cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CO-ED: a development platform for interactive patient education

The aim of this project was construction of a universal platform for rapid development of interactive computer-based health education programs. Pocket PC was used to pilot test the platform and to implement two educational curricula: for asthma and anticoagulant therapy. Qualitative analysis of the system acceptance in 46 patients showed that computer-assisted education can be successfully implemented on the basis of a handheld computer.
Rapid fast-mapping abilities in 2-year-olds

Abstract Learning a new word consists of two primary tasks that have often been conflated into a single process: referent selection, in which a child must determine the correct referent of a novel label, and referent retention, which is the ability to store this newly formed label–object mapping in memory for later use. In addition, children must be capable of performing these tasks rapidly and repeatedly as they are frequently exposed to novel words during the course of natural conversation. Here we used a preferential pointing task to investigate 2-year-olds’ (N = 72) ability to infer the referent of a novel noun from a single ambiguous exposure and their ability to retain this mapping over time. Children were asked to identify the referent of a novel label on six critical trials distributed throughout the course of a 10-min study involving many familiar and novel objects. On these critical trials, images of a known object and a novel object (e.g., a ball and a nameless artifact constructed in the laboratory) appeared on two computer screens and a voice asked children to “point at the _____ [e.g., glark].” Following label onset, children were allowed only 3 s during which to infer the correct referent, point at it, and potentially store this new word–object mapping. In a final posttest trial, all previously labeled novel objects appeared and children were asked to point to one of them (e.g., “Can you find the glark?”). To succeed, children needed to have initially mapped the novel labels correctly and retained these mappings over the course of the study. Despite the difficult demands of the current task, children successfully identified the target object on the retention trial. We conclude that 2-year-olds are able to fast map novel nouns during a brief single exposure under ambiguous labeling conditions.
Differentiated multimedia Web services using quality aware transcoding

The ability of a Web service to provide low-latency access to its contents is constrained by available network bandwidth. It is important for the service to manage available bandwidth wisely. While providing differentiated quality of service (QoS) is typically enforced through network mechanisms, in this paper we introduce a robust mechanism for managing network resources at the application level. We use transcoding to allow Web servers to customize the size of objects constituting a Web page, and hence the bandwidth consumed by that page, by dynamically varying the size of multimedia objects on a per-client basis. We leverage earlier work on characterizing quality versus size tradeoffs in transcoding JPEG images to dynamically determine the quality and size of the object to transmit. We evaluate the performance benefits of incorporating this information in a series of bandwidth management policies. We develop metrics to measure the performance of our system. We use realistic workloads and access scenarios to drive our system. The principal contribution of this work is the demonstration that it is possible to use informed transcoding techniques to provide differentiated service and to dynamically allocate available bandwidth among different client classes, while delivering a high degree of information content (quality factor) for all clients.
hnRNP H and hnRNP F Complex with Fox2 To Silence Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 Exon IIIc

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H (hnRNP) family of proteins has been shown to activate exon inclusion by binding intronic G triplets. Much less is known, however, about how hnRNP H and hnRNP F silence exons. In this study, we identify hnRNP H and hnRNP F proteins as being novel silencers of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 exon IIIc. In cells that normally include this exon, we show that the overexpression of either hnRNP H1 or hnRNP F resulted in the dramatic silencing of exon IIIc. In cells that normally skip exon IIIc, skipping was disrupted when RNA interference was used to knock down both hnRNP H and hnRNP F. We show that an exonic GGG motif overlapped a critical exonic splicing enhancer, which was predicted to bind the SR protein ASF/SF2. Furthermore, the expression of ASF/SF2 reversed the silencing of exon IIIc caused by the expression of hnRNP H1. We show that hnRNP H and hnRNP F proteins are present in a complex with Fox2 and that the presence of Fox allows hnRNP H1 to better compete with ASF/SF2 for binding to exon IIIc. These results establish hnRNP H and hnRNP F as being repressors of exon inclusion and suggest that Fox proteins enhance their ability to antagonize ASF/SF2.
Using maximum weight to redefine body mass index categories in studies of the mortality risks of obesity.

