cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of CA 15.3 protein in the cyst contents distinguishes benign from malignant pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms

Background Inflammatory pseudocysts, serous cystadenomas, and mucinous cystic tumors comprise most cystic lesions of the pancreas. The mucinous tumors include mucinous cystic neoplasms, which are benign on histologic examination but have the potential for malignant transformation, and mucinous cystadenocarcinomas. Accurate preoperative classification of pancreatic cysts with clinical and radiologic criteria is often impossible, and as a result many cystic tumors are inappropriately treated as pseudocysts. Analysis of percutaneous needle-aspirated cyst fluid for tumor markers, enzymes, viscosity, and cytologic study has been proposed as a useful modality to distinguish mucinous from nonmucinous cystic lesions. However, no reliable cyst fluid parameter distinguishes benign from malignant mucinous tumors. Methods The concentration of the tumor marker CA 15-3 was measured by immunoassay in cyst fluid from six pseudocysts, five serous cystadenomas, three mucinous cystic neoplasms, and six mucinous cystadenocarcinomas. Results The concentration of CA 15-3 in the cyst fluid of mucinous cystadenocarcinomas was higher (mean, 178 units/ml; range, 40 to 392) than that of mucinous cystic neoplasms (mean, 4.7 units/ml; range, 0 to 14), serous cystadenomas (mean, 9.2 units/ml; range, 0 to 32), and pseudocysts (mean, 15.3 units/ml; range, 0 to 66). An upper cutoff value of 30 units/ml distinguished mucinous cystic neoplasms from mucinous cystadenocarcinomas with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity (p = 0.01). Conclusions Production of CA 15-3 appears to coincide with malignant transformation in pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms. We conclude that measurement of CA 15-3 levels in the cyst fluid is useful in the differentiation of benign from malignant pancreatic mucinous cysts.
Into the ice age

There was minimal cooling in the North Atlantic Ocean during the Oligocene inception of the Antarctic ice sheet, according to a sediment record. This finding suggests asynchronous climate changes in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Stratifin expression in epithelial ovarian cancer: the role of methylation in vitro and in vivo

1057 Introduction: To examine stratifin (SFN) gene and protein expression in malignant and non-malignant ovarian epithelial cells in relation to the methylation status of the SFN coding region. Procedures: Normal human ovarian surface epithelial cells (HOSE) were obtained from scrapings of 8 normal ovaries of women undergoing surgery for unrelated gynecologic conditions. Cells were grown in culture and harvested at passage 2 to obtain genomic DNA, RNA, and protein. Established ovarian epithelial carcinoma cell lines were treated similarly. Genomic DNA was bisulfite-treated, followed by methylation-specific PCR (MSPCR) and bisulfite sequencing, to study the methylation status of the SFN coding region. SFN mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. Western blotting was performed to analyze SFN protein expression. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the spatial and semi-quantitative expression of SFN in vivo. Results: All eight normal HOSE demonstrated positive methylation, two of these also showing a weaker unmethylated PCR product. Among the cell lines, 6/6 serous were unmethylated, one of these demonstrating partial methylation. Two out of two mucinous cell lines were unmethylated and 1/1 endometrioid was methylated. One clear cell line was methylated, while the other 2 were unmethylated. Bisulfite sequencing confirmed MSPCR results. Samples with positive methylation showed reduced SFN mRNA and protein expression. Those with no methylation showed greater SFN mRNA and protein expression. Immunohistochemistry revealed an expression pattern in endometrioid and clear cell cancers that appeared to be specific to certain aggregations of cancer cells. Serous tissue, on the other hand, demonstrated negative to weakly positively SFN expression throughout the specimen. Conclusions: Previous studies have suggested an important role of the SFN gene, a negative cell cycle regulator, in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. The current study reveals that regulation of the SFN gene is likely controlled at least in part by the methylation status of the coding region. The in vitro data from ovarian cancer cell lines show a consistent correlation between SFN methylation status and gene and protein expression. Based on the variation of SFN expression in ovarian cancer tissues, it is clear that the expression of SFN is not as clear-cut in vivo as it seems in vitro. It is possible that this tissue variation in SFN expression may be due to different clonal origins of groups of cells. Other as of yet unidentified processes may also explain these interesting variations. Further studies are needed to understand the regulation of SFN methylation between cells or groups of cells within epithelial ovarian cancer tissues.
The many meanings of “cost” and “benefit:” biological altruism, biological agency, and the identification of social behaviours

