cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 354: Inhibition of Smad3 signaling with a TAT fusion peptide prevented TGF-β-induced fibronectin expression and cell migration in malignant gliomas

Malignant primary brain tumors represent one of the most common causes of cancer death in the world. Grade IV gliomas (glioblastoma multiform, GBM) are routinely resistant to current chemoradiationchemo radiation therapy with a median progression-free and overall survival for glioblastoma following current chemoradiation of ~7 and 15 months, respectively. While TGF-β functions as a growth inhibitor for most normal cell types, many tumors (including GBMs) have lost this inhibitory response and TGF-β now functions to promote tumor progression and/or dissemination. As aberrant TGF-β signaling is often considered a hallmark of high-grade gliomas, we examined whether inhibition of specific components would impact the malignant phenotype of glioblastoma. The primary mediators of TGF-β action are the Smad proteins (R-Smads), Smad2 and Smad3. Following receptor activation and R-Smad phosphorylation, they translocate to the nucleus to modulate gene expression. Since we previously determined that a cell penetrating peptide conjugate of the HIV TAT protein fused to a 30 amino acid sequence from sorting nexin 9 (SNX9) prevented Smad3, but not Smad2, nuclear import and target gene expression in models of organ fibrosis, we further investigated whether it might similarly impact aspects of GBM proliferation. To that end, twenty-one patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were examined for their responsiveness to TGF-β. Of those, TGF-β stimulated migration and fibronectin expression in seven (33%), which was prevented by inhibiting Smad3 signaling with the TAT-SNX9 peptide but not a control peptide unable to block Smad3 action. These findings indicate that the TGB-b/Smad3 axis is a potentially important mediator of glioma cell invasion in a significant minority of GBM models. specifically targeting Smad3 might be effective in a subset of gliomas. This work was supported by Public Health Service grants GM-055816 and GM-054200 from the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences and P50 CA-108961 Developmental Pilot Award from the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: Jeonghan Kang. Inhibition of Smad3 signaling with a TAT fusion peptide prevented TGF-β-induced fibronectin expression and cell migration in malignant gliomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 354. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-354
Editorial: Pleural recurrence of thymoma-what is the value of intra-thoracic chemo-hyperthermia?

Thymomas are malignant neoplasms that can recur and/or metastasize and in some cases patients might die from the disease (1). However, most patients with thymoma have a favorable outcome and are disease-free after complete resection of the tumor.
Increased chalcone synthase (CHS) expression is associated with dicamba resistance in Kochia scoparia.

BACKGROUND Resistance to the synthetic auxin herbicide dicamba is increasingly problematic in Kochia scoparia. The resistance mechanism in an inbred dicamba-resistant K. scoparia line (9425R) was investigated using physiological and transcriptomics (RNA-Seq) approaches. RESULTS No differences were found in dicamba absorption or metabolism between 9425R and a dicamba-susceptible line, but 9425R was found to have significantly reduced dicamba translocation. Known auxin-responsive genes ACC synthase (ACS) and indole-3-acetic acid amino synthetase (GH3) were transcriptionally induced following dicamba treatment in dicamba-susceptible K. scoparia but not in 9425R. Chalcone synthase (CHS), the gene regulating synthesis of the flavonols quertecin and kaemperfol, was found to have two-fold higher transcription in 9425R both without and 12 h after dicamba treatment. Increased CHS transcription co-segregated with dicamba resistance in a forward genetics screen using an F2 population. CONCLUSION Prior work has shown that the flavonols quertecin and kaemperfol compete with auxin for intercellular movement and vascular loading via ATP-binding cassette subfamily B (ABCB) membrane transporters. The results of this study support a model in which constitutively increased CHS expression in the meristem produces more flavonols that would compete with dicamba for intercellular transport by ABCB transporters, resulting in reduced dicamba translocation.
Thin Film Capacitor Applications in RF/Microwave Circuits

Abstract Thin-film capacitors can be created on various substrates including glass, low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC), and potentially on laminate PC board materials if the surface is sufficiently smooth. This paper looks at the circuit-design issues of how such a technology could be used in high-speed digital and microwave circuits for improving both signal integrity and power integrity (SI/PI). Two primary applications are examined: the formation of a low-inductance power-supply bypass allowing reduced supply ‘noise’, and the formation of AC coupling (DC blocking) circuits with improved signal return-loss.
Leveraging Behavioral Health Expertise: Practices and Potential of the Project ECHO Approach to Virtually Integrating Care in Underserved Areas

This column describes Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a teleconsultation, tele-education, telementoring model for enhancing primary care treatment of underserved patients with complex medical conditions. Numerous centers have adapted ECHO to support primary care treatment of behavioral health disorders. Preliminary evidence for behavioral health ECHO programs suggests positive impacts on providers, treatment planning, and emergency department costs. ECHO has the potential to improve access to effective and cost-effective behavioral health care by virtually integrating behavioral health knowledge and support in sites where specialty providers are not available. Patient-level outcomes research is critical.
Analysis of cost of component replacement versus entire device replacement during artificial urinary sphincter revision surgery.

