cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of water activity in organic solvent + water mixtures on the nature of the crystallizing drug phase. 2. Ampicillin

The hydration state of a hydrate depends on the water activity, aw, in the crystallization medium. A guideline has recently been established for the selection of an appropriate ratio of water to cosolvent in the crystallization medium of a hydrate (Int. J. Pharm., 135 (1996) 151–160). This work examines the influence of aw in organic solvent + water mixtures on the physical stability of the solid phases of ampicillin, which comprise a crystalline anhydrate, a crystalline trihydrate and an amorphous form. Saturation of the aqueous solution with ampicillin reduced aw by less than 4%. The solubilities of the anhydrate and trihydrate were measured in different methanol + water mixtures of varying aw at 25°C. The excess solid phase was characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis and Karl-Fischer titrimetry. The crystalline anhydrate is kinetically stable for at least 5 days over the whole range of aw in methanol + water mixtures. However, addition of seeds of the crystalline trihydrate to mixtures of ampicillin anhydrate + methanol + water at aw ⩾ 0.381 resulted in the conversion of the anhydrate to the thermodynamically stable trihydrate. The trihydrate converted to the amorphous form at aw ⩽ 0.338. The metastable amorphous form converted to the anhydrate at aw ⩽ 0.338 when the suspension was seeded with the anhydrate. The metastable amorphous form took up water progressively with increasing aw from 0 to 0.338 in methanol + water mixtures. These result suggest (a) that water activity is the major thermodynamic factor determining the nature of the solid phase of ampicillin which crystallizes from methanol + water mixtures, (b) that the system, ampicillin anhydrate ⇌ ampicillin trihydrate, is in equilibrium at 0.338 < aw < 0.381 and at 25°C, and (c) that the anhydrate and amorphous forms may exist in metastable states. This study demonstrates the complex interplay between thermodynamic and kinetic factors in determining the prevailing solid phase of ampicillin.
The role of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 in cardiac development and disease.

Abstract Congenital heart disease is the most common human developmental disorder, affecting ∼1:100 newborns, and is the primary cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide. As a major regulator of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), cytokine and G-protein coupled receptor signaling, the non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 plays a critical role in normal cardiac development and function. Indeed, SHP2 participates in a wide variety of cellular functions, including proliferation, survival, differentiation, migration, and cell–cell communication. Moreover, human activating and inactivating mutations of SHP2 are responsible for two related developmental disorders called Noonan and LEOPARD Syndromes, respectively, which are both characterized, in part, by congenital heart defects. Structural, enzymologic, biochemical, and SHP2 mouse model studies have together greatly enriched our knowledge of SHP2 and, as such, have also uncovered the diverse roles for SHP2 in cardiac development, including its contribution to progenitor cell specification, cardiac morphogenesis, and maturation of cardiac valves and myocardial chambers. By delineating the precise mechanisms by which SHP2 is involved in regulating these processes, we can begin to better understand the pathogenesis of cardiac disease and find more strategic and effective therapies for treatment of patients with congenital heart disorders.
Non-linear wave interaction in a plasma column

Non-linear three-wave interaction is analysed for propagation along a cylindrical plasma column surrounded by an infinite dielectric, in the absence of a static magnetic field. An averaged-Lagrangian method is used, and the results are specialized to parametric interaction and mode conversion, assuming an undepleted pump wave. The theory for these two types of interactions is extended to include imperfect synchronism, and the effects of loss. Computations are presented indicating that parametric growth rates of the order of a fraction of a decibel per centimeter should be obtainable for plausible laboratory plasma column parameters.
Acetylene at the Threshold of Isomerization

This article reviews recent research on acetylene which is intended as a contribution to the understanding of intramolecular vibrational energy flow when it is poorly described by either statistical (i.e., RRKM) or purely separable (i.e., harmonic oscillator/normal mode) models. The experimental spectra that inform this investigation are 7c m -1 resolution dispersed fluorescence spectra of the acetylene S 1fS0 system. Above 10 000 cm -1 of vibrational energy, these spectra are extremely congested and cannot be analyzed using conventional spectroscopic assignment procedures. Instead, a numerical pattern recognition procedure is utilized to disentangle spectroscopic patterns that are associated with approximately conserved polyad quantum numbers. This pattern recognition analysis makes possible detailed modeling of the short-time (1 ps) but large-amplitude vibrational dynamics of acetylene at high energy (15 000 cm -1 ), which is demonstrated here to be dominated by regularity even for the low-frequency bending motions (22 quanta of bend excitation). That is, a few stable motions dominate the large-amplitude bending dynamics, including local bend (one hydrogen bending), which is closely related to the acetylene-vinylidene isomerization coordinate, and a new type of vibrational motion that we call counter-rotation, in which the two hydrogens undergo circular motions on opposite ends of the CC core.
Reliability Analysis of Aircraft Structures under Random Loading and Periodic Inspection

