cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case of hemangioblastoma and central neurocytoma presenting as synchronous primary brain tumors in a young man

This study presents a very infrequent case of a young man with two different brain tumors. The peculiarity of this case is that both tumors appeared at the same time. The patient was admitted with headaches and confusion. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed two tumors, one in the posterior fossa and another in the intraventricular supratentorial space. These findings were initially interpreted as the same tumor with two different localizations, a very infrequent situation. A first surgery was performed to remove the posterior fossa tumor. The pathology confirmed an hemangioblastoma. Six months later, a second surgery was performed for the supratentorial tumor. The surgical aspect was totally different compared to the tumor of the posterior fossa, and the pathology confirmed a central neurocytoma. The authors made a bibliographic review and did not find references of this association.
Incidence and Causes of Overdiagnosis of Optic Neuritis

Importance Diagnostic error is an important source of medical error. Overdiagnosis of optic neuritis may prompt unnecessary and costly diagnostic tests, procedures, and treatments. Objective To assess the incidence of and characterize factors contributing to overdiagnosis of acute optic neuritis. Design, Setting, and Participants In this retrospective clinic-based cross-sectional study of new patient encounters, 122 patients referred for acute optic neuritis at a university-based Midwestern neuro-ophthalmology clinic between January 2014 and October 2016 were studied. Data were analyzed from September 2016 to July 2017. Interventions Definite diagnosis was determined by neuro-ophthalmologists. For patients with alterative diagnoses, the Diagnosis Error Evaluation and Research taxonomy tool was applied to categorize the type of diagnostic error. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the primary type of diagnostic error in patients erroneously diagnosed as having optic neuritis. Secondary outcomes included final diagnosis and interventions undergone prior to referral. Results A total of 122 patients were referred with acute optic neuritis during the study period; 88 (72.1%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 42.6 (14.0) years. Of these, 49 patients (40.2%; 95% CI, 31.4-49.4) were confirmed to have optic neuritis, and 73 (59.8%; 95% CI, 50.6-68.6) had an alternative diagnosis. The most common alternative diagnoses were headache and eye pain, functional visual loss, and other optic neuropathies, particularly nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The most common diagnostic error was eliciting or interpreting critical elements of history, which occurred in 24 of 73 patients (33%) with alternative diagnoses. Other common errors included errors weighing or considering alternative diagnoses (23 patients [32%]), errors weighing or interpreting physical examination findings (15 patients [21%]), and misinterpreting diagnostic test results (11 patients [15%]). In patients with alterative diagnoses, 12 (16%) had normal magnetic resonance imaging findings preceding the referral, 12 (16%) had received a lumbar puncture, and 8 (11%) had received unnecessary treatment with intravenous steroids. Conclusions and Relevance These data suggest that nearly 60% (95% CI, 50.6-68.6) of patients referred for optic neuritis have an alternative diagnosis, with the most common errors being overreliance on a single item of history and failure to consider alternative diagnoses. Understanding pitfalls leading to overdiagnosis of optic neuritis may improve clinicians’ diagnostic process.
Equitable Sharing and the American Ideal

This article argues that a requirement of equitable sharing, meaning that all the benefits and detriments of social life must be distributed in an equitable manner among all members of society, is part of the American social ideal as reflected in the society’s founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Related articles argue that a principle of equitable sharing inheres in what it means to be a democratic society, and that the Supreme Court has a viable and legitimate role to play in implementing equitable sharing.
The great divides in social entrepreneurship and where they lead us

