during brief periods of tobacco smoking deprivation to determine how these reports are related to amount and spacing of scheduled smoking. During four independent sessions, subjects (n = 10) smoked cigarettes at 30-, 60-, or 120-min intervals, or only smoked a single cigarette at the end of the 6-h session. At 15-min intervals, subjects answered four analog scale questions measuring their desire to smoke which were averaged to produce a single score. Mean desire to smoke scores were 28, 43, 59 and 71 in the 30-, 60-, 120- and 360-min cigarette spacing conditions, respectively, indicating an orderly relationship with amount of scheduled smoking. Patterns of change were similar across repeated observations and during several different deprivation intervals. Desire to smoke ratings, although temporarily suppressed by smoking, began rising within minutes of smoking and increased to near maximum levels (about 80 on a 100-point scale) after fewer than 3 h of abstinence. The observed rapid escalation in desire to smoke ratings during brief periods of abstinence is consistent with cigarette craving being reported by regular smokers who are not trying to quit. Further, if cravings can be accepted as a feature of tobacco withdrawal, the results support the view that avoidance of withdrawal is an important factor that maintains regular cigarette smoking.
CD4+CD25+ Tregs and NKT cells: regulators regulating regulators

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and natural killer T (NKT) cells are two populations of T lymphocytes that can independently regulate adaptive and innate immune responses. Although most studies have investigated the regulatory properties of these T-cell subsets independently of each other, recent reports have provided evidence for cross-talk between Tregs and NKT cells, and, consequently, the immunoregulatory networks are seen in a new perspective. Activated NKT cells seem to modulate quantitatively and qualitatively Treg function through IL-2-dependent mechanisms, whereas Tregs can suppress the proliferation, cytokine release and cytotoxic activity of NKT cells by cell-contact-dependent mechanisms. Importantly, Tregs and NKT cells share crucial signaling pathways that could be responsible for their concerted responses. The advances in our understanding of the interactions between distinct subsets of regulatory T cells in autoimmunity might unveil new methods for harnessing these cells with immunotherapeutic properties.
International Conference of Historians of the Labour Movement (ITH) at Linz, Austria

The twentieth conference of ITH met in Linz, Austria, from September 11-15, with close to 200 scholars in attendance. Two themes were taken up by the conference: "The Working-Class Movement and Colonialism between the Two World Wars," and "February 1934 in Austria and France." The nature of the themes brought an unprecedented number of participants from Africa, China, and Vietnam, in addition to those from Central and East Europe. Notable by their absence, however, were historians from Italy, Spain, and Latin America. The unusually large turnout and presentation of papers meant that there was little time for speakers to develop their ideas from the floor. Confusion was also created by the failure of several participants, whose papers had been circulated, to appear, and by the intervention of speakers, whose printed texts either appeared only on the morning of the conference or not at all. The conference organizers often seemed more interested in getting to the conclusion of their daily agenda than in furthering discussion. But the conference was fruitful despite these limitations, per mitting mutual understanding and the establishment of contacts between scholars who had not known of each others work. This participant, for example, was able to discuss mutual interests with scholars from Denmark, Holland, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Zaire, Nigeria, and Vietnam. The high point of the conference was a magisterial address by former Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, who brilliantly examined the current state of relations between developing and industrial nations in the light of the conference's major theme. Needless to say one should not look for examples of the new social history, given the nature of conference themes. All the same, it is surprising that more historians present did not examine working class attitudes toward racism and impe rialism rather than the resolutions and policies of specific parties and the interna tionals. A notable exception here was James Young's (Scotland) examination of the racism of British workers. The policies of the Communist International and its member parties tended to dominate the proceedings. The tendency of East Euro peans, as exemplified by Hans Piazza (GDR), to justify virtually every Comintern policy, gloss over the famous "third period" with its doctrine of social fascism, and
High-Dose Dexmedetomidine for Sedation in the Intensive Care Unit: An Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy and Safety

BACKGROUND:Dexmedetomidine is an α2-receptor agonist used for sedation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although dexmedetomidine is labeled for sedation in critically ill patients at doses up to 0.7 μg/kg/h, recent studies have used more liberal dosing regimens. However, to our knowledge, no study has assessed the clinical impact of doses greater than 0.7 μg/kg/h when compared to doses within the Food and Drug Administration-approved labeling.OBJECTIVE:To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of high (HD) and low (LD) dses of dexmedetomidine for sedation in the ICU.METHODS:This retrospective study included a sample of patients who received dexmedetomidine in medical, surgical, medical/surgical, and cardiothoracic ICUs between January 1, 2008, and December 1, 2009. Patients were included in the LD group if their maximum dose was less than 0.7 μg/kg/h or in the HD group if any dose was more than 0.7 μg/kg/h. Efficacy was determined by the percentage of Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) scores...
Simultaneous estimation of the Markov random field parameters and the classes for image segmentation

