cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted Total Marrow Irradiation Using Three-Dimensional Image-Guided Tomographic Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy: An Alternative to Standard Total Body Irradiation

Abstract Total body irradiation (TBI) is an important part of bone marrow transplantation conditioning regimens. In TBI, dose escalation is difficult, because of associated normal organ toxicities. A method to deliver a more targeted dose of TBI preferentially to sites of greatest tumor burden is needed to reduce the dose to normal organs, reduce toxicities, and permit dose escalation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, through a dosimetric analysis, the potential advantages and feasibility of selectively delivering targeted myeloablative doses of radiation to bone and marrow using a recently developed image-guided tomographic intensity-modulated radiation therapy delivery system (helical tomotherapy). Whole-body computed tomography datasets from 3 patients, age 5, 20, and 53 years, were used for treatment planning studies to evaluate 2 targeted TBI strategies: total marrow irradiation (TMI), in which the target region was defined as the skeletal bone, and total marrow and lymphoid irradiation (TMLI), in which the target regions were defined as bone, major lymph node chains, liver, spleen, and sanctuary sites, such as brain. Organ doses and dose distributions were compared with those in conventional TBI. A 1.7- to 7.5-fold reduction in median organ doses was observed with TMI and TMLI compared with conventional TBI. With this more targeted approach, a dose-volume histogram analysis predicted the potential to escalate the dose to bone (and containing marrow) up to 20 Gy, while maintaining doses to normal organs at lower levels than in conventional TBI to 12 Gy. Results were similar for the adult and pediatric patients, indicating that this form of targeted TBI will be applicable to most patients regardless of frame size. TMI to 10 Gy was delivered as part of a tandem transplant regimen to the 53-year-old patient with multiple myeloma. Clinical results confirmed the treatment planning predictions. After TMI, the patient experienced the expected blood count nadir, followed by successful engraftment. Grade 2 nausea and grade 1 emesis occurred only briefly on day 2 of TMI. Skin erythema, oral mucositis, esophagitis, and enteritis were not observed. This report demonstrates the feasibility and potential dosimetric advantages of selectively delivering myeloablative doses of radiation to bone and marrow using an image-guided tomographic intensity-modulated radiation therapy delivery system. Organ doses are substantially lower than those associated with standard TBI and predict the potential to significantly reduce associated toxicities and allow for dose escalation. The results also suggest that this form of targeted TBI may have potential advantages over other forms of targeted TBI, such as radioimmunotherapy or bone-seeking radionuclide therapy. Ongoing clinical trials will define the maximum TMI and TMLI doses achievable and define the potential advantages and limitations of this new approach for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Hard of hearing is not deaf.

Those with this often invisible disability get little standardized help from our health care system.
Differential requirement for steroidogenic factor-1 gene dosage in adrenal development versus endocrine function.

The importance of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) gene dosage in endocrine function is evidenced by phenotypes associated with the heterozygous state in mice and humans. Here we examined mechanisms underlying SF-1 haploinsufficiency and found a striking reduction (12-fold) in SF-1 heterozygous (+/−) adrenocortical size at embryonic day (E) 12. Loss of one SF-1 allele led to a selective decrease in adrenal precursors within the adrenogonadal primordium at E10.0, without affecting the number of gonadal precursors, as marked by GATA-4. Beginning at E13.5, increased cell proliferation in SF-1 +/− adrenals allows these organs to approach but not attain a normal size. Remarkably, neural crest-derived adrenomedullary precursors migrated normally in SF-1 +/− and null embryos. However, later in development, medullary growth was compromised in both genotypes. Despite the small adrenal size in SF-1heterozygotes, an unexpected elevation in steroidogenic capacity per cell was observed in primary adult adrenocortical SF-...
Practical 3-D Object detection using category and instance-level appearance models

Effective robotic interaction with household objects requires the ability to recognize both object instances and object categories. The former are often characterized by locally discriminative texture cues (e.g., instances with prominent brand names and logos), and the latter by salient global shape properties (plates, bowls, pots). We describe experiments with both types of cues, combining a template-and-deformable-parts detector to capture overall shape properties with a local feature Naive-Bayes nearest neighbor model to capture local texture properties. We base our implementation on the recently introduced Kinect sensor, which provides reliable depth estimates of indoor scenes. Depth cues provide segmentation and size constraints to our method. Depth affinity is used to modify the appearance term in a segmentation-based proposal step, and size priors are imposed on object classes to prune false positives. We address the complexity of scanning window HOG search using multi-class pruning schemes, first applying a generic object detection scheme to prune unlikely windows, and then focusing only on the most likely class per remaining window. Our method is able to handle relatively cluttered scenes involving multiple objects with varying levels of surface texture, and can efficiently employ multi-class scanning window search.
Performance characteristics of the full-bridge zero voltage switching PWM resonant converter