While social entrepreneurship (SE) as a field of study has progressed some distance over the past four decades, it is plagued by many unanswered, yet fundamental, questions. The SE literature is filled with an abundance of disputes, controversies, and alternative perspectives. Although this can suggest a healthy and robust discipline, it can also raise questions regarding the legitimacy and relevancy of the field, and uncertainty regarding where it is headed. In this research, we provide a systematic overview of major unresolved issues characterizing the contemporary study of SE in the form of thirteen divides. These divides cover such issues as social value creation, social innovation, nature of the process, agents, entrepreneurial orientation, scalability, venture creation, revenue sources, organizational outcomes, efficacy, and the appropriate disciplinary home. Rather than taking sides on each divide, we discuss how these diverse perspectives can be accommodated based on the process perspective. We present an inclusive approach to SE that provides a common platform for advancing the field while allowing for diverse streams of research.
Compounding Benefits of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Perineal Melanoma: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Introduction Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the treatment of melanoma is known to provide valuable prognostic information. However, there is no literature describing an overall or disease-specific survival (DDS) benefit of SLNB. In the perineum, melanoma is often more advanced at presentation with current treatment guidelines translated from nonanatomic specific melanoma. As a result, there is little understanding surrounding the role of SLNB in melanoma of the perineum. Our objective is to better understand the therapeutic benefits of SLNB in perineal melanoma. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program is a large population-based cancer registry including survival data from millions of patients in the United States. The registry was used to generate patient data for analysis from 2004 to 2016. Inclusion criteria included melanoma of the perineum; Breslow depth of 0.80 mm or greater and less than 0.80 mm with ulceration; SLNB or no intervention; clinically negative nodal disease; and available overall survival data. Results For 879 patients from 2004 to 2016 with perineal melanoma, significant predictors of reduced survival include older than 75 years, Clark level IV-V, Breslow depth of greater than 4.00 mm, positive ulceration status, regional and distant nodal micrometastases, and clinically positive nodes on presentation. Aggregates for overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were improved with implementation of SLNB. The 5-year survival rates with SLNB versus no SLNB were 54.0% and 43.0% for OS (P = 0.001) and 57.8% and 53.1% for DSS (P = 0.044). Stratification by Breslow depth yielded significant OS and DSS advantage for greater than 1.00 to 2.00 mm (21.3% benefit, P =0.021, and 16.8% benefit, P = 0.044) and greater than 4.00 mm (30.3% benefit, P = 0.005, and 21.0% benefit, P = 0.007) Breslow depths. Conclusions and relevance Sentinel lymph node biopsy may provide therapeutic benefits in addition to prognostic information for melanoma of the perineum through an increase in 5-year OS.
The Glucose-Lowering Effects of Coconut Oil: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background Coconut oil, a saturated fat comprised mostly of the medium-chain fatty acid, lauric acid, has become increasingly popular over the past few decades due to its touted anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and lipid-lowering properties. There have been many studies with mixed results evaluating the effects of coconut oil consumption on lipid metabolism and cardiometabolic risk. However, the effects on glucose metabolism are less clear. There are few trials on the effects of coconut oil on glucose homeostasis but no case reports prior to the current one. Case We present a case of a 66-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes managed with insulin who developed recurrent hypoglycemia and required reduction in insulin therapy quickly after consuming coconut oil supplementation. Conclusion This is the first known case report of coconut oil supplementation in a diabetic patient on insulin resulting in hypoglycemia. Review of the literature shows that coconut oil supplementation can have a favorable effect on glycemic control, possibly through phenolic compounds mediating anti-inflammatory effects. This effect is inconsistent throughout the studies reviewed, likely due to variations in types of coconut oil supplementation and scarcity of trials. Further research is required both in animal models and in humans before coconut oil intake is widely advised and popularized. This is especially true in patients with diabetes, who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and in whom reduction in saturated fat intake is advised.
SERJ 2019 REFEREES

Acknowledgment: We are grateful to the people who acted as referees for the Statistics Education Research Journal in the past year. First published November 2019 at Statistics Education Research Journal Archives
How Does Contingent Work Affect SSDI Benefits

Some studies have found that contingent workers – including independent contractors, consultants, and those in temporary, on-call, and “gig economy” jobs – make up an increasing share of the labor force. How does this group of workers interact with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)? This project uses the Health and Retirement Study linked to administrative data on SSDI applications and earnings to answer this question. Specifically, the paper examines how SSDI application, receipt, potential benefits, and insurance status differ for workers who hold contingent arrangements in their 50s and early 60s, compared to those who work in more traditional jobs at those ages. This study is among the first to examine how contingent work is likely to affect participation in a public program, specifically disability benefits. The study finds that SSDI application rates are about one-quarter smaller for older eligible contingent workers than for traditional workers of the same ages. Contingent workers are also about one-third less likely to be awarded disability benefits. The lower application and award rates are likely due in part to contingent workers’ lower eligibility rates and lower potential benefits. The application and award rates are also lower for contingent workers who have a chronic condition, work limitation, or limitation in their Activities of Daily Living. These results suggest that contingent workers would benefit from a greater availability of information and assistance in navigating the SSDI application process.
Oncogene-specific inhibition in the treatment of advanced pediatric thyroid cancer

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common form of differentiated thyroid cancer in the pediatric population and represents the second most common malignancy in adolescent females. Historically, PTC has been classified on the basis of histology, however, accumulating data indicate that molecular subtyping based on somatic oncogenic alterations along with gene expression profiling can better predict clinical behavior and may provide opportunities to incorporate oncogene-specific inhibitory therapy to improve the response to radioactive iodine (RAI). In this issue of the JCI, Y.A. Lee, H. Lee, and colleagues showed that oncogenic fusions were more commonly associated with invasive disease, increased expression of MAPK signaling pathway genes (ERK score), and decreased expression of the sodium-iodine symporter, which was restored by RET- and NTRK-inhibitory therapy. These findings lend credence to the idea of reclassifying pediatric thyroid cancers using a three-tiered system, rather than the two-tiered adult system, and open avenues for the treatment of progressive, RAI-refractory PTC in patients.
The use of radiocarbon (14C) to identify human skeletal materials of forensic science interest.

