cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aggressive therapy improves cirrhosis in glycogen storage disease type IX

Glycogen storage disease type IX (GSD IX) is described as a benign condition that often does not require treatment. Most patients with the disease are thought to outgrow the childhood manifestations, which include hepatomegaly, poor growth, and ketosis with or without hypoglycemia. Long term complications including fibrosis and cirrhosis have seldom been reported in the most common subtype, GSD IXα. We present two cases of children with GSD IXα who had fibrosis at the time of diagnosis in addition to the commonly reported disease manifestations. Structured therapy with frequent doses of uncooked cornstarch and protein supplementation was initiated, and both children responded with improved growth velocity, increased energy, decreased hepatomegaly and improved well-being. Additionally, radiographic features of fibrosis improved. We propose that GSD IXα is not a benign condition. Even in patients with a less severe presentation, consideration of a structured treatment regimen to improve quality of life appears warranted.
Host susceptibility to infestation with Amblyomma hebraeum

Amblyomma hebraeum differs from many ixodid tick species in that it is not susceptible to the direct effects of the host immune response. All stages of the life cycle are able to feed repeatedly on laboratory hosts and show no progressive declines in engorged weight. However, on cattle there are declines in the yield of engorged adult females over time, as animals become sensitized to the tick and grooming increases. In the field zebu, Bos indicus and sanga, B. indicus x B. taurus breeds of cattle become less heavily infested than B. taurus breeds. The apparent resistance of zebu and sanga breeds is the result of learned tick avoidance behaviour, skin sensitivity and the ability to dislodge ticks prior to attachment as well as grooming ability. Among other Amblyomma spp., the feeding of A. americanum is adversely affected by acquired host immunity, while that of A. variegatum is generally unaffected.
By the Numbers: Individual Bias and Enterprise Risk Management

In theory, enterprise risk management (ERM) appears to be a succinct and effective risk management model. In practice, as is the case with most managerial techniques, the devil is in the implementation. This study explores this issue by examining how the composition of ERM groups determines which risks are managed and which risks are ignored. In two experiments, we find that groups with accounting or financial backgrounds place greater emphasis on financial risks compared with cross-functional groups. Results suggest that organizations will achieve different ERM outcomes from using cross-functional groups than financially oriented group.
Coronary Artery Calcification Compared With Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in the Prediction of Cardiovascular Disease Incidence : The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) are noninvasive measures of atherosclerosis that consensus panels have recommended as possible additions to risk factor assessment for predicting the probability of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurrence. Our objective was to assess whether maximum carotid IMT or CAC (Agatston score) is the better predictor of incident CVD. Methods A prospective cohort study of subjects aged 45 to 84 years in 4 ethnic groups, who were initially free of CVD (n = 6698) was performed, with standardized carotid IMT and CAC measures at baseline, in 6 field centers of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The main outcome measure was the risk of incident CVD events (coronary heart disease, stroke, and fatal CVD) over a maximum of 5.3 years of follow-up. Results There were 222 CVD events during follow-up. Coronary artery calcium was associated more strongly than carotid IMT with the risk of incident CVD. After adjustment for each other (CAC score and IMT) and traditional CVD risk factors, the hazard ratio of CVD increased 2.1-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-2.5) for each 1–standard deviation (SD) increment of log-transformed CAC score, vs 1.3-fold (95% CI, 1.1-1.4) for each 1-SD increment of the maximum IMT. For coronary heart disease, the hazard ratios per 1-SD increment increased 2.5-fold (95% CI, 2.1-3.1) for CAC score and 1.2-fold (95% CI, 1.0-1.4) for IMT. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis also suggested that CAC score was a better predictor of incident CVD than was IMT, with areas under the curve of 0.81 vs 0.78, respectively. Conclusion Although whether and how to clinically use bioimaging tests of subclinical atherosclerosis remains a topic of debate, this study found that CAC score is a better predictor of subsequent CVD events than carotid IMT.
Latrunculin B Has Different Effects on Pollen Germination and Tube Growth

