cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ascending aortic thrombi in the absence of valvular pathology: a rare cause of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

A 53-year-old male presented emergently with typical chest pain for 1 h; ECG was diagnostic of an ST-segment elevation inferior infarction. Right coronary angiogram revealed an acute obstruction of the …
Thermochemical Degradation of Melezitose and Trehalulose as Related to Cotton Stickiness

The melezitose and trehalulose contents of a cotton sample heavily contaminated by whitefly honeydew are analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) as a function of heating time at 200°C. Results indicate that the concentrations of melezitose and trehalulose on the surface of the cotton decrease exponentially as a result of thermochemical reactions. The mechanism and rate of each reaction is elucidated by similar heat treatment of pure melezitose and trehalulose with subsequent analysis of reaction products. The rate of thermochemical degradation in the case of trehalulose is of sufficient magnitude that its concentration on the cotton surface may be substantially decreased under controlled conditions of heat and time. The degradation rate of melezitose is nearly an order of magnitude smaller, and its concentration on the cotton surface is not substantially affected under similar conditions.
Does Shear Heating of Pore Fluid Contribute to Earthquake Nucleation

[1] Earthquake nucleation requires reduction of frictional strength τ = μ (σ − p) with slip or slip rate, where μ, σn, and p are the friction coefficient, normal stress, and fluid pressure, respectively. For rate state μ at fixed (σ − p), instabilities can occur when d μss/dv 0 are linearly stable at all wavelengths to adiabatic perturbations when v is near a plate rate if the wall rock permeability exceeds a critical value that is orders of magnitude less than inferred. Thus shear heating alone cannot then nucleate unstable slip; frictional weakening is required. However, shear heating can produce inertial instability on velocity strengthening faults following strong stress perturbations. On faults with dμss/dv < 0, shear heating increases pore pressure faster than is dissipated by Darcy flow at slip speeds of order 1 mm s−1. For faults bounding half-spaces with uniform thermal and hydraulic properties, μ exceeds (σ − p) during nucleation for slip speeds in excess of 10−2 to 101 mm s−1, depending on parameters chosen. Thus thermal effects are likely to dominate late in the nucleation process, well before seismic waves are radiated, as well as during fast seismic slip. By the time shear heating effects dominate, inertial slip is imminent (∼10−1 s), so that time-to-failure calculations based on rate state friction are not biased by thermal pressurization.
Natural history and prognosis of advanced lung disease.

Defining the natural history and prognosis of an illness is among the most important endeavors for physicians. Some medical specialties, particularly oncology, have at their disposal reliable formal staging systems to guide therapy and help patients make informed life decisions. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy for pulmonary disorders, the ability to confidently predict the course of disease remains elusive for many of them. With the advent of newer treatment modalities such as volume reduction surgery for emphysema and lung transplantation, accurate prognostic indicators have become even more desirable. This article therefore reviews the literature regarding predicting prognosis for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), cystic fibrosis (CF), sarcoidosis, asthma, lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), and primary pulmonary histiocytosis X (PPHX).
Using Senior Lab Projects to Develop Prototypes of Experiments in System Dynamics and Instrumentation

Term projects in a senior-level, non-capstone, mechanical engineering lab course are described in which student teams design, build, and test prototype experiments for future use in sophomore- and junior-level courses in system dynamics and measurement. Project deliverables include the prototype apparatus and courseware such as prelab exercises, lab instructions, and computer programs to be used by the students in the target course. Three such projects are described. The purpose of this paper is to share the concept of using senior-level projects to create prototypes for lower-level courses and to share the conceptual designs of the prototypes for possible duplication and enhancement at other institutions. The projects are partially successful. The apparatuses are viable and the learning objectives of the senior lab course are met but additional work is required before the experiments can be used in the target lower-level courses.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Application of dynamical error estimation for statistical optimization of radio occultation bending angles

[1] Errors in stratospheric bending angles retrieved from GPS radio occultations can be significantly reduced by using statistical optimization. In order for this technique to work optimally, the error covariance of the observations and the error covariance of the first guess must be known. This is generally not the case, and it is therefore common practice to assume that each of these errors is uncorrelated. In this study, it is shown that when this assumption is applied together with dynamical error estimation, it is important to account for the fact that first guess and the observation bending angle errors are not damped equally when refractivity profiles are computed through the Abel transform. It is demonstrated that this difference in damping can be accounted for by scaling the ratio of observation to first-guess bending angle error variances. It is shown that the scaling factor can be related to the ratio between the error correlation lengths of the observation errors and the first-guess errors. We present a simple procedure where both correlation lengths and variances are estimated dynamically and are scaled as described above. It is found that the relative errors can be reduced by up to 30% when compared to a standard statistical optimization scheme where the relative error in the first-guess bending angle profile is assumed to be 20%. However, it was also found that if the first guess is properly adjusted, the need for corrections is greatly reduced.
RESPONSE STYLE AND CONTENT MEASURES FROM PERSONALITY INVENTORIES1

