cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B46: VLA-4 targeted nanoparticles carrying a novel anti-Myc prodrug prolongs survival in a mouse model of multiple myeloma.

The MYC oncoprotein drives multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis, but the utility of small molecule inhibitors of MYC-MAX dimerization is limited by poor efficacy. We determined the efficacy of lipase labile MYC-MAX inhibitor prodrug (MI1-PD) loaded nanoparticles targeted via integrin {alpha 4 beta1 α4β1) or Very Late Antigen-1 (VLA-4)} in myeloma mice. We hypothesized that NPs containing specific targeting to myeloma cells, would enhance the therapeutic efficacy of MI1-PD containing NPs. The antiproliferative activity of intergin VLA-4-Targeted MI-1PD NPs (iTM-NPs) was determined in mouse cell line (5TGM1) in vitro and its effect on the survival in C57Bl/KaLwRij-5TGM1 murine model of myeloma in vivo. iTM-NPs (approximately 20 nm in diameter, 5% w/w MI1-PD loading) under in vitro conditions exhibited inhibition of cell growth compared to the controls. Also, C57Bl/KaLwRij-5TGM1 mice that received intravenous injection of iTM-NPs demonstrated greater survival rate over the controls. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using VLA-4 targeted nanotherapy approach to improve the availability of anti-Myc small molecule inhibitors for multiple myeloma and other cancers. Citation Format: Deepti Sood Gupta, Dipanjan Pan, Grace Hu, Anagana Senpan, Xiaoxiao Yang, Edward V. Prochownik, Gregory M. Lanza, Michael H. Tomasson. VLA-4 targeted nanoparticles carrying a novel anti-Myc prodrug prolongs survival in a mouse model of multiple myeloma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies; Sep 20-23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(17 Suppl):Abstract nr B46.
Mechanical and microstructural characterization of alkali sulfate activated high volume fly ash binders

Abstract This paper presents a detailed characterization of cementitious blends containing high volumes of fly ash, activated using pH-neutral alkali sulfates. It is shown that this methodology, while resulting in a clinker factor reduction of 70%, provides requisite early-age strengths while compromising the 28-day strengths by only 30–40% as compared to plain OPC mixtures. The early age heat release for blends containing Class F fly ash is reduced by about 50% as compared to the straight OPC mixture. The overall pore volume increases with sulfate addition for the Class C fly ash based binder while it decreases when Class F fly ash is used, indicating the beneficial effect of the sulfate activation process in conjunction with a low calcium fly ash. The differences in reaction product constitution are brought out using thermal analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. 29Si NMR spectroscopy coupled with Gaussian spectral deconvolution on Class F fly ash-OPC blends provides valuable information on the changes in Qn(mAl) structures with addition of sodium sulfate, indicating the changes in the reaction products. From a durability perspective, Class F fly ash-based binders are found to be less susceptible to external or internal forms of sulfate attack as compared to plain OPC or the corresponding unactivated mixtures.
Phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean in Iowa: Minimizing losses through an improved understanding of population structure and implementation of novel management strategies

Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRR), caused by the oomycete Phytophthora sojae, is an economically important soybean disease in the North Central Region of the United States, including Iowa. Management of PRR includes the use of specific resistance (Rps genes), partial resistance, and seed treatment fungicides. We had three objectives specific to PRR in Iowa; i) to determine the within field population diversity of P. sojae in fields with a history of PRR, ii) to screen 32 PI lines identified with unique resistance to P. sojae with isolates from Iowa and determine their value for future breeding efforts and iii) to determine if seed treatment fungicides in combination with partial resistant cultivars of soybean would be a useful management tool against PRR. Previous surveys in Iowa recovered 12 races of the pathogen between 1966 and 2004. These surveys collected a single isolate from each site. We proposed multiple races could be identified from a single site, based on evidence from Ohio, Arkansas and Australia surveys. Three fields in Iowa with a history of PRR were extensively sampled. Soil samples were baited using leaf disc and seedling baiting methods. A total of 36 isolates of P. sojae were collected. Of those, 32 were identified to race or pathotype. We found multiple races and pathotypes in two fields sampled. Eleven races and 13 pathotypes are reported new to Iowa. Rps genes generally are defeated by P. sojae populations between 8 and 15 years after deployment. Due to the pathogen’s ability to defeat Rps genes, new sources of resistance need to be discovered and incorporated into commercial soybean lines. As part of a collaborative study with the North Central Soybean Research program, we screened 32 previously identified plant introduction (PI) lines against isolates of P. sojae collected
Epidemiology of Keratinocyte Carcinoma.

