cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"They're Going to Unplug Grandma": Advance Directive Discussions and Documentation Do Not Decrease Survival in Patients at Baseline Lower Risk of Death

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of having advance directive (AD) discussions or having an AD in the medical record on patient survival. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Three Colorado area hospitals: a large academic tertiary referral center, a Veteran's Affairs medical center, and an urban safety net hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred fifty-eight adults admitted to the general internal medicine service interviewed about AD discussions. A concurrent chart review documented the presence of an AD in the medical record. Participants were stratified into low, medium, and high risk of death within 1 year based on validated prognostic criteria. MEASURES: Kaplan-Meier survival plots were estimated for those at low and medium risk of death. RESULTS: No significant differences in survival for participants at low and medium risk of death who reported having had an AD discussion and those who had not (Wilcoxon low risk, P = 0.97; medium risk, P = 0.28; and log-rank low risk, P = 0.82; medium risk, P = 0.45), and for those who had an AD in the medical record vs those who did not (Wilcoxon low risk, P = 0.84; medium risk, P = 0.78; and log-rank low risk, P = 0.86; medium risk, P = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence that AD discussions or documentation result in increased mortality. In regards to the current national debate about the merits of advance care planning, this study suggests that honoring patients' wishes to engage in AD discussions and documentation does not lead to harm. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
Policies related to active transport to and from school: a multisite case study

Active transportation to and from school (ATS) is a viable strategy to help increase physical activity among youth. ATS can be challenging because initiatives require transdisciplinary collaboration, are influenced by the built environment and are affected by numerous policies. The purpose of this study is to identify policies and factors that influence ATS initiatives. Nine elementary schools in seven states participated in this case study. Sixty-nine stakeholders were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed using a master thematic codebook. This study identified two distinct aspects of policies: ‘influential factors’ which are factors that might impact policies related to ATS and ‘policy actions’ which are policies reported by people involved in ATS initiatives that directly affected their success. Influential factors included sidewalks, crosswalks/crossing guards, funding, personal safety concerns, advocacy group involvement and others. Policy actions included policies on school speed zone, drop-off, no-transport zones, school siting, school start/dismissal time and school choice. Despite the diversity of the schools studied, similarities included influence of built environment, safety concerns, funding and transdisciplinary collaboration. Stakeholders need to work together to stimulate action and ensure successful initiatives. Influential factors appear to be important to this process.
The atomization energy of Mg4

The atomization energy of Mg4 is determined using the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels of theory. Basis set incompleteness, basis set extrapolation, and core-valence effects are discussed. Our best atomization energy, including the zero-point energy and scalar relativistic effects, is 24.6+/-1.6 kcal per mol. Our computed and extrapolated values are compared with previous results, where it is observed that our extrapolated MP2 value is good agreement with the MP2-R12 value. The CCSD(T) and MP2 core effects are found to have the opposite signs.
A security analysis of the Internet Chess Club

The Internet Chess Club (ICC) is a popular online chess server that started its existence in the early 1990s as the Internet chess server. Although the ICC Web site assures its users that the security protocol employed between the client and the server protects sensitive information, the authors show that this isn't true. This article examines two security aspects of the ICC. In moving from a free service to a commercial one, ICC's administrators introduced several enhancements to the original system, including time-stamping, a network security protocol, and online payments.
The likelihood ratio of sonographic findings for the diagnosis of hemorrhagic ovarian cysts.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to quantify the likelihood ratio (LR) of specific sonographic features and experienced sonologist assessment in diagnosing a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst and to better understand the diagnostic power of sonography in making this diagnosis. Methods. Two sonologists, blinded to the patient’s clinical history, independently reviewed the sonograms of 252 adnexal masses. For each mass, each sonologist recorded features using a standardized checklist, which included observations regarding the presence of fibrin strands, a retracting clot, septations, and wall irregularity. Each reviewer independently chose 1 specific conclusion from a list of possibilities that included the diagnosis of a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. Sonographic observations and sonologist predictions were compared with pathologic findings (n = 214) or follow-up sonography (n = 38). Results. Of the 252 masses, there were 30 hemorrhagic cysts. One sonologist correctly identified 25 hemorrhagic cysts, with 1 false-positive, 2 false-negative, and 3 indeterminate calls (LR 185). The other sonologist correctly identified 24 hemorrhagic cysts, with 1 false-positive, 0 false-negative, and 6 indeterminate calls (LR 178). The 2 cases incorrectly diagnosed as hemorrhagic cysts were endometriomas at pathologic diagnosis. Specific sonographic observations and combinations of observations performed as follows: retracting clot (LR >67); fibrin strands (LR 40); fibrin strands and no septations (LR 100); and fibrin strands, no septations, and smooth wall (LR 200). Conclusions. Fibrin strands and a retracting clot are paramount observations in allowing high confidence in the diagnosis of hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. Approximately 90% of hemorrhagic ovarian cysts will exhibit at least 1 of these 2 features. Key words: hemorrhagic ovarian cyst; likelihood ratio; ovary; sonography.
Perspectives on HRD Scholar-Practitioners: Current Issues, Strategic Possibilities, and Next Steps

