cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth factors in human germ cell cancer.

A growing body of evidence suggests that malignancy often represents a failure of differentiation. Several model systems have been developed that show an inverse relationship between differentiation and malignancy. As tumor cells differentiate, they typically lose proliferative potential and the ability to cause tumors when implanted into susceptible hosts. Thus, an understanding of the cellular mechanisms of differentiation may yield insight into the mechanisms of the abnormal regulation of growth by cancer cells. Murine and human models of differentiation of tumor cells, including mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, human leukemic cell lines, and mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells, have been used to explore changes in the expression of important growth-regulated genes, such as cellular oncogenes and growth factors, as a function of differentiation induced in vitro. For example, a biphasic decline of c-myc and c-myb mRNA levels has been seen following dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) induction of MEL cells (Ramsey et al. 1986). Indeed, some authors have suggested a causal relationship between the downregulation of oncogene products and both differentiation and loss of malignancy. This has been supported by experiments showing that expression of transfected c-myc or c-myb genes into MEL cells blocks the induction of differentiation by DMSO (Dmitrovsky et al. 1986; Clarke et al. 1988). Differentiation of F9 cells can be induced by retinoic acid (RA) and dibutyryl cAMP and, as in MEL cells, is accompanied by specific changes in expression of protooncogenes, biochemical markers, developmentally active genes, and growth factors (reviewed in Miller et al. 1990a). These changes correlate with a decline in the malignant and proliferative potential of these differentiated cells (Strickland and Sawey 1980; Strickland and Mahdavi 1978).
Untapped resources: refugee employment experiences in central North Carolina.

Objective The objective of this study was to elucidate a comprehensive understanding of the pre-migration expectations and current realities of refugees resettled in the United States (U.S). Employment expectations and the current work situations experienced by African refugee populations recently resettled in Greensboro, NC are examined. Participants Ten French-speaking refugees of African descent who had resided in Central North Carolina for less than three years were selected to participate. Methods A phenomenological approach was used; semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants in spring 2010. Interviews needing interpretation were translated throughout the course of the interview in real time. All interviews were transcribed verbatim or word for word. Results All participants expected to find work in their fields with relative ease, but were either unemployed or under-employed compared to their professional training and/or previous occupation in their country of origin at the time of their interview. Emergent themes from the interviews included financial stability, ease of finding work, identity concerns, English language comprehension, the economy, and navigating a new system. Conclusions Refugees in this sample were not prepared for the challenges they encountered when searching for gainful employment. Their experiences appear to be common with available anecdotal evidence. Adjustments to the cultural orientation programs received prior to migration, and enhancements to social networks in addition to an increased focus on English language comprehension post-migration have the potential to positively impact employment outcomes for newly arrived refugees.
Executive Branch Legalisms

The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) and White House Counsel’s Office (WHC) have both been the subject of much recent attention in legal scholarship, and both offices are at the center of the debate between Bruce Ackerman and Trevor Morrison that this paper addresses. However, these offices remain less representative of and less important to executive branch legalism than the substantial amount of attention these offices are receiving suggests. These offices matter, and matter more than any other individual legal office in the executive branch. However, there are limitations in using these two offices as a means of understanding the executive branch’s legal operations more generally.Executive branch lawyering is still overwhelmingly lawyering by civil service lawyers who are not appointed by the President or substantially affected by the lawyers that the President appoints. In other words, the law created and shaped by civil service lawyers — what I call “civil service legalism” — is a crucial but increasingly unappreciated part of the legal presidency (and different than the law created and shaped by the more “political lawyers” in OLC and WHC). In particular, there are differences between OLC/WHC and the large majority of other legal offices in the executive branch in terms of their legal personnel: how do these lawyers come to work in the executive branch, and what are their incentives once they are working there? The executive branch is a “‘they," not an "it,’” and so too executive branch legality is more accurately described as executive branch legalisms — a plural and not a singular, with some important implications for our understanding of separation of powers.
Survival outcomes for various treatment modalities in advanced-stage grade 3 follicular lymphoma (FL3): A National Cancer Database (NCDB) study.

7551Background: The prognosis, response to therapy and curability of FL3 is controversial. 5-year Overall Survival (OS) in the literature ranges from 35-72% (Ganti 2006). The aim of this study was ...
An Interleaved Series-Capacitor Tapped Buck Converter for High Step-Down DC/DC Application

