cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Nature and the Love of Wisdom: Rousseau’s Hidden (and Modified) Platonism

Book Five of Rousseau's Emile treats the same three themes, in the same order, as Book Five of Plato's Republic, and so can rightly be seen as a response to it. The response appears at first to be largely negative, for Rousseau emphatically rejects the political proposals made by Socrates. Yet Socrates' proposals can also be interpreted nonpolitically, as pertaining to the development of a just or healthy soul. And at this level, there turns out to be surprisingly close agreement and correspondence between the respective Books Five-not just because Rousseau, too, speaks to the development of the healthy soul, but also because the education depicted in Book Five of Emile emerges, on close study, as an education in or toward philosophy. Even as Rousseau embraces a Platonic teaching, though, he modifies it in a way that suggests a certain compatibility between aristocratic and democratic principles.
Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography Evaluation of Hepatic Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients Before and After Cytotoxic Chemotherapy or Targeted Therapy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate change in size vs computed tomography (CT) density of hepatic metastases in breast cancer patients before and after cytotoxic chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Methods A database search in a single institution identified 48 breast cancer patients who had hepatic metastases treated with either cytotoxic chemotherapy alone or targeted therapy alone, and who had contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scans of the abdomen at baseline and within 4 months of initiation of therapy in the past 10 years. Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated CT scans and identified up to 2 index lesions in each patient. The size (centimeters) of each lesion was measured according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, and CT density (Hounsfield units) was measured by drawing a region of interest around the margin of the entire lesion. The percent change in sum of lesion size and mean CT density on pre- and post-treatment scans was computed for each patient; results were compared within each treatment group. Results Thirty-nine patients with 68 lesions received cytotoxic chemotherapy only; 9 patients with 15 lesions received targeted therapy only. The mean percent changes in sum of lesion size and mean CT density were statistically significant within the cytotoxic chemotherapy group before and after treatment, but not significant in the targeted therapy group. The patients in the targeted therapy group tend to have better 2-year survival. The patients who survived at 2 years tend to have more decrease in tumour size in the cytotoxic chemotherapy group. Conclusion Cytotoxic chemotherapy produced significant mean percent decrease in tumour size and mean CT density of hepatic metastases from breast cancer before and after treatment, whereas targeted therapy did not. Nonetheless, there is a trend that the patients in the targeted therapy group had better 2-year survival rate. This suggests that RECIST is potentially inadequate in evaluating tumour response in breast cancer liver metastases treated with targeted therapy alone, calling for an alternative marker for response evaluation in this subset of patients.
Performance tradeoffs for exact support recovery of sparse signals

We study the tradeoffs between the number of measurements, the signal sparsity level, and the measurement noise level for exact support recovery of sparse signals via random noisy measurements. By drawing analogy between exact support recovery and communication over the Gaussian multiple access channel, and exploiting mathematical tools developed for the latter problem, we derive sharp asymptotic sufficient and necessary conditions for exact support recovery. Specifically, when the number of nonzero entries is held fixed, the exact asymptotics on the number of measurements for support recovery is developed. When the number of nonzero entries increases in certain manners, we obtain sufficient conditions tighter than existing results. The proposed information theoretic framework for analyzing the performance of support recovery is further demonstrated to be capable of dealing with a variety of sparse signal recovery models.
Age-related decrease of GABAA receptor subunits and glutamic acid decarboxylase in the rat inferior colliculus

A selective age-related decrease in both the protein and mRNA levels of the most abundant GABAA receptor subunits has been revealed in the rat inferior colliculus. The number (not affinity) of the native and fully assembled GABAA receptors assayed by 3H-muscimol binding was also decreased (35–49%). The decrease in GABA receptors was accompanied by a decrease in the protein and mRNA of the GABA-synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase. No other region of the rat brain showed such large age-related changes in these GABAergic synaptic molecules. Specific antibodies and riboprobes in conjunction with a computerized image analysis system were used to quantify immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. In old Sprague-Dawley rats, the combination of beta 2 and beta 3 peptide subunits was reduced 55%, while the beta 2 and beta 3 mRNAs were decreased 31% and 22%, respectively. The gamma 2S and gamma 2L subunit proteins decreased 43% and 21%, respectively, while the gamma 2 mRNA, including both short and long forms, was reduced 61%. The alpha 1 subunit protein was decreased 28%, whereas the alpha 1 mRNA decreased 40%. The glutamic acid decarboxylase protein was reduced 62% while GAD65 mRNA decreased 42%. Similar age-related changes were also observed in the inferior colliculus of Fischer-344 rats. In contrast, no changes were observed in the level of expression of some glial and/or neuronal proteins such as S-100, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and 160 KDa neurofilament protein in the inferior colliculus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Arthroscopic Management of Septic Arthritis of the Wrist