Authored from the perspective of two scholar-practitioners, this article attempts to further explore scholar-practitioners in HRD by presenting and then attempting to answer four questions. First, why should HRD as a field care about scholar-practitioners? Second, what are the current issues and challenges faced by HRD scholar-practitioners? Third, what can the future hold for HRD scholar-practitioners in terms of strategic possibilities? Fourth, what are some concrete, tactical next steps that HRD scholar-practitioners and the field of HRD should consider?
Nanotechnology, risk and the environment: a review

Nanotechnologies are already interacting with the environment. Scientists and engineers are manipulating matter at the nanoscale, and these nanoscale processes and products are being used by industry in commercially available products. These products are either applied directly to the environment or end up in the environment through indirect pathways. This review examines the state of current environmental risk assessment of nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is described generally, then both the possible benefits of nanotechnology and the risks are reviewed in a traditional way. Subsequently, a philosophical criticism of the traditional way of looking at risks is offered.
The Blood of Christ in the Later Middle Ages

In one of our earliest descriptions of meditation on the crucifix, Aelred of Rievaulx (d.1166) described the body on the cross, pierced by the soldier's lance, as food and urged the female recluses for whom he wrote not only to contemplate it but also to eat it in gladness: “Hasten, linger not, eat the honeycomb with your honey, drink your wine with your milk. The blood is changed into wine to inebriate you, the water into milk to nourish you.” Marsha Dutton, who has written so movingly of Cistercian piety, speaks of this as a eucharistic interpretation of the literal, physical reality of the crucifixion and points to the parallel with Berengar of Tours' oath at the synod of Rome in 1079: “The bread and wine which are placed on the altar … are changed substantially into the true and proper vivifying body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and after the consecration there are the true body of Christ which was born of the virgin … and the true blood of Christ which flowed from his side … in their real nature and true substance.”
CLASSIFICATION OF LOCALIZED UNTREATED PROSTATE CANCER BASED ON 791 MEN TREATED ONLY WITH RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY: COMMON GROUND FOR THERAPEUTIC TRIALS AND TNM SUBGROUPS

AbstractPurpose: We examined cancer volume, percent Gleason grade 4/5 cancer, cancer location (peripheral versus transition zone), capsular penetration and biochemical cure rates in men undergoing radical prostatectomy to determine differences among clinical stages T1c, T2a, T2b and T2c.Materials and Methods: Detailed chart reviews confirmed the precise clinical stages assigned to 791 consecutive men treated only with radical prostatectomy. All prostates were examined prospectively by the Stanford technique of 3 mm. step sections. For biochemical cure rates a subset of 366 men were followed for a minimum of 5 years. Failure was defined as prostate specific antigen Tosoh [dagger] 0.07 ng./ml. or greater and rising. T1c was defined as impalpable cancer.[dagger] TOSOH Medics, Foster City, California.Results: T1c and T2a stages had half as much cancer volume as T2b and T2c cancers, 10 versus 25% Gleason grade 4/5 and half as much capsular penetration (30 versus 61%). Biochemical cure rates were 70 and 72% for...
Optical performance monitoring to enable robust and reconfigurable optical high-capacity networks

The desirable features of future optical high-capacity networks include higher stability, reconfigurability and security. In order to enable robust and self-managed automated operation, the network itself should be able to monitor the physical state of the network, automatically diagnose and repair the network, dynamically allocate resources, and redirect traffic. Optical performance monitoring can agilely provide valuable information such that routing tables themselves can dynamically reflect the state of the physical links to the network controller. The key features of the desired monitor include simplicity in implementation, cost-effectiveness, transparency to data formats and rates, and isolation of the specific impairment from the others. We propose and demonstrate novel optical performance monitoring techniques using cost-effective photonic components and artificial neural network-assisted signal processing to continuously monitor multiple impairments and to accommodate different high-speed advanced modulation formats. These monitoring techniques can facilitate rapid identification and isolation of impairments to enhance the dynamic management of the optical high-capacity networks.
Stability of orbits near large mass ratio binary systems

With improved observational capabilities and techniques, an increasing number of exoplanets have been discovered to orbit in the vicinity of binary star systems. In this investigation, periodic motions near a large mass ratio binary are explored within the context of the circular restricted three-body problem. Specifically, stability analysis is used to explore the effect of the mass ratio on the structure of families of periodic orbits. Such analysis is useful in a variety of applications, including the determination of potentially stable exoplanet motions near a binary star.
Rapid turnover of the AMP-adenosine metabolic cycle in the guinea pig heart.

