cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cholecystitis and Cholelithiasis Associated with an Intramural Fasciitis-Like Proliferation and Osseous Metaplasia

Fasciitis-like proliferations are said to be uncommon in the viscera; a fasciitis-like pattern of gallbladder injury may not be rare, but to our knowledge it has not been explicitly reported as such in any age group. Osseous metaplasia, or heterotopic bone, in the gallbladder is rare and has not to our knowledge been reported in a pediatric patient. We report a 7-year-old boy with sickle cell disease who presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. An ultrasonograph demonstrated a dilated common bile duct with sludge and stones. A cholecystectomy was performed. Grossly the gallbladder showed numerous pigmented choleliths, and histologically there was cholecystitis with a fasciitis-like fibrous proliferation containing scattered osteoclast-like giant cells and an area of osseous metaplasia. This report, describing a pattern that could be termed “cholecystitis ossificans,” expands the histologic spectrum of chronic cholecystitis, a common disease with a poorly understood pathogenesis.
Role of thin Fe catalyst in the synthesis of double- and single-wall carbon nanotubes via microwave chemical vapor deposition

Synthesis of vertically aligned small diameter (single- and double-wall) carbon nanotube films on thermally oxidized n+-Si(001) wafers, with acetylene diluted with ammonia gas mixture using a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition technique, is reported. Experiments show that by continuous reduction in the thickness of the iron catalyst film to ∼0.3–0.5nm, or alternately, smaller catalyst particles produces hollow concentric tubes with a fewer number of walls. Double- and single-wall carbon nanotubes with diameters ranging from 1 to 5nm were identified using transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. A relatively higher deposition temperature (∼850°C) in conjunction with a controlled catalyst and rapid growth (<40s) allowed for the growth of well-graphitized, high areal density (∼1012-1013∕cm2) nanotubes with reduced amorphous carbon and iron. Our results also indicate that the base growth is the most appropriate model to describe the growth mechanism for the nanotube films.
Raman and infrared spectra, conformational stability, and ab initio calculations of acetyl isothiocyanate

Abstract The Raman (3100 to 10 cm −1 ) and infrared (3100 to 30 cm t-1 ) spectra of acetyl isothiocyanate, CH 3 C(O)NCS, and the d 3 isotopomer have been recorded for the fluid and solid phases with qualitative depolarization values obtained from the Raman spectra of the liquids. The observed bands are assigned on the basis of the more stable trans conformer (isothiocyanate group trans to the carbonyl bond) and the less stable cis conformer in the liquid state with the trans conformer remaining in the crystalline solid. The conformational stability could not be determined for the vapor state owing to the lack of vapor phase data. Variable temperature studies of the Raman spectrum of the liquid gives a Δ H value of 145 ± 21 cm −1 (415 ± 60 cal mol −1 ). A complete vibrational assignment is proposed for the trans conformer based on infrared band contours, Raman depolarization data, group frequencies, relative intensities and normal-coordinate calculations. Also, several of the fundamentals of the cis conformer have been assigned. The experimental conformational stability, and fundamental vibrational frequencies are compared with those obtained from ab initio gradient calculations employing the RHF/3-21G*, RHF/6-31G* and/or MP2/6-31G* basis sets and with the corresponding quantities obtained for some similar molecules.
Trends in digital television-all change or steady as she goes?

Digital technology is enabling very rapid change in the television industry effecting every aspect of the process from scene to screen. This has already brought many benefits but also presents new challenges as the resulting far greater diversity in equipment endangers standards and compatibility. More recently disk drives have emerged as more flexible means of video storage. With rapid development continuing, their usage is bound to increase and to further influence both the production process and the way that programmes are put to air. Just how this evolves depends on the future specifications of the disk drives themselves. Changing the medium from disks to tape means fresh thought must be given to archiving. Here it is essential that a long term solution is found which can be applied across a wide range of applications and which will fit with the emerging range of disk-based equipment.
Metal core bonding motifs of monodisperse icosahedral Au13 and larger Au monolayer-protected clusters as revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

The atomic metal core structures of the subnanometer clusters Au13[PPh3]4[S(CH2)11CH3]2Cl2 (1) and Au13[PPh3]4[S(CH2)11CH3]4 (2) were characterized using advanced methods of electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The number of gold atoms in the cores of these two clusters was determined quantitatively using high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy. Multiple-scattering-path analyses of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra suggest that the Au metal cores of each of these complexes adopt an icosahedral structure with a relaxation of the icosahedral strain. Data from microscopy and spectroscopy studies extended to larger thiolate-protected gold clusters showing a broader distribution in nanoparticle core sizes (183 ± 116 Au atoms) reveal a bulklike fcc structure. These results further support a model for the monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs) in which the thiolate ligands bond preferentially at 3-fold atomic sites on the nanoparticle surface,...
On Automatic Speech-Understanding Systems