High step-down dc/dc converters are widely utilized in telecom and modern industrial applications. Due to the high step-down ratio, conventional Buck converter cannot provide satisfactory performance. To solve this problem, quite a few new topologies have been proposed to improve the performance of high step-down dc/dc converters, such as series-capacitor Buck (SC-Buck) converter, 3-level Buck converters, tapped inductor Buck converters, and LLC resonant converters. In this paper, the twice step-down benefit of SC-Buck converter and the zero-voltage switching benefit of series-capacitor tapped Buck (SC-TaB) converter are combined together to propose a new topology: interleaved series-capacitor tapped Buck (ISC-TaB) converter. To analyze the performance of the proposed ISC-TaB converter, the operation principles are discussed and the voltage conversion ratio is derived. In addition, to guide the design procedure and optimization, the current waveforms and voltage waveforms of the proposed ISC-TaB are derived. In order to verify the performance of the proposed ISC-TaB, hardware prototype of the proposed ISC-TaB converter and conventional two-phase series-capacitor tapped Buck converter (2ph-TaB) are designed and tested. The application is targeted at telecom with 48-V input and 3.3 V/20 A output. The test results are compared between these two converters. A peak efficiency of 95.6% is achieved on the proposed ISC-TaB and the efficiency of the ISC-TaB over all load range is at least 1% higher than that of 2ph-TaB.
End-organ effects of primary hyperparathyroidism: A population-based study.

Abstract Background Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism are at risk for skeletal and renal end-organ damage. Methods We studied patients with biochemically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism from 1995–2014 and quantified the frequency of osteoporosis, nephrolithiasis, hypercalciuria, and decrease in renal function. Results The cohort comprised 9,485 patients. In total, 3,303 (35%) had preexisting end-organ effects (osteoporosis, 24%; nephrolithiasis, 10%; hypercalciuria, 5%). Of 6,182 remaining patients, 1,769 (29%) exhibited progression to 1 or more end-organ effects over a median 3.7 years. Among patients with classic primary hyperparathyroidism (calcium and parathyroid hormone increased), progression was unrelated to the degree of hypercalcemia (calcium >11.5 mg/dL, hazard ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 0.85–1.25; 11.1–11.5 mg/dL, HR 1.07, 95% confidence interval 0.93–1.23; 10.5–11.0 mg/dL = reference). Patients with nonclassic primary hyperparathyroidism (calcium increased, parathyroid hormone 40–65 pg/mL) had a lesser risk of progression (calcium >11.5 mg/dL, hazard ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.50–0.94; 11.1–11.5 mg/dL, hazard ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.56–0.82; 10.5–11.0 mg/dL, hazard ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.59–0.74). End-organ damage developed before or within 5 years of diagnosis for 62% of patients. Conclusion End-organ manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism develop before biochemical diagnosis or within 5 years in most patients. End-organ damage occurred more frequently in patients with classic primary hyperparathyroidism versus nonclassic primary hyperparathyroidism, regardless of severity of hypercalcemia.
Evaluating the patient experience with urological video visits at an academic medical center.

Background: Telemedicine utilization, includinguse of video visits, is growing rapidly. While much enthusiasm surroundstelemedicine, the successful implementation of video visits within healthsystems requires providers to evaluate patient’s experience with the implementedtechnology and workflow. Methods: Twenty patientswho completed a video visit in the Department of Urology at Michigan Medicinewere contacted and asked if they would be willing to share their experience.Patients underwent a semi-structured telephone interview. Using an interviewguide, patients were asked questions about the enrollment process, theiroverall impression of the visit, and feedback to improve the visit. Interviewcomments were categorized into three primary themes: usability, quality of thevisit, and comparison to a traditional in-clinic visit. Results: Most patients who underwent aurological video visit were highly satisfied with their experience. Mostpatients also reported being able to join the video visit with minimal issues. However,some patients expressed issues downloading the application and interpreting oureducational materials. In regard to quality of the visit, most patients wereimpressed and pleased. While there was no criticism regarding thepicture-quality of the video visit, a few patients reported issues with theaudio. It was apparent that quality of video was dependent on quality of thepatient’s internet connection. When comparing the video visit to a traditionalin-clinic visit, patients—especially parents with children at home—found thevideo visit to be more efficient. Conclusions: Our study foundthat patients were pleased with their urological video visit experience, andthere were details about our workflow that would not have been evident withoutinterviews. These findings suggest that while video visits are suitablealternatives to in-clinic appointments at academic medical centers, it isimportant for providers to obtain direct feedback from patients to identifyworkflow and technical issues.
Marketing Secrets: A Conceptual Model and Quasi-Experimental Study: An Abstract

Secrets involve deliberately hiding information from other people. They are widely used in marketing: from “secret” recipes and ingredients of Heinz ketchup to the notably vapid trailers of the “Game of Thrones” latest season. In this paper, I set out to develop a conceptual model for the use of secrets in marketing and support the model with a naturally occurring quasi-experiment in the context of the computer games industry.
Stochastic Motion Planning Using Successive Convexification and Probabilistic Occupancy Functions