The intracellular flux rate through adenosine kinase (adenosine-->AMP) in the well-oxygenated heart was investigated, and the relation of the AMP-adenosine metabolic cycle (AMP adenosine) to transmethylation (S-adenosylhomocysteine [SAH]-->adenosine) and coronary flow was determined. Adenosine kinase was blocked in isolated guinea pig hearts by infusion of iodotubercidin in the presence of the adenosine deaminase blocker erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (5 mumol/L). Iodotubercidin (1 nmol/L to 4 mumol/L) caused graded increases in venous effluent concentrations of adenosine, from 8 +/- 3 to 145 +/- 32 nmol/L (mean +/- SEM, n = 3), and in coronary flow, which increased to maximal levels. Flow increases were completely abolished by adenosine deaminase (5 to 10 U/mL). Interstitial adenosine concentrations, estimated using a mathematical model, increased from 22 nmol/L during control conditions to 420 nmol/L during maximal vasodilation. The possibility that iodotubercidin caused increased venous adenosine by interfering with myocardial energy metabolism was ruled out in separate 31P nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. To estimate total normoxic myocardial production of adenosine (AMP-->adenosine<--SAH), the time course of coronary venous adenosine release was measured during maximal inhibition of adenosine kinase with 30 mumol/L iodotubercidin. Adenosine release increased more than 15-fold over baseline, reaching a new steady-state value of 3.4 +/- 0.3 nmol.min-1 x g-1 (n = 5) after 4 minutes. In parallel experiments, the relative roles of AMP hydrolysis and transmethylation (SAH hydrolysis) were determined, using adenosine dialdehyde (10 mumol/L) to block SAH hydrolase. In these experiments, adenosine release increased to similar levels of 3.4 +/- 0.5 nmol.min-1 x g-1 (n = 6) during inhibition of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase. It is concluded that (1) maximal increases in coronary flow are elicited by increases in interstitial adenosine concentration to approximately 400 nmol/L, (2) more than 90% of the adenosine produced in the heart is normally rephosphorylated to AMP without escaping into the venous effluent, (3) AMP hydrolysis is the dominant pathway for cardiac adenosine production under normoxic conditions, and (4) the high rate of adenosine salvage is due to rapid turnover of a metabolic cycle between AMP and adenosine. Rapid cycling may serve to amplify the relative importance of AMP hydrolysis over transmethylation in controlling cytosolic adenosine concentrations.
Molecular Detection and Characterization of Cytauxzoon felis and a Babesia Species in Cougars from Florida

Piroplasms, morphologically indistinguishable from Cytauxzoon felis, previously were detected in 36% of cougars in Florida. We utilized a nested 18S rRNA assay, which amplifies DNA from all piroplasms, to screen blood samples collected from 41 cougars from Florida (39 native Florida panthers [Puma concolor coryi] and two translocated Texas cougars [P. c. stanleyana]) from 1989–2005. Thirty-nine of the 41 cougars (95%) were positive for piroplasms; however, sequence analysis and restriction enzyme digestion revealed that only five were positive for C. felis. Samples from 32 cougars were positive for a Babesia sp. Two cougars were co-infected with both C. felis and the Babesia sp. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the Florida panther Babesia sp. was most closely related to a Babesia sp. reported from Ixodes ovatus from Japan, Babesia divergens, and Babesia odocoilei. This study indicates that Florida panthers harbor two distinct piroplasms, C. felis and a Babesia sp., and that s...
A new mixed-metal Ag–Co coordination polymer assembled from cobalt-containing molecular building blocks and AgNO3

The cobalt-containing molecular building block Co(2-pyrazinecarboxylato)2·(H2O)2 (1) was prepared and used in the synthesis of a new mixed metal organic–inorganic polymeric material. The reaction between 1 and AgNO3 resulted in the formation of {Ag[Co(pyzca)2(H2O)(NO3)]}n (2, orthorhombic, Pbca; a = 12.9991(9), b = 7.7977(5), c = 27.7847(17) A, Z = 8), where Co(C5H3N2O2)2(H2O)(NO3) building blocks are linked by Ag atoms into a one-dimensional linear chain structure. The chains are linked into a three-dimensional framework via weak Ag + ··· (NO3) − interactions and “bifurcated” hydrogen bonds. The new coordination polymer exhibits thermal stability up to 200 ◦ C. The magnetic susceptibility for 2 follows the Curie law, with no indication of long range magnetic order. Synthesis, X-ray structure determination, thermogravimetric analysis and magnetic properties are presented.  2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.
Modeling and Characterization of Intermodulation Linearity on a 90-nm RF CMOS Technology