systems that afford a faster communication and lessen the dependence upon intermediaries, and that often provide help to those who are not familiar with how the system operates and don't know how to express their requirements formally. But in spite of advances in man-machine interaction, the mechanisms provided for communication remain remote from the ideal. When a potential user first approaches a computer he finds that the first thing he must do, before he can even think of getting any work done, is to learn how to communicate with the machine. At the very least, this involves learning a new "language" the language of the "interface" to the machine. This is not necessarily a programming language, but certainly one that allows him to tell the machine what to do. In the past, such interface languages have been conceived and implemented by system designers and programmers with a view to optimizing system capabilities rather than accommodating human needs. The use of such languages often requires thought patterns and processes which are foreign to the way people usually think and talk to each other and involves a certain amount of effort to learn.
Multimode interactions in cyclotron autoresonance maser amplifiers

The interaction of transverse eigenmodes with a relativistic electron beam is analyzed in an overmoded cyclotron autoresonance maser amplifier, using a nonlinear self-consistent model and kinetic theory. It is shown that all of the coupled modes grow with the dominant unstable mode at the same growth rate, but suffer different launching losses. The phases of coupled modes are locked in the linear and nonlinear regimes. Simulations indicate that the rf power distribution among the interacting modes at saturation is {ital insensitive} to input power distribution but {ital sensitive} to detuning.
IMMANENT DUALISM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DUALISM AND MONISM: THE WORLD VIEW OF MAX WEBER

Exploration of the roots of accumulating environmental degradation has reached to the very foundations of Western civilization. The dominant critiques of these foundations primarily focus on two cosmologies: monism and dualism. The purpose of this paper is to examine these foundations from a Weberian perspective and to offer a little known alternative: immanent dualism. This alternative cosmology suggests that religion could help reorganize late industrial capitalism.
Mediastinal adenopathy, lung infiltrates, and hemophagocytosis: unusual manifestation of pediatric anaplastic large cell lymphoma: report of two cases.

To date, only 1 report describes an anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) associated with hemophagocytosis in the pediatric population. To better characterize this unusual manifestation of ALCL, we identified 2 additional cases. Both patients had fever, cytopenia, decreased fibrinogen level, mediastinal or hilar adenopathy, minimal to no peripheral adenopathy, and lung infiltrates. Bone marrow biopsies and aspirates revealed striking hemophagocytosis but no ALCL. One patient fulfilled the criteria for hemophagocytic syndrome, but the other lacked 1 criterion. Both patients were initially given a misdiagnosis of infection-associated hemophagocytosis. Definitive diagnosis required lymph node biopsies that showed CD30+, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-I + ALCL. Both tumors responded to standard lymphoma chemotherapy. One patient achieved complete remission, whereas the other patient died of complications after 2 cycles of therapy. These findings are similar to the first reported case and indicate that pediatric ALCL can manifest with an unusual constellation of symptoms consisting of hemophagocytosis, mediastinal or hilar adenopathy, and lung infiltrates.
Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism act synergistically to signal apoptosis in neoplastic cells

Arachidonic acid (AA) and its metabolites are intimately linked to carcinogenesis. Inhibitors of AA metabolic enzymes have demonstrated anti-carcinogenic effects in vivo and induce apoptosis of many cancer cell lines in vitro. The mechanism by which AA influences carcinogenesis, however, remains unresolved. The current study explores the growth inhibitory potential of Triacsin C, PLT-98625, and NS-398 which inhibit three distinct metabolic enzymes that control intracellular AA levels: fatty acid coenzyme-A ligase 4 (FACL-4), coenzyme-A independent transacylase (CoA-IT), and cyclooxygenase (COX), respectively. Results reveal the anti-proliferative effects of these inhibitors in a number of human cancer cell lines. Further studies in the SK-MES-1 cell line demonstrate that all three inhibitors induce accumulation of unesterified AA which correlates with induction of apoptosis. Addition of exogenous AA also induces apoptosis. Furthermore, in combination, these inhibitors act cooperatively to induce AA accumulation which correlates to a synergistic reduction in cell viability. Taken together, these results suggest that accumulation of unesterified AA is a common mechanism in the induction of cancer cell apoptosis by various inhibitors of AA metabolism, confirm that previously described AA remodeling pathways are valid in cancer cells, and indicate that combination treatment strategies utilizing these inhibitors may represent a novel approach to blocking cancer cell growth. Further study is required to determine the downstream pathway(s) whereby high cellular burdens of unesterified AA promote apoptosis.
Pre-concentration techniques for bromate analysis in ozonated waters