A reliability analysis of fatigue-sensi tive aircraft structures, based on the application of the approach developed in the "random vibration theory," is presented. Operational service loads, composed of ground loads, ground-air-ground loads, and gust loads, are all random in nature. The fatigue process involved here consists of crack initiation, crack propagation, and strength degradation. The time to crack initiation and the ultimate strength are random variables. After a fatigue crack is initiated, fracture mechanics is applied to predict crack propagation under random loading. While the fatigue crack is propagating, the residual strength of the structure decreases progressively, thus increasing the failure rate with time. The aircraft structure is subjected to periodic inspection in service. When a fatigue crack is detected during inspection, the implicated component is either repaired or replaced, so that both the static and the fatigue strength are renewed. Such a renewal process is taken into account in the present analysis. The detection of an existing fatigue crack during inspection is also a random variable which depends on the resolution capability of the particular technique employed and the size of the existing crack. Taking into account all the random variables as well as all the random loadings, the solution for the probability of first failure in a fleet of aircraft is derived. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effect of inspection and fleet size on the fleet reliability.
Bank Regulation, Macroeconomic Management, and Monetary Incentives in OECD Economies

This paper argues that banks operating in systems where monetary and regulatory authority are unified in a central bank expect and receive preferential monetary policies, and so act less prudently than do banks in non-unified systems. These incentives arise when the natural tension between counter-cyclical monetary policy and pro-cyclical regulatory policy is resolved in ways that benefit the banking sector. I test the hypothesis using time series cross-sectional regression models that exploit two types of policy interventions—accession to the European monetary union, and several reassignments of domestic regulatory authority—within OECD countries from 1992 to 2009, the period during which the international Basel accords harmonized key aspects of national regulatory standards. The results strongly support the claim that there is a relationship between risk behaviors of banks and the location of regulatory and monetary authority.
Cross-cultural variations in the prevalence and presentation of anxiety disorders

Considerable cross-cultural variation exists in the prevalence and presentation of the anxiety disorders as defined by the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Researchers debate whether this variation represents cultural differences in the phenomenology of universal disorders or the existence of unique culturally constructed disorders. This article reviews recent literature on the prevalence and presentation of five anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder, both across countries and within the USA. This article indicates that certain anxiety disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder) may vary greatly in rate across cultural groups. It indicates that the clinical presentation of anxiety disorders, with respect to symptom presentation and the interpretation of symptoms, varies across cultures. A difference in catastrophic cognitions about anxiety symptoms across cultures is hypothesized to be a key aspect of cross-cultural variation in the anxiety disorders. Future research directions are suggested.
Rotation measures for homeomorphisms of the torus homotopic to a Dehn twist

We extend the theory of rotation vectors to homeomorphisms of the two-dimensional torus that are homotopic to a Dehn twist. We define a one-dimensional rotation number and recreate the theory of the homotopic case to the identity case. We prove that if such a map is area preserving and has mean rotation number zero, then it must have a fixed point. We prove that the rotation set is a compact interval, and that if the rotation interval contains two distinct numbers, then for any rational number in the rotation set there exists a periodic point with that rotation number. Finally, we prove that any interval with rational endpoints can be realized as the rotation set of a map homotopic to a Dehn twist.
Simulations of Polymer Blends and Interfaces

An efficient continuum-space model for simulating polymer blends and copolymers is presented. In this model, the interactions are short-range and purely repulsive, thus allowing for excellent computational performances. The driving force for phase separation is a difference in the repulsive interaction strength between like and unlike mers. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the model, we study the phase behavior of a symmetric binary blend of polymers as well as the interface between the two immiscible phases. As predicted by theory, we find the critical interaction parameter to scaie with the inverse of the chain length of the polymers. The structure of the interface between two immiscible phases is investigated as a function of chain length and immiscibility. Capillary waves are observed and their measurementallows us to determine the surface tension accurately. Finally, the surface tension is related to the interface width.
Simulating 2d Fermions in Strong Magnetic Fields

The Fixed-Phase method, a stochastic approach to deal with complex hermitian Hamiltonians, is reviewed in the context of fermions coupled to external electromagnetic sources. The method uses as a key ingredient a trial phase that plays the role of gauge function in the unitary transformation that maps the original fermion problem to a boson problem for the modulus of the wavefunction. In particular, we investigate the ground state of an ideal 2d electron gas in high magnetic fields at various densities and for filling fractions ν = 1/m. At high electron densities, the Quantum Hall liquid is the stable phase despite the character of particle interactions. Magnetophonon correlations turn out to be essential to explain the transition to an electron Wigner crystal.
Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)/ATP independently trigger homotypic membrane fusion in gastric secretory membranes.