Image segmentation is a crucial step in most computer vision tasks. We propose a new unsupervised fuzzy Bayesian image segmentation method using fuzzy Markov random fields (FMRFs). FRMF is known to provide improved segmentation results when compared to the "hard" MRF method. Typically, both hard and fuzzy MRF models have two groups of parameters to be estimated: the MRF parameters and class parameters for each pixel in the image. To this date, these two parameters are treated separately, and estimated in an alternating fashion. In this paper, we develop a new method to estimate the parameters defining the Markovian distribution of the measured data, while performing the data clustering simultaneously. This is made possible by defining estimates of the MRF parameters as functions of the class parameters resulting in a cost function that depends only on the class parameters of each pixel. We apply the conjugate gradient method (CGM) to search for the optimizer of the resulting non-linear cost function. We perform computer simulations to illustrate the proposed method and provide a comparison with some of the commonly used methods.
The Influence of a Rape Victim's Physical Attractiveness on Observers' Attributions of Responsibility

Research has provided conflicting results as to the impact of a rape victim's physical attractiveness on observers' attributions of responsibility, attributed in part to methodological considerations. The present study, employing multiple exemplars of attractiveness and multiple dependent measures of responsibility, revealed consistent evidence of an attractiveness bias among observers, with an unattractive victim being assigned greater responsibility in general for her own victimization, as well as specific behavioral and characterological blame, than an attractive victim. The un-attractive victim was also considered to have contributed to her assault by presenting a more provocative appearance than her more attractive counter-part. These biases were stronger for male observers than for females. Although the attractiveness factor differentially influenced the perceived responsibility of a victim, it did not affect attributions toward the assailant.
Elimination of spurious higher-mode response in pseudodynamic tests

In a pseudodynamic test, errors in restoring-force feedback are introduced into numerical computations. Some of these errors can excite the higher-frequency response of the specimen. In this paper, the use of viscous and numerical dampings to eliminate spurious higher-frequency effects is studied. Since the tangent stiffness of a non-linear specimen cannot be measured accurately, initial-stiffness-dependent viscous damping is considered. In addition, an explicit integration algorithm with desired numerical damping properties is proposed and examined. The analytical and numerical studies presented indicate that viscous-damping properties can be substantially changed by non-linear deformations. For this reason, the use of numerical damping appears to be more advantageous.
Cellulase, Clostridia, and Ethanol

Biomass conversion to ethanol as a liquid fuel by the thermophilic and anaerobic clostridia offers a potential partial solution to the problem of the world's dependence on petroleum for energy. Coculture of a cellulolytic strain and a saccharolytic strain of Clostridium on agricultural resources, as well as on urban and industrial cellulosic wastes, is a promising approach to an alternate energy source from an economic viewpoint. This review discusses the need for such a process, the cellulases of clostridia, their presence in extracellular complexes or organelles (the cellulosomes), the binding of the cellulosomes to cellulose and to the cell surface, cellulase genetics, regulation of their synthesis, cocultures, ethanol tolerance, and metabolic pathway engineering for maximizing ethanol yield.
The Possible Selves of High-Ability African Males Attending a Residential High School for Highly Able Youth

This study explored the possible selves of high-ability African American males attending a specialized school for high-ability students. To this end, interviews were conducted with nine students. Results provided details about the hoped-for and feared selves the young men envisioned as well as the strategies these youth utilized to realize and avoid these possibilities for their future. The interviews also demonstrated the impact of family, the specialized school’s culture, their neighborhoods, and racism on the possibilities the young men envisioned for themselves.
Numerical simulation of blood flow through microvascular capillary networks.