Abstract Ozonation of surface waters that contain bromide result in the formation of bromate which has been identified as a potential carcinogen. Regulation of bromate at the preferred concentration of less than 5 μg/1 is being delayed due to lack of a validated analytical method for quantification at this level. This paper describes the integrated use of a silver cation resin to reduce closely eluting chloride from aqueous samples followed by a chelation column to remove leached silver prior to pre-concentration of 4-ml samples on an anion-exchange column. A borate eluent used under gradient conditions allows for bromate determination at 0.5 μ/1 in treatment plant waters that, hitherto, were reported to be devoid of bromate.
A New Bipolar Plate of PEM Electrolysis Cell With Uniform Flow and Heat Transfer Fields

Optimization of electrolysis cell for producing hydrogen is dependent of a set of complex physical and chemical processes occurring simultaneously. Similar to fuel cells, it has been demonstrated that these processes are strongly dependent on the fluid dynamics inside the fuel cell. Bipolar plates are important components of PEM electrolysis cells because they are the first stage of the flow distribution system. A non-uniform flow distribution across the bipolar plate surface area will probably lead to an unbalanced use of the precious catalyst, and an overall efficiency of the device lower than expected. In the present work a new design of bipolar plate for the PEM electrolysis cell was proposed and 3-D CFD modeling was preformed. Velocity, temperature and pressure distributions within the bipolar plate were investigated. Numerical simulations showed that the flow uniformity within the designed bipolar plate is greatly improved compared with the baseline bipolar plate for water electrolysis.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Neural network segmentation of magnetic resonance images

Neural networks are well adapted to the task of grouping input patterns into subsets which share some similarity. Moreover once trained they can generalize their classification rules to classify new data sets. Sets of pixel intensities from magnetic resonance (MR) images provide a natural input to a neural network by varying imaging parameters MR images can reflect various independent physical parameters of tissues in their pixel intensities. A neural net can then be trained to classify physically similar tissue types based on sets of pixel intensities resulting from different imaging studies on the same subject. A neural network classifier for image segmentation was implemented on a Sun 4/60 and was tested on the task of classifying tissues of canine head MR images. Four images of a transaxial slice with different imaging sequences were taken as input to the network (three spin-echo images and an inversion recovery image). The training set consisted of 691 representative samples of gray matter white matter cerebrospinal fluid bone and muscle preclassified by a neuroscientist. The network was trained using a fast backpropagation algorithm to derive the decision criteria to classify any location in the image by its pixel intensities and the image was subsequently segmented by the classifier. The classifier''s performance was evaluated as a function of network size number of network layers and length of training. A single layer neural network performed quite well at
A Robust Video Scene Extraction Approach to Movie Content Abstraction

This research addresses the problem of automatically extracting semantic video scenes from feature films based on multimodal information. A three-stage scene detection scheme is proposed. First, we use pure visual information to extract a coarse-level scene structure based on generated shot sinks. Second, audio cue is integrated to refine the scene detection results by considering various kinds of audiovisual scenarios. Finally, we introduce users into this process by allowing them to interactively tune the final results to their own satisfaction. The generated scene structure forms a compact yet meaningful abstraction of the video data, which can help facilitate the content access. Preliminary experiments on integrating multiple media cues for movie scene extraction have yielded encouraging results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 13, 236–244, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.10063
High school science teachers' views of standards and accountability

Previous literature has documented how teachers perceive both advantages and disadvantages associated with standards-based reform. These teacher perceptions may be connected to classroom practices in terms of the extent to which standards are utilized by individual teachers. The purpose of this study was to identify how secondary science teachers characterize state science standards, modify their curricula on the basis of standards, and view the impacts of standards on students and teachers in their schools. Twenty-two science teachers from five purposefully selected school districts were interviewed using a protocol targeting attitudes toward standards and accountability, ways teachers use standards to develop and modify curricula, impacts of standards on students and teachers, and utilization of standards-based resources and professional development. An inductive approach was used to analyze data and produced both common views of science standards held by many teachers and profiles that characterize subgroups of teachers. Participants described both positive and negative aspects of standards-based accountability, and roughly half of the teachers described modifying their curricula according to standards. Teachers were categorized into six different profiles: negative perspectives, game of testing, already doing it, part of the cycle, reality of teaching, and useful tools. Suggestions for different approaches to professional development are elaborated for teachers of these various profiles. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed93:1050–1075, 2009
The classification of small weakly minimal sets. II

Let T be a weakly minimal theory with fewer than Open image in new window many countable models. Further suppose that T satisfies (S) for all finite A and weakly minimal p e S(A), if p is non-isolated then p has finite multiplicity.
A Consistent Approach to Large Eddy Simulation Using Adaptive Mesh Refinement