The study aimed to provide a synopsis of recent research advances in the epidemiology of keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), with a focus on indoor tanning and known risk factors for other forms of cancer such as cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking. The evidence is strong enough to infer that use of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-emitting indoor tanning devices causes KC. Epidemiologic studies of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and menopausal hormone therapy tend to show some suggestion for increased risk of KC but the evidence is not yet strong enough to determine if there is a true etiologic role. Body mass index is clearly inversely associated with KC risk, but this is more likely to be due to lower UVR exposure in overweight and obese individuals than it is due to a true etiologic role. The epidemic of KC continues unabated, and the causal role of indoor tanning is contributing to this unfavorable trend in KC incidence rates. Advances in understanding the etiology of KC should not divert attention away from the fact that the primary public health strategy to prevent KC is known: minimize population exposure to UVR from the sun and from UVR-emitting indoor tanning devices, particularly among those with sun-sensitive phenotypes.
Prophylactic Antibiotics and Foley Catheter use in Transperineal Needle Biopsy of the Prostate

AbstractWe studied retrospectively 162 patients undergoing transperineal needle biopsy of the prostate. All patients had urine cultures before biopsy. Patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1—no antibiotics (44), group 2—antibiotics before and after biopsy (69), group 3—antibiotics after biopsy only (42) and group 4—antibiotics before biopsy only (7). Groups were similar in average age (65 years) and pathologic diagnosis (prostatic cancer in 28 per cent and a benign prostate in 72 per cent). Of the 162 patients 4 (2.5 per cent) had positive urine cultures preoperatively. Post-biopsy urine cultures were obtained in 86 patients and 2 (2 per cent) were positive. Only 12 patients (11 per cent) required catheters for postoperative urinary retention. Complications occurred in 9 patients (5.5 per cent): 7 (4.3 per cent) had febrile episodes, 1(0.6 per cent) had a documented postoperative urinary tract infection and 1(0.6 per cent) sustained a large pelvic hematoma.No statistically significant difference coul...
Emotions and the Bad Boss

We examine the mechanisms by which abusive supervision is associated with a subordinate’s turnover intentions. Using affective events theory (AET) as a theoretical framework, we suggest that abusiv...
Modeling of a biological material nacre: Waviness toughness model

ABSTRACTHard biological materials such as nacre, bone, and teeth exhibit high values of toughness although it is meanly made of a ceramic material. Ceramic materials are brittle and fail in a catas...
Extended Release Liposomal Bupivacaine Injection (Exparel) for Early Postoperative Pain Control Following Pharyngoplasty.

Introduction Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is a long-acting local anesthetic reported to decrease postoperative pain in adults. The authors demonstrate the safe use of LB in pediatric patients with improved pain control following palatoplasty. Materials and methods Retrospective patient series of all single-surgeon palatoplasty patients treated at a tertiary craniofacial center from August 2014 to December 2015 were included. All patients received 1.3% LB intraoperatively as greater palatal nerve and surgical field blocks in 2-flap V-Y pushback palatoplasty. Postoperative oral intake, opioids administered, duration of hospitalization, and FLACC (face, legs, activity, cry, consolability) pain scores were measured. Results Twenty-seven patients (16 males and 11 females, average age of 10.8 months, weight 8.8 kg) received 2.9 ± 0.9 mL (2.6 ± 1.9 mg/kg) 1.3% LB. Average FLACC scores were 2.4 ± 2.2/10 in the postanesthesia care unit and 3.8 ± 1.8/10 while inpatients. Oral intake was first tolerated 10.3 ± 11.5 hours postoperatively and tolerated 496.4 ± 354.2 mL orally in the first 24 hours postoperatively. Patients received 8.5 ± 8.4 mg hydrocodone equivalents (0.46 ± 0.45 mg/kg per d hydrocodone equivalents) and were discharged 2.1 ± 1.3 days postoperatively. Opioid-related adverse events included emesis in 7.4% and pruritis in 3.7% of patients. Conclusions The LB may be used safely in pediatric patients. Intraoperative injection of LB during palatoplasty can yield low postoperative opioid use and an early and adequate volume of oral intake over an average hospital stay. Further cost-efficacy studies of LB are needed to assess its value in pediatric plastic surgery.
High pressure processing of beet extract complexed with anionic polysaccharides enhances red color thermal stability at low pH

Abstract High pressure processing (HPP; 600 MPa; 3 min; 25 °C) of beet root powder slurries complexed (1:1) with locust bean gum (LBG), sodium alginate, or gum arabic was assessed for its’ ability to affect the thermal stability of the red color presented by betalain pigments therein. HPP treated beet extract solutions alone did not show improved color stability during thermal treatment (50 and 80 °C) at pH 3, while those complexed with the anionic polysaccharides, alginate and gum arabic had dramatically improved color stability following HPP treatment compared to controls. The HPP treated complexes, particularly those with gum arabic, additionally maintained their red color through six weeks of unbuffered cold storage. The HPP treated LBG (neutral mannan gum) complexes also showed improved color stability at low pH although not as robust as the anionic polysaccharide complexes at high elevated temperatures. The improved color stability appears to be independent of any impact HPP may have on the beet extract solution alone. Measurement of the pigment complex zeta-potentials showed a reduction in LBG-beet root complex (least improved stability) negativity and an increase in the gum arabic-beet complex (most improved stability) negativity following HPP. ATR-IR spectroscopy showed relative peak height increases near wavenumbers 990 and 920 cm−1 following HPP for the beet extract alone and the tested complexes. This observation could suggest an increased exposure of pigment aromatic rings occurs with high pressure treatment. Furthermore, DPPH scavenging activity associated with the beet extract solutions was not dramatically reduced by polysaccharide complexation nor HPP treatment. The data suggest combined polysaccharide complexation and HPP can add much needed low-pH red color thermal stability to betalain containing solutions without adversely affecting the beneficial antioxidant potential of the pigments.
Improving Microretailer and Consumer Welfare in Developing Economies: Replenishment Strategies and Market Entries