A numerical method is implemented for computing blood flow through a branching microvascular capillary network. The simulations follow the motion of individual red blood cells as they enter the network from an arterial entrance point with a specified tube hematocrit, while simultaneously updating the nodal capillary pressures. Poiseuille’s law is used to describe flow in the capillary segments with an effective viscosity that depends on the number of cells residing inside each segment. The relative apparent viscosity is available from previous computational studies of individual red blood cell motion. Simulations are performed for a tree-like capillary network consisting of bifurcating segments. The results reveal that the probability of directional cell motion at a bifurcation (phase separation) may have an important effect on the statistical measures of the cell residence time and scattering of the tube hematocrit across the network. Blood cells act as regulators of the flow rate through the network branches by increasing the effective viscosity when the flow rate is high and decreasing the effective viscosity when the flow rate is low. Comparison with simulations based on conventional models of blood flow regarded as a continuum indicates that the latter underestimates the variance of the hematocrit across the vascular tree.
GABA abnormalities in schizophrenia: A methodological review of in vivo studies

Abnormalities of GABAergic interneurons are some of the most consistent findings from post-mortem studies of schizophrenia. However, linking these molecular deficits with in vivo observations in patients – a critical goal in order to evaluate interventions that would target GABAergic deficits – presents a challenge. Explanatory models have been developed based on animal work and the emerging experimental literature in schizophrenia patients. This literature includes: neuroimaging ligands to GABA receptors, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of GABA concentration, transcranial magnetic stimulation of cortical inhibitory circuits and pharmacologic probes of GABA receptors to dynamically challenge the GABA system, usually in combination with neuroimaging studies. Pharmacologic challenges have elicited behavioral changes, and preliminary studies of therapeutic GABAergic interventions have been conducted. This article critically reviews the evidence for GABAergic dysfunction from each of these areas. These methods remain indirect measures of GABAergic function, and a broad array of dysfunction is linked with the putative GABAergic measures, including positive symptoms, cognition, emotion, motor processing and sensory processing, covering diverse brain areas. Measures of receptor binding have not shown replicable group differences in binding, and MRS assays of GABA concentration have yielded equivocal evidence of large-scale alteration in GABA concentration. Overall, the experimental base remains sparse, and much remains to be learned about the role of GABAergic interneurons in healthy brains. Challenges with pharmacologic and functional probes show promise, and may yet enable a better characterization of GABAergic deficits in schizophrenia.
Customer relationship management: a look at incentive programmes and their usefulness in selected service firms

A total of six organisations within the service industry and regionally headquartered in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area were investigated to study how they strategically leverage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) related concepts in order to attract and retain customers. As evident from the case studies, those companies that have a fixation on technology and did not paid attention to the features and service that customers wanted were in risk of reduced profits and market share. It was found that by maintaining and improving customer and employee loyalty, generating a positive attitude in terms of its culture, maintaining direct communication with customers through newsletters and other forms, leveraging logistics and trade discounts, allowing Knowledge Management (KM) related initiatives and strategies to prevail in its operations, using programmes that highlight their different customers through making reasonable attempts to adapt to customers' changing wants and needs, firms tend to be successful. CRM-related systems and the proper incentives offered to organisations' internal customer, namely employees, have allowed firms to leverage CRM to further differentiate themselves from their competition and ultimately enhance both customer and employee satisfaction.
Response of the thyroid gland to thiocyanate and thyrotropin.

ABSTRACT In order to determine whether inhibition of the thyroidal iodide “trap” by thiocyanate was dependent only upon the serum concentration of the ion, thyroid function was studied in 15 euthyroid and 3 hyperthyroid subjects before and during administration of potassium thiocyanate. Serum thiocyanate levels were correlated with thyroidal radioiodine (I131) uptakes, and thyrotropin was administered to 8 euthyroid and 3 hyperthyroid subjects while the thyroid gland was under the inhibitory influence of thiocyanate. In euthyroid subjects complete interference with thyroidal I131 accumulation did not occur readily at serum thiocyanate levels below 5 mg. per 100 ml. In hyperthyroid subjects, thyroidal I131 uptake proved impossible to inhibit completely, regardless of the magnitude of the serum thiocyanate level. In euthyroid subjects, at all serum thiocyanate concentrations, thyrotropin (20 to 30 U.S.P. units) produced measurable increments in the collection of radioiodine by the thyroid. In contrast, the ...
Experiences of Rural Male Caregivers of Older Adults with Their Informal Support Networks