Bacterial septic arthritis of the wrist is a joint-threatening emergency that is often treated by open irrigation and debridement (I and D). There is evidence that patients with isolated septic arthritis of the wrist require fewer operations and have a shorter hospital stay when treated arthroscopically. This article describes the surgical technique for arthroscopic I and D of the wrist and discusses the indications and benefits of arthroscopic versus open I and D for septic arthritis of the wrist.
Utilizing genetic algorithms for the optimal design of electromagnetic devices

A new technique for the design optimization of electromagnetic devices that adopts the genetic algorithms (GAs) as the search method is presented. The method is applied to the optimization of the shape of a pole face in an electric motor. The electromagnetic analysis of the devices implemented is performed using 2D finite elements. The results show an excellent promise and potential of using GAs as an efficient technique for the optimal design problem. >
Order Flow and Exchange Rate Dynamics

Macroeconomic models of nominal exchange rates perform poorly. The propor-tion of monthly exchange rate changes that these models can explain is essen-tially zero. This paper presents a model of a new kind. Instead of relying exclu-sively on macroeconomic determinants, the model includes a determinant from the field of microstructure?order flow. Order flow is the proximate determinant of price in all microstructure models. This is a radically different approach to ex-change rate determination. It is also strikingly successful in accounting for real-ized rates. Our model of daily changes in log exchange rates produces R 2 statis-tics above 60 percent. For the DM/$ spot market, we find that $1 billion of net dollar purchases increases the DM price of a dollar by about 0.5 percent.
A reliable genetic technique for sex determination of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) from non-invasively collected hair samples

Extractions from non-invasive hair samples usually yield low amounts of highly degraded DNA. Previously developed mammal molecular sexing methods were not designed with such sub-optimal conditions in mind. We developed a simple and reliable PCR-based sexing method aimed at degraded, low yield DNA extractions from the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Comparisons of this new primer set with others showed that the reliability of sex determination from low-yield, degraded DNA extractions was improved if; amplification products were short (<170 bp); and the Y-chromosome amplification product was shorter than the X-chromosome amplification product. The primers developed in this study appear useful for sex determination in other bear species.
Maternal-fetal folate transfer: effect of ethanol and dietary folate deficiency

The effects of acute ethanol treatment and dietary folate deficiency on maternal-fetal folate transfer were studied to assess the hypothesis that the potentiation of ethanol's toxic effect on the fetus during ongoing folate deficiency was due to the impairment of folate transfer. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a folate-deficient diet (0.2 mg/kg) or a folate-sufficient diet (2 mg/kg) for an average of 11 weeks before pregnancy and continued until gestation day 11 when they were sacrificed. On gestation day 11, pregnant rats were treated with either ethanol (2.5 g/kg body weight) or isocaloric sucrose (control) followed by an intravenous administration of 3 H-folate (2 μCi/100 g body weight) at 120 minutes. At 210 minutes, maternal blood and feto-placental tissues were removed for radioactivity measurement. Folate status and ethanol treatment had no effect on the distribution of 3 H-folate in maternal circulation. However, contrary to the hypothesis, the uptake of 3 H-folate by feto-placental tissues was increased in folate deficiency and by ethanol treatment, indicating that folate transfer was not impaired by the ethanol treatment. Other possibilities are discussed.
Stabilization of jump linear gaussian systems without mode observations

Systems, such as those subject to abrupt changes (including failure) or those with uncertain dynamic model (or more than one possible model), can be naturally modelled as jump linear (JL) systems. Because of their applications in fields such as tracking, fault-tolerant control, manufacturing process and robots, JL systems have drawn extensive attention. The optimal control and stabilization problem for JL systems, when the mode (system model) is not assumed to be directly and perfectly observed, a realistic assumption in many applications, is nonlinear and prohibitive both analytically and computationally because of the dual effect. The main contribution of this work is the sufficient condition for stabilization for a class of adaptive controllers when the mode is not directly observed. We first present the optimal controller under an assumption of a certain type of mode availability. Using this optimal feedback gain, we derive a condition that ensures the stabilizing property for a class of adaptive cont...
Effects of CO2 Laser Surface Processing on Fracture Behavior of Silicon Nitride Ceramic

Surface defects generated by grinding deteriorate the flexural strength of the silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) ceramic. In this paper, CO 2 laser surface processing was applied to eliminate the grinding-induced defects. SEM micrograph showed that the surface integrity of Si 3 N 4 samples was improved after laser processing. Four-point bending tests and fractographic analysis indicated that the flexural strength and fracture origins were affected by the change of surface integrity in laser-treated Si 3 N 4 samples. The effect of grinding-induced residual stress on flexural strength of laser-treated samples was discussed. It was concluded that laser surface processing had significant effects on fracture behavior of flexure Si 3 N 4 samples.
Real-Time Operation and Harmonic Analysis of Isolated and Non-Isolated Hybrid DC Microgrid