The large eddy simulation of turbulent flows is discussed with particular attention paid to the issue of commutation of differentiation and filtering. Multi-level adaptive mesh refinement is proposed as a means of mostly avoiding commutation errors where increased grid resolution is required to capture key flow features. The strategy is to employ multiple uniform grids in a nested hierarchy using a constant-width filter for each grid. It is shown that commutivity of fine and coarse grid filters must be enforced in order to consistently relate variables at different refinement levels. Methods for treating fine grid boundaries and walls are also discussed. It is shown that errors associated with boundary treatments are small and localized.
Excimer-laser induced degradation in bulk-fused silica

Excimer laser irradiation of fused silica is shown to induce gradual changes in the material, which affect its optical properties. These changes include visible fluorescence, formation of absorption bands at approximately 215 nm (E' centers), and increases in density and index of refraction. The magnitude of these effects varies initially as the square of the laser fluence and linearly with the number of pulses, indicating that they are the result of a two- photon absorption process. Pre-or post-irradiation treatments can be used to reduce the amount of laser induced degradation, especially the formation of color centers.
Sample size determination in complex clinical trials comparing more than two groups for survival endpoints

This paper presents a sample size formula for testing the equality of kappa (> or = 2) survival distributions using the Tarone-Ware class of test statistics in the presence of non-proportional hazards, time dependent losses, non-compliance and drop-in. This method extends the derivation by Lakatos of a sample size formula for comparing two survival distributions. A sample size formula is also presented for the stratified logrank test. We describe how one can utilize these generalized formulae in calculating sample sizes and assessing power in complex multi-arm clinical trials.
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

Multifocal atrial tachycardia is typically seen in elderly patients with severe illnesses, most commonly COPD. The mechanism of the arrhythmia may be delayed afterdepolarizations leading to triggered activity, but this has not been firmly established. The initial treatment of multifocal atrial tachycardia should include supportive measures and aggressive reversal of precipitating causes. Since multifocal atrial tachycardia is commonly a secondary phenomenon, the role for antiarrhythmic therapy is unclear. Metoprolol, magnesium, and verapamil have been evaluated in a few treatment studies, and may have a role in the treatment of multifocal atrial tachycardia.
Inventory service-level measures: convexity and approximation

We argue that standard approximations for two often-used inventory service-level measures may perform poorly in many situations. Then we confirm the long-standing conjecture that the relatively exact formulas for these quantities are convex functions of the relevant control variables. Both results suggest the exact expressions should be seriously considered in practical work.
Workforce Design with Movement Restrictions Between Workstation Groups

This paper is concerned with the problem of determining the optimal size and composition of a permanent workforce needed to run a facility when demand is specified by a workstation group (WSG) for up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For full-time employees, a solution is characterized by a bid job, which consists of a five-day-a-week schedule, a lunch break for all shifts, and a set of WSG task assignments for each of the half-hour periods in a shift. In contrast, each part-time employee may be given anywhere from one to six shifts during the week, and each shift may vary from four to eight hours in length. To facilitate supervision, all employees must be assigned to a home WSG, but when idle time exists in their schedules, they can be redeployed to other WSGs for a portion of the day. One of the complicating and unique factors addressed in this paper is the existence of nonsymmetric movement restrictions between WSGs. For example, an employee whose home base is A may be permitted to perform tasks at B, but not vice versa. Because the full problem could not be reduced to a single model, a multistage solution approach was developed. In the first stage, an extended shift-scheduling problem is solved to determine the optimal number of employees and their shifts. The results are postprocessed in subsequent stages to obtain lunch breaks, days off, and task assignments under WSG movement restrictions. In the implementation of the multistage approach, two alternatives were explored. The first was based on the idea of partitioning the WSGs into manageable clusters and then solving them in series. The second involved the direct solution of an integer programming formulation of the task assignment problem with home-base restrictions and WSG movement restrictions, but for a fixed workforce. An iterative scheme was used to adjust the size of the workforce until all constraints were satisfied and overall optimality was achieved. Testing was done with data provided by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail processing and distribution center (P&DC) in Dallas. The computations showed that the second alternative always yielded the smaller workforce and was always able to find good solutions within 30 minutes.
A Phosphoric Acid Treated Reactive GLC Column for the Analysis of Long Chain Amides

Abstract The conversion of nonvolatile amides to more volatile nitriles on a reactive column was studied. It was found that pyrophosphoric acid was necessary for the conversion, that the amide reacts 100% on the first 6 inches of the column to produce one nitrile and 3 carboxylic acid groups for every 4 amide groups injected and that a quantitative analytical procedure is possible.
Meta-analysis: surgical treatment of obesity.