The authors present the exact analysis of the full-bridge zero voltage switching (ZVS) pulse width modulated (PWM) converter by using the state-plane technique. Based on the analysis, they derive the necessary conditions for ZVS operation and the performance characteristics of the converter in terms of characteristic curves from which the converter design procedure can be formulated. The performances of the converter operating outside the limits of ZVS operation, including the switching loss and the attainable efficiency under different load conditions, are also given. The analytical work is confirmed by experimental results. >
Gastric teratoma: The sixth reported case in a female infant

Teratomas are derived from tissues of all three germ layers. Gastric teratomas are rare and represent 1% of all teratomas in boys. This report describes the sixth occurrence of gastric teratoma in a girl.
Digital echocardiography in myocardial infarction.

Probably the most under-utilised application of echocardiography is in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This under-utilisation is striking since echocardiography can be very valuable in evaluating the natural history and therapy of CAD. One reason why echocardiography is not being utilised to its fullest is because of the reliance on videotape to record and display echocardiograms. This medium is time consuming and inconvenient for clinicians to review studies, it is not ideal for detecting subtle wall motion abnormalities, and videotape is impractical for comparing serial studies. Recording and storing echocardiograms on a digital medium overcomes these difficulties. Digital cine loops of single cardiac cycles provide great versatility. Multiple views or studies can be displayed simultaneously, subtle changes in wall motion are more easily detected and different views, or serial studies, can be readily compared. Such images can be displayed on computers on the ward or in the coronary care unit (CCU) and be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the convenience of the clinician. One does not need to find a recording on a two hour videotape, which may be in the ultrasound instrument, and one can view the exam in 30 sec instead of 5 to 10 min. Regional and global left ventricular function is one of the most important manifestations of CAD. With new therapeutic efforts at restoring myocardial function and limiting infant expansion, assessing LV function is more important than ever. Digital echocardiography is an extremely practical and convenient way for clinicians to obtain this information.
Complicating Discontinuity: What About Poverty?

In this article, two white science teachers at tribal schools in the Upper Midwest of the United States, who were identified by community members and school administrators as “successful” teachers, describe experiences of how they wrestle with the daily effects of generations of oppression. Most vividly, they talk about poverty. This article provides a description of some of the beliefs and attitudes, described by the teachers, that help them to be effective allies and teachers for Native American students. Their interviews offer a glimpse into the internal struggle with the contradictions of oppression. This article broadens the discussion of Native American culture-based education and raises questions for the general applicability of cultural discontinuity as an all-encompassing explanation for Native American school failure.
Manipulating the Steady State of Metabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathways show the complex interactions among enzymes that transform chemical compounds. The state of a metabolic pathway can be expressed as a vector, which denotes the yield of the compounds or the flux in that pathway at a given time. The steady state is a state that remains unchanged over time. Altering the state of the metabolism is very important for many applications such as biomedicine, biofuels, food industry, and cosmetics. The goal of the enzymatic target identification problem is to identify the set of enzymes whose knockouts lead the metabolism to a state that is close to a given goal state. Given that the size of the search space is exponential in the number of enzymes, the target identification problem is very computationally intensive. We develop efficient algorithms to solve the enzymatic target identification problem in this paper. Unlike existing algorithms, our method works for a broad set of metabolic network models. We measure the effect of the knockouts of a set of enzymes as a function of the deviation of the steady state of the pathway after their knockouts from the goal state. We develop two algorithms to find the enzyme set with minimal deviation from the goal state. The first one is a traversal approach that explores possible solutions in a systematic way using a branch and bound method. The second one uses genetic algorithms to derive good solutions from a set of alternative solutions iteratively. Unlike the former one, this one can run for very large pathways. Our experiments show that our algorithms' results follow those obtained in vitro in the literature from a number of applications. They also show that the traversal method is a good approximation of the exhaustive search algorithm and it is up to 11 times faster than the exhaustive one. This algorithm runs efficiently for pathways with up to 30 enzymes. For large pathways, our genetic algorithm can find good solutions in less than 10 minutes.
Block copolymer thin films : Physics and applications

▪ Abstract A two-part review of research concerning block copolymer thin films is presented. The first section summarizes experimental and theoretical studies of the fundamental physics of these systems, concentrating upon the forces that govern film morphology. The role of film thickness and surface energetics on the morphology of compositionally symmetric, amorphous diblock copolymer films is emphasized, including considerations of boundary condition symmetry, so-called hybrid structures, and surface chemical expression. Discussions of compositionally asymmetric systems and emerging research areas, e.g., liquid-crystalline and A-B-C triblock systems, are also included. In the second section, technological applications of block copolymer films, e.g., as lithographic masks and photonic materials, are considered. Particular attention is paid to means by which microphase domain order and orientation can be controlled, including exploitation of thickness and surface effects, the application of external field...
Alterations in levels and ratios of n–3 and n–6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the temporal cortex and liver of vervet monkeys from birth to early adulthood

