cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Promise and Disappointment of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Transurethral Resection for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Updated Results and Long-Term Followup

Abstract Introduction Radical cystectomy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with localized muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. One of the strongest predictors of survival in these patients is pathological response to initial treatment. Our objective was to determine whether we could stratify the need for radical cystectomy based on pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods We present a cohort of patients with muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder to whom surveillance and bladder preservation were offered if complete response was achieved following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics and survival analysis were performed to assess overall, cancer specific and metastasis-free survival. Patients were stratified based on pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results A total of 60 patients were included in the cohort, of whom 32 (55%) had absence of residual disease on post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy transurethral resection and 27 (45%) had persistent disease. Of patients undergoing surveillance 52% maintained the bladder without evidence of recurrence. By comparison, of those with recurrence only 20% preserved the bladder and were without evidence of disease. Conclusions Long-term followup shows a subset of patients achieving good outcomes while preserving the bladder. However, we also observed an inability to reliably identify this subset of patients given current clinical and pathological markers. Until we are able to achieve that goal, the safest oncologic approach remains neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy.
Computer Design Starts Over

To maintain Moore’s law, the semiconductor industry decided a decade ago that a new transistor was imperative. That silver bullet has yet to materialize, but computer design innovations are now maintaining or even exceeding expected scaling progress. This theme issue gives a cross-sectional view of these new scaling drivers.
FUNCTIONS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES

This chapter discusses the functions of several variables. A rectangular coordinate system in three dimensions, also called a Cartesian coordinate system, is formed by three mutually perpendicular coordinate lines that intersect at their origins. The point of intersection of the axes is called the origin of the coordinate system. Each pair of coordinate axes determines a plane, called a coordinate plane. These are referred to as the xy plane , the xz plane , and the yz plane . To each point P in three-dimensional space, one can assign an ordered triple of numbers ( a, b, c ), called the coordinates of P . It can be done by passing three planes through P parallel to the coordinate planes and recording the coordinates a , b , and c of the intersections of the planes with the x , y , and z axis, respectively. For functions of two variables, there are analogous notions.
Ground state instabilities of protein shells are eliminated by buckling.

We propose a hybrid discrete–continuum model to study the ground state of protein shells. The model allows for shape transformation of the shell and buckling transitions as well as the competition between states with different symmetries that characterize discrete particle models with radial pair potentials. Our main results are as follows. For large Foppl–von Karman (FvK) numbers the shells have stable isometric ground states. As the FvK number is reduced, shells undergo a buckling transition resembling that of thin-shell elasticity theory. When the width of the pair potential is reduced below a critical value, then buckling coincides with the onset of structural instability triggered by over-stretched pair potentials. Chiral shells are found to be more prone to structural instability than achiral shells. It is argued that the well-width appropriate for protein shells lies below the structural instability threshold. This means that the self-assembly of protein shells with a well-defined, stable structure is possible only if the bending energy of the shell is sufficiently low so that the FvK number of the assembled shell is above the buckling threshold.
The role of enasidenib in the treatment of mutant IDH2 acute myeloid leukemia

Recurrent mutations affecting cellular metabolism and epigenetic regulation are implicated in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) gene mutations are described in 12% of patients with AML and 5% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. IDH2 enzyme is involved in the Krebs cycle, catalyzing α-ketoglutarate from isocitrate. Mutant IDH2 enzymes acquire a neomorphic enzymatic activity with the ability to produce 2-hydroxyglutarate from α-ketoglutarate, inhibiting multiple α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase reactions; leading to aberrant DNA hypermethylation and differentiation block in myeloid precursors and ultimately promoting leukemogenesis. Enasidenib (formerly AG-221) is an oral small molecule selective targeted inhibitor of the mutant IDH2 enzyme, approved in August 2017 by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) IDH2-mutated AML. Preclinical studies showed the effectiveness of enasidenib in inhibiting the production of 2-hydroxyglutarate with high potency, and alleviating the mutant IDH2-induced differentiation block. In the original AG221-001 phase I/II trial, patients with R/R AML were treated with enasidenib single agent therapy at escalating doses up to 650 mg daily, with the 100 mg dose level identified to be safe and effective for further evaluation. Overall, 113 patients were treated in the dose-escalation and 126 in the dose-expansion cohorts. The overall response rate for R/R patients was 40%, including a complete remission of 19%. At a median follow up of 7.7 months, the median overall survival was 9.3 months, and reached 19.7 months in responders. Enasidenib was well tolerated, although adverse events of clinical interest include indirect hyperbilirubinemia and IDH-inhibitor-induced differentiation syndrome, which can be life threatening if not identified and treated promptly. Ongoing clinical trials evaluating enasidenib in combination with intensive chemotherapy and hypomethylating agents in newly diagnosed AML, and in rational combinations for R/R AML patients are underway.
Interaction Challenges in AI Equipped Environments Built to Teach Foreign Languages Through Dialogue and Task-Completion