AIM To identify the costs of replacing an entire malfunctioning AUS device versus an individual component at the time of device malfunction. METHODS Decision analysis was performed by analyzing the costs associated with revising a malfunctioning artificial urinary sphincter using one of two techniques: either individual or entire device replacement. Costs were determined by including actual institutional costs. Model assumptions were based on a summary of published literature and were created based on a time horizon of 0-5 years since the original, primary AUS was placed, and models were created for malfunction of each individual component. Sensitivity analysis was done adjusting for costs of the device and failure rates. RESULTS Total costs to replace an individual component were $8330 for the pump, $7611 for the cuff, and $5599 for the balloon, while entire device replacement cost $15 069. Over a 5-year time horizon the cost per patient for replacement of a balloon, pump, or cuff were $14 407, $17 491, and $15 212, respectively, versus $18 001 if the entire device was replaced. To be less costly to replace the entire device, balloon, pump, and cuff failure rates would need to be >55%, >25%, or >37.5% during the first 2 years after placement. CONCLUSION In the event of failure of the artificial urinary sphincter, cost analysis demonstrates that removal and replacement of the entire device is more expensive than replacement of a malfunctioning component at any point up to 5 years after initial AUS placement.
Loss and recovery: A note on “The Battle of Maldon”

The purpose of this note is to suggest that while the “Maldon” poet may have received his character names and the story he tells from tradition, he was still free to, and did, engineer the action o...
Regulation of RAG Transposition

V(D)J recombination is initiated by the lymphoid specific proteins RAG1 and RAG2, which together constitute the V(D)J recombinase. However, the RAG1/2 complex can also act as a transposase, inserting the broken DNA molecules generated during V(D)J recombination into an unrelated piece of DNA. This process, termed RAG transposition, can potentially cause insertional mutagenesis, chromosomal translocations and genomic instability. This review focuses on the mechanism and regulation of RAG transposition. We first provide a brief overview of the biochemistry of V(D)J recombination. We then discuss the discovery of RAG transposition and present an overview of the RAG transposition pathway. Using this pathway as a framework, we discuss the factors and forces that regulate RAG transposition.
Hans Hofmann's last lesson: A study of the artist's materials during the last decade of his career

This paper summarises the analysis of more than 500 paint and fibre samples from the late-career work of Abstract Expressionist painter and teacher Hans Hofmann (1880–1966) and finds a correlation between condition issues in Hofmann’s work and the combination of new paint materials with traditional art practice. The results of this study help to inform the conservation of Abstract Expressionist and other works that incorporate both traditional and modern paint media.
Bertrand Russell's Writings and Reflections on History

This essay examines Russell's historical writing, views on historical knowledge, and what history meant to him. In addition to frequent historical references in writing on ethics, religion, social issues, education and politics, and some half- dozen works mostly historical in character, he wrote four reflective essays on history and its uses. They are "On History" (1904), "The Materialistic Theory of History" (1920), "How to Read and Understand History" (1943) and "History as an Art" (1954). There are additional scattered, brief examples of historical exposition and interpretation in works for the popular press, but these 80 pages or so stand out from an enormous body of work from about 1895 to 1970.
Analyzing Cache Side Channels Using Deep Neural Networks

Cache side-channel attacks aim to breach the confidentiality of a computer system and extract sensitive secrets through CPU caches. In the past years, different types of side-channel attacks targeting a variety of cache architectures have been demonstrated. Meanwhile, different defense methods and systems have also been designed to mitigate these attacks. However, quantitatively evaluating the effectiveness of these attacks and defenses has been challenging. We propose a generic approach to evaluating cache side-channel attacks and defenses. Specifically, our method builds a deep neural network with its inputs as the adversary's observed information, and its outputs as the victim's execution traces. By training the neural network, the relationship between the inputs and outputs can be automatically discovered. As a result, the prediction accuracy of the neural network can serve as a metric to quantify how much information the adversary can obtain correctly, and how effective a defense solution is in reducing the information leakage under different attack scenarios. Our evaluation suggests that the proposed method can effectively evaluate different attacks and defenses.
Otopathology in CHARGE syndrome