Problem definition: Microretailers in remote rural areas in developing countries face high replenishment costs because of poor road infrastructure and the lack of formal distribution channels. This...
Application of anomalous diffraction methods to the study of DNA and DNA-complexes.

Anomalous scattering is commonly used to solve X-ray structures. As discussed here, anomalous scattering is also useful for characterizing complex systems with mixed and partial occupancies, where true electron density is represented by unresolvable ensemble averages. The solvent environment surrounding nucleic acids is an example of such a system, as are some DNA-ligand systems. The atomic number and wavelength dependencies of anomalous scattering allow one to filter out the electron densities of C, N, and O, and to cleanly visualize the electron densities of heavier atoms. Therefore, anomalous scattering can make beacons of selected atoms. In addition, anomalous scattering provides a model-independent method for determining atomic identities. Here, we describe applications of anomalous scattering to the structure determination of DNA-platinum complexes and in cation associations of free DNA, of DNA-anthracycline complexes, of chemically modified DNA, and of DNA-protein complexes. The utility of Rb{sup +} and Tl{sup +} as K{sup +} substitutes is supported by similarities in Rb{sup +} and Tl{sup +} association with DNA.
Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer

Radiotherapy has been used as an adjunct to surgical intervention for the last five decades, in view of documented effect on local control and reduced rates of vaginal vault recurrences. As surgical staging became established as part of the initial approach, a reassessment of the role of radiation in well-staged patients with low and intermediate risks of recurrence is ongoing. Intracavitary brachytherapy has low morbidity and is often used to reduce vaginal vault recurrences. External beam radiotherapy, on the other hand, achieves local control at the cost of some morbidity, and its impact on survival is uncertain.
HABITUATION OF THE ELECTRODERMAL ORIENTING REFLEX IN MONKEYS

Publisher Summary One notable way in which the orienting reflex (OR) differs from other reflexes is that it tends to habituate very rapidly. The OR is a positive feedback reflex in that its motor act results in an increase in afferent input to the central nervous system. It makes obvious biological sense for the OR and other positive feedback reflexes to habituate very quickly, as habituation serves to prevent the development of a self-perpetuating vicious circle of stimulus–response–stimulus that would be adaptively disadvantageous. Following habituation of the OR, a change in any important aspect of the stimulus results in a mismatch with the neural model and, accordingly, produces dishabituation of the OR. The degree to which the OR is dishabituated by stimulus change has been shown to be a positive function of the amount of change. The studies of the influence of stimulus variability on the habituation of the electrodermal OR in humans have shown that the variability habituation–retardation effect is not always obtained and that its occurrence is not simply attributable to predictability or uncertainty. The electrodermal OR of humans requires a greater number of trials to habituate to a pure tone that changes in frequency from trial to trial than to a pure tone of unchanging frequency. Likewise, the retardation of OR habituation results when a visual stimulus changes in color from trial to trial, compared to the presentations of the visual stimulus with unchanging color.
Experimental and analytical studies in crack initiation under fatigue: Part II — Analysis

The experimental results on damage evolution before crack initiation reported in Part I are analyzed. An energy release rate due to damage growth before crack initiation is evaluated with the use of a semi-empirical method for energy calculations and experimental measurements. Correlation of the elementary movements of the damage zone with the energy release rate shows that the rate of damage growth decreases monotonically. This is consistent with the growth behavior of an average damage density within the zone. The experimental data have shown that crack initiation occurred when damage density within a core zone ahead of the notch tip reached a critical level, independent of loading conditions. Assuming that damage evolution is a stress-temperature driven process, it is shown that a first order reaction equation describes reasonably well damage growth within the core zone. The rate constants are evaluated by invoking principles of kinetic theories of fracture and experimental results on crack initiation times. An activation energy for defect nucleation is found to be half the energy for thermal destruction and twice the enthalpy of activation for secondary chain motions below glass transition temperature. This result indicates that chain motions and chain scission are possible rate determining processes leading to crack initiation. This is consistent with the observation that dense crazing precedes crack initiation.
Automated Whitebox Fuzz Testing.