We propose a method for real-time motion planning in stochastic, dynamic environments via a receding horizon framework that exploits computationally efficient algorithms for forward stochastic reachability analysis and non-convex optimization. Our method constructs a dynamically feasible trajectory for a robot, modeled as an LTI dynamical system, while ensuring 1) a desired probabilistic collision-avoidance guarantee is achieved, 2) state and control constraints are satisfied, and 3) a convex performance objective is minimized. We first compute “keep-out” regions at each time instant to assure a probabilistic collision avoidance guarantee. These keep-out regions are convex and compact, and can be tightly overapproximated by ellipsoids which may be computed in a grid-free, recursion-free, and sample-free manner. The regions are constraints in a non-convex optimization problem, solved via successive convexification. This algorithm can uses interior point methods for real-time implementation. We present numerical simulations to demonstrate the efficacy of the approach.
Reduction of the carbon footprint of college freshman diets after a food-based environmental science course

The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of a two-quarter freshman course series entitled “Food: A Lens for Environment and Sustainability” (Food cluster) on the carbon footprint of food choices by college freshmen attending a large public university in California. Students enrolled in the course completed a baseline questionnaire about their diets in early fall quarter and then again at follow-up, about 6 months later at the end of the winter quarter. The control group consisted of freshmen enrolled in a different course series entitled “Evolution of the Cosmos and Life” (Cosmos cluster). The instruction in the Food cluster included lecture material on general environmental science and life cycle analyses of food, an analysis of a reading comparing the environmental footprint of various types of meats, and classroom exercises to calculate the environmental footprint of typical foods. The Cosmos cluster instruction included climate change, but no information about food. While the two groups were statistically indistinguishable at baseline, throughout the period of the study, Food cluster students decreased (a) their overall dietary carbon footprint for a 2000-kcal normalized diet by 7% (p = 0.062), (b) the beef component of their dietary carbon footprint by 19% (p = 0.024), and (c) their reported ruminant consumption by 28% (p < 0.001). At follow-up, the overall dietary footprints for Food cluster students were 4153 and 5726 g CO2-eq/day for female and male students, respectively, compared to 4943 and 6958 g CO2-eq/day for female and male Cosmos students. In the Food cluster, both genders decreased their reported ruminant meat consumption by about a serving per week, while reported ruminant meat consumption increased for males in the control group. Modest, voluntary dietary changes such as those observed in this study could play an important role in mitigating climate change. Extrapolated across the entire US population, the difference in dietary carbon footprint observed between the Food cluster and control group would amount to 33% of the reduction required for the 2013 President’s Climate Action Plan (2013).
On the Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) of Light in Fiber

In the last decade, some of the most extensively studied complex light beams are optical vortices, which possess phase or polarization singularities. These beams are interesting because they resemble the emission patterns of single molecule dipoles, or because they potentially represent an infinite set of eigenstates that can be constructed with light. Their use has been demonstrated in, or proposed for, several applications such as higher-dimensional quantum encryption, information capacity scaling, single-molecule spectroscopy and nano-scale imaging.
O-024 Comparison between outcomes of anterior and posterior cerebral circulation â€Žaneurysms in the SMART registry cohort

Background Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms in the posterior circulation poses a challenge because of the higher rate of wide-necked aneurysms and presentation with rupture. In this study, we compare the baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients with posterior circulation aneurysms treated with novel second-generation coils in the SMART registry. Methods SMART is a phase 4, multicenter, prospective, registry that enrolled patients with anterior and posterior circulation cerebral aneurysms (both ruptured and unruptured) who underwent endovascular treatment using Penumbra SMART™ Coils. Collected data included baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics at presentation. Primary and secondary end points were immediate angiographic occlusion, periprocedural complications, recanalization and retreatment rates and mortality at 1-year follow up. We compared the above variables between anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms. Results Of a total of 906 patients treated in the SMART registry, 173 (19.1%) had posterior circulation aneurysms. In comparison to patients with anterior circulation aneurysms, patients with aneurysms in the posterior circulation were older (mean age 61.7 vs. 59.3 years, P 0.017) and more likely to present with rupture (38.7% vs. 30.3%, P 0.032). Posterior circulation aneurysms were more likely to be wide-necked (defined as an aneurysm with a dome-to-neck ratio less than 2.0 and/or a neck length of 4 mm or more). No significant difference was found in the rate of successful embolization at initial procedure (Raymond Class I), serious device-related adverse effects within 24 hours, one-year recanalization and one-year retreatment between both groups (table 1). Conclusions Despite being associated with higher rates of rupture and wide-necked geometry, patients with posterior circulation aneurysms experienced immediate and one-year angiographic occlusion rates that were not significantly different from anterior circulation aneurysms. Device-related peri-procedural complications were also not significantly higher than the latter. Disclosures E. Almallouhi: None. M. Sattur: None. M. Anadani: None. S. Al kasab: None. A. Spiotta: 2; C; Penumbra, Cerenovus, Minnetronix.
Pelvic Lymphadenectomy for Prostate and Bladder Cancer

Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is an integral part of radical urologic surgery for pelvic malignancies. For many years PLND was part and parcel of radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer, though recent guidelines recommend performing PLND in conjunction with radical prostatectomy only when the nomogram-predicted risk of lymph nodes being involved with metastatic prostate cancer is greater than 2–2.5 %. This is not only because there is significant potential morbidity to PLND, but also because the therapeutic benefit of dissections in such cases is quite limited. A standard PLND is nevertheless recommended for all intermediate-risk men, and an extended PLND is recommended for high-risk men.
Recurrence of Severe ITP Following Administration of G-CSF: Remission Following Platelet and Vinca-Alkaloid Infusion.