Postmortem temporal bone computed tomography (CT) and histopathologic findings in an infant with CHARGE syndrome revealed bilateral cochleovestibular hypoplasia, including cochlear pathology relevant to cochlear implant candidacy. Both ears had absence of the superior semicircular canals (SCCs), severely hypoplastic posterior SCCs, and hypoplastic (right ear) or absent (left ear) lateral SCCs seen on CT and histopathology. Histopathology further revealed the absence of all SCC ampullae except the right lateral SCC ampulla and atrophic vestibular neuroepithelium in the saccule and utricle bilaterally. The right cochlea consisted of a basal turn with patent round window, and malformed middle turn (type IV cochlear hypoplasia), with a small internal auditory canal (IAC) but near normal cochlear nerve aperture (fossette). Quantification of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) on histologic sections revealed a reduced SGN population (35% of normal for age), but this ear would still have likely achieved benefit from a cochlear implant based on this population. The left cochlea consisted of only a basal turn with patent round window (type III cochlear hypoplasia) with a small IAC and very small cochlear nerve aperture. Notably, histology revealed that there were no SGNs in the cochlea, and therefore, this ear would not have been a good candidate for cochlear implantation. Level of evidence: IV.
Overshoot in licensing-driven harmony

Kaplan (2018a) argues for a positive and gradient version of positional licensing in Harmonic Grammar. A chief difference between this formalism and standard positional licensing is that it predicts that harmony whose goal is to place a feature in a licensing position may overshoot its target by extending beyond the licensing position. Centralisation harmony in Tudanca Montanes bears out this prediction: though harmony triggered by a final vowel typically stops at the stressed syllable, under particular circumstances it extends into the pretonic domain. Positive gradient positional licensing is indispensable in an account of this. It plays a central role in a gang effect that drives overshoot, an interaction that cannot be replicated with standard versions of positional licensing.
Factors associated with pulmonary artery hypertension among premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in Vietnam

Abstract Background Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a common complication among premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Factors associated with PAH among premature Vietnamese infants with BPD are unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of premature infants with BPD who had PAH and to identify the factors associated with PAH in these patients. Methods This descriptive study included 150 infants with BPD admitted to VNCH from August 2017 to July 2018.Clinical data were collected for all BPD patients. PAH screening was performed by echocardiography. Results PAH was more common among male BPD patients (71.9%). Median gestational age was 29 ± 2.1 weeks, 96.5% of cases were Conclusions PAH was common among premature infants with BPD. Prematurity, low birth weight, severe BPD, long-lasting oxygen-dependence were related to PAH in BPD patients.
Correction: Extracting viscoelastic material parameters using an atomic force microscope and static force spectroscopy.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques have provided and continue to provide increasingly important insights into surface morphology, mechanics, and other critical material characteristics at the nanoscale. One attractive implementation involves extracting meaningful material properties, which demands physically accurate models specifically designed for AFM experimentation and simulation. The AFM community has pursued the precise quantification and extraction of rate-dependent material properties, in particular, for a significant period of time, attempting to describe the standard viscoelastic response of materials. AFM static force spectroscopy (SFS) is one approach commonly used in pursuit of this goal. It is capable of acquiring rich temporal insight into the behavior of a sample. During AFM-SFS experiments the cantilever base approaches samples with a nearly constant velocity, which is manipulated to investigate different timescales of the mechanical response. This manuscript seeks to build upon our previous work and presents an approach to extracting useful linear viscoelastic information from AFM-SFS experiments. In addition, the basis for selecting and restricting the model parameters for fitting is discussed from the perspective of applying this technique on a practical level. This work begins with a guided discussion that develops a fit function from fundamental laws, continues with conditioning a raw SFS experimental dataset, and concludes with the fit and prediction of viscoelastic response parameters such as storage modulus, loss modulus, loss angle, and compliance. These steps constitute a complete guide to leveraging AFM-SFS data to estimate key material parameters, with a series of detailed insights into both the methodology and supporting analytical choices.
Color Doppler Sonographic Features of a Brenner Tumor in Pregnancy

Brenner tumors, benign transitional cell tumors of the ovary, constitute approximately 3.1% of ovarian epithelial neoplasms.' The mean patient age is 50 years. Most tumors are 2 cm or smaller, but occasionally they are large and may exceed 10 cm.' Microscopically, the characteristic feature consists of sharply demarcated epithelial cell nests embedded in a dense fibrous stroma.' Hyalinized areas are common, and dystrophic calcification is present in 50% of cases, often in the hyalinized areas. 1 Sonographic findings of benign Brenner tumors have been described and consist of solid hypoechoic masses, with calcifications noted at times. 2,3 In a recent study pertaining to the sonographic and computed tomographic features of this tumor including 22 women with 25 ovarian Brenner tumors, 16 of 25 (64%) were found incidentally. 3 We present an unusual case of a Brenner tumor complicating pregnancy and a description of the color Doppler sonographic features of this tumor in pregnancy.
Implementation of Minimum Nutrition Standards and Best Practices in Childcare Centers.