Fuzz testing is an effective technique for finding security vulnerabilities in software. Traditionally, fuzz testing tools apply random mutations to well-formed inputs of a program and test the resulting values. We present an alternative whitebox fuzz testing approach inspired by recent advances in symbolic execution and dynamic test generation. Our approach records an actual run of the program under test on a well-formed input, symbolically evaluates the recorded trace, and gathers constraints on inputs capturing how the program uses these. The collected constraints are then negated one by one and solved with a constraint solver, producing new inputs that exercise different control paths in the program. This process is repeated with the help of a code-coverage maximizing heuristic designed to find defects as fast as possible. We have implemented this algorithm in SAGE (Scalable, Automated, Guided Execution), a new tool employing x86 instruction-level tracing and emulation for whitebox fuzzing of arbitrary file-reading Windows applications. We describe key optimizations needed to make dynamic test generation scale to large input files and long execution traces with hundreds of millions of instructions. We then present detailed experiments with several Windows applications. Notably, without any format-specific knowledge, SAGE detects the MS07-017 ANI vulnerability, which was missed by extensive blackbox fuzzing and static analysis tools. Furthermore, while still in an early stage of development, SAGE has already discovered 30+ new bugs in large shipped Windows applications including image processors, media players, and file decoders. Several of these bugs are potentially exploitable memory access violations.
Molecular ethane adsorption dynamics on oxygen-covered Pt(111)

The dynamics of ethane trapping on Pt(111)-p(2×2)-O were investigated by supersonic molecular beam techniques at a surface temperature of 100 K. The initial trapping probability was measured in the range of incident energy from 10 to 45 kJ/mol and incident angles from 0° to 60°. A broad angular distribution of scattered ethane and total energy scaling (ET cos 0.2θ) for ethane trapping indicated a corrugated gas–surface potential. Stochastic trajectory simulations employing a potential developed from the trapping of ethane on Pt(111) gives quantitative agreement of the measured initial trapping probabilities over entire ranges of incident energies and angles. Calculations of energy transfer for ethane after the first bounce on Pt(111) and Pt(111)-p(2×2)-O clearly indicate that interconversion of parallel and perpendicular momentum and energy transfer to lattice vibrations account primarily for the differences in trapping probabilities between ethane on the two surfaces. At glancing incidence trapping is not significantly reduced on the oxygen-covered Pt(111) because the parallel momentum appears to be transferred partially to phonons.
ASIA, EAST | Chinese Civilization

Chinese civilization is an uninterrupted civilization that extended from the first day of its formation to the modern era. Its perseverance is pertained to a highly politicized kinship system, a strong institution of ancestral ritual, and a vast continuum of writing tradition. The formation of these unique features of Chinese civilization can be traced back to the second millennium BC in the mid Yellow River valley. Although highly complex societies had emerged in different regions within the boundaries of modern China, the hegemony of the mid Yellow states was the driving force that shaped the Chinese civilization. The political processes leading to the formation, operation and expansion of early states in the mid Yellow valley facilitated the interaction between polities of different regions and peoples of different cultural traditions, which in turn forged an increasingly homogeneous greater Chinese civilization.
Applying Systems Thinking to Coastal Infrastructure Systems

Coastal communities have an uncertain future as municipalities grapple with an increase in the frequency of coastal flooding. This article offers a simple approach to make decisions based on system...
Design of Graded Transition Joints Through Thermodynamic and Kinetic Modeling

Dissimilar metal welds between ferritic and austenitic alloys are common in high-temperature applications in the energy industry. Under service conditions, these welds experience carbon diffusion and concomitant detrimental microstructural changes that can render them susceptible to premature creep failure. Therefore, it is helpful to identify a filler metal and joint design to reduce the driving force of carbon diffusion and prolong the expected service life. In the current investigation, thermodynamic modeling was used to identify candidate alloys that reduce the chemical potential gradient, which is the driving force for carbon diffusion. Additionally, diffusion modeling was used to determine an optimal grade length for a graded transition joint to further reduce the extent of carbon diffusion. A graded transition joint was fabricated and aged to understand the microstructural evolution, and the results were used for direct comparison with the observed trends from the model simulations. It was determined that increasing the grade length to the millimeter length scale reduced the extent of carbon diffusion by an order of magnitude when compared to a conventional dissimilar metal weld with a concentration gradient on the length scale of ~ 10-100 microns. Additionally, a step function composition gradient was implemented into the diffusion calculations to simulate the more realistic gradients produced with additive manufacturing processes. In these stepped gradients, enhanced carbon diffusion occurred at the layer interfaces, indicating important regions that undergo microstructural evolution. The experimentally observed carbide distribution in the characterized graded transition joints is in good agreement with the calculated carbide distribution.
Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors of the Uterus

Gestational trophoblastic tumors are lesions derived from products of conception as opposed to tumors or lesions derived from the female gynecologic organs or patient’s tissue. These lesions can be divided into those that are non-neoplastic (villous) and those that are neoplastic proliferations; examples of the latter are choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor, and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor.
Spin Seebeck effect near the antiferromagnetic spin-flop transition