In this paper, the real-time operation and the harmonic analysis of isolated and nonisolated dc microgrid are investigated. The microgrid features hybrid energy sources with various loading schemes. This hybrid dc microgrid was supplied by an internal generator and the ac utility grid. A supercapacitor bank functions by acting as a power buffer to satisfy the high power requirements of the dc microgrid. In order to properly manage the energy and prevent the ac grid power pulsation, a current-voltage control technique based on master-slave control concept is proposed. In this technique, the supercapacitor bank operates as the master and controls the dc bus voltage. The other converters are working in current control mode to share the required power. The controllers of the converters are equipped with hysteresis voltage control, which monitors the entire supercapacitor bank. Additionally, an analog hysteresis voltage protection circuit board was designed and implemented to protect the supercapacitor cells from overvoltages that can occur due to uneven charge distribution during the fast charging processes. The protection circuit, which was developed and built here, was experimentally tested, and its error was analyzed. Various operating modes based on different power sharing patterns were defined. The experimental test was carried out for both galvanically isolated and nonisolated dc grid systems. The results show that the proposed energy management algorithm properly shares power and control the voltage. In addition, depending on the power sharing pattern, the isolation of the dc microgrid significantly affects the harmonic content of the current.
The Transmethylation Hypothesis Restated

I want to briefly discuss the transmethylation hypothesis and try to restate it in a way that will incorporate some more recent findings. There appears to be considerably greater support for this hypothesis from recent biochemical and pharmacological findings than from therapeutic tests involving the administration of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. When Harley-Mason, Smythies, and Osmond proposed the transmethylation hypothesis, they were concerned principally with the possibility that epinephrine might be methylated to an analog of mescaline or to a hallucinogenic molecule. More recently a number of investigations have been concerned with the role of dopamine, rather than epinephrine, in psychosis, and the possible involvement of methylated derivatives of dopamine. This change in interest has occurred largely because of the discovery that a decrement in dopaminergic activity is responsible for the pathology in both drug-induced and naturally occurring Parkinsonism.
Genome-Wide Discovery of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Rainbow Trout

The ENCODE project revealed that ~70% of the human genome is transcribed. While only 1–2% of the RNAs encode for proteins, the rest are non-coding RNAs. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) form a diverse class of non-coding RNAs that are longer than 200nt. Emerging evidence indicates that lncRNAs play critical roles in various cellular processes including regulation of gene expression. LncRNAs show low levels of gene expression and sequence conservation, which make their computational identification in genomes difficult. In this study, more than two billion Illumina sequence reads were mapped to the genome reference using the TopHat and Cufflinks software. Transcripts shorter than 200nt, with more than 83–100 amino acids ORF, or with significant homologies to the NCBI nr-protein database were removed. In addition, a computational pipeline was used to filter the remaining transcripts based on a protein-coding-score test. Depending on the filtering stringency conditions, between 31,195 and 54,503 lncRNAs were identified, with only 421 matching known lncRNAs in other species. A digital gene expression atlas revealed 2,935 tissue-specific and 3,269 ubiquitously-expressed lncRNAs. This study annotates the lncRNA rainbow trout genome and provides a valuable resource for functional genomics research in salmonids.
Rethinking Coal: Thin Films of Solution Processed Natural Carbon Nanoparticles for Electronic Devices

Disordered carbon materials, both amorphous and with long-range order, have been used in a variety of applications, from conductive additives and contact materials to transistors and photovoltaics. Here we show a flexible solution-based method of preparing thin films with tunable electrical properties from suspensions of ball-milled coals following centrifugation. The as-prepared films retain the rich carbon chemistry of the starting coals with conductivities ranging over orders of magnitude, and thermal treatment of the resulting films further tunes the electrical conductivity in excess of 7 orders of magnitude. Optical absorption measurements demonstrate tunable optical gaps from 0 to 1.8 eV. Through low-temperature conductivity measurements and Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that variable range hopping controls the electrical properties in as-prepared and thermally treated films and that annealing increases the sp2 content, localization length, and disorder. The measured hopping energies demonstrat...
A Network-Based Approach To En-Route Sector Aircraft Trajectory Planning

This paper presents an automation method for aircraft trajectory planning for en-route sector control. A network model of traffic in a sector is developed with trajectories generated by solving for arrival times at nodes on the network using a mixed integer linear program. Results are shown for generating conflict-free plans while minimizing either total aircraft transit time through the sector or deviation from nominal flight plans. Although mixed integer program formulations are in general exponential in the number of constraints, the structure of the networks typically seen in sectors combined with constraints on allowable velocities greatly reduce the possible binary decisions that must be made, allowing a large number of aircraft to be planned for in real time.
Abstract 4547: High-throughput screen to identify compounds targeted to embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma harboring mutant HRAS using cells derived from a pediatric Costello syndrome patient.

