cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accessibility of Starch Granules to Fatty Acyl Amides

ABSTRACT Microscopic techniques were used to determine accessible regions in various starches under different swelling conditions. Fatty acyl chlorides of increasing chain length (C6–C16) were reacted with 2-aminopyridine to produce the corresponding fatty acyl amides. Starch granules (common corn, waxy maize, potato) were treated with the series of fluorescent amides under a variety of conditions: anhydrous (hot pyridine), aqueous (no heat), and aqueous alkali (49°C, with and without swelling-inhibiting salts). Isolated granules were then viewed by confocal laser scanning microscopy to determine reagent analog penetration. All populations of granules were heterogeneous with respect to fatty acyl amide penetration, but general patterns could be discerned. Observations also indicated that the area surrounding the hilum was more easily penetrated than was the rest of the granule matrix. No substantial differences in penetration of the fluorescent fatty acyl amides as the chain length increased (C6–C16 was o...
Lateral Olfactory Tract Transections Impair Discrimination of Individual Odors, Sex Odor Preferences, and Scent Marking In Female Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus Auratus)

Transections of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT), the major source of olfactory bulb efferents to posterior brain regions, have produced severe deficits in hamster sociosexual behavior in earlier studies. The present experiment examined the role of the LOT in (a) discrimination of individual odors, (b) sex odor preferences and (c) odor-elicited scent marking in female golden hamsters. LOT cuts at the level of the anterior olfactory tubercle greatly reduced overall investigation of social odors. LOT-lesioned females did not discriminate between the flank gland or urine scents of individual males in a habituation/discrimination task and eliminated the usual preference females show for male odors over female odors in a Y-maze. LOT cuts also virtually eliminated flank marking behavior but had relatively minor effects on vaginal marking. Thus, olfactory bulb connections with posterior neural structures via LOT fibers appear to be the primary substrate for social odor discrimination/recognition and flank marking behaviors by female hamsters. Vaginal marking, although decreased by LOT cuts, appears more strongly regulated by hormonal signals than by odor cues.
Exact expectation analysis of the LMS adaptive filter without the independence assumption

In almost all analyses of the LMS adaptive filter, it is assumed that the filter coefficients are statistically independent of the input data currently in filter memory, an assumption which is incorrect for shift input data. A method of generating an exact statistical description of the mean and mean-square convergence of the LMS algorithm with shift input data without using this assumption is described. Given input data that are independent from sample to sample, iterations are developed for expectations of products of statistically dependent filter coefficients and data samples, from which important quantities such as the excess mean-square error can be found. Monte Carlo simulations show that the exact analysis produced by this method predicts the mean-square convergence much more accurately than the analysis with the independence assumption for large step sizes, and this accuracy is maintained throughout the useful step size range of the algorithm. With this analysis, phenomena due to the coupling of filter coefficients and past data are discovered and verified. >
A MicroRNA Circuitry Links Macrophage Polarization to Metabolic Homeostasis

Macrophages play an important role in tissue repair and remodeling and innate immune response. Tissue macrophages are highly heterogeneous and can undergo two distinct programs of functional specification termed classical (M1) and alternative (M2) activation1,2. In response to signals elicited by bacterial infections, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), macrophages adopt a pro-inflammatory phenotype and contribute to defense against invading pathogens through phagocytosis, bactericidal activity, and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In contrast, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 promote alternative activation of macrophages that favors tissue remodeling and repair, parasite elimination, and tumor progression. At the molecular level, M1 and M2 macrophages express unique cell surface markers and secrete distinct sets of effector molecules. Classically activated macrophages secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL-1β, and IL-6, and produces reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, whereas alternatively activated macrophages preferentially synthesize anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and have subdued pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. A balance between classical and alternative macrophage activation serves to maintain tissue homeostasis and host defense. (SELECT FULL TEXT TO CONTINUE)
Translocations of Amphibians: Proven Management Method or Experimental Technique?

We take issue with these statements for a number of reasons. First, the authors fail to cite much of the relevant literature on species translocations in general and for amphibians in particular. Second, to those unfamiliar with current research in amphibian conservation biology, these comments might suggest that translocations are a proven management method. This is not the case, at least in most instances where translocations have been evaluated for an appropriate period of time. Finally, the authors fail to point out some of the negative aspects of species translocation as a management method. We realize that Marsh and Trenham’s paper was not concerned primarily with translocations. However, because Marsh and Trenham (2001) made specific recommendations for conservation planners and managers (many of whom are not herpetologists or may not be familiar with the pertinent literature on amphibians), we believe that it is essential to point out that not all amphibian biologists are as comfortable with translocations as these authors appear to be. We especially urge caution about advocating potentially unproven techniques without a thorough review of available options. Literature Review
Narrow beamwidth satellite antenna pointing and tracking