This paper presents measured, simulated and calculated third-order intercept point (IP3) on a 90-nm RF CMOS technology. The IP3 sweet spot is actually at a V GS lower than zero K 3g m point. This V GS difference is attributed to the nonlinear output conductance and the cross terms using a Volterra-series-based IP3 expression. The impact of these nonlinearities is quantified using simulated I-V and device small-signal parameters extracted from S -parameter simulation. The scaling factors of the nonlinearities causes a decrease of IP3 sweet spot J DS as device size increases. The IP3 expression can accurately predicts the device size dependence of IP3 sweet spot. The frequency dependence of IP3 is determined by the small signal capacitance. Thus, the frequency dependence is very weak and negligible for a small device. For a large device, not only gate-source capacitance and drain-bulk capacitance, but also gate-drain capacitance are important. To determine the value of IP3 accurately, a more complete equivalent circuit of the MOS transistor must be used in Volterra-series analysis. The V DS dependence of the IP3 sweet spot V GS is primarily due to drain induced barrier lowering.
Path diversity is only part of the problem

The goal of motion planning is to find a feasible path that connects two positions and is free from collision with obstacles. Path sets are a robust approach to this problem in the face of real-world complexity and uncertainty. A path set is a collection of feasible paths and their corresponding control sequences. A path-set-based planner navigates by repeatedly testing each of these robot-fixed paths for collision with obstacles. A heuristic function selects which of the surviving paths to follow next. At each step, the robot follows a small piece of each path selected while simultaneously planning the subsequent trajectory. A path set possesses high path diversity if it performs well at obstacle-avoidance and goal-seeking behaviors. Previous work in path diversity has tacitly assumed that a correlation exists between this dynamic planning problem and a simpler, static path diversity problem: a robot placed randomly into an obstacle field evaluates its path set for collision a single time before following the chosen path in entirety. Although these problems might intuitively appear to be linked, this paper shows that static and dynamic path diversity are two distinct properties. After empirically demonstrating this fact, we discuss some of the factors that differentiate the two problems.
Differential Assimilation of Inorganic Carbon and Leucine by Prochlorococcus in the Oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

The light effect on photoheterotrophic processes in Prochlorococcus, and primary and bacterial productivity in the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre was investigated using 14C-bicarbonate and 3H-leucine. Light and dark incubation experiments were conducted in situ throughout the euphotic zone (0-175 m) on nine expeditions to Station ALOHA over a three-year period. Photosynthetrons were also used to elucidate rate responses in leucine and inorganic carbon assimilation as a function of light intensity. Taxonomic group and cell-specific rates were assessed using flow cytometric sorting. The light:dark assimilation rate ratios of leucine in the top 150 m were ~7:1 for Prochlorococcus, whereas the light:dark ratio for the non-pigmented bacteria was not significant different from 1:1. Prochlorococcus assimilated leucine in the dark at per cell rates similar to the non-pigmented bacteria, with a contribution to the total community bacterial production, integrated over the euphotic zone, of approximately 20% in the dark and 60% in the light. Depth-resolved primary productivity and leucine incorporation showed that the ratio of Prochlorococcus leucine:primary production peaked at 100 m then declined steeply below the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM). The photosynthetron experiments revealed that, for Prochlorococcus at the DCM, the saturating irradiance (Ek) for leucine incorporation was reached at approximately half the light intensity required for light saturation of 14C-bicarbonate assimilation. Additionally, high and low red fluorescing Prochlorococcus populations (HRF and LRF), co-occurring at the DCM, had similar Ek values for their respective substrates, however, maximum assimilation rates, for both leucine and inorganic carbon, were two times greater for HRF cells. Our results show that Prochlorococcus contributes significantly to bacterial production estimates using 3H-leucine, whether or not the incubations are conducted in the dark or light, and this should be considered when making assessments of bacterial production in marine environments where Prochlorococcus is present. Furthermore, Prochlorococcus primary productivity showed rate to light-flux patterns that were different from its light enhanced leucine incorporation. This decoupling from autotrophic growth may indicate a separate light stimulated mechanism for leucine acquisition.
Skill Diaries: Improve Student Learning in an Intelligent Tutoring System with Periodic Self-Assessment

According to Self-Regulated Learning theories, self-assessment by students can facilitate in-depth reflection and help direct effective self-regulated learning. Yet, not much work has investigated the relation between students’ self-assessment and learning outcomes in Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs). This paper investigates this relation with classrooms using the Geometry Cognitive Tutor. We designed a paper-based skill diary that helps students take advantage of the tutor’s Open Learner Model to self-assess their problem-solving skills periodically, and investigated whether it can support students’ self-assessment and learning. In an experiment with 122 high school students, students in the experimental group were prompted periodically to fill out the skill diaries, whereas the control group answered general questions that did not involve active self-assessment. The experimental group performed better on the post-test, and the skill diaries helped lower-performing students to significantly improve their learning outcomes and self-assessment accuracy. This work is among the first empirical studies that successfully establish the beneficial role of self-assessment in students’ learning of problem-solving tasks in ITSs.
Midbrain and Hindbrain Involvement in Lissencephaly