In order to evaluate the respective contributions to personality inventory scales of consistent responses to item content on one hand and of the response styles of acquiescence and desirability on the other, factor analysis was applied to intercorrelations among content scales and stylistic measures as a potential means of separating distinct, but possibly correlated, dimensions of content and style. “True” and “false” items were scored separately for ten relatively homogeneous content scales and a measure of defensiveness. A factor analysis of intercorrelations among these 22 scores yielded eight factors – three large ones, together accounting for about two-thirds of the common variance, and five small ones. Two measures each of the tendencies to acquiesce and to respond desirably were subsequently projected into the factor space by extension, in order to identify stylistic dimensions. Of the three large factors, two were attributable to the response styles of desirability and acquiescence, and the third, which appeared to represent a second-order content dimension of impulsive unconventionality vs. controlled conventionality, was also related to desirability variables. Some of the smaller factors were attributed to specific content dimensions, since “true” and “false” parts of single content scales dominated the loadings.
A new species of Pseudosaga (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Mecopodinae) from Brandberg Massif, Namibia

Abstract A new species of Pseudosaga (Tettigoniidae: Mecopodinae: Aprosphylini), P. maraisi sp. n. is described from Brandberg Massif in western Namibia. It differs from other members of the genus in the development of the male stridulatory structures and the female subgenital plate. A key for identification of all known species of Pseudosaga is provided.
Stabilizing detached Bridgman melt crystal growth: Proportional-integral feedback control

Abstract The dynamics, operability limits, and tuning of a proportional-integral feedback controller to stabilize detached vertical Bridgman crystal growth are analyzed using a capillary model of shape stability. The manipulated variable is the pressure difference between upper and lower vapor spaces, and the controlled variable is the gap width at the triple-phase line. Open and closed loop dynamics of step changes in these state variables are analyzed under both shape stable and shape unstable growth conditions. Effects of step changes in static contact angle and growth angle are also studied. Proportional and proportional-integral control can stabilize unstable growth, but only within tight operability limits imposed by the narrow range of allowed meniscus shapes. These limits are used to establish safe operating ranges of controller gain. Strong nonlinearity of the capillary model restricts the range of perturbations that can be stabilized, and under some circumstances, stabilizes a spurious operating state far from the set point. Stabilizing detachment at low growth angle proves difficult and becomes impossible at zero growth angle.
Recent desiccation of Western Great Basin Saline Lakes: Lessons from Lake Abert, Oregon, U.S.A.

Although extremely important to migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, and highly threatened globally, most saline lakes are poorly monitored. Lake Abert in the western Great Basin, USA, is an example of this neglect. Designated a critical habitat under the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, the lake is at near record historic low levels and ultra-high salinities that have resulted in ecosystem collapse. Determination of the direct human effects and broader climate controls on Lake Abert illustrates the broader problem of saline lake desiccation and suggests future solutions for restoration of key habitat values. A 65-year time series of lake area was constructed from Landsat images and transformed to lake volume and salinity. “Natural” (without upstream withdrawals) conditions were calculated from climate and stream flow data, and compared to measured volume and salinity. Under natural conditions the lake would have higher volume and lower salinities because annual water withdrawals account for one-third of mean lake volume. Without withdrawals, the lake would have maintained annual mean salinities mostly within the optimal range of brine shrimp and alkali fly growth. Even during the last two years of major drought, the lake would have maintained salinities well below measured values. Change in climate alone would not produce the recent low lake volumes and high salinities that have destroyed the brine shrimp and alkali fly populations and depleted shorebird use at Lake Abert. Large scale withdrawal of water for direct human use has drastically increased the imbalance between natural runoff and evaporation during periods of drought in saline lakes worldwide but could be offset by establishing an “environmental water budget” to lay a foundation for the conservation of saline lake habitats under continued threats from development and climate change.
Tunneling in Difficult Conditions - The Squeezing Case

This paper deals with tunneling in squeezing conditions, and highlights different ways proposed to successfully drive a tunnel in such difficult conditions.
On the buckling behavior of thin walled laminated composite open section beams

A new thin-walled laminated composite open section beam model and corresporitling h u c k l i ~ ~ g analysis ~nethotlology are presented wliich are created to accurately, but simply, characterize response. Simplicity is achieved 1, ). asswriing the form for the displacerncnt field that is col~sistent witli linear theory. .%rbitrary larniriatecl composite coirstructio~i is considered. T r a n s ~ v r s r shear deformation is accounted for as this effect is far more pronounced for con~posi te rriaterials than for conventional mc,tallic materials. i7alidation of predictions based upon the new nod el with tests and rxtcmsivc finite elerrlent si~nulations are given.
Statistical Methods in Rubber Research and Development