High data rate communication to users having limited performance resources requires narrow beamwidth, high gain antennas to meet link closure requirements. When users are distributed over relatively wide coverage areas, an appropriate design approach may use array antenna technology to obtain adequate link performance. When high gain satellite antennas are used, two challenges must be addressed. The first challenge is to compensate for satellite attitude and stationkeeping variations so that the overall array coverage area remains registered to the intended geographical area. The second challenge is to acquire users that are sparsely distributed over the broad coverage area and for mobile users, track their motion over the communication time with adequate accuracy to avoid excessive antenna pointing loss. In addition, when such systems are used for military applications, these challenges must also be satisfied when interference is present. Techniques to meet such requirements are discussed.
Photon-Counting Security Tagging and Verification Using Optically Encoded QR Codes

We propose an optical security method for object authentication using photon-counting encryption implemented with phase encoded QR codes. By combining the full phase double-random-phase encryption with photon-counting imaging method and applying an iterative Huffman coding technique, we are able to encrypt and compress an image containing primary information about the object. This data can then be stored inside of an optically phase encoded QR code for robust read out, decryption, and authentication. The optically encoded QR code is verified by examining the speckle signature of the optical masks using statistical analysis. Optical experimental results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the system. In addition, experiments with a commercial Smartphone to read the optically encoded QR code are presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on integrating photon-counting security with optically phase encoded QR codes.
Integrated floorplanning with buffer/channel insertion for bus-based microprocessor designs

A new approach to the interconnect-driven floorplanning problem that integrates bus planning with floorplanning is presented. The integrated floorplanner is intended for bus-based designs. Each bus consists of a large number of wires. The floorplanner ensures routability by generating the exact location and shape of interconnects (above and between the circuit blocks) and optimizes the timing. Experiments with MCNC benchmarks clearly show the superiority of integrated floorplanning over the classical floorplan-analyze-and-then-re-floorplan approach. Our floorplans are routable, meet all timing constraints, and are on average 12-13% smaller in area as compared to the traditional floorplanning algorithms.
The Cytoplasmic Tail of FPC Antagonizes the Full-Length Protein in the Regulation of mTOR Pathway

FPC (fibrocystin or polyductin) is a single transmembrane receptor-like protein, responsible for the human autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). It was recently proposed that FPC undergoes a Notch-like cleavage and subsequently the cleaved carboxy(C)-terminal fragment translocates to the nucleus. To study the functions of the isolated Ctail, we expressed the intracellular domain of human FPC (hICD) in renal epithelial cells. By 3-dimensional (3D) tubulogenesis assay, we found that in contrast to tubule-like structures formed from control cells, hICD-expressing cells exclusively formed cyst-like structures. By western blotting, we showed that the Akt/mTOR pathway, indicated by increased phosphorylation of Akt at serine 473 and S6 kinase 1 at threonine 389, was constitutively activated in hICD-expressing cells, similar to that in FPC knockdown cells and ARPKD kidneys. Moreover, application of mTOR inhibitor rapamycin reduced the size of the cystlike structures formed by hICD-expressing cells. Application of either LY294002 or wortmannin inhibited the activation of both S6K1 and Akt. Expression of full-length FPC inhibited the activation of S6 and S6 kinase whereas co-expression of hICD with full-length FPC antagonized the inhibitory effect of full-length FPC on mTOR. Taken together, we propose that FPC modulates the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and the cleaved C-tail regulates the function of the full-length protein.
The effects of isotopic substitution on abstraction reactions of ammonia ions with hydrogen at very low temperatures

Abstract The reaction rate coefficients for NH 3 + reacting with D 2 and ND 3 + reacting with H 2 and D 2 have been measured at temperatures in a range between 10 and 20 K. When these measurements are taken in concert with earlier measurements of these reactions at higher temperatures and with the temperature-dependent measurements of the reactions of NH 3 + with H 2 , a pattern suggestive of a quantum mechanical tunnelling mechanism emerges for low-temperature reactions. Other observations in this work lead us to conclude that the reactions in this temperature range can be attributed entirely to the abstraction process: no exchange products were observed.
Construct Accessibility and Generalizability Across Response Categories

A study of the effects of construct accessibility on impression formation was conducted to assess the generalizability of priming effects across categories of social judgments. Subjects were primed with positive or negative target-relevant trait terms and were later, in a supposedly unrelated second study, asked to rate a target individual immediately and following a 1-week delay. Priming effects were apparent only after the 1-week delay. There were no effects of prime valence on trait constructs that were related to the semantic content of the prime. Only global impressions were affected by the accessibility manipulation. The effect was discussed in terms of a model that distinguishes the semantic and affective components of constructs. External validity was also addressed. The results generalized to live targets, supporting the external validity of construct accessibility effects. Finally, new evidence was found in support of the consolidation of impressions over time.
Design of a semi-passive heavy-duty mobile robotic system for automated assembly inside an aircraft body