The actin cytoskeleton is absolutely required for pollen germination and tube growth, but little is known about the regulation of actin polymer concentrations or dynamics in pollen. Here, we report that latrunculin B (LATB), a potent inhibitor of actin polymerization, had effects on pollen that were distinct from those of cytochalasin D. The equilibrium dissociation constant measured for LATB binding to maize pollen actin was determined to be 74 nM. This high affinity for pollen actin suggested that treatment of pollen with LATB would have marked effects on actin function. Indeed, LATB inhibited maize pollen germination half-maximally at 50 nM, yet it blocked pollen tube growth at one-tenth of that concentration. Low concentrations of LATB also caused partial disruption of the actin cytoskeleton in germinated maize pollen, as visualized by light microscopy and fluorescent-phalloidin staining. The amounts of filamentous actin (F-actin) in pollen were quantified by measuring phalloidin binding sites, a sensitive assay that had not been used previously for plant cells. The amount of F-actin in maize pollen increased slightly upon germination, whereas the total actin protein level did not change. LATB treatment caused a dose-dependent depolymerization of F-actin in populations of maize pollen grains and tubes. Moreover, the same concentrations of LATB caused similar depolymerization in pollen grains before germination and in pollen tubes. These data indicate that the increased sensitivity of pollen tube growth to LATB was not due to general destabilization of the actin cytoskeleton or to decreases in F-actin amounts after germination. We postulate that germination is less sensitive to LATB than tube extension because the presence of a small population of LATB-sensitive actin filaments is critical for maintenance of tip growth but not for germination of pollen, or because germination is less sensitive to partial depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton.
A model for multiple-query processing based upon strong factoring

This paper proposes a model for interleaving the execution of multiple queries simultaneously. The queries are rewritten, in the context of each other, in order to induce common subexpressions (CSEs). A CSE will then need to be evaluated once only and its result is used in the evaluation of the queries that contain it, thereby leading to cost saving over the conventional query-at-a-time scenario. Two important aspects characterize the proposed model. First, it rewrites the queries in such a way that the isolated CSEs are, themselves, heuristically efficient to evaluate during query execution. Second, it reduces the optimization overhead (due to query rewriting) by using a divide-and-conquer approach to deduce relationships among inter-query selection conditions on base relations while using only pattern matching to find relationships among higher-order subexpressions (those involving an arbitrary number of joins).
A Decade of Satellite Ocean Color Observations

After the successful Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS, 1978-1986), demonstration that quantitative estimations of geophysical variables such as chlorophyll a and diffuse attenuation coefficient could be derived from top of the atmosphere radiances, a number of international missions with ocean color capabilities were launched beginning in the late 1990s. Most notable were those with global data acquisition capabilities, i.e., the Ocean Color and Temperature Sensor (OCTS 1996-1997), the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS, United States, 1997-present), two Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers, (MODIS, United States, Terra/2000-present and Aqua/2002-present), the Global Imager (GLI, Japan, 2002-2003), and the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS, European Space Agency, 2002-present). These missions have provided data of exceptional quality and continuity, allowing for scientific inquiries into a wide variety of marine research topics not possible with the CZCS. This review focuses on the scientific advances made over the past decade using these data sets.
Proteomic Analysis of S-Nitrosylated Proteins in Mesangial Cells

NO participates in numerous biological events in a variety of cell types including activated glomerular mesangial cells. Many of these events appear to be independent of the known effects of NO on soluble guanylyl cyclase. NO derived from all major isoforms of NO synthase can Snitrosylate cysteine residues in target proteins, potentially altering their functional activities. Recent evidence suggests that S-nitrosylation is specific, is regulated, and may play an important regulatory role akin to phosphorylation. In the present study, the “biotin-switch” method of isolating S-nitrosylated proteins was coupled with twodimensional PAGE protein separation followed by matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and peptide mass fingerprinting to identify target proteins for S-nitrosylation in murine mesangial cells treated with NO donors or appropriate controls. This approach resolved 790 protein spots. We analyzed the most abundant spots and identified 34 known proteins. Of these, 31 are unique S-nitrosylated proteins not previously identified, including signaling proteins, receptors and membrane proteins, cytoskeletal or cell matrix proteins, and cytoplasmic proteins. Prominent among these were peroxisome proliferator activated receptor , uroguanylin, GTP-binding protein , protein 14-3-3, NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, transcription factor IIA, melusin, mitosin, phospholipase A2-activating protein, and protein-tyrosine phosphatase. The in vivo induction of S-nitrosylation was assayed by treating mesangial cells with interleukin-1 followed by the biotinswitch and Western blot of selected targets. These results broaden our knowledge of potential signal transduction pathways and other cell functions mediated by NO Snitrosylation. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 2: 156 –163, 2003.
Sugar, Spice, and Street Codes: The Influences of Gender and Family Attachment on Street Code Adoption