Deficiencies in omega-3 (n-3) long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and increases in the ratio of omega-6 (n-6) to n-3 LC-PUFAs in brain tissues and blood components have been associated with psychiatric and developmental disorders. Most studies have focused on n-3 LC-PUFA accumulation in the brain from birth until 2years of age, well before the symptomatic onset of such disorders. The current study addresses changes that occur in childhood and adolescence. Postmortem brain (cortical gray matter, inferior temporal lobe; n=50) and liver (n=60) from vervet monkeys fed a uniform diet from birth through young adulthood were collected from archived tissues. Lipids were extracted and fatty acid levels determined. There was a marked reduction in the ratio of n-6 LC-PUFAs, arachidonic acid (ARA) and adrenic acid (ADR), relative to the n-3 LC-PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in temporal cortex lipids from birth to puberty and then a more gradual decrease though adulthood. This decrease in ratio resulted from a 3-fold accumulation of DHA levels while concentrations of ARA remained constant. Early childhood through adolescence appears to be a critical period for DHA accretion in the cortex of vervet monkeys and may represent a vulnerable stage where lack of dietary n-3 LC-PUFAs impacts development in humans.
MRI Detection of Cerebral Infarction in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

To investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection of cerebral infarction (CI) in patients presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). CI is a well-known complication of SAH that is typically detected on computed tomography (CT). MRI has improved sensitivity for acute CI over CT, particularly with multiple, small, or asymptomatic lesions. With IRB approval, 400 consecutive SAH patients admitted to our institution from August 2006 to March 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Traumatic SAH and secondary SAH were excluded. Data were collected on demographics, cause of SAH, Hunt Hess and World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grades, and neuroimaging results. MRIs were categorized by CI pattern as single cortical (SC), single deep (SD), multiple cortical (MC), multiple deep (MD), and multiple cortical and deep (MCD). Among 123 (30.8 %) SAH patients who underwent MRIs during their hospitalization, 64 (52 %) demonstrated acute CI. The mean time from hospital admission to MRI was 5.7 days (range 0–29 days). Among the 64 patients with MRI infarcts, MRI CI pattern was as follows: MC in 20 (31 %), MCD in 18 (28 %), SC in 16 (25 %), SD in 3 (5 %), MD in 2 (3 %), and 5 (8 %) did not have images available for review. Most infarcts detected on MRI (39/64 or 61 %) were not visible on CT. The use of MRI increases the detection of CI in SAH. Unlike CT studies, MRI-detected CI in SAH tends to involve multiple vascular territories. Studies that rely on CT may underestimate the burden of CI after SAH.
From Prehistory to the Silesian Piasts inclusive

As early as the Late Stone Age and throughout the Bronze Age, Silesia was successively inhabited by various European peoples, among them the Illyrians, a trace of whose language has been established in the designation Nisa for Neisse and the name of the little river Drama near Beuthen, Upper Silesia. The Illyrians were followed by the Celts coming from Bohemia and Moravia around 400 B.C. and for a short time by the Scythians from the east.
Labeling and Comparison of Isomeric Tree-Like Polyphenyl Systems

Tree-like polyphenyl systems form an important class of compounds in chemistry, in particular material science and polymers. The importance can be seen in LEDs, transmitters, and electronics. In recent years, many extremal results regarding such systems under specific constraints have been reported. More specifically are the sub-categories of such systems with extremal Wiener indices. In this article, we provide a labelling of the vertices on each hexagon (i.e., the corresponding benzene ring), which facilitates the illustration of a treelike polyphenyl system with its corresponding tree structure. This approach helps to characterize the extremal tree-like polyphenyl systems with respect to the Wiener index and compare such systems in general within isometric molecules and between molecules of different underlying tree structures. The results can be used to order these systems, which will aid in predicting the physical properties of compounds. We also briefly examined tree-like polyphenyl systems that resulted from different tree structures.
Modification of canine cyclic hematopoiesis by endotoxin.