The radiocarbon (14C) method is a well-known isotopic dating technique by which age can be assigned to organic materials, including human bone. Natural and anthropogenic anomalies in 14C activity in the biosphere over the last few centuries, including the presence of artificial or “bomb” 14C after 1950, can be used as an isotopic tracer to assign human bone samples with high degrees of probability to one of three temporal periods within the recent past: a Non-modern period (before about A.D. 1650) of no forensic science interest, a Pre-modern period (A.D. 1650 to 1950) of possible or potential forensic science interest, and a Modern period (A.D. 1950 to the present) of definite forensic science interest. We illustrate the use of the 14C method to assign human bone in five forensic science cases to one of these time periods.
Wavelet‐Based Tests for Comparing Two Time Series with Unequal Lengths

Test procedures for assessing whether two stationary and independent time series with unequal lengths have the same spectral density (or same auto-covariance function) are investigated. A new test statistic is proposed based on the wavelet transform. It relies on empirical wavelet coefficients of the logarithm of two spectral densities' ratio. Under the null hypothesis that two spectral densities are the same, the asymptotic normal distribution of the empirical wavelet coeffcients is derived. Furthermore, these empirical wavelet coefficients are asymptotically uncorrelated. A test statistic is proposed based on these results. The performance of the new test statistic is compared to several recent test statistics, with respect to their exact levels and powers. Simulation studies show that our proposed test is very comparable to the current test statistics in most cases. The main advantage of our proposed test statistic is that it is constructed very simply and is easy to implement.
Interconnect Parasitic Extraction Tool for Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits

A tool to model interconnect parasitics in radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuits (RFICs) is presented. Accurate modeling is achieved by combining a detailed RLC wire model together with a distributed RC substrate model. Wire geometry is fractured to ensure accurate modeling of wave propagation as well as displacement current due to substrate losses. The wire model includes resistance and coupled capacitance together with self and mutual inductance. The necessity of including a distributed RC model of the substrate is stressed. RLC reduction at the end of parasitic extraction allows for fast simulation of the complete model. Accuracy and performance are demonstrated by comparing the values extracted by the tool against results from existing computer software as well as against silicon measurements.
INDUSTRIAL USE OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY

Examples are given of industrial utilization of aerospace technology generated through the NASA space programs.
Chemical and transient state kinetic studies on the formation and decomposition of horseradish peroxidase compounds XI and XII.

Previous studies on the chlorination reaction catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase using chlorite as the source of chlorine detected the formation of a chlorinating intermediate that was termed Compound X (Shahangian, S., and Hager, L.P. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 11529-11533). These studies indicated that at pH 10.7, the optical absorption spectrum of Compound X was similar to the spectrum of horseradish peroxidase Compound II. Compound X was shown to be quite stable at alkaline pH values. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the oxidation state of the iron protoporphyrin IX heme prosthetic group in Compound X and the chemistry of the halogenating intermediate. The experimental results show that the optical absorption properties and the oxidation state of the heme prosthetic group in horseradish peroxidase are not directly related to the presence of the activated chlorine atom in the intermediate. The oxyferryl porphyrin heme group in alkaline Compound X can be reduced to a ferric heme species that still retains the activated chlorine atom. Furthermore, the reaction of chlorite with horseradish peroxidase at acidic pH leads to the secondary formation of a green intermediate that has the spectral properties of horseradish peroxidase Compound I (Theorell, H. (1941) Enzymologia 10, 250-252). The green intermediate also retains the activated chlorine atom. By analogy to peroxidase Compound I chemistry, the heme prosthetic group in the green chlorinating intermediate must be an oxyferryl porphyrin pi-cation radical species (Roberts, J. E., Hoffman, B. M., Rutter, R. J., and Hager, L. P. (1981) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103, 7654-7656). To be consistent with traditional peroxidase nomenclature, the red alkaline form of Compound X has been renamed Compound XII, and the green acidic form has been named Compound XI. The transfer of chlorine from the chlorinating intermediate to an acceptor molecule follows an electrophilic (rather than a free radical) path. A mechanism for the reaction is proposed in which the activated chlorine atom is bonded to a heteroatom on an active-site amino acid side chain. Transient state kinetic studies show that the initial intermediate, Compound XII, is formed in a very fast reaction. The second-order rate constant for the formation of Compound XII is approximately 1.1 x 10(7) M-1 s-1. The rate of formation of Compound XII is strongly pH-dependent. At pH 9, the second-order rate constant for the formation of Compound XII drops to 1.5 M-1 s-1. At acidic pH values, Compound XII undergoes a spontaneous first-order decay to yield Compound XI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
An Experiment to Increase Online Archival Accessibility: Using Unique Page Views to Measure Online Efficiency