Abstract As this article has demonstrated, statistical methods have considerable utility in rubber research and development. Such methods are cost effective and perhaps, more important, help the us...
Pbzt Microcomposites with Advanced Thermoplastic Matrices

Thermoplastic microcomposites offer the potential for better economics and improvements in composite processing, and possibly performance, over conventional ‘string-and-glue’ composites. The early development of molecular composite technology focused on polyamide matrix polymers; however, for many aerospace applications higher use temperatures and greater solvent resistance than that of conventional polyamide matrices will be required. This paper describes work performed under contract to the U.S. Air Force to develop PBZT (poly p-phenylene benzobisthiazole)/thermoplastic molecular composites with high performance matrix resins into a viable technology. A scaleable process has been defined based on a novel technology developed by Du Pont. Advantages of this process include better economics, superior processing performance, and improved MC fiber tensile properties versus prior art. Using this process we have obtained rule-of-mixtures properties in our microcomposite fibers with matrix polymers offering use temperatures from 330 to 600°F. Consolidation of PBZT/PEKK fibrous preforms into uniaxial panels up to 10 11 × 15 11 has been demonstrated and material propperty evaluation and data base development are in progress. Uniaxial property levels achieved to date for all systems compare favorably with conventional ‘string-and-glue’ PBZT/epoxy composites although as with other organic fiber reinforcements, compressive and shear performance may be limiting factors in MC applications.
A memory-efficient FDTD algorithm

In this paper,it is proven that the divergence relationship of electric-field and magnetic-field is non-zero even in charge-free regions when the electric-field and magnetic-field are calculated with locally one-dimensional finite-difference time-domain(LOD-FDTD)method,and the concrete expression of the divergence relationship is derived.Based on the non-zero divergence relationship and Maxwell curl equations set,the LOD-FDTD method which is unconditionally stable is combined with the reduced finite-difference time-domain(R-FDTD)method.In the LOD-R-FDTD method,the advantage of LOD-FDTD is combined,which having simpler formulation to eliminate the restraint of the courant-friedrich-levy(CFL)condition.The memory requirement of LOD-R-FDTD is reduced by 1/3 compared with LOD-FDTD in average.The formulation is presented and the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method is verified by comparing the results with the conventional results.
DIVERSITY OF 2-ACETYL-1-PYRROLINE CONTENT IN AROMATIC RICE (Oryza Sativa L.) VARIETIES AND DISTRIBUTED CHARACTERISTIC IN SEEDS

Field experiments were performed to study the different contents of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline in 11 aromatic rice varieties grown in the same place and same time with the same cultivation conditions and their distribution characteristics in seeds.The results showed that 5 aromatic rice varieties(Guixiangsinuo,Zhongjian 2,Qingxiangmi,Taiguoxiangdao 1 R207 and Texmati) contained 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline,and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline concentrations in milled rice and bran in those 5 varieties varied significantly(P 0.05).The highest level was found in Texmati with 0.6765mg/kg in milled rice and 0.1738mg/kg in bran,whereas the lowest level in Guixiangsinuo with 0.0452mg/kg in milled rice and 0.0173mg/kg in bran.The 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline was distributed mostly in the milled rice part(more than 90% of total content in rice grain),and only 10% in the bran and no any 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline was found in chaff.
Prevalence of common diseases among primary and middle school students in Hangzhou,2009-2011

Objective To examine the prevalence of common diseases among primary and middle school students in Hangzhou city and to provide a scientific basis for intervention on risk factors of the diseases in the students.Methods With stratified cluster random sampling,the datasets of annual physical examination and screenings of malnutrition,obesity,poor sight,dental caries,and trachoma in 109 777 and 115 369 students from 105 primary and middle schools in 2009 and2010 school year were collected and analyzed.Results Among the students,poor eyesight was the most prevalent health problem,with an increased prevalence from 69.99% in 2009 to 72.63% in 2010(χ2= 187.76,P 0.001) and the second prevalent illness was dental caries,with an increased prevalence from 22.46% to 24.93%(χ2= 189.05,P 0.001).During the two-year periold,the prevalence of malnutrition decreased slightly from 6.96% to 6.30%(χ2= 39.09,P 0.001),while that of obesity oppositely increased from 12.76% to 13.51%( χ2= 27.84,P 0.001).Conclusion In primary and middle school students of Hangzhou city,the prevalence of common diseases increased from2009 to 2010,except for malnutrition;the results of the study indicate that health conditions of the students need to be concerned.
The Large Hadron Collider and the ATLAS Experiment

This chapter focuses on the experimental setup of the LHC and the ATLAS experiment. The first part of the chapter introduces the main features that characterize the LHC. The following two sections give a general overview of the different parts of the ATLAS detector and the trigger system. Finally, the last two sections include a brief description of the detector simulation and a summary of the techniques used for object reconstruction, with a special emphasis on jets.
Is Sickle Cell Disease a Hematologic Disorder

