cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiofrequency Ablation-Assisted Zero-Ischemia Robotic Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy: Oncologic and Functional Outcomes in 49 Patients.

Introduction and Objectives. Robotic partial nephrectomy with peritumoral radiofrequency ablation (RFA-RPN) is a novel clampless technique. We describe oncologic and functional outcomes in a prospective cohort. Methods. From May, 2007, to December, 2009, 49 consecutive patients with renal masses <7 cm underwent RFA-RPN. During this period, only the RFA-RPN technique was utilized for all cases of partial nephrectomy. Pre- and postoperative data were analyzed and compared to 36 consecutive patients who underwent LPN. Results. In total, 49 tumors were treated in the RFA-RPN group and 36 tumors in the comparison group. Mean operative time was longer in the RFA-RPN group (370 min versus 293 min, ). There were no significant differences in mean EBL (231 cc versus 250 cc, ), transfusion rate (8.2% versus 11.1%, ), or hospital stay (3.9 versus 4.4 days, ). Two patients in the RFA-RPN (4.1%) and 1 (2.7%) patient in the comparison group had a positive surgical margin (). 17 (34.7%) patients had a postoperative urine leak in the RFA-RPN group versus 2 (5.6%) patients in the comparison group (). Mean follow-up was 54 months versus 68.4 months in the comparison group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding change in GFR (). There were 3 recurrences (6.1%) in the RFA-RPN group and 0 recurrences in the RPN group (). There were 3 deaths (6.1%) in the RFA-RPN group (one cancer specific) and 4 deaths (11.1%) in the RPN group (non-cancer specific) over the follow-up period (). Conclusions. Our data suggests that this technique is associated with a similar degree of renal preservation but higher rates of postoperative urine leak and possibly higher rates of recurrence.
The give -type benefactive constructions in Korean and Japanese

This paper offers a formal account for the give-type benefactive constructions involving -cwu in Korean and -age in Japanese. Inspired by Shibatani’s (Jpn Korean Linguist 4:39–74, 1994; in: Shibatani and Thompson (eds) Grammatical constructions: their form and meaning, Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp 157–194, 1996) observation that a dative NP in a benefactive sentence is associated with the notion of possession, we propose an account based on lexical decomposition, which has been widely adopted for analyzing ditransitives and some complex predicates in the recent literature. We argue that a dative NP is not a beneficiary but rather a possessor, whose apparent ‘beneficiary’ interpretation is derived via pragmatic inferences, and that a beneficiary role is always encoded in the form of an implicit argument of the benefactive auxiliary -cwu/-age. The proposed analysis accounts for the puzzling distributional patterns of dative arguments in the benefactive construction that cannot be easily captured by a simple ‘benefactive-as-applicative’ analysis. Furthermore, our investigation of the benefactive meaning reveals that it belongs to the not-at-issue tier of meaning in the multi-dimensional semantics, and that the lack of entailment of the benefactive meaning is better analyzed by appealing to generic quantification.
Association of vasomotor symptoms and sleep apnea risk in midlife women.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine the association between self-reported vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk. METHODS The STOP-BANG to evaluate OSA and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) were administered to 2,935 women seen in the Women's Health Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, between May 2015 and December 2016. Of these, 1,691 women were included in the analysis. Total MRS and VMS ratings were compared using logistic regression, with age, smoking, and body mass index (BMI) included as covariates between women at intermediate/high risk versus low risk for OSA. RESULTS Total MRS scores were significantly higher in women with intermediate/high-risk OSA scores versus those with low-risk scores [mean (SD): 16.8 (8.0) vs 12.9 (7.0), P 35 kg/m, and were less likely to be married or employed. Self-reported severe/very severe VMS were significantly associated with intermediate/high risk versus low risk for OSA (26.6% vs 15.0%; P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, and self-reported hypertension, the odds of having intermediate/high risk for OSA were 1.87 times higher for those with severe/very severe VMS compared with those with none/mild/moderate VMS (95% CI, 1.29-2.71, P < 0.001). This association persisted upon subgroup analysis based on BMI <25 kg/m (odds ratio 2.15; 95% CI, 1.12-4.16, P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS Self-reported severe/very severe VMS were associated with intermediate/high risk for OSA in midlife women, even in women with BMI <25 kg/m. Given the limitations of the STOP-BANG tool, OSA risk may, however, have been overestimated.
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS IN CLINICAL TRIALS OF NOVEL ANTICANCER DRUGS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses regulatory considerations in clinical trials of novel anticancer drugs. The responsibilities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and of sponsors of New Drug Application (IND) are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 21 part 312. The sponsor initiates and assumes responsibility for the clinical investigation. The sponsor is usually a pharmaceutical company, but individuals or academic institutions may also serve as sponsors. The IND process is initiated by submission of an IND application and continues throughout the period a drug is under investigation. A new agent will be reviewed by either the FDA's CDER or the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). The intensity of FDA involvement in the design and analysis of cancer clinical trials varies with the stage of drug development. The FDA frequently offers input to sponsors during planning of early trials and late trials. It is found that during pre-IND meetings, the FDA indicates the toxicology testing required to support initial clinical trials. The FDA does not usually require chronic animal studies prior to phase I clinical testing of cytotoxic drugs because these drugs are administered periodically. It is found that for accelerated approval, the FDA relies upon surrogate end points that are not completely validated, but are reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit.
Blazing the neoliberal trail: urban political development in the United States and United Kingdom

