cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical thrombectomy with the penumbra system for treatment of venous sinus thrombosis.

Objective Venous sinus thrombosis can be a fatal condition. When systemic anticoagulation therapy fails or is high risk, endovascular chemical thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy may be necessary. We report our experience using the Penumbra system (PS; Penumbra, Alameda, California, USA) in a series of four patients with venous sinus thrombosis. Methods Four patients were treated with mechanical thrombectomy using the PS for venous sinus thrombosis. Three of these patients also underwent balloon angioplasty following the PS device. Utility of this technique was evaluated by procedural success, improvement in neurological condition, avoidance of complications and follow-up imaging. Results Technical success was achieved in all four patients with restoration of flow in the occluded sinuses without the use of chemical thrombolysis. No complications were encountered during the procedure and no postprocedural complications were attributable to the thrombectomy. One patient with glioblastoma died 6 weeks after the procedure. No new intracerebral hemorrhages were caused and there was no exacerbation of pretreatment intracerebral hemorrhages. Follow-up imaging was available in all but one patient to documented continued sinus patency. Neurologic improvement was seen in all patients after thrombectomy. Two patients have returned for outpatient follow-up and both are doing well. Conclusion Endovascular treatment for venous sinus thrombosis with the PS is a safe and efficacious alternative to the other forms of mechanical thrombectomy reported in the literature. Good clinical and radiographic results can be obtained without the need for chemical thrombolysis.
Including the impact of connecting vias in the performance metric evaluation for board-level optimization of decoupling capacitors

Existing decoupling capacitor optimization techniques tend to neglect the impact of via parasitics while evaluating the performance metrics. This work demonstrates that ignoring the impact of connecting vias can produce optimistic results leading to functional failure. An efficient method for including via-parasitics in the performance metric evaluation is presented for more accurate design optimization.
The Geminivirus Nuclear Shuttle Protein NSP Inhibits the Activity of AtNSI, a Vascular-Expressed Arabidopsis Acetyltransferase Regulated with the Sink-to-Source Transition

DNA viruses can suppress or enhance the activity of cellular acetyltransferases to regulate virus gene expression and to affect cell cycle progression in support of virus replication. A role for protein acetylation in regulating the nuclear export of the bipartite geminivirus (Begomovirus) DNA genome was recently suggested by the findings that the viral movement protein NSP, a nuclear shuttle protein, interacts with the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) nuclear acetyltransferase AtNSI (nuclear shuttle protein interactor), and that this interaction and NSI expression are necessary for cabbage leaf curl virus infection and pathogenicity. To further investigate the consequences of NSI-NSP interactions, and the potential role of NSI in Arabidopsis growth and development, we used a reverse yeast two-hybrid selection and deletion analysis to identify NSI mutants that failed to interact with NSP, and promoter fusions to a uidA reporter gene to analyze the pattern of NSI expression during plant development. We found that NSI self assembles into highly active enzyme complexes and that high concentrations of NSP, in the absence of viral DNA, can inhibit NSI activity in vitro. Based on our detailed analysis of three NSI missense mutants, we identified an 88-amino acid putative domain, which spans NSI residues 107 to 194, as being required for both NSI oligomerization and its interaction with NSP. Finally, we found that NSI is predominantly transcribed in vascular cells, and that its expression is developmentally regulated in a manner that resembles the sink-to-source transition. Our data indicate that NSP can inhibit NSI activity by interfering with its assembly into highly active complexes, and suggest a mechanism by which NSP can both recruit NSI to regulate nuclear export of the viral genome and down-regulate NSI activity on cellular targets, perhaps to affect cellular differentiation and favor virus replication.
It's Money! Real-World Grant Experience through a Student-Run, Peer-Reviewed Program