The puzzle of how altruism can evolve has been at the center of recent debates over Hamilton’s Rule, inclusive fitness, and kin-selection. In this paper, I use recent debates over altruism and Hamilton’s legacy as an example to illustrate a more general problem in evolutionary theory that has philosophical significance; I attempt to explain this significance and to draw a variety of conclusions about it. The problem is that specific behaviours and general concepts of organism agency and intentionality are defined in terms of concepts of evolutionary “costs” and “benefits,” and these terms have determined the role that agency should play in evolutionary explanation. However, costs, benefits, and agency are not only or even best conceived through evolutionary effects in a biological context. The paper proceeds as follows: first, I explain how the issue of agency relates to the evolutionary puzzle of altruism. Next, I discuss how questions about agency have figured in recent debates over Hamilton’s legacy. In the final section, I argue that Denis Walsh’s “situated Darwinism,” which attempts to return the organism to central status in biological explanation, offers a more productive route for thinking about different forms of costs, benefits, and agency. Finally, I argue that the upshot of all this is that there may be many different, and equally valid, ways to express what organisms are doing and how they are behaving based on different currencies of cost and benefit—even if these may stand in some tension. I illustrate this through returning to the case of altruism and using examples to show that even in non-humans there can be many forms of altruism, even if they are not all biological altruism as defined in the conventional evolutionary terms.
The efficacy and safety of a catheter removal only strategy for the treatment of PICC line thrombosis versus standard of care anticoagulation: a retrospective review.

Peripherally-inserted central catheters (PICCs) are commonly used during hospitalization. Unfortunately, their use can be complicated by catheter-related thrombosis (CRT). Current guidelines recommend 3–6 months of anticoagulation for patients with CRT after catheter removal. This recommendation is based on extrapolation of data on lower extremity thrombosis, as data is lacking regarding the efficacy and safety of more specific management strategies. Many providers feel catheter removal alone is a reasonable treatment option, particularly for patients at risk for bleeding. We performed a retrospective analysis of hospitalized adult patients diagnosed with CRT at our center. We determined rates of progressive thrombosis and bleeding in cohorts of patients who underwent catheter removal vs those who had catheters removed and received anticoagulation. Among 83 total patients, 62 were treated with PICC removal alone, while 21 underwent PICC removal followed by therapeutic anticoagulation. Patients treated with PICC removal alone were more likely to have hematologic malignancy, receive chemotherapy, develop thrombocytopenia, and have brachial vein thrombosis. No patients in the PICC removal plus anticoagulation arm developed progressive thrombosis, while 6.4% of patients treated with catheter removal alone developed a secondary VTE event, including one PE, three DVTs, and five patients (8%) who developed progressive symptoms leading to initiation of anticoagulation. Major bleeding was significantly more common in the PICC removal + anticoagulation arm (28.5% vs. 4.8% p = 0.007). Catheter-removal alone results in significantly reduced major bleeding compared with catheter-removal plus anticoagulation. In select patients, catheter removal alone may be an option for CRT.
The ZZ domain as a new epigenetic reader and a degradation signal sensor

Although relatively small in size, the ZZ-type zinc finger (ZZ) domain is a versatile signaling module that is implicated in a diverse set of cell signaling events. Here, we highlight the most recent studies focused on the ZZ domain function as a histone reader and a sensor of protein degradation signals. We review and compare the molecular and structural mechanisms underlying targeting the amino-terminal sequences of histone H3 and arginylated substrates by the ZZ domain. We also discuss the ZZ domain sensitivity to histone PTMs and summarize biological outcomes associated with the recognition of histone and non-histone ligands by the ZZ domain-containing proteins and complexes.
100.59 Comparative Long-Term Outcomes in Same Sitting, Robotic Assisted Hybrid Coronary Artery Revascularization Versus Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Multi-Vessel Coronary Artery Disease

There are limited short- and long-term data in hybrid coronary artery revascularization (HCR), especially when performed in the same sitting, compared to conventional off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). We compared the long-term outcomes of same-sitting HCR with OPCABG in similar
Comparison of a Novel Trainer to a Traditional Swine Model for Training Providers in Lateral Canthotomy and Cantholysis.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Military personnel are at greater risks of head and facial traumas and permanent blindness from orbital compartment syndrome in modern warfare. Rapid treatment must be implemented with a low-risk surgical remedy: lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC). Traditional training of LCC is primarily performed using an animal tissue trainer (ATT); however, limitations to these types of trainers exist. Therefore, our research objectives were focused on highlighting the effectiveness, benefits, and vision-saving potential of learning LCC on a synthetic trainer. METHODS Participants included 22 second-year medical students and 6 healthcare professionals. A pre-quiz assessed baseline knowledge. Next, an experienced ophthalmologist provided an overview and instruction. Subjects were randomized to either the synthetic trainer or the ATT and then switched to the other model for comparison. After performing LCC procedures on both models, a post-quiz and survey were administered. RESULTS Participants found the synthetic trainer easier to use than the ATT model (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant preference (p = 0.23), or preference of practical eye anatomy (p = 0.26) between the trainers. Post-quiz results demonstrated an overall improvement from pre-quiz scores for participants (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The synthetic trainer is comparable to the traditional swine model for training LCC procedures, and should be considered as a future training platform.
Factors affecting differential outcomes in the definitive treatment of anal cancer between HIV+ and HIV- patients.