Elijah Anderson's (1999) Code of the Street thesis argues that joblessness, alienation, structural disadvantage, and black status converge to explain higher rates of violence among African-American, inner-city males. Few studies examine whether a similar phenomenon extends to females. Additionally, few studies investigate how family attachment affects belief in an oppositional culture that Anderson calls “street codes.” Using data from the National Youth Survey, the present study addresses these issues by examining whether boys actually embrace street codes more than girls, whether family attachment reduces the likelihood of street code adoption for both boys and girls, and whether the magnitude of the effect of family attachment on street code adoption differs between boys and girls. Ordinary least squares regression results indicate that boys embrace street codes more than girls, but a substantial number of females embrace them as well. Moreover, family attachment reduces street code adoption for both g...
Female adolescent exposure to cannabinoids causes transgenerational effects on morphine sensitization in female offspring in the absence of in utero exposure

Female adolescent marijuana use is increasing, yet the effect on future offspring is unknown. Here, adolescent female Sprague Dawley rats (postnatal-day 30; PN30) were given subcutaneous (s.c.) injections with the cannabinoid agonist WIN-55,212 (WIN) or its vehicle (VEH) for three consecutive days using a twice-daily, increasing dosage regimen (1 mg/kg day 1; 2 mg/kg day 2; 4 mg/kg day 3). As adults (PN60), females were mated with drug-naive males. Their adult female offspring (VEH-F1 or WIN-F1) were tested for behavioral sensitization by administering morphine (0 or 7.5 mg/kg s.c.) every other day for a total of five administrations. Following five days of abstinence, all animals received a morphine challenge (7.5 mg/kg s.c.) and locomotor activity was monitored. At completion of behavioral testing, mu opioid receptor (OPRM1), FosB, cFos, and dopamine receptor mRNA expression was measured in the nucleus accumbens as well as OPRM1 and corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus. In addition, plasma corticosterone levels were examined. On the day of challenge, morphine-pretreated WIN-F1 animals demonstrated a significantly enhanced response to morphine compared to morphine-pretreated VEH-F1 animals. Also following the morphine challenge, significantly higher levels of OPRM1 in the nucleus accumbens were observed in WIN-F1 animals. Together, these findings demonstrate transgenerational effects of adolescent exposure to cannabinoids in the absence of any in utero exposure.
Effects of tissue anisotropy and contrast acoustic properties on myocardial scattering in contrast echocardiography.

Abstract In this study we explored the potential effects that tissue anisotropy, in conjunction with the acoustic properties of contrast, may have on quantitative measurements of myocardial perfusion with the use of ultrasonic contrast agents. We used a computer simulation of the parasternal short-axis view, based on previously measured values for the anisotropy of backscatter and attenuation of myocardium, to predict the backscattered energy from 18 specific regions within the heart before and after myocardial contrast perfusion. Results demonstrated a regional variation of contrast enhancement in the short-axis view and variations caused by incremental increases in contrast level for specific myocardial regions. Thus quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion with contrast echocardiography is influenced by the anisotropic properties of the myocardium, and the resulting postcontrast image will depend on the interaction between tissue properties and contrast acoustic properties. The degree of myocardial enhancement caused by the presence of contrast may depend on the spatial position of the specific region investigated with respect to the transducer and the amount of contrast in the myocardium. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:564-73.)
Parametric Study of Bicycle Stability (P207)

Bicycles are inherently dynamically stable and this stability can be beneficial to handling qualities. A dynamical model can predict the self-stability. Previous models determined the sensitivity of stability to changes in parameters, but have often used idealized parameters occurring in the equations of motion that were not possible to realistically change independently. A mathematical model of a bicycle is developed and verified. The model is used together with a physical parameter generation algorithm to evaluate the dependence of four important actual design parameters on the self-stability of a bicycle.
Correcting for missing data in information cascades

Transmission of infectious diseases, propagation of information, and spread of ideas and influence through social networks are all examples of diffusion. In such cases we say that a contagion spreads through the network, a process that can be modeled by a cascade graph. Studying cascades and network diffusion is challenging due to missing data. Even a single missing observation in a sequence of propagation events can significantly alter our inferences about the diffusion process.We address the problem of missing data in information cascades. Specifically, given only a fraction C' of the complete cascade C, our goal is to estimate the properties of the complete cascade C, such as its size or depth. To estimate the properties of C, we first formulate k-tree model of cascades and analytically study its properties in the face of missing data. We then propose a numerical method that given a cascade model and observed cascade C' can estimate properties of the complete cascade C. We evaluate our methodology using information propagation cascades in the Twitter network (70 million nodes and 2 billion edges), as well as information cascades arising in the blogosphere. Our experiments show that the k-tree model is an effective tool to study the effects of missing data in cascades. Most importantly, we show that our method (and the k-tree model) can accurately estimate properties of the complete cascade C even when 90% of the data is missing.
The relationship of autonomic function to age-related changes in left ventricular filling in normal subjects