This meta-analysis on surgical treatment of obesity supports the American College of Physicians' clinical guideline in this issue. Surgery is more effective than nonsurgical treatment for weight lo...
Limnetic feeding behavior of juvenile sockeye salmon in Lake Washington and predator avoidance 1

Patterns of limnetic feeding behavior (vertical movement, schooling, diel feeding chronology, zooplankton prey selectivity) of Lake Washington juvenile sockeye salmon are described. A general hypothesis to explain the relative fitness of alternative behaviorial decisions is presented. The limnetic feeding behavior of the salmon appears to minimize their vulnerability to predation by the visual piscivore, northern squawfish. Seasonal variation indicates that sockeye feeding behavior is a short term optimization process involving foraging success and encounters with northern squawfish. Lake Washington sockeye salmon can afford to spend a large amount of their time engaged in antipredator behavior at the expense of foraging success because Lake Washington is comparatively zooplankton-rich and the energy demands of the fish can be met in short foraging periods. Sockeye in other less productive systems show a more aggressive exploitation of the zooplankton.
The Synthesis of“1223”TL-CA-BA-CU-Oxide Superconducting Films Via the Reaction of Silver-Containing Spray Deposited Oxide Precursors with Thallium Oxide Vapor in a Two-Zone Reactor

Superconducting films of“1223”Tl x Ca 2 Ba 2 Cu 3 O y (0.65 10,000A/cm 2 with values as high as 105,000A/cm 2 having been measured. The range in J c values measured is believed to be related, at least in part, to inhomogeneities in the films. The excellent in-field characteristics of the“1223”thick films are reflected in the behavior of the“105,000A/cm” sample for which J >10,000A/cm was measured at 60K in a 2 Tesla field applied parallel to the crystallographic c-axis
Parental Control Techniques Relative Frequencies and Relationships with Situational Factors

A total of seven different parental control techniques—approaches employed in parental influence attempts—are examined in data based on 197 suburban parents' descriptions of 1,109 parent-adolescent influence encounters. The most prevalent control techniques are “command” (imperative statements without punishments or overt threats of punishment) and “self-oriented induction” (suggested consequences for the child of his or her behavior—consequences not controlled by the parent). Other control techniques are relatively infrequent. Most of the control techniques are related to one or more situational factors, but the situational effects upon command and self-oriented induction are especially pronounced. Most of the estimated situational effects are interpreted in terms of the relative immediacy of the various control techniques.
Insulin Resistance and Atherosclerosis

Insulin resistance characterizes type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, disorders associated with an increased risk of death due to macrovascular disease. In the past few decades, research from both the basic science and clinical arenas has enabled evidence-based use of therapeutic modalities such as statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors to reduce cardiovascular (CV) mortality in insulin-resistant patients. Recently, promising drugs such as the thiazolidinediones have come under scrutiny for possible deleterious CV effects. Ongoing research has broadened our understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, implicating detrimental effects of inflammation and the cellular stress response on the vasculature. In this review, we address current thinking that is shaping our molecular understanding of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.
Evolution of quality and surgical risk assessment in the USA

As health-care reforms progress, quality and risk assessment in the health-care system of the USA surface as critical issues. This review considers past, present and possible future changes in quality assessment along with formal programs of complication reduction and pay for performance (PFP) as related to surgery and vascular interventions. Strategies for quality improvement include aggregate and risk-adjusted outcome measurement, process compliance with the Surgical Complication Improvement Program, oversight and PFP, now policies of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Advantages, disadvantages and unintended consequences of these policies are discussed. While ongoing system changes will influence vascular surgical practice, unique opportunities and obligations exist for vascular surgeons to contribute to quality assessment of their interventions, to evaluate long-term outcomes and to devise strategies for comprehensive cost-effective care for the conditions affecting patients with vascular disease.
TIMED Orbital Science Mission PRA Integration