Every medical student learns that hematology is a branch of medicine that studies the physiology and pathophysiology of blood, including diseases of red b ood cells, white blood cells, platelets, coagulation disorders, and certain plasma proteins. When students become interns, the definition of hematology becomes somewhat fuzzy and the emphasis shifts away from red blood cells in general and sickle cell disease (SCD) in particular. Within 2 more years of residency, a negative picture about patients with SCD becomes clear, thanks to the advice of the interns' superiors that these patients are "sicklers," "frequent flyers," abusers, drug seekers, manipulators, and drug addicts, and should not be trusted.
HIGHLIGHTS OF A FRIENDSHIP

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights friendship and work success of Severo Ochoa and David Nachmansohn. The friendship between the two men started in the year 1929, in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institutes in Berlin-Dahlem, in Otto Meyerhof's laboratory. Due to the meteoric rise of German science in the preceding half century and in combination with the remarkable spiritual renaissance of Germany during the Weimarer Republik, the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institutes became in the 1920s one of the greatest scientific centers the world had ever seen. Neuberg was a pioneer in modern concepts of fermentation, Warburg in those of the mechanism of oxidation. Meyerhof was primarily a philosopher with a broad range of other interests, among them literature, history, art and archaeology. His main scientific interest was the transformations of chemical energy into cellular functions. At a symposium on Phosphorus Metabolism held in 1951 at Johns Hopkins University, Meyerhof was asked to give the opening address. When the book appeared after his death, McElroy and Glass, the organizers of the symposium, wrote in their summary that the symposium was a lasting monument to Meyerhof's greatness and his impact on a whole generation of biochemists.
Use of Food Quotients in Human Doubly Labeled Water Studies: Comparable Results Obtained with 4 Widely Used Food Intake Methods

Abstract Information on the macronutrient composition of the diet is needed in doubly labeled water studies to convert measured rates of carbon dioxide production into values for total energy expenditure. There is no general consensus, however, about the best method to determine food intake for this purpose. Four common methods of measuring food intake (7-day weighed food intake, 24-hour recall, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Block and Willett food frequency questionnaires) were tested for their ability to provide comparable food quotient and total energy expenditure data in doubly labeled water studies in 10 young and 10 older women. All methods gave mean values for total energy expenditure that were within 1% of each other. Individual values obtained using the 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaires were within ±3% (standard deviation) of values determined using data from the 7-day weighed food record. These results suggest that it is not necessary to use time-consuming and expensive 7-day food records in doubly labeled water studies; instead, food intake data obtained more easily by 24-hour recall or food frequency questionnaire can provide comparable data. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:1015-1020 .
Prior Therapy with Rituximab (R) in Patients (pts) with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Does Not Affect Disease-Free (DFS) or Overall Survival (OS) Following High Dose Therapy (HDT) and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT).

The addition of R to first line chemotherapy regimens for DLBCL has resulted in improvements in DFS and OS. HDT and ASCT have been shown to improve outcome for pts with relapsed DLBCL compared with conventional dose salvage regimens. The effectiveness of HDT and ASCT in pts with DLBCL who have received prior therapy including R is unknown. We reviewed 257 consecutive pts with DLBCL treated with ASCT from 1/94–12/02. Of these, 161 (63%) had received R as part of their initial therapy and 65 (25%) had not received prior R. A third group (N = 31, 12%) who had been treated with R as part of salvage therapy prior to ASCT were excluded from further analysis. Patient characteristics are shown in Table 1. All patients received a preparative regimen of Busulfan, Cyclophosphamide, and Etoposide. Greater than 75% of patients in both groups had evidence of disease at time of transplant. Univariable and multivariable analyses demonstrated no difference between the pts previously treated with R and those not treated with R. After median follow up of 76 months (13–142) no statistical difference in DFS or OS was observed between the two groups. Patients were then adjusted for age, gender, stage, prior chemotherapy/radiation, time from diagnosis to CR, IPI, and disease status and compared again. The matched propensity analysis also showed no significant difference in DFS (p=0.87) and OS (p=0.22) (Figures 1 and 2). Despite concerns that pts with DLBCL previously treated with regimens containing R may have more resistant disease at relapse, our results suggest that HDT and ASCT is equally effective for these pts compared with those who have not received prior R. A prospective analysis is needed to confirm these results. | Categories | No Rituximab (n=65) | Rituximab (n=161) | |:---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- | | Age-median (range) | 48 (19–70) | 53 (23–72) | | Gender (M/F) | 42/23 | 93/68 | | Stage IV (n) | 75% (49) | 61% (98) | | Prior Chemo Regimens-median (range) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–6) | | Prior Radiation (n) | 25% (16) | 32% (51) | | IPI (Low/Low-Intermediate vs High-Intermediate/High) | 66% vs 34% | 55% vs 45% | | CD34 collection (x 10^6)-median (range) | 8.3 (2.9–39.2) | 4.4 (0–52.8) | | Time to Transplant (mos)-median (range) | 14.7 (2.8–274.3) | 14.5 (5.1–192.6) | Table 1. Patient Characteristics ![Figure][1] Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma - Matched Groups ![Figure][1] Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma - Matched Groups [1]: pending:yes
Structure Manipulation in Triptycene-Based Polyimides through Main Chain Geometry Variation and Its Effect on Gas Transport Properties