Abstract More male caregivers are assuming primary caregiving roles for older adults with chronic health conditions. One of the main sources of support for many caregivers is the assistance that is provided by members of their informal support network. Little is known about the relationship between male caregivers and their informal support networks. This qualitative study examines the experience of male caregivers with their informal support networks, specifically looking at two phenomena: (1) Perceptions of the male caregivers about the willingness of their informal support networks to provide caregiving assistance and (2) Willingness of the male caregivers to ask their informal support networks for assistance. Twenty male caregivers were recruited across a rural Midwestern state. Each male caregiver engaged in two interviews that lasted between 60 and 120 minutes. Seven themes emerged from the data about the male caregivers experience with their informal support networks. Results from this study have i...
Investigating the function of follicular subpopulations during Drosophila oogenesis through hormone-dependent enhancer-targeted cell ablation

Although it is known that the establishment of polarity during Drosophila oogenesis is initiated by signalling from the oocyte to the overlying follicle cells, much less is understood about the role of specific follicular subpopulations. One powerful approach for addressing this question, toxigenic cell ablation of specific subpopulations, has not previously been applicable to studying follicular subpopulations because many of the genes and Gal4 enhancer trap insertions that are expressed in the ovary are also expressed at earlier times in development. To overcome this problem, we have utilized a fusion protein between Gal4 and the human estrogen receptor to achieve hormone-dependent, tissue-specific gene expression of UAS-linked transgenes in flies. We used this system to study the role of the polar subpopulations of follicle cells during oogenesis by expressing within them a modified form of diphtheria toxin that causes cell death. Our results confirmed previous functions ascribed to these cells, and also demonstrated a previously undescribed role for the border cells in facilitating the migration of the anterior Fasciclin III-expressing polar pair cells to the edge of the oocyte.
Relationship Between Surface Structure, Ceramic Processing and Mechanical Properties

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of controlling the surface properties of brittle materials through mechanical and chemical processes in order to improve desired mechanical properties. This is accomplished by selecting important examples that have been used in the past and suggesting the direction of future techniques for improving the surface. For purposes of this paper, the techniques for modifying the surface have been classified as either mechanical or chemical.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in an Adolescent With Obesity.

Purpose Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is typically found in adults and may be associated with a variety of metabolic conditions including obesity. Obesity is a growing problem among today's youth, and adult diseases often associated with obesity are now being found in a younger population. This case study describes a young adolescent girl with obesity and CTS. Summary of key points A history and examination were completed before electrophysiologic testing, and the patient had no evidence of any contributory pathology. Statement of conclusions There was electrophysiologic evidence of bilateral median nerve compromise at the wrist. The patient's diagnosis of CTS may be obesity related. Recommendations for clinical practice Management of patients with obesity and CTS should also include education about weight management in addition to traditional interventions. This may be even more important for a child or adolescent with obesity and CTS.
Chemical Routes to Colloidal Chalcogenide Nanosheets

This project sought to develop new low-temperature synthetic pathways to intermetallic and chalcogenide nanostructures and powders, with an emphasis on systems that are relevant to advancing the synthesis, processing, and discovery of superconducting materials. The primary synthetic routes involved solution chemistry methods, and several fundamental synthetic challenges that underpinned the formation of these materials were identified and investigated. Methods for incorporating early transition metals and post transition metals into nanoscale and bulk crystals using low-temperature solution chemistry methods were developed and studied, leading to colloidal nanocrystals of elemental indium, manganese, and germanium, as well as nanocrystalline and bulk intermetallic compounds containing germanium, gallium, tin, indium, zinc, bismuth, and lithium. New chemical tools were developed to help target desired phases in complex binary intermetallic and metal chalcogenide systems that contain multiple stable phases, including direct synthesis methods and chemical routes that permit post-synthetic modification. Several phases that are metastable in bulk systems were targeted, synthesized, and characterized as nanocrystalline solids and bulk powders, including the L12-type intermetallic compounds Au3Fe, Au3Ni, and Au3Co, as well as wurtzite-type MnSe. Methods for accessing crystalline metal borides and carbides using direct solution chemistry methods were also developed, with an emphasis on Ni3B and Ni3C, whichmore » revealed useful correlations of composition and magnetic properties. Methods for scale-up and nanoparticle purification were explored, providing access to centimeter-scale pressed pellets of polyol-synthesized nanopowders and a bacteriophage-mediated method for separating impure nanoparticle mixtures into their components. Several advances were made in the synthesis of iron selenide and related superconducting materials, including the production of colloidal FeSe nanosheets and a post-synthetic method for selectively leaching excess selenium from chalcogen-rich Fe-Se samples to precisely target the desired superconducting FeSe polymorph. The insights into FeSe nanosheet formation were applied to other metal chalcogenide systems, including SnSe, SnS, GeSe, and GeS, which led to advances in the synthesis and characterization of 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D metal chalcogenide nanostructures, including morphology-dependent crystal structures in the SnS system.« less
The complexity of simplicity in mechanism design