Abstract Background The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides reimbursable meals to 4.6 million children annually and sets nutrition standards for foods served. Licensing regulations in many states extend these rules to nonparticipating programs. Objective To evaluate the quality of meals and snacks served in Connecticut licensed childcare centers in 2019 and assess implementation of a state licensing requirement to adhere to CACFP minimum nutrition standards in all centers. Design Cross-sectional survey. Participants/setting Two hundred licensed childcare centers in Connecticut in 2019. Main outcome measures Meal/snack quality was assessed based on menus. Foods/beverages listed were compared to the minimum CACFP nutrition standards and optional best practices. Surveys completed by center directors measured center characteristics. Statistical analysis Logistic and linear multivariable regression models tested differences in centers’ adherence to nutrition standards and best practices by CACFP participation status. Results CACFP centers complied with more required nutrition standards than non-CACFP centers (an adjusted mean of 4.7 vs 3.4 standards among programs serving meals, P Conclusions and implications Better adherence to minimum nutrition standards and best practices among CACFP-participating childcare centers contributed to higher nutritional quality of meals and snacks offered. Snack quality would benefit most from greater compliance with nutrition standards. Providers outside of CACFP need additional supports in the implementation of licensing regulations to improve the food environment for young children.
Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR): a technical video.

Carotid revascularization is an important method of stroke prevention and includes carotid endarterectomy and transfemoral carotid angioplasty and stenting. More recently, a hybrid open-endovascular approach, termed transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), is garnering increased attention. Although fundamentally a 'stenting procedure', unlike transfemoral carotid angioplasty and stenting, TCAR allows for a proximal neuroprotection strategy based on flow reversal. In this technical video, we will review operative techniques and nuances of the TCAR procedure, with a particular focus on the neurovascular proceduralist looking to adopt this technique into routine clinical practice(video 1).neurintsurg;neurintsurg-2021-018024v1/V1F1V1Video 1.
Immune Profiling To Predict Treatment Response From Extracorporeal Photopheresis In Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving stem cell transplant. Extracorporeal photopheresis has demonstrated efficacy in a proportion of GVHD patients that are steroid refractory. However, given the expense, the challenging logistics, and unpredictable GVHD response to ECP, a predictive immune biomarker to assist with the selection of patients to treat with ECP can make this treatment modality more efficacious and cost-effective. One of the challenges of using leukocyte as biomarkers is that any single leukocyte population does not adequately describe the immune system. We have recently described an approach to characterize the immune system in a comprehensive manner. We have used a combination of whole blood quantitative flow cytometry and bioinformatics to generate immune profiles among patients with GVHD who were prescribed ECP. GVHD grading and clinical responses were confirmed by serial physical exams and review of medical records over a 6 month period. Response to ECP was defined as a decrease in clinical grade of GVHD (IBMTR and NIH consensus criteria) at the end of treatment. Peripheral blood drawn prior to initiation of ECP was used to generate a patient’s immune phenotype by analyzing 33 lymphoid and myeloid surface marker combinations by flow cytometry. Immune phenotypes from 27 age-matched healthy volunteers were used as controls. From July 2011 to April 2013, 20 patients were enrolled (3 aGVHD, 17 cGVHD). At the time of this abstract, 15 patients were evaluable for treatment response, with 6 responders and 9 non-responders (median time on treatment 5.28 months, range 0.25 – 6 months). Using multivariate analysis by principal component analysis and unsupervised hierarchical clustering, we identified clustering patterns (immune profiles) in the composite immune phenotypes of the GVHD patients and controls. The healthy controls clustered together into a single immune profile. Four of the six responders clustered closely together and away from the 9 non-responders and healthy controls. Anova analysis identified 21 individual markers that were different among the clusters. Using non-parametric Wilcoxon comparison, we found that patients who responded to ECP had lower numbers of lymphocytes (p=2.5x10-12), CD4 T cells (p=0.002), CD4+CD69+ T cells (p=0.02), and CD8+CTLA4+ (p=1.8x10-5) than healthy controls and non-responders. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a bioinformatics approach to comprehensively examine systemic immune profiles of GVHD patients. Our results provide the proof-of-concept for using this method to identify an immune profile as a predictive biomarker in the treatment of GVHD. Our data supports the need for a larger study to definitively define the immune profiles and validate this approach. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
HYBRID WAYS OF DOING: A MODEL FOR TEACHING PUBLIC SPACE

This paper addresses an exploratory practice undertaken by the authors in a co-taught class to hybridize theory, research and practice. This experiment in critical transdisciplinary design education took the form of a “critical studio + practice-based seminar on public space”, two interlinked classes co-taught by landscape architect Elliott Maltby and environmental psychologist Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani at the Parsons, The New School for Design. This design process was grounded in the political and social context of the contested East River waterfront of New York City and valued both intensive study (using a range of social science and design methods) and a partnership with a local community organization, engaging with the politics, issues and human needs of a complex site. The paper considers how we encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue between teachers as well as between liberal arts and design students and developed strategies to overcome preconceived notions of traditional “studio” and “seminar” work. By exploring the challenges and adjustments made during the semester and the process of teaching this class, this paper addresses how we moved from a model of intertwining theory, research and practice, to a hybrid model of multiple ways of doing, a model particularly apt for teaching public space. Through examples developed for and during our course, the paper suggests practical ways of supporting this transdisciplinary hybrid model.
Progress in the Development of a Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator

In this paper we summarize recent progress in the development of an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) that operates continuously at sub-Kelvin temperatures. The ADR uses multiple stages, one of which cools a load while the others periodically transfer heat to a heat sink. The architecture is very flexible, allowing stages to be added at the low end to achieve lower operating temperature, or at the high end to increase the heat rejection temperature. The present design goals are to achieve high cooling power (on the order of 10 ?W) at 50 mK or lower, and heat rejection at 6 K or higher. The latter reflects the performance goals of various cryocoolers being developed for use in space through NASA’s Advanced Cryocooler Technology Development Program1. Over the past year we assembled and tested a 3-stage ADR that used a superfluid helium bath as a heat sink. We have also recently assembled a 4-stage ADR that can operate with a 4.2 K helium bath. Details of the design, operation and performance of these systems are discussed.
The Dynamics of Metaphors: Class‐Inclusion or Comparison?

In current literature, metaphor is treated as either an instance of implicit comparison or as a nonliteral class-inclusion statement. I will argue that, contrary to these positions, the notions of comparison and class-inclusion are not mutually exclusive in character but rather complementary cognitive concepts which entail one another. While initially using the semantic distinction between literal and figurative language, I will argue in the course of this article that metaphor is a matter of extraordinary rather than ordinary language and that it reflects linguistic pragmatics rather than semantics. The most prominent reasons for resorting to the extraordinary use of language may be found in education, where metaphor serves a heuristic function in the interaction between teacher and student, and in scientific activities, when researchers have at their disposal only a restricted dictionary to describe new phenomena. Executive function, flashbulb memory, and the firing of neurons are examples from cognitive psychology and neuroscience that denominate phenomena that might otherwise not have been adequately expressed. I will conclude that metaphors are both comparisons as well as class-inclusion statements and that these tropes fulfill not only a heuristic but also an epistemic function in as much as they render comprehensible the acquisition of radically new knowledge.
Adaptive Optimization of Markov Reward Processes

We consider the problem of optimizing the average reward of Markov chains controlled by two sets of parameters 1) a set of tunable parameters and 2) a set of fixed but unknown parameters. We study the convergence characteristics of recursive estimation procedures based on the observation of regenerative cycles. We also provide sufficient conditions for the convergence to local optima of existing simulation-based optimization procedures under parameter certainty, in order to achieve simultaneous optimal selection of the tunable parameters and identification of the unknown parameters. To illustrate our approach, we discuss an algorithm which exploits the gradient of the likelihood of an observed regenerative cycle and its application to a regenerative simulation-based algorithm introduced in [1]. Our results are illustrated numerically in a problem of optimal pricing of services in a multi-class loss network.
Studying Search Networks with SIL

We present a general model, called the Search/Index Link (SIL) model, for studying peer-to-peer search networks. This model allows us to analyze and visualize existing network architectures. It also allows us to discover novel architectures that have desirable properties. Finally, it can be used as a starting point for developing new network construction techniques.
Teaching All Geoscience Students: Lessons Learned From Two-Year Colleges

Geoscience faculty at 2-year colleges (2YCs) are at the forefront of efforts to improve student learning and success while at the same time broadening participation in the geosciences. Faculty of 2YCs instruct large numbers of students from underrepresented minority groups and many students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Geoscience classes at 2YCs also typically have large enrollments of nontraditional students, English language learners, and students with learning disabilities.
Investment, Opportunity, and Risk: Do US Sanctions Deter or Encourage Global Investment?

Complementing the effectiveness of US sanctions debate, the US government often prods US investors to disinvest from targeted countries, hoping to pressure sanctioned countries to back US foreign policy goals or face economic costs for their actions. Missing from the effectiveness of sanctions debate is the impact US sanctions have on third-party foreign direct investment (FDI). Using panel data for 171 countries from 1969 to 2000, we present the first empirical study on the effect of sanctions on global FDI. We find strong evidence that when US firms disinvest during US sanctions, global FDI significantly increases, providing the target country with a reliable source of capital replacement. The results suggest the limited effectiveness of sanctions for restricting capital flows to targeted countries and that US firms may ultimately bear the highest costs from US-imposed sanctions. A debate exists in the sanctions literature about whether multilateral cooperation produces successful policy outcomes. Some point to the ability of sanctioning states to garner multilateral cooperation as a near necessary condition for success, while others see the potential pitfalls involved with the forming and maintaining of a sanctioning coalition. 2 Much of the sanctions success research investigates commerce issues (Martin 1992; Mastanduno 1992; Drezner 2000; Miers and Morgan 2002), with spe
Treatment options in melanoma in situ: topical and radiation therapy, excision and Mohs surgery