The story of enterprise zones has long deserved a full historical treatment, and political scientist Timothy P.R. Weaver provides it in Blazing the Neoliberal Trail. He casts enterprise zones, a su...
The Sla1 adaptor-clathrin interaction regulates coat formation and progression of endocytosis

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a fundamental transport pathway that depends on numerous protein-protein interactions. Testing the importance of the adaptor protein-clathrin interaction for coat formation and progression of endocytosis in vivo has been difficult due to experimental constrains. Here, we addressed this question using the yeast clathrin adaptor Sla1, which is unique in showing a cargo endocytosis defect upon substitution of 3 amino acids in its clathrin-binding motif (sla1AAA ) that disrupt clathrin binding. Live-cell imaging showed an impaired Sla1-clathrin interaction causes reduced clathrin levels but increased Sla1 levels at endocytic sites. Moreover, the rate of Sla1 recruitment was reduced indicating proper dynamics of both clathrin and Sla1 depend on their interaction. sla1AAA cells showed a delay in progression through the various stages of endocytosis. The Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization machinery was present for significantly longer time before actin polymerization ensued, revealing a link between coat formation and activation of actin polymerization. Ultimately, in sla1AAA cells a larger than normal actin network was formed, dramatically higher levels of various machinery proteins other than clathrin were recruited, and the membrane profile of endocytic invaginations was longer. Thus, the Sla1-clathrin interaction is important for coat formation, regulation of endocytic progression and membrane bending.
The age pattern of social inequalities in health at older ages: are common measures of socio-economic status interchangeable?

Abstract Objectives Social inequalities in health have been largely documented in social science research. Members of the most disadvantaged groups experience worse health and higher mortality from birth throughout adulthood. However, it is not clear whether this association persists at older ages. Some studies have found a narrowing of the social gradient in health, at least when ‘traditional’ measures of socio-economic status (SES)—income, education, and occupation—are used. The main goal of the article is to highlight similarities and discrepancies in the age trend of social inequalities in health that arise when multiple measures of SES are considered. Study design The present study uses a longitudinal sample of over 7000 individuals age 50+ from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe to examine the age trend of social inequalities in health. Methods By using growth curve models, individual trajectories of self-rated health and physical functioning were analyzed. SES is measured through wealth, income, and education. Results The findings show that for both health outcomes, the choice of the indicator of SES is very consequential, as the age trend of social inequalities in health is substantially different for different measures of SES. Conclusion Using multiple measures of SES is recommended, as using only one measure would give only a partial account of the age trend of social inequalities in health. In particular, wealth seems to better capture individual's socio-economic position, as it is able to detect health gradients even where education and income fail to do so.
Imaging following renal ablation: what can we learn from recurrent tumors?

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the post-contrast appearance of local tumor progression (LTP) following renal ablation to better understand patterns of tumor recurrence and to optimize follow-up imaging protocols. From 2002 to 2015, 913 patients underwent 988 renal ablation procedures for treatment of 1064 tumors. LTP was identified in 24 (2.6%) patients during median imaging follow-up of 30 months (range 0–139). One patient with LTP was followed with non-contrast MRI only and was excluded from evaluation. Three body radiologists reviewed the contrast-enhanced CT and/or MRI follow-up imaging in the remaining 23 patients to determine the timing and imaging appearance of the recurrent tumor. Local tumor progression was identified on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI at median 11 months (range 1 and 68) after renal ablation. Corticomedullary phase imaging was performed in 16/23 (70%) patients. LTP was identified on the corticomedullary phase in all cases, and was most conspicuous on the corticomedullary phase compared to any other phase of imaging in 15/16 (94%) patients. No cases of LTP were best visualized on non-contrast or excretory phase images. Delayed recurrence following renal ablation is possible; therefore, extended follow-up is indicated in ablation patients. Almost all cases of LTP were best visualized on the corticomedullary phase of imaging, which should be included in any post-ablation imaging protocol. Excretory phase images were not required to diagnose LTP in any case and could be excluded from routine post-ablation follow-up.
Cancer risk in HIV patients with incomplete viral suppression after initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