SummaryStudies were performed with three grey collies to determine whether a protracted demand for neutrophils resulting from daily endotoxin injections would influence their cyclic hematopoiesis. In each case, the characteristic profound oscillations of the neutrophil blood count were eliminated during a 1 - or 2-mo course of endotoxin treatment and were restored rather promptly upon cessation of treatment. In contrast, reticulocyte cycling generally tended to persist, although at a reduced rate. However, during the immediate postendotoxin period, there was a sharp rise in reticulocyte count without a readily discernible cycling pattern in the two grey collies that had Received the higher average daily endotoxin doses. Thus, the reticulocyte data did not conform to expectation based on the assumption that a peripheral neutrophil feedback provided the alternating competitive pressure for production of one or another blood cell type by a functionally restricted stem cell pool. It is possible that cyclic he...
Urological Endoscopic Surgery Under Local Anesthesia: A Cost-Reducing Idea

AbstractWith the new resectoscope injection needle adequate local anesthesia was obtained in 81 selected patients who underwent transurethral incision and resection of the prostate, visual urethrotomy, ureteral meatotomy, and resection of primary and recurrent bladder tumors, as well as for the immediate relief of postoperative pain when transurethral resection of the prostate was performed with the patient under general anesthesia.
The Immune Consequences of Trauma

This articles provides an overview of current knowledge of trauma-mediated alterations of host defense mechanisms.
Repeatability of Choroidal Thickness Measurements on Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography Using Different Posterior Boundaries

Purpose To assess the reliability of manual choroidal thickness measurements by comparing different posterior boundary definitions of the choroidal-scleral junction on enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Design Reliability analysis. Methods Two graders marked the choroidal-scleral junction with segmentation software using different posterior boundaries: (1) the outer border of the choroidal vessel lumen, (2) the outer border of the choroid stroma, and (3) the inner border of the sclera, to measure the vascular choroidal thickness (VCT), stromal choroidal thickness (SCT), and total choroidal thickness (TCT), respectively. Measurements were taken at 0.5-mm intervals from 1.5 mm nasal to 1.5 mm temporal to the fovea, and averaged continuously across the central 3 mm of the macula. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of reliability (CR) were compared to assess intergrader and intragrader reliability. Results Choroidal thickness measurements varied significantly with different posterior boundaries ( P Conclusions Choroidal thickness measurements are more reproducible when measured to the border of the choroid stroma (SCT) than the vascular lumen (VCT) or sclera (TCT).
Factors Moderating Asymmetric Inter-Tier Competition: A Conceptual Examination using Price-Quality Tradeoff Framework

Much existing research has demonstrated the superiority of high-tier brands over low-tier brands in benefitting from price competition between the two tiers. This research expands our knowledge by examining the role of factors moderating this asymmetry in inter-tier competition. Using the conceptualization of price-quality tradeoffs from existing research, we derive several research propositions that explicate how these moderating factors define the boundary conditions of inter-brand competition. Theoretical contributions, managerial implications, and future research directions emanating from our research are highlighted.
Between banality and effervescence?: a study of Japanese youth nationalism

The study of taken-for-granted nationalism has been bourgeoning in the last two decades. With Michael Billig's seminal thesis of banal nationalism, it is now more common to see those studies that focus on day-to-day unconscious flagging of national symbols in established (as opposed to new) nations. There are also studies that re-emphasize Durkheimian moments of collective effervescence through ecstatic events (such as the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup) that concretize national identities. By critically engaging with these concepts, this exploratory study delves into the nature of Japanese youth nationalism. What are the sources of their national pride? How proud are they? Or, not? How do the Japanese youth perceive the national symbols such as the national flag and how is it related to the sense of nation?
Smart Equity Lending, Stock Loan Fees, and Private Information

We document that stock lenders are informed about market conditions and pursue revenue maximization by setting premiums or offering discounts on stock lending fees. Using a model of supply and demand in the equity lending market, we illustrate the effect of stock borrowers' private information on the elasticity of shorting demand. Smart lenders respond to demand elasticity and increase their revenues through premiums or discounts on lending fees. Empirically, decomposing stock loan fees into intrinsic fee and premium or discount, we confirm lenders' market awareness, showing that premiums and discounts among difficult-to-borrow stocks both lead to increased lending revenues. This smart lending behavior has new implications about informed shorting, short interest, and transaction costs in the equity lending market.
The Public Discussion of the Work of Other Engineers—Ethical or Unethical?

This public discussion of the work of other engineers is, like the majority of ethics problems, a complex matter. Although the issue was somewhat simplified in the original canons adopted in 1947 by the Engineer's Council for Professional Development, its rule was lost through revision in 1963. Following other canons, an engineer is obligated both to contact and to receive consideration from the engineer with whom he has dispute. In the event that this ample consideration would not result in resolution of the problem, there are two possible recourses. One involves the original 1947 canons of the ECPD by which the dissenting engineer would resort to the available engineering forums of publications and societies, and the other recourse being the proper authorities. Neither involves public discussion. The danger of open discussion of an esoteric body of technical knowledge is found in likelihood of its being misconstrued by the layman. Public discussion is an unattractive alternative.
The Subjective-Objective Disjunction in Psychometrically-Defined Schizotypy: What it is and Why it is Important?