Two new triptycene-based polyimides, 6FDA-1,4-trip_ortho and 6FDA-2,6-trip_para, were synthesized to investigate the effect of varying polymer backbone geometry on chain packing and gas transport properties. Changing the imide linkage geometry from para to ortho reduced gas permeabilities by ∼48% due to more efficient chain packing of the asymmetric ortho structure, which is demonstrated by decreased d-spacing and fractional free volume. Varying the triptycene orientation from the 1,4- to 2,6-connection also caused a decrease in permeability (e.g., 29% decrease for PCO2). This is likely the result of reduced chain mobility, as evidenced by increased Tg, and a shift in free volume distribution toward smaller cavities, as supported by smaller d-spacing. Physical aging studies show that the equilibrium specific volume of these isomeric polymers is similar, as evidenced by nearly identical gas transport properties exhibited by all aged samples.
Information Blocking: Is It Occurring and What Policy Strategies Can Address It?

Policy Points: Congress has expressed concern about electronic health record (EHR) vendors and health care providers knowingly interfering with the electronic exchange of patient health information. These “information blocking” practices would privately benefit vendors and providers but limit the societal quality and efficiency benefits from EHR adoption. We found that information blocking is reported to frequently occur among EHR vendors as well as hospitals and health systems, and that it is perceived to be motivated by opportunities for revenue gain. Because information blocking is largely legal today, the most effective policy response likely involves a combination of direct enforcement and the altering of market conditions that promote information blocking. Context Congress has raised concerns about providers and electronic health record (EHR) vendors knowingly engaging in business practices that interfere with electronic health information exchange (HIE). Such “information blocking” is presumed to occur because providers and vendors reap financial benefits, but these practices harm public good and substantially limit the value to be gained from EHR adoption. Crafting a policy response has been difficult because, beyond anecdotes, there is no data that captures the extent of information blocking. Methods We conducted a national survey of leaders of HIE efforts who work to enable HIE across provider organizations. We asked them about the frequency of information blocking, its specific forms, and the effectiveness of various policy strategies to address it. We received responses from 60 individuals (57% response rate). We calculated descriptive statistics across responses. Findings Half of respondents reported that EHR vendors routinely engage in information blocking, and 25% of respondents reported that hospitals and health systems routinely do so. Among EHR vendors, the most common form of information blocking was deploying products with limited interoperability. Among hospitals and health systems, the most common form was coercing providers to adopt particular EHR or HIE technology. Increasing transparency of EHR vendor business practices and product performance, stronger financial incentives for providers to share information, and making information blocking illegal were perceived as the most effective policy remedies. Conclusions Information blocking appears to be real and fairly widespread. Policymakers have some existing levers that can be used to curb information blocking and help information flow to where it is needed to improve patient care. However, because information blocking is largely legal today, a strong response will involve new legislation and associated enforcement actions.
Reforming Legal Education in Brazil: From the Ceped Experiment to the Law Schools at the Getulio Vargas Foundation

n the 1960s a group of Brazilian legal educators dissatisfied with the state of legal education in their country sought support from the Ford Foundation and USAID for a project designed to spur reform. They created the Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas no Ensino do Direito (Ceped) and developed an innovative course in economic law. The project was initially successful but the course only lasted seven years: the project effectively came to and end in 1973 and the reform effort faltered. Thirty years later Brazil's prestigious Fundac Getulio Vargas (FGV) created new law schools in Rio and Sao Paulo: these schools looked back to Ceped for inspiration. The essay, written for an informal history of Ceped, reflects on this 40 year experience. It asks why Ceped failed to overcome the barriers to reform it faced in the 1970s and shows how, because of changed conditions in Brazil, FGV overcame them in the 21st century. The essay argues that democratization, liberalization, privatization, the globalization of knowledge, and a boom in corporate legal practice helped make the successful FGV experiment possible.
Sofia intermediate catheter and the SNAKE technique: safety and efficacy of the Sofia catheter without guidewire or microcatheter construct.