Abstract Introduction: In ITP, platelets opsonized with antibodies are phagocytosed by macrophages. Activation of macrophages often triggers aggravation or relapses of ITP as demonstrated following vaccination, infections. G-CSF stimulates granulocyte colonies but can stimulate macrophages at higher concentrations in vitro. We report recurrence of severe life threatening ITP following G-CSF therapy, successfully managed by selective injury of macrophages with sequential infusions of platelets and vinca-alkaloids. Case Study: A 30 year old healthy Caucasian man developed severe ITP in 9/03 with wet purpura, epistaxis, multiple hematomas in the mouth, tongue and lips and a platelet count Summary/Discussion: A patient with refractory ITP who underwent CR for over three years after splenectomy suffered severe life threatening thrombocytopenia following injections of G-CSF. This case report is highlighted by the following features. 1. While ITP was in CR, severe granulocytopenia developed which responded to IVIG, indicating an autoimmune cause of leukopenia. 2. Treatment with G-CSF for leukopenia triggered recurrence of severe ITP. 3. Platelet transfusion immediately followed by injection of vinca-alkaloids was successful in inducing remission of life threatening ITP. 4. G-CSF should be used with caution in patients with history of ITP, since it may activate macrophages and trigger relapse of ITP. The immediate sequence of platelet transfusion followed by vinca injection might be particularly useful in this scenario, and is less cumbersome compared to the previously described procedure of incubating platelets ex-vivo with vinca prior to infusion (NEJM 298:1101, 1978; AmJHem 81:423, 2006).
Perennial cover crop influences on soil C and N and maize productivity

New management systems are needed that enhance the sustainability of crop residue harvesting for use as feedstock in the emerging biofuel industry. We investigated whether a novel perennial cover crop management system, designed to overcome yield drag, would enhance sustainability of maize (Zea mays L.) residue harvesting. Overall the perennial cover crop treatments [Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (BG) and creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) (RF)] increased the soil potential mineralizable N (8.5%), decreased the loss of total soil organic C (10.1%) and N (6.5%) relative to the no-cover crop controls [with (RR) and without (RS) removal of crop residues]. Respired CO2, measured during 28 day incubations, decreased in the following order: RF > RS ≈ BG > RR for both in-row and in-between-row samples implying high microbial activity under cover crop treatments. SPAD readings, growth stage, and end of season maize-stalk nitrate test results varied by site-year but were consistent with soil NH4+/NO3− dynamics. Results indicate that competition between the maize and perennial cover crops for water and N resources was weather dependent. Although previous research documented that the management system employed was able to overcome the yield drag associated with perennial cover crops, in our study maize yields for the perennial cover crop treatments were only one-third the yields for the controls. Overall, we conclude that the perennial cover crop system is capable of enhancing the sustainability of maize residue harvesting, but more work is needed to overcome the yield drag which may be caused by perennial cover crops under some conditions.
The nature and impact of neurobehavioral symptoms in neuronopathic Hunter syndrome

In neuronopathic Hunter syndrome, neurobehavioral symptoms are known to be serious but have been incompletely described. While families face significant stress stemming from this complex and far-reaching array of symptoms, neither caregiver burden nor the neurobehavioral symptoms have been measured comprehensively. We delineated these neurobehavioral characteristics and their impact on the caregiver using multiple approaches. Methods: As part of the initial phase of developing a Hunter-specific behavioral assessment tool, we used multiple methods to obtain data on patient behaviors and caregiver burden, with the intention of drafting item sets for the tool. We utilized 1) caregiver descriptions from focus groups and individual interviews, 2) observations from video-recorded play of affected children, 3) descriptions from historic chart review, 4) consultation with patient advocacy groups and international experts, 5) reports from a caregiver advisory board, and 6) literature review. Results: Neurobehavioral symptoms were diverse and categorized as focus/attention, impulsivity/heightened activity, sensation seeking, emotional/behavioral function, social interaction, and sleep. A significant reported challenge was susceptibility to misinterpretation of some behaviors as defiant or aggressive, particularly if physical. Caregiver burden involved social isolation, exhaustion, stress, and financial and vocational strain. These new descriptions will aid in developing quantitative measures of change in neurobehavioral symptoms and family burden. These descriptions will be the foundation of a neurobehavioral rating scale, which is very much needed to aid in patient management and assess interventions for individuals with neuronopathic Hunter syndrome.
Biomechanics of Intramedullary Nails Relative to Fracture Fixation and Deformity Correction