Involvement of the midbrain and hindbrain (MHB) in the various groups of lissencephalies was examined in an MRI study of 111 patients (aged 1 day to 32 years; mean 5 years 4 months) studied at University of California San Francisco, and centers in France, Belgium, and Turkey.
Competitive Markets When Customers Anticipate Stockouts

Retailers often worry about how shoppers will react when they find an empty shelf, but the anticipation of experiencing a stockout may also impact customer behavior. This in turn affects a retailer's optimal price and inventory choices. In this paper we explore how the feasibility of visiting a second seller in a differentiated product duopoly impacts market outcomes using a combination of theoretical modeling, experiments, and simulations. Behaviorally, when shoppers can only visit a single seller they overweigh the probability of being stocked out and avoid a seller they expect to be too crowded. A result of this is that a seller may sell more units by stocking a lower inventory. Subject sellers appear to anticipate this reaction when making price and inventory choices. However, when it is costless to visit a second seller, customers follow their dominant strategies. While subject sellers are observed to engage in excessive price competition, they do not under stock.
Epigenome-Microbiome crosstalk: A potential new paradigm influencing neonatal susceptibility to disease

Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting primarily premature infants, which can be lethal. Microbial intestinal colonization may alter epigenetic signatures of the immature gut establishing inflammatory and barrier properties predisposing to the development of NEC. We hypothesize that a crosstalk exists between the epigenome of the host and the initial intestinal colonizing microbiota at critical neonatal stages. By exposing immature enterocytes to probiotic and pathogenic bacteria, we showed over 200 regions of differential DNA modification, which were specific for each exposure. Reciprocally, using a mouse model of prenatal exposure to dexamethasone we demonstrated that antenatal treatment with glucocorticoids alters the epigenome of the host. We investigated the effects on the expression profiles of genes associated with inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier by qPCR-based gene expression array and verified the DNA modification changes in 5 candidate genes by quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMSP). Importantly, by 16S RNA sequencing-based phylogenetic analysis of intestinal bacteria in mice at 2 weeks of life, we showed that epigenome changes conditioned early microbiota colonization leading to differential bacterial colonization at different taxonomic levels. Our findings support a novel conceptual framework in which epigenetic changes induced by intrauterine influences affect early microbial colonization and intestinal development, which may alter disease susceptibility.
The fine structure ofMastogloia grevillei Wm. Smith

1. An account of the cellular fine structure ofMastogloia grevillei Wm. Smith is presented. 2. The chambers of the punctae become flattened as they pass through the wall and open to the cell interior through three smaller pores. 3. Voigt's (1955) observation that, during cell division, the new hypotheca is fully formed before the septum is implaced is confirmed. 4. The locules contain cytoplasm which is structurally different from that of the rest of the cell. It appears that these structures function in the elaboration of sheath material. 5. The locules are connected to the external environment by tubes which pass through the septum. 6. An elongate chamber, separate from the locules, passes along the top of the septum. This chamber contains abundant mitochondria. It is postulated that these organelles furnish metabolic energy for the secretion of sheath material. 7. The pyrenoids are membrane-limited. The double disc bands of the pyrenoid pass through the membrane and are associated with the terminations of the chromatophore lamellae.
FFA Costa Rican Travel Seminar Participants' International Agriculture Knowledge and Perceptions

As American agriculture becomes increasingly interdependent with foreign agriculture and markets it is important for tomorrow’s leaders to have knowledge of international agriculture and customs. The purpose of this study was to determine the international knowledge and attitudes of FFA members participating in the Costa Rican Travel Seminar. This study was a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study was all FFA members participating in the 1998 and 1999 Costa Rican Travel Seminars through the National FFA Organization. The FFA members who participated in the Costa Rican Travel Seminar had an average knowledge of Costa Rican society, culture and agriculture. They did have positive attitudes towards international travel and learning about international agriculture. At the same time, they were not worried about their safety, food, water, or communications problems while traveling. While participants thought learning about international agriculture was important, they had received little or no instruction about international agriculture as part of their secondary agriculture program. Efforts should be made to increase the amount of international agriculture topics covered in secondary and postsecondary agriculture programs. Students participating in international agriculture study tours should receive instruction on the society, culture, and agriculture of the country being visited before the tour begins. Additional instructional time should be included during the tour and debriefing offered at the conclusion.
Self-Organization of Unconventional Gradient Concentric Rings on Precast PMMA Films

Concentric polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) rings with unconventional wavelength and amplitude gradients are formed both inside and outside a copper ring, which is placed on a precast PMMA film to control the evaporation behavior of a toluene droplet. The experimental results show that both the wavelength and amplitude of the PMMA concentric rings inside and outside the copper ring decrease as the PMMA rings approach the copper ring. For the PMMA rings with the same distance to the copper ring, the concentric rings outside the copper ring have larger wavelength and amplitude than those inside the copper ring. The characteristics of the concentric rings are dependent on the size of the copper ring and the film thickness. A featureless zone in the center of the copper ring is formed due to the evaporation-induced dewetting, and the size of which increases linearly with the increase of the copper ring size.
Overlapping irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease: less to this than meets the eye?