Author(s): Lee, Jennifer S; Cole, Stephen R; Achenbach, Chad J; Dittmer, Dirk P; Richardson, David B; Miller, William C; Mathews, Christopher; Althoff, Keri N; Moore, Richard D; Eron, Joseph J; Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) | Abstract: BackgroundCancer causes significant morbidity and mortality among HIV patients in the US due to extended life expectancy with access to effective antiretroviral therapy. Low, detectable HIV RNA has been studied as a risk factor for adverse health outcomes, but its clinical impact on cancer risk remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether HIV RNA l1,000 copies/mL six months after starting therapy was associated with 10-year first cancer risk.MethodsWe followed 7,515 HIV therapy initiators from a US-based multicenter clinical cohort from 1998 to 2014. We used nonparametric multiple imputation to account for viral loads that fell below assay detection limits, and categorized viral loads six months after therapy initiation into four groups: l20, 20-199, 200-999, and g999 copies/mL. We calculated estimates of the cumulative incidence of cancer diagnosis, accounting for death as a competing event. Inverse probability of exposure and censoring weights were used to control for confounding and differential loss to follow up, respectively.ResultsCrude 10-year first cancer risk in the study sample was 7.03% (95% CI: 6.08%, 7.98%), with the highest risk observed among patients with viral loads between 200 and 999 copies/mL six months after ART initiation (10.7%). After controlling for baseline confounders, 10-year first cancer risk was 6.90% (95% CI: 5.69%, 8.12%), and was similar across viral load categories.ConclusionOverall risk of first cancer was not associated with incomplete viral suppression; however, cancer remains a significant threat to HIV patients after treatment initiation. As more HIV patients gain access to treatment in the current "treat all" era, occurrences of incomplete viral suppression will be observed more frequently in clinical practice, which supports continued study of the role of low-level HIV RNA on cancer development.
CNN-Based Android Malware Detection

The growth in mobile devices has exponentially increased, making information easy to access but at the same time vulnerable. Malicious applications can gain access to sensitive and critical user information by exploiting unsolicited permission controls. Since high false detection rates render signature-based antivirus solutions on mobile phones ineffective, especially in malware variants, it is imperative to develop a more efficient and adaptable solution. This paper presents a deep learning-based malware detection to identify and categorize malicious applications. The proposed method investigates permission patterns based on a convolutional neural network. Our solution identifies malware with 93% accuracy on a dataset of 2500 Android applications, of which 2000 were malicious and 500 were benign.
Obstruction-flat asymptotically locally euclidean metrics and asymptotics of the self-dual complex

The first part of this thesis is based on the results in [AVis]. We show that any asymptotically locally Euclidean (ALE) metric which is obstruction-flat or extended obstruction-flat must be ALE of a certain optimal order. Moreover, our proof applies to very general elliptic systems and in any dimension n ≥ 3. The proof is based on the technique of Cheeger-Tian for Ricci-flat metrics. We also apply this method to obtain a singularity removal theorem for (extended) obstruction-flat metrics with isolated C0-orbifold singular points. The second part of this thesis is based on [AVnt], where we restrict our attention to Riemannian 4-manifolds and analyze the indicial roots of the self-dual deformation complex on a cylinder (R times Y 3, dt2 + gY), where Y3 is a space of constant curvature. An application is the optimal decay rate of solutions on a self-dual manifold with cylindrical ends having cross-section Y3. We also resolve a conjecture of Kovalev-Singer in the case where Y3 is a hyperbolic rational homology 3-sphere, and show that there are infinitely many examples for which the conjecture is true, and infinitely many examples for which the conjecture is false. Applications to gluing theorems are also discussed.
Factoring in ℤ[√d]

You should have an elementary understanding of divisors and factoring with integers. It may also be helpful to be familiar with the ring ℤ[√d].
New, emerging, and reemerging infectious diseases.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the capacity of microorganisms and viruses to cause new, emerging, and reemerging diseases. This is followed by the discussion on factors leading to the spread of microorganisms and viruses causing new, emerging, and reemerging diseases. The nature of ecological factors in regard to the new, emerging, and reemerging diseases is discussed next in the chapter. Next, this chapter discusses about the nature of zoonotic factors in regard to new, emerging, and reemerging diseases. This is followed by a discussion on the nature of behavioral and societal factors in regard to the new, emerging, and reemerging diseases, and a look at the factors affecting the new, emerging, and reemerging diseases in modern agriculture. Next, this chapter discusses the interaction between microorganisms and viruses and their human and animal hosts, followed by some of the important new, emerging, and reemerging human viral pathogens. This chapter ends with a look at: some of the most important new, emerging, and reemerging bacterial, rickettsial, and mycotic pathogens; some of the most important new, emerging, and reemerging human protozoan pathogens; and some of the most important new, emerging, and reemerging animal pathogens.
Statistical inference in behavior analysis: Friend or foe?