Heart rate and age are independent variables associated with the pattern of normal left ventricular filling. Since heart rate variability also varies with age, the relationship between these and left ventricular filling in normal subjects was assessed. In 31 subjects (age range 21 to 71 years), power spectral analysis of heart rate variability was determined from 24 h Holter tapes, and left ventricular filling was assessed by Doppler echocardiography. Relationships between heart rate variability and left ventricular filling were assessed by univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Total, low frequency and high frequency power each significantly correlated with the peak filling velocity with atrial systole (A) (r=−0.70, P<0.0001; r=−0.69, P<0.0001; r=−0.54, P<0.01, respectively), but did not correlate with measures of early diastolic left ventricular filling. Although age and A were related (r=0.46, P<0.010), age was no longer a significant variable when measures of heart rate variability were included in the multivariate regression model for A. Thus, the variability in measures of early diastolic filling in normal subjects appears to be independent of measures of heart rate variability, whereas, A is significantly associated with these measures.
Clonal B cells in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia exhibit functional features of chronic active B-cell receptor signaling.

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) characterized by immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal gammopathy and the medullary expansion of clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells. Neoplastic transformation has been partially attributed to hyperactive MYD88 signaling, secondary to the MYD88 L265P mutation, occurring in the majority of WM patients. Nevertheless, the presence of chronic active B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, a feature of multiple IgM+ B-NHL, remains a subject of speculation in WM. Here, we interrogated the BCR signaling capacity of primary WM cells by utilizing multiparametric phosphoflow cytometry and found heightened basal phosphorylation of BCR-related signaling proteins, and augmented phosphoresponses on surface IgM (sIgM) crosslinking, compared with normal B cells. In support of those findings we observed high sIgM expression and loss of phosphatase activity in WM cells, which could both lead to signaling potentiation in clonal cells. Finally, led by the high-signaling heterogeneity among WM samples, we generated patient-specific phosphosignatures, which subclassified patients into a 'high' and a 'healthy-like' signaling group, with the second corresponding to patients with a more indolent clinical phenotype. These findings support the presence of chronic active BCR signaling in WM while providing a link between differential BCR signaling utilization and distinct clinical WM subgroups.
Thirty day postoperative outcomes following anterior lumbar interbody fusion using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

Abstract Objective Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a common procedure used to treat various lumbar degenerative pathologies. The purpose of this study is to describe 30-day postoperative outcomes following ALIF on a national scale.Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) was searched for ALIF patients between 2005 and 2011. The top preoperative diagnoses were determined using ICD-9 codes. All available 30-day complications were grouped as overall composite morbidity and were compared between preoperative diagnosis groups by univariable and multivariable analyses.Results There were a total of 1352 ALIF patients. Overall, 6.73% of patients experienced a postoperative complication. Unplanned reoperations (2.48%), urinary tract infection (1.55%), superficial surgical site infection (1.41%), and sepsis (1.11%) were the most common morbidity events. The morbidity rates for each sub-group were: intervertebral disc degeneration (4.41%), spondylosis (6.72%), lumbosacral spinal stenosis(8.21%), and spondylolisthesis (8.41%). After extensive adjustment for patient characteristics and preoperative morbidities, multivariable analysis revealed spondylolisthesis (OR=3.29; 95% CI:1.04–10.46) and spinal stenosis (OR=3.76; 95% CI:1.33–10.63) to be associated with significantly higher overall morbidity odds when compared with lumbar disc degeneration. Lumbosacral spondylosis was associated with similar outcomes as degenerative disc disease (OR =1.70; 95% CI:0.48–6.06).Conclusions Diverse postoperative complications need to be managed following ALIF. Patients with spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis may carry increased 30-day postoperative morbidity profiles in ALIF when compared to those with degenerative disc disease. Prospective studies are needed to better delineate the outcomes of ALIF procedures, particularly in the spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis patient populations.
Testing the effects of narrative and play on physical activity among breast cancer survivors using mobile apps: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Physical activity reduces risk for numerous negative health outcomes, but postmenopausal breast cancer survivors do not reach recommended levels. Many interventions encourage self-monitoring of steps, which can increase physical activity in the short term. However, these interventions appear insufficient to increase motivation for sustained change. There is a need for innovative strategies to increase physical activity motivation in this population. Narratives are uniquely persuasive, and video games show promise for increasing motivation. This study will determine the effectiveness of an intervention that combines narrative and gaming to encourage sustained physical activity.
Effectiveness of Microbial Control of Heliothis spp. Developing on Early Season Wild Geraniums: Field and Field Cage Tests