Background The treatment of melanoma in situ (MIS), particularly the lentigo maligna (LM) subtype, has been a controversial subject in the literature for over a decade. Surgical excision with 5 mm margins is the standard of care in the USA, while several variations of Mohs surgery are frequently used to treat clinically ill-defined lesions. Radiation is much less frequently used. Topical imiquimod has also been more recently proposed, in small case reports in the literature, as a therapy for MIS. However, controversies exist with all approaches. Objective To review the current literature regarding topical imiquimod, radiation therapy, surgical excision, and the various forms of Mohs surgery for MIS, focusing on the LM subtype. Methods A literature search was performed in the PubMed database using the following terms: “melanoma in situ,”“lentigo maligna,”“excisional surgery,”“Mohs micrographic surgery,”“radiation therapy,” and “imiquimod.” Articles relevant to the treatment of MIS were reviewed and reported herein. Results Studies of imiquimod therapy for MIS are hampered by small study numbers and short follow-up periods. The few, better-designed studies reveal relatively low cure rates. In addition, literature review reveals that a significant percentage of cases of MIS that are initially diagnosed as in situ disease by biopsy subsequently prove to have an invasive component upon complete excision. This finding suggests that topical therapy of any kind may be problematic. Studies of radiation therapy for MIS have relatively small numbers of patients and short follow-up. Multiple studies of excisional surgery have shown that 5 mm margins are often insufficient to clear the LM subtype of MIS due to unseen subclinical extension, accounting for this treatment’s reported 8–20% recurrence rate. Finally, a number of variants of traditional frozen section Mohs surgery have been utilized to try and achieve complete peripheral margin assessment of clinically ill-defined LM lesions. All studies are retrospective, and most are single-institution and frequently single-operator, limiting the meaningfulness of their results. Nevertheless, they involve moderate numbers of patients, and many have at least a five year follow-up. Collectively, they suggest recurrence rates in the range of 0.5–3.0%. Conclusion Topical imiquimod therapy appears to provide relatively low cure rates for MIS, and because some of these lesions contain an unrecognized invasive component, should be used with extreme caution to treat this disease. Radiation therapy may be a useful second-line therapy if surgery is contraindicated. Excisional surgery is an appropriate therapy for clinically well-defined MIS; however, margins larger than 5 mm may be required when treating larger or indistinct lesions. Finally, for clinically ill-defined LM arising on sun-damaged skin, especially in regions of aesthetic concern, some form of complete peripheral margin assessment – one of the various forms of Mohs surgery – may provide the highest cure rate and create the smallest surgical defect.
Risk factors for urinary incontinence among middle-aged women

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for urinary incontinence in middle-aged women. Study design We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 83,355 Nurses' Health Study II participants. Since 1989, women have provided health information on mailed questionnaires; in 2001, at the ages 37 to 54 years, information on urinary incontinence was requested. We examined adjusted odds ratios of incontinence using logistic regression. Results Forty-three percent of the women reported incontinence. After adjustment, black (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.40-0.60) and Asian-American women (odds ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.46-0.72) were at reduced odds of severe incontinence compared with white women. Increased age, body mass index, parity, current smoking, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hysterectomy all were associated positively with incontinence. Women who were aged 50 to 54 years had 1.81 times the odds of severe incontinence compared with women who were 2 had 3.10 times the odds of severe incontinence compared with a body mass index of 22 to 24 kg/m 2 (95% CI, 2.91-3.30). Conclusion Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent among these middle-aged women. Potential risk factors include age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, parity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hysterectomy.
Emergency Care in Namibia

Namibia is a sparsely populated nation in southwest Africa. A state-run health service provides care to most of the population. The geography and population distribution dictate the delivery systems for prehospital and emergency care. A state-run ambulance service provides basic patient transportation to the state-run hospitals. There is no 911 system. Two private aeromedical companies in Namibia provide the full range of ground and aeromedical treatment, diver rescue, and helicopter and fixed-wing transport services. The scope of care includes cricothyrotomies, chest tubes, and rapid-sequence intubation. Equipment is modern and virtually identical to what is used in the United States. There are no emergency physicians in Namibia. General medical officers are the backbone of the state-run health service. General medical officers assigned to cover the ED are called casualty officers. No specialized training beyond internship is required, and assignments to casualty are viewed as temporary until better positions become available. Only the largest state hospital in the capital has a dedicated, 24-hour emergency staff. The private prehospital care/transport systems are well organized and sophisticated. Formal efforts should be undertaken to develop ties with our colleagues in Namibia. Potential areas for collaboration include injury surveillance and prevention, field trauma resuscitation, and prehospital care.
Stakeholder Response to Expected Change in CSR: Do CSR Ratings Effect Value Creation from M&A?