Grantsmanship is an integral component of surviving and thriving in academic science, especially in the current funding climate. Therefore, any additional opportunities to write, read, and review grants during graduate school may have lasting benefits on one’s career. We present here our experience with a small, student-run grant program at Georgetown University Medical Center. Founded in 2010, this program has several goals: 1) to give graduate students an opportunity to conduct small, independent research projects; 2) to encourage graduate students to write grants early and often; and 3) to give graduate students an opportunity to review grants. In the 3 yr since the program’s start, 28 applications have been submitted, 13 of which were funded for a total of $40,000. From funded grants, students have produced abstracts and manuscripts, generated data to support subsequent grant proposals, and made new professional contacts with collaborators. Above and beyond financial support, this program provided both applicants and reviewers an opportunity to improve their writing skills, professional development, and understanding of the grants process, as reflected in the outcome measures presented. With a small commitment of time and funding, other institutions could implement a program like this to the benefit of their graduate students.
Magnetization transfer imaging and proton MR spectroscopy in the evaluation of axonal injury: correlation with clinical outcome after traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Current imaging does not permit quantification of neural injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and therefore limits both the development of new treatments and the appropriate counseling of patients concerning prognosis. We evaluated the utility of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and proton MR spectroscopy in identifying patients with neuronal injury after TBI. METHODS: Thirty patients with TBI (21–77 years old; mean age, 42 years; admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GOS) scores 3–15; mean score, 11) were studied on a 1.5-T system with magnetization transfer imaging and MR spectroscopy of the splenium. Magnetization transfer imaging was also performed in the brain stem in all patients, and other areas of the brain were sampled in one patient. The splenium of the corpus callosum and brain stem were studied because these are often affected by diffuse axonal injury. Scans were obtained 2 to 1129 days after injury (median, 41 days). MTR was considered abnormal if it was more than 2 SD below normal. Proton MR spectroscopy was used to calculate the N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio. GOS was determined at least 3 months after injury. RESULTS: In 10 patients with a GOS of 1 to 4, the mean NAA/Cr was 1.24 ± 0.28; two of these patients had abnormal MTR in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). In 20 patients with a GOS of 5, the mean NAA/Cr was 1.53 ± 0.37 (P CONCLUSION: MTR and MR spectroscopy can quantify damage after TBI, and NAA levels may be a sensitive indicator of the neuronal damage that results in a worse clinical outcome.
Impact of novel shift handle laparoscopic tool on wrist ergonomics and task performance

Laparoscopic tool handles causing wrist flexion and extension more than 15° from neutral are considered “at risk” for musculoskeletal strain. Therefore, this study measured the impact of laparoscopic tool handle angles on wrist postures and task performance. Eight surgeons performed standard and modified Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) tasks with laparoscopic tools. Tool A had three adjustable handle angle configurations, i.e., in-line 0° (A0), 30° (A30), and pistol-grip 70° (A70). Tool B was a fixed pistol-grip grasper. Participants performed FLS peg transfer, inverted peg transfer, and inverted circle cut with each tool and handle angle. Inverted tasks were adapted from standard FLS tasks to simulate advanced tasks observed during abdominal wall surgeries, e.g., ventral hernia. Motion tracking, video analysis, and modified NASA-TLX workload questionnaires were used to measure postures, performance (e.g., completion time and errors), and workload. Task performance did not differ between tools. For FLS peg transfer, self-reported physical workload was lower for B than for A70, and mean wrist postures showed significantly higher flexion for in-line than for pistol-grip tools (B and A70). For inverted peg transfer, workload was higher for all configurations. However, less time was spent in at-risk wrist postures for in-line (47 %) than for pistol-grip (93–94 %), and most participants preferred Tool A. For inverted circle cut, workload did not vary across configurations, mean wrist posture was 10° closer to neutral for A0 than B, and median time in at-risk wrist postures was significantly less for A0 (43 %) than for B (87 %). The best ergonomic wrist positions for FLS (floor) tasks are provided by pistol-grip tools and for tasks on the abdominal wall (ventral surface) by in-line handles. Adjustable handle angle laparoscopic tools can reduce ergonomic risks of musculoskeletal strain and allow versatility for tasks alternating between the floor and ceiling positions in a surgical trainer without impacting performance.
Characterizing metastable states beyond energies and lifetimes: Dyson orbitals and transition dipole moments

The theoretical description of electronic resonances is extended beyond calculations of energies and lifetimes. We present the formalism for calculating Dyson orbitals and transition dipole moments within the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles method for electron-attached states augmented by a complex absorbing potential (CAP-EOM-EA-CCSD). The capabilities of the new methodology are illustrated by calculations of Dyson orbitals of various transient anions. We also present calculations of transition dipole moments between transient and stable anionic states as well as between different transient states. Dyson orbitals characterize the differences between the initial neutral and final electron-attached states without invoking the mean-field approximation. By extending the molecular-orbital description to correlated many-electron wave functions, they deliver qualitative insights into the character of resonance states. Dyson orbitals and transition moments are also needed for calculating experimental observables such as spectra and cross sections. Physically meaningful results for those quantities are obtained only in the framework of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, e.g., in the presence of a complex absorbing potential (CAP), when studying resonances. We investigate the dependence of Dyson orbitals and transition moments on the CAP strength and illustrate how Dyson orbitals help understand the properties of metastable species and how they are affected by replacing the usual scalar product by the so-called c-product.
Timing is everything

Studies of the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944 to 1945—a 6-month famine—suggest that extreme calorie restriction during pregnancy increases the risk of adult-onset diseases via epigenetic alterations that occur during the early gestation period. Indeed, the quality of the maternal nutrient
Ultra-high-density EEG: How many bits of resolution do the electrodes need?