Exocytic activation of gastric parietal cells represents a massive transformation. We studied a step in this process, homotypic fusion of H,K-ATPase-containing tubulovesicles, using R18 dequenching. Ca2+ and Mg2+/ATP each caused dramatic dequenching, reflecting a change in R18 distribution from 5% to 65–90% of the assay's membranes in 2.5 min. These stimuli also triggered fusion between tubulovesicles and liposomes. Independent confirmation that dequenching represented membrane fusion was established by separating tubulovesicle–liposome fusion products on density gradients. Only agents that trigger fusion allowed the transmembrane H,K-ATPase to move to low-density fractions along with R18. EC50 for Ca2+-triggered fusion was 150 nm and for Mg2+/ATP-triggered fusion 1 mm, the latter having a Hill coefficient of 2.5. ATP-triggered fusion was specific for Mg2+/ATP, required ATP hydrolysis, and was insensitive to inhibition of NSF and/or H,K-ATPase. Fusion initiated by either trigger caused tubulovesicles to become resistant to subsequent challenge by either trigger. Ca2+-and Mg2+/ATP-triggered fusion required protein component(s) in tubulovesicles, though this was required in only one of the fusing membranes since tubulovesicles fused well with liposomes containing no proteins. Our data suggest that exocytosis in parietal cells is triggered by separate but interacting pathways and is regulated by self-inhibition.
Understanding the Link between Poverty and Food Insecurity among Children: Does the Definition of Poverty Matter?

This paper examines the association between poverty and food insecurity among children, using two different definitions of poverty – the official poverty measure (OPM) and the new supplemental poverty measure (SPM) of the Census Bureau, which is based on a more inclusive definition of family resources and needs. Our analysis is based on data from the 2001–2011 Current Population Survey and shows that food insecurity and very low food security among children decline as income-to-needs ratio increases. The point estimates show that the associations are stronger as measured by the new supplemental measure of income-to-needs ratio than when estimated through the official measure. Statistical tests reject the hypothesis that poor households' odds of experiencing low food security are the same whether the SPM or OPM measure is used; but the tests do not reject the hypothesis when very low food security is the outcome.
Risk and Gravity

Risks may, but need not be, encountered in discounting the possibility of error. There is always a possibility of error when one judges that one knows that p,but that does not mean that there is, in fact, always a genuine risk of error. Whether there is a genuine risk of error, and how great it may be, varies from case to case.
Quantifying greenhouse-gas emissions from atmospheric measurements: a critical reality check for climate legislation.

Emissions reduction legislation relies upon bottom-up accounting of industrial and biogenic greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions at their sources. Yet, even for relatively well-constrained industrial GHG...
Overcoming acquired resistance to cetuximab by dual targeting HER family receptors with antibody-based therapy

Cetuximab, an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, is used to treat several cancers. However, many patients who initially respond to cetuximab acquire resistance. To examine mechanisms of acquired resistance, we developed a series of cetuximab-resistant (CtxR) clones derived from the cetuximab sensitive (CtxS) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line H226. Previous studies characterizing this model revealed that: 1) EGFR was robustly overexpressed in CtxR clones due to decreased EGFR ubiquitination and degradation and 2) CtxR clones expressed increased HER2 and HER3 activation resulting in constitutive activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling axis. These findings suggest that dual targeting HER family receptors would be highly beneficial in the CtxR setting. Since HER3 has been implicated in resistance to EGFR inhibitors, the efficacy of dually targeting both EGFR and HER3 in CtxR models was evaluated. First, EGFR and HER3 expression were knocked down with siRNAs. Compared to the CtxS parental cell line (HP), all CtxR clones exhibited robust decreases in cell proliferation upon dual knockdown. Analysis of CtxR clones indicated that neuregulin-1 was highly overexpressed compared to HP cells. Incubation of HP cells with neuregulin-1 rendered them resistant to cetuximab. Next, dual treatment of CtxR clones with cetuximab and the HER3 neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) U3-1287 led to potent anti-proliferative effects. Blockade of EGFR with cetuximab resulted in inactivation of MAPK, while blockade of HER3 with U3-1287 resulted in the inactivation of AKT. Treatment with both mAbs resulted in knockdown of both signaling pathways simultaneously. HER2 was also strongly inactivated upon dual mAb therapy, suggesting that this treatment regimen can diminish signaling from three HER family receptors. De novo CtxR H226 mouse xenografts were established to determine if dual therapy could overcome acquired resistance to cetuximab in vivo. Tumors that had acquired resistance to cetuximab were significantly growth delayed upon dual treatment of U3-1287 and cetuximab compared to those continued on cetuximab only. Combinatorial-treated xenograft tumors expressed decreased Ki67 and increased cleaved caspase-3 levels compared to tumors treated with either monotherapy. These studies demonstrate that dually targeting HER family receptors with antibody-based therapies can overcome acquired resistance to cetuximab.
Wrench-feasible workspace generation for cable-driven robots