Optimal mechanisms are often prohibitively complicated, leading to serious obstacles both in theory and in bridging theory and practice. Consider the problem of a monopolist seller facing a single additive buyer with independent valuations over n heterogeneous items. Even in this simple setting, it is known that optimal (revenue-maximizing) mechanisms may require randomization [Hart and Reny 2012], use menus of infinite size [Daskalakis et al. 2015], and may be computationally intractable [Daskalakis et al. 2014].In a letter here last year, Babiaoff et al. [Babaioff et al. 2014a] described their attempt to alleviate the problem by showing that a constant fraction of the optimal revenue can be obtained by a simple mechanism. In this letter we argue in favor of a related research direction: finding the optimal simple mechanism. We survey our recent results in this setting [Rubinstein 2016] and draw attention to the question of what is a "simple" mechanism?
Revising Peer Review

Kathleen Fitzpatrick argues that as online platforms for scholarly publishing foster increasingly fluid means of communication amongst researchers, the principles on which such publishing is founded—including, most crucially, peer review—must become more flexible.
Determination of protein in milk by spectrophotometry after decomposition under pressurized condition

Objective:To establish a mathod for determination of protein in milk by spectrophotometry.Methods:After the milk was decomposed with H2SO4(1+1) under pressurized condition(115℃~116℃,0.17~0.18Mpa,1 h),the amino acids reacted with ninhydrin to form colored products and determined by spectrophotometry.Results:The linear range of the method was 0.10~0.60 mg/ml(r=0.9991).The detection limit was 0.02 mg/ml with the recoveries of 91%~101.7% and its RSD was 0.84%~2.23%.
Visualization tool for notional all-electric ships data bases

This work presents a fast visualization tool developed as part of the Electric Ship Research and Development Consortium (ESRDC) funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The tool allows for the visualization of thermal and electrical loads, equipment locations and other variables of interest in all-electric ship. Two versions of the tool have been developed: a web version, which allows the user to manipulate the data and visualize results online and an offline version, with a few more capabilities, to be downloaded and installed by the user. A notional ESRDC database with thermal and electrical loads, and equipment locations has been developed to be used in connection with the visualization tool. The visualization tool includes: i) a simple grid generator, used to create and discretize the ship geometry; ii) a web browser environment, based on a MySQL programming [1], used to search, collect and export available information from the ESRDC notional data base, and iii) a C++ application, used to import the data from the MySQL database, convert it from the notional geometry to a physical ship geometry and generate the graphical input files to be plotted by the VisIt public software [2].
Clinical Significance and Correlation Factor of Untypical Squamous Cells or Glandular Cells of Cervix Found by TCT

Objective:To analyze the clinical significance and correlated factors of untypical squamous cells or glandular cells (ASCUS /AGUS) of cervix found in TCT.Methods:There were 639 cases detected by TCT.In 619 ASCUS cases,346 underwent biopsy under colposcopy,and another 273 case recheck with TCT after three months of follow-up.Diagnostic curettage and histopathologic examination were done in 20 cases of AGUS simultaneously.Results:The incidence of LSIL and HSIL in 20 to 39 ages was more than other ages.In women with vaginitis or family tumor history,their occurrence of CIN Ⅲ increased significantly.There was more endometrial atypical hyperplasia or endometritis in perimenopausal women,especially in postmenopausal women.Conclusions:The high risk factor for CIN includes vaginitis and family tumor history.AGUS can be a signal of endometrial serious disease in perimenopausal women,particularly in postmenopausal women that is necessary for diagnostic curettage and follow-up.
Epidemiologic evidence for clustering of equine motor neuron disease in the United States.