A field test was conducted to study control of Heliothis spp. larvae on early season wild host plants, primarily wild Geranium spp. Halves of one test plot were either treated with red dye or blue dye alone, while halves of a second test area were treated with blue dye alone or red dye plus a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV). Both blue and red marked moths (11.6 and 5.8% of the captured populations, respectively) were found among adult H. virescens (F.) males caught in pheromone traps near the areas treated with dyes alone. However, only blue marked moths (7.7% of the captured populations) were detected among adults captured near the areas treated with the blue dye alone or red dye plus virus. These results demonstrated a reduction in adult emergence from areas treated with the virus. In a subsequent field cage study, treating wild geranium with NPV formulated either in water, a dust formulation, or in 10% crude cottonseed oil resulted in reductions in adult Heliothis emergence of 91.3, 82.4, and 80.8%, respectively, compared with the untreated control. Although significantly less effective (P = 0.05) than any NPV treatment, a mixture of an insect growth regulator and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, resulted in a significant (P = 0.05) reduction in emergence compared with the untreated control.
Wholes and Parts: Continuing the Conversation

The subtitle of my article -something added by the editors, with my permission, at the page-proof stage, no doubt to introduce the colon required of all academic titles -has better identified the theme of the discussion surrounding the article than has the admittedly opaque original title, with its assumption that there is a conceptual problem before us in relating parts to a whole. Although I certainly meant to urge upon the profession the desirability, both internally and for the problem of the discipline's relation to the larger public culture, of writing more works of a synthetic nature, my major concern was to address some conceptual/structural problems and possibilities inherent in current historiography. How can we turn a vast supply of fine studies of parts, however one defines parts, into a sense of the whole? But the profession is presently so nervous about the very issue of synthesis that defensive responses are more in evidence than engagement with the particularities of the issues associated with the relation of monographs to synthetic work. What has most struck me about the public and private responses to this article, and to my two previous articles taking a similar approach, is how little the problems of conceptualization and practicability (except on ideological grounds) have been raised. In these pages of the Journal ofAmerican History, however, I am fortunate to have critics, especially Professors Richard Fox and Roy Rosenzweig, who have gone well beyond response to engagement.1 If my argument was for synthesis, its principal burden was to specify what might constitute synthesis at the present time in American historical writing. My key words were relational and making, surrounded by the language of public and private as well as wholes and parts. I urged a relational understanding of the way smaller parts of human life work in the making of modern public culture. I presented public culture as a precipitate of historical processes that represents the society as a whole.
Comparison of Amplification Schemes Using a Wide Range of Fiber Parameters and System Nonlinearity Tolerance

We compare amplification schemes using various fibers and system nonlinearity tolerance. We show the diminishing advantage of all-Raman as nonlinearity tolerance improves; for certain fibers the hybrid Raman/EDFA could perform better than the counter-pumped all-Raman.
The Community of Law Teachers and Scholars Expands: Guideposts for New Faculty

Teaching is a joy and a privilege. We never forget our teachers. As law professors, we have a place, and a very important place, in our students' intellectual, ethical and professional development. That is a privilege. It is also a formidable responsibility.
The potential role of sea ice melt in the distribution of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas

Abstract We investigated chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in sea ice and the underlying water column in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas of the Pacific Arctic region and its relationship with both physical and biogeochemical parameters. Sea ice, water and melt pond samples were collected as sea ice melted in June–July 2010 and 2011. CDOM absorption was found to be significantly lower in sea ice compared to under-ice waters. In particular, the average CDOM absorption coefficient at 254 nm was approximately four times greater in the underlying water column than in the overlying ice. This indicates that melting sea ice did not contribute to net CDOM at this point in the melt season, but rather diluted CDOM in the under-ice water column. In the 2011 under-ice water column samples, the average CDOM absorption coefficients at 440 nm were twice as high along a transect associated with high phytoplankton biomass, which may have been contributed through subsequent microbial generation of CDOM. Less extensive sea ice cover with melt ponds may also have increased the presence of CDOM owing to increases in light transmission, leading to under-ice phytoplankton blooms and associated microbial production. However, oxygen isotope analysis of these waters with high under-ice phytoplankton biomass also indicates the presence of prior sea ice melt, including potentially sea ice algae and microbes, which could have also contributed to this anomalously high CDOM. These observations suggest that while melting sea ice may not necessarily contribute to increased CDOM concentrations, there are circumstances where CDOM in underlying waters may be higher than expected, either due to enhanced light transmission and higher under-ice production, and/or prior ice melt that provided significant contributions to under-ice CDOM.
The Fine Structure of Intra-erythrocytic Stages of Nuttallia (Babesia) microti

SUMMARY The ultrastructure of Nuttallia (Babesia) microti was studied in thin sections of infected mouse erythrocytes. The protozoon was found to be bounded by a single unit membrane which was sometimes thrown into broad low folds. A micropore was not observed. Organelles similar to those in N. rodhaini were found, and, in addition, 2 hitherto unreported structures are described.
Want to fix the malpractice mess? Start with judges.