This paper presents a method for analytically generating the boundaries of the wrench-feasible workspace (WFW) for cable robots. This method uses the available net wrench set, which is the set of all wrenches that a cable robot can apply to its surroundings without violating tension limits in the cables. The geometric properties of this set permit calculation of the boundaries of the WFW for planar, spatial, and point-mass cable robots. Complete analytical expressions for the WFW boundaries are detailed for a planar cable robot and a spatial point-mass cable robot. The analytically determined boundaries are verified by comparison with numerical results. Based on this, several workspace properties are shown for point-mass cable robots. Finally, it is shown how this workspace-generation approach can be used to analytically formulate other workspaces
Molecular genetics of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway and of sporadic pituitary tumorigenesis

Pituitary tumors are among the most common human neoplasms. Although these common lesions rarely become clinically manifest and they are almost never malignant, they are the cause of significant morbidity in affected patients. The genetic causes of common pituitary tumors remain for the most part unknown; progress has been limited to the elucidation of the molecular etiology of four genetic syndromes predisposing to pituitary neoplasias: McCune-Albright syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Carney complex and, most recently, familial acromegaly and prolactinomas and other tumors caused by mutations in the GNAS, menin, PRKAR1A, AIP, and p27 (CDKN1B) genes, respectively. Intense molecular studies of sporadic pituitary tumors from patients with negative family histories and no other neoplasms have yielded interesting findings with abnormalities in growth factor expression and cell cycle control dysregulation. To add to the difficulties in understanding pituitary tumorigenesis in man, good murine models of these neoplasms simply do not exist: pituitary tumors are common in rodents, but their histologic origin (mostly from the intermediate lobe), age of presentation (late in murine life) and clinical course make them hardly models of their human counterparts. The present report reviews the clinical and molecular genetics of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway in human pituitary tumors; it also reviews briefly other pathways that have been involved in sporadic pituitary neoplasms. At the end, we attempt a unifying hypothesis for pituitary tumorigenesis, taking into account data that are also discussed elsewhere in this issue.
Very high field phenomena in dielectrics

Understanding of very high field phenomena in polymeric dielectric is reviewed, based on the concepts of field-dependent conductivity and space charge limited field, which leads to the conclusion that the electric field distribution can be predicted with reasonable accuracy under high field conditions. Other phenomena, such as photon emission, cannot be predicted reliably, probably because the concepts underlying the entire theory, that of "traps" or "impurity levels" within the band gap, are not understood, i.e., while the theory is written in terms of such concepts, no convincing physical basis for these phenomena has been provided. This issue is discussed and some suggestions possible directions for future research are suggested.
A high slew-rate CMOS amplifier for analog signal processing

The performances of several types of analog VLSI circuits are limited by the setting behavior of CMOS amplifiers. An amplifier with a nonsaturated input stage which achieves a high slew-rate response is presented. The impact of this slew-rate amplifier on switched-capacitor circuits is described. Prototyping amplifier circuits were fabricated by the MOSIS service using a 2- mu m scalable CMOS technology. When biased at a DC power dissipation of 1 mW, the two-stage amplifier achieves a slew rate of 80 V/ mu s, a positive-supply rejection ratio of 73 dB, and a negative-supply rejection ratio of 57 dB and 50 kHz. >
Lensectomy-Vitrectomy for Stage V Cicatricial Retrolental Fibroplasia

Ten infants (18 eyes) blind from stage V cicatricial retrolental fibroplasia were examined from January 1978 to January 1981 at North Carolina Memorial Hospital. The early perinatal factors which may have predisposed to the binding end-stage cicatrix are identified. To increase their visual potential and to prevent secondary angle closure glaucoma, 12 lensectomy-vitrectomies were performed on 12 eyes (eight infants). One eye (one infant) had a pars plana vitrectomy without lensectomy. Seven eyes (seven infants) were not operated. Five of these eyes (five infants) had stage VRLF while two eyes (two infants) remained stable at stage II RLF. All retinas remained detached immediately after surgery. Secondary vitrectomies with air injections (three eyes, two infants) similarly failed to attach any retinas. Adherence of ciliary epithelium to clear lens and retrolental membrane as visualized within the dilated pupil (Eifrig-Merritt sign) was an intra-operative indicator of imminent surgical failure. Two eyes (two infants) developed early vitreous hemorrhages, hyphemas, secondary glaucoma, and phthisis bulbi within 12 months. Follow-up data were unavailable on two infants. Blindness secondary to cicatricial retrolental fibroplasia is increasing due to increased survival of low birthweight premature infants. Since surgical visual rehabilitation is not possible after the retrolental cicatrix has formed, the risk factors common to this high risk population should prompt preventive therapies.
Destination Choice and Processing Spatial Information: Some Empirical Tests with Alternative Constructs