Costello syndrome (CS) is a disorder caused by HRAS gene mutations. Substitutions in glycine residues at positions 12 or 13 of the HRAS gene lead to aberrant activation of the guanine-nucleotide binding protein, HRAS. Homozygous expression of mutant HRAS predisposes pediatric patients to early onset of cancer, especially embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), while heterozygosity at this locus results in non-malignant abnormalities. Since the mid 1970’s there has been only a modest increase in the 5-year survival rate for ERMS in the United States to no more than 70%, so new treatment strategies are needed. To address this need, we have acquired, propagated, and banked patient-derived ERMS cells harboring a homozygous p.G12A substitution and have used these cells to develop a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay to discover compounds that selectively kill cells bearing homozygous HRAS mutation. The assay employs luminescent detection of ATP using CellTiter-Glo to quantify cell viability. Cell number, growth conditions, and compound delivery were optimized to obtain a robust 72-hr cell growth assay. The potent cytotoxic agent dactinomycin was used to ensure reproducible sensitivity of the assay. The assay was validated for HTS by pilot screening of a library of 2,000 known drugs and bioactive natural products, and hits were confirmed by retesting in dose-response. Confirmed active compounds were tested for selectivity for ERMS harboring homozygous mutant HRAS in a panel of patient-derived and purchased cell lines: RD, an ERMS line not driven by HRAS mutation; RH36, a mutant HRAS (p.Q61K) ERMS line that is not derived from CS; fibroblasts derived from CS patients with heterozygous HRAS mutations (CS242, p.G12A and CS066, p.G12S), and normal fibroblasts. In future work, compounds identified by HTS as displaying selectivity for homozygous mutant HRAS-expressing ERMS cells will be evaluated in pairwise combinations and also in combination with currently used chemotherapeutics. Targeting mutant HRAS-activated cell growth could direct the design of a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of children with ERMS. Citation Format: Donna M. Cartledge, Katherine M. Drake, Karen W. Gripp, Katia Sol-Church, E. Anders Kolb, Andrew D. Napper. High-throughput screen to identify compounds targeted to embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma harboring mutant HRAS using cells derived from a pediatric Costello syndrome patient. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4547. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4547
Molecular biology of gelsolin, a calcium-regulated actin filament severing protein.

Abstract Gelsolin is a Ca2+-binding protein of mammalian leukocytes, platelets and other cells which has multiple and closely regulated powerful effects on actin. In the presence of micromolar Ca2+, gelsolin severs actin filaments, causing profound changes in the consistency of actin polymer networks. A variant of gelsolin containing a 25-amino acid extension at the NH2-terminus is present in plasma where it may be involved in the clearance of actin filaments released during tissue damage. Gelsolin has two sites which bind actin cooperatively. These sites have been localized using proteolytic cleavage and monoclonal antibody mapping techniques. The NH2-terminal half of the molecule contains a Ca2+-insensitive actin severing domain while the COOH-terminal half contains a Ca2+-sensitive actin binding domain which does not sever filaments. These data suggest that the NH2-terminal severing domain in intact gelsolin is influenced by the Ca2+-regulated COOH-terminal half of the molecule. The primary structure of gelsolin, deduced from human plasma gelsolin cDNA clones, supports the existence of actin binding domains and suggests that these may have arisen from a gene duplication event, and diverged subsequently to adopt their respective unique functions. The plasma and cytoplasmic forms of gelsolin are encoded by a single gene, and preliminary results indicate that separate mRNAs code for the two forms. Further application of molecular biological techniques will allow exploration into the structural basis for the multifunctionality of gelsolin, as well as the molecular basis for the genesis of the cytoplasmic and secreted forms of gelsolin.
Long-Term Survivor of Prostatic Carcinoma with Lung Metastases

AbstractA patient with stage D2 carcinoma of the prostate is presented with biopsy-proved pulmonary metastases. Treatment consisted of hormonal therapy in the form of orchiectomy and ethinyl estradiol and he is alive 14 years later without evidence of disease. The pulmonary manifestations of prostatic carcinoma are discussed as well as the prognostic implications. This long-term survival, in view of the patient’s initial presentation, makes this case unique.
Infantile Hemangiomas of the Lip: Patterns, Outcomes, and Implications.