This paper discusses the PRA (Probabilistic Risk Assessment) development for the NASA TIMED (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) orbital science mission. A methodology is introduced for developing a mission PRA for a low complexity mission with limited assessment resources. For this activity, one overall PRA model set is produced based on previously completed instrument analyses as well as key additions including development of a top-level event-tree model, inclusion spacecraft deployment models, and logic and quantification improvements. Results include top cut sets and probabilities for full and minimum mission success.
Application of grape seed extract in depuration for decontaminating Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Abstract This study investigated the potential application of grape seed extract (GSE) in depuration to increase its efficacy in reducing Vibrio parahaemolyticus populations in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Pacific oysters were inoculated with five clinical strains of V. parahaemolyticus to 104−5 MPN/g and depurated in UV-irradiated artificial seawater (ASW) containing GSE at a level of 1.0% (1.8 mg/mL total phenolic contents as gallic acid equivalents) or 1.5% (3.1 mg/mL total phenolic contents as gallic acid equivalents) at 12.5 °C for up to 5 days. Changes of V. parahaemolyticus populations in oysters during depuration were analyzed every 24 h using the three-tube most probable number (MPN) method. The populations of V. parahaemolyticus in inoculated oysters decreased by 3.06 and 3.71 log MPN/g, respectively, after 4 and 5 days of depuration in ASW at 12.5 °C. However, populations of V. parahaemolyticus in oysters were reduced by 3.01 and 4.18 log MPN/g after 2 days of depuration at 12.5 °C in ASW containing 1.0 and 1.5% GSE, respectively. Further studies confirmed that depuration using ASW containing 1.5% GSE with 3.1 mg/mL total phenolic contents as gallic acid equivalents at 12.5 °C for two days was capable of achieving >3.52 log MPN/g reductions of V. parahaemolyticus in Pacific oysters.
Trends in stereotactic body radiation therapy for stage I small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Objectives We aimed to report trends in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) utilization, dose prescriptions, and chemotherapy administration for stage I small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the United States. Materials and methods The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was used to identify patients with cT1-2 N0 SCLC treated with SBRT between 2004 and 2013. Trends in SBRT use and dose prescription were analyzed over time. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with the administration of chemotherapy with SBRT. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival. Results Of 9265 patients with clinical stage I SCLC who were examined for initial treatment allocation, 285 were treated with SBRT and represented the subject of the primary analysis. SBRT utilization increased from 2004 (0.4% of all stage I patients diagnosed that year) to 2013 (6.4%). During this same time period, definitive surgical management also increased from 14.9% of all patients in 2004 to 28.5% in 2013. The median SBRT biologically effective dose (BED 10 ) was 112.5 Gy (range, 72–290) and only 33 out of 285 (11.6%) received a BED 10 Conclusions Our findings suggest that SBRT utilization for stage I SCLC has increased between 2004 and 2013, highlighting the need for additional research to validate the feasibility of this management approach for inoperable patients.
Cognitive and Emotional Influences on Managers’ Responses to Workplace Transgressions

The traditional management literature has viewed punishment as the manager’s primary response to employee transgressions. A growing body of literature has begun to examine alternatives to solely pu...
Black Fungi: A Model for Understanding Tropical Mycosis

Regardless of specific etiology, fungal infections can be clinically classified as either superficial, cutaneous and corneal, subcutaneous, systemic, or allergic. Such a classification scheme is based upon the fact that fungal infections are the result of dynamic host-pathogen interactions. These interactions can be monitored by observing and measuring clinical, pathological, and mycological changes. Each observation that is made represents a single instance in an evolving continuum of host-pathogen interactions and subsequent host-pathogen responses to each other.
Rapid prototyping in biomedical engineering: structural intricacies of biological materials

Abstract: Progress in tissue engineering promises patients new biomedical technologies to reduce pain, regenerate tissue, restore structure and functions, and on the horizon, replace failing organs with fully functional artificial ones. Applications of rapid prototyping (RP) in tissue engineering offer the pledge of growing these regenerative tissues and functional organs. RP has been effective in integrating structural architecture and assimilation of hormones in scaffolds. The chapter discusses several RP technologies and their applications in biomedical engineering in mimicking the structural intricacies of biological materials. A synopsis on biomaterials, materials properties of structural biomaterials and custom-designed scaffolds is also included.
Which spatial statistics techniques should be converted to GIS functions

A fundamental difference between spatial and aspatial data is that observations for geo-referenced data are correlated strictly due to their relative locational positions. This self-correlation activates complications in the statistical analysis of geo-referenced data that lie dormant in the statistical analysis of traditional data comprised of independent observations. Seeking a remedy for this problem has helped motivate the development of an array of procedures labelled spatial statistics. This contribution seeks to identify existing spatial statistical tools that would be routinely of value to the GIS user community — a major analyzer of geo-referenced data — and that currently are theoretically and conceptually ready to be made available through GIS packages (e.g., ARC/INFO, IDRISI). Technical and computational implementation issues are addressed. Current expert opinion, gleaned from two recent international conferences, is summarized. Gateways are identified for spatial statistical tools to be introduced into a GIS. The principal conclusion is that there is evidence from a growing number of initiatives, as well as testimony from spatial scientists and geographic analysis practitioners, supporting the need to convert spatial statistics techniques into GIS functions.
Adverse Outcome Pathway on Androgen receptor agonism leading to reproductive dysfunction (in repeat-spawning fish)