We present an initial design of a mobile robotic system for automated assembly inside an aircraft body. This system allows for the positioning control of a heavy duty end effector that is working on the far side of a thin wall at any orientation. It utilizes electromagnets to hold the end effector against the wall, as well as linear motor type actuation for locomotion. Initial testing on a prototype verifies the effectiveness of some of the chosen design parameters.
Gain margins of multivariable MRAC systems

This paper studies the gain margins (GM) of multivariable model reference adaptive control (MRAC) systems: the parameter range of a control gain matrix in a designed MRAC system for maintaining the desired closed-loop signal boundedness and asymptotic output tracking. Analytical GM results are obtained for both continuous-time and discrete-time direct MRAC schemes applied to multi-input multi-output (MIMO) LTI systems. The GM problem is also studied for a class of indirect multivariable MRAC systems.
A pooled analysis of post‐diagnosis lifestyle factors in association with late estrogen‐receptor–positive breast cancer prognosis

Lifestyle factors have been well studied in relation to breast cancer prognosis overall; however, associations of lifestyle and late outcomes (>5 years after diagnosis) have been much less studied, and no studies have focused on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer survivors, who may have high risk of late recurrence and mortality. We utilized a large prospective pooling study to evaluate the associations of lifestyle factors with late recurrence and all-cause mortality among 6,295 5-year ER+ Stage I-III breast cancer survivors. Pooled and harmonized data were available on clinical factors and lifestyle factors (pre- to post-diagnosis weight change, body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)), recreational physical activity, alcohol intake and smoking history), measured on average 2.1 years after diagnosis. Updated information for weight only was available. Study heterogeneity was evaluated by the Q-statistic. Multivariable Cox regression models were stratified by study. Adjusting for clinical factors and potential confounders, ≥ 10% weight gain and obesity (BMI, 30-34.99 and ≥ 35) were associated with increased risk of late recurrence (hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals): 1.24 (1.00-1.53), 1.40 (1.05-1.86) and 1.41 (1.02-1.93), respectively). Daily alcohol intake was associated with late recurrence, 1.28 (1.01-1.62). Physical activity was inversely associated with late all-cause mortality (0.81 (0.71-0.93) and 0.71 (0.61-0.82) for 4.9 to <17.4 and ≥ 17.4 metabolic equivalent-hr/week). A U-shaped association was observed for late all-cause mortality and BMI using updated weight (1.42 (1.15-1.74) and 1.40 (1.09-1.81), <21.5 and ≥ 35, respectively). Smoking was associated with increased risk of late outcomes. In this large prospective pooling project, modifiable lifestyle factors were associated with late outcomes among long-term ER+ breast cancer survivors.
President Barack Obama and U.S. Immigration Policy

Immigration policy is a persistently contentious and divisive issue in the United States. After his 2012 re-election, President Obama announced a series of immigration executive actions, which proposed to address undocumented immigration at the border and required select undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check. While the debate rages about Obama’s executive actions, understanding what factors shape minority attitudes toward often racialized policy issues such as immigration policy is important in order to provide insight on the prospects for multi-racial coalition formation and sustainability in 2017 and beyond. In this paper, we will briefly discuss the efforts of the Obama administration to advance comprehensive immigration reform. Then, using the 2012 Collaborative Multi-racial Post Election Study (2012) merged with aggregate level data from the 2012 Census, we will examine the extent to which economic competition, geographic proximity to racial/ethnic/immigrant out-groups, and other SES/demographics factors influence black, Latino and white policy preferences towards immigration policies, including those related to undocumented immigration.
“We learn the customs of our new country, America”: Listening to Immigrant Women in the Twentieth Century

During the height of the Americanization era, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs launched a campaign to raise standards of citizenry via the “Ninety Days of Opportunity” initiative and Primer for English Instruction. Members solicited immigrant women by offering English-language instruction classes, home visits, and support during naturalization. Strikingly, there is little evidence of how immigrant women responded to Americanization programs or experienced clubwomen’s educational efforts. However, by juxtaposing two different sets of archival data, this study listens for intersections of differences and commonalities between the two groups of women to create the beginnings of a cross-cultural dialogue.
Rating Fraud Detection---Towards Designing a Trustworthy Reputation Systems

Reputation systems could help consumers avoid transaction risk by providing historical consumers’ feedback. But, traditional reputation systems are vulnerable to the rating manipulation. It will undermine the trustworthiness of the reputation systems and users’ satisfaction will be lost. To address the issue, this study uses the real-world rating data from two travel website: Tripadvisor.com and Expedia.com and one e-commerce website Amazon.com to empirically exploit the features of fraudulent raters. Based on those features, it proposes the new method for fraudulent rater detection. First, it examines the received rating series of each entity and filter out the entity which is under attack (termed as target entity). Second, the clustering based method is applied to discriminate fraudulent raters. Experimental studies have shown that the proposed method is effective in detecting the fraudulent raters accurately while keeping the majority of the normal users in the systems in various attack environment settings.
Radiocarbon Anomalies from Old CO2 in the Soil and Canopy Air