An interesting set of findings has emerged from the literature regarding schizotypy. Individuals with psychometric schizotypy self-report pathology in certain neuropsychological, affective experien...
Comparison of Single- and Multinozzle Reacting Swirl Flow Dynamics

This paper compares flow structures in a single- and triple-nozzle swirl combustor. Realistic combustor hardware usually contains several nozzles; however, test facilities for studying flame dynami...
Evidence for Effects of the Chiral Anomaly: Status and Future

Abstract The unique identification of effects of the chiral anomaly in heavy ion collisions has been a challenge because alternative scenarios can often be constructed to explain the relevant findings. For this reason, the measurements remain open to interpretation. Because the unambiguous identification of effects caused by the chiral anomaly would represent one of the most profound discoveries from heavy ions, resolving these questions of interpretation is a priority for the field. Several new analyses were presented at Quark Matter 2017 and in this paper as in the summary talk, I attempt to present a clear picture of the most pressing questions and ideas on how to reach a clear conclusion.
Nonsmooth Continuation for Generalized Equations

This paper presents and analyzes a method for reformulating certain generalized equations involving polyhedral maximal monotone operators, so that they may be solved by a nonsmooth continuation method. The method generalizes the normal-map technique, with which there is already a base of computational experience. We exhibit conditions under which the proposed method yields a homotopy path converging to a solution of the reformulated equation, and show how to recover from this a solution of the original generalized equation.
Molecular Differences Between Subtypes of Bone Marrow Adipocytes

Bone marrow adipocytes (BMAs) have distinct molecular properties and physiologic responses depending on their location within the skeleton. This concept was introduced in the 1970s and validated more recently in the contexts of cold exposure, sympathetic tone, hematopoiesis, diabetes, lactation, fasting, and caloric restriction. In this brief review, we discuss the concept of regulated vs constitutive BMAs, explore their evolutionary and microenvironmental origins, define the site-specific molecular features of BMAs, and discuss the translational implications of the dual bone marrow adipose tissue hypothesis.
Measurable Functions on Fuzzy Measure Spaces

In this chapter, let (X, ℱ) be a measurable space, μ: F → [0, ∞] be a fuzzy measure (or semicontinuous fuzzy measure), and B be the Borel field on (−∞, ∞).
Evaluating the Efficiency of Hospitals’ Perioperative Services Using Dea

Elective surgery typically generates 40 percent or more of a hospital’s total revenue, and individual surgeons almost always have a net positive contribution margin. Perioperative services include surgical operations, preoperative care of patients, and post-operative care. This chapter presents a method to identify best practices among hospitals’ perioperative services using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This analysis included 44,033 procedures performed by 3,502 surgeons at 53 non-metropolitan Pennsylvania hospitals. Eight procedures, each performed by one surgical specialty, were selected. For each hospital, DEA 1) identifies untapped markets for surgery; 2) identifies relatively high and low procedure volumes among specialties; and 3) suggests a strategy for increasing surgical volume for inefficient hospitals. Findings may be used by managers of perioperative services to aid in resource allocation decisions, such as hiring and recruitment among different surgical specialties.
High Bandwidth Electrically Small Antennas Through BFSK Direct Antenna Modulation

The demand for antenna systems with higher bandwidth and higher efficiency all within a smaller physical form factor have significantly increased in the past decade. Meeting such simultaneous requirements are difficult because as the famous Chu's limit shows, scaling the antenna size reduces the antenna's radiation bandwidth due to the cubic fold increase in the radiation quality factor. Such antennas are operated within a linear-time invariant framework. In this work, we utilize the concept of Direct Antenna Modulation (DAM), a technique used to employ time-variance into the antenna system. In this methodology, the current or voltage is directly modulated by a switch, conserving the energy within the high Q system per cycle, preventing required recharge time to steady-state. In doing so, the switch modulates an input signal, transmitting a high-bandwidth signal with an electrically small antenna. We develop a circuit model for a capacitor loaded loop antenna with a switch. The switch modulates the loop's current in order to transmit an input binary frequency-shift keying (BFSK)signal at 50 MHz. Using DAM, transmission of a high-bandwidth signal was achieved. Although the electrically small antenna itself is inefficient, we show that such radiators can in fact transmit high-bandwidth signals. We show that when compared to traditional electrically small antennas, we obtain a 45-efficiency bandwidth product improvement. This result proves that even in small platforms where available volumes are limited or where antenna sizes are scaled to small physical dimensions, high data rate transfers are possible through time-variant systems.
Understanding the Process of Procedural Sedation for Orthopedic Injuries in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Objective:To establish a procedural sedation (PS) time line for patients in the pediatric emergency department (PED) with orthopedic injuries.Methods:Retrospective review of patients requiring PS f...
David Oliver: Pensions policy and public relations