The acquisition literature has not paid much attention to effects of differences in corporate social responsibility (CSR) between target and acquiring firms on the value created by acquisitions. We...
Differential effects of sugar maple, red oak, and hemlock tannins on carbon and nitrogen cycling in temperate forest soils

Tannins are abundant secondary chemicals in leaf litter that are hypothesized to slow the rate of soil-N cycling by binding protein into recalcitrant polyphenol–protein complexes (PPCs). We studied the effects of tannins purified from sugar maple, red oak, and eastern hemlock leaf litter on microbial activity and N cycling in soils from northern hardwood–conifer forests of the northeastern US. To create ecologically relevant conditions, we applied tannins to soil at a concentration (up to 2 mg g−1 soil) typical of mineral soil horizons. Sugar maple tannins increased microbial respiration significantly more than red oak or hemlock tannins. The addition of sugar maple tannins also decreased gross N mineralization by 130% and, depending upon the rate of application, decreased net rates of N mineralization by 50–290%. At low concentrations, the decrease in mineralization appeared to be driven by greater microbial-N immobilization, while at higher concentrations the decrease in mineralization was consistent with the formation of recalcitrant PPCs. Low concentrations of red oak and hemlock tannins stimulated microbial respiration only slightly, and did not significantly affect fluxes of inorganic N in the soil. When applied to soils containing elevated levels of protein, red oak and hemlock tannins decreased N mineralization without affecting rates of microbial respiration, suggesting that PPC formation decreased substrate availability for microbial immobilization. Our results indicate that tannins from all three species form recalcitrant PPCs, but that the degree of PPC formation and its attendant effect on soil-N cycling depends on tannin concentration and the pool size of available protein in the soil.
Slac high power quantameter

Abstract We describe a non-saturating quantameter for use with the full SLAC photon beam. The quantameter is expected to be operable up to a power level of 10 kW although it has only been tested to date up to 3.5 kW. The quantameter is not an absolute device and has to be calibrated with a Faraday cup or a calorimeter. It has been used extensively in an experiment at SLAC and has been found to be reproducible to the fractional percent level.
An Optimization Strategy for Evolutionary Testing Based on Cataclysm

Evolutionary Testing (ET) is an effective test case generation technique which uses some meta-heuristic search algorithm, especially genetic algorithm, to generate test cases automatically. However, the prematurity of the population may decrease the performance of ET. To solve this problem, this paper presents a novel optimization strategy based on cataclysm. It monitors the diversity of population during the evolution process of ET. Once the prematurity is detected, it will use the operator, cataclysm, to recover the diversity of the population. The experimental results show that the proposed strategy can improve the performance of ET evidently.
Effect of cyantraniliprole on feeding behavior and virus transmission of Frankliniella fusca and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Capsicum annuum

Abstract The anthranilic diamide insecticide cyantraniliprole was previously shown to reduce transmission of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) to pepper, Capsicum annuum , by Frankliniella fusca but not Frankliniella occidentalis . This study examines the effects of cyantraniliprole and imidacloprid on thrips feeding using electrical penetration graphing (EPG), and on TSWV transmission in field cage studies. Some antifeedant responses were observed in the EPG studies when thrips fed on cyantraniliprole- and imidacloprid-treated plants; however, these responses were variable between species and among the 2, 6, and 10 day post-treatment time intervals during which feeding behavior was observed. Cyantraniliprole significantly reduced the probability of TSWV infection when spread by F. fusca in field-grown pepper when viruliferous thrips were released 7 days but not when released at 14 days after the insecticide treatment in one of 2 field trials. In the second trial cyantraniliprole significantly reduced the probability of infection when F. fusca were released 14 days but not 7 days after treatment. In both years, imidacloprid prevented or significantly reduced transmission of TSWV by F. fusca in field-grown pepper when viruliferous thrips were released 7 days and 14 after treatment. In one of two years, cyantraniliprole significantly reduced the incidence of TSWV in field-grown pepper that was spread by F. occidentalis when viruliferous thrips were released 7 days after the insecticide treatment, but not 14 days after the treatment. Imidacloprid did not reduce the incidence of TSWV in field-grown pepper when viruliferous F. occidentalis were released. Although these studies demonstrate that probing behavior of these thrips species is altered on cyantraniliprole-treated pepper plants, results of field cage studies did not consistently show a reduction in incidence of TSWV-infected plants.
A micro-movement model with Bayes estimation via filtering: Application to measuring trading noises and costs

Abstract We highlight a general hybrid system as the micromovement model for asset price using counting processes recently introduced with its Bayes estimation via filtering. We construct a new simple micromovement model and apply it to analyze trade-by-trade stock price data in the light of the series of works initiated by Christie and Schultz [Why do NASDAQ market makers avoid odd-eighth quotes?, Finance 49 (1994) 1813–1840]. Through the new model, we propose more reasonable, but computationally intensive measures for trading noise including clustering noise and non-clustering noise, and for trading cost. We employ Bayes estimation via filtering to obtain parameter estimates of the new model and to provide numerical measures of trading noise and trading cost for three stocks from four chosen periods. Our empirical results support the important findings in [Christie, Harris, Schultz, Why did NASDAQ market makers stop avoiding odd-eighth quotes?, Finance 49 (1994) 1841–1860; Barclay, Christie, Harris, Kandel, Schultz, The effects of market reform on the trading costs and depths of NASDAQ stocks, J. Finance 54(1) (1999) 1–34].
Comparative studies of rodent anionic arylsulfatases