Background Neurointerventional surgeries (NIS) benefit from supportive endovascular constructs. Sofia is a soft-tipped, flexible, braided single lumen intermediate catheter designed for NIS. Sofia advancement from the cervical to the intracranial circulation without a luminal guidewire or microcatheter construct has not been described. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the new Sofia Non-wire Advancement techniKE (SNAKE) for advancement of the Sofia into the cerebral circulation. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent NIS using Sofia were identified. Patient information, SNAKE use, and patient outcome were determined from electronic medical records. Sofia advancement to the cavernous internal carotid artery or the V2/V3 segment junction of the vertebral artery was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included arterial vasospasm and arterial dissection. Results 263 Patients (181 females, 69%) who underwent a total of 305 NIS using Sofia were identified. SNAKE (SNAKE+) was used in 187 procedures (61%). Two hundred and ninety-three procedures (96%) were technically successful, which included 184 SNAKE+ NIS and 109 SNAKE− NIS. Primary outcome was achieved in all SNAKE+ procedures, but not in five SNAKE− procedures (2%). No arterial dissections were identified among 305 interventions. In the intracranial circulation, a single SNAKE+ patient (0.5%) had non-flow limiting arterial vasospasm involving the petrous internal carotid. Three SNAKE+ patients (1.6%) and one SNAKE− patient (0.8%) demonstrated external carotid artery branch artery vasospasm during dural arteriovenous fistula or facial arteriovenous malformation treatment. Conclusion SNAKE is a safe and effective technique for Sofia advancement. Sofia is a highly effective and safe intermediate catheter for a variety of NIS.
Introduction: “Just Another Day in a War Without End”: Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear

This chapter frames the book by outlining how Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain present complex and powerful narratives focusing on lived trauma and its lingering effects. It then focuses its attention on the games’ creator, Hideo Kojima, and how he views himself as a storyteller. His thoughts about digital narrative, including his theories as to how different elements of video games coalesce to form their stories, support the thesis that Metal Gear Solid V has been carefully and meticulously crafted. Kojima emerges as a considered and masterful storyteller who sees video games as a culturally relevant storytelling format.
The Klein–Gordon Equation and Scalar Quantum Fields

In the non-relativistic case we found that it was possible to build a quantum theory describing arbitrary numbers of particles by taking as dual phase space \(\mathcal M\) the single-particle space \(\mathcal H_1\) of solutions to the free particle Schrodinger equation.
Genetic and neuronal regulation of sleep by neuropeptide VF

Sleep is an essential and phylogenetically conserved behavioral state, but it remains unclear to what extent genes identified in invertebrates also regulate vertebrate sleep. RFamide-related neuropeptides have been shown to promote invertebrate sleep, and here we report that the vertebrate hypothalamic RFamide neuropeptide VF (NPVF) regulates sleep in the zebrafish, a diurnal vertebrate. We found that NPVF signaling and npvf-expressing neurons are both necessary and sufficient to promote sleep, that mature peptides derived from the NPVF preproprotein promote sleep in a synergistic manner, and that stimulation of npvf-expressing neurons induces neuronal activity levels consistent with normal sleep. These results identify NPVF signaling and npvf-expressing neurons as a novel vertebrate sleep-promoting system and suggest that RFamide neuropeptides participate in an ancient and central aspect of sleep control.
Spinal Cord Lateral Hemisection and Implantation of Guidance Channels

Spinal cord laceration injuries such as complete transection, lateral and dorsal hemisection, over hemisection, and dorsal funiculotomy in rodents have been widely used in the studies of neuronal responses to axotomy as well as axonal regeneration through and beyond the site of the injury. The latter approach has utilized transplantation of fetal cord tissues, pieces of peripheral nerves, and biosynthetic guidance channels seeded with different cell types, trophic factors and matrix molecules. In this chapter, we introduce hands-on procedures to perform a spinal cord lateral hemisection, create a lesion cavity on the same side, and transplant a piece of guidance channel that bridges the two ends of the cord stumps. By suturing the dura, cerebrospinal fluid circulation is restored and connective tissue invasion into the lesion site is prevented. With modification, these procedures should also apply to creating above-mentioned laceration injuries when micro-scissors are used.
Impact of Paternal Exposure to Gonadotoxins on Embryo and Offspring and the Male Evaluation

There are several routes of exposure to gonadotoxins for the male. Exposures originate from lifestyle choices, medications, and treatment for malignancies, as well as occupational and chemical hazards. Regardless of the route, the impact of paternal exposure to gonadotoxins on subsequent fertility is significant as it not only affects the individual, but may also affect future offspring. Given the increasing popularity of in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the vast numbers of procedures performed each year throughout the world, continued research on the safety of IVF/ICSI and IVF itself is crucial. Patients can only truly give informed consent when they are properly educated as to all the associated risks.
The Bounds of Delsarte and Lovász, and Their Applications to Coding Theory

Our object in this article is to introduce the reader to two important topics in coding theory, and to a recently developed mathematical tool that can be used to derive some extremely important results about them.
Role of bevacizumab for treatment-refractory meningiomas: A systematic analysis and literature review