Though distinct in terms of pathology, natural history and therapeutic approach, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have some features in common. These include shared symptomatology and largely similar demographics. However, in most instances, clinical presentation, together with laboratory, imaging and endoscopic findings will readily permit the differentiation of active IBD from IBS. More problematic is the situation where a subject with IBD, in apparent remission, continues to complain of symptoms which, in aggregate, satisfy commonly employed criteria for the diagnosis of IBS. Access to methodologies, such the assay for levels of calprotectin in feces, now allows identification of ongoing inflammation in some such individuals and prompts appropriate therapy. More challenging is the IBD patient with persisting symptoms and no detectable evidence of inflammation; is this coincident IBS, IBS triggered by IBD or an even more subtle level of IBD activity unrecognized by available laboratory or imaging methods? Arguments can be advanced for each of these proposals; lacking definitive data, this issue remains unresolved. The occurrence of IBS-type symptoms in the IBD patient, together with some data suggesting a very subtle level of ‘inflammation‘ or ‘immune activation‘ in IBS, raises other questions: is IBS a prodromal form of IBD; and are IBS and IBD part of the spectrum of the same disease? All of the available evidence indicates that the answer to both these questions should be a resounding ‘no’. Indeed, the whole issue of overlap between IBS and IBD should be declared moot given their differing pathophysiologies, contrasting natural histories and divergent treatment paths. The limited symptom repertoire of the gastrointestinal tract may well be fundamental to the apparent confusion that has, of late, bedeviled this area.
A Numerical Analysis Method of Elastic-viscoelastic Composite Structures

The paper is presented a computational meation methods, and the convergence character for the iteration method is discussed in detail. Some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the practical application of the algorithm. It is concluded that the methods in the paper are more efficient and accurate than the Newmark method.
Novel Error Resilient Decoding Algorithm for LZW Based Residual Source Redundancy

We consider the problem of error resilient decoding from data corrupted by bit errors using the residual redundancy.We constructed a segmenting model for error resilient decoding in lossless coding,and a statistical model for English text.Based the constructed models,we proposed a novel error resilient decoding algorithm for LZW(Lempel-Ziv-Welch) compression algorithm.Some experimental results show that the algorithm can enhances the abilities of correcting errors significantly.The results were also analyzed in this paper.
Resection of the Suprarenal Inferior Vena Cava for Retroperitoneal Malignant Disease

Abstract Minimal renal dysfunction was noted in 4 of 5 patients undergoing right nephrectomy with resection of the inferior vena cava and ligation of the left renal vein. However, the results of this series confirm previous reports that patients with locally advanced right renal carcinoma requiring vena caval resection are cured rarely by an operation alone. In the absence of effective adjunctive therapy for renal cell carcinoma this procedure will most likely benefit patients with neoplasms responsive to either chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Frame Analysis: Interest Groups and Environmental Rules

The focus of this paper is to present an innovative way to use frame analysis to evaluate interest group influence during the pre-proposal stage of the rulemaking process across five case studies: 1) the USFWS critical habitat designation for Nebraska's Salt Creek Tiger Beetle; 2) the USFWS critical habitat designation for Utah/Arizona Shivwits and Holmgren Milk Vetches; 3) the USFWS delisting of the Northern Rocky Wolf population from the endangered species list; 4) the EPA regulations for locomotive and marine engine emissions; and 5) the EPA standards for renewable fuels. In analyzing these five cases, this paper finds strong evidence to support that the particular frames stakeholders used during the pre-proposal stage shaped the language of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
1 J, 05 kHz repetition rate picosecond laser

We report the demonstration of a diode-pumped chirped pulse amplification Yb:YAG laser that produces λ=1.03 μm pulses of up to 1.5 J energy compressible to sub-5 ps duration at a repetition rate of 500 Hz (750 W average power). Amplification to high energy takes place in cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG active mirrors designed for kilowatt average power laser operation. This compact laser system will enable new advances in high-average-power ultrashort-pulse lasers and high-repetition-rate tabletop soft x-ray lasers. As a first application, the laser was used to pump a 400 Hz λ=18.9 nm laser.
Effects of work–family interface conflicts on salesperson behaviors: a double-edged sword