How much resolution do EEG electrodes need? We observe that as a consequence of the decay of EEG's high spatial frequencies, one needs to extract small high spatial frequency signals that are added to large low spatial frequencies. This requires high dynamic range and low noise from the sampling circuitry. Using simplistic spherical-head models, we provide information-theoretic bounds on the number of bits of resolution that the Analog-to-Digital Converters for EEG systems require to extract high spatial frequencies (as a function of the highest spatial frequency recovered), which also specifies the required signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from these electrodes.
Timing Analysis of Robotic Neuromodulatory Rehabilitation System for Paired Associative Stimulation

In this paper, the timing accuracy of a tapping motion is analyzed for a robotic neuromodulatory rehabilitation system (RNRS). Paired associative stimulation (PAS) refers to repetitive application of conditioned transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with peripheral stimulation at appropriate interstimulus intervals. When overlapped properly, this pairing can be used for rehabilitation through the rebuilding of neural pathways. Therefore in PAS, providing peripheral stimulation at the right time is crucial. The common procedure of PAS in the literature is to use electrical stimulation as peripheral stimulation. However, inspired by the repetitive facilitation exercise (RFE), mechanical stimulation is adopted in this RNRS experiment. Experiments show that RNRS can give mechanical stimulation accurately within a standard deviation of 5 ms. This stimulation is accurate enough when considering a 50 ms overlapping time window, the effective time range over which the overlap happens. The overlapping time window of mechanical stimulation is longer than that of electrical stimulation and it is expected to relax timing requirements in PAS by using RNRS. In addition, fMRI-compatible RNRS will allow further research on how mechanical stimulation itself affects on brain by observing brain activity through fMRI, where a general electrical stimulation device and TMS are not allowed. These results will help to get a consistent neural plasticity effect with RNRS for individuals with stroke and allow performing further research on brain plasticity in fMRI, contributing to the neuromodulation research.
Ultraviolet Laser Plasma Preionization and Novel Thomson Scattering Method for Weakly Ionized Discharges

The first part of the paper presents initial studies of a dual pulse approach to create controlled laser plasmas in air using preionization. The method utilizes a 266 nm pulsed laser beam to create preionization, followed by a second overlapped 1064 nm pulsed laser beam to add energy. Electron number density measurements, based on a plasma conductivity method, indicate that the 266 nm beam is effective at preionizing the air. The preionization from the ultraviolet pulse is also shown to influence the breakdown threshold of an overlapped 1064 nm laser beam. The second part of the paper presents a novel method for measuring electron density and energy using Thomson scattering. The approach relies upon using a build-up cavity to provide a high power light source (~10-100 kW of average power). Initial modeling results supporting the viability of the approach and showing its potential sensitivity are provided.
Evaluation of new compounds as space sprays for the control of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae).

The LC-50 of 17 compounds tested in the laboratory as contact space sprays against susceptible house flies, Musca domestica L., ranged from 0.01 to 0.099%. The LC-50 against the resistant flies was from 1.4 to >35.7 times higher.
Shared Control for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation in Virtual Environments

Interest in the rehabilitation applications for robots has been increasing. For example, various devices have been developed to aid in reaching movements of stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Typically these devices provided guided reaching movements for elbow and shoulder. The robotic aspect allows for repeatability, along with additional data for post-session analysis. To date, robotic rehabilitation systems with haptic feedback have not fully exploited the capabilities of a haptic display device. The simulators primarily focus on obeying the physical laws that govern such systems in order to re-create realistic environments for rehabilitative tasks, or the robotic devices are employed only for their ability to carry the impaired limb through various trajectories. This paper will present a novel active assistance paradigm for interactions in virtual environments displayed via haptic interfaces. The author’s recent research efforts have focused on the design of perceptual overlays in virtual environments that are active rather than passive. Passive virtual fixtures have been the primary perceptual overlay in haptics, and have been used extensively as “virtual rulers” in teleoperation environments to improve operator performance of pick-and-place tasks. Active assistance in the form of shared control between the haptic device and the human operator has the potential to elicit even better performance in virtual and remote environment interactions, and also has implications for improving training effectiveness. The intended applications include stroke rehabilitation and training for pilots, manufacturing, and surgery. A description of perceptual overlays and details of the shared control paradigm are presented, along with results from some preliminary experiments on shared control haptic assistance for training in virtual environments.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Acute subdural hematoma after a reported mild concussion: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: This case details the possible relationship between a reported mild concussion and an acute subdural hematoma in a football athlete. Concussion grading scales and return-to-play guidelines are also discussed. BACKGROUND: An otherwise healthy athlete suffered a re- ported mild concussion, and continued symptoms led to the diagnosis of postconcussion syndrome. The patient returned to football 25 days after the injury and sustained a second head injury 10 days later. He became unconscious and presented with decerebrate posturing, a fixed and dilated left pupil, shallow breathing, right-sided paralysis, and bilateral Babinski signs. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: Possible pathologies included subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, cerebrovascular accident, cerebral edema, and intracerebral hemorrhage. TREATMENT: Computerized tomography indicated fluid overlying the left hemisphere and temporal fossa. Two burr holes released acute and clotted subdural blood. After 19 days, the patient was discharged without neurologic deficit. UNIQUENESS: Traditionally, acute subdural hematomas are thought to result from single traumatic incidents. However, individuals may be more susceptible to such pathology after recent head trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Recent mild head injury may increase the risk for catastrophic pathology. This case emphasizes the importance of using concussion grading scales and adhering to return-to-play guidelines, as well as the use of additional diagnostic techniques after mild head Injury. Language: en
Mixed descending- and ascending-type thin limbs of Henle's loop in mammalian renal inner medulla.