The authors, Prof. Jonathan Dembo and Prof. Mark Custer have used Unique Page Views generated by Google Analytics to identify and track ten of the least used online manuscript finding aids on the Special Collections Department home page of the J. Y. Joyner Library website at East Carolina University. The authors are unaware of previous attempts to use online access statistics to identify and select archival finding aids for experimental purposes. They are also unaware of any previous attempt to use online access statistics, Unique Page Views (UPV's) or Google Analytics to track and assess the results of finding aid revision experiments. In their experiment, Prof. Custer first generated reports showing Unique Page Views of each online finding aid. Prof. Dembo then revised the finding aids to add information to selected elements, including biographical / historical notes, scope notes, accession information, and inventories. He then tracked the changes in unique page views over more than a year. The authors' findings demonstrate that increasing detail to the finding aids had a dramatic impact on unique page views received. Comparable finding aids selected as a control sample increased at a fraction of the rate of the revised finding aids. Moreover, the authors provide evidence to show that revisions to specific online finding aid elements significantly impacted the relative ranking of the finding aids on the website. Prof. Custer who developed Google Analytics as a research tool at Joyner Library has provided Notes on Technical and Statistical Methods. The authors have also provided five tables illustrating the results and providing web addresses for all the finding aids included in the experiment.
Specificity determinants for bacteriophage lambda DNA replication: I. A chain of interactions that controls the initiation of replication☆

The genetic elements which control autonomous DNA replication differ in functional specificity among coliphage λ, the coliphages φ80 and 82, and the Salmonella phage P22. Hybrid phages derived by genetic recombination between λ and each of these related phages have been used to define and to localize specificity determinants for DNA replication. In λ-P22 hybrid phages (Hilliker & Botstein, 1976) the replication control elements segregate as an intact unit. By contrast, some viable λ-φ80 and λ.82 hybrid phages arise by recombination within the replication control region, in a small interval inside structural gene O. From the properties of such hybrid phages, we infer that the O gene product of λ and the functionally equivalent proteins of φ80 and 82 each interact with a specific nucleotide sequence in the cognate ori site, the DNA target for control of the origin of replication. With respect to this interaction, both the O products and the receptor sequences within ori show stringent type specificity. The donor and receptor specificity determinants for the ori-O interaction lie within an interval of less than 400 base-pairs. The O gene product also interacts with the product of replication gene P (Tomizawa, 1971). The O-P interaction displays limited type specificity; the P-like protein of φ80 can function together with the O protein of λ, but the P protein of λ cannot function with the O-like protein of φ80. The specificity determinants for the O-P interaction can be separated from those for the ori-O interaction. We propose that a chain of interactions between ori, O product, P product, and replication functions of the bacterial host, Escherichia coli, controls specific template selection and the assembly of the essential replication apparatus in the initiation of λ DNA replication.
The effectiveness of thin metallic films in overcoming hemorrhage

Summary Metallic films with thicknesses of 0.0000036 and 0.0000072 inches have been applied to transected hepatic surfaces and in every case have successfully stopped exsanguinating hemorrhage. Pathological examination has revealed fragmentation of the leaf within several days, with gradual encasement in a smooth fibroustissue reaction. No excessive tissue reaction has been noted, and there has been no evidence of acute inflammation. The electrostatic charge on the foil plays no role in its adherence to tissue. The adherence is probably a phenomenon of surface tension, with the force of adherence lying between 300 and 500 dynes per centimeter. Similar results have been noted with gold and silver leaf, and comparable behavior is predicted for any inert metallic leaf of like thickness.
BEAN: A BEhavior ANalysis Approach of URL Spam Filtering in Twitter

Social websites, like Twitter and Facebook, strive to detect and remove URL spam in order to keep their users happy and coming back. Although researchers have already proposed many filtering approaches such as SpamRank and TrustRank, most of which detect URL spam using content analysis on the Web pages behind or link analysis on Web graph, it is challenging to automatically detect URL spam in social media as spammers keep evolving and advancing their techniques, such as cloaking based on the IP addresses, using multiple user accounts and redirectors. In this paper, we introduce BEAN, a behavior analysis technique, which detects URL spam by capturing the anomalous message sending behaviors of spammers. Twitter is an ideal place for our analysis due to its popularity and real-time properties. We collect over 2.4 million tweets from around a million users based on Twitter trending topics for 4 months. We apply our behavior analysis approach derived from a Markov Chain model to the Twitter dataset, and achieve a precision of 0.91 and recall of 0.88. In doing so we detected a lot of URL spam that cannot be filtered out by conventional approaches such as SVM and TrustRank, indicating that our approach is a good complement to existing URL spam detection techniques. Also, we further investigate anomalous behavior patterns of spammers in spreading URL spam to confirm our assumption.
Body mass estimation from knee breadth, with application to early hominins.