Behavior analysts are undecided about the proper role to be played by inferential statistics in behavioral research. The traditional view, as expressed in Sidman’s Tactics of Scientific Research (1960), was that inferential statistics has no place within a science that focuses on the steady-state behavior of individual organisms. Despite this admonition, there have been steady inroads of statistical techniques into behavior analysis since then, as evidenced by publications in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. The issues raised by these developments were considered at a panel held at the 24th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Orlando, Florida (May, 1998). The proceedings are reported in this and the following articles.
Control as Object: An Analysis of Violence Over Time

Violence occurs at a given point in time and reoccurs over time. This chapter focuses on the nature of the violence over time and provides evidence that control again becomes a meaningful object. However, control takes on two different meanings when respondents describe the violence over time. First, repeated acts of violence are associated with attempts to control the woman. In this sense, the meaning of control may be understood as external in nature, in that the target of control is the woman and not the batterer himself. Second, for those couples who, over time, no longer experience repeated acts of violence, the man’s behavior is described and understood in terms of how he now controls himself: that is, his emotions and behavior and how he avoids controlling his partner. In this way, the meaning of control is internal in nature, in that control involves the man changing past emotional and behavioral responses. Both of these meanings of control are evidenced in this chapter.
Divergent growth rates of alpine larch trees (Larix lyallii Parl.) in response to microenvironmental variability

ABSTRACTIn this study we explore radial growth rates and climatic responses of alpine larch trees (Larix lyallii Parl.) growing in high elevations of the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana, USA. W...
Exact and Approximate Solutions of Spectral Problems for the Schrödinger Operator on (−∞, ∞) with Polynomial Potential

New exact representations for the solutions of numerous one-dimensional spectral problems for the Schrodinger operator with polynomial potential are obtained by using a technique based on the functional-discrete (FD) method. In the cases where the ordinary FD-method is divergent, we propose to use its modification, which proves to be quite efficient. The obtained theoretical results are illustrated by numerical examples.
Sexual harassment is a threat to engineering: A national academies report finds that it's not just individuals who suffer when gender-based abuse goes unaddressed - [Spectral Lines]

THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WORKING FOR decades to increase the representation of women in universities and in the profession, but progress has been slow. In the United States, just 21 percent of engineering bachelor's degrees go to women, and only 11 percent of practicing engineers are women. While the problem is complex, we must recognize that one significant factor is sexual harassment, which creates hostile education and work environments and pushes women out of the field. • Authoritative studies have documented that from 20 to 50 percent of women students experience sexual harassment in higher education. Sexual harassment encompasses more than the shocking physical assaults that have made headlines in recent years; it also includes a wide range of offensive, crude, and sexist behaviors that demean women. Through these behaviors, harassers communicate that women do not belong and do not merit respect. This "gender harassment" is by far the most common type of sexual harassment. · Some people may think that words never hurt, as the old "sticks and stones" children's rhyme suggests, but research demonstrates that frequent or severe gender harassment can have the same level of negative outcomes as an instance of sexual coercion. What's more, gender harassment telegraphs an organizational climate that tolerates other forms of sexual harassment. · A recent report released by the National Academies of Sciences, The Engineering, and Medicine, for which two of us served as authors, found that sexual harassment has broad impacts. It affects not only the women who are targeted but also bystanders and the entire research enterprise.
Pigmented contact lenses for managing ocular disorders.

Abstract Blocking a selected wavelength range from the light spectrum can have multiple benefits. Ultra-violet (UV) radiation is detrimental to the retina, necessitating its blocking through sunglasses and contact lenses. The near-visible light also has enough energy to cause damage but, is typically not blocked by commercial lenses. Filtering light can also be useful to patients with migraines, amblyopia, and color blindness. Here, to achieve blocking, incorporation of pigments extracted from colored agro-products into contact lenses is explored. Pigment extraction from food powders including turmeric, spinach, paprika, and woad powders in ethanol is demonstrated. Lens immersion in pigment concentrated ethanol is done to facilitate swelling, allowing rapid pigment uptake. Pigment incorporation ensures the absence of visible light scattering, lens opacity, and leaching. The characterization of pigmented lenses is done through absorptivity and transmittance measurements. Degradation measurements investigate the stability of the green pigment extract from spinach powder with time. p-HEMA and silicone hydrogels loaded with >400 µg/g turmeric pigment act as class 1 UV blockers retaining >90% visible light transparency and screening >95% of the UVR spectra. Spinach, paprika, and woad powder loaded silicone lenses mitigate >20% visible light transmission from selective wavelengths finding applications in photophobia, amblyopia treatment, and color vision deficiency management.
Chemical applications of graph theory