Changes to pension tax rules for doctors have hit the news in recent months. In particular, changes to the lifetime allowance (LTA) for pension pots and the annual allowance (AA) for total annual contributions have caused consternation.12 The mainstream media have covered this issue, and Josephine Cumbo, pensions correspondent for the Financial Times , has written extensively about it.345 It was also raised in Money Box on BBC Radio 46 and in a Westminster Hall debate.7 But the Treasury has said that senior NHS workers will not be exempt and that reducing pension tax relief for high earners is progressive and fair.8 These changes were designed to prevent high …
The effects of hearing deficits on student self-perceptions of social belonging, difficulty at school, and self-image

A paucity of research exists that examines how well hearing-impaired students function in the primary and secondary grades when attending a general education setting. The research that does exists to suggest that issues of poor self-perception, challenges regarding a sense of belonging, and self-image may be amplified for the non-hearing student. The current investigation examines the self-reported feelings of the hearing-impaired students relative to the student with no identified hearing difficulties. Results suggest that while social belonging may be a problem for the hearing-impaired students relative to their hearing peers, no differences were found on the responses associate with self-image or trouble at school.
Retrospective analysis of safety and efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy and radiation therapy in advanced melanoma: A bi-institutional study.

Abstract Background and purpose Antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) are standard treatments for advanced melanoma. Palliative radiation therapy (RT) is commonly administered for this disease. Safety and optimal timing for this combination for melanoma has not been established. Materials and methods In this retrospective cohort study, records for melanoma patients who received anti-PD-1 therapy at Duke University or Emory University (1/1/2013–12/30/2015) were reviewed. Patients were categorized by receipt of RT and RT timing relative to anti-PD-1. Results 151 patients received anti-PD-1 therapy. Median follow-up was 12.9 months. Patients receiving RT (n = 85) had worse baseline prognostic factors than patients without RT (n = 66). One-year overall survival (OS) was lower for RT patients than patients without RT (66%, 95% CI: 55–77% vs 83%, 95% CI: 73–92%). One-year OS was 61% for patients receiving RT before anti-PD-1 (95% CI: 46−76%), 78% for RT during anti-PD-1 (95% CI: 60–95%), and 58% for RT after anti-PD-1 (95% CI: 26–89%). On Cox regression, OS for patients without RT did not differ significantly from patients receiving RT during anti-PD-1 (HR 1.07, 95% CI: 0.41–2.84) or RT before anti-PD-1 (HR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.21–1.45). RT and anti-PD-1 therapy administered within 6 weeks of each other was well tolerated. Conclusion RT can be safely administered with anti-PD-1 therapy. Despite worse baseline prognostic characteristics for patients receiving RT, OS was similar for patients receiving concurrent RT with anti-PD-1 therapy compared to patients receiving anti-PD-1 therapy alone.
Interactive Visualization of 3D Terrain Data Stored in the Cloud

This paper explores recent trends in field of big data visualization based on cloud computing via the use of virtual machine hosted servers. Specifically, the visualization of terrain data acquired from several major open data sets using a graphics library for browser based rendering will be explored. It will be shown that three dimensional terrain information may be viewed and interacted with by many remote clients within a browser when using modern graphics libraries, and a collection of Amazon EC-2 machines for fetching and decoding of the terrain data. Data pre-fetching and a parallel implementation of each server further improves performance. Results from this study are expected to enable and expedite existing and future research in the terrain data visualization field.
Cyclotron Resonant Laser Induced Gas Breakdown at 496 Microns

A pulsed 496 μm CH 3 F laser has produced breakdown in various gases in a magnetic field at cyclotron resonance. Resonance lineshapes in helium, hydrogen and oxygen are compared and related to properties of these gases.
Modeling the impacts of floating seaweeds on fisheries sustainability in Ghana