Objectives The estimation of living body mass from skeletal dimensions is an important component of many studies of early hominins and more recent human archaeological remains. Most previous investigations have concentrated on weight-bearing elements of the lower limb, in particular the femoral head. In this study, we develop new body mass estimation equations derived from measurements of the knee in a modern sample of known body mass, and use them to estimate body mass in 11 fossil hominin specimens (including Au. africanus, Au. afarensis, and early Homo). Materials and Methods The reference sample consisted of 100 living subjects who participated in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Mediolateral breadth measurements were taken from radiographs of the knee, and regressed against recorded body weight to generate body mass estimation equations. Results Knee dimensions were generally found to be good predictors of body mass in the modern human sample, with median absolute percent prediction errors of 7 to 9% (comparable to or better than previously reported equations derived from the femoral head). Taxon-average estimated body masses were 46.1 kg for Au. afarensis, 38.4 kg for Au. africanus, and 53.6 kg for early Homo. Discussion Estimates for early Homo were similar to or smaller than those generated previously from the femoral head. Estimates for australopiths, however, were larger than those generated from femoral head equations. This result is consistent with other evidence that the femoral head was relatively unloaded in australopiths compared with Homo, possibly due to subtle differences in gait. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:198–208, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Needle Insertion Force Model for Haptic Simulation

Percutaneous medical procedures rely upon clinicians performing precise needle insertion in soft tissue. The utility of haptic simulation systems in training clinicians for these procedures is highly dependent upon the ability to render accurate insertion force feedback. This paper presents a piecewise mathematical model for insertion force that does not require tissue material properties, detailed mechanical approximations, or complex computations. With manipulation of model parameters, a wide variety of insertion tasks and clinical scenarios can be modeled. Through needle insertion experiments and parameter estimation, this model was demonstrated to replicate the insertion forces associated with a variety of needle and tissue types. In 11 of 12 needle and tissue combinations tested, the model replicated the insertion force with an average absolute mean error of less than 0.065 N.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Antiretroviral medication diversion in South Florida: Prescription types and motivations

This research was supported by NIH Grant Number R01DA023157. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. James A. Inciardi. •The Miami area had the highest rate of new HIV infections in the nation in 2011 at 46 cases per 100,000 population (CDC, 2013). •ARV medication diversion in South Florida includes HIV positive individuals who sell or trade their prescribed ARV medications. •Little is known specifically about motivations for ARV medication diversion and commonly diverted ARV medications. •ARV diversion has potentially significant public health consequences including compromised adherence to needed ARV medication regimens. •The market for selling ARV medications appears to be established, with 80% recently selling to pill brokers, and the study participants selling an average of seven times. •Diverters do not consistently adhere to their own ARV regimens (only 37.8% report 95% adherence). •Diverters of ARV medication have substance related economic challenges which could be motivations for selling the medication: •70.1% reported they first diverted for money for drugs or alcohol. •42.4% earned less than $500 a month, however the mean monthly spending on alcohol and drugs is $485 a month. • In addition, many have high levels of unmet basic needs: •51.8% reported recent food or housing insecurity. •46.2% are unemployed.
Chromosome rearrangement patterns of an SD chromosome (SDKona-2) in Drosophila melanogaster caused by hybrid dysgenesis.

The types and frequencies of spontaneous chromosome rearrangements caused by hybrid dysgenesis were studied in a second chromosome autosome of Drosophila melanogaster. This second chromosome, being...
Chest Radiography in Supporting the Diagnosis of Asthma in Children with Persistent Cough

AbstractObjective: To establish whether chest radiographic findings suggestive of lower airway obstruction (LAO) disease support the diagnosis of asthma in pediatric patients with persistent cough in an outpatient setting. Methods: 180 patient charts were reviewed. The patients were children aged 1 to 18 years referred over a 3–year period to a pediatric pulmonary subspecialty clinic for evaluation of cough lasting ≥ 4 weeks. Chest radiographic images obtained after the initial evaluation of 90 patients diagnosed with cough–variant asthma and 90 patients diagnosed with persistent cough from nonasthma origins were compared with radiologic findings of a control group consisting of patients with a positive tuberculin skin test and no respiratory symptoms. Increased peribronchial markings/peribronchial cuffing and hyperinflation were considered radiographically suggestive findings of LAO disease. Results: Children diagnosed with cough–variant asthma at the initial evaluation had higher rates of chest radiogra...
Society of Hospital Medicine Glycemic Control Task Force summary: practical recommendations for assessing the impact of glycemic control efforts.