Abstract Chemical graph theory is the application of discrete mathematics to chemistry applied to model physical and biological properties of chemical compounds. Various topological indices which are derived from graph theory can model the geometric structure of chemical compounds. Several of these topological indices are used to construct boiling point models for alkanes with 1–12 carbon atoms. The models are used to predict the boiling points of a set of alkanes with 13–22 carbon atoms. Similarly, melting point models are considered for a family of alkanes having 10–20 carbon atoms and only one methyl group. Methyl-substituted alkanes such as these are especially important in the production of diesel and jet fuels since they enable a lower pour point for the resulting synthetic fuels. All models produced in this manner may be used to predict physical properties of compounds for which no experimental data exist.
Prenatal use of medications for gastroesophageal reflux disease and early childhood fracture risk

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common condition in pregnancy and is often managed with medications. Specific medications have been linked to osteoporosis and fragility fracture in older adults. This study assessed whether maternal use of antireflux medications is associated with early childhood fracture. Methods TRICARE beneficiaries during pregnancy were retrospectively identified using the Military Health System Data Repository and pharmacy data. Mother and infant data were linked; children with continuous enrollment for the first 5 years of life were included. Differences in the children's fracture risk were analyzed through multivariate analysis, adjusting for region, rank, and military branch of service. Results A total of 378 150 patients comprised the final cohort with 3.3% (n = 12 479) prescribed antireflux medications during pregnancy. A significant decrease in fracture rate was found among children of women who were prescribed antireflux medications during pregnancy compared with those who were not (0.8% vs 1.2%, RR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.58-0.85). There was no difference in fracture risk between histamine type 2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. A significantly increased fracture incidence was seen in pregnancies with multiple gestations (RR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.04-1.85). There was no identified difference in fracture risk for women with gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm or low birthweight, chronic hypertension, induction, or breech presentation when compared to women without these conditions. Conclusions We found no increase in early childhood fracture risk with maternal antireflux medication use. This suggests that prenatal exposure to antireflux medications does not affect fetal bones to a clinically significant extent.
Circulation of Tick-Borne Spirochetes in Tick and Small Mammal Communities in Santa Barbara County, California, USA

A diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner) (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) genomospecies, including the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), have been identified in the western United States. However, enzootic transmission of B. burgdorferi s.l. in small mammals and ticks is poorly characterized throughout much of the region. Here we report prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in small mammal and tick communities in the understudied region of southern California. We found B. burgdorferi s.l. in 1.5% of Ixodes species ticks and 3.6% of small mammals. Infection was uncommon (~0.3%) in Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls (Acari: Ixodidae), the primary vector of the Lyme disease agent to humans in western North America, but a diversity of spirochetes-including Borrelia bissettiae, Borrelia californiensis, Borrelia americana, and B. burgdorferi s.s.-were identified circulating in Ixodes species ticks and their small mammal hosts. Infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. is more common in coastal habitats, where a greater diversity of Ixodes species ticks are found feeding on small mammal hosts (four species when compared with only I. pacificus in other sampled habitats). This provides some preliminary evidence that in southern California, wetter coastal areas might be more favorable for enzootic transmission than hotter and drier climates. Infection patterns confirm that human transmission risk of B. burgdorferi s.s. is low in this region. However, given evidence for local maintenance of B. burgdorferi s.l., more studies of enzootic transmission may be warranted, particularly in understudied regions where the tick vector of B. burgdorferi s.s. occurs.
Beneficence and Wellbeing: A Critical Appraisal.

Johan Bester (2020) provides an account of the ethical principle of beneficence, which creates an ethical obligation to benefit the patient, in terms of wellbeing. Wellbeing, in turn, can be unders...
Racial disparities in peri-operative complications following primary total hip arthroplasty.

Abstract Background This study assesses if post-operative outcomes following THA vary by racial groups. Methods A review of the ACS-NSQIP database was performed to compare THA patient outcomes from 2008 to 2016 according to race. Results During the study period, 117,389 THA patients were identified. Blacks were at significantly increased risk of peri-operative complications in comparison to non-Hispanic Whites, including serious medical morbidity (+27%), and prolonged length of stay (+53%). Conclusions Despite multivariate control and propensity-matched analysis of important risk factors, race independently predicts longer operative times and higher rates of discharge to non-home facilities.
Privacy-Risk Detection in Microservices Composition Using Distributed Tracing