3572Background: Anal cancer is an uncommon malignancy with numerous factors that influence treatment outcomes. Historically, HIV+ patients were restricted from entering clinical trials, limiting da...
Identifying Novel Roles for Peptidergic Signaling in Mice

ABSTRACT Despite accumulating evidence demonstrating the essential roles played by neuropeptides, it has proven challenging to use this information to develop therapeutic strategies. Peptidergic signaling can involve juxtacrine, paracrine, endocrine and neuronal signaling, making it difficult to define physiologically important pathways. One of the final steps in the biosynthesis of many neuropeptides requires a single enzyme, peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), and lack of amidation renders most of these peptides biologically inert. PAM, an ancient integral membrane enzyme that traverses the biosynthetic and endocytic pathways, also affects cytoskeletal organization and gene expression. While mice, zebrafish and flies lacking Pam (PamKO/KO) are not viable, we reasoned that cell-type specific elimination of Pam expression would generate mice that could be screened for physiologically important and tissue-specific deficits. PamcKO/cKO mice, with loxP sites flanking the 2 exons deleted in the global PamKO/KO mouse, were indistinguishable from wildtype mice. Eliminating Pam expression in excitatory forebrain neurons reduced anxiety-like behavior, increased locomotor responsiveness to cocaine and improved thermoregulation in the cold. A number of amidated peptides play essential roles in each of these behaviors. Although atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is not amidated, Pam expression in the atrium exceeds levels in any other tissue. Eliminating Pam expression in cardiomyocytes increased anxiety-like behavior and improved thermoregulation. Atrial and serum levels of ANP fell sharply PamMyh6-cKO/cKO in mice and RNASeq analysis identified changes in gene expression in pathways related to cardiac function. Use of this screening platform should facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches targeted to peptidergic pathways. SIGNIFICANCE Peptidergic signaling, which plays key roles in the many pathways that control thermoregulation, salt and water balance, metabolism, anxiety, pain perception and sexual reproduction, is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis. Despite the fact that peptides generally signal through G protein coupled receptors, it has proven difficult to use knowledge about peptide synthesis, storage and secretion to develop effective therapeutics. Our goal was to develop an in vivo bioassay system that would reveal physiologically meaningful deficits associated with disturbed peptidergic signaling. We did so by developing a system in which an enzyme essential for the production of many bioactive peptides could be eliminated in a tissue-specific manner.
Archive as Laboratory: Engaging STEM Students & STEM Collections

As STEM students come to populate undergraduate courses in the liberal arts to fulfill university distribution requirements, they outnumber their humanities counterparts. A history professor and ar...
Use of Neuroimaging to Inform Optimal Neurocognitive Criteria for Detecting HIV-Associated Brain Abnormalities.

Objective Frascati international research criteria for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are controversial; some investigators have argued that Frascati criteria are too liberal, resulting in a high false positive rate. Meyer et al. recommended more conservative revisions to HAND criteria, including exploring other commonly used methodologies for neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in HIV including the global deficit score (GDS). This study compares NCI classifications by Frascati, Meyer, and GDS methods, in relation to neuroimaging markers of brain integrity in HIV. Method Two hundred forty-one people living with HIV (PLWH) without current substance use disorder or severe (confounding) comorbid conditions underwent comprehensive neurocognitive testing and brain structural magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Participants were classified using Frascati criteria versus Meyer criteria: concordant unimpaired [Frascati(Un)/Meyer(Un)], concordant impaired [Frascati(Imp)/Meyer(Imp)], or discordant [Frascati(Imp)/Meyer(Un)] which were impaired via Frascati criteria but unimpaired via Meyer criteria. To investigate the GDS versus Meyer criteria, the same groupings were utilized using GDS criteria instead of Frascati criteria. Results When examining Frascati versus Meyer criteria, discordant Frascati(Imp)/Meyer(Un) individuals had less cortical gray matter, greater sulcal cerebrospinal fluid volume, and greater evidence of neuroinflammation (i.e., choline) than concordant Frascati(Un)/Meyer(Un) individuals. GDS versus Meyer comparisons indicated that discordant GDS(Imp)/Meyer(Un) individuals had less cortical gray matter and lower levels of energy metabolism (i.e., creatine) than concordant GDS(Un)/Meyer(Un) individuals. In both sets of analyses, the discordant group did not differ from the concordant impaired group on any neuroimaging measure. Conclusions The Meyer criteria failed to capture a substantial portion of PLWH with brain abnormalities. These findings support continued use of Frascati or GDS criteria to detect HIV-associated CNS dysfunction.
Renal Disease in Sickle Cell: Clinically Varied and Associated with Increased Mortality