Modern intramedullary nailing began in the World War II era with Gerhard Kuntscher’s intramedullary implants. Multiple design advances have followed, and medullary nailing has become the workhorse in the armamentarium of the orthopedic trauma surgeon for long bone fracture and deformity care. Current nail design features that have an effect on nail biomechanics include the following: material (metal) properties, cross-sectional shape, diameter, curvature of the nail, and the ability to place interlocking devices (such as bolts). Extrinsic factors, such as reaming of the medullary canal, inherent fracture stability (fracture pattern, including comminution or spiral configuration), and the use of adjuncts for stability (such as blocking or “poller” screws), also affect biomechanics of fracture fixation. This chapter will describe biomechanics of intramedullary nailing, with illustrative examples.
Investigating Special Education Teachers' Knowledge and Skills: Preparing General Teacher Preparation for Professional Development.

Including students with special needs in the general education classroom requires that teachers adapt their approaches to teaching to meet all students’ needs. However, general education teachers are not always fully aware how best to serve special populations. This study examines what skills and knowledge special education educators feel that general education teachers and teacher candidates need in order to work with students with special needs in the inclusive environment. The researchers interviewed twenty special educators to ascertain which skills and knowledge are most commonly cited as vital to successful general education teacher/student with special needs interactions. Findings suggest that teacher education and professional development programs can benefit by providing a continuum of learning opportunities in three important areas. General educators should: first, make and carry out informed decisions, based on proper assessments data; second, develop appropriate understanding and compassion for students with special needs and their situations and third, learn to foster effective communication in and out of the classroom with all parties involved in educating this specific group of students.
Electronic structure of RuS 2

The electronic structure of the pyrite material ${\mathrm{RuS}}_{2}$ was investigated with use of self-consistent band-structure calculations and x-ray photoemission experiments. Short-range interactions are found to determine the grouping of bands, consistent with molecular-orbital and crystal-field analyses discussed in the literature for the related material ${\mathrm{FeS}}_{2}$. The occupied bands have small dispersion. However, the bottom of the first conduction band at the center of the Brillouin zone is found to have appreciable dispersion as characterized by an effective mass of approximately 0.5${m}_{e}$.
Incontinence outcomes after "second primary" compared to repeat midurethral sling for recurrent and persistent stress urinary incontinence.

The current study aims to assess the continence rate of a “second primary” midurethral sling (MUS) in women with recurrent/persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after sling excision compared to a historical cohort who underwent a repeat MUS. A retrospective cohort study of women who underwent excision of a primary MUS and placement of a “second primary” MUS from 2009 to 2016 compared to a historical cohort who underwent a repeat MUS from 2006 to 2009. The primary outcome was continence rate, defined as “not at all” or “somewhat” to Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) SUI subscale questions. Secondary outcomes included assessment of symptom severity (UDI-6), symptom-specific quality of life, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Medical and Epidemiologic Aspects of Aging (MESA), and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I). Survey responses were available for 23/64 (36%) in the “second primary” MUS group versus 88/135 (65%) in the historical cohort. Mean follow-up in months, second primary: 41.8 ± 26.1 versus repeat: 36.2 ± 14.1, p = 0.16 and age (years): 56.4 ± 10.7 versus 59.8 ± 10.8, p = 0.19. Continence rates were 48% in “second primary” versus 56% in the repeat group (p = 0.50). Both groups had significant improvement in questionnaire scores postoperatively with no intergroup differences. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that odds of success did not differ between groups (adjusted odds ratio: 0.73, 95% confidence interval: 0.27–1.99). In women with recurrent/persistent SUI, repeat and “second primary” MUS procedures demonstrate similar success outcomes and improvement in UI symptom distress and QOL. Continued research is needed for this increasingly important clinical question.
Objetivos transnacionales: El cine español del nuevo milenio

Although transnationality as a phenomenon is as old as film, the contemporary reflection on this topic and the plurality of approaches that converge on it have opened new lines of analysis to evaluate the impact that this reality exerts on the film industry. My intention in this study is to propose a typology that reflects the impact of transnationality in the specific case of Spanish film to explore the dynamics that control our cinematic production in the third millennium. I propose six segments to structure my approach to the Spanish film industry: 1. Production modes; 2. Transnational subjects; 3. Aesthetic registers; 4. Themes; 5. Ethics and ideology; 6. Critical and moviegoer reception. Within this framework, I will explore the dialectics between the national essence of Spanish film and its transnationality, the impact of different financial models, the multidirectional movements of our actors and directors, esthetic influences, the ethics of the industry and the response of critics and viewers to a film industry that swings between preserving and erasing its identity markers.
Briefing Note: Aligning International Investment Agreements with the Sustainable Development Goals