The high prevalence of disease and associated weight loss at older ages limits the validity of prospective cohort studies examining the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality. I examined mortality associated with excess weight using maximum BMI—a measure that is robust to confounding by illness-induced weight loss. Analyses were carried out on US never-smoking adults ages 50-84 using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (1988-1994 and 1999-2004) linked to the National Death Index through 2006. Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios for mortality according to BMI at time of survey and at maximum. Using maximum BMI, hazard ratios for overweight (BMI, 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), obese class 1 (BMI, 30.0-34.9 kg/m2) and obese class 2 (BMI, 35.0 kg/m2 and above) relative to normal weight (BMI, 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) were 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-1.84), 1.67 (95% CI, 1.15-2.40), and 2.15 (95% CI, 1.47-3.14), respectively. The corresponding hazard ratios using BMI at time of survey were 0.98 (95% CI, 0.77-1.24), 1.18 (95% CI, 0.91-1.54), and 1.31 (95% CI, 0.95-1.81). The percentage of mortality attributable to overweight and obesity among never-smoking adults ages 50-84 was 33% when assessed using maximum BMI. The comparable figure obtained using BMI at time of survey was substantially smaller at 5%. The discrepancy in estimates is explained by the fact that when using BMI at time of survey, the normal category combines low-risk stable-weight individuals with high-risk individuals that have experienced weight loss. In contrast, only the low-risk stable-weight group is categorized as normal weight using maximum BMI. Use of maximum BMI reveals that estimates based on BMI at the time of survey may substantially underestimate the mortality burden associated with excess weight in the US.
Mapping public and private spaces of urban agriculture in Chicago through the analysis of high-resolution aerial images in Google Earth

Although always a part of city life, urban agriculture has recently attracted increased attention from diverse groups in the United States, which promote it as a strategy for stimulating economic development, increasing food security and access, and combatting obesity and diabetes, among other goals. Developing effective policies and programs at the city or neighborhood level demands as a first step the accurate mapping of existing urban agriculture sites. Mapping efforts in major U.S. cities have been limited in their focus and methodology. Focusing on public sites of food production, such as community gardens, they have overlooked the actual and potential contribution of private spaces, including home food gardens, to local food systems. This paper describes a case study of urban agriculture in Chicago which used the manual analysis of high-resolution aerial images in Google Earth in conjunction with ArcGIS to identify and map public and private spaces of food production. The resulting spatial dataset demonstrates that urban agriculture is an extensive land use type with wide variations in the distribution of sites across the city. Only 13% of sites reported to be community gardening projects by nongovernment organizations and government agencies were determined, through image analysis, to be sites of food production. The production area of home gardens identified by the study is almost threefold that of community gardens. Study results suggest opportunities may exist for scaling up existing production networks—including home food gardens—and enhancing community food sovereignty by leveraging local knowledges of urban agriculture.
Investigating arsenic susceptibility from a genetic perspective in Drosophila reveals a key role for glutathione synthetase

Chronic exposure to arsenic-contaminated drinking water can lead to a variety of serious pathological outcomes. However, differential responsiveness within human populations suggests that interindividual genetic variation plays an important role. We are using Drosophila to study toxic metal response pathways because of unrivalled access to varied genetic approaches and significant demonstrable overlap with many aspects of mammalian physiology and disease phenotypes. Genetic analysis (via chromosomal segregation and microsatellite marker-based recombination) of various wild-type strains exhibiting relative susceptibility or tolerance to the lethal toxic effects of arsenite identified a limited X-chromosomal region (16D-F) able to confer a differential response phenotype. Using an FRT-based recombination approach, we created lines harboring small, overlapping deficiencies within this region and found that relative arsenite sensitivity arose when the dose of the glutathione synthetase (GS) gene (located at 16F1) was reduced by half. Knockdown of GS expression by RNA interference (RNAi) in cultured S2 cells led to enhanced arsenite sensitivity, while GS RNAi applied to intact organisms dramatically reduced the concentration of food-borne arsenite compatible with successful growth and development. Our analyses, initially guided by observations on naturally occurring variants, provide genetic proof that an optimally functioning two-step glutathione (GSH) biosynthetic pathway is required in vivo for a robust defense against arsenite; the enzymatic implications of this are discussed in the context of GSH supply and demand under arsenite-induced stress. Given an identical pathway for human GSH biosynthesis, we suggest that polymorphisms in GSH biosynthetic genes may be an important contributor to differential arsenic sensitivity and exposure risk in human populations.
Socio-sexual education: a practical study in formal thinking and teachable moments

Sex education is almost as sensitive a topic in public schooling as is the imposition of high-stakes testing. Both typically claim to be value-free contributions to the development of the student's cognitive, psychological and sometimes even moral maturity. Ironically each seems to short-change students in all three areas of development. The focus of attention in this article is that sex education represents an extraordinary ‘teachable moment’ to show students the effectiveness of the most modern tools for solving problems; namely, game theory and decision theory more generally. The fruitfulness of these teachable moments is not limited to game theory and decision theory alone. However, if these teachable moments can be utilized in highly mathematized fields, there is no doubt an abundance of teachable moments potentially bringing other disciplines together in seamless fashion with sex education as well. In principle, sex education addresses issues students will confront daily for the rest of their lives....
Laminar flame speeds and kinetic modeling of hydrogen/chlorine combustion

Abstract In this study, laminar flame speeds at atmospheric pressure are accurately measured for H2/Cl2/N2 mixtures at different equivalence ratios and N2 mole fractions by the counterflow flame technique. A kinetic mechanism based on recently published and evaluated rate constants is developed to model these measured laminar flame speeds as well as the literature data on the concentrations of H2, Cl2, and HCl species in flat-burner flames and the ignition delay times from shock tube experiments. The kinetic model yields satisfactory comparison with these experimental data, and suggests that the reactions involving excited HCl(v) species and energy branching are not of substantial significance in combustion situations, and that the use of accurate elementary rate constants is instead crucial to the accuracy of the reaction mechanism.
Spectrophotometric Evaluation of Potassium Nitrate Penetration Into the Pulp Cavity

Clinical Relevance The tooth is permeable to potassium nitrate–containing formulations with an application time of 30 minutes.
Literacy transforms speech production.