Previous studies have generally indicated that the entire descending (DTL) and ascending thin limbs (ATL) of Henle's loops in the mammalian inner medulla exhibit structurally and functionally disti...
The bittersweet taste of revenge: On the negative and positive consequences of retaliation

Abstract Two lines of previous research have found that revenge can make people feel worse, contrary to conventional wisdom about the hedonic benefits (i.e. “sweetness”) of revenge (Carlsmith, Wilson, & Gilbert, 2008; Lambert, Peak, Eadeh, & Schott, 2014). However, such findings appear inconsistent with general principles arising from the justice literature, which implies that people should feel satisfaction when they perceive that transgressors have been punished for their misdeeds. In this paper, we use a variety of different measures of affect (mood, linguistic analyses, direct ratings of emotional reactions) to show that revenge is capable of producing both negative (“bitter”) and favorable (“sweet”) reactions. In particular, we find support for a bittersweet model of revenge, in that such acts concurrently elicit genuinely positive appraisals, over and above the elicitation of negative affect. We consider the implications of our research for a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics of revenge.
A Preliminary Study on the Wintering Ecology of Liocichla omeiensis in Emei Mountain of Sichuan Province

A preliminary study on the wintering ecology(habitat,population density,sex ratio,diurnal activity mode,behavioral responses for human approach,food and vertical migration) of Emei Shan Liocichla(Liocichla omeiensis) was conducted at Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province during winters from 2010 to 2013,and some conservation suggestions were presented.
Pemetrexed-Induced Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

Pemetrexed is an approved antimetabolite agent, now widely used for treating locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer. Although no electrolyte abnormalities are described in the prescribing information for this drug, several case reports have noted nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with associated acute kidney injury. We present a case of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus without severely reduced kidney function and propose a mechanism for the isolated finding. Severe hypernatremia can lead to encephalopathy and osmotic demyelination, and our report highlights the importance of careful monitoring of electrolytes and kidney function in patients with lung cancer receiving pemetrexed.
A Systematic Review of PCSK9 Inhibitors Alirocumab and Evolocumab

BACKGROUND: The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are a new class of cholesterol-lowering medications that provide significant reductions in lipids but at a large cost relative to statins. With 2 such drugs now on the market, alirocumab and evolocumab, comparing the evidence base for these drugs is necessary for informed decision making. OBJECTIVE: To compare the benefits and harms of the PCSK9 inhibitors alirocumab and evolocumab. METHODS: The databases Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and ClinicalTrials.gov were used to search for randomized controlled trials of alirocumab or evolocumab with any relevant comparator reporting health outcomes, lipid outcomes, or harms through September 2015, and information was requested from manufacturers. Results were reviewed according to standard review methods. RESULTS: The database searches revealed 17 fair- and good-quality trials; however, none had primary health outcomes or directly compared PCSK9 inhibitors. Alirocumab (75 m...
Creating a Culture of Inquiry in Music Teacher Education

We are two music education professors with a long history of multilayered professional collaborations: first, Colleen as advisor to Ann Marie as a doctoral student, followed by a mentor and new professor relationship, and now as coresearchers, coauthors, and critical friends. Throughout our 10-year relationship—beginning with Ann Marie’s entry into the doctoral degree programme in music education at University of Michigan in 2005, a programme of study that Colleen directed—common goals have connected us.
P160 Reported needlestick injuries from swine production companies