The canopies of forests and cultivated fields can retard the ventilation of CO2 respired from the soil. The plants in dense canopies can then acquire a small fraction of their carbon by recycling some of the respired CO2. Furthermore, some plants can assimilate a small fraction of their carbon by uptake of CO2 in the soil via their roots. In tectonically active areas, the diffuse flux of CO2 from geological sources may be comparable to that from normal soil respiration. In such areas, both the canopy and root uptake effects may allow plants to acquire a measurable fraction of their carbon from geological sources. Because this "old" carbon lacks radiocarbon, its assimilation would increase the apparent 14C ages of the plants. These effects may account for some of the discrepancies between archaeological and 14C dates.
The Evolution Toward Judicial Independence in the Continuing Quest for LGBT Equality

Judicial decisions that hold same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional, no matter how that conclusion is reached, overturn laws or constitutional provisions that were passed with the support of a democratic majority. This Article takes an in-depth look at judicial activism and judicial independence to determine whether such victories for same-sex litigants were done properly by the judiciary. In the eyes of the Framers, an independent judiciary was to be a crucial check on the other branches’ constitutional limitations. With this in mind, judicial independence—where, in contrast with activism, judges meticulously apply the well-examined facts to controlling precedent without accounting for majority views—is a key to maintaining our democratic system. This Article examines many of the cases that resulted in victories for LGBT litigants. First, cases ruling state same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional, for example, Hawaii’s Baehr v. Lewin and Iowa’s Varnum v. O’Brien, are analyzed. Also, the cases declaring the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, including Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, Massachusetts v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the district court, circuit court, and Supreme Court decisions in Windsor, are discussed. Although these cases tend to overturn laws supported by democratic majorities, the courts pay great attention to the details of the cases and steadfastly analyze and apply precedent. After looking in detail at cases establishing same-sex marriage rights, one must conclude that the courts engaged in strong judicial independence. Such independent judicial decision making contains sound legal analysis and is constitutionally necessary. † Professor of Law, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University. Case Western Reserve Law Review·Volume 64·Issue 3·2014 The Evolution Toward Judicial Independence
Base-Catalyzed Feedback in the Urea−Urease Reaction

The bell-shaped rate−pH curve coupled to production of base in the urea−urease reaction was utilized to give feedback-driven behavior: an acid-to-base pH clock (a kinetic switch), bistability and hysteresis between an acid/base state when the initial pH was adjusted by a strong acid, and aperiodic pH oscillations when the initial pH was adjusted by a weak acid in an open reactor. A simple model of the reaction reproduced most of the experimental results and provided insight into the role of self-buffering in the dynamics. This reaction suggests new possibilities in the development of biocompatible feedback to couple to pH-sensitive processes for bioinspired applications in medicine, engineering, or materials science.
Cyclic stochastic optimization via arbitrary selection procedures for updating parameters

Many of the algorithms that exist to tackle optimization problems (either stochastic or deterministic) are iterative in nature. Methods where only a subset of the parameter vector is updated each time have been frequently used in practice. While some of these methods update different sets of parameters according to some predetermined pattern, others select the parameters to update according to a random variable. Much work exists on the convergence of such procedures in the case of deterministic optimization. However, very little is known about their convergence when applied to general stochastic optimization problems; this is the setting this work focuses on. We describe the generalized cyclic seesaw algorithm —a general method for selecting which parameters to update during each iteration— and give sufficient conditions for its convergence.
The "Five Balanced Aspects" Represents a Scientific View of Development

It is very important to implement the scientific findings into the construction of a comprehensive well-off society and the process of modernization. The scientific view of development emphases the development as a comprehensive, harmonized and sustainable one. A harmonized social development is key to resolve many current problems and conflicts. The "five balanced aspects" carried out by 3rd plenary session of 16th CPC central committee is a general guideline for such scientific view.
Regression of metastatic breast cancer in a patient treated with the anti-angiogenic drug TNP-470.

BACKGROUND Solid tumors in general, and breast cancer in particular, depend on angiogenesis to grow and metastasize. Multiple agents have been developed in order to inhibit this phenomenon of tumor-induced angiogenesis. TNP-470 is one of the most potent of these drugs. We report here a case of regression of metastatic lesions from breast cancer due to the administration of the anti-angiogenic drug TNP-470. METHODS A 44-year-old woman with a history of stage 2 breast cancer developed metastases at four sites: eye, lung, liver, and bone. She had been treated with radiation, megace, adriamycin, cytoxan, and 5-fluorouracil with disease stabilization. After she completed her radiation and chemotherapy, she was started on TNP-470. RESULTS In response to TNP-470, her disease showed a partial response at the three-month follow-up and stabilization at the five-month follow-up. There were no side effects, and her quality of life was good. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this patient is the first reported case of regression of breast cancer metastases as a result of treatment with TNP-470. Anti-angiogenic drugs hold promise for the future therapy of breast cancer, and possibly of many other solid tumors as well.
Technique for transferring the path of insertion of a removable partial denture to a CAD-CAM-generated implant surgical template

A technique is described that uses a surveyor, gutta percha points, and a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM)-guided implant surgery system to predetermine and transfer the ideal angulation of the implant to be placed.
Age and the Prevalence of Bleeding Disorders in Women Presenting with Menorrhagia.