Traditionally, literacy, and speech production have been investigated separately. Studies of development demonstrate that children are able to meet the challenge of language learning across modalities, and that adults may experience difficulties in one or both modalities. Yet, it is rare to find a conceptual connection between these two processes. I argue that speaking and reading actually share important mechanisms. Specifically, orthographic characteristics of written words influence spoken as well as written language, as indicated by measures of both explicit and implicit language processing. These effects can be quantified by examining speech movement variability. An important question regarding both limb and speech motor variability is whether it is interpreted as facilitating or inhibiting the process of learning. New lines of research may explore this question by quantifying the depth of learning when stimuli are produced with greater stability or greater variability. The developmental progressions of speaking and reading also contain important parallels, which are manifest differently in individuals with varying degrees of language and reading skills. This is an important and timely issue, as it can promote theoretical accounts of language processing and respond to the clinical reality that many individuals demonstrate both spoken and written language difficulties.
The Duke of Zhou's Retirement in the East and the Beginnings of the Ministerial-Monarch Debate in Chinese Political Philosophy

Virtually all Chinese historians, past and present, have viewed the Duke of Zhou as a paragon of the virtuous minister. However, in traditional Chinese sources concerning the Duke of Zhou there is also a distinct negative undercurrent, several texts recording that the Duke “resided in the east” in contexts implying that he went into a sort of exile. Given this ambivalence in the history and traditions regarding the Duke of Zhou, the author examines two chapters of the Book of Documents: the “Shao gao” or “Announcement of the Duke of Shao” and the “Jun Shi” or “Lord Shi.” He posits that these two chapters represent two sides of a debate over political theory and governance. The “Jun Shi,” a speech by the Duke of Zhou to the Duke of Shao, expounds a political theory that privileges ministers over kings. The “Shao gao,” on the other hand, is an address by the Duke of Shao to the Duke of Zhou in which the Duke of Shao resolutely supports the king's prerogative to rule as the “eldest son” of Heaven. This debate between the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao was but the first instance of a tension that would continue to occupy statesmen and political theorists throughout Chinese history: between the power of the king or emperor and that of his ministers. While, in later times, neither side was ever able long to maintain supremacy in this debate, in the early Western Zhou the Duke of Shao almost certainly prevailed; shortly after the Duke of Shao made the address contained in the “Shao gao,” the Duke of Zhou first relinquished power to King Cheng and then, somewhat later, went into exile or retreat, never again to play a central role in Western Zhou government.
A Systematic Approach to Analyzing Voting Terminal Event Logs

This paper presents a systematic approach to automating the analysis of event logs recorded by the electronic voting tabulators in the course of an election. An attribute context-free grammar is used to specify the language of the event logs, and to distinguish compliant event logs (those that adhere to the defined proper conduct of an election) and non-compliant logs (those that deviate from the expected sequence of events). The attributes provide additional means for semantic analysis of the event logs by enforcing constraints on the timing of events and repetitions of events. The system is implemented with the help of commodity tools for lexical analysis and parsing of the logs. The system was rigorously tested against several thousand event logs collected in real elections in the State of Connecticut. The approach based on an attribute grammar proved to be superior to a previous approach that used state machine specifications. The new system is substantially easier to refine and maintain due to the very intuitive top-down specification. An unexpected benefit is the discovery of revealing and previously unknown deficiencies and defects in the event log recording systems of a widely used optical scan tabulator.
Arabidopsis CML38, a Calcium Sensor That Localizes to Ribonucleoprotein Complexes under Hypoxia Stress