Author(s): Reitz, Derek; Li, Junxue; Yuan, Wei; Shi, Jing; Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav | Abstract: We develop a low-temperature, long-wavelength theory for the interfacial spin Seebeck effect (SSE) in easy-axis antiferromagnets. The field-induced spin-flop (SF) transition of N #x27;eel order is associated with a qualitative change in SSE behavior: Below SF, there are two spin carriers with opposite magnetic moments, with the carriers polarized along the field forming a majority magnon band. Above SF, the low-energy, ferromagnetic-like mode has magnetic moment opposite the field. This results in a sign change of the SSE across SF, which agrees with recent measurements on Cr$_2$O$_3$/Pt and Cr$_2$O$_3$/Ta devices [Li $\textit{et al.,}$ $\textit{Nature}$ $\textbf{578,}$ 70 (2020)]. In our theory, SSE is due to a N #x27;eel spin current below SF and a magnetic spin current above SF. Using the ratio of the associated N #x27;eel to magnetic spin-mixing conductances as a single constant fitting parameter, we reproduce the field dependence of the experimental data and partially the temperature dependence of the relative SSE jump across SF.
Clusters of Technological Change in Pioneering Economies

Lead economies ascend via Kondratieff waves. The etiology of these Kondratieff waves (k-waves) is complex because their effects are so pervasive. It may also be that their sources are equally numerous. However, one of the unfortunate by-products of the K-wave’s political–economic centrally is that it means different things to different analysts. Since price data were studied early, a number of observers equate K-wave fluctuations with monetary pulsations. Others link it to generational shifts, investment spikes, stock market oscillations, or war impacts. K-waves encompass all of these activities but it is not clear that it serves our analytical purposes to leave the identity of the core nature of long-term economic pulsations so open-ended. The causal ambiguities contribute strongly to K-waves’ controversial status. The more elusive the core identity of K-waves, the easier it is to take the subject less than seriously. The proposed remedy is to acknowledge technological clustering as the central K-wave motor, until or unless we find otherwise.
Endoscopy Used as Provocative Testing in Bariatric Surgery: An Analysis of the Texas Public Use Data File.

Background Many bariatric surgeons test the anastomosis and staple lines with some sort of provocative test. This can take the form of an air leak test with a nasogastric tube with methylene blue dye or with an endoscopy. The State Department of Health Statistics in Texas tracks outcomes using the Texas Public Use Data File (PUDF). Methods We queried the Texas Inpatient and Outpatient PUDFs for 2013 to 2017 to examine the number of bariatric surgeries with endoscopy performed at the same time. We used the International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification Version 9 (ICD-9-CM) and ICD-10 procedure codes and Current Procedural Terminology for Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and endoscopy, and the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 diagnosis codes for morbid obesity. Results There were 74,075 SG reported in the Texas Inpatient and Outpatient PUDF for the years 2013-2017. Of the SG performed, 5,521 (7.4%) had an intraoperative endoscopy. For the 19,192 LRYGB reported, 1640 (8.6%) underwent LRYGB + endoscopy. This was broken down by SG only vs SG + endoscopy and LRYGB only vs LRYGB + endoscopy. Overall, SG + endoscopy had a significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) vs LRYGB + endoscopy at 1.74 d vs 2.34 d (P < .001) and a significantly less cost of $71,685 vs $91,093 (P < .001). Conclusions A small percentage of SG and LRYGB patients underwent endoscopy for provocative testing over the study period. Provocative testing with endoscopy costs more for SG and LRYGB and was associated with a shorter LOS.
Five-year changes in support for tobacco control policy options among students, faculty and staff at a public university

Abstract Over 2500 U.S. colleges and universities have instituted smoke-free (prohibiting combustible tobacco) or tobacco-free (prohibiting all tobacco) campus policies, and support for such policies by students, faculty and staff is an essential ingredient for successful implementation. Cross-sectional studies have found that these policies are well supported, but longitudinal studies that track change in support over time are rare. The present study reports on two campus-wide web-based surveys conducted five years apart, 2013 and 2018, at a public university campus for which a smoke-free policy was in effect. The 2013 samples included 5691 students (26% response rate) and 2051 faculty and staff (43% response rate); the 2018 samples included 4883 students (21% response rate) and 1882 faculty/staff (37% response rate). Question wordings and procedures were largely consistent across the two surveys. Changes in support among students and faculty/staff for both a smoke-free and a tobacco-free campus were measured, including separate analyses for past-month tobacco users and non-users. Chi-square tests revealed that support for both policy options by all respondent groups (student tobacco users and non-users; faculty/staff tobacco users and non-users) increased significantly and substantially, with the exception of student non-users' support of a smoke-free campus, which was already high in 2013 (83.7% support) and remained relatively unchanged. Increases in support for the tobacco-free option were particularly large. Results are discussed in light of theories of social norm change. These findings provide evidence from one university that tobacco control policies, especially those making a campus fully tobacco-free, increase in popularity over time.
Impact of Insurance Status on Oncologic and Perioperative Outcomes After Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