Abstract Menorrhagia occurring during adolescence and perimenopause is presumed to be associated with anovulation, and during perimenopause, with uterine pathology, such as subserosal uterine myoma, as well. The frequency of bleeding disorders in women presenting with menorrhagia at the extremes of menstruating age, ie adolescence and perimenopause, are not known. We conducted a study to evaluate the frequency and types of hemostatic defects found in adolescent and perimenopausal age women diagnosed with menorrhagia. 115 women with a physician diagnosis of menorrhagia, including 25 adolescent women, 25 perimenopausal age women, and 65 women between the ages of 20 and 44, underwent comprehensive hemostatic testing for possible bleeding disorders. There were no significant differences between the three age groups in mean hemoglobin, percentage of women with anemia, duration of menses, mean pictorial blood assessment scores, or race. Overall, 48% of women were found to have hemostatic abnormalities. Hemostatic abnormalities among women with menorrhagia Overall ≤ 19 yrs 20–44 yrs ≥ 45 yrs p-value N=115 N=25 N=65 N=25 Platelet Aggregation 44% 44% 48% 32% 0.48 Von Willebrand Factor 7% 4% 8% 8% 0.78 Coagulation Factor 5% 8% 6% 0% 0.34 Any Abnormality* 48% 48% 54% 32% 0.32 *Platelet aggregation, Von Willebrand factor, and/or coagulation factor Adolescents and perimenopausal age women diagnosed with menorrhagia were as likely as women presenting between age 20 to 44 to have underlying hemostatic defects. Among the adolescents, neither age at presentation nor time from menarche were predictive of having a bleeding disorder. The platelet aggregation defects observed were similar among the three age groups with the exception of ADP induced platelet aggregation defects which were seen significantly more frequently in adolescents compared to older women (p≤ 0.01). Ristocetin and epinephrine induced platelet aggregation defects were the most common aggregation defects in women 20 years and older and ADP induced platelet aggregation defects were the most common among adolescents. There were no significant differences in platelet ATP release abnormalities between the three age groups. Our results demonstrate that a high proportion of adolescents and perimenopausal age women presenting with menorrhagia have bleeding disorders. These results suggest that menorrhagia in the adolescent, even if presenting soon after onset of menarche, and in perimenopausal age women, even if fibroids are present, may warrant hemostatic evaluation. Further age-specific studies evaluating treatment benefits and outcomes in women with menorrhagia diagnosed with bleeding disorders are warranted.
Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer is safe and effective

To compare the short-term and oncologic outcomes of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) undergoing laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). Consecutive cases of distal pancreatectomy (DP) (n = 422) were reviewed at a single high-volume institution over a 10-year period (2005–2014). Inclusion criteria consisted of any patient with PDAC by surgical pathology. Ninety-day outcomes were monitored through a prospectively maintained pancreatic resection database. The Social Security Death Index was used for 5-year survival. Two-way statistical analyses were used to compare categories; variance was reported with standard error of the mean; * indicates P value <0.05. Seventy-nine patients underwent DP for PDAC. Thirty-three underwent LDP and 46 ODP. There were no statistical differences in demographics, BMI, and ASA classification. Intraoperative and surgical pathology variables were comparable for LDP versus ODP: operative time (3.9 ± 0.2 vs. 4.2 ± 0.2 h), duct size, gland texture, stump closure, tumor size (3.3 ± 0.3 vs. 4.0 ± 0.4 cm), lymph node harvest (14.5 ± 1.1 vs. 17.5 ± 1.2), tumor stage (see table), and negative surgical margins (77 vs. 87%). Patients who underwent LDP experienced lower blood loss (310 ± 68 vs. 597 ± 95 ml; P = 0.016*) and required fewer transfusions (0 vs. 13; P = 0.0008*). Patients who underwent LDP had fewer positive lymph nodes (0.8 ± 0.2 vs. 1.6 ± 0.3; P = 0.04*) and a lower incidence of type C pancreatic fistula (0 vs. 13%; P = 0.03*). Median follow-up for all patients was 11.4 months. Long-term oncologic outcomes revealed similar outcomes including distant or local recurrence (30 vs. 52%; P = 0.05) and median survival (18 vs. 15 months), as well as 1-year (73 vs. 59%), 3-year (22 vs. 21%), and 5-year (20 vs. 15%) survival for LDP and ODP, respectively. The results of this series suggest that LDP is a safe surgical approach that is comparable from an oncologic standpoint to ODP for the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Association between Weight Change, Health Outcomes, and Mortality in Older Residents in Long-Term Care.