Background Meningiomas are the most prevalent primary tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), and although the majority of these neoplasms are classified as benign, nearly one fourth of the lesions display an aggressive profile characterized by pleomorphic histology, high recurrence rates, and overall resistance to standard treatment. Despite the ubiquitous nature of these tumors, no adjuvant therapeutic regimen has been identified which effectively controls disease recurrence and progression after surgery and radiation, leading to a dismal prognosis in this patient population. The primary focus of this research study is, hence, to assess the recently emerging use of bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenic agent, in the treatment of meningiomas. This systematic literature review analyzes the efficacy and safety of therapeutic bevacizumab for treatment-refractory meningiomas. Methods A systematic PubMed search was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines to identify all relevant reports investigating the anti-angiogenic agent bevacizumab in the treatment of intracranial meningiomas. The reported parameters from pertinent retrospective reviews, prospective studies, and case studies were volumetric reduction, radiographic response, clinical stability, overall survival (OS), and progression free survival (PFS) measured at 6 and 12 months postinitiation of treatment. Complications were cataloged based on the range and severity of the therapy-related toxicities. Results A total of 11 articles, 5 retrospective series, 2 prospective trials, and 4 case reports, reporting on a total of 92 patients, were included in this review. The use of bevacizumab therapy for intracranial meningiomas demonstrated median overall PFS of 16.8 months (range: 6.5-22 months) and PFS-6 of 73% (range: 44%-93%). Conclusions Therapeutic bevacizumab, either alone or with combination chemotherapies, for select patient populations with recurrent or progressive meningiomas, offers a treatment option that confers improved overall progression-free survival. To assess OS parameters, larger randomized controlled trials assessing the use of anti-angiogenic agents for recurrent/progressive meningiomas are warranted.
Double-blind comparison of the neurobehaviour of neonates following the administration of different doses of meperidine to the mother.

The Early Neonatal Neurobehavioural Scale (E.N.N.S.) tests, first described by Scanlon, et al.1 were administered to 920 neonates on the first and second days of life. Meperidine was not given to 389 mothers, 50 mg was given to 358 mothers and 75 to 150 mg to 173 mothers within four hours of delivery. The delivery was conducted under chloroprocaine epidural anaesthesia in 280, ketamine-nitrous oxide general anaesthesia in 180, thiopentone-nitrous oxide general anaesthesia in 180 and lidocaine pudendal block in 280. All babies were over 2500 grams in weight with an Apgar score of at least 8 at one minute and 10 at five minutes. All were delivered from healthy women 18 to 35 years of age following a normal labour. The evaluator was unaware of the anaesthetic management, the method of delivery or the perinatal risk factors. There was no significant difference between the mothers and babies in the three meperidine dosage groups for maternal parity, maternal age, birth weight, number of forceps deliveries or duration of labour. Administration of meperidine was associated with a broad spectrum depression of most items on the E.N.N.S. on both the first and second days of life. The depression was greatest with the highest dose of meperidine. The depression produced by anaesthetic agents and meperidine were additive and the highest scores on this scale were obtained in those babies delivered under chloroprocaine epidural anaesthesia without meperidine.
Environmental Justice, the Cold War, and US Human Rights Exceptionalism

This chapter examines the Cold War origins of the United States’ resistance to international human rights law and its implications for grassroots efforts to secure environmental justice through human rights law and institutions. The Cold War played a central role in the evolution of the United States’ relationship to international human rights law. Competing with the Soviet Union for the allegiance of the newly-independent states of Africa and Asia while maintaining racial segregation at home, the United States distanced itself from the evolving norms of international law that made state-sponsored racial discrimination illegal. The US blocked efforts by civil rights organizations to present human rights petitions to the United Nations, and branded as traitors and Kremlin apologists the civil rights activists who threatened the country’s prestige in the eyes of the Third World. As human rights law became an increasingly important arena of struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, the United States embarked on a policy of ratifying human rights treaties sparingly and including reservations, understandings, and declarations restricting domestic enforcement of these treaties. Using Mossville Environmental Action Now v. United States (currently pending before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights) as a case study, the chapter evaluates the promise and the peril of using international human rights law to challenge environmental injustice.
Retrospective statistical analysis on the diagnostic value of ductography based on lesion pathology in patients presenting with nipple discharge.