During waterlogging and the associated oxygen deprivation stress, plants respond by the induction of adaptive programs, including the redirected expression of gene networks toward the synthesis of core hypoxia-response proteins. Among these core response proteins in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is the calcium sensor CML38, a protein related to regulator of gene silencing calmodulin-like proteins (rgsCaMs). CML38 transcripts are up-regulated more than 300-fold in roots within 6 h of hypoxia treatment. Transfer DNA insertional mutants of CML38 show an enhanced sensitivity to hypoxia stress, with lowered survival and more severe inhibition of root and shoot growth. By using yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) translational fusions, CML38 protein was found to be localized to cytosolic granule structures similar in morphology to hypoxia-induced stress granules. Immunoprecipitation of CML38 from the roots of hypoxia-challenged transgenic plants harboring CML38pro::CML38:YFP followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of protein targets associated with messenger RNA ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes including stress granules, which are known to accumulate as messenger RNA storage and triage centers during hypoxia. This finding is further supported by the colocalization of CML38 with the mRNP stress granule marker RNA Binding Protein 47 (RBP47) upon cotransfection of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Ruthenium Red treatment results in the loss of CML38 signal in cytosolic granules, suggesting that calcium is necessary for stress granule association. These results confirm that CML38 is a core hypoxia response calcium sensor protein and suggest that it serves as a potential calcium signaling target within stress granules and other mRNPs that accumulate during flooding stress responses.
Voluntarily ingested sodium chloride as a lymphagogue in the rat.

SummaryA comparison is made of the rates of thoracic duct lymph flow in un-anaesthetized male rats maintained under the experimental conditions of fasting and feeding, with free access to either water or 1% NaCl solution.2. Thoracic duct lymph flow is at a low level in the fasted animal with free access to water. The rate of flow is increased by feeding or access to 1% NaCl solution. The rate of flow in the fed animal with free access to 1% NaCl is increased appreciably over that of the controls, and out of proportion to any hitherto employed method for voluntarily increasing lymph flow in the otherwise normal animal. In some instances, the lymph flow of the NaCl treated animal exceeded the body weight of the animal in a 24-hour period.3. Alternation of periods of access to water and saline solution produced corresponding low and high rates of lymph flow in the fed animals.
The Growth of Submicron Eutectic Thin Film Structures

As the minimum dimension of electronic circuits is reduced below one micron, there has been increased interest in developing techniques for fabricating submicron structures. Pb-Sn, Cd-Pb and Al-Al 2Cu eutectic thin films were directionally solidified at rates between.0015 cm/sec and.15 cm/sec with both a lamp and a laser heat source to fabricate fault free submicron periodic structures. A transition from lamellar to cellular structures with increasing solidification rate was observed with a thermal gradient of 200°C/cm applied with the lamp heat source. Cells did not form with the increased thermal gradient produced by the laser heat source, 8000° C/cm. Spacings as fine as.1 micron were observed in the Cd-Pb eutectic. A maximum theoretical growth rate was estimated which corresponds to a spacing of 80A.
Application of Multiple Scattering Theory to Surfaces and Extended Defects

This article presents a brief overview of applications of multiple scattering theory to surfaces and extended defects. Discussion is given of some key issues and their practical status, and this discussion is related to the papers in the session which covered this topic at Symposium V.
Analysis of 2182 adverse drug reactions / events cases of Bozhou in 2011

Objective To investigate the characteristics adverse drug reaction /event in Bozhou in 2011s,to provide reference for clinical safe,effective,rational use of drug,and to evaluate report quality of adverse drug reaction / incident. Methods Excel spreadsheet was adopted for screening and statistical analyies,according to sex and age of patients,drug adverse reactions,clinical manifestation,and route of administration. Results Among patients over 60 years and older adverse event rate was high( 29. 29%). Adverse drug reaction / event involving drugs were mainly anti microbial medicine( 59. 88%). The route of administration by intravenous drug use accounted for the largest proportion( 84. 51%). The most common clinical manifestations were damages to skin and its appendages( 46. 49%). Conclusions We should strengthen the adverse drug reaction /event monitoring work,make rational use of antimicrobial agents,to ensure the clinical safe,effective,and rational drug use.
30. Exstirpation von Metastasen

Seventy-two lung and 25 liver metastases were excised after radical local removal of the primary tumor. The 5-year survival rate was 41% and the 10-year survival rate 22% for patients in whom lung metastases had been excised. After the removal of liver metastases the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 36% and 29% respectively. It is concluded that lung or liver metastases should be excised in certain defined cases. Pathologic fractures caused by bone metastases are stabilized by palliative internal fixation. In the cases of bone metastases, cure can only be expected when they are caused by hypernephroid and thyroid carcinomas.
Incision of the Ureterovesical Junction for Endoscopic Surveillance of Transitional Cell Cancer of the Upper Urinary Tract

AbstractUreteroscopy for treatment of upper tract transitional cell cancer is complicated by the need for subsequent outpatient, anesthesia-based, surveillance ureteroscopy to detect recurrent tumors. We report on 2 patients with ureteroscopically treated renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma in whom the ureteral tunnel was incised. By rendering the ureterovesical junction incompetent, we created a widely patent refluxing ureteral orifice. During the last 2 years we have been able to perform repeatedly office-based flexible surveillance ureteroscopy without fluoroscopy and without oral or parenteral analgesics in both patients.
The relationship between fibromyalgia and temporomandibular disorders : Prevalence and symptom severity