5 University of California San Diego, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, San Diego, California D ata collection, analysis, and presentation are key to the success of any hospital glycemic control initiative. Such efforts enable the management team to track improvements in processes and outcomes, make necessary changes to their quality improvement efforts, justify the provision of necessary time and resources, and share their results with others. Reliable metrics for assessing glycemic control and frequency of hypoglycemia are essential to accomplish these tasks and to assess whether interventions result in more benefit than harm. Hypoglycemia metrics must be especially convincing because fear of hypoglycemia remains a major source of clinical inertia, impeding efforts to improve glucose control. Currently, there are no official standards or guidelines for formulating metrics on the quality of inpatient glycemic control. This creates several problems. First, different metrics vary in their biases and in their responsiveness to change. Thus, use of a poor metric could lead to either a falsely positive or falsely negative impression that a quality improvement intervention is in fact improving glycemic control. Second, the proliferation of different measures and analytical plans in the research and quality improvement literature make it very difficult for hospitals to compare baseline performance, determine need for improvement, and understand which interventionsmay bemost effective. A related article in this supplement provides the rationale for improved inpatient glycemic control. That article argues that the current state of inpatient glycemic control, with the frequent occurrence of severe hyperglycemia and irrational insulin ordering, cannot be considered acceptable, especially given the large body of data (albeit largely observational) linking hyperglycemia to negative patient outcomes. However, regardless of whether one is an advocate or skeptic of tighter glucose control in the intensive care unit (ICU) and especially the non-ICU setting, there is no question that standardized, valid, and reliable metrics are needed to compare efforts to improve glycemic control, better understand whether such control actually improves patient care, and closely monitor patient safety. This article provides a summary of practical suggestions to assess glycemic control, insulin use patterns, and safety (hypoglycemia and severe hyperglycemia). In particular, we discuss the pros and cons of various measurement choices. We conclude with a tiered summary of recommendations for practical metrics No honoraria were paid to any authors for time and expertise spent on the writing of this article.
QUANTUM WELL EXCITONS AT LOW DENSITY

In this paper, we give an overview of our recent work in the quest for Bose–Einstein condensation of spatially indirect excitons. After discussing the benefits of using such particles as the participants of this intriguing quantum phase transition, we turn to the experimental difficulties and obstacles in the way to a successful realization of excitonic BEC.
Storage of Structured Beef Steakettes Produced with Algin/Calcium/Adipic Acid Gel

Binding properties and shelf-life characteristics of solid-muscle structured beef produced with algin/calcium/adipic acid binding gel were evaluated. Juncture binding strength and surface discoloration were not affected by refrigerated storage of meat blocks up to 35 days. Fresh steakettes had stronger muscle junctures than frozen steakettes in both raw and cooked forms. Rancidity development was greatest in steakettes stored in oxygen permeable packages. Results indicated structured meat products bound with algin/calcium/adipic acid gel maintained integrity following extended refrigerated and/or frozen storage.
Successful cryothermal ablation for Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia after radiofrequency ablation failure

Background Catheter ablation is the preferred management approach for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Cryothermal ablation (Cryo) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are the two clinically available ablation modalities. Atrioventricular (AV) block is a concerning potential complication and is commonly preceded by transient AV block or rapid junctional beats when using RFA. For challenging AVNRT cases, where RFA produced signs of impending AV block, we evaluate the application of Cryo to the same anatomical location where RFA was abandoned.
C9orf72 hypermethylation protects against repeat expansion-associated pathology in ALS/FTD

Hexanucleotide repeat expansions of C9orf72 are the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal degeneration. The mutation is associated with reduced C9orf72 expression and the accumulation of potentially toxic RNA and protein aggregates. CpG methylation is known to protect the genome against unstable DNA elements and to stably silence inappropriate gene expression. Using bisulfite cloning and restriction enzyme-based methylation assays on DNA from human brain and peripheral blood, we observed CpG hypermethylation involving the C9orf72 promoter in cis to the repeat expansion mutation in approximately one-third of C9orf72 repeat expansion mutation carriers. Promoter hypermethylation of mutant C9orf72 was associated with transcriptional silencing of C9orf72 in patient-derived lymphoblast cell lines, resulting in reduced accumulation of intronic C9orf72 RNA and reduced numbers of RNA foci. Furthermore, demethylation of mutant C9orf72 with 5-aza-deoxycytidine resulted in increased vulnerability of mutant cells to oxidative and autophagic stress. Promoter hypermethylation of repeat expansion carriers was also associated with reduced accumulation of RNA foci and dipeptide repeat protein aggregates in human brains. These results indicate that C9orf72 promoter hypermethylation prevents downstream molecular aberrations associated with the hexanucleotide repeat expansion, suggesting that epigenetic silencing of the mutant C9orf72 allele may represent a protective counter-regulatory response to hexanucleotide repeat expansion.
A dihedral angle-vicinal proton coupling constant correlation for the α–β bond of amino acid residues

A coupling constant-dihedral angle correlation for the HCαCβH system of amino acid residues in peptides has been derived from a set of model compounds covering the full range of dihedral angles. The expression obtained, J = 11.0 cos2 θ −1.4 cos θ + 1.6 sin2θ, is close to those already used in pmr studies of peptide conformation, and provides a firmer foundation for them. A factor limiting the precision of this and other “Karplus relations” is illustrated.
Identification of Differentially Secreted Biomarkers using LC-MS/MS in Isogenic Cell Lines Representing a Progression of Breast Cancer