A number of researchers in geography [5; 6; 7; 10; 11; 12; 13; 24; 28] have carried out studies which incorporate various disaggregate spatial choice models (integration theory and functional measurement; multiattribute attitudinal, markovian, MDS and other scaling models; portfolio theory). The findings are inconclusive in the absence of commonly accepted theories of choice behavior, and the models themselves vary substantially in their ability to predict actual patterns of spatial preference and spatial choice. Details of these approaches are, however, well-documented [4; 9; 14]. A noticeable gap in behavioral research has been the limited number of empirical comparisons of alternative modeling approaches. Certainly, there are exceptions [7; 25], but most geographic studies merely highlight conceptual differences [1; 18; 27]. This has hampered necessary advances in behavioral geography. Central to the development of a theory of choice is a procedure (i.e., a decision rule) that specifies how information is to be processed in order to arrive at a selection. The functional form of the decision rule has been a basic concern of geographers. However, a point of controversy which has not been satisfactorily resolved is: to what extent is compensation (or non-compensation)' a modeling assumption, and to what extent is it a substantive finding? The issue is complicated by the fact that empirical tests demonstrate that both compensatory and noncompensatory decision rules can exhibit a reasonable degree of convergent validity under experimental conditions [7; 13; 23]. This paper examines the predictive efficacy of three different modes of processing subjective information in spatial choice situations. The research is innovative in two distinct ways. First, the results are validated by using data collected from the same sample population to predict how subjects make preference and patronage judgments among spatial opportunities. Second, in terms of methodology, two compensatory models (additive conjoint measurement-a decomposition model; and multinomial logit-a composition model)2 are compared di-
Exploring a four-qubit hilbert space using hyperentangled photons

We present an experimental realization of the Smolin state using hyperentangled photon pairs from spontaneous parametric downconversion, to our knowledge the first optical demonstration of bound entanglement that does not simulate mixture using random unitaries.
An case-control study of severe case of Hand-Foot-and-mouth disease (EV71) in Fuyang City,Anhui Province

Objective To study the risk factors of severe and mild case of Hand-Foot-and-mouth disease(Enterovirus 71).Methods Case-control stud y.85 severe cases of Hand-Foot-and-mouth disease(HFMD) were confirmed by the national,provincial and municipal Joint Group of Experts and 57 controls(mild cases) were included by questionnaire,questions about month-old children,sex,birth situation,growth and development situation,past medical history,general home situation and visit course,etc in Fuyang City.Results Risk factors for mild cases induce to severe case of HFMD were analyzed using multiple logistic regressions.It is month-old children,normally guardian and average incomes of families.Conclusions After children were infected by EV71,smaller month-old children,poorer average incomes of families and normally guardian was the Grandfather / Grandmother or other people,the more severe possible.
SU-F-J-19: Robust Region-Of-Interest (ROI) for Consistent Registration On Deteriorated Surface Images.

Purpose: For African-American patients receiving breast radiotherapy with a bolus, skin darkening can affect the surface visualization when using optical imaging for daily positioning and gating at deep-inspiration breath holds (DIBH). Our goal is to identify a region-of-interest (ROI) that is robust against deteriorating surface image quality due to skin darkening. Methods: We study four patients whose post-mastectomy surfaces are imaged daily with AlignRT (VisionRT, UK) for DIBH radiotherapy and whose surface image quality is degraded toward the end of treatment. To simulate the effects of skin darkening, surfaces from the first ten fractions of each patient are systematically degraded by 25–35%, 40–50% and 65–75% of the total area of the clinically used ROI_ipsilateral-chestwall. The degraded surfaces are registered to the reference surface in six degrees-of-freedom. To identify a robust ROI, three additional reference ROIs — ROI_chest+abdomen, ROI_bilateral-chest and ROI_extended-ipsilateral-chestwall are created and registered to the degraded surfaces. Differences in registration using these ROIs are compared to that using ROI_ipsilateral-chestwall. Results: For three patients, the deviations in the registrations to ROI_ipsilateral-chestwall are > 2.0, 3.1 and 7.9mm on average for 25–35%, 40–50% and 65–75% degraded surfaces, respectively. Rotational deviations reach 11.1° in pitch. For the last patient, registration is consistent to within 2.6mm even on the 65–75% degraded surfaces, possibly because the surface topography has more distinct features. For ROI_bilateral-chest and ROI_extended-ipsilateral-chest registrations deviate in a similar pattern. However, registration on ROI_chest+abdomen is robust to deteriorating image qualities to within 4.2mm for all four patients. Conclusion: Registration deviations using ROI_ipsilateral-chestwall can reach 9.8mm on the 40–50% degraded surfaces. Caution is required when using AlignRT for patients experiencing skin darkening since the accuracy of AlignRT registration deteriorates. To avoid this inaccuracy, we recommend use of ROI_chest+abdomen, on which registration is consistent within 4.2mm even for highly degraded surfaces.
Lumbosacral Epidural Lipomatosis: A Retrospective Matched Case-Control Database Study.