Objective To determine the prevalence of muscular or myofascial temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in fibromyalgia (FM) and the prevalence of FM in TMD; and to determine which characteristics best distinguish the 2 disorders. Methods 39 consecutive patients with TMD seen in a TMD clinic and 60 patients with FM were examined according to Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for TMD and the American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia. All patients completed the questionnaires of the RDC and a health status instrument that assessed pain, function, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and psychological status (CLINHAQ). Results A small proportion of patients with TMD (18.4%) also had FM, but most of those with FM (75.0%) satisfied criteria for muscular (myofascial) TMD. Patients with FM had lower pain thresholds and more severe manifestations of all disease measures (e.g., pain, fatigue, sleep, etc.) compared to those with TMD. As might be predicted, they also had more painful body regions. Patients with FM also differed significantly from those with TMD in self-reported work ability and health assessment. The features that best differentiate FM from TMD are functional disability, reports of work difficulty, and general dissatisfaction with health. Conclusion TMD is a local disorder and FM a generalized disorder, and there is less evidence of distress in those with TMD. TMD is a separate disorder from FM, but many patients with FM have TMD symptoms.
Human Factor IX Expression and Hemophilia Phenotypic Correction in Mice: A Comparison of AAV Serotypes.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has been extensively studied as a vector for hemophilia gene transfer. AAV serotype 2 targeting the liver and skeletal muscle has been used in clinical trials for hemophilia B patients. Previously we reported that the use of recombinant non-AAV2 serotype vectors generated persistent expression of supra-normal levels of canine factor IX (cFIX) in immunodeficient mice (Mol Ther ‘2000), and resulted in sustained and complete hemophilia B phenotype correction in immune competent hemophilia B mice (Mol Ther ‘2001). In those studies AAV serotypes 1–5 were tested by intramuscular injection. In this study we tested rAAV serotypes 1–8 for hepatic transduction and FIX production in both C57BL/6 and FIX knockout mice. Animals received intrapotal vein injection of 1x1011 virion particles of rAAV 1 thru 8 carrying a human FIX cDNA linked to a chicken beta actin enhancer-CMV promoter and bovine growth hormone polyA. Animals were followed for 8 months and assessed for plasma levels of human FIX by ELISA. A rapid, sustained and maximal rate of hFIX expression was observed within 1–2 weeks with all vectors except AAV2 where the peak expression occurred at 8–10 weeks. hFIX expression was sustained for all serotyped vectors (n=5 animals tested at each AAV serotype). Animals that received serotypes 7 and 8 maintained hFIX at physiological levels (100% hFIX ~ 5000 ng/ml). A differential hFIX expression pattern emerged with rAAV7 (6213 ng/ml) > 8 (5111 ng/ml) > 5 (2367 ng/ml) > 1 (1090 ng/ml) > 4 (377 ng/ml) > 2 (314 ng/ml) > 3 (232 ng/ml). rAAV7 and rAAV8 generated 20 times more hFIX per virion particle than the rAAV2 vector. We did not detect anti-human FIX antibody in any of the experimental mice. To assess why hFIX production differed between each serotype we performed immunohistochemical staining of the mouse liver using a fluorescent-tagged anti-human FIX antibody. Based on this assay, rAAV7 and AAV8 transduced 30% of hepatocytes while rAAV2 transduced less than 2% of the hepatocytes. We subsequently tested FIX production and effect on hemophilia phenotype of rAAV 7 and 8 (1x1011 virion particles) in hemophilia B mice; the data was similar to that observed using the C57Bl/6 mice. Human FIX levels (>5000 ng/ml) were again sustained during the 6–8 month observation period. No anti-human FIX antibody was detected in these hemophilia B mice. Results of clotting function by aPTT testing demonstrated a normalization of clotting time in all the rAA8/hFIX treated hemophilia mice. Survival of all treated mice by tail clip (lethal for all non-treated knockout animals) confirmed that phenotypic correction had been achieved. Our results again demonstrate that AAV serotypes have differential transduction rates and that new serotypes with greater mouse hepatocyte transduction rates are more efficient for hemophilia gene transfer.
Tilted Dirac Cones in Two Dimensions