Abstract 90 The Walk-Phasst Study of sickle cell disease (SCD) affords a unique opportunity to examine renal function in a large number of adults with SCD. Extensive clinical and laboratory data were obtained on 463 adults with HbSS and 127 adults with HbSC. Where possible, correlates for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, calculated by the 4-value MDRD equation) and albuminuria/proteinuria were also evaluated in historical data, from SS adults in the CSCCD cohort and the Multicenter Study of Hydroxyurea (MSH) in sickle cell disease. Adjusted decline in eGFR was more rapid in SS compared with SC, at −2.6 and −0.92 ml/min/1.73 m2/year, respectively (p Albuminuria (≥30 mg albumin/gm creatinine) was detectable in 66 and 41 % of adults with HbSS and HbSC in Walk-Phasst (185/287 evaluable SS and 25/61 evaluable SC, p=0.001). In Walk-Phasst, albuminuria in SS was associated with evidence of increased red cell destruction (lower total hemoglobin (P=0.07), higher LDH (P Subjects with SS in Walk-Phasst had depressed serum bicarbonate levels, of 23.8±3.4 compared with 24.7±3.2mEq/dL in SC (p In conclusion, renal function is perturbed in sickle cell syndromes in several ways, including more rapid decrement in eGFR, highly prevalent albuminuria, and, in SS, marked abnormalities in acid-base balance. Albuminuria is associated with anemia in two large cohorts of sickle cell disease patients and, in Walk-Phasst, with evidence for enhanced red cell destruction. Importantly, albuminuria correlated with an increased risk for mortality in sickle cell disease. (We acknowledge the many contributions made by the Walk-PHASST Investigators: Badesch DB, Barst RJ, Castro OL, Girgis RE, Gibbs JS, Goldsmith JC, Hannoush H, Hassell KL, Kato GJ, Krishnamurti L, Lanzkron S, Machado RF, Morris CR, Novelli EM, Rosenzweig EB, Sachdev V, Schraufnagel DE, Taylor JG 6th.) Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Where Were the States? Same-Sex Marriage Before Obergefell

Of the most recent developments regarding marriage, The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Docket no. 14-556 James Obergefell, et al. v. Richard Hodges, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, et al. handed down the landmark decision on June 26, 2015 that the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to license a marriage between two people of the same sex, as well as recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state. In the opinion of the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy stated that “no union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family…These considerations lead to the conclusion that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person.” This ruling made null and void any laws in all 50 states that banned performing same-sex marriages.
Taphonomic assessment of material generated by an Arboreal Nesting Colony of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias)

Reports on nesting debris generated by great blue heron (Ardea herodias), arboreal nesting birds with ‘semi-altricial’ young, are limited. In this study, surface and subsurface sampling were conduc...
A DNA Read Alignment Accelerator Based on Computational RAM

Recent years have witnessed an increasing interest in the processing-in-memory (PIM) paradigm in computing due to its promise to improve the performance through the reduction of energy-hungry and long-latency memory accesses. Joined with the explosion of data to be processed, produced in genomics—particularly genome sequencing—PIM has become a potential promising candidate for accelerating genomics applications since they do not scale up well in conventional von Neumann systems. In this article, we present an in-memory accelerator architecture for DNA read alignment. This architecture outperforms corresponding software implementation by >49X and >18 000X, in terms of throughput and energy efficiency, respectively, even under conservative assumptions.
Using Hands-On Chemistry Experiments While Teaching Online.

How can you switch from a hands-on face-to-face chemistry course to an online course in the face of a pandemic? It is possible to have students do hands-on experiments at home. There are many readi...
Estimating the Effective Reproduction Number and Variables of Disease Models for the COVID-19 Epidemic

This paper deals with the problem of estimating variables in nonlinear models for the spread of disease and its application to the COVID-19 epidemic. First unconstrained methods are revisited and they are shown to correspond to the application of a linear filter followed by a nonlinear estimate of the effective reproduction number after a change-of-coordinates. Unconstrained methods often fail to keep the estimated variables within their physical range and can lead to unreliable estimates that require aggressively smoothing the raw data. In order to overcome these shortcomings a constrained estimation method is proposed that keeps the model variables within pre-specified boundaries and can also promote smoothness of the estimates. Constrained estimation can be directly applied to raw data without the need of pre-smoothing and the associated loss of information and additional lag. It can also be easily extended to handle additional information, such as the number of infected individuals. The resulting problem is cast as a convex quadratic optimization problem with linear and convex quadratic constraints. It is also shown that both unconstrained and constrained methods when applied to death data are independent of the fatality rate. The methods are applied to public death data from the COVID-19 epidemic.
Alternate Fixation in the Non- Strabismic Child

A modification of the binocular fixation preference test is described using a 25A prism B.I., in a non-strabismic child. The induced esotropia is compared, using a fixation light, as the prism is a...
Symposium on Bjørn Lomborg's The Skeptical Environmentalist: Introduction: The Virtues and Vices of Skeptical Environmentalism