This AOP details the linkage between binding and activation of androgen receptor (AR) in females and reductions in cumulative fecundity and spawning. AR-mediated activities are among the major concerns in endocrine disruptor screening programs. Cumulative fecundity is the apical endpoint considered in the OECD 229 Fish Short Term Reproduction Assay. It is also one of several variables with demographic significance in forecasting fish population trends. Therefore, this AOP supports the use of measures of AR activation as a means to identify chemicals with potential to adversely affect fish populations. At present, this AOP is largely supported by evidence from small laboratory model fish species. While many aspects of the biology underlying this AOP are largely conserved across oviparous vertebrates, its relevance to vertebrate classes other than fish, or to fish species employing different reproductive strategies has not been established. Thus, the applicability domain should be carefully considered when evaluating fit-for-purpose.
Experimental Thermodynamics of Cluster Ions Composed of H2SO4 and H2O. 1. Positive Ions

Predictions from gas phase nucleation models are highly sensitive to the thermodynamics of the initial stages of particle growth, where free energies calculated using classical nucleation theory are expected to be the least accurate. There is strong evidence that H 2 SO 4 and H 2 O are directly involved in atmospheric nucleation. These species are also principal components of atmospheric ions, suggesting that they may play important roles in ion-induced nucleation mechanisms. In part 1 of this work, we measured equilibrium constants for the reactions of H 2 O with the cluster ions, H + (H 2 SO 4 ) s (H 2 O) w , s ≤ 4 and w ≤ 15, over a range of temperatures using an ion flow reactor. H 2 O bond enthalpies and entropies were derived from van't Hoff analyses, and results for the H + (H 2 O) w system are in agreement with literature values. Thermodynamics of H 2 SO 4 binding in the H + (H 2 SO 4 ) s (H 2 O) w cluster ions were also estimated based on comparisons with the HSO 4 -(H 2 SO 4 ) s system, whose bond enthalpies were measured previously. As clusters grow in size, some thermodynamic trends begin to reflect those for bulk H 2 SO 4 /H 2 O solutions. A stable population of the H + (H 2 O) w cluster ions is present in the atmosphere, but for typical concentrations, incorporation of the first H 2 SO 4 molecule to form H + (H 2 SO 4 )(H 2 O) w is thermodynamically unfavorable at 270 K. As a result, significant growth and subsequent nucleation of the H + (H 2 SO 4 ) s (H 2 O) w system is not anticipated in the middle or lower troposphere.
Anisotropy in the Microwave Sky at 90 GHz: Results From Python III

The third year of observations with the Python microwave background experiment densely sample a $5.5^o\times 22^o$ region of sky that includes the fields measured during the first two years of observations with this instrument. The sky is sampled in two multipole bands centered at $l \approx 92$ and $l \approx 177$. These two data sets are analyzed to place limits on fluctuations in the microwave sky at 90 GHz. Interpreting the observed fluctuations as anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background we find flat band power estimates of $\delta T_l\equiv \sqrt{l(l+1)C_l/2\pi }% =54_{-12}^{+14}\mu K$ at $l=92_{-24}^{+37}$ and $\delta T_l=58_{-13}^{+15}\mu K$ at $l=177_{-58}^{+66}$. Combining the entire three year set of Python observations, we find that the angular power spectrum of fluctuations has a spectral index $m=.02_{-.16}^{+.18}$ and an amplitude $% \delta T_{l_e}=53_{-11}^{+13}\mu K$ at $l_e=145_{-74}^{+59}$ for the functional form $\delta T_l=\delta T_{l_e}(l/l_e)^m$. The stated uncertainties in the amplitudes and spectral index represent 1$\sigma $ confidence intervals in the likelihood added in quadrature with a 20\% calibration uncertainty and an estimate of the effects introduced due to imperfect overlap of the beams on the sky. The limits of $l$ are determined from the full width at half maximum of the window functions.
The prevalence of unhealthy alcohol and drug use among inpatients in a general hospital

Background: Unhealthy substance use is a growing public health issue. Intersections with the health care system offer an opportunity for intervention; however, recent estimates of prevalence for unhealthy substance use among all types of hospital inpatients are unknown. Methods: Universal screening for unhealthy alcohol or drug use was implemented across a 999-bed general hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Nurses completed alcohol screening using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C) with a cutoff of ≥5 for moderate risk and ≥8 for high risk and drug screening using the single-item screening question with ≥1 episode of use considered positive. Results: Out of 35,288 unique inpatients, screens were completed on 21,519. There were 3,451 positive screens (16% of all completed screens), including 1,291 (6%) moderate risk and 1,111 (5%) high risk screens for alcohol and 1,657 (8%) positive screens for drug use. Among screens that were positive for moderate- or high-risk alcohol use, 221 (17%) and 297 (27%), respectively, were concurrently positive for drug use. The majority (61%) of patients with unhealthy alcohol use was on the medical services. Men, those who were white or Hispanic, middle-aged, single, unemployed, or screened positive for drug use were more likely to screen positive for high-risk alcohol use. Those who were younger, single, worked less than full time, or screened high risk for alcohol were more likely to screen positive for drug use. Discordance between diagnosis coding and screening results was noted: 29% of high-risk alcohol use screens had no alcohol diagnosis coding associated with that admission, and 51% of patients with a DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) diagnosis code of alcohol dependence had AUDIT-C scores of <8. Conclusions: Across a general hospital, 16% of patients screened positive for unhealthy substance use, with the highest volume on medical floors. Nursing-led screening may offer an opportunity to identify and engage patients with unhealthy substance use during hospitalization.
Efficient neutrino oscillation parameter inference using Gaussian processes