Low symmetries of a crystal structure could allow the energy dispersion to exhibit Weyl fermions with several different velocities. The quasi-two-dimensional organic semiconductor \(\alpha \)-(BEDT-TTF)\(_2\)I\(_3\) has an anisotropic linear dispersion with a zero energy gap near its Fermi level. Since the density of states vanishes at the Fermi level, the Coulomb interaction is unscreened and long-ranged. We study the effect of the long-range Coulomb interaction and the low-energy behavior of the two-dimensional Weyl/Dirac fermions with tilted energy dispersion. The renormalization group analysis within nonrelativistic scheme reveals that the nearly logarithmic enhancement of the velocity parameters reshapes the tilted Dirac cones and changes the low-energy behavior. The suppression of the spin susceptibility at low temperatures is calculated theoretically, which well explains an NMR experiment. By taking into account of the relativistic effect, we observe the recovery of the isotropic Dirac cone and the Lorentz invariance in the low-energy limit, accompanying the Cherenkov radiation. This result applies even when the Dirac cone is strongly tilted and the velocity is negative in one direction.
Patterns of Care and Treatment Outcomes of Elderly Patients with Stage I Esophageal Cancer: Analysis of the National Cancer Data Base

Abstract Introduction This study analyzes practice patterns, treatment-related mortality, survival, and predictors thereof in elderly patients with early-stage esophageal cancer (EC). Methods The National Cancer Data Base was queried for cT1-2 N0 EC in patients 80 years of age and older. Patients were divided into four treatment groups: observation (Obs), chemoradiotherapy (CRT), local excision (LE), and esophagectomy (Eso). Patient, tumor, and treatment parameters were extracted and compared. Analyses were performed on overall survival (OS) and postoperative 30- and 90-day mortality. Results A total of 923 patients from 2004 to 2012 were analyzed. Of these, 43% underwent clinical Obs, 22% underwent CRT, 25% underwent LE, and 10% underwent Eso. Patients undergoing Obs were older, had more comorbidities, were treated at nonacademic centers, and lived 25 miles or less from the facility. Patients receiving an operation (Eso or LE) were more often younger, male, white, and in the top income quartile. The postoperative 30-day mortality rates in the LE and Eso groups were 1.3% and 9.6%, respectively ( p p p p p p Conclusions There are noteworthy demographic, socioeconomic, and regional disparities influencing management of elderly patients with stage I EC. Despite high rates of Obs, careful consideration of all local therapy options is warranted, given the improved outcomes with treatment.
Commentary on Larsen

How does Plato draw the line between perceiving and reasoning? According to Peter Larsen, he gives perception only the power to perceive isolated proper perceptibles, and treats all other cognitive operations as reasoning. I show problems for this interpretation. I argue that in the Republic , non-rational cognition—perception, either on its own, or perhaps augmented by other non-rational powers Plato does not specify, along the lines of Aristotle’s φαντασία (appearance or imagination)—can generate complex cognitions. Reason’s job is not to integrate the raw data of perception into a coherent experience, for we can do that without reason. Instead reason’s job is to question, criticize and correct non-rational experience. I argue that there are grounds for detecting a similar doctrine in the Theaetetus as well.
Sexual and urinary dysfunction following laparoscopic total mesorectal excision in male patients: A prospective study

Aims: Even with the use of nerve-sparing techniques, there is a risk of bladder and sexual dysfunction after total mesorectal excision (TME). Laparoscopic TME is believed to improve this autonomic nerve dysfunction, but this is not demonstrated conclusively in the literature. In Indian patients generally, the stage at which the patients present is late and presumably the risk of autonomic nerve injury is more; however, there is no published data in this respect. Materials and Methods: This prospective study in male patients who underwent laparoscopic TME evaluated the bladder and sexual dysfunction using objective standardised scores, measuring residual urine and post-voided volume. The International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function score were used respectively to assess the bladder and sexual dysfunction preoperatively at 1, 3, 6 months and at 1 year. Results: Mean age of the study group was 58 years. After laparoscopic TME in male patients, the moderate to severe bladder dysfunction (IPSS Conclusion: After laparoscopic TME, bladder dysfunction is seen in one-fifth of the patients, which recovers in the next 6 months to 1 year. Sexual dysfunction is observed in 75% of patients immediately after TME which improves to 55% over 9.2 months.
Person, Process, Choice: The Psychology of New Venture Creation:

Psychology can be distinguished from other behavioral sciences by its emphasis on the behavior of the individual person. Behavior, in turn, is influenced by the way in which the external world is r...
Distributed Rate Control for High Reliability in Poisson Bipolar Networks

Reliable communication is a key requirement in wireless networks. For ad hoc networks, satisfying this requirement is challenging due to the interference caused by uncoordinated concurrent transmissions. In this regard, we provide a simple distributed way for a transmitter to meet the target reliability in an interference-limited network. Specifically, for the Poisson bipolar network with Rayleigh fading, we propose a method for a transmitter to decide on its rate (or, equivalently, the signal-to-interference ratio threshold) such that each link in the network achieves a certain reliability. Here the distributed means that the transmitter only knows the distance from its receiver to the nearest interferer and the fading statistics. Based on this local information, we present a semi-heuristic approach to find the distribution of the signal-to- interference ratio (SIR) threshold corresponding to the total interference power from all interferers. For this purpose, we use the property of the interference that it follows a stable distribution for the standard path loss model. We show that the SIR threshold follows the Weibull distribution.
Fucosyltransferase Induction during Influenza Virus Infection Is Required for the Generation of Functional Memory CD4+ T Cells.