Work–family interface conflicts have typically been cast in a negative light due to their detrimental consequences. This study offers new insights by uncovering conditions under which such conflicts may produce both positive and negative effects on salesperson job-related behaviors in the context of B2B sales. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theory as an overarching theoretical framework, the authors suggest that informal controls (i.e., professional control and self-control) have differential moderating effects in salespeople’s primary and secondary appraisal processes when faced with work–family conflict and family–work conflict. Dyadic data from a matched salesperson–customer sample reveals that professional control amplifies, whereas self-control mitigates, the positive effect of work–family conflict on perceived stress. Professional control amplifies the positive effect of stress on in-role behavior, and self-control strengthens positive effects of stress on in-role behavior and customer-directed extra-role behavior while suppressing unethical behavior under high stress. Moreover, the two types of informal controls moderate the direct effects of family–work conflict on salesperson behaviors in an opposite fashion, such that under a strong professional control, family–work conflict reduces in-role and extra-role behaviors and induces unethical behavior, whereas a strong self-control alleviates such detrimental effects. These findings suggest that work–family interface conflicts should be viewed as a double-edged sword capable of producing both positive and negative consequences under certain conditions, offering new theoretical insights and important managerial implications for this prevalent phenomenon in sales management.
Similar Risk of Cardiopulmonary Adverse Events Between Propofol and Traditional Anesthesia for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background & Aims Even though propofol use for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures has increased over the past decade, there is a perception that it causes a higher rate of cardiopulmonary adverse events. The aim of this study was to compare the sedation-related adverse events associated with use of propofol vs nonpropofol agents for endoscopic procedures. We also wanted to determine the influence of duration or complexity of the procedures and endoscopist-directed (gastroenterologist) vs non–gastroenterologist-directed sedation on the outcomes. Methods A search was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane controlled trials registry. The following cardiopulmonary adverse events were assessed: hypoxia, hypotension, and arrhythmias. The procedures were divided into 2 groups based on the procedure length: a nonadvanced endoscopic procedure group consisting of esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy, and an advanced endoscopic procedures group including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasonography, balloon enteroscopy, and endoscopic submucosal dissection. Pooled odds ratios for complications were calculated for all the procedures combined and then separately for the 2 groups. Random-effects models were used for 2-proportion comparisons. Results Of the 2117 citations identified, 27 original studies qualified for this meta-analysis and included 2518 patients. Of these, 1324 received propofol, and 1194 received midazolam, meperidine, pethidine, remifentanil, and/or fentanyl. Most of the included studies were randomized trials of moderate quality and nonsignificant heterogeneity (Cochran Q, 26.07; P = .13). Compared with traditional sedative agents, the pooled odds ratio with the use of propofol for developing hypoxia for all the procedures combined was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–1.07), and for developing hypotension was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.64–1.32). In the nonadvanced endoscopic procedure group, those who received propofol were 39% less likely to develop complications than those receiving traditional sedative agents (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.38–0.99). There was no difference in the complication rate for the advanced endoscopic procedure group (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.56–1.34). A subgroup analysis did not show any difference in adverse events when propofol was administered by gastroenterologists or nongastroenterologists. Conclusions Propofol sedation has a similar risk of cardiopulmonary adverse events compared with traditional agents for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. Propofol use in simple endoscopic procedures was associated with a decreased number of complications. When used for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures of a complex nature and longer duration, propofol was not associated with increased rates of hypoxemia, hypotension, or arrhythmias. Administration of propofol by gastroenterologists does not appear to increase the complication rates.
Uncorrected Insight: From Confusion to Clarity on the Green Tortoise

In this paper, I seek to demonstrate — through an account of a process of “boundary-breaking” enlightenment in my research on a Green Tortoise adventure travel tour — the manner in which a definition of truth “after modernism” can provide the foundation for a coherent, value-oriented, transformational (Harman, 1996) model of social inquiry.
Evaluating the mTOR Pathway in Physiological and Pharmacological Settings

Mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an evolutionarily conserved genuine protein kinase, which phosphorylates serine/threonine in response to growth factors and nutrients. It functions as a catalytic core in two distinct multiprotein complexes: mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). mTORC1 promotes cell growth and proliferation by positively regulating translation, transcription, and lipid biosynthesis in response to growth factors and amino acids, whereas it inhibits autophagy, an essential degradation and recycling pathway. mTORC2 regulates cell survival and cytoskeleton organization. Mechanistic insights into the function and regulation of mTOR complexes have been provided in various experimental settings and monitoring mTOR activity has been a most valuable way to judge whether levels of environmental cues such nutrients and growth factors can satisfy cellular needs for cell growth, proliferation, and autophagic response. Here, we describe useful methods to access mTOR activity in different experimental settings.
A pilot study on the prevalence of DNA palindromes in breast cancer genomes