Background Infantile hemangiomas of the lip are potentially problematic because of high visibility and risk of disfigurement and ulceration. This study examined sizes, patterns, and locations of lip hemangiomas, their prognostic value, and their implications in hemangioma pathogenesis. Methods Records of 106 patients seen for lip hemangiomas from 2006 to 2013 at Nationwide Children's Hospital were reviewed. Localized hemangiomas were mapped to a location on the lip based on their focus. Size, location, and morphology were assessed with regard to outcome. Poor outcomes were considered to be marked anatomic deformity, scarring, functional complications, and ulceration. Results Of 72 untreated hemangiomas with discernible outcomes, 92% of segmental lip hemangiomas were associated with poor outcomes, as opposed to 32% of localized hemangiomas (p < 0.001). Localized lip hemangiomas originated from six distinct locations. Localized untreated hemangiomas with poor outcomes were, on average, approximately 2.36 cm2 larger (95% confidence interval 1.47, 3.25) than those that resolved favorably (p < 0.001); 52% of upper lip untreated hemangiomas and 6% of lower lip hemangiomas had poor outcomes (p = 0.001), and 61% of untreated localized hemangiomas involving the vermilion border and 25% of those that did not had poor outcomes (p = 0.01). Hemangiomas that received early medical or surgical intervention were less likely to have poor outcomes than untreated hemangiomas (p = 0.03). Conclusions Localized lip hemangiomas occur in distinct locations on the lip that are not random and appear to reflect known models of facial development. Segmental morphology is associated with poor outcomes. In localized hemangiomas, the upper lip is associated with more problematic outcomes than the lower lip. Large size and involvement of the vermilion border are also valuable prognostic indicators associated with poor outcomes. Early intervention in lip hemangiomas is associated with better outcomes.
Role of Simulation in Perioperative Echocardiography Training Current Evidence and Future Directions

Echocardiography plays a major role in the diagnosis and management of hemodynamic compromise during the perioperative period. Both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography have been shown to improve outcomes after cardiac and noncardiac surgery. Teaching basic echocardiographic skills to perioperative physicians remains a challenging task. Thus far, simulation-based medical education has been proven useful in teaching specific procedural skills and management of infrequent catastrophic events. Simulation-based echocardiography education has the potential to facilitate clinical training in echocardiography. Several small studies have shown the benefits of echocardiographic simulation on developing psychomotor and cognitive echocardiography skills. Future research should focus on the impact of simulation on actual clinical echocardiographic performance in the operating room and ultimately, patient outcomes.
TH‐CD‐201‐08: Flexible Dosimeter Bands for Whole‐Body Dosimetry

Purpose: The two commonly used radiotherapy techniques are total body irradiation (TBI) and the total skin irradiation (TSI). In order to ensure the accuracy of the prescription beams, the dose received throughout the entire body must be checked using dosimetry. However, the available number of data points is limited as the dosimeters are manually placed on the patient. We developed a flexible and wearable dosimeter that can collect 1D continuous dose information around the peripheral of the patients’ body, including areas obscured from the beam path. Methods: The flexible dosimeter bands are fabricated by embedding storage phosphor powders in a thin layer of non-toxic silicone based elastomer (PDMS). An additional elastomer layer is formed on top of the phosphor layer to provide additional mechanical support for the dosimeter. Once the curing process is complete, the dosimeter is cut into multiple bands and rolled into spools prior to use. Results: The dose responses are tested using a preclinical cabinet X-ray system, where the readout is performed with a storage phosphor reader. Results show that the dose calibration factor is ∼1400 (A.U./Gy) from the beam center. Also, 1-D dose distribution experiment was performed in water phantoms, where preliminary results demonstrate that the dose in water is indeed attenuated compared to in air. Conclusion: Dose response and high-resolution 1-D dosimetry is demonstrated using the flexible dosimeters. By providing a detailed spatial description of the beam dose profile, we expect that the dosimeter bands may aid in enhancing the current existing modality in dosimetry. Since the dosimeter is flexible (can retract back to its original length), they can be comfortably worn around the patient. Potentially, multiple 1-D dose information can be stitched together and extrapolated to provide a coarse 3-D image of the dose distribution. This work was supported by funding from the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation under the CLARIONS grant.
Development of real-time performance metrics for manually-guided spacecraft operations

Real-time performance metrics were developed to quantify workload, situational awareness, and manual task performance for use as visual feedback to pilots of aerospace vehicles. Results from prior lunar lander experiments were replicated and extended to provide insights for the development of real-time metrics. Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) was employed to detect verbal callouts and measure subjects' situational awareness. ASR achieved an F-measure of 0.8, despite large variances within subjects. A one-dimensional manual tracking task and simple instructor-model visual feedback scheme was developed. Experiments showed that for this low-complexity task, visual feedback did not change subject performance, but did increase the subjects' measured workload.
Treatment Planning for Protons: An Essay