A growing body of research has shown that underinsured patients are at increased risk of worse health outcomes compared with insured patients. Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is largely performed at highly specialized cancer centers and may pose challenges for the underinsured. This study investigates surgical outcomes following CRS-HIPEC for insured and underinsured patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 125 patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC between 2013 and 2019. Patients were categorized into two groups. The insured group was comprised of patients with private insurance at the time of CRS-HIPEC or who obtained it during the follow-up period. The underinsured group consisted of patients with Medicaid, or self-pay. Perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared between the two groups. A total of 102 (82.3%) patients were insured, and 22 (17.7%) patients were underinsured. There were no significant differences in age, medical morbidities, primary tumor characteristics, peritoneal carcinomatosis index, or completion of cytoreduction score between the two groups. The median overall survival (OS) for insured patients was 64.8 months and was 52.9 months for underinsured patients (p = 0.01). Additionally, insured patients had a significantly longer follow-up time. Underinsurance status also was associated with increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, and higher rate of Clavien–Dindo classification III–IV complications. In this retrospective study conducted at a large, urban, specialized cancer center, private insurance status was associated with increased overall survival and longer follow-up period. Furthermore, underinsurance status was associated with increased perioperative morbidity.
EFFECTS OF BICARBONATE ON GROWTH OF PASTEURELLA PESTIS III. Replacement of Bicarbonate by Pyrimidines

Baugh, C. L. (Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), A. W. Andrews, and M. J. Surgalla. Effects of bicarbonate on growth of Pasteurella pestis . III. Replacement of bicarbonate by pyrimidines. J. Bacteriol. 88: 1394–1398. 1964.—The effect of carbon dioxide on the growth of virulent Pasteurella pestis cultures at 37 C with aeration was studied by substituting known products of carbon dioxide fixation for bicarbonate in the test system. The growth of the virulent cells in the inoculum is stimulated and the culture remains virulent, if bicarbonate is replaced by orotic acid. The addition of cytosine, uracil, or citrulline also results in the retention of virulence, but the effect on the growth of the virulent cells is not as pronounced as with bicarbonate or orotic acid. It is proposed that an impaired pyrimidine synthesis due to a deficiency in carbomyl phosphate is responsible for the loss of virulence by P. pestis in aerated broth cultures at 37 C. The carbamyl phosphate deficiency may be enhanced by the loss of metabolically produced carbon dioxide at 37 C.
A dynamic spherical agglomerate model for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)

Abstract There has been growing interest in the modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). While some steady-state models have been proposed, literature is scarce in PEMFC two-phase dynamic models and transient studies. Typical dynamic models for the fuel cell are empirical current-voltage dynamic models. The internal transients associated with reactant and product species and other components are usually neglected. Further, systems engineering studies such as process control, dynamic optimization, identification of faults and other operational problems in fuel cell studies are missing to a large extent. A detailed dynamic model for spherical agglomerate in a PEMFC is presented in this work. The dynamic model will include detailed mathematical equations for O2 and H+ ions. The model will be unique from the earlier proposed models, as it will include not only the dynamics, but also detailed mathematical equations for transport and electrochemical kinetics. Preliminary results using the dynamic model of spherical agglomerate are presented in this paper.
Chapter 8 Current Techniques and Concepts in Peripheral Nerve Repair

Despite the progress in understanding the pathophysiology of peripheral nervous system injury and regeneration, as well as advancements in microsurgical techniques, peripheral nerve injuries are still a major challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Thorough knowledge of anatomy, pathophysiology, and surgical reconstruction is a prerequisite of proper peripheral nerve injury management. This chapter reviews the currently available surgical treatment options for different types of nerve injuries in clinical conditions. In overview of direct nerve repair, various end-to-end coaptation techniques and the role of end-to-side repair for proximal nerve injuries is described. When primary repair cannot be performed without undue tension, nerve grafting or tubulization techniques are required. Current gold standard for bridging nerve gaps is nerve autografting. However, disadvantages of this approach, such as donor site morbidity and limited length of available graft material encouraged the search for alternative means of nerve gap reconstruction. Nerve allografting was introduced for repair of extensive nerve injuries. Tubulization techniques with natural or artificial conduits are applicable as an alternative for bridging short nerve defects without the morbidities associated with harvesting of autologous nerve grafts. Achieving better outcomes depends both on the advancements in microsurgical techniques and introduction of molecular biology discoveries into clinical practice. The field of peripheral nerve research is dynamically developing and concentrates on more sophisticated approaches tested at the basic science level. Future directions in peripheral nerve reconstruction including, tolerance induction and minimal immunosuppression for nerve allografting, cell based supportive therapies and bioengineering of nerve conduits are also reviewed in this chapter.
Multimedia computer products and usability: needed research

Those people who are concerned with usability more and more frequently work with multimedia, and thus ask: 'how do we effectively and efficiently test and revise user interfaces and educational products that are integrating new media?' The author reviews some of the resources one can coordinate in an investigation of these issues: usability testing, interface design, technical communication, office information systems, and instructional design. She calls for broad-based research into how new media affect learning and use of products using multimedia. >
Intimate partner violence and women's experiences of grief