OBJECTIVE To examine the regional variations in the distribution of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) in the United States and the factors that might explain those variations. DESIGN Cluster investigation and case-control study. SAMPLE POPULATION The study population consisted of 97 horses with histopathologically confirmed EMND and 698 controls with diagnosis of other spinal cord disorders at 21 US veterinary teaching hospitals participating in the Veterinary Medical Data Base. PROCEDURE The total horse population of the United States was divided into 21 regions, and the regional incidence rates of EMND from January 1985 through January 1995 were estimated. Moran's index of spatial autocorrelation was calculated to test for spatial clustering of the disease. The 21 regions were then joined in broader areas according to the similarity of their EMND rates by means of the cluster analysis statistical technique. Finally, the role of potential confounding factors (age at diagnosis, month of diagnosis, breed, and sex) in the present distribution of EMND was assessed, using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Differences in estimated rates across the 21 regions resulted in a strong pattern of spatial clustering of EMND in the United States. The geographic units were grouped into 5 risk regions, with the gradient of EMND incidence rates increasing from the western states (almost 0 cases/1,000,000 horse-years) toward New England (20.78 cases/1,000,000 horse-years). Reported risk factors of EMND (age, breed) and other extraneous factors (sex, month of diagnosis) could not explain the observed geographic variations of disease rates. Nevertheless, there is evidence of some confounding attributable to age and breed. CONCLUSIONS Although the mechanism responsible for the clustering of EMND in northeastern states is still unexplained, it is not an epiphenomenon caused by regional differences in the distribution of the factors investigated.
Shades of brown: an introduction for the special focus issue of Adipocyte on "brown and beige/brite adipocytes".

The re-discovery of brown adipose tissue in humans has re-kindled enormous interest in the research of brown, and its related brown-like adipocytes, i.e., beige or brite adipocytes. Recently, there...
A unified method for solving the frequency plan of space-borne software-defined radios

Software-defined radios (SDR) give space missions great flexibility by supporting diverse waveforms and mission scenarios. To configure and control this range of capability requires a model of the processing elements, both analog and digital. In this work we describe a unified method for solving and implementing the receiver and exciter frequency plans for a wide variety of hardware architectures. The flexibility of an SDRs frequency plan is enabled with programmable synthesizers and oscillators (e.g. DDS). Careful arrangement of these elements and band-selection filters is central to the hardware design. In the hardware design, up conversion and down conversion stages characterize the frequency plan for receive and transmit chains. Individual up conversion and down conversion stages can be segmented into a set of series or parallel blocks that completely represent the hardware design. Each stage can be fully characterized using a generalized converter block. We then formulate the frequency plan as a set of linear equations and solve the frequency plan with a single matrix operation. The converter stages also manage constraints on bandwidth and preferentially chose parameters to minimize spurious output. A block can also represent a reference oscillator or tunable DDS as part of a feedback control loop. The unified method can also accommodate a shared local oscillator between the receive and transmit paths. The end user can specify desired receive and transmit frequencies, and the method solves for all internal LO frequencies, or vice versa. The frequency plan solution is implemented in software and can be applied on any SDR platform. A notional configuration of the Frontier Radio for NASA's Europa mission is used as an example to demonstrate the methods.
A New VISTA on combination therapy for negative checkpoint regulator blockade

Negative checkpoint regulators function to restrain T cell responses to maintain tolerance and limit immunopathology. However, in the setting of malignancy, these pathways work in concert to promote immune-mediate escape leading to the development of a clinically overt cancer. In the recent years, clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of blocking antibodies against these molecules have invigorated the field of immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the current understanding on established NCR blockade and how strategic combination therapy with anti-VISTA antibody can be used to target multiple non-redundant NCR pathways.
Deregulation of NF-κB, ie, a useful PMBL marker.

In this issue of Blood, Mansouri et al1 report on the distribution of NFKBIE aberrations in lymphoid malignancies and suggest they play an important role in lymphomagenesis. They demonstrate a high frequency of NFKBIE deletions in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) and report that they predict for poor outcomes in this population.
The Fragility of Moral Principles

According to a widely accepted conceptual model, principles play essential roles in moral reasoning: it is asserted that they hold universally and cannot be avoided in the justification of human action and belief. This paper challenges that view. It argues that, though some principles play such substantive roles, most do not. They can be characterized instead as being fragile or defeasible, i.e., they are capable of being weakened, voided or undone. The claim is made that it is the pressures exerted by particular cases of moral dilemmas that are the sources of such fragility. The paper contains detailed examples illustrating how the process of defeasibility, including a retreat into moral vacuity, arises from such pressures.
Construction of plant yeast artificial chromosome libraries

Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries are becoming widely used for the construction of long-range physical maps and for map-based cloning [ 1–6]. In plants, YAC libraries are now available for Arabidopsis, barley, carrot, maize, rice and tomato [7–14]. Recently, map-based cloning projects using YAC libraries have been successful in isolating several plant genes that were known only by their phenotype [15–18]. Detailed analysis of individual YACs is likely to provide new insights into the way repeated sequences and transcribed regions are organized in plant genomes.
When is Shannon's lower bound tight at finite blocklength?