Introduction A variety of biologics, vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones are used in animal agriculture. Accidental injections or product exposures can result in mild to severe injuries. Needlestick injury (NSI) prevention, research, and education for veterinarians and agriculture workers are limited. Our objective for this project was to collect and review data from swine production companies and determine the frequency and severity of needlestick injuries. Methods An initial assessment of available data on hired workers was focused on 3 commercial swine companies (Company A, B, C). The National Pork Board provided key contacts and facilitated initial conversations with the companies. Several sources of data were available for characterising the burden of injury. These included reportable injuries identified on First Report of Injury and/or OSH 300 logs, worker compensation claims, and human resource records. Recorded data was de-identified and summarised by company. Analysis included a summary of medical, indemnity, and report only claims for needlestick injuries. Results The number of medical claims for Company A, B, and C respectively were 101, 28, and 441. The number of indemnity claims was 41, 12, and 146 respectively. For Company A, 13 total needlesticks injuries were recorded (5 medical and 4 indemnity claims). 6 (46%) were injuries to the hand. Most (46%) injuries occurred in the nursery. For Company B, 3 total needlestick injuries were recorded (2 with indemnity claims). All involved the hand and 2 (67%) occurred in the farrowing area. For Company C, 89 needlestick injuries were recorded (74 with medical and 3 with indemnity claims. 56% of the needlestick injuries were to the hand and most injuries (25.5%) occurred in the farrowing area. Discussion The recording of injuries varied by company making direct comparisons difficult. However, preliminary results provide a unique glimpse into type of injuries, associated costs, and potential intervention strategies.
Expectation of Travel Experiences with Wearable Computing Devices

Based on a content analysis of textual data containing people’s ideas to use wearable computing devices, this paper identified five patterns of personal motivations to use wearable devices for travel and tourism experiences. They are exploration, adventure tourism, travel documentation, travel reporting, and positive transformation. These patterns suggest a potential transformation in tourists’ behaviour due to perceived new ways of interactions with technology and with the near surroundings. The different features and functionalities that are unique to wearable technology trigger changes in three areas: the shift from tourists to explorers, an explosion of first-person visual travel narratives, and more social travel supported by real-time connectivity. Further, the findings also suggest a potential shift in terms of how personal technology is situated in human experience, from mediation to embodiment.
A Review of Hormone-Based Therapies to Treat Adult Acne Vulgaris in Women

Hormone-based therapies including combined oral contraceptive medications and spironolactone are considered effective therapies to treat adult acne in women. Our objective is to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of the types of hormonal therapy that are available to treat acne and comment on their efficacy and safety profiles for clinical practice. A systematic search using the PubMed Database was conducted to yield 36 relevant studies for inclusion in the review and several conclusions were drawn from the literature. Treatment with oral contraceptive pills leads to significant reductions in lesion counts across all lesion types compared with placebo. There were no consistent differences in efficacy between the different combined oral contraceptive formulations. In terms of risk, oral contraceptive pill users had three-times increased odds of venous thromboembolism versus non-users according to a recent meta-analysis (95% confidence interval 2.46-2.59). Data on oral contraceptive pill use and breast cancer risk are conflicting but individual patient risk factors and histories should be discussed and considered when prescribing these medications. However, use of these medications does confer measurable protection from endometrial and ovarian cancer. Spironolactone was also shown to be an effective alternative treatment with good tolerability. Combined oral contraceptive medications and spironolactone as adjuvant and monotherapies are safe and effective to treat women with adult acne. However, appropriate clinical examinations, screening, and individual risk assessments particularly for venous thromboembolism risk must be conducted prior to initiating therapy.
Integrating Gatekeeping Practices into Core Competencies in MFT Training: Development of the Core Competency-Based Assessment Measure

Gatekeeping is an important topic in human-service professions. Faculty members in couple and family therapy programs are responsible for regulating student acceptance into marriage and family therapy (MFT) training, and student graduation from these training programs; thus, regulating entry into the profession. Core competencies in MFT were developed to describe the competencies of MFTs (Nelson et al., Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 33(4):417–438, 2007). The core competencies detail skills that MFTs must master within about 2 years post-master’s degree. We propose that core competencies are useful ways to assess student progress, and therefore, useful gatekeeping tools. In this paper, we present a student assessment measure called the Core Competency Based Student Assessment, which may be useful to faculty members as they take on a gatekeeping role.
Genderacing immigrant subjects: ‘anchor babies’ and the politics of birthright citizenship

ABSTRACTBirthright citizenship is often a subject of important national debates on immigration. From a historical perspective, the influx of Mexican and Chinese immigrants to the United Stated has elicited politically charged efforts to deny the right of US citizenship to their children. Based on a review of popular discursive frames concerning the politics of birthright citizenship, this essay identifies and critiques the arguments from both ends of the political spectrum. We conclude that, by and large, the substance of their legal and philosophical arguments is old, hackneyed responses from decades ago. However, on many symbolic levels, the current rhetoric is quite uncharacteristically caustic, with a focus on racialized and gendered discourses among nationalist groups. We seek to explain why this is the case. Framed as ‘genderacing immigrant subjects’, this essay examines the politics of naming (or nomenclature) through the construction of the racially gendered referent in public discourse, thereby a...
Reduction of Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Proteins in the Blood of Patients with Psoriasis: Differential Responses between Tofacitinib and Etanercept after 4 Weeks of Treatment

Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of myocardial infarction, and psoriasis is now recognized as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and cardiovascular mortality. To understand the effects of psoriasis medications on systemic inflammation associated with cardiovascular risks, we studied blood proteins related to inflammation and cardiovascular disease archived from a phase 3 clinical trial of tofacitinib and etanercept in adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. A total of 157 blood proteins were quantified by a proximity extension assay from 266 patients at baseline and week 4. Protein changes in the blood after 1 month of treatment were compared between tofacitinib (10 mg two times a day) and etanercept (50 mg biweekly), and by response status at week 12. Tofacitinib and etanercept commonly reduced IL-6, CCL20, and CXCL10, but IL-17A was significantly reduced only in responders of either treatment. Compared with etanercept, tofacitinib showed a wider spectrum of cardiovascular blood protein reduction, but the protein reduction effects of tofacitinib were strictly confined to treatment responders. Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, E-selectin, hK11, tumor necrosis factor–related activation-induced cytokine, CHI3L1, IL-16, and matrix metalloproteinase-12 were cardiovascular proteins significantly reduced only in tofacitinib responders. Our data suggest that a short-term systemic psoriasis treatment can cause reductions in circulating inflammatory and other proteins associated with cardiovascular risks.
The effects of a neutral cosolute on the B to Z transition for DNA duplexes incorporating both CG and CA steps.

In the cell, nearly 40% of the volume is occupied by macromolecular crowding agents and smaller osmolytes accumulate in response to environmental stresses. Of particular interest is the influence o...
Behavior of queues at signalized intersections in heavy traffic

This paper derives the asymptotic behavior of traffic queues at signalized intersections when the excess of departure capacity over arrivals approaches zero from above. The most interesting result is that the distribution of queue length approaches a negative exponential, with fewer restrictive assumptions than hitherto known. The main improvement results from more precise use of a combinatorial lemma of Spitzer, giving the maximum of the partial sums of a sequence of independent identically distributed random variables, plus some specific constructive probability calculations, many of them involving the Fourier transform. New results are presented on the probability that the queue be below a fixed bound and/or on the probability that the queue be empty. Applications to on-line estimators for real-time traffic control are suggested.
Multiple Objectives in Facility Location: A Review

Numerous models of location have been created in the past two decades in response to problems which have arisen in both the private and public sector. The models served up to three functions simultaneously: the siting of facilities, the assignment of people or goods to the facilities and the sizing of facilities. The abundance of modelling efforts stems from the multitude of possible ways to conceptualize the movements or flows and assignments which occur in each location problem setting. The large number of efforts also arises because of the mathematical challenges posed by the formulations which include the nefarious zero-one variables. To a very great extent, however, the numerous modelling efforts can be ascribed to different views of the objectives of location problems. Population travel burden, population coverage, number of facilities, transport costs, transport and facilities cost, profits, etc. have all been suggested as objectives for location problems. How does one reconcile these often divergent objectives to provide information in a rational manner for decision makers? The ability to tradeoff the levels of achievement of these objectives against one another, depicting at the same time the impact on decisions, is an important need.
Method of Similitude and Introduction to Fractional Analysis of Overall Equations

In the nineteenth century a number of workers, most notably Lord Rayleigh, commonly solved problems of fractional analysis by direct use of the idea of similarity combined with the formation of force ratios. During the twentieth century this method seems to have lost favor and has been replaced almost entirely by the use of the pi theorem except in the work of a few authors in fluid mechanics (see, for example, Vennard,52 Chap. 7). In fact, the method seems to be so little used today that no accepted name for it exists; for purposes of reference, it is called the method of similitude throughout the present volume.
DICOM Calibration and GSDF

You might have heard about DICOM calibration a million times. But what is it doing, really?
Connecting Children's Stories to Children's Literature: Meeting Diversity Needs

Combining children's natural storytelling abilities with quality multicultural literature serves to enhance their language skills and students' appreciation of cultural differences. Narrative abilities—particularly stories—are a natural vehicle for building on children's oral language skills and develop literacy with print. If the stories have a multicultural focus, it is only natural that readers and participants will develop an appreciation of both cultural similarities and differences.
The effect of 5-azacytidine on E. coli DNA methylase.