A greater understanding of women's emotional and behavioural responses to intimate partner violence (IPV) may be aided by an examination of the grief course. Women going through the process of leaving their abusers, like women leaving non-violent partners, experience grief during and at the termination of their relationship, even if they feel relief at the cessation of violence. Through qualitative interviews with 14 female survivors of IPV, we critically examine the utility of Kubler-Ross' grief model to understand how women come to terms with their experiences of violence and the end of their violent relationships. RESULTS suggest that Kubler-Ross' model helps explain the emotional reactions and decision-making of IPV survivors in regard to staying, leaving and returning to their partners. While a model developed to explain grief due to death may not entirely explain the reactions of IPV survivors going through the process of leaving abusive partners, and does not account for psychological reactions to trauma, social workers and mental-health professionals can use this grief model as a framework to better tailor services to survivors of IPV. Language: en
Bicycle ergometer endurance in women related to maximal leg force, leg volume, and body composition.

Abstract Endurance in 29 college women was measured on a bicycle ergometer. Subjects pedaled against a constant frictional resistance of 2.5 kg for 6 min at an initial rate of 60 rpm (900 kg-m). Decrement in performance from minute 1 to 6 averaged 28.1%. Reliability of test-retest endurance was high (r = > .90 after minute 1). Maximal leg force (MLF) measured during cycling at 60 rpm on an isokinetic ergometer correlated r = .73 and .74 with performance at minutes 2 and 3, but r = .51 to .57 for the other minutes. Removing heterogeneity in body weight and lean body weight from the MLF versus performance correlations by use of partial correlations reduced the correlations by 7.5% and 18.3%, respectively. The correlations were significant but low (p < .05) between endurance, leg volume, and body composition. Prediction of cumulative endurance of 6-min duration was satisfactory with a shorter 2- to 4-min performance, since the correlation in predicting the 6-min results were high after minute 2 (r = .76), mi...
Probing Multiparton Correlations at CEBAF

In this talk, I explore the possibilities of probing the multiparton correlation functions at CEBAF at its current energy and the energies with its future upgrades.
Authorized Conflicts: The Bible in Church Conversations

Although Christians may think of the authority of the Bible as something that will resolve our arguments, we continue to argue. The authority of the Bible is primarily one of authorizing: giving us our identity. The Bible itself is full of arguments, and we who live in its heritage continue those arguments and also use the Bible as a model for arguing about in areas that were not contentious in biblical times. Christians can recognize one another as sisters and brothers in Christ while continuing to argue.
Fine-structural aspects of fertilization in Chlamydomonas reinhardi.

Gametes of C. reinhardi lack the cell wall which vegetative cells possess. Just below the cell apex gametes form a fertilization tubule which is up to 2 µ long and 0.2 µ in diameter; its plasma membrane and that of the apex have slender tubular projections. At the base of the fertilization tubule regularly lies the choanoid body , a collar-shaped cytoplasmic organelle; the plasma membrane overlying the body appears as an electron-dense ring. Gametes possess two ‘free’ basal bodies in addition to the basal bodies of the two flagella. In the initial stage of union the conjugating cells are connected by the fertilization tubule whose plasma membrane is continuous with that of both copulants. At one end of the tubule lies a conspicuous choanoid body, but at the other end is a small structure which possibly is a homologue of the choanoid body. Subsequently, the fertilization tubule shortens and widens until finally no tubule exists and the apical ends of the two protoplasts adjoin. The merging cells then bend like a jack-knife and lateral alignment of the protoplasts occurs. This four-flagellated zygote becomes motile at about the time when the flagellar bases of the former gametes seem to approach each other and when fibrillar elements of the flagellar roots come into contact. In the motile zygote the nuclei do not fuse but remain ensheathed in the cup-shaped plastids of the two gametes. A mating of plus (+) and minus (-) strains cultured, respectively, for high and low starch content suggested that gametes of only the plus (+) mating type contain the choanoid body. Since it appears that the gamete containing the choanoid body also produces the fertilization tubule, it is inferred that gametes of only the plus (+) mating type produce the fertilization tubule. Should further investigation support this inference, it would be established that there is a structural basis for designating the plus (+) mating type as male and the minus (-) type as female. Fertilization involves fusion of the gamete membranes through the mediation of a specialized structure (the fertilization tubule) and in this respect there are similarities to certain aspects of fertilization in animal phyla. The relation of the fertilization tubule to the protoplasmic bridge of other species of Chlamydomonas is discussed.
Metamorphosis of the cosmological constant and 5D origin of the fiducial metric