Objective We present the largest known consecutive series of patients with epidural lipomatosis (EL) to characterize demographics and clinical symptoms of patients with EL on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and compare these characteristics against a matched control group. Methods Patients evaluated for pathology requiring lumbar MRI imaging between September 2010 and September 2015 were retrospectively reviewed and included in this study if they were diagnosed with EL on a radiologic note during any visit to our medical center. One hundred ninety-nine patients fulfilled the study criteria and were included in the study cohort. A separate patient cohort of 199 unique, age- and gender-matched controls without lumbosacral EL was generated from a database of patients with lumbar MRI imaging during the same period. Results Average age at diagnosis was 54.9 years (range, 25–84 years). One hundred thirty-three patients (66.8%) were men. On univariate analysis, patients with EL were more likely to have history of smoking (odds ratio [OR] 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–2.94, P = 0.004), diabetes mellitus type 2 (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.33–3.56, P = 0.002), or be on disability (OR 4.43, 95% CI 2.48–7.91, P 2 ; P Conclusions Patients with lumbosacral EL tend to be obese with a high incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggesting that this pathology may be a sequela of metabolic syndrome. Future research topics should include the pathogenesis of EL, as well as treatment outcomes of surgical versus primary care management.
Identification and Quantitation of Circulating Tumor Cells

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed from the primary tumor into the circulatory system and act as seeds that initiate cancer metastasis to distant sites. CTC enumeration has been shown to have a significant prognostic value as a surrogate marker in various cancers. The widespread clinical utility of CTC tests, however, is still limited due to the inherent rarity and heterogeneity of CTCs, which necessitate robust techniques for their efficient enrichment and detection. Significant recent advances have resulted in technologies with the ability to improve yield and purity of CTC enrichment as well as detection sensitivity. Current efforts are largely focused on the translation and standardization of assays to fully realize the clinical utility of CTCs. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of CTC enrichment and detection techniques with an emphasis on novel approaches for rapid quantification of CTCs.
A Comprehensive Multimorbidity Index for Predicting Mortality in Intensive Care Unit Patients.

Abstract Background: Accurate prediction of mortality for patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) is an important component of medical care. However, little is known about the role of multimorbidity in predicting end of life for high-risk and vulnerable patients. Objective: The aim of the study was to derive and validate a multimorbidity risk model in an attempt to predict all-cause mortality at 6 and 12 months posthospital discharge. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, clinical cohort study. Data were collected on 442,692 ICU patients who received care through the Veterans Administration between January 2003 and December 2013. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 6 and 12 months posthospital discharge. We divided the data into derivation (80%) and validation (20%) sets. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we compared prognostic models based on age, principal diagnosis groups, physiological markers, immunosuppressants, comorbidity categories, and a newly dev...
Use of Phishing Training to Improve Security Warning Compliance: Evidence from a Field Experiment

The current approach to protect users from phishing attacks is to display a warning when the webpage is considered suspicious. We hypothesize that users are capable of making correct informed decisions when the warning also conveys the reasons why it is displayed. We chose to use traffic rankings of domains, which can be easily described to users, as a warning trigger and evaluated the effect of the phishing warning message and phishing training. The evaluation was conducted in a field experiment. We found that knowledge gained from the training enhances the effectiveness of phishing warnings, as the number of participants being phished was reduced. However, the knowledge by itself was not sufficient to provide phishing protection. We suggest that integrating training in the warning interface, involving traffic ranking in phishing detection, and explaining why warnings are generated will improve current phishing defense.
The securable subspace of a linear stochastic system with malicious sensors and actuators

Analogous to the notions of controllable and unobservable subspaces, the recently introduced notions of securable and unsecurable subspaces for linear dynamical systems have important operational meaning in the context of secure control of deterministic linear dynamical systems. Specifically, given a multiple input, multiple output linear dynamical system, an arbitrary subset of whose sensors and actuators are malicious, the unsecurable subspace has the operational meaning as the set of states that the malicious actuators can steer the system to, without detection of the visit to such a state by the honest sensors in the system. In this paper, we examine these subspaces from the standpoint of a fully-observed stochastic linear dynamical system, and establish operational meanings for them in this context.
Die Keimschicht der Epidermis

Die basale Zellschicht der geschichteten Epidermis wird als stratum germinativum bezeichnet, da sie wahrend des ganzen Lebens Zellen fur die Erneuerung der oberflachlichen Hautschichten bereitstellt. Einige Strukturbesonderheiten der Zellen der Keimschicht konnen in der vorliegenden Aufnahme betrachtet werden.
THE EFFECT AND RELATIONSHIP OF AGE AND FRAILTY ON SURVIVAL IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

Appropriate patient selection for TAVR remains a dilemma, especially among the most elderly and potentially frail. Here we evaluate the ability of individual markers of frailty to predict outcomes after TAVR and of their discriminatory value in different age groups. We evaluated patients in the STS
Global Survey of a Novel Smartphone Mobile Endoscopy System.