It is a common task when employing the microservices architecture to integrate a number of loosely coupled entities that communicate with each other resulting in service requests that disseminate through a number of service endpoints. As the number of service endpoints increases, identifying the path to which a service request passes through the network becomes a time consuming and challenging task. In addition, as part of service requests, personal data may be shared across a number of service providers without end-users’ knowledge. Hence, tracing service requests and the extent to which data is flowing from one service endpoint to another becomes inevitable. In this paper, we introduce a distributed tracing Privacy Risk Detection (dtPRD) framework for identifying potential privacy and security risks associated with the dissemination of data through the path a service request undergoes. Identifying any risks associated with data sharing across a service path or plan can help in classifying service endpoints that are vulnerable or have the potential of exposing data without the end user’s knowledge. Throughout the paper, we present experimental and validation results of our proposed approach which show the effectiveness and usefulness of the dtPRD framework.
Abstract 17376: Atrial Arrhythmias in SCAD Patients

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon but increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. We aim to review the occurrence of ...
Venovenous versus venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation among infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: is there a difference in outcome?

Our hypothesis was that among infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), venoarterial (VA), compared to venovenous (VV), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with an increased risk of mortality or intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Retrospective cohort analysis of infants in the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Database from 2010 to 2016 with moderate or severe HIE, gestational age ≥36 weeks, and ECMO initiation <7 days of age. The primary outcome was mortality or ICH. Severe HIE was more common in the VA ECMO group (n = 57), compared to the VV ECMO group (n = 53) (47.4% vs. 26.4%, P = 0.02). VA ECMO was associated with a significantly higher risk of death or ICH [57.9% vs. 34.0%, aOR 2.39 (1.08–5.28)] and mortality [31.6% vs. 11.3%, aOR 3.06 (1.08–8.68)], after adjusting for HIE severity. In HIE, VA ECMO was associated with a higher incidence of mortality or ICH. VV ECMO may be beneficial in this population.
Exposure to metal mixtures and blood pressure among Bangladeshi children aged 5-7 years

Background: Early life elevated blood pressure has been linked to hypertension later in life, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, evidence connecting metal exposures to c...
The origin of human mutation in light of genomic data

Despite years of active research into the role of DNA repair and replication in mutagenesis, surprisingly little is known about the origin of spontaneous human mutation in the germ line. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing, genome-scale data have revealed statistical properties of mutagenesis in humans. These properties include variation of the mutation rate and spectrum along the genome at different scales in relation to epigenomic features and dependency on parental age. Moreover, mutations originated in mothers are less frequent than mutations originated in fathers and have a distinct genomic distribution. Statistical analyses that interpret these patterns in the context of known biochemistry can provide mechanistic models of mutagenesis in humans. Genome-scale sequencing data have revealed statistical properties of mutagenesis in humans. Statistical analyses that interpret these patterns and incorporate knowledge on DNA replication and repair pathways can provide mechanistic models that shed light on the origin of spontaneous human mutation in the germ line.
A high aspect-ratio holey metalens

We design and fabricate metalenses comprising substrateless ultra-deep via-holes in silicon with aspect ratios exceeding 30:1. Deep holes allow us to circumvent fabrication and fragility constraints which limit the aspect ratios of free-standing meta-atoms.
The Utility of Immunohistochemistry in the Differential Diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinomas

Renal neoplasms comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors with divergent clinicopathological and molecular characteristics as well as therapeutic options. Accurate diagnosis and classification are critical for patient management, prognosis and prediction of therapeutic response. Diagnosis and classification of renal tumors are usually straightforward based on gross and microscopic examination of biopsy and resection specimens. Immunohistochemistry, however, has been increasingly used in the workup of challenging cases. This review discusses the immunophenotypes of major renal tumors and immunohistochemical markers that are commonly used in clinical laboratories. In addition, algorithms incorporating morphology and immunohistochemical profiles in the differential diagnosis of major renal cell carcinoma histological subtypes are also provided.
Gold nanoparticle-polydimethylsiloxane films reflect light internally by optical diffraction and Mie scattering

Optical properties of polymer films embedded with plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) are important in many implementations. In this work, optical extinction by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films containing gold (Au) NPs was enhanced at resonance compared to AuNPs in suspensions, Beer?Lambert law, or Mie theory by internal reflection due to optical diffraction in 16 nm AuNP?PDMS films and Mie scattering in 76 nm AuNP?PDMS films. Resonant extinction per AuNP for 16 nm AuNPs with negligible resonant Mie scattering was enhanced up to 1.5-fold at interparticle separation (i.e., Wigner?Seitz radii) comparable to incident wavelength. It was attributable to diffraction through apertures formed by overlapping electric fields of adjacent, resonantly excited AuNPs at Wigner?Seitz radii equal to or less than incident wavelengths. Resonant extinction per AuNP for strongly Mie scattering 76 nm AuNPs was enhanced up to 1.3-fold at Wigner?Seitz radii four or more times greater than incident wavelength. Enhanced light trapping from diffraction and/or scattering is relevant to optoelectronic, biomedical, and catalytic activity of substrates embedded with NPs.
Analysis of Ubiquitinated Proteome by Quantitative Mass Spectrometry