Proteins secreted (the secretome) from cancer cells are potentially useful as biomarkers of the disease. Using LC-MS/MS, the secreted proteomes from a series of isogenic breast cancer cell lines va...
Cigarette smoke condensate affects the collagen-degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts

Background and Objective: Cigarette smoke condensate, the particulate matter of cigarette smoke, is composed of thousands of chemicals, including nicotine. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease. This study investigated the influence of cigarette smoke condensate on the collagen-degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts and its mechanism. Material and Methods: Human gingival fibroblasts were exposed for 72 h to various concentrations of total particulate matter cigarette smoke condensate. Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were evaluated using water-soluble tetrazolium-1 and lactate dehydrogenase, respectively. The collagen-degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts was evaluated in collagen-coated six-well plates. Conditioned media and membrane extracts were collected for zymography and western blot analyses of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Results: Cell proliferation decreased and cytotoxicity increased in human gingival fibroblasts with increasing concentrations of cigarette smoke condensate. Cell proliferation decreased by more than 50% (p < 0.05) when the concentrations of total particulate matter cigarette smoke condensate were above 200 μg/mL, and cytotoxicity increased to more than 30% (p < 0.05) when the concentrations of total particulate matter cigarette smoke condensate were above 400 μg/mL. Cigarette smoke condensate increased the collagen-degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts, especially at a concentration of 100 μg/mL (1.5-fold increase, p < 0.05) compared with the control. Cigarette smoke condensate increased the production of proMMP-1, proMMP-2, MMP-14 and TIMP-1, and decreased the production of TIMP-2, in conditioned media. Furthermore, compared with the control group, cigarette smoke condensate increased the production of MMP-2, MMP-14 and TIMP-2 in membrane extracts, especially at concentrations of 50–100 μg/mL. Conclusion: Cigarette smoke condensate affects human gingival fibroblast proliferation and is toxic at total particulate matter cigarette smoke condensate concentrations of ≥ 400 μg/mL. Cigarette smoke condensate can increase the collagen-degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts by altering the production and localization of MMPs and TIMPs.
Eighteen year weight trajectories and metabolic markers of diabetes in modernising China.

Aims/Hypothesis Although obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, little is known about weight gain trajectories across adulthood, and whether they are differentially associated with metabolic markers of diabetes.
Approximation of the delta function by wavelets

Abstract Approximation of the delta distribution by functions associated with wavelets is studied. These functions, the reproducing kernels of the dilation subspaces, are shown to converge to δ(x − y) in the Sobolev space H−α. The error rate is found and three applications are given.
Primary leiomyosarcoma of ureter

Abstract The tenth case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the ureter is reported, and previous cases are summarized. It is the first example studied by percutaneous pyelography and ultrasonography. The former was more informative than retrograde ureterography. The ultrasonic study suggested a cystic lesion rather than the solid tumor encountered. Nephroureterectomy, selective paraaortic node dissection, and radiotherapy were used, but distant metastasis and death ensued fifteen months later.
Predictive variable selection for the multivariate linear model.

SUMMARY We develop a predictive Bayesian approach to variable selection in the multivariate linear model. A criterion derived from the Bayesian predictive density is proposed and a calibration is provided for it. Reference and informative priors are discussed, and an automated method that focuses on the response variable is proposed for specifying informative priors for the regression parameters. Relationships between the proposed criterion and other several well-known criteria are examined. Illustrative examples involving real data are given to demonstrate the methodology.
Kappa light chain--myeloma associated with adult Fanconi syndrome: response of the nephropathy to treatment of myeloma.

The association of Bence Jones proteinuria with adult Fanconi syndrome has been reported in a small number of patients. The nephropathy and the Bence Jones proteinuria often precede by several years the diagnosis of frank myeloma. A 39-year-old woman developed renal glucosuria 2.5 years prior to the diagnosis of a plasma cell disease characterized by k Bence Jones proteinuria, osteolytic lesions, and histologically proven plasmacytomas. Serum phosphorus of 1.1–2.1 mg/dl and uric acid of 1.3–1.6 mg/dl were compatible with Fanconi syndrome. Glucosuria was constantly present, while the glucose tolerance test was normal. Urinary β2 microglobulin (β2M) excretion was up to 135 mg/24 hours (normal less than 0.14 mg), indicating failure of tubular absorption of this protein. Amino-aciduria was noted. The patient's myeloma responded to irradiation followed by melphalan plus prednisone and vincristine; the result was a marked reduction of the Bence Jones proteinuria. Some of the manifestations of the Fanconi syndrome disappeared, while the others were markedly reduced; this included disappearance of the glucosuria, elevation of the serum phosphorus and uric acid to normal, decrease of the urinary amino acid excretion to the normal range in 11 of the 14 amino acids tested, and decrease in the β2 M excretion to 5.4 mg/24 hours. The response of the Fanconi syndrome to the treatment of myeloma supports the view that the nephropathy is due to the myeloma process, probably through renal tubular injury induced by Bence Jones proteinuria.
The density and photosensitivity of human rhodopsin in the living retina