Approximately 25 and 40%, respectively, of murine (Mus musculus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) hepatic arylsulfatase (EC 3.1.6.1) activity eluted from DEAE-ion exchange resins under high salt conditions. This high salt fraction contained arylsulfatase A and an enzyme which was immunologically similar to arylsulfatase B. The latter enzyme was thermostable, resistant to inhibition by silver, completely inhibited by phosphate, displayed linear kinetics, and had a higher pH optimum than arylsulfatase A. Anionic arylsulfatase B also hydrolyzed chondroitin-4-SO4 heptasaccharide. Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration resolved anionic arylsulfatase B into 55 and 115 kd fractions. Rodent arylsulfatase A activity was grossly underestimated when 4-methyl-umbelliferyl sulfate was employed as substrate.
Nutritional assessment and therapeutic interventions for the preterm infant

All components of assessment contribute to the final decision regarding nutritional status of the infant and the nutritional therapy indicated. One parameter by itself such as nutrient intake, weight change, or a laboratory value cannot clearly determine the total nutritional state of the infant. Achieving appropriate intakes and weight gains are two excellent parameters. Laboratory values can determine if nutrition is tolerated and manipulations are indicated.
Multiple language use and mathematics: Politicizing the discussion

Macroeconomic forces, globalization, transnational capital flight, and massive migration have global and local reverberations that affect our classrooms, teachers, communities, and students. In particular, teaching and learning mathematics in multiple language contexts is affected by these broader dynamics. Thus, politicizing the discussion around language usage is not a choice mathematics educators have the luxury of making-circumstances dictate that for us. This brief commentary responds to the six articles in the present volume and situates them within the larger sociopolitical context we live in today.
Effects of an Alpha 7-Nicotinic Agonist on Default Network Activity in Schizophrenia

Background 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-anabaseine (DMXB-A) is a partial agonist at α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that has been evaluated clinically for treatment of schizophrenia. This study examined the effects of DMXB-A on default network activity as a biomarker for drug effects on pathologic brain function associated with schizophrenia. Methods Placebo and two doses of DMXB-A were administered in a random, double-blind crossover design during a Phase 2 study of DMXB-A. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 16 nonsmoking patients with schizophrenia while they performed a simple eye movement task. Independent component analysis was used to identify the default network component. Default network changes were evaluated in the context of a polymorphism in CHRNA7 , the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit gene, which was previously found to be associated with schizophrenia. Results Compared with placebo, both 150 and 75 mg twice daily DMXB-A altered default network activity, including a reduction in posterior cingulate, inferior parietal cortex, and medial frontal gyrus activity and an increase in precuneus activity. The most robust difference, posterior cingulate activity reduction, was affected by CHRNA7 genotype. Conclusions The observed DMXB-A-related changes are consistent with improved default network function in schizophrenia. Pharmacogenetic analysis indicates mediation of the effect through the α7-nicotinic receptor. These results further implicate nicotinic cholinergic dysfunction in the disease and suggest that default network activity may be a useful indicator of biological effects of novel therapeutic agents.
Analysis of invariant sets

In this paper, an attempt has been made to unify the study of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of systems in a general set up so as to broaden the outlook and applicability of Lyapunov’s second method. Some new notions of quasi-invariant sets are also introduced, which play an important role in application to control theory and differential games.
A survey of catalysts for aromatics from fast pyrolysis of biomass

Abstract A comparative evaluation of ten catalysts for biomass pyrolysis was performed using poplar (DN-34) as the feedstock. Five of the catalysts consisted of HZSM-5 with different silica:alumina ratios (SAR, 23, 30, 55, 80 and 280). The other five catalysts were sulfated zirconia (SO4 2− ZrO 2 ), 20% SO4 2− ZrO 2 dispersed on a mesoporous MCM-41 silica support, Al–MSU–S alumnosilicate exhibiting a foam-like mesopore structure, Al–MSU–S aluminosilicate exhibiting wormhole mesopores, and a bauxite waste product known as red mud. Analytical pyrolysis in tandem with GC/MS showed that all of the catalysts except for HZSM-5 resulted in low aromatic chemical production. Highly acidic sulfated zirconia catalysts were not selective to aromatics and produced significant coke and non-condensable gases. Mesoporous MSU–S catalysts exhibiting high pore volume and acidity also gave high gas and coke yields. Among the HZSM-5 catalysts evaluated, those with the lowest SAR provided the highest yields of total aromatics and the lowest levels of undesired coke.