DNA palindromes are a unique pattern of repeat sequences that are present in the human genome. It consists of a sequence of nucleotides in which the second half is the complement of the first half but appearing in reverse order. These palindromic sequences may have a significant role in DNA replication, transcription and gene regulation processes. They occur frequently in human cancers by clustering at specific locations of the genome that undergo gene amplification and tumorigenesis. Moreover, some studies showed that palindromes are clustered in amplified regions of breast cancer genomes especially in chromosomes (chr) 8 and 11. With the large number of personal genomes and cancer genomes becoming available, it is now possible to study their association to diseases using computational methods. Here, we conducted a pilot study on chromosomes 8 and 11 of cancer genomes to identify computationally the differentially occurring palindromes. We processed 69 breast cancer genomes from The Cancer Genome Atlas including serum-normal and tumor genomes, and 1000 Genomes to serve as control group. The Biological Language Modelling Toolkit (BLMT) computes palindromes in whole genomes. We developed a computational pipeline integrating BLMT to compute and compare prevalence of palindromes in personal genomes. We carried out a pilot study on chr 8 and chr 11 taking into account single nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions and deletions. Of all the palindromes that showed any variation in cancer genomes, 38% of what were near breast cancer genes happened to be the most differentiated palindromes in tumor (i.e. they ranked among the top 25% by our heuristic measure). These results will shed light on the prevalence of palindromes in oncogenes and the mutations that are present in the palindromic regions that could contribute to genomic rearrangements, and breast cancer progression.
Initial experience with endoscopic ultrasonic aspirator in purely neuroendoscopic removal of intraventricular tumors

Abstract OBJECTIVE Neuroendoscopic removal of intraventricular tumors is difficult and time consuming because of the lack of an effective decompression system that can be used through the working channel of the endoscope. The authors report on the utilization of an endoscopic ultrasonic aspirator in the resection of intraventricular tumors. METHODS Twelve pediatric patients (10 male, 2 female), ages 1-15 years old, underwent surgery via a purely endoscopic approach using a Gaab rigid endoscope and endoscopic ultrasonic aspirator. Two patients presented with intraventricular metastases from high-grade tumors (medulloblastoma, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor), 2 with subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (associated with tuberous sclerosis), 2 with low-grade intraparaventricular tumors, 4 with suprasellar tumors (2 craniopharyngiomas and 2 optic pathway gliomas), and 2 with pineal tumors (1 immature teratoma, 1 pineal anlage tumor). Hydrocephalus was present in 5 cases. In all patients, the endoscopic trajectory and ventricular access were guided by electromagnetic neuronavigation. Nine patients underwent surgery via a precoronal bur hole while supine. In 2 cases, surgery was performed through a frontal bur hole at the level of the hairline. One patient underwent surgery via a posterior parietal approach to the trigone while in a lateral position. The endoscopic technique consisted of visualization of the tumor, ventricular washing to dilate the ventricles and to control bleeding, obtaining a tumor specimen with biopsy forceps, and ultrasonic aspiration of the tumor. Bleeding was controlled with irrigation, monopolar coagulation, and a thulium laser. RESULTS In 7 cases, the resection was total or near total (more than 90% of lesion removed). In 5 cases, the resection was partial. Histological evaluation of the collected material (withdrawn using biopsy forceps and aspirated with an ultrasonic aspirator) was diagnostic in all cases. The duration of surgery ranged from 30 to 120 minutes. One case was complicated by subdural hygroma requiring a subduro-peritoneal shunt implant. CONCLUSIONS In this preliminary series, endoscopic ultrasonic aspiration proved to be a safe and reliable method for achieving extensive decompression or complete removal in the management of intra- and/or paraventricular lesions in pediatric patients.
The hydrologic record of karst systems: linking soil moisture to the carbon isotope signatures of soils above the Blue Spring cave system

Speleothem carbonates are precipitated continuously from inorganic carbon dissolved in seepage water infiltrating from the land surface, that reflects a mixture of atmospheric CO2, respired soil carbon, and epikarst sources, each with distinct δ13C values. To aid in deconvolving these signatures, soil samples were collected above the Blue Spring cave system in Sparta, Tennessee, USA and subjected to a series of incubation experiments, in order to constrain the correlation between CO2 respiration rates and soil moisture. This relationship is used to parameterize a simple mixing model which predicts the relationship between δ13C and soil moisture in fluids infiltrating into the underlying cave system.
Analysis of Sudoku coded waveforms and application to planar phased arrays

Sudoku puzzles often seen in magazines and newspapers are logic based where each entry within the puzzle is comprised of symbols adhering to row, column, and box constraints. Previously, we had investigated their potential in frequency hopped waveforms to achieve desirable radar ambiguity functions and compared them with random as well as the more familiar Costas sequences. This paper further examines the properties of Sudoku codes through computational search and analysis. We use the co-hit array, defined as the correlation between two sequences, to quickly and efficiently evaluate thousands of Sudoku puzzles. Additionally, we look at the application of Sudoku puzzles to beam steering in planar antenna arrays and compare them to random permutations.