1. The visual pigment in a 5° circular patch of the living human retina 18° temporal from the fovea was studied with the Rushton retinal densitometer. The measuring light (570 nm) was selected to obviate artifacts from colour photoproducts. 2. The action spectrum of a 10% bleach agrees well with the action spectrum at absolute threshold for the same patch of retina. The quantized C.I.E. scotopic spectral sensitivity curve is a good description of both spectra. Therefore, the visual pigment studied must be human rhodopsin. 3. Its density has been estimated in five different ways. The results are in reasonable agreement. The optical density of human rhodopsin in vivo is about 0·35 (common logarithmic units) at its γmax. 4. The photosensitivity of human rhodopsin in vivo was determined by studying its rate of bleaching in response to steps of monochromatic light exposed to the dark adapted eye, by measuring the amount bleached in the steady state by monochromatic lights as well as the amount bleached by 10 sec flashes of white light. 5. The results obtained by the different methods are in good agreement with each other and with previous estimates made by others using white light. 6. The photosensitivity of human rhodopsin in vivo [eγmax = 62,000 to 120,000 l./cm mole] is much higher than expected from in vitro measurements.
SOCIAL NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES AND THE MORAL ECONOMY OF ALTERNATIVE TOURISM: THE CASE OF COUCHSURFING.ORG

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the role social networking technologies play in the moral economy of alternative tourism. The study takes as its empirical focus the online hospitality exchange network Couchsurfing. Using the concept of ‘moral affordances’, the analysis outlines the way Couchsurfing’s technical systems, software design, and search algorithms enable participants to engage in a moral economy based on the non-commodified provision of accommodation to strangers and personal relations of trust and intimacy. Findings suggest that these affordances are not isolated effects of the technologies themselves, but rather reflect a broader moral landscape in which alternative tourism is performed.
Counterinsurgency and the M-VICO System: Human Relations Area Files and anthropology's dual-use legacy

Over the past decade, ANTHROPOLOGY TODAY has published a number of features covering the relationship between anthropology and the security state. Here, David Price draws attention to an aborted counterinsurgency project, known as the M-VICO project. Building on the categories and structures employed in the Human Relation Area Files (HRAF), this project relied on anthropologists to encode data cross-culturally on all forms of behaviour in as many strategic localities as possible, which the security services subsequently scrutinize and probe for possible weaknesses that could be exploited. In this article, David Price shows that, in the secrecy that often surrounds the financing and precise purposes of its projects, anthropology is not all that different from many other disciplines, with some projects serving what he calls ‘dual-use’ ends. Since civilian researchers are not supposed to have full knowledge of these ends, research into these semi-covert purposes is particularly challenging.
Alternative decision-makers' perspectives on assent and dissent for dementia research.

Objectives Investigators generally address the ethical dilemma of patients' decisional impairment in Alzheimer disease (AD) research by obtaining consent from alternative or surrogate decision makers ("proxies") as well as assent from patients. How these proxies conceptualize patient assent, or lack of objection, to participate may influence decisions made of the patients' behalf, but has been little studied. This report examines statements of proxies relevant to how they conceptualized assent and dissent to research. Design Surveys and in-depth interviews of proxies presented with hypothetical scenario related to enrolling relatives with AD in a clinical trial of an investigational drug for AD. Participants Proxies (n = 25) for people with AD. Measurements Open-ended and rating-scaled items assessing perspectives on enrollment in research, influences on decision-making, and willingness to override a relative's preferences regarding research participation. Statements with relevance to assent or dissent were coded. Results Proxies described looking for consistent behavioral or verbal indications of assent versus objection when trying to determine patients' preferences. However, proxies sometimes expressed willingness to override patients' desires in favor of patients' presumed best interests. The amnestic nature of the disorder led some proxies to justify overriding temporary dissent or discomfort in the interest of promoting patients' values. Patients' dependence on their caregivers for decision-making, and caregivers' awareness of their ability to persuade their relatives, also emerged in descriptions of the decision-making process. Conclusions Proxies' statements regarding a hypothetical research enrollment decision revealed several themes with implications for the concepts of assent and dissent. Proxies may persuade or influence patients to promote the patient's best interests or values. Further work, particularly examining actual decision-making, is warranted to determine how best to operationalize the concepts of assent and dissent in the context of research involving decisionally impaired adults.