The unified approach of Feldman and Cousins allows for exact statistical inference of small signals that commonly arise in high energy physics. It has gained widespread use, for instance, in measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters in long-baseline experiments. However, the approach relies on the Neyman construction of the classical confidence interval and is computationally intensive as it is typically done in a grid-based fashion over the entire parameter space. In this article, we propose an efficient algorithm for the Feldman-Cousins approach using Gaussian processes to construct confidence intervals iteratively. We show that in the neutrino oscillation context, one can obtain confidence intervals fives times faster in one dimension and ten times faster in two dimensions, while maintaining an accuracy above 99.5%.
Microbial Signatures and Innate Immune Gene Expression in Lamina Propria Phagocytes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Background & Aims The interaction between intestinal microbiota and the immune system plays a vital role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although numerous deep-sequencing studies have suggested dysbiosis in IBD, identifying specific bacteria from the stool or mucosa that are responsible for disease susceptibility or severity has remained a challenge. Lamina propria phagocytes ideally are localized to interact with bacteria that are in close proximity to, or have invaded, the tissue. Thus, we examined the microbial populations associated with the lamina propria phagocytes in 20 Crohn’s disease and 12 ulcerative colitis patients. Specifically, we aimed to address whether the phagocyte-associated microbiota differed from the mucosa-associated microbiota and whether this varied based on IBD type or the state of inflammation. Methods 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and innate immune gene expression profiling was done on CD11b+ lamina propria phagocytes isolated from the biopsies obtained from IBD patients. Results Phagocyte-associated microbiota was enriched in bacterial species belonging to phylum Proteobacteria, whereas species belonging to phylum Bacteroidetes were enriched in the mucosal microbiota of IBD patients. Disease type was the most influential factor in driving differences in the microbiota of both the mucosa and the lamina propria phagocytes, irrespective of inflammation state o`r anatomic location. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis specimens showed similar patterns of increased inflammatory gene expression in phagocytes isolated from inflamed areas compared with those isolated from uninflamed regions. Conclusions This pilot study shows the feasibility of using lamina propria phagocytes to characterize the microbiota in IBD patients. The approach used in this study can narrow the spectrum of potentially dysbiotic bacterial populations and clinically relevant gene expression signatures in IBD patients.
Temporal Change in Tumor Volume Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery to a Single Brain Metastasis

Background Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can be used to achieve local control of metastatic brain lesions. However, the temporal response of these lesions to SRS is incompletely understood and quantified. We aimed to examine the temporal response to SRS of single brain metastases from 4 different primary cancers. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent SRS at our institution from 2009 to 2012. Clinical, treatment, and volumetric data were collected. All patients were treated according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 90-05 schema. Results This study included 204 patients (116 men and 88 women) with a median age of 61 years (range, 27–86 years). Of patients, 20 (10%) had breast cancer, 79 (39%) had non–small cell lung cancer, 69 (34%) had melanoma, and 36 (17%) had renal cell carcinoma. Initial overall median tumor volume was 0.8 cm3 (range, 0.02–16.9 cm3). Median tumor volume was 0.5 cm3 (range, 0.02–20.4 cm3) at 1 month after SRS, 0.3 cm3 (range, 0.02–10.8 cm3) at 3 months after SRS, and 0.4 cm3 (range, 0.02–18.6 cm3) at 6 months after SRS. Based on the joint model constructed from our results, we demonstrate a median 16% (95% confidence interval, 11%–20%) reduction in tumor volume every 30 days. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate a consistent reduction in tumor volume following SRS over a 6-month period. Responses were modest over the first 30 days but accelerated at 3 months and varied by tumor type.
Tempo and affect in the Linguistic Landscape

Abstract While the role of time and emotion have been acknowledged in linguistic and semiotic landscapes research, the particular qualities of tempo and affect have rarely been discussed directly. This case study from an Italian-American festival in South Philadelphia, a diverse and changing urban neighborhood, demonstrates how the two qualities work together to influence the discursive construction of identity for residents as they interact with the space. Ethnographic observation and photographs from the two days of the festival, as well as interviews with locals, frame the discussion of how to explore the landscape through this lens. The paper encourages researchers to devote more attention to the abstract qualities of landscapes, and serves as a starting point for critical examinations of a place and the distribution of capital among its occupants.