Abstract Introduction: The most commonly performed procedure among urologists is cystoscopy. However, urologists in developing countries have limited access and funds to purchase the equipment nece...
Measurement of Intrarenal Blood Flow Distribution

Recent interest in evaluating the hemodynamic and functional characteristics of different nephron populations within the kidney has led to the development of a variety of methods to determine these parameters.
Towards a Virtualization-enabled Framework for Information Traceability (VFIT)

Automated and targeted attacks to steal sensitive information from computers are increasing in frequency along with the stealthiness of these attacks. Tools for generating attacks on existing Information Technology infrastructure are readily available. These attacks can easily evade detection from today’s countermeasures. Information theft is thus an important threat vector for networked communities where sensitive information is exchanged with partners in different administrative domains, with dissimilar security policies and configurations. The combination of disparately managed networks, ability to store information offline, and remote access functionality complicate the enforcement of information security policies. We tackle the issue of protecting sensitive information by applying a systemintegrity and information-auditing perspective. We believe this is the first step towards mitigating insider abuse of data-use privileges. We present a Virtualization- enabled Framework for Information Traceability (VFIT) to prevent unauthorized handling of sensitive information. We show that this hardware platform on which information is created, transformed and stored is a key enforcement point to provide accountable information flow. We describe the application of our previous work on Virtualization-enabled Integrity Service (VIS) to implement VFIT. Our approach is data-centric and provides a mechanism that can deterministically audit use of information while it is in use in volatile or non-volatile memory. Using this mechanism, we describe how existing network security mechanisms and our proposed framework can be applied to applications to provide traceability for sensitive information in a distributed system.
Lattice Dynamics and Electron Pairing in High Temperature Superconductors

Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with isotope substitution (16O→18O) sample preparation method is used to probe the effect of the lattice degrees of freedom on the electron dynamics of optimally doped Bi2Sr2CaC2O8+δ high temperature superconductors, as a function of momentum and temperature. Our data show that the lattice dynamics strongly renormalizes the electron dispersion and the photoemission line shapes. The renormalization is enhanced near the anti-nodal region and in the superconducting state, i.e. as the superconducting gap opens up. This unusual behavior is direct evidence that the electron-phonon interaction is correlated with the electron pairing in the high temperature superconductivity.
Development of an Optimization Model to Determine Sampling Levels

Purpose – As the complexity of the multi-component products increases the quality of these products becomes increasingly difficult to control throughout the supply chain. The first step to manufacturing a quality product is to ensure that the product components from suppliers meet specifications. Product quality can be controlled through sampling inspection of the components. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The model presented in this paper was developed to determine the optimal sampling levels for incoming lots containing parts for production and assembly of multi-component systems. The main objective of the model is to minimize the expected cost that is associated with a nonconforming item reaching assembly. Findings – In this research, the results showed that even with limited time available for inspection, performing sampling inspection significantly reduced the expected cost of a nonconforming item reaching assembly. The model, solved by the evolutionary algorith...
Brachial plexus injuries: regeneration timing and prognosis in patients without need for urgent operation. Preliminary results on truncus primarius superior

Background. In Italy, and more generally in the industrialized countries, traumatic nerve lesions have become more frequent. It is commonly accepted that it is necessary to wait 6 months after injury to suggest surgery if movement does not appear. In the scientific literature, there is no systematic clinical evidence of nerve regeneration timing after trauma., especially regarding brachial plexus.
Spiral Scanning in Longwave Holography

A general diffraction theory treatment of sampled longwave holography is presented. The results are used to demonstrate the properties of the spiral scan and other circular sampling formats in longwave (microwave or acoustical) hologram recording. Conclusions drawn from the theory are verified experimentally employing analog computer generated spiral scan formats and Fourier optics techniques. Both the uniform and the linearly “chirpped” spiral scan formats are considered. High quality millimeter microwave images of reflecting objects recorded employing the spiral scan are presented to illustrate the capabilities of this sampling format.
21 – Ordinary Differential Equations

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of ordinary differential equations. Many of the basic laws of the physical sciences, biological and social sciences are formulated in terms of mathematical relations involving certain known and unknown quantities and their derivatives. Such relations are called differential equations. A differential equation involving only ordinary derivatives, that is, derivatives of functions of one variable, is called an ordinary differential equation. A differential equation containing partial derivatives is called a partial differential equation. The solution to the initial-value problem of an ordinary differential equation can be checked by differentiation. The chapter discusses first-order linear equations and second-order linear, homogeneous equations with constant coefficients.
Pulse shortening in an actively mode-locked laser with parity-time symmetry