Purpose To compare sensitivities and specificities of ductography to noninvasive imaging studies in determining the cause of nipple discharge and assess the value of ductography on the basis of pathologic results. Methods In this retrospective review of women with nipple discharge who underwent ductography between January 1, 2005 and October 30, 2015, at our institution, we compared ductography with noninvasive imaging results (mammography, ultrasound, MRI) to determine its relative diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and relative accuracy. Diagnosis was defined from pathology results, clinical notes, and minimum of 1-year follow-up monitoring. The primary endpoints include accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The analyses were carried out in different configurations to compare results by the following pathologic categories: cancer, high-risk lesion, intraductal papilloma (IP) without atypia, and benign pathology and/or normal imaging results. Results In patients with breast cancer, ductography and noninvasive breast imaging had similar sensitivities. In patients with a high-risk lesion, ductography was significantly more sensitive than noninvasive imaging modalities. In patients with intraductal papilloma without atypia, ductography was more sensitive than noninvasive imaging, but the difference was of only borderline significance. For women with benign pathology and/or normal imaging, noninvasive imaging showed a significantly higher specificity than ductography. Conclusion In the absence of standard diagnostic algorithm for patients presenting with nipple discharge, the clinician has numerous options to choose a diagnostic approach that will yield the most accurate information with the least disruption to the patient. Our results indicate the value of ductography compared to value of noninvasive imaging modalities when cancer is suspected and when high risk lesion is suspected. While we show the sensitivity of ductography is similar to noninvasive imaging modalities in the setting of cancer, the sensitivity of ductography is statistically valuable for diagnosing high-risk lesions. Our hope is that this study will emphasize more research and more understanding in clinical utility and management of high-risk lesions, leading to patient-focused algorithm for diagnosing the etiology of abnormal nipple discharge.
Drug Treatment of Obesity: The Argument in Favor

Treatment of obesity has many analogies with treatment of hypertension. Both diseases are defined by arbitrary cut points on a continuous variable. The impact of health of any deviation varies with the degree of deviation, duration of follow-up, gender, age and race. Several mechanisms can cause each disease and hyperinsulimia is characteristic of most patients with either disease. A number of the underlying realities for treatment of this disease (NIH Consensus Developement Conference Statement, 1985) argue for long term treatment.
Multiplex quantitative analysis of cancer-associated fibroblasts and immunotherapy outcome in metastatic melanoma

The cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) population is implicated in immune dysregulation. Here, we test the hypothesis that CAF profiles in pretreatment tumor specimens are associated with response to immune checkpoint blockade of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1). Pretreatment whole tissue sections from 117 melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy were assessed by multiplex immunofluorescence to detect CAFs defined by Thy1, smooth muscle actin (SMA), and fibroblast activation protein (FAP). Two independent image analysis technologies were used: inForm software (PerkinElmer) to quantify cell counts, and AQUA™ to measure protein by quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF). CAF parameters by both methodologies were assessed for association with previously measured immune markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68, PD-L1), best overall response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). CAF parameters, by cell counts or QIF, did not correlate with immune markers nor with best overall response. However, both Thy1 and FAP cell counts had significant positive associations with PFS (all P < 0.05) and OS (all P < 0.003). SMA cell counts showed negative associations with outcome in anti-PD-1 treated patients. Similar associations were not observed in a control cohort of historical melanoma patients predating immunotherapy. Instead, FAP was a negative prognostic biomarker (P = 0.01) in the absence of immunotherapy. Multivariable analyses revealed significant PFS and OS associations with the CAF parameters were independent of baseline variables. Pretreatment CAF profiles are associated with melanoma immunotherapy outcome. Multiplex CAF analysis has potential as an objective companion diagnostic in immuno-oncology.
Reasons for Punishment: A Study in Philosophical Translation (Or, Why Sadistic Punishment is Morally Impermissible)

This article is a contribution to a symposium on Kit Wellman’s intriguing monograph, Rights Forfeiture and Punishment (Oxford University Press 2017). Primarily, the article grapples with Wellman’s claims regarding the moral permissibility of sadistic punishment. The metaphor of “philosophical languages” is employed throughout, to compare (translate) Wellman’s use of rights-forfeiture discourse to an approach that is grounded in practical-reasons discourse. This study in philosophical translation allows us to reassess and critique Wellman’s conclusions regarding the moral permissibility of sadistic punishment. On one level, the article is an attempt to engage with Wellman’s book and rights-forfeiture based arguments on, and in, their own terms. Yet, the article is also an attempt to explain and defend a practical-reasons based approach to appraising moral permissibility. If the article succeeds, it both pays tribute to Wellman’s masterful rights-forfeiture arguments, while making the case that practical-reason arguments illuminate a wider range of salient considerations that we should wish to keep in view when considering the moral permissibility of sadistic punishments.
Digital Mass Analysis in a Linear Ion Trap without Auxiliary Waveforms

Mass analysis in a linear ion trap is traditionally performed using resonant ejection induced by auxiliary waveforms. For sinusoidally driven ion traps without resonant ejection, resolution and sensitivity are poor because mass-selected instability yields excitation along both the x and y axes simultaneously. Digital ion traps, on the other hand, have the advantage of duty cycle manipulation that can be used to change the ion excitation along the x and y axes. Consequently, the duty cycle can be used to enhance the resolution and sensitivity for mass-selected instability in a linear ion trap without the application of an auxiliary waveform. This work introduces and explores mass-selected instability in a linear trap without the use of auxiliary waveforms.