Introduction to the Symposium on Bjorn Lomborg's The Skeptical Environmentalist: The Virtues and Vices of Skeptical Environmentalism, 2002, Cleveland, OH
Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is acquired from a preceding traumatic event causing injury to the brain. Injuries can be transient or permanent, and focal or diffuse and are generally classified as mild, moderate, or severe. It is a multidisciplinary disease that frequently involves the care and expertise of trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, critical care intensivists, physiatrists, and a host of ancillary specialists. The often acute and changing nature of the disease requires that providers are adept at diagnosis and treatment. Frequently, care delivery and coordination rest on the shoulders of the intensivist. As such, critical care providers should have a firm grasp on the basic principles of brain injury, resuscitation, and treatment.
Role of Exercise Treadmill Testing in the Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Disease.

Abstract Objectives The authors aimed to study the sensitivity and specificity of exercise treadmill testing (ETT) in the diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease (CMD), as well as the prognostic implications of ETT results in patients with CMD. Background ETT is validated to evaluate for flow-limiting coronary artery disease (CAD), however, little is known about its use for evaluating CMD. Methods We retrospectively studied 249 consecutive patients between 2006 and 2016 who underwent ETT and positron emission tomography within 12 months. Patients with obstructive CAD or left ventricular systolic dysfunction were excluded. CMD was defined as a coronary flow reserve Results The sensitivity and specificity of a positive ETT to detect CMD were 34.7% (95% CI: 25.4%-45.0%) and 64.9% (95% CI: 56.7%-72.5%), respectively. The specificity of a positive ETT to detect CMD increased to 86.8% (95% CI: 80.3%-91.7%) when only classifying studies with ischemic electrocardiogram changes that lasted at least 1 minute into recovery as positive, although at a cost of lower sensitivity (15.3%; 95% CI: 8.8%-24.0%). Over a median follow-up of 6.9 years (interquartile range: 5.1 years-8.2 years), 30 (12.1%) patients met the composite endpoint, including 13 (13.3%) with CMD (n = 98). In patients with CMD, ETT result was not associated with the composite endpoint (P = 0.076). Conclusions Our data suggest limited sensitivity of ETT to detect CMD. However, a positive ETT with ischemic changes that persist at least 1 minute into recovery in the absence of obstructive CAD should raise suspicion for the presence of CMD given a high specificity. Further study is needed with larger patient sample sizes to assess the association between ETT results and outcomes in patients with CMD.
We encourage the collection of more data to better understand the visual ecology of birds: A counter-response to O'Daniels et al. (2021)

Wisenden et al. (2020) reported differential behavioral responses by male Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) to models bearing a red-epaulet visual signal with and without reflectance in the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the spectrum. O'Daniels et al. (2021) wrote a response, claiming that some of our key terminology was incorrect and that our methodology was potentially confounded, calling into question the veracity of the results reported in our study. Herein, we explain (1) our use of the term “control” to be the treatment that lacks the test variable of interest; (2) the labels UV+and UV–refer to treatments that did, and did not, reflect in the UV; (3) that sunscreen likely did not contain methyl anthranilate, and even if it did, the amounts of sunscreen used were so small that it could not possibly explain the behavioral effects we observed over the distances between models and territorial males tested in the field; and (4) visual modeling would not enhance the interpretation or impact of our study. We do agree with O'Daniels et al. (2021) that additional field research should be done to better understand visual ecology and the evolution of avian plumage signals.
Grocery Shopper Attitudes Concerning the Non-Availability of Advertised Specials

This study examines grocery shoppers’ reactions to situations where advertised specials are not available. Emphasis was placed on type of action taken and experiences with "rainchecks." Shoppers with limited education and income levels were less assertive than their more sophisticated counterparts when confronted with questionable selling practices and merchandising miscalculations.
Key Reactions in Catalysis

This Section reviews briefly those classes of reactions which play an important role in the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide. Some of the reactions have already been mentioned in earlier Chapters (e.g. oxidative addition of hydrogen in Sect. 2.1, ligand exchange in Section 4.2.2), but it is considered convenient to group the different types of reactions together here for easy reference in later Chapters. It should be noted that these “key reactions” are ubiquitous in catalysis with transition metals in general (certainly in homogeneous, and most probably also in heterogeneous catalysis), but only those aspects relevant to the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide will be discussed. For a broader treatment, the reader is referred to the specialized literature (e.g. Henrici-Olive and Olive, 1977; Collman and Hegedus, 1980; Cotton and Wilkinson, 1980).
Development of the MyPlan Safety Decision App with Friends of College Women in Abusive Dating Relationships