Abstract The ongoing Sargassum invasions in the Atlantic Ocean present both opportunities and threats to open-access fisheries. Due to the lack of entry and harvest regulations, West African fisheries are on the verge of collapse. Floating seaweeds can help rebuild fish stocks by enhancing fish growth and naturally reducing harvest by impeding fishing boats and gears. However, in high volumes, floating seaweeds can harm fish stocks and reduce landings. To improve fisheries sustainability, a policy prescribing the periodic removal of seaweeds should be anchored on a thorough understanding of the trade-offs between different levels of seaweed removal. We developed an agent-based model (ABM) to identify the optimal seaweed removal policy capable of maximizing fish stocks and landings in the long-term in Ghana’s marine fishery. Our policy experiments suggest that, by leaving behind 25% of relative seaweed biomass (i.e. seaweed biomass expressed as a percentage of carrying capacity) in each fishing zone every week after seaweed removal, fishery managers can take advantage of floating seaweeds to naturally regulate fishing mortality and maximize fish stocks and landings in the long-term. Our ABM can assist scientists interested in studying the long-term interactions between floating seaweeds and fisheries sustainability, and help fishery managers understand the potential of floating seaweeds to naturally regulate fishing pressure in developing countries where the lack of adequate employment opportunities outside fishing makes it difficult to address overfishing. Our ABM can also assist countries struggling with seaweed invasions to assess the impacts of different seaweed removal strategies on fisheries sustainability.
Whipple's disease: a fatal mimic.

Whipple’s Disease, a rare diagnosis caused by the slow-growing bacterium Tropheryma whipplei, most often presents with the classically described signs of malabsorption due to gastrointestinal colonization. However, it can also have signs and symptoms that clinically overlap with rheumatic diseases, potentially resulting in misdiagnosis. Furthermore, treatment with modern potent biologic immunosuppressive agents and classic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can lead to serious exacerbation of undiagnosed infections. We present the case of a middle-aged woman with long term complaints of arthalgias, who was diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and subsequently treated for almost 7 years with such immunosuppressive therapies. The patient’s disease course included chronic diarrhea that abruptly intensified and culminated in fatal hypovolemic shock/sepsis. A diagnosis of WD was made by autopsy examination, wherein several organ systems were found to be heavily involved by Tropheryma whipplei organisms, and their identification was confirmed with histochemical and molecular evaluation. Notably, most bacterial organisms were located deeply in the submucosa/muscularis of affected organs, a practical reminder to practicing pathologists that challenges the classic histopathologic description of Whipple disease as an infiltration of predominantly lamina propria, and the potential for sampling bias in typically superficial endoscopic biopsies during routine procedures.
Conflict as Catalyst: The Role of Conflict in Creating Political Space for Women

Despite the panoply of rights set forth in international and domestic legal frameworks and the proven benefits associated with women’s presence in leadership roles, global percentages of women in positions of power remain low. A number of factors account for this phenomenon, including entrenched institutional and cultural practices and structural inequalities that prevent women from fully participating in public life. Although a rights-based approach is often advocated to remedy gender disparities, an analysis of global data reporting percentages of women as heads of state and government, as well as in judiciaries, demonstrates that women tend to achieve power more readily in countries emerging from conflict than they do in times of peace. This occurs for several reasons. Pre-existing patriarchal norms and institutions – as well as deeply ingrained racial, ethnic and gender inequalities – that contribute to conflict are often destroyed or discredited, requiring restructuring or rebuilding altogether. Post-conflict reconstruction efforts, often supported by assistance from international advisers, can provide opportunities to bring states into compliance with international norms and best practices with respect to gender equality. Conflict can also alter narratives about gender, power and leadership since during and after conflict women are presented with opportunities not necessarily available to them during times of peace. Nevertheless, although conflict may present a more effective catalyst for women’s political advancement than litigation does, legal and constitutional language alone may not be sufficient to alter cultural norms and deeply embedded structural inequities. Power dynamics, physical and sexual violence, and women’s internalized thinking all need to be addressed in order to ensure long term political presence and economic gain.
Architectural Programming and Race in the CRS Archive

In 1989, CRSS Inc., which was the largest AEC holding company in the world at the time, established a research center at Texas A&M University that was intended, in part, to serve as an archive for ...
The Systematic Literature Review: Advantages and Applications in Nonprofit Scholarship

Voluntary and nonprofit sector studies are relatively young and still seeking common intellectual ground. One vehicle for accomplishing this task is the systematic literature review (SLR). SLRs approach knowledge generation through a rules-driven comprehensive process for finding and analyzing prior knowledge. SLRs support the voluntary sector’s current emphasis on data transparency in publication. They also support the growth of voluntary sector empiricism by offering a greater claim to reliability and generalizability of findings. Finally, they support goals of inclusiveness and knowledge unification that are important to the voluntary sector academy, its funders, and its constituents. This explanatory article draws on examples from the nonprofit and voluntary sector to describe the rationale and methods of the SLR.
Evaluating the effectiveness of model-based power characterization