Protein modification by ubiquitin is one of the most common posttranslational events in eukaryotic cells. Ubiquitinated proteins are destined to various fates such as proteasomal degradation, protein trafficking, DNA repair, and immune response. In the last decade, vast improvements of mass spectrometry make it feasible to analyze the minute amount of ubiquitinated components in vivo. When combined with quantitative strategies, such as stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC), it is capable of profiling ubiquitinated proteome under different experimental conditions. Here we describe a procedure to perform such a study, including differential protein labeling by the SILAC method, enrichment of ubiquitinated species, mass spectrometric analysis, and quality control to reduce false positives. The potential challenges and limitations of the procedure are also discussed.
Comparing Regional Classifications for Real Estate Portfolio Diversification

Considerable recent attention has been devoted to constructing improved spatial divsersification categories based on the economic characteristics of areas. This research compares Salomon Brothers' ...
The Medical Management of Cushing’s Syndrome

Physicians treating patients with Cushing’s syndrome often need to rely on the use of pharmacologic agents in order to normalize cortisol secretion. The most effective agents interrupt the biosynthesis of cortisol via inhibition of specific adrenal cytochrome P450 enzymes. In patients with ACTH-dependent forms of hypercortisolism, the efficacy of these agents is often additive and improved by the concomitant administration of irradiation or other antitumor therapies. Occasional patients “escape” from therapy and rises in cortisol excretion rates may follow apparently successful therapy. In this chapter, we will briefly discuss specific drugs that have been employed successfully in the management of patients with Cushing’s syndrome and then offer a practical approach to the selection and use of these agents.
Linewidth enhancement factor of a type-II quantum-cascade laser

We directly measured the optical gain, refractive index change, and the linewidth enhancement factor of a type-II quantum-cascade laser. We obtained very low linewidth enhancement factor of 0.83 near threshold.
Dairy foods and bone health: examination of the evidence

It is unclear whether dairy foods promote bone health in all populations and whether all dairy foods are equally beneficial. The objective of this review was to determine whether scientific evidence supports the recommendation that dairy foods be consumed daily for improved bone health in the general US population. Studies were reviewed that examined the relation of dairy foods to bone health in all age, sex, and race groups. Outcomes were classified according to the strength of the evidence by using a priori guidelines and were categorized as favorable, unfavorable, or not statistically significant. Of 57 outcomes of the effects of dairy foods on bone health, 53% were not significant, 42% were favorable, and 5% were unfavorable. Of 21 stronger-evidence studies, 57% were not significant, 29% were favorable, and 14% were unfavorable. The overall ratio of favorable to unfavorable effects in the stronger studies was 2.0 (4.0 in 50-y-olds). Males and ethnic minorities were severely underrepresented. Dairy foods varied widely in their content of nutrients known to affect calcium excretion and skeletal mass. Foods such as milk and yogurt are likely to be beneficial; others, such as cottage cheese, may adversely affect bone health. Of the few stronger-evidence studies of dairy foods and bone health, most had outcomes that were not significant. However, white women <30 y old are most likely to benefit. There are too few studies in males and minority ethnic groups to determine whether dairy foods promote bone health in most of the US population.
TEM Analysis of Microstructures of AlN/sapphire grown by MOCVD

We report on microstructure analysis of aluminum nitride (AlN) epilayers by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). AlN epilayer samples were grown on sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Cross section and plan view images were taken by TEM to investigate the threading dislocations. Edge type threading dislocations dominate the total dislocation density. The threading dislocations are greatly reduced by inserting an intermediate layer prior to the growth of high temperature AlN epilayer. The dislocations further reduce with increasing thickness. Our results correlate with the dislocation density estimated from x-ray diffraction analysis.
The stochastic determinants of hospital-bed supply.