International investment agreements (“IIAs”) provide enforceable protections to foreign investors based on the premise that enforceable investor protections will stimulate greater foreign investment flows, which, in turn, are assumed to promote development. However, as understandings of both the effectiveness of these agreements as well as the effects of investment and investment governance on sustainable development have evolved, it is not clear that IIAs, as currently designed, are fit for their purpose of promoting development. Worse: they may be undermining efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Change is, therefore, essential. In this note, we summarize our proposal that IIAs should be designed and evaluated with respect to their ability to: • Encourage and channel investments that contribute to sustainable development, and do not support harm-causing investments; • Foster, and not constrain, responsible, SDG-advancing governance at the national level; and • Promote international cooperation to overcome transnational and collective action challenges related to the governance of international investment.
Redo Hemodialysis Access in Elderly Patients has Acceptable Outcomes With Similar Patency of Arteriovenous Fistulas as Compared to Grafts.

OBJECTIVES Selecting optimal hemodialysis access in elderly patients remains challenging, particularly in those requiring new options after failed initial access. We sought to describe the outcomes of redo hemodialysis access in elderly patients. METHODS All patients aged ≥65 undergoing hemodialysis access placement from 2014-2019 were retrospectively identified in the electronic medical record. Characteristics and outcomes of those with initial versus redo access were compared. Patency was depicted utilizing Kaplan-Meier methods, with censoring at loss to follow-up or death, and unadjusted Cox regression. RESULTS Overall, 211 elderly patients undergoing 257 procedures were included in the study. Of these, 116 (45.1%) were redo access procedures. There were no demographic or comorbidity differences between the two groups with the exception of central venous stenosis which was more common in the redo cohort (27.2% vs. 6.4%, P < 0.001). 91.5% of initial, vs. 60.3% of redo, procedures were arteriovenous fistulas (P < 0.001). Distribution of fistula type differed between the two groups with first time and redo procedures of 25.5% vs. 6.9% radiocephalic, 28.4% vs. 7.8% brachiocephalic, and 35.5% vs. 37.1% brachiobasilic respectively (P < 0.001). At 12 and 24 months, 63.6% and 44.0% of first-time accesses remained patent vs. 51% and 29.0% of redo accesses (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.05-1.80, P = 0.02). However, there was no difference in primary patency between redo grafts and fistulas (48.7% fistulas vs. 55.0% grafts at 12 months, P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate acceptable outcomes of redo access in elderly patients. There is no evidence from this study that prosthetic grafts are preferential, suggesting elderly patients with meaningful life expectancy who require redo access should be offered autogenous options when possible.
Exploiting Asynchronous Priority Scheduling in Parallel Eikonal Solvers.

Numerical solutions to the Eikonal equation are computed using variants of the fast marching method, the fast sweeping method, and the fast iterative method. In this paper, we provide a unified view of these algorithms that highlights their similarities and suggests a wider class of Eikonal solvers. We then use this framework to justify applying concurrent priority scheduling techniques to Eikonal solvers. We demonstrate that doing so results in good parallel performance for a problem from seismology. We explain why existing Eikonal solvers may produce different results despite using the same differencing scheme and demonstrate techniques to address these discrepancies. These techniques allow us to obtain deterministic output from our asynchronous fine-grained parallel Eikonal solver.
Survival and oncologic outcomes of complete transurethral resection of bladder tumor prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Abstract Objectives Prior studies have shown that pathologic complete response at radical cystectomy, a significant prognostic factor, can be attributed to both neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and high-quality transurethral resections (TURBT) prior to NAC. It remains unclear whether the visual completeness of TURBT prior to NAC plays an important role in subsequent outcomes. We sought to assess the association of completeness of TURBT prior to NAC with response and survival outcomes. Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed all patients with clinically localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer at our institution who received NAC from 2000 to 2017. Complete TURBT was defined as resection of all visible tumor in entirety, resection to normal-appearing muscle, and/or repeat pre-NAC TURBT revealing cT0. Patients who were restaged as cT0 after NAC and refused cystectomy were placed on an active surveillance/delayed intervention (ASDI) protocol. The primary endpoints were overall and cancer-specific survival. The secondary endpoints were recurrence-free and muscle-invasive recurrence-free survival. Results Of 93 patients, 62 (67%) underwent complete TURBT prior to chemotherapy. Compared to patients with incomplete TURBT, those with complete TURBT had lower rates of variant histology (13% vs. 32%) and hydronephrosis (15% vs. 39%). Also, 36% of patients with incomplete TURBT had ≥cT3 disease prior to NAC, compared to none in the complete TURBT cohort. Patients with complete TURBT were more likely to defer RC and pursue ASDI (61% vs. 32%). Those with complete TURBT had lower rates of pT2 or higher disease at cystectomy (48% vs. 75%), with a lower rate of N+ disease trending towards significance (17% vs. 37%). Patients with complete TURBT had higher 5-year overall (77% vs. 46%, P = 0.003) and cancer-specific (85% vs. 50%, P = 0.001) survival. On Cox regression analysis, complete TURBT was significantly associated with superior cancer-specific, recurrence-free, and muscle-invasive recurrence-free survival. Conclusions A complete TURBT prior to NAC is associated with improved survival and oncologic outcomes in this cohort with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The extent to which complete TURBT simply represents a proxy for less aggressive disease or is actually a beneficial therapeutic intervention which improves response to chemotherapy is difficult to define retrospectively.
Amidinate Supporting Ligands Influence Molecularity in Formation of Uranium Nitrides.