Dating violence (DV) from an intimate partner/expartner is common on college campuses, but young college women are far more likely to disclose DV to a peer than to seek formal services. Therefore, our team developed a prototype smartphone application (app) aimed at DV survivors’ peers. Through focus groups/interviews, 31 college students who self-identified as friends of DV survivors reviewed and provided feedback on the app's usefulness, understandability, appropriateness, and comprehensiveness. These findings support the acceptability and usefulness of an app to support peers of DV survivors on campus and thereby also strengthen the safety net for DV survivors.
LMS adaptive filtering with multirate observations

This paper addresses the problem of adaptive filtering using the LMS method when two or more observation sequences are available with differing sampling rates. In such cases the steady-state behavior of the filters would be periodically time-varying. We develop the form of the algorithm and examine the performance of the algorithm in the context of interference suppression for narrowband and broadband sources of interference.
Examining the efficacy of using iPod Touches to deliver reading comprehension strategy instruction and to provide electronic text support on the reading comprehension performance of sixth-grade students

xvi, 120 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.
Cross-layer scheme for detecting large-scale colluding Sybil attack in VANETs

In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), the roadside units (RSUs) need to know the number of vehicles in their vicinity to be used in traffic management. However, an attacker may launch a Sybil attack by pretending to be multiple simultaneous vehicles. This attack is severe when a vehicle colludes with others to use valid credentials to authenticate the Sybil vehicles. If RSUs are unable to identify such an attack, they will report wrong number of vehicles to the traffic management center, which may result in disseminating wrong traffic instructions to vehicles. In this paper, we propose a cross-layer scheme to enable the RSUs to identify such Sybil vehicles. Since Sybil vehicles do not exist in their claimed locations, our scheme is based on verifying the vehicles' locations. A challenge packet is sent the vehicle's claimed location using directional antenna to detect the presence of a vehicle. If the vehicle is at the expected location, it should be able to receive the challenge and send back a valid response packet. In order to reduce the overhead and instead of sending challenge packets to all the vehicles all the time, packets are sent only when there is a suspicion of Sybil attack. We also discuss several Sybil attack alarming techniques. The evaluation results demonstrate that our scheme can achieve high detection rate with low probability of false alarm. Additionally, the scheme requires acceptable communication and computation overhead.
Paratesticular mass as a presenting sign of sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous process of obscure origin. Although the disorder is characterized by multisystem disease, involvement of the genital tract is uncommon. The purpose of this paper is to record a patient with a scrotal mass as a presenting symptom of sarcoid. Sarcoidosis should be considered when the differential diagnosis of scrotal masses is under consideration. CASE REPORT An 18-year-old black man was admitted to the Adolescent Service of Long Island Jewish-Hillside Medical Center with the chief complaint of a right scrotal mass. His past medical history and review of symptoms were entirely negative except for a 14-lb weight loss in four months.
Response rates of three modes of survey administration and survey preferences of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective To compare survey response rates and preferences for 3 modes of survey administration in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods Adult RA patients were identified from Kaiser Permanente Southern California's electronic medical records. One hundred patients each were randomly assigned to telephone, mail with followup letter, and mail with followup telephone call as modes of survey administration. Respondents completed a 7-page survey (in English or Spanish) that included the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index and pain scale, EuroQol 5-dimensions, and generic questions on preferences and sociodemographics. Response rates were based on the number of completed surveys received from the total number of patients contacted (n = 295; 5 were ineligible). Results The mean ± SD age of the cohort was 61 ± 12.3 years, with the majority being women (141 [85%] of 166). Of the 3 modes of survey administration, telephone (63 [64%] of 99) had the highest response rate, followed by mail with followup telephone call (55 [56%] of 98) and mail with followup letter (48 [49%] of 98). When asked about preference over administration mode, 57% (95 of 166) preferred to complete the survey by mail, followed by telephone (27 [16%] of 166) and internet (17 [10%] of 166). Conclusion When asked about their choice of survey administration mode for reporting their health status, the majority of RA patients in this study had a strong preference for a mail survey as compared to a telephone interview. However, the response rate in the telephone administration mode of survey was the highest between the 3 modes of administration that were compared. Future studies in RA can achieve better response using telephone over mail-in surveys.
Throttling Tor bandwidth parasites

Tor is vulnerable to network congestion and performance problems due to bulk data transfers. A large fraction of the available network capacity is consumed by a small percentage of Tor users, resulting in severe service degradation for the majority. Bulk users continuously drain relays of excess bandwidth, creating new network bottlenecks and exacerbating the effects of existing ones. While this problem may currently be attributed to rational users utilizing the network, it may also be exploited by a relatively low-resource adversary using similar techniques to contribute to a network denial of service (DoS) attack. Degraded service discourages the use of Tor, affecting both Tor's client diversity and anonymity. Equipped with mechanisms from communication networks, we design and implement three Tor-specific algorithms that throttle bulk transfers to reduce network congestion and increase network responsiveness. Unlike existing techniques, our algorithms adapt to network dynamics using only information local to a relay. We experiment with full-network deployments of our algorithms under a range of light to heavy network loads. We find that throttling results in significant improvements to web client performance while mitigating the negative effects of bulk transfers. We also analyze how throttling affects anonymity and compare the security of our algorithms under adversarial attack. We find that throttling reduces information leakage compared to unthrottled Tor while improving anonymity against realistic adversaries.
Introducing Sexual Diversity into Social Work Education