As cities around the world become more diverse in culture and language, there is a growing need for learning foreign languages. To further this excitement, we have built a human-scale, immersive room with a virtual AI agent that aids foreign language learning. Our system aids the language learning process through task-completion exercises using multi-modal dialogue. The Cognitive and Immersive Room (CIR) is developed as an immersive Chinese restaurant to teach Mandarin, but the interaction challenges and solutions can be reasonably generalized to other languages taught using similar techniques. As users interact with the immersive environment and the virtual AI agent, they face several user interaction challenges. These challenges arise from new learners' lack of proficiency in the foreign language. By studying user interactions in the CIR, we were able to articulate some of the interaction challenges. We have enhanced the AI agent, virtual environment, and the on-boarding process for new users to mitigate these challenges. The enhancements and the results which show that they were effective are discussed here.
Electrochemical oxidation of Ni(111)c(4×2)-CO in alkaline electrolytes

The electrochemical properties of Ni(111)c(4×2)-CO surfaces prepared in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) have been examined in 0.1 M KOH using a UHV electrochemistry transfer system. The results obtained indicate that the CO layer remains intact up to the moment of contact with the electrolyte and can be subsequently electrooxidized quantitatively to yield CO 2 (e.g., mostly carbonate) asthe product
A Clinical Care Pathway to Reduce ICU Usage in Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction.

ObjectiveTo design and implement a postoperative clinical care pathway designed to reduce intensive care usage on length of stay, readmission rates, and surgical complications in head and neck free...
Impact of early analgesia on hospitalization outcomes for sickle cell pain crisis

BACKGROUND Painful events are the leading cause of hospitalizations for patients with sickle cell disease. Individualized pain plans targeting patient-specific maximum opioid dosing may shorten hospitalization length and are recommended by national guidelines. Prior to implementing individualized sickle cell pain plans, we tested the hypothesis that a shorter time to achieve a maximum opioid dose would improve hospitalization outcomes. PROCEDURE Two-year IRB-approved, retrospective study of pediatric patients admitted for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). We recorded the emergency department admission time, order entry time for the maximum opioid dose during the hospitalization, and time of discharge orders. We categorized patients as infrequent if they required <3 admissions for VOC over two years and patients as frequent if they required ≥3 admissions for VOC over two years. To account for multiple admissions, generalized linear modeling was performed. RESULTS We identified 236 admissions for acute pain observed in 108 patients. Achieving an earlier maximum opioid dose was significantly associated with shorter length of hospitalization for frequent and infrequent pain patients (both P ≤ 0.0001). As total hospitalization length can be impacted by the time a maximum opioid order was placed, we also analyzed hospitalization length after the maximum opioid order was placed. Frequent pain patients who achieved earlier analgesia had a significantly shorter hospitalization from the time the maximum opioid order was placed (P = 0.03) while no association was found for infrequent pain patients (P = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS Early achievement of maximum analgesia improved hospitalization outcomes and warrant further investigation in prospective studies of individualized pain plans.
Re-Irradiation with Stereotactic Radiosurgery/Radiotherapy for Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas: Improved Survival in the Modern Era.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (fSRT) as salvage therapy for recurrent high-grade glioma and to look at the overall efficacy of treatment with linear accelerator (LINAC)-based radiosurgery and fractionated radiotherapy. Methods