Objectives Despite the numerous health risks associated with being overweight, the effect of weight loss on health and longevity remains controversial, particularly in older adults. We explored the association among weight changes, health outcomes, and mortality in older residents of a skilled nursing facility. Methods A 6-year retrospective chart review of residents of a long-term care facility was conducted, collecting monthly weights in addition to the clinical and demographic data of all residents for at least 1 year. Weight changes of 5% from baseline month 1 through month 12 were classified as stable, loss, or gain. Demographics, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, number of hospitalizations, and mortality were analyzed. The association between weight change (and other demographic and clinical variables) and mortality outcomes, as well as number of hospitalizations, was assessed using the χ2 test, the Fisher exact test, Poisson regression, or negative binomial regression, as appropriate. Results A total of 116 residents fit inclusion criteria; the median age was 84 years, with 71.6% being women and 88.7% white. The median length of stay was 877.5 days. Median body weight at baseline was 137.3 lb with a BMI of 23.5. More than one-third (36.2%) of residents had stable weight, 37.9% gained weight, and 25.9% lost weight during their stay. Neither weight change category nor baseline BMI was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.056 and P = 0.518, respectively). Multivariable models showed that receiving supplementation (P = 0.04) and having hypertension (P = 0.04) were significant predictors of mortality after adjusting for the other factors. Losing >5% body weight (compared with maintaining stable weight; P = 0.0097), being a man (P = 0.0104), receiving a supplement (P = 0.0171), and being fed by tube (P = 0.0004) were associated with an increased number of hospitalizations after covariate adjustment. Conclusions Weight fluctuation and baseline BMI do not appear to be associated with increased risk of death in residents in a skilled nursing facility. Weight loss was associated with an increased number of hospitalizations, however.
Evaluation of magnetomechanical conversion efficiencies in magnetoelectric gyrators

Magnetomechanical conversion abilities of several Nickel, Metglas and Terfenol-D were investigated by using a constructed magnetic power path with two winding coils. We characterized the magnetostriction efficiency as a function of power density with the optimal load resistor and magnetic bias. We found a high magnetomechanical conversion efficiency of 95% and 90% under low power drive for a Metglas layer and a Metglas/Pb(ZrXTi1-X)O3 composite, respectively.
An Efficient Batch Scheduling Model for Hospital Sterilization Services Using Genetic Algorithm

A major challenge faced by hospitals is to provide efficient medical services. The problem studied in this article is motivated by the hospital sterilization services where the washing step generally constitutes a bottleneck in the sterilization services. Therefore, an efficient scheduling of the washing operations to reduce flow time and work-in-process inventories is of great concern to management. In the washing step, different sets of reusable medical devices may be washed together as long as the washer capacity is not exceeded. Thus, the washing step is modeled as a batch scheduling problem where washers have nonidentical capacities and reusable medical device sets have different sizes and different ready times. The objective is to minimize the sum of completion times for washing operations. The problem is first formulated as a nonlinear integer programming model. Given that this problem is NP-hard, a genetic algorithm is then proposed to heuristically solve the problem. Computational experiments show that the proposed algorithm is capable of consistently obtaining high-quality solutions in short computation times.
Mast-cell heparin demystified.

A commonly used compound in medicine is heparin, which prevents the formation of blood clots. Despite its widespread use, the physiological function of heparin has been enigmatic — until now. Two groups have generated mice that lack heparin, and they find that its function is to regulate the types and amounts of other biologically active mediators in granules found within the cytoplasm of mast cells.
PATTERNS OF HOMOPLASY IN BEHAVIORAL EVOLUTION

This chapter examines patterns of evolutionary diversification of behavior among populations of threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, as they invaded freshwater following the recession of the last glaciers and inquires whether population comparisons reveal higher levels of homoplasy than do higher order comparisons. Character polarity can be inferred by comparison with the relatively homogeneous and ubiquitous marine/anadromous fish. This examination of homoplasy revealed through population comparison is limited to this data set because it is the only one in which a large number of population have been characterized behaviorally and in which character polarity can be inferred with a high degree of certainty. The levels of homoplasy observed across freshwater stickleback populations with those observed in comparisons of higher order taxa are contrasted in the chapter. Finally, the chapter examines whether display behavior shows a different level of homoplasy than does nondisplay behavior in population or higher order comparisons. Differences might be expected because displays often incorporate ritualized elements of behavior patterns that appear to have evolved in other contexts and to have subsequently been co-opted for use in the display. The comparisons performed in this study are designed to provide insight into the patterns of evolutionary change at two levels of biological organization and in two major classes of behavior patterns. This chapter will stimulate research on the significance of variation in behavioral homoplasy––its prevalence, and its evolutionary causes.
Searching for superstool: maximizing the therapeutic potential of FMT.