The first proton radiotherapy patient was treated in 1957 at the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory. At the Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory, treatments commenced shortly after in the early 1960s under the direction of the Massachusetts General Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Raymond Kjellberg. Neurosurgeons were well equipped to use the precision of proton beams without the availability of 3D imaging technologies such as CT. Their appreciation of the 3D cranial anatomy projected on X-rays sufficed to treat neoplasms such as pituitary abnormalities and arterial venous malformations. Both Dr. Kjellberg in Boston and Dr. Leksell in Stockholm pioneered the use of protons in the cranial anatomy. Dr. Kjellberg’s program, however, had ready access to the proton beam at the HCL (Fig. 7.1). Dr. Leksell’s program did not have ready access which led to the invention of the Leksell Gamma Knife as an alternative therapeutic system for stereotactic radiosurgery. Protons were thus the first modality used in cranial stereotactic radiosurgery, while the Gamma Knife made cranial stereotactic radiosurgery a standard modality.
Ecological Genomics of Host Shifts in Drosophila mojavensis

Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have liberated our dependency on model laboratory species for answering genomic and transcriptomic level questions. These new techniques have dramatically expanded our breadth of study organisms and have allowed the analysis of species from diverse ecological environments. One such species is the cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis that inhabits the deserts of western North America. These insects feed and develop in the necrotic cacti, feeding largely on the microflora of the necrotic plant tissues. Drosophila mojavensis is composed of four geographically and ecologically separated populations. Each population (Baja California peninsula, mainland Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert and Santa Catalina Island) utilizes the necrotic tissues of distinct cactus species. The differences in the nutritional and chemical composition of the necroses include a set of toxic compounds to which resident population must adapt. These ecological differences have facilitated many of the life history, behavior, physiological and genetic differences between the cactus host populations. Genomic resources have allowed investigators to examine the genomic and transcriptional level changes associated with the local adaptation of the four D. mojavensis populations, thereby providing further understanding of the genetic mechanism of adaptation and its role in the divergence of ecologically distinct populations.
DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE ALGAE IN THE BAY OF FUNDY, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

ABSTRACT Two stations along the Bay of Fundy, in New Brunswick, Canada, were visited at approximately monthly intervals for two years. One station, Mace Bay, has an extensive series of shelving rocks, and can be considered a fairly exposed site. The other at St. Andrews is sheltered. The seaweed flora of these two sites is described. A comparison is made of the vertical distribution of algae at the two New Brunswick stations with that of northern Massachusetts and Labrador-Newfoundland. Many plants commonly found in the littoral or extreme upper sublittoral at the Bay of Fundy sites occur in the deep sublittoral in Massachusetts. This suggests that many elements of a cold water flora may grow in more southerly latitudes, where the surface water is warmer but at greater depths.
What Can and Cannot Be Learned from Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Bacterial Proton-Coupled Oligopeptide Transporter GkPOT?

We have performed an extensive set of all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a bacterial proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter (POT) in an explicit membrane environment. We have characterized both the local and global conformational dynamics of the transporter upon the proton and/or substrate binding, within a statistical framework. Our results reveal a clearly distinct behavior for local conformational dynamics in the absence and presence of the proton at the putative proton binding residue E310. Particularly, we find that the substrate binding conformation is drastically different in the two conditions, where the substrate binds to the protein in a lateral/vertical manner, in the presence/absence of the proton. We do not observe any statistically significant distinctive behavior in terms of the global conformational changes in different simulation conditions, within the time scales of our simulations. Our extensive simulations and analyses call into question the implicit assumption of many MD...
Abstract 116: Myelopoiesis Following Myocardial Ischemia (MI) Involves Activation of the Nlrp3 Inflammasome by Neutrophil-derived S100a8/a9

Ischemic myocardial damage triggers leukocytosis particularly the production of monocytes and neutrophils from the bone marrow and spleen (myelopoiesis). These cells infiltrate the evolving myocardial wound, degrade extracellular matrix and aid in the clearance of dead cardiac myocytes and their debris. Although this inflammatory process is a prerequisite for tissue healing, it is non-specific and often blunt. If unchecked, excessive production of monocytes and neutrophils may result in abnormal ventricular remodeling and heart failure. The myocardial cellular and molecular events that orchestrate with the BM/spleen to regulate myelopoiesis remain unclear. We report here that the number of circulating monocytes and neutrophils peak within 24 hours following coronary artery ligation (LAD) in mice. This is due to expansion and proliferation of hematopoietic stem and multi-potential progenitor cells (HSPC) in the BM as well as extra medullary hematopoiesis in the spleen. MI induced -myelopoiesis was associated with a dramatic increase in the expression of S100a8/a9 (a damage associated molecular pattern), its receptor (Tlr4), the Nlrp3 inflammasome and pro-IL1β in the heart. Cell separation studies revealed that the infiltrating neutrophils and cardiac fibroblasts are the predominant source of S100a8/a9 and the Nlrp3 inflammasome respectively in the heart. Further, deletion of s100a8/a9 not only reduced MI -induced myelopoiesis but also significantly improved the mortality and cardiac function in mice following LAD. These data supports our hypothesis that neutrophil-derived S100a8/a9 interact with Tlr4 on cardiac fibroblasts to induce the Nlrp3 inflammasome and produce IL1β, which in turn stimulates IL-1R on HSPCs to promote myelopoiesis. Pharmacological strategies aimed at inhibition of S100a8a/9 or the Nlrp3 inflammasome-mediated production of IL1β may be a promising approach to limit inflammation following acute coronary syndrome.
Global Trends and Regional Variations in Studies of HIV/AIDS