T cells mediating influenza viral control are instructed in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues to differentiate into memory T cells that confer protective immunity. The mechanisms by which influenza virus–specific memory CD4 + T cells arise have been attributed to changes in transcription factors, cytokines and cytokine receptors, and metabolic programming. The molecules involved in these biosynthetic pathways, including proteins and lipids, are modified to varying degrees of glycosylation, fucosylation, sialation, and sulfation, which can alter their function. It is currently unknown how the glycome enzymatic machinery regulates CD4 + T cell effector and memory differentiation. In a murine model of influenza virus infection, we found that fucosyltransferase enzymatic activity was induced in effector and memory CD4 + T cells. Using CD4 + T cells deficient in the Fut4/7 enzymes that are expressed only in hematopoietic cells, we found decreased frequencies of effector cells with reduced expression of T-bet and NKG2A/C/E in the lungs during primary infection. Furthermore, Fut4/7 −/− effector CD4 + T cells had reduced survival with no difference in proliferation or capacity for effector function. Although Fut4/7 −/− CD4 + T cells seeded the memory pool after primary infection, they failed to form tissue-resident cells, were dysfunctional, and were unable to re-expand after secondary infection. Our findings highlight an important regulatory axis mediated by cell-intrinsic fucosyltransferase activity in CD4 + T cell effectors that ensure the development of functional memory CD4 + T cells.
Parents and Children

Erik Erikson (1963) proposed a theory of psychosocial development that has come to be known as one of the few personality theories adequately addressing the question of how adults change after passing through adolescence. The primary issues described by Erikson for adults to grapple with are identity, intimacy, generativity, and ego integrity. As one of these four primary issues, generativity remains one of the most intriguing and resistant to rigorous study. Generativity, simply defined, refers to productivity in the realms of family and work and a sense of caring for future generations (Erikson & Erikson, 1981). There are huge bodies of literature in the social sciences within both of these realms that should have the potential to answer questions concerning the development of generativity in adulthood. However, because generativity is such a broad concept, it has not lent itself well to the kinds of test materials that would be acceptable in most empirical investigations. The closest approximation to the study of generativity has been made by George Vaillant, who saw this issue as crucial to psychological adaptation in middle adulthood (Vaillant, 1977; Vaillant & Milofsky, 1981). Vaillant’s results concerning the adaptive value of achieving the state of generativity in middle life lend support to Erikson’s theory.
Establishment of a patient-centered communication course to address curricular gaps.

Abstract Background and purpose Patient-centered communication (PCC) skills are critical to the practice of pharmacy. A gap analysis of the communication content of our curriculum revealed inadequate coverage of several competencies recommended by a National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation – National Community Pharmacy Association – Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education joint task force report: “support patient behavior change through skills such as motivational interviewing”, “demonstrate compassion and empathy for patients”, and “solve adherence challenges created by low health literacy”. Educational activity and setting A required PCC course, heavily grounded in motivational interviewing principles, was introduced into the spring of the first professional year to address the identified curricular gaps. Activities and assessments in additional semesters were added to further develop these skills and provide accountability. Findings The course addressed the curricular gaps and was well-received by students. Students demonstrated competency in a role-play setting including improved proficiency between role-play activities. Reflections from a community pharmacy introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) demonstrate that students perceived an ability to use the skills in practice. Discussion and summary This course has been successfully established as an introduction to PCC concepts and skills for first professional year pharmacy students. Use of the skills during a community pharmacy IPPE illustrates that the class functions as a foundation on which to further develop these skills throughout the remaining didactic and experiential curricula.
Nonsurgical Management of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws Using Local Wound Care

Purpose Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a known complication of antiresorptive medications with surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nonsurgical therapy using local wound care on management of MRONJ lesions. Materials and Methods The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who presented to the University of California–Los Angeles School of Dentistry Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic for evaluation and treatment of MRONJ. The primary predictor variable was wound care score; secondary predictors were demographics (age, gender), anatomic location, primary condition, and type and time of antiresorptive treatment. Outcomes assessed were disease resolution and time to disease resolution. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Spearman correlation for continuous and ordinal variables or the χ2 test for categorical variables. Time-to-event statistics and Cox proportional hazards models were calculated; a Kaplan-Meier plot was generated to assess time to healing. Results One hundred six patients with 117 MRONJ lesions were treated using local wound care; complete disease resolution was observed 71% of lesions, with an additional 22% of lesions undergoing disease improvement. Wound care score was statistically associated with disease resolution and time to resolution, whereas demographics, anatomic site, condition, and type and time of antiresorptive treatment had no effect on resolution. Conclusion Local wound care increased the likelihood of MRONJ resolution and decreased the time to disease resolution. This strategy can be used in patients who cannot undergo surgery and should be implemented in all patients with MRONJ lesions who are managed nonsurgically.
Snow on Cholera