We consider an actively mode-locked laser system with parity-time symmetry. The system consists of two ring cavities, each incorporating an amplitude modulator operating at the same modulation frequency, but with the modulation phases differing by π. We show that spontaneous parity-time symmetry breaking can be used to shorten the temporal width of the pulse generated through active mode locking in this system. Our work highlights the importance of applying the concept of parity-time symmetry in pulsed laser systems.
Suicidal Behavior in Children: Issues and Implications for Elementary Schools

Youth suicide is massive public health problem. Although adolescent suicide has received greater attention in the professional literature, suicidal behavior in the form of suicidal ideation, suicide threats and/or plans, suicide attempts, and suicide does occur in preadolescent children. This article provides an overview of suicidal behavior in children, including the scope of the problem, developmental issues, risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors. Given that children spend much of their time in elementary schools, and that schools are considered appropriate and logical venues for suicide prevention efforts, the implications of child suicidal behavior for elementary schools and school-based mental health professionals are discussed.
Tunable Adhesion for Bio-Integrated Devices

With the rapid development of bio-integrated devices and tissue adhesives, tunable adhesion to soft biological tissues started gaining momentum. Strong adhesion is desirable when used to efficiently transfer vital signals or as wound dressing and tissue repair, whereas weak adhesion is needed for easy removal, and it is also the essential step for enabling repeatable use. Both the physical and chemical properties (e.g., moisture level, surface roughness, compliance, and surface chemistry) vary drastically from the skin to internal organ surfaces. Therefore, it is important to strategically design the adhesive for specific applications. Inspired largely by the remarkable adhesion properties found in several animal species, effective strategies such as structural design and novel material synthesis were explored to yield adhesives to match or even outperform their natural counterparts. In this mini-review, we provide a brief overview of the recent development of tunable adhesives, with a focus on their applications toward bio-integrated devices and tissue adhesives.
Circulating Tumor DNA: Clinical Monitoring and Early Detection

Roughly 70 years after the presence of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in circulating blood was discovered, cfDNA has emerged as a transformative technology in clinical oncology. The ability to assess the pr...
Identifying Drivers of Outcomes: Linear Models

In this chapter we investigate linear models, which are often used in marketing to explore the relationship between an outcome of interest and other variables. A common application in survey analysis is to model satisfaction with a product in relation to specific elements of the product and its delivery; this is called “satisfaction drivers analysis.” Linear models are also used to understand how price and advertising are related to sales, and this is called “marketing mix modeling.” There are many other situations in which it is helpful to model an outcome, known formally as a response or dependent variable, as a function of predictor variables (also known as explanatory or independent variables). Once a relationship is estimated, one can use the model to make predictions or forecasts of the likely outcome for other values of the predictors.
Emergency Management of Substance Use in Pregnant Patients

Substance use disorders during pregnancy are common and are often associated with increased maternal and fetal risk. In the emergency department (ED), a physician must try to engage these patients in treatment while safely managing intoxication and withdrawal to mitigate risk. In this chapter, the emergency management of various substance use disorders (specifically alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, and nicotine) in the care of the pregnant patient is reviewed. This review includes assessment of risks to both mother and fetus, recommendations for acute management, and disposition considerations for treatment.
Medical malpractice cases involving lack of access to dermatologists for incarcerated patients in the United States from 1982 to 2018.

While prison medicine is a heavily researched area for quality improvement, little is known regarding prisoner access to dermatologists. The goal of this study was to characterize the claims related to a lack of dermatologist access in prison malpractice cases. We searched the LexisNexis Academic database of legal records from 1970 to 2018 using the terms “medical malpractice and dermatologist” to yield federal malpractice cases involving dermatologists. Ultimately, 89 distinct cases in which a prisoner was not able to see a dermatologist were included in the final analysis. Data relating to year, location, anatomical site, symptoms, dermatologist related claim, specialty of treating physician, and final diagnosis were extracted for each case. The 89 cases involving prisoners who were not able to see a dermatologist for their skin condition ranged from 1982 to 2018, with California (n = 12) and Pennsylvania (n = 11) containing the largest number of cases. 76% of the prisoners were only treated by primary care prison physicians for their dermatologic concerns. Several issues regarding dermatologist access were categorized in this study. This study reveals limited access to dermatologists for prisoners in need of dermatologic care. Improved collaboration between prison officials, prison medical staff, and dermatologists could help improve prisoner care and limit malpractice risk.
106 – Poisson Formula

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the yield and application of Poisson formula. It is applicable to Laplace's equation in two dimensions with u(x) prescribed on a circle, the Dirichlet problem in a disk. It yields an exact solution, given by an integral. A simple extension of the Cauchy integral formula (from complex variable theory) allows the solution for Laplace's equation in a circle to be written down analytically. The solution to the exterior problem is also elaborated.