In a recently proposed theory, the cosmological constant (CC) does not curve spacetime in our Universe, but instead gets absorbed into another universe endowed with its own dynamical metric, nonlocally coupled to ours. Thus, one achieves a long standing goal of removing entirely any cosmological constant from our Universe. Dark energy then cannot be due to a cosmological constant, but must be obtained via other mechanisms. Here we focus on the scenario in which dark energy is due to massive gravity and its extensions. We show how the metric of the other universe, that absorbs our CC, also gives rise to the fiducial metric known to be necessary for the diffeomorphism invariant formulation of massive gravity. This is achieved in a framework where the other universe is described by 5D AdS gravity, while our Universe lives on its boundary and is endowed with dynamical massive gravity. A nondynamical pullback of the bulk AdS metric acts as the fiducial metric for massive gravity on the boundary. This framework also removes a difficulty caused by the quantum strongly coupled behavior of massive gravity at the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{3}$ scale: in the present approach, the massive gravity action does not receive any loop-induced counterterms, despite being strongly coupled.
Self-starvation and rewarding brain stimulation: Effects of chlorpromazine and pentobarbital

Abstract Given the choice between rewarding brain stimulation and food, albino rats with electrodes placed in or near the medial aspect of the medial forebrain bundle (M-MFB) ignored food and self-stimulated. Subjects with electrodes placed in the lateral aspect of MFB (L-MFB) also self-stimulated, but did not ignore food. In M-MFB animals pretreated with chlorpromazine (CPZ, 2 mg/kg, ip), self-stimulation was reduced and self-starvation was attenuated. When the same subjects were pretreated with pentobarbital (PENT, 8 mg/kg, ip), self-stimulation was not reduced, but self-starvation was attenuated.
Survey of dysglycemia in outpatients with hypertension across China–a national multicenter observational study

Objective To explore the prevalence of dysglycemia in treated patients with hypertension from China national survey. Methods All study subjects were obtained from “China National Survey for Determinants of Detection and Treatment Status of Hypertensive Patients with Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Factors, CONSIDE” study. Hypertensive patients were recruited from 46 hospitals (12 secondary hospitals and 34 tertiary hospitals) in 2009. A cluster sampling of 100 consecutively hypertensive patients who visited the outpatient departments and met our entry criteria was identified in each hospital. Anthropometric and clinical data were obtained by a questionnaire survey and the laboratory tests (including fasting blood glucose and 2h postprandial blood glucose) from each patient. Total 4719 patients with complete information were analysed in this study. Results (1) Of the 4719 hypertensive patients aged 58.4 years (SD: 9.5), 2333 were males (49.4%). (2) There were 53.1% patients combined dysglycemia, 23.9% combined diabetes mellitus (DM), 29.2% combined impaired glucose regulation (IGR). The prevalence of hypertensive patients with concomitant dysglycemia and diabetes was increased with ageing (p Conclusion The present study demonstrated that there were more than half of the treated hypertensive patients combined dysglycemia in China, however the detection rate was very low. Nevertheless, it is highly suggested that to avoid missed diagnosis, OGTT should be performed routinely in hypertensive patients, which is beneficial for early detection and treatment of dysglycemia.
Laparoscopic liver resection.

More than 3,000 laparoscopic liver resections (LLR) are performed worldwide for benign disease, malignancy, and living donor hepatectomy. Minimally invasive hepatic resection approaches include pure laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and a laparoscopic-assisted open “hybrid” approach, where the operation is started laparoscopically to mobilize the liver and begin the dissection, followed by a small laparotomy for completion of the parenchymal transection. Surgeons should have an advanced understanding of hepatic anatomy, extensive experience in open liver surgery, and technical skill to control major vascular and biliary structures laparoscopically before embarking on LLR. Although there is no absolute size criterion, smaller, peripheral lesions (<5 cm) that lie far from major vessels and anticipated transection planes are most amenable to LLR. Although the majority of reported LLR are non-anatomic resections or segmentectomies, several surgical groups are now performing laparoscopic major hepatic resections with excellent safety profiles. Patient benefits from LLR include less operative blood loss, less postoperative pain and narcotic requirement, and a shorter length of hospital stay, with comparable postoperative morbidity and mortality to open liver resection. Comparison studies between LLR and open resection have revealed no differences in width of resection margins for malignant lesions or overall survival after resection for hepatocellular cancer or colorectal cancer liver metastases. Advantages of LLR for HCC in particular include avoidance of collateral vessel ligation, decreased postoperative hepatic insufficiency, and fewer postoperative adhesions, all of which are features that enhance subsequent liver transplantation.
The Life Cycle of a Virus: The Infectious Disease Narrative of NDM-1

This study is a report of a two-part content analysis of domestic and international print news reports (over a 3-year period) that examined how the nature of the New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) virus and the severity of the threat were conveyed to global audiences. In particular, the authors focused on the ongoing crisis narrative of NDM-1 and the potentially negative outcomes of international communication warning and false alarm systems regarding global health threats. The results indicated key differences in media narratives between the initial 2011 outbreak and the 2012 postcrisis state. The authors examine the theoretical and practical implications of the findings as well as key limitations and directions for future research.
Boundary-Value Problems in a Cut Plane

We present a survey of the theory of boundary-value problems in the plane with curvilinear cuts. The problem of linear conjugation, the Riemann-Hilbert problem, and the Riemann-Hilbert-Poincare problem are considered in detail both in the classical setting and for a cut plane, with an emphasis on problems with shifts. The main focus is on the solvability conditions and index formulas in various function classes.