Abstract 5-Azacytidine, when added to growing E. coli K12, causes a decrease in DNA methylation assayed in vitro . This decrease is greater when E. coli DNA is used as substrate than when calf thymus DNA is used. The decrease in activity is not due to the inhibition of protein synthesis caused by this drug, since neither chloramphenicol nor rifampin causes a decrease in enzyme activity. The effect is specific for the DNA(cytosine-5)methylase; the methylation of adenine is not affected. The concentration of drug that inhibits the DNA methylase by 50% is the same concentration that inhibits cell growth by 50%.
Information Processing in the Cortex: The Role of Small Assemblies of Neurons

Arguments are given for the proposed major roles played in cortical function by small assemblies of as few as 30 neurons. Predictions include that the processing capabilities of the primary visual cortex are much greater than those discovered in the pioneering work of Hubel and Wiesel. Results from experiments recording response from cat primary visual cortex to time sequences of bar stimuli show dramatic phenomena.
Endoscope-Assisted Retrosigmoid Approach for Cerebellopontine Angle Epidermoid Tumor.

Objectives Surgical resection is the only effective treatment modality for epidermoid tumors. Complete resection with preservation of neurological function must be pursued whenever possible, because it offers a cure for patients. However, the inability to identify hidden remnants, interdigitating around cranial nerves, especially in larger tumors, may be a contributing factor for incomplete resection. This operative video demonstrates the technical nuances in achieving complete resection of a cerebellopontine angle epidermoid tumor via an endoscope-assisted retrosigmoid approach. Design and Setting Operative video of an endoscope-assisted retrosigmoid, approach for complete resection of a cerebellopontine angle epidermoid tumor. The patient was a 16-year-old female, who presented with 1-year history of worsening headaches and imbalance. Her neurological exam was normal, including normal cranial nerve function, and hearing. Radiological evaluation revealed an epidermoid tumor in the right cerebellopontine angle, extending to the interpeduncular cistern. Surgical resection was recommended. Given extension of the tumor across the midline, an endoscope-assisted procedure was planned to increase the odds of complete resection. Results The video demonstrates the surgical technique applied for tumor resection. The patient's clinical symptoms resolved completely after surgery and she remained neurologically intact. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed complete tumor resection. There were no postoperative complications. Conclusions The use of endoscopic techniques for resection of cerebellopontine angle epidermoid tumor is safe and effective and may increase the odds of complete resection, especially in larger tumors spreading across the midline, by enabling the surgeon clear visualization of deep-seated and contralateral relevant neurovascular structures, not readily accessible by the surgical microscope. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/X6YP_7OeQQE .
The Importance of Parent Consultation When Working With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an unhealthy coping strategy that some adolescents utilize as a way to manage the multitude of stressors in their lives. Individual counseling is often a common mo...
Subgroup analysis of censored data on cancer treatment

We develop some statistical methods based on tree-structured classification to assign patients from different treatment groups into subgroups with different medical recommendations. Since it is dif...
Fatigue and crack-growth analyses of riveted lap-joints in a retired aircraft

Abstract For aluminum alloys, research has shown that fatigue behavior of notched and unnotched specimens can be characterized by fatigue–crack growth from micro-structural features, such as inclusion-particle sizes. A crack-growth model using small- and large-crack data was used to calculate fatigue lives and crack growth in lap-joints in laboratory specimens. The tightness of the rivets dictated the type of crack configurations that occurred in the joint and equivalent initial flaw sizes (EIFS) were selected to fit the fatigue test data. These crack configurations and EIFS values were then used to predict fatigue lives in fuselage lap-joints in a retired passenger aircraft and for curved panels cut from the retired aircraft. The paper demonstrates that fuselage lap-joint fatigue-life-prediction methods based on fatigue–crack growth alone (i.e. with accounting for any time spent in crack nucleation) are very adequate to model the lifetimes in fuselage riveted lap joints.
High risk of mumps infection in children who received one dose of mumps-containing vaccine: waning immunity to mumps in children aged 2-5 years from kindergartens in Jiangsu Province, China

During the period of immunization with a single-dose measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which has been available since 2008in China, the incidence of mumps in children aged 2–5 years has been hig...
Development path and current status of the NANIVID: a new device for cancer cell studies

Cancer cells create a unique microenvironment in vivo which enables migration to distant organs. To better understand the tumor microenvironment, special tools and devices are required to monitor the interactions between different cell types and the effects of particular chemical gradients. This study presents the design and optimization of a new, versatile chemotaxis device called the NANIVID (NANo IntraVital Device). The device is fabricated using BioMEMS techniques and consists of etched and bonded Pyrex substrates, a soluble factor reservoir, fluorescent tracking beads and a microelectrode array for cell quantification. The reservoir contains a customized hydrogel blend loaded with EGF which diffuses out of the hydrogel to create a chemotactic gradient. This reservoir sustains a steady release of growth factor into the surrounding environment for many hours and establishes a concentration gradient that attracts specific cells to the device. In addition to a cell collection tool, the NANIVID can be modified to act as a delivery vehicle for the local generation of alternate soluble factor gradients to initiate controlled changes to the microenvironment such as hypoxia, ECM stiffness and etc. The focus of this study is to design and optimize the new device for wide ranging studies of breast cancer cell dynamics in vitro and ultimately, implantation for in vivo work.
Quasi-static and dynamic characterization of polyurea microspheres reinforced polyurea matrix composite