This paper formulates an abstract version of Shannon's lower bound that applies to abstract sources and arbitrary distortion measures and that recovers the classical Shannon lower bound as a special case. A necessary and sufficient condition for it to be attained exactly is presented. It is demonstrated that whenever that condition is met, the d-tilted information of the source adopts a simple, explicit representation that parallels Shannon's lower bound. That convenient representation simplifies the non-asymptotic analysis of achievable rate-distortion tradeoffs. In particular, if a memoryless source meets Shannon's lower bound with equality, then its rate-dispersion function is given simply by the varentropy of the source.
Near‐IR and CP‐OCT imaging of suspected occlusal caries lesions

INTRODUCTION Radiographic methods have poor sensitivity for occlusal lesions and by the time the lesions are radiolucent they have typically progressed deep into the dentin. New more sensitive imaging methods are needed to detect occlusal lesions. In this study, cross-polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT) and near-IR imaging were used to image questionable occlusal lesions (QOC's) that were not visible on radiographs but had been scheduled for restoration on 30 test subjects. METHODS Near-IR reflectance and transillumination probes incorporating a high definition InGaAs camera and near-IR broadband light sources were used to acquire images of the lesions before restoration. The reflectance probe utilized cross-polarization and operated at wavelengths from 1,500 to 1,700 nm where there is an increase in water absorption for higher contrast. The transillumination probe was operated at 1,300 nm where the transparency of enamel is highest. Tomographic images (6 × 6 × 7 mm3 ) of the lesions were acquired using a high-speed swept-source CP-OCT system operating at 1,300 nm before and after removal of the suspected lesion. RESULTS Near-IR reflectance imaging at 1,500-1,700 nm yielded significantly higher contrast (P < 0.05) of the demineralization in the occlusal grooves compared with visible reflectance imaging. Stains in the occlusal grooves greatly reduced the lesion contrast in the visible range yielding negative values. Only half of the 26 lesions analyzed showed the characteristic surface demineralization and increased reflectivity below the dentinal-enamel junction (DEJ) in 3D OCT images indicative of penetration of the lesion into the dentin. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that near-IR imaging methods have great potential for improving the early diagnosis of occlusal lesions. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:215-224, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oli, Your Weight-Training Assistant

Weight-training has become a popular way of maintaining health and general wellbeing. However, many U.S. emergency departments have had an increase in injury incidences related to weight-training. We have designed an application, called Oli, which tracks a user's form and highlights injury causing movements. Oli assists users with weight-training by providing real-time feedback & analysis of lifts via utilization of frame by frame image processing. In this paper, we list our methods and the capabilities of our Kinect based system to process real time data and analyze form on particular weight-training movements.
Abstract 2799: Development of a mouse model of KRAS mutated colorectal cancer tumorigenesis

Introduction Development of a preclinical animal model that mimics KRAS mutated colorectal cancer disease etiology is essential for validation of new therapeutic interventions. Colorectal cancer patients with tumors harboring KRAS mutation are excluded from receiving anti EGFR monoclonal antibodies, and currently have no alternate FDA approved treatment options available. Ongoing research requires validations of different modalities on a robust preclinical study platform that will resemble the disease phenotype and genetic profile. In this context we have developed viable animal mouse model of colorectal cancer bearing KRAS mutation that authentically serves as a model for the disease. Methodology: The C57 BL/6 mice with truncated APC floxed allele was crossed with heterozygous KRAS floxed outbred mice to generate APC f/f KRAS +/f mouse colony. In another set of breeding APC floxed mice were crossed with CDX2-Cre-ERT2 mice and selected for APCf/f CDX2-Cre-ERT2 after second round of inbreeding. The final model of the disease was generated by the cross of the two aforementioned colonies when viable APC f/f KRAS +/f CDX2-Cre-ERT2 were genotyped and characterized. The model animals were tamoxifen induced to generate tumors. Micro-PET scan was used to detect and measure tumor volume. H & E staining was done to establish neoplasm and immunohistochemistry was performed to determine histological similarities with human FFPE biopsies. The MSI/MSS status was also determined. Results O The newly developed animal model develops colonic tumors upon induction with Tamoxifen. O The tumors were malignant as confirmed by H and E staining. O The tumors showed a higher radioactive FDG uptake (SUV) in micro-PET scan O The tumors resembled human colorectal cancer tissue O Once tumor is generated the animals died of cachexia and rectal bleeding Conclusion: Heterozygous mutation of KRAS oncogene along with deletion mutation of Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene is embryonically lethal in animal models. We have successfully developed a viable animal model of KRAS mutated colorectal cancer with tamoxifen inducible tumors harboring KRAS and APC mutations. The tumors mimic the human disease type both genetically and immunohistochemically. This model can serve as a robust preclinical platform for understanding the disease mechanism at the molecular level as well for evaluation of various therapeutic interventions. Citation Format: Radhashree Maitra, Madhu Kumar Venkatesh, Titto Alby Augustine, Carol Chandy, Qiang Liu, Sanjay Goel. Development of a mouse model of KRAS mutated colorectal cancer tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2799. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2799
Perioperative Pain Management for Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery

Optimal perioperative pain management for patients undergoing hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery requires a team-based approach using multimodal therapy and regional analgesia. Opioid-sparing regimens that include acetaminophen and gabapentin can improve postoperative outcomes. Regional anesthetic techniques (epidural and TAP blocks) are an important component of pain management strategies. This current chapter will review the most current evidence-based techniques and medication regimens for providing superior postoperative pain control while avoiding adverse effects of analgesic therapies.
Self-thrombosing anterior cerebral artery aneurysm leading to a caudate infarct

Abstract Self-thrombosing intracranial aneurysms are relatively uncommon and the conditions that lead to their formation are unknown, although they can be seen following subarachnoid hemorrhage and in autopsy specimens. We seek to raise awareness of the unintended iatrogenic thrombosis of intracranial aneurysms, its ischemic consequences, and the use of mechanical thrombectomy in its treatment. A 50-year-old hypertensive woman presented with a sudden onset of severe headache concerning for a ruptured cerebral aneurysm (Hunt-Hess 2). HCT showed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage (modified Fisher grade 3), and CTA showed two aneurysms arising from an anterior communicating (ACOM) complex fenestration and one aneurysm arising from the proximal left anterior cerebral artery (ACA) A1 segment. Successful coil embolization of the distal ACOM aneurysm was followed by an attempted balloon-assisted coil embolization of a left ACA A1 aneurysm that led to self-thrombosis and partial occlusion of the A1 segment. After mechanical thrombectomy, there was significant reduction in left A1 thrombus burden. The patient developed an asymptomatic small infarct of the left caudate, likely by occlusion of an anatomic variant of the recurrent artery of Heubner arising from the A1 segment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a self-thrombosing aneurysm during attempted balloon-assisted embolization. Propagation of the thrombus can lead to parent vessel occlusion and ischemia, and, in this case, an anatomic variant of the recurrent artery of Heubner from A1 made this more likely. Intra-arterial mechanical thrombectomy may be used in the treatment of an iatrogenic vessel thrombosis.
Galactooligosaccharide supplementation provides protection against Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis without limiting pathogen burden

Many enteric pathogens, including Salmonella and enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, express adhesins that recognize and bind to carbohydrate moieties expressed on epithelial cells. An attractive strategy for inhibiting bacterial adherence employs molecules that mimic these epithelial binding sites. Prebiotic oligosaccharides are non-digestible, fermentable fibres capable of modulating the gut microbiota. Moreover, they may act as molecular decoys that competitively inhibit adherence of pathogens to host cells. In particular, galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and other prebiotic fibres have been shown to inhibit pathogen adherence to epithelial cells in vitro. In the present study, we determined the ability of prophylactic GOS administration to reduce enteric pathogen adherence both in vitro and in vivo as well as protect against intestinal inflammation. GOS supplementation significantly reduced the adherence of the epithelial-adherent murine bacterial pathogen Citrobacter rodentium in a dose-dependent manner to the surface of epithelial cells in vitro. A 1- to 2-log reduction in bacterial adherence was observed at the lowest and highest doses tested, respectively. However, mouse studies revealed that treatment with GOS neither reduced the adherence of C. rodentium to the distal colon nor decreased its dissemination to systemic organs. Despite the absence of adherence inhibition, colonic disease scores for GOS-treated, C. rodentium-infected mice were significantly lower than those of untreated C. rodentium-infected animals (P=0.028). Together, these data suggest that GOS has a direct protective effect in ameliorating disease severity following C. rodentium infection through an anti-adherence-independent mechanism.
Student Government, the Fraternity System, and the University Administration

(1965). Student Government, the Fraternity System, and the University Administration. NASPA Journal: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 17-21.