That's the opinion of this veteran expert witness. But first, we have to make sure that the people we put on the bench are smarter and tougher.
Diagnostic accuracy of directed cholangioscopic biopsies and confocal laser endomicroscopy in cytology-negative indeterminate bile duct stricture: a multicenter comparison trial.

Background The aim of this study was to assess the operating characteristics of using the confocal endomicroscopy miniprobe (pCLE) compared to cholangioscopic targeted biopsies for the detection of malignancy in biliary tract strictures. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data of patients who underwent evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures after inconclusive brush cytology. Only those patients with a final pathologic diagnosis or a conclusive >12 months follow-up were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who underwent pCLE assessment (pCLE) and those who underwent cholangioscopic targeted biopsies (SB) of biliary strictures. Cholangioscopic biopsies were considered positive for malignancy when adenocarcinoma cells were identified. pCLE was considered positive for malignancy according to the Miami and Paris criteria. Results A total of 195 patients (median age, 66 years; 54.9% male) were included; 61 underwent C-pCLE and 134 underwent SB. Patient and biliary stricture characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Final diagnoses were cholangiocarcinoma (N.=93), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (N.=6); and benign strictures (N.=96). The overall sensitivity of pCLE and SB for the detection of malignancy were 76.4% and 78.4% respectively (P=0.7). Similarly, there was no difference in the specificity of pCLE and CB for the diagnosis of malignancy (97.7% and 98.5% respectively; P=1). The diagnostic accuracy of pCLE was 83.6% versus 88.8% in SB (P=0.8). However, the specificity to detect a malignancy was higher for CB compared to pCLE (98.5 vs. 86.3%; P=0.04). Conclusions In patients with indeterminate bile duct strictures, cytology combined with pCLE has a similar sensitivity, and diagnostic accuracy when compared to cholangioscopic biopsies for the diagnosis of malignant strictures. pCLE may be beneficial for in vivo, real-time histopathologic examination of biliary strictures and help in the instantaneous characterization of biliary strictures.
Two-Dimensional Graphics

In comparison with the six chapters of the Programming volume [767] of the GuideBooks, this chapter is very long—almost one and a half times longer than the average chapter text, without the plots. The reason for this is threefold: The reader is now familiar with the structure of Mathematica expressions, and we can make full use of this knowledge to write larger programs. Often, one of the simplest ways to check whether a calculation produces the desired result is to look at it graphically for special values of parameters or/and limiting cases. Originally, it was not my intention to discuss a lot of graphical methods and examples. However, because of numerous requests by the students who listened to the original lectures that resulted in this book, I have now included, in my opinion, a sufficient amount of graphics. Apparently many students and colleagues wanted to use Mathematica not only for symbolic calculations, but also (sometimes, unfortunately, only) to produce plots of measured data or sets of data produced by other programs. Visualization of mathematical knowledge is very important for teaching and “understanding” mathematics [94], [835], [597], [228], [364], [438], [649], [361], [45], [446], [428], [269], [226].
Reconsidering early U.S. public relations institutions: An analysis of publicity and information bureaux 1891–1918

Abstract This paper examines the United States popular press’ representation of publicity and information bureaux from 1891 to 1918. Specifically this study discusses these bureaux’ relationship with the press, use by governments, role in political campaigns, and function within non-profit organizations. Publicity and information bureaux are an important part of public relations history and identity because they represent the departmentalization of PR within organizations. Implications for PR historiography are discussed.
A novel compartmentalised stent graft to isolate the perfusion of the abdominal organs

Donation after cardiac death has been adopted to address the critical shortage of donor organs for transplant. Recovery of these organs is hindered by low blood flow that leads to permanent organ injury. We propose a novel approach to isolate the perfusion of the abdominal organs from the systemic malperfusion of the dying donor. We reasoned that this design could improve blood flow to organs without open surgery, while respecting the ethical principle that cardiac stress not be increased during organ recovery. Conditions within the stent were analysed using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method and validated on two prototypes in vitro. The hydrodynamic pressure drop across the stent was measured as 0.14-0.22 mmHg, which is a negligible influence. Device placement studies were also conducted on swine model fluoroscopically. All these results demonstrated the feasibility of rapidly isolating the perfusion to abdominal organs using a compartmentalised stent graft design.
Abstract 4454: Ecdysoneless, a novel regulator of cell cycle progression and oncogenesis