Uranium nitride complexes are attractive targets for chemists as molecular models for the bonding, reactivity, and magnetic properties of next-generation nuclear fuels, but these molecules are uncommon and can be difficult to isolate due to their high reactivity. Here, we describe the synthesis of three new multinuclear uranium nitride complexes, [U(BCMA)2]2(μ-N)(μ-κ1:κ1-BCMA) (7), [(U(BIMA)2)2(μ-N)(μ-NiPr)(K2(μ-η3:η3-CH2CHNiPr)]2 (8), and [U(BIMA)2]2(μ-N)(μ-κ1:κ1-BIMA) (9) (BCMA = N,N-bis(cyclohexyl)methylamidinate, BIMA = N,N-bis(iso-propyl)methylamidinate), from U(III) and U(IV) amidinate precursors. By varying the amidinate ligand substituents and azide source, we were able to influence the composition and size of these nitride complexes. 15N isotopic labeling experiments confirmed the bridging nitride moieties in 7-9 were formed via two-electron reduction of azide. The tetra-uranium cluster 8 was isolated in 99% yield via reductive cleavage of the amidinate ligands; this unusual molecule contains nitrogen-based ligands with formal 1-, 2-, and 3- charges. Additionally, chemical oxidation of the U(IV) precursor U(N3)(BCMA)3 yielded the cationic U(V) species [U(N3)(BCMA)3][OTf]. Magnetic susceptibility measurements confirmed a U(IV) oxidation state for the uranium centers in the three nitride-bridged complexes and provided a comparison of magnetic behavior in the structurally related U(III)-U(IV)-U(V) series U(BCMA)3, U(N3)(BCMA)3, and [U(N3)(BCMA)3][OTf]. At 240 K, the magnetic moments in this series decreased with increasing oxidation state, i.e., U(III) > U(IV) > U(V); this trend follows the decreasing number of 5f valence electrons along this series.
Faster Maxflow via Improved Dynamic Spectral Vertex Sparsifiers.

We make several advances broadly related to the maintenance of electrical flows in weighted graphs undergoing dynamic resistance updates, including: 1. More efficient dynamic spectral vertex sparsification, achieved by faster length estimation of random walks in weighted graphs using Morris counters [Morris 1978, Nelson-Yu 2020]. 2. A direct reduction from detecting edges with large energy in dynamic electric flows to dynamic spectral vertex sparsifiers. 3. A procedure for turning algorithms for estimating a sequence of vectors under updates from an oblivious adversary to one that tolerates adaptive adversaries via the Gaussian-mechanism from differential privacy. Combining these pieces with modifications to prior robust interior point frameworks gives an algorithm that on graphs with $m$ edges computes a mincost flow with edge costs and capacities in $[1, U]$ in time $\widetilde{O}(m^{3/2-1/58} \log^2 U)$. In prior and independent work, [Axiotis-M\k{a}dry-Vladu FOCS 2021] also obtained an improved algorithm for sparse mincost flows on capacitated graphs. Our algorithm implies a $\widetilde{O}(m^{3/2-1/58} \log U)$ time maxflow algorithm, improving over the $\widetilde{O}(m^{3/2-1/328}\log U)$ time maxflow algorithm of [Gao-Liu-Peng FOCS 2021].
Identifying research particiaption effects through qualitative methods: Feedback from Research Engagement Consultants involved in a pediatric mental health comparative effectiveness trial

Abstract Research participation effects (RPEs)—effects due to study design rather than study intervention—have long been acknowledged as a research phenomenon. Identifying RPEs is crucial to understanding the true effects of an intervention and outcomes may change during dissemination. Few researchers systematically identify the potential role of RPEs on their research findings, despite recent calls to capture these effects. This study demonstrates the utility of using qualitative methodologies to detect RPEs in a clinical trial. Research Engagement Consultants (RECs) were parents and children (N=19) who participated in a post-injury mental health trial in three Midwestern states. RECs were hired as part of the research team upon completion of their study participation. RECs participated in two semi-structured interviews detailing their experience in the study and their recovery process. Inter-coder reliability calculations were used iteratively to ensure coding consistency. Thematic analysis indicates that in addition to benefiting from the interventions being tested, RECs additionally reported benefitting from the study design in two primary ways: 1) contact with the research team provided social support; and 2) completion of specific data collection activities facilitated parent-child communication. Analysis of these interviews illustrates how embedding a qualitative evaluation process into clinical trials can help identify unintended RPEs and understand the potential effects of participating in the research process. Additionally, analysis of the qualitative data provides a quality improvement feedback loop to contextualize the results of the study; how the clinical trial environment may influence dissemination effectiveness; and how future research processes could potentially be strengthened. Trial registration number NCT02323204. Trial registry clinicaltrials.gov (US National Institutes of Health)
Clinical Significance, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Picornavirus Infections