ABSTRACT Social workers encounter sexuality-related issues in a variety of practice settings. Yet, less than half of professional preparation programs incorporate content on human sexual diversity in their curricula (Diaz & Kelly, 1991). Such an omission poses problems for competent practice with persons-in-sexual situations, especially in a pluralistic society and a multicultural world where there are varied beliefs, values, and options regarding adult sexual expression. This article describes a humanistic group approach to introducing sexual diversity into graduate social work education. It incorporates democratic values and guidelines, group process, and sexual diversity exercises into a professionally ethical approach to a controversial subject in the classroom.
FATTY ACID SYNTHESIS DURING EARLY LINOLEIC ACID DEFICIENCY IN THE MOUSE.

The capacity of liver to synthesize long-chain fatty acids is greatly enhanced during early linoleate deficiency in mice. The enzymes catalyzing the synthesis of fatty acids from acetate or malonyl CoA were measured directly in soluble fractions isolated from liver. The period of dietary restriction of linoleate is also accompanied by a rapid fall in the relative linoleate content of the liver; by marked changes in the composition of the fatty acids in liver; and by an accumulation of liver triglyceride.
The spectrum of the slowly varying component of solar radio emission at wavelengths of 3.3 mm 21 cm

The spectrum and diameter of the source of the S-component emission (McMath Plage No. 244) observed on March 4, 1968 has been investigated at 3.3 mm, 4.3 mm, 8.5 mm, 2 cm, 9.1 cm, 21 cm, and 43 cm wavelengths.
Unlocking the Core Self: Mindful Occupation for Cancer Survivorship

Individuals who survive cancer can often expect to live many additional years after remission. However, in order to achieve holistic well-being, these individuals may need to pursue life management approaches beyond the requisite coping strategies at the level of the physical (protoself) and the narrative (autobiographical) self. When viewed through the lens of neuroscientist Antonio Damasio's three-tiered framework, it is clear that future conceptualizations of the cancer survivor's unique self within occupational science must transcend Cartesian dualism by turning to a third level—the core self—that acts as a bridge between the physical body and the conscious mind. Ultimately, the authors suggest that through mindful engagement in everyday occupations, cancer survivors may unlock the core self and enjoy enhanced quality of life.
Strategies for Hemodialysis Access: Where to Start, Where to Go Next

Complications of vascular access are the most common cause of hospitalization for patients with end stage renal disease. Physicians involved in the placement and maintenance of hemodialysis access must have a long-term strategy for sequential placement of autogenous fistulas and synthetic grafts to preserve limited access sites. Although many principles involving hemodialysis access surgery are widely accepted, significant controversies exist regarding optimal access strategies. Autogenous access is generally preferred over prosthetic grafts. The nondominant upper extremity is the preferred site of initial access. Cuffed catheters are discouraged for long-term vascular access unless no other options are present. Recent advances in forearm, upper arm, and femoral venous transpositions have facilitated the performance of increased numbers of autogenous access procedures. Nevertheless, substantial numbers of patients on chronic hemodialysis require prosthetic arteriovenous grafts. Although the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative of the National Kidney Foundation has provided general guidelines for access creation, considerable controversy remains regarding the optimal choice of prosthetic graft material and configuration. We present a strategy for the sequential placement of arteriovenous fistulas, venous transpositions, and arteriovenous grafts to guide the surgeon in the management of these often challenging patients.
The intrinsic linear polarization of 53 Camelopardalis and alpha 2 Canum Venaticorum

The intrinsic phase-dependent linear polarization of two magnetic Ap stars is studied. The polarization characteristics in a broad blue filter band and in the ultraviolet are outlined, and the mechanisms of polarization are examined. The blue band polarization of 53 Cam (corrected by removing the stellar component) is found to be compatible with an oblique rotator whose angular parameters are in essential agreement with those deduced by Landstreet (1970) and by Huchra (1972).
Meeting Koch’s postulates for calcium signaling in cardiac hypertrophy