We conduct textual analysis of a sample of more than 200,000 papers written on HIV/AIDS during the past three decades. Using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation method, we disentangle studies that address behavioral and social aspects from other studies and measure the trends of different topics as related to HIV/AIDS. We show that there is a regional variation in scientists’ approach to the problem of HIV/AIDS. Our results show that controlling for the economy, proximity to the HIV/AIDS problem correlates with the extent to which scientists look at the behavioral and social aspects of the disease rather than biomedical.
Obstructions to a small hyperbolicity in Helly graphs

Abstract The δ -hyperbolicity of a graph is defined by a simple 4-point condition: for any four vertices u , v , w , and x , the two larger of the distance sums d ( u , v ) + d ( w , x ) , d ( u , w ) + d ( v , x ) , and d ( u , x ) + d ( v , w ) differ by at most 2 δ ≥ 0 . Hyperbolicity can be viewed as a measure of how close a graph is to a tree metrically; the smaller the hyperbolicity of a graph, the closer it is metrically to a tree. A graph G is Helly if its disks satisfy the Helly property, i.e., every family of pairwise intersecting disks in G has a common intersection. It is known that for every graph G there exists the smallest Helly graph H ( G ) into which G isometrically embeds ( H ( G ) is called the injective hull of G ) and the hyperbolicity of H ( G ) is equal to the hyperbolicity of G . Motivated by this, we investigate structural properties of Helly graphs that govern their hyperbolicity and identify three isometric subgraphs of the King-grid as structural obstructions to a small hyperbolicity in Helly graphs.
Postoperative pain following posterior iliac crest bone graft harvesting in spine surgery: a prospective, randomized trial.

Abstract Background Context Postoperative pain at the site of bone graft harvest for posterior spine fusion is reported to occur in 6%–39% of cases. However, the area around the posterior, superior iliac spine is a frequent site of referred pain for many structures. Therefore, many postoperative spine patients may have pain in the vicinity of the posterior iliac crest that may not in fact be caused by bone graft harvesting. The literature may then overestimate the true incidence of postoperative iliac crest pain. Purpose We performed a prospective study testing the hypothesis that patients will not report significantly higher visual analog scores over the graft harvest site when compared with the contralateral, non-harvested side. Study design/Setting This is a prospective, randomized cohort study. Patient Sample Patients aged 18–75 years undergoing elective spinal fusion of one to two levels between L4 and S1 for spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis were randomized to left-sided or right-sided iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) donor sites and blinded to the side of harvest. Outcome Measures Primary outcome was a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) for pain over the left and right posterior superior iliac spine. Methods Bone graft was harvested via spinal access incisions without making a separate skin incision over the crest. Each patient's non-harvested side served as an internal control. Data points were recorded by patients on their study visit sheets preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Results Forty patients were enrolled in the study (23 females) with an average follow-up of 8.1 months (1.5–12 months). Mean age was 51.7 years (23–77 years). Left- and right-side ICBG harvesting was performed equally between the 40 patients. The average volume of graft harvested from the left was 35.3 mL (15–70 mL) and 36.1 mL (15–60 mL) from the right. There was no statistical difference between preoperative VAS score on the harvested side compared with the non-harvested side (p=.415). Postoperatively, there were consistently higher VAS scores on the operative side; however, these differences were not statistically significant at 6 weeks (p=.111), 3 months (p=.440), 6 months (p=.887), or 12 months (p=.240). Both groups did, however, show statistically significant improvements in VAS scores over time within the operative and nonoperative sides (p Conclusions The current literature does not adequately illuminate the incidence of postoperative pain at the site of harvest and the relative magnitude of this pain in comparison with the patient's residual low back pain. This is the first study to blind the patient to the laterality of bone graft harvesting. Our randomized investigation showed that although pain on the surgical side was slightly higher, it was neither clinically nor statistically different from the nonsurgical side. Our conclusion supports surgeons' use of autologous bone graft, which offers a cost-effective, efficacious spinal fusion supplement.
Religious resistance to neoliberalism: womanist and black feminist perspectives

In Religious Resistance to Neoliberalism: Womanist and Black Feminist Perspectives, Keri Day foregrounds “black feminist and womanist religio-cultural perspectives” (13) as primary resources for re...
NRC’S View of Decontamination and Decommissioning