The picornaviruses are a diverse group of human viral pathogens that together comprise the most common causes of infections of humans in the developed world. Within the picornavirus family are three well-known groups of human pathogens—the human rhinoviruses (HRVs), the enteroviruses (EVs) (including polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, and echoviruses), and the hepatoviruses (including hepatitis A). This chapter focuses on the rhinoviruses and enteroviruses. The HRVs include more than 100 serotypes in two main groups based on their cellular receptors. The major risk factor for HRV infection appears to be contact with young children. The majority of symptomatic EV infections in the United States are characterized by minor EV illnesses associated with fever and constitutional symptoms, with or without rashes. These illnesses are of clinical significance because they may mimic other diseases including bacterial sepsis, other viral exanthematous diseases, and herpes simplex infections. A recent review of EV-associated respiratory illnesses found that 46% of cases presented with upper respiratory infections, 13% with respiratory distress/apnea, 13% with pneumonia, 12% with otitis media, and fewer cases with bronchiolitis, wheezing, croup, and pharyngotonsillitis. New developments in the rapid diagnosis and therapy of these infections promise to significantly reduce the disease burden and the associated costs to affected individuals and to society.
Steady-State Control and Investigation of Root System Morphology

There has been an almost continuous interest in root growth and development over the past 100 years. This emphasis has lead to many studies of the interaction of roots with their environment. These studies have demonstrated that the edaphic environment is a primary effector as well as affecter of root growth and therefore whole plant growth and development. Russell in his book reviewing the literature on interaction between the root and its environment (1977) made an attempt to put much of this research in perspective and to point out clearly where major gaps in our knowledge still exist.
Enabling consumer behavior modification through real time energy pricing

During peak energy demand periods, demand response programs offer incentives to consumers who are willing to shift some of their energy consumption into later hours. In price-based demand response programs, energy pricing is considered an effective control signal for utility companies to reschedule electricity demand during peak hours. In this paper, a real-time closed-loop residential electricity price-based demand response system is proposed. Support vector machines are utilized to forecast the energy demand for each individual household participating in the system via a developed cloud application. An aggregator then accumulates the predicted demand for a local micro-grid to determine peak demand. The hourly electricity prices are then estimated and sent to the consumers to affect their electricity usage during peak hours. The consumer's response to the real time energy price is observed through meter readings using Green Button API.
Antidepressant Effects on Emotional Temperament: Toward a Biobehavioral Research Paradigm for Major Depressive Disorder

SUMMARY Background: Given the limited efficacy of current pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) and the historical decline in antidepressant development, there is increasing clinical urgency to develop more effective treatments. Objectives: To synthesize findings from clinical psychology and affective neuroscience related to the construct of emotional temperament; to examine the effects of antidepressants on the temperament dimensions of positive (PA) and negative affectivity (NA); and to propose a biobehavioral research paradigm for the treatment of MDD. Methods: We begin with an introduction to PA and NA, which emphasizes their construct development, historical context, and relevance to psychopathology. We then review studies of antidepressant effects on PA and NA, and explore two related hypotheses: (1) Cause-correction: The antidepressant response may fundamentally occur through changes in emotional temperament, with subsequent spread to syndrome or symptom changes; (2) preferential effects: Antidepressants with different mechanisms of action may have preferential effects on PA or NA. Results: Preliminary findings appear to support the cause-correction hypothesis; there is insufficient clinical evidence to support the preferential effects hypothesis. Conclusions: PA and NA are biologically based temperament dimensions, which modulate emotional, motivational, and behavioral responses to positive and negative incentives. They can be altered by antidepressants, and may independently contribute to depression improvement. In addition, the distinct biobehavioral features of PA and NA suggest that combined pharmacological and cognitive‐behavioral treatments targeting these dimensions may have specific, and perhaps, synergistic antidepressant effects.
Database-centric programming for wide-area sensor systems

A wide-area sensor system is a complex, dynamic, resource-rich collection of Internet-connected sensing devices. In this paper, we propose X-Tree Programming, a novel database-centric programming model for wide-area sensor systems designed to achieve the seemingly conflicting goals of expressiveness, ease of programming, and efficient distributed execution. To demonstrate the effectiveness of X-Tree Programming in achieving these goals, we have incorporated the model into IrisNet, a shared infrastructure for wide-area sensing, and developed several widely different applications, including a distributed infrastructure monitor running on 473 machines worldwide.