In 1890, a country doctor in Germany revolutionized our thinking of human disease. The challenge of the day was to identify specific bacterial agents that were responsible for major disease outbreaks. Robert Koch, after careful study of disease epidemics from around the world, forged the precepts that unequivocally establish causality for a single infectious agent in the onset of a distinct disease (1). These “postulates” stated that: (a) the agent should be present in every case of the disease; (b) the agent must be isolated from the diseased host and grown in vitro; (c) the disease must be reproduced when the agent is delivered to a susceptible host; and (d) the agent should be recovered from the diseased animals. Koch’s postulates formed the intellectual cornerstone for the next century of advances in microbiology and ultimately led to the discovery of the infectious basis for anthrax, cholera, and tuberculosis. In recognition of these seminal contributions, Robert A. Koch was awarded the 1905 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. As we enter a new century, it is becoming increasingly clear that the power of Koch’s logic has extended beyond the boundaries of bacterial diseases. Although his views were based on the inoculation of agents involved in infectious diseases, the clarity of his thinking continues to guide a new generation of scientists who are using germline transmission in the mouse to establish causality for specific genes and pathways in the etiology of complex, acquired human heart diseases. In this regard, the current article by Passier and colleagues is a valuable step toward fulfilling Koch’s postulates, underscoring the potential importance of calcium signaling pathways in cardiac hypertrophy and failure (2). Alterations in calcium handling have long been known to be closely associated with the onset of cardiac hypertrophy and failure. However, only recently has there been substantial evidence to support the notion that these changes in calcium might underlie pathways that contribute to the progression of either cardiac hypertrophy or failure. The discovery of calcium-calmodulin‐dependent protein kinases (3) and the subsequent identification of their critical role in neuronal cell signaling (4) laid the groundwork for a critical examination of the role of CaM kinase‐dependent signaling in in vitro cultured cardiac myocyte models of hypertrophy (5). By utilizing reporter genes that are activated during the hypertrophic response, it was subsequently shown that the δ isoform of CaM kinase II, which is translocated into the nucleus and is the predominant form of CaM kinase in the
Experimental dependence of resonant tunnel diode current on accumulation layer band profiles

Accurate predictive modeling and control of the negative differential conductance region of resonant tunnel diodes are important for their use in microwave circuit applications. Present ballistic transport models give much smaller currents in the negative differential conductance region than are measured for GaAs/AlAs devices. While an accumulation of charge in the cathode spacer just outside the barrier is necessary to produce a voltage drop across the structure, these models neglect the themialization of charge into this layer and its contribution to the current. We demonstrate the dependence of resonant tunnel diode characteristics on spacer accumulation layer band profiles by comparing a control sample with a sample which has an InGaAs "prewell" in the cathode spacer layer. The prewell sample has a relative valley or excess current that is reduced by 38 percent, on average, compared to the control sample.
Mastery and sexuality: Hegel's dialectic in Sartre and post-freudian psychology

Man seeks to master nature. Man seeks domination over man. Both technology and war bring mixed blessings even when technology triumphs and war is won. The mixed blessings of mastery have prompted philosophers to reflect on the dynamics of conflict. Hegel saw the dialectics of the master-slave relationship as essential to the development of consciousness. Yet those of us who count ourselves conscious may doubt that we have ever experienced the life and death struggle for mastery which Hegel regarded as essential to the development of our consicousness. Hegel's claim that "it is solely by risking life that freedom is obtained" may seem implausible to those of us who count ourselves free citizens in a civilized society far removed from the state of nature described by Hobbes. Why can't freedom simply accrue to any person born in a civilized society? And if the life and death struggle was fought only by our forefathers, then isn't Hegel's analysis ofthe master-slave relationship irrelevant to the development of consciousness in civilized society? Sartre seems to render Hegel's analysis more relevant by casting what appears to be the same master-slave dialectic in the context of sexual relations. While the subject of Hegel's anlaysis seems ambiguous, or at least problematic?World-Spirit in general, or individual consciousness, or perhaps only precivilized individual consciousness?Sartre addresses himself explicitly to any and all sexual relationships. Accoding to Sartre's reading of the master-slave dialectic in the context of sexual relationships, however, conflict is not only genetically fundamental to the structure of human relationships; it is final and irreconcilable. Sexual love is a project doomed to failure. While remaining sympathetic toward Sartre's attempt to show that the master-slave dialectic does indeed relate to the concrete existence of contemporary readers, I shall argue that Sartre's pessimism is not justified. I
An answer to Lucretius' symmetry argument against the fear of death

L'A. propose une refutation du celebre argument epicurien contre la crainte de la mort, qui ne doit «rien etre pour nous»: quand nous sommes, elle n'est pas, et quand elle est, nous ne sommes plus. L'A. utilise l'idee de privation de vie pour relever la valeur legitimement rationnelle de cette crainte
The reconstruction of thermo-chemical scalars in combustion from a reduced set of their principal components

Abstract We compare two reconstruction approaches for thermo-chemical scalars (TCSs) in turbulent combustion using principal component analysis. The first approach is based on the inversion of the linear relation between the TCSs and their principal components (PCs). The second is based on a regression of TCSs with a reduced set of the PCs using artificial neural networks. The study is based on one-dimensional turbulence simulation data of Sandia Flame F. We find that regression potentially offers superior reconstruction to the inversion expression when a truncated set of the original PCs is used.