John Snow (1813–1858) was the son of a farmer in York, England. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a surgeon in Newcastle, who sent him when he was 18 to attend the victims of a major outbreak of cholera in the vicinity. In 1838 Snow passed his examination in London and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. He quickly made significant contributions to medical research: he participated in the development of an air pump for administering artificial respiration to newborn children unable to breathe and invented an instrument for performing thoracic surgery. He made major contributions to the new technique of anesthesia, becoming the leading specialist in London in the administration of ether, but switching to the easier-to-use chloroform when his own experimental studies convinced him of its practicality. He administered chloroform to Queen Victoria on the birth of her children, Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice. His greatest achievement was his study of cholera, which he described in his monograph “On the Mode of Communication of Cholera,” one of the classics of scientific method and a fascinating story fascinatingly written. Snow died in 1858, a relatively young man, while at work on a book entitled On Chloroform and Other Anaesthetics.
Topical Crawling for Business Intelligence

The Web provides us with a vast resource for business intelligence. However, the large size of the Web and its dynamic nature make the task of foraging appropriate information challenging. General-purpose search engines and business portals may be used to gather some basic intelligence. Topical crawlers, driven by richer contexts, can then leverage on the basic intelligence to facilitate in-depth and up-to-date research. In this paper we investigate the use of topical crawlers in creating a small document collection that helps locate relevant business entities. The problem of locating business entities is encountered when an organization looks for competitors, partners or acquisitions. We formalize the problem, create a test bed, introduce metrics to measure the performance of crawlers, and compare the results of four different crawlers. Our results underscore the importance of identifying good hubs and exploiting link contexts based on tag trees for accelerating the crawl and improving the overall results.
Representations of relativistic particles of arbitrary spin in Poincaré, Lorentz, and Euclidean covariant formulations of relativistic quantum mechanics

Background: Relativistic treatments of quantum mechanical systems are important for understanding hadronic structure and dynamics at subnucleon scales. Relativistic invariance of a quantum system means that there is an underlying unitary representation of the Poincar\'e group. This is equivalent to the requirement that the quantum observables (probabilities, expectation values, and ensemble averages) for equivalent measurements performed in different inertial reference frames are identical. Different representations are used in practice, including Poincar\'e covariant forms of dynamics, representations based on Lorentz covariant wave functions, Euclidean covariant representations, and representations generated by Lorentz covariant fields.Purpose: The purpose of this work is to illustrate the relation between the different equivalent representations of states in relativistic quantum mechanics.Method: The starting point is a description of a particle of mass $m$ and spin $j$ using irreducible representations of the Poincar\'e group. Since any unitary representation of the Poincar\'e group can be decomposed into a direct integral of irreducible representations, these are the basic building blocks of any relativistically invariant quantum theory. The equivalence is established by constructing equivalent Lorentz covariant irreducible representations from Poincar\'e covariant irreducible representations and constructing equivalent Euclidean covariant irreducible representations from Lorentz covariant irreducible representations.Results: Equivalent descriptions for positive mass representations of arbitrary spin are presented in each of these frameworks. Dynamical realizations of the different representations are briefly discussed.Conclusion: Poincar\'e covariant, Lorentz covariant, and Euclidean covariant realizations of relativistic dynamics are shown to be equivalent by explicitly relating the positive-mass positive-energy irreducible representations of the Poincar\'e group that appear in the direct integral.
The DACRON Ureter: A Case of Ureter to Aorto-Femoral Dacron Graft Fistulization

Abstract We present a case of chronic, severe, intermittent hematuria found to be associated with a ureteral to aorto-femoral bypass fistulization. The graft was directly visualized on ureteroscopy and identified as the source of hematuria during exploratory laparotomy. Ureteral fistulization is a rare etiology of hematuria. Ureteral fistulization to an arterial graft has been reported several times in past decades. However, no cases have reported direct visualization of the dacron graft on ureteroscopy.
Software engineering principles to improve quality and performance of R software.

Today’s computational researchers are expected to be highly proficient in using software to solve a wide range of problems ranging from processing large datasets to developing personalized treatment strategies from a growing range of options. Researchers are well versed in their own field, but may lack formal training and appropriate mentorship in software engineering principles. Two major themes not covered in most university coursework nor current literature are software testing and software optimization. Through a survey of all currently available Comprehensive R Archive Network packages, we show that reproducible and replicable software tests are frequently not available and that many packages do not appear to employ software performance and optimization tools and techniques. Through use of examples from an existing R package, we demonstrate powerful testing and optimization techniques that can improve the quality of any researcher’s software.