Precisely regulated cell proliferation is essential for embryonic development and for homeostasis in adult organs and tissues, whereas uncontrolled cell proliferation is a hallmark of cancer. We have identified the human orthologue of Drosophila Ecdysoneless (ECD) as a critical regulator of cell cycle progression and oncogenesis. ECD is overexpressed in cancers of several organs, and its overexpression correlates with shorter survival in breast cancer patients. Overexpression of ECD leads to an oncogenic phenotype in immortal mammary epithelial cells. ECD deletion in breast cancer cells on the other hand decreased the in vitro oncogenic phenotype and the in vivo tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, we showed that ECD associates with a protein complex called R2TP, composed of RUVBL1, RUVBL2, RPAP3, PIHID1 proteins, which is involved in several biological functions, including the dynamic assembly of protein-protein and protein-RNA complexes. In addition, affinity purification followed by Mass Spec analyses showed that ECD binds to several proteins, including PRPF8, that are components of critical protein complexes required for RNA splicing. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that ECD interacts with the R2TP complex and protein complexes that control key steps in the cellular mRNA processing. We hypothesize that these complexes are required for the overexpressed ECD to regulate mRNA processing to promote cell proliferation and cell survival in cancer cells. We will present data to document the ECD complexes required for cell cycle regulation and cell survival. Our studies reveal novel roles of ECD in cancer cells, and support the rationale for use of overexpression of ECD and its interacting proteins as molecular biomarkers of tumor progression as well as explore the targeting of these complexes to develop novel cancer therapy agents. Citation Format: Irfana Saleem, Sameer Mirza, Aniruddha Sarkar, Hamid Band, Vimla Band. Ecdysoneless, a novel regulator of cell cycle progression and oncogenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4454.
Red blood cell aggregation and blood viscoelasticity in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus

RBC aggregation indices and blood viscoelasticity, at a hematocrit of 40%, were determined in 40 poorly controlled, hyperglycemic (serum glucose ≥ 21 mmol/l) Type 2 (NIDDM) diabetic patients and in 40 age-matched control subjects
Propositionalism and McCain’s Evidentialism

McCain’s evidentialism embraces Statism—the view that identifies evidence with mental states—over its denial, where the denial is identified as Propositionalism the two positions in question offer quite different prospects for addressing Sellars’ Problem about the intelligibility of believing on the basis of experience. In Sellars’ mind, this problem provides fodder for a regress argument against experientially-based foundationalism, but that’s not only a bad argument, it skirts the fundamental worry. The more fundamental worry is about adopting a kind of “black box” epistemology on which the only connection between experience and belief is a functional one, the internal workings of which are opaque and mysterious. Propositionalism, by design, is formulated to avoid such limitations. It is designed so that the link from experience to belief makes sense from the perspective of the person whose belief is in question. I argue that Statism, at best, contorts to try to do so.
Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Related to Smoking Is Greater Among Women With Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

Study Objectives:Although both sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and smoking are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), the potential for an interactive effect on CVD risk has not been explor...
The Dirac Equation in (\(2+1\)) GR

Gravity and quantum gravity in (\(2+1\)) spacetime dimensions has been a very active and useful research area as the following four texts attest: Lower Dimensional gravity by Brown [1], Quantum Gravity in \(2+1\) Dimensions by Carlip [2], Exact Solutions in Three-Dimensional Gravity by Garcia-Diaz [3] and Chap. 2 in Advanced Lectures in General Relativity by Compere and Fiorucci [4]. Solutions of the gravitational field equations in (\(2+1\)) spacetimes were investigated by several authors, [5, 6]. Furthermore apart from investigations of solutions of the Dirac equation in gravitational spacetimes [7, 8, 9], the formalism of the massless Dirac equation in (\(2+1\)) dimensions has been successfully applied in solid state physics, in particular for describing “curved graphene,” and fullerenes, [10, 11, 12, 13, 14], and Dirac semi-metals, [15]. We recommend the review by Iorio [16].
Directional Interference Suppression Using a Spatial Relative Transfer Function Feature

Many speech enhancement systems consist of a beamformer and a spectral suppression postfilter. While it is well understood how to design beamformers to suppress either non-directional or directional interference, their suppression ability is limited by the number, type and positions of microphones. However, spectral postfilters that can further increase the suppression, are usually only designed to suppress non-directional noise. In this work, we propose a spatially selective spectral suppressor addressing directional and non-directional interference. The proposed suppressor is based on the relative transfer function of the target source location. While existing directional suppression techniques are limited to farfield scenarios or certain microphone geometries, we propose a general approach without restrictions on the microphone array and without farfield assumption. We show that the proposed spatial suppressor is able to suppress noise and directional interfering speakers, which substantially improves the performance of speech recognizer, and reduces undesired recognition of interfering talkers.
Mortality and injury assessment for three species of fish exposed to simulated turbine blade strike

Injury and mortality of fish during downstream passage through hydropower turbines is among the leading direct impacts of hydropower. Understanding the relationships among various strike variables ...
Management of Chiari I malformations: a paradigm in evolution.