Abstract Polymer matrix composites currently have a wide range of applications in the aerospace, automotive, and biomedical industries. The specific strength and stiffness of this class of materials can easily be engineered; however, the enhanced strength and stiffness are highly dependent on the quality of the interfacial bonding between the reinforcement and matrix. It is thus the aim of this research to synthesize and characterize a polyurea matrix composite that is reinforced by polyurea microspheres to reduce the mechanical mismatch and improve bonding. For this composite, a hyper-viscoelastic polyurea formed from Versalink® P1000 and Isonate® 143 L, was chosen for its superior moisture resistance, and excellent thermal and impact mitigation properties. From the micro-scale mechanical characterization, the composite displayed a 23 % increase in elastic modulus compared to the bulk counterpart. As a result of the quasi-static mechanical characterization, it was found that the elastic moduli were comparable between the composite and the neat polyurea, but showed an increase in yield stress and decrease in the area under the stress-strain curve as well as the loss of strain at failure. Dynamic mechanical testing indicated the comparable time-dependent response of the composite and neat samples above glass transition (Tg), while displaying a difference below Tg.
Emotional detachment, gait ataxia, and cerebellar dysconnectivity associated with compound heterozygous mutations in the SPG7 gene.

We report a patient with autism-like deficits in emotional connectedness, executive dysfunction, and ataxia beginning at age 39. He had compound heterozygous variants in SPG7 (A510V and 1552+1 G>T ...
Scalable Spatial GroupBy Aggregations Over Complex Polygons

This paper studies a spatial group-by query over complex polygons. Groups are selected from a set of non-overlapping complex polygons, typically in the order of thousands, while the input is a large-scale dataset that contains hundreds of millions or even billions of spatial points. Given a set of spatial points and a set of polygons, the spatial group-by query returns the number of points that lie within boundaries of each polygon. This problem is challenging because real polygons (like counties, cities, postal codes, voting regions, etc.) are described by very complex boundaries. We propose a highly-parallelized query processing framework to efficiently compute the spatial group-by query. Our experimental evaluation with real data and queries has shown significant superiority over all existing techniques.
Abstract IA-08: High parameter single cell analysis has driven deep understanding of immune processes

High parameter single cell analysis has driven deep understanding of immune processes. Using a next-generation single-cell “mass cytometry” platform we quantify surface and cytokine or drug responsive indices of kinase target with 45 or more parameter analyses (e.g. 45 antibodies, viability, nucleic acid content, and relative cell size). Similarly, we have developed two advanced technologies termed MIBI and CODEX that enable deep phenotyping of solid tissue in both fresh frozen and FFPE formats (50 – 100 markers). Collectively, the systems allow for subcellular analysis from the 70nm resolution scale to whole tissue in 3D. I will present evidence of deep internal order in immune functionality demonstrating that differentiation and immune activities have evolved with a definable “shape”. Further, specific cellular neighborhoods of immune cells are now definable with unique abilities to affect cellular phenotypes—and these neighborhoods alter in various cancer disease states. In addition to cancer, these shapes and neighborhoods are altered during immune action and “imprinted” during, and after, pathogen attack, traumatic injury, or auto-immune disease. Hierarchies of functionally defined trans-cellular modules are observed that can be used for mechanistic and clinical insights in cancer and immune therapies. Citation Format: Garry P. Nolan. High parameter single cell analysis has driven deep understanding of immune processes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Diagnosis, and Imaging; 2021 Jan 13-14. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(5_Suppl):Abstract nr IA-08.
Non-fiber Carbohydrates in Forages and Their Influence on Beef Production Systems

Forages can provide a complete diet for ruminant animals, increasing the sustainability of beef production systems worldwide while reducing competition with humans for agricultural land or grain crops. Much of the emphasis on the nutritional characteristics of forages has been on the fiber, sugars, starch and protein they supply to the rumen, despite the fact that other less-explored constituents, i.e., neutral detergent soluble fiber (NDSF) and other non-structural or non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) also play a key role in the nutrition of ruminants. This paper explores the less investigated potential of temperate legumes to accumulate levels of NFC comparable to corn silage or beet pulp in cool, dry environments under irrigation, and its implications for forage-based beef production systems. We conclude that genetic or managerial interventions (i.e., breeding programs, defoliation frequency) or ecological conditions (i.e., climate, elevation) that increase concentrations of NFC in legumes can enhance beef production, meat quality and the efficiency of nitrogen utilization by ruminants while reducing environmental impacts.