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a highly effective treatment for Clostridium difficile infection, is now being explored for complex diseases, but innovative trial design and collaborative approaches are essential for unlocking its therapeutic potential. If ‘superstool’ capable of treating a complex disease exists, then FMT trials should aim to find and use it.
Privacy in Social Information Access

Social information access (SIA) systems crucially depend on user-provided information, and must therefore provide extensive privacy provisions to encourage users to share their personal data. Even though the information SIA systems use is usually considered public, they often use this information in novel ways, and the outcomes of this process may at times lead to unintended consequences for their users’ privacy. Indeed, even if a SIA system is deemed generally beneficial, privacy concerns can play a limiting role in its adoption. This chapter analyzes the privacy implications of several types of SIA systems (aggregators, public content systems, and social network-based systems) from various angles, and discusses a wide range of solutions (both technical and decision-support solutions) to potential privacy threats. Acknowledging that SIA systems are not just a threat to users’ privacy, the chapter concludes with a discussion of the use of social information access as a solution to privacy threats, i.e. by using it to provide social justifications, or by means of adaptive privacy decision support.
Investigation into the shape of a wake of a yawed full-scale turbine

In this paper, data from a lidar-based field campaign are used to examine the effect of yaw misalignment on the shape of a wind turbine wake. Prior investigation in wind tunnel research and high-fidelity computer simulation show that the shape assumes an increasingly curled shape as the wake propagates downstream, because of the presence of two counter-rotating vortices. The shape of the wake observed in the field data diverges from predictions of wake shape, and a lidar model is simulated within a large-eddy simulation of the wind turbine in the atmospheric boundary layer to understand the discrepancy.
Project-Based Learning in Nonprofit Management Education: Results from an Educational Partnership between the United States and Kyrgyzstan

This article details the experiences of undergraduate and master’s-level students (both in the United States and abroad) participating in a cross-cultural, educational, project-based program that w...
Osirak and international security

Although the international non-proliferation structure was never terribly solid in the first place, it now has been seriously weakened.
Health Care Utilization and Direct Costs Among Patients Diagnosed with Cluster Headache in U.S. Health Care Claims Data.

BACKGROUND: Cluster headache (CH) is a rare trigeminal cephalalgia that is associated with extremely painful unilateral headache attacks and autonomic symptoms. Attacks may be episodic or chronic a...
ASSOCIATIONS OF BLEEDING AND ISCHEMIC OUTCOMES WITH DURATION OF THIENOPYRIDINE THERAPY AFTER PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION FOR CORONARY CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSION

The optimal duration of thienopyridine therapy after PCI for CTOs is unknown. We aimed to determine if extended (> 12 months) thienopyridine therapy was associated with a net clinical benefit. The study population included patients undergoing successful CTO PCI within Kaiser Permanente Northern
SUN-602 A Case of Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland

Introduction: Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thyroid gland is an extremely rare thyroid malignancy. Currently, there is no consensus in management of this malignancy. We present a case of an invasive SCC of the thyroid gland. Clinical Case: A 70-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and hypertension presented with shortness of breath, cough, and dysphagia for one-month duration. She recently was found to have bilateral thyroid nodules on thyroid ultrasound: a 2.8-cm left mid-gland nodule and a 2.4-cm right mid-gland peripherally calcified nodule. Computed tomography scan of the neck and soft tissue showed that the thyroid was markedly enlarged and contained calcified nodules, the largest measuring 2.3 cm. The enlarged thyroid displaced the subglottic airway and trachea leftward, and the esophagus was encased by this tumor. She underwent ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy for both right and left thyroid nodules. Pathology of the biopsy revealed well-differentiated, keratinizing SCC. Given that primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is rare, the decision was made to pursuit direct laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy with biopsy to confirm diagnosis, which revealed intratracheal invasion of the tumor. Pathology of the biopsy confirmed invasive SCC. Due to intratracheal invasion of the tumor, patient was recommended to start chemotherapy and radiation instead of surgical resection with tracheostomy. Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a rare thyroid malignancy that carries a poor prognosis. This disease is seen predominantly in females with the mean age of diagnosis in the sixth decade. The presenting signs and symptoms are often an anterior neck mass or compressive symptoms such as dysphagia, dyspnea, or hoarseness. Once pathology confirms the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, one must evaluate whether the malignancy is a primary thyroid malignancy or a secondary malignancy, either by direct extension of a head and neck cancer or metastasis. For treatment, surgical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation is usually recommended, though there is no consensus about treatment modality given its rarity. In the case of our patient, surgical removal could be not done as the malignancy had invaded the trachea and vocal cord, making a tracheostomy unfeasible. As a result, our patient started treatment with chemotherapy and radiation and will be reassessed for surgical resection at a later time. References: Cho JK, Woo SH, Park J, Kim MJ, Jeong HS. Primary squamous cell carcinomas in the thyroid gland: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Cancer Med. 2014;3(5):1396-403.
Short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aquatic systems: Occurrence, impacts and treatment

Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of anthropogenic compounds comprised of a perfluoroalkyl backbone and a terminal functional group. As our knowledge on their environmental and health impacts grow, PFAS have drawn increasing regulatory attention and research interest in recent years. While long-chain PFAS have been the center of active research in the past decade or so, and while industrial production and applications of short-china PFAS continue to rise, very few studies have focused on the occurrence, fate, and transformation of short-chain PFAS in the environment. This review aimed to provide an updated overview of the state of the science about the fundamentals, occurrence, impacts and treatment of short-chain PFAS. The key findings from this review include: 1) Short-chain PFAS are more widely detected, more persistent and mobile in aquatic systems, and thus may pose more risks on the human and ecosystem health; 2) conventional adsorption, ion-exchange, and membrane filtration can remove short-chain PFAS, but are less effective than the long-chain homologues, and are challenged with poor material regeneration efficiency and disposal of process waste residual; 3) advanced oxidation such as thermolysis and sonolysis can achieve complete mineralization, but come with a high process cost; and 4) direct photolysis, oxidation/reduction, photocatalysis, and electrochemical reaction may degrade short-chain PFAS following similar degradation pathways as long-chain PFAS, but at a slower rate, and photocatalytic processes appear most promising. Overall, this review reveals an urgent need for developing more cost-effective treatment technologies for short-chain PFAS in drinking water, for advancing our knowledge on the environmental fate, transport and impacts of short-chain PFAS in the environment, and for developing science-based regulations for short-chain PFAS.
Structural Elucidation of Peptide Binding to KLHL-12, a Substrate Specific Adapter Protein in a Cul3-Ring E3 Ligase Complex

KLHL-12 is a substrate specific adapter protein for a Cul3-Ring ligase complex. It is a member of the Kelch β-propeller domain subclass of Cullin-Ring substrate recognition domains. This E3 ubiquitin ligase complex has many activities, including acting as a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway by mediating ubiquitination and subsequent proteolysis of Dvl3/Dsh3. KLHL-12 is also known to mediate the polyubiquitination of the dopamine D4 receptor (D4.2), the ubiquitination of KHSRP, a protein that is involved in IRES translation, and also the ubiquitination of Sec31, which is involved in endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi transport by regulating the size of COPII coats. Earlier studies broadly defined the substrate binding regions for D4.2 and Dvl3/Dsh3 to KLHL-12. We tested several peptides from these regions and succeeded in identifying a short peptide that bound to KLHL-12 with low micromolar affinity. To better understand the sequence specificity of this peptide, we used alanine substitutions to map the important residues and obtained an X-ray structure of this peptide bound to KLHL-12. This structure and our peptide affinity measurements suggest a sequence motif for peptides that bind to the top face of KLHL-12. Understanding this binding site on KLHL-12 may contribute to efforts to find small molecule ligands that can either directly inhibit the degradation of substrate proteins or be used in targeted protein degradation strategies using PROTACs.
Theoretical Model of Helium Bubble Growth and Density in Plasma-Facing Metals

We present a theoretically-motivated model of helium bubble density as a function of volume for high-pressure helium bubbles in plasma-facing tungsten. The model is a good match to the empirical correlation we published previously [Hammond et al., Acta Mater. 144, 561–578 (2018)] for small bubbles, but the current model uses no adjustable parameters. The model is likely applicable to significantly larger bubbles than the ones examined here, and its assumptions can be extended trivially to other metals and gases. We expect the model to be broadly applicable and useful in coarse-grained models of gas transport in metals.
A Primer on Divorce in Louisiana

This Article is the fourth in a series of primers on Louisiana Family Law. The Louisiana Civil Code of 1870, as amended to date, operates as the primary source of law, with other ancillary statutes and codes on particular subject matters. The law of divorce appears in Chapter 1 of Title V of Book I of the Civil Code and is followed by the provisional and incidental proceedings attendant to divorce. The divorce laws in Louisiana are relatively straightforward and limited, containing both no-fault and fault-based options. In a covenant marriage, legal separation is available and divorce options are more extensive. Because defenses to divorce are few, litigation typically surrounds the financial aspects of divorce and not the divorce itself.
Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral IVs

Anesthesiologists are frequently tasked with assisting with vascular access both in and outside of the operating room. Ultrasound-guided vascular access has become an invaluable skill, especially with the advent of more portable, readily available ultrasounds. This chapter reviews several different techniques for using an ultrasound to obtain peripheral IV access. No technique is foolproof and should be modified based on the patient, provider preferences, and provider dexterity with ultrasound.