Despite decades of experience and research, the etiology and management of Chiari I malformations (CM-I) continue to raise more questions than answers. Controversy abounds in every aspect of management, including the indications, timing, and type of surgery, as well as clinical and radiographic outcomes. This review aims to outline past experiences, consolidate current evidence, and recommend directions for the future management of the Chiari I malformation. A review of recent literature on the management of CM-I in pediatric patients is presented, along with our experience in managing 1073 patients who were diagnosed with CM-I over the past two decades (1998–2018) at Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington DC. The general trend reveals an increase in the diagnosis of CM-I at younger ages with a significant proportion of these being incidental findings (0.5–3.6%) in asymptomatic patients as well as a rise in the number of patients undergoing Chiari posterior fossa decompression surgery (PFD). The type of surgical intervention varies widely. At our institution, 104 (37%) Chiari surgeries were bone-only PFD with/without outer leaf durectomy, whereas 177 (63%) were PFD with duraplasty. We did not find a significant difference in outcomes between the PFD and PFDD groups (p = 0.59). An analysis of failures revealed a significant difference between patients who underwent tonsillar coagulation versus those whose tonsils were not manipulated (p = 0.02). While the optimal surgical intervention continues to remain elusive, there is a shift away from intradural techniques in favor of a simple, extradural approach (including dural delamination) in pediatric patients due to high rates of clinical and radiographic success, along with a lower complication rate. The efficacy, safety, and necessity of tonsillar manipulation continue to be heavily contested, as evidence increasingly supports the efficacy and safety of less tonsillar manipulation, including our own experience.
Improving hazard perception and tracking through part-task training:

Safe driving requires wisely allocating focal attention among multiple changing events and comprehending events that are attended to. Research suggests that attentional skills can be improved by tr...
Association of hyperlipidaemia with 5-year survival after hospitalisation for acute myocardial infarction: a propensity score matched analysis

Objectives The primary objective was to examine the association between hyperlipidaemia (HLP) and 5-year survival after incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The secondary objectives were to assess the effect of HLP on survival to discharge across patient subgroups, and the impact of statin prescription, intensity and long-term statin adherence on 5-year survival. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 7071 patients hospitalised for AMI at Mayo Clinic from 2001 through 2011. Of these, 2091 patients with HLP (age (mean±SD) 69.7±13.5) were propensity score matched to 2091 patients without HLP (age 70.6±14.2). Results In matched patients, HLP was associated with higher rate of survival to discharge than no HLP (95% vs 91%; log-rank Conclusions In patients with AMI, concomitant HLP was associated with increased survival and a net gain in life years, independent of survival benefit from statin therapy. The results also reaffirm the role of statin prescription, intensity and adherence in reducing the mortality after incident AMI.
Transcriptome Analysis of Airway Brushes in Lung Transplant Recipients with and without Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

Purpose Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) limits long-term survival compared to other solid organ transplants. Underlying mechanisms of CLAD are poorly understood. To address the pathogenesis of CLAD at the molecular level, we performed RNA-seq analysis of airway brush samples in LTRs with and without CLAD. Methods LTRs with and without CLAD were evaluated for inclusion. CLAD was staged using ISHLT criteria. RNA was extracted from airway brush samples and sequenced to obtain bulk RNA-seq data. These were subsequently analyzed for differential gene expression (DGE) profiling using false-discovery rate (FDR) p-value of 0.05 and absolute log2 fold change > 2 as thresholds for significance. Gene enrichment and gene and cell ontology analyses of DGE profile was completed to predict canonical pathways and cellular upstream regulator of activated signal pathways where p Results 24 CLAD and 21 stable control LTRs were included for RNA-seq analysis. The majority of cells identified from brushing were epithelial cells (54%). 293 genes were deferentially expressed between CLAD and non-CLAD. Gene enrichment analyses revealed activation TNF- α (p Conclusion Transcriptome analyses of bronchial brush samples revealed activation of Type-1 immune responses. Furthermore, this signature appears to strengthen over time as patients progress to CLAD and in later stages of CLAD. Further analyses may provide the rationale for testing select immune targets in CLAD and uncover distinct immune endotypes within CLAD.