Accurate power characterization is important in computing platforms for several reasons ranging from poweraware adaptation to power provisioning. Power characterization is typically obtained through either direct measurements enabled by physical instrumentation or modeling based on hardware performance counters. We show, however, that linear-regression based modeling techniques commonly used in the literature work well only in restricted settings. These techniques frequently exhibit high prediction error in modern computing platforms due to inherent complexities such as multiple cores, hidden device states, and large dynamic power components. Using a comprehensive measurement framework and an extensive set of benchmarks, we consider several more advanced modeling techniques and observe limited improvement. Our quantitative demonstration of the limitations of a variety of modeling techniques highlights the challenges posed by rising hardware complexity and variability and, thus, motivates the need for increased direct measurement of power consumption.
THE AZOLLA-ANABAENA SYMBIOSIS: MORPHOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY AND USE

ABSTRACT Heterosporous ferns of the genus Azolla contain an N2-fixing cyanobacterium, designated Anabaena azollae, in specialized leaf chambers. Our studies of the symbiosis per se have been primarily restricted to A. caroliniana. However, comparative studies have encompassed four of the six known Azolla species: A flliculoides, A. mexicana and A. pinnata, in addition to A. caroliniana. The physiological, biochemical, morphological and ultrastructural studies which support a current hypothesis of host-symbiont interactions and structure-function relationships are described. The latter is largely based on recent studies of the ontogenetic sequence of leaf development and associated events in the symbiotic cyanobacterium. Under optimal growth conditions the four Azolla species double their biomass within two days and maintain an N content of 5–6% of the dry weight with N2 as the only N source. Results of subsequent comparative studies of photosynthesis, respiration, nitrogen fixation and associated processe...
Effect of a Chemically Defined Diet on Urinary Excretion of Minerals and Aromatic Compounds

A diet of known composition, prepared from pure chemicals, was fed to a healthy man for five days. Urinary excretion of minerals, ultraviolet-absorbing compounds, phenolic acids, indoles, and phenolic amines was determined by use of conventional techniques, high-resolution column chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography. The excretion of compounds during the period of the synthetic diet was compared with that when a self-selected diet was ingested. Institution of the synthetic diet caused a decrease in mineral excretion, and also caused the excretion of many aromatic compounds to decrease markedly. Several additional compounds could be attributed to the flavoring agent in the diet. We conclude that many compounds present in urine samples have a dietary origin primarily, and that it is necessary to feed diets of known composition before satisfactory metabolic studies may be undertaken.
Use of Two Predictive Algorithms of the World Wide Web for the Identification of Tumor-reactive T-Cell Epitopes

Tumor cells can be effectively recognized and eliminated by CTLs. One approach for the development of CTL-based cancer immunotherapy for solid tumors requires the use of the appropriate immunogenic peptide epitopes that are derived from defined tumor-associated antigens. Because CTL peptide epitopes are restricted to specific MHC alleles, to design immune therapies for the general population it is necessary to identify epitopes for the most commonly found human MHC alleles. The identification of such epitopes has been based on MHC-peptide-binding assays that are costly and labor-intensive. We report here the use of two computer-based prediction algorithms, which are readily available in the public domain (Internet), to identify HL4-B7-restricted CTL epitopes for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). These algorithms identified three candidate peptides that we studied for their capacity to induce CTL responses in vitro using lymphocytes from HLA-B7+ normal blood donors. The results show that one of these peptides, CEA9(632) (IPQQHTQVL) was efficient in the induction of primary CTL responses when dendritic cells were used as antigen-presenting cells. These CTLs were efficient in killing tumor cells that express HLA-B7 and produce CEA. The identification of this HLA-B7-restricted CTL epitope will be useful for the design of ethnically unbiased, widely applicable immunotherapies for common solid epithelial tumors expressing CEA. Moreover, our strategy of identifying MHC class I-restricted CTL epitopes without the need of peptide/HLA-binding assays provides a convenient and cost-saving alternative approach to previous methods.
Enumeration of Tubercle Bacilli in Sputum of Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

A method for precise microscopic enumeration of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is described. The total number of acid-fast bacilli and the number of culturable cell units of tubercle bacilli per milliliter of sputum were determined in 269 specimens from 28 patients collected prior to and/or during chemotherapy, to establish the usefulness of the procedure for evaluation of the effects of chemotherapy. Prior to or very early in the course of therapy, there was good agreement between microscopically and culturally measurable bacilli in 27 of 28 patients. Thereafter, there were systematic divergences in five patients and occasional divergences in most others. Yet, in general, in 20 of the 28 patients, the microscopically determined population provided a useful measure of the number of culturable tubercle bacilli present. Although the microscopic procedure does not allow species identification of mycobacteria or differentiation between viable and nonviable cells, it often provided, within hours rather than days or weeks, useful information on the residual burden of acid-fast bacilli in sputum during chemotherapy. The nature of the disease in those patients in whom microscopy failed to provide useful information is discussed.