The nuclear regulatory commission is deeply interested in the two basic subjects of this conference, decontamination and decommissioning. We have already licensed about 70 commercial power reactors to operate in this country and see about another 130 in the review and construction pipeline. There are dozens of fuel cycle facilities to support these reactors, and counting both State and NRC licenses, there are more than 20,000 nuclear material activities in the country. All of these nuclear facilities, from the largest reactor to the smallest material facility, will have radioactive residues--they will have to be decommissioned after their useful life is over and these residues disposed of while they are operating, many of these facilities will require some form of decontamination ranging from the cleanup of minor spills to major efforts such as the Dresden-1 Reactor Coolant System Decontamination or the cleanup of Three Mile Island-2. As time passes, NRC is devoting more and more attention to decontamination and decommissioning activities. We are, therefore, more conscious now of our existing policies, regulations, and standards on these subjects.
Assays Available Commercially

Commercial assay production is a fast-developing field and thus any discussion will most probably be very quickly outdated. For this reason a few examples, based on different principles, have been chosen to illustrate the kind of assay available. Others are marketed and the authors would like to point out that they are not necessarily recommending the assays discussed to the exclusion of the alternatives.
The Inference of Physical Phenomena in Chemistry: Abstract Tomography, Gedanken Experiments, and Surprisal Analysis

The maximum entropy method for tomographic reconstruction of a joint probability distribution from its marginals can be applied to problems frequently encountered in molecular dynamics. Once obtained the posterior joint probability can be used to predict the outcomes of untested gedanken experiments. These predictions can often be more readily assimilated than the raw data itself, allowing the scientist to tap his or her intuition further. Surprisal analysis of the gedanken measurements can reveal how many hidden constraints are active in the experimental process. Two problems often face the experimentalist: first, it may be infeasible to directly measure a quantity of interest although various projections of it can be sampled. Second, the sheer complexity of multidimensional projection data prohibits an intuitive grasp of the data’s scientific content. We recommend breaking the analysis into three parts: tomographic back-projection to manage the data, gedanken experiment prediction to stimulate discovery of unused prior information, and surprisal analysis for discovery of hidden constraints. Two new methods of applying graphical surprisal analysis to multidimensional data are described. Example applications to five molecules are given.
Milestones in Pediatric Surgery

Circumcision has been illustrated among the petroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians and is recorded as a mark of the covenant between God and Abraham in Genesis (Ch.17 verse 10) (Fig. 1.1.1).
The efficacy and use of finasteride in women: a systematic review.

Background Physicians are beginning to use finasteride as treatment for hair loss, hirsutism, and various other dermatologic conditions in women. However, the reported efficacy and use of finasteride in the female population varies widely. The purpose of this study is therefore to better define the efficacy and use of finasteride in women and identify research gaps that require further investigation. Methods A systematic review of the current literature describing finasteride use in women. Results A total of 2,683 patients participated in 65 studies involving finasteride use in women published between January 1997 and July 2017. Most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluated finasteride use in women with hirsutism (48.7%) or female pattern hair loss (34.7%). RCTs recommend finasteride treatment for women with hirsutism or polycystic ovarian syndrome. Meanwhile, other forms of hair loss were studied such as alopecia, lichen planopilaris, and frontal fibrosing alopecia, but no RCTs evaluating finasteride therapy were identified. Other prospective and retrospective studies report that finasteride may improve hair loss in women with female pattern hair loss or frontal fibrosing alopecia. Overall, doses of oral finasteride ranged from 0.5 to 5 mg/day, in females aged 6-88, over a duration of 6-12 months (57.6%), as monotherapy (88.9%), and for continuous use (96.4%). Conclusion The studies reviewed highlight the finasteride dosage, length of treatment, and candidate conditions that can benefit from finasteride therapy. Future long-term studies are necessary to fully assess the therapeutic mechanisms and potential consequences of finasteride use and to optimize treatment protocols.
The subjective-objective deficit paradox in schizotypy extends to emotion regulation and awareness

Abstract There is an emerging subjective-objective deficit paradox in schizotypy. Individuals with schizotypy report severe subjective complaints in several key functional domains commensurate with that of individuals with schizophrenia. However, objective assessments of the same domains show relatively intact performance. We examined whether this subjective-objective deficit paradox extends to two closely linked affective processes: emotion regulation and awareness. Individuals with elevated social anhedonia (SocAnh; n = 61) and elevated perceptual aberration/magical ideation (PerMag; n = 73) were compared to control participants (n = 81) on subjective and objective measures of emotion regulation and awareness. Subjective measures included self-report questionnaires assessing regulatory ability, attention to emotion, and emotional clarity. Implicit emotion regulation was assessed by the Emotion Regulation-Implicit Association Test (ER-IAT) while objective emotional awareness was assessed by the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS), a performance-based test. Results showed that both SocAnh and PerMag groups reported notable deficits in almost all subjective measures relative to controls (composite ds > 0.55). In contrast, performance on ER-IAT and LEAS was very similar to controls (composite ds