This paper uses a general queuing-theoretic model to derive more appropriate measures of hospital quality, such as turn-away probabilities and patient's expected waiting time, than have been used in recent empirical work [e.g., Joskow (1980)].
The Value of Trade Books in Secondary Science and Mathematics Instruction: A Rationale

A rationale for the inclusion of trade books (i.e., fiction, nonfiction, biographies, autobiographies, reports of discoveries, poetry, science fiction) is offered to secondary science and mathematics instructors. The benefits of trade books include context for problem posing and solving while promoting constructivist-based instruction. Trade books provide students with vicarious experiences of the science and mathematics process, as they afford young people introductions to people and ideas which they may not know otherwise. Trade books promote positive attitudes toward science and mathematics instruction because they present a distinctive point of view and celebrate diversity of achievement. Trade books contain the ingredients necessary for emotional growth: romance, wonder and awe. In addition, trade books foster students' literacy development, since students are likely to conduct personalized inquiry, monitor their thinking and spend more time actively engaged in reading due to the variety and appeal of trade books. Importantly, teacher and student responses show reflection and ownership when trade books are used during instruction. Examples of books and quotes are included.
Behavioral changes and growth inhibition in last instar larvae of Heliothis zea induced by oral and topical application of precocene II

In diet choice tests, newly-ecdysed fifth instar Heliothis zea larvae randomly chose diet containing 4 mM precocene II or diet without precocene II but initially preferred to feed on diet without precocene II. After two days, however, they were found more frequently on diet containing precocene II. Nevertheless, larval growth and development were inhibited when forced to eat diet containing precocene II. Removal of the maxillae, the site of the primary gustatory receptors, did not prevent the growth inhibition caused by larval consumption of diet with precocene II. Topical treatments with precocene II also caused larval growth inhibition, and daily treatments were more detrimental to the larvae than a large single dose. Addition of methylenedioxyprecocene (6,7-methylenedioxy-2,2-dimethylchromene) to the diet did not reverse the observed larval growth inhibition and this compound was itself significantly toxic. These results indicate that larval growth and development are disrupted after precocene II ingestion, but not because of preingestive discrimination by olfaction and gustation.
Characterization of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-receptor complex interactions with DNA by a competitive assay☆

Abstract To identify and assess the specificity of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 chick intestinal cytoplasmic receptor's nucleotide binding site, a competitive DNA-cellulose binding assay was utilized. Unlike other steroid hormone receptors, the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-receptor complex binds homologous DNA at 4 °C and does not appear to undergo thermal- or salt-induced activation. Data are presented which suggest that receptor binding discriminates between double-stranded DNA and RNA but is not specific with respect to DNA base sequences. However, DNA base sequence selectivity by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-receptor complexes is observed using synthetic polydeoxyribonucleotides, particularly, poly(dA-dT) · poly(dA-dT) and poly(dA) · poly(dT). Preference for double-stranded over single-stranded DNA was also observed. Consistent with this finding, both actinomycin D and ethidium bromide caused a dose-dependent inhibition of receptor binding to DNA-cellulose. It is concluded that the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-receptor complex has specificity for AT-rich segments of double-stranded DNA and that this interaction is not merely electrostatic, but also involves hydrophobic interaction with the major and/or minor grooves of the DNA helix.
TEM analysis of neural terminals on autoradiographically identified regenerated hair cells

Regenerated tall and short hair cells identified by autoradiography ([3H]thymidine) were analyzed for their neural contacts using transmission electron microscopy. Ears from mature Coturnix quail (N = 5) exposed to pure tone overstimulation (1500 Hz, 115 dB, 12 h) and treated with [3H] thymidine for 10 days were fixed, embedded, sectioned serially in 100 mu intervals and prepared for autoradiography. At fifty percent length along the papilla, alternating semi-thick (1 micron) and thin (70 nm) sections were taken at 50 microns intervals. Semi-thick sections were analyzed at the light microscope level for autoradiographic labeling of [3H]thymidine over the hair cell nucleus. When an autoradiographically labelled hair cell was identified the corresponding serial thin sections were analyzed in the transmission electron microscope. Seven autoradiographically labeled hair cells in semi-thin sections were positively identified in immediately adjacent thin serial sections. Labeled hair cells were morphologically similar to adjacent cells with no label and generally appeared to receive similar innervation. Regenerated short hair cells showed large chalice shaped, efferent terminals, intermediate hair cells received both afferent and efferent innervation and tall hair cells were contacted by two to three afferent terminals with synaptic specializations. These results provide conclusive evidence of both efferent and afferent synaptic contacts on newly regenerated hair cells of all types 10 days following acoustic trauma.
A computerized data analysis system for electrogastrogram

A comprehensive computerized data analysis system for the electrogastrogram is presented in this paper. The electrogastrogram (EGG) is a cutaneous measurement of electrical activity of the stomach by positioning electrodes on the abdominal skin. Since the signal-to-noise ratio of the EGG is very low, visual analysis is impossible. The data analysis system presented in this paper contains a series of PC programs to perform: (a) data acquisition and real-time A/D conversion; (b) digital filter design and digital filtering; (c) adaptive cancellation of respiratory artifact; (d) smoothed power spectral analysis; (e) adaptive running spectral analysis; (f) two- or three-dimensional display of the EGG and analysis results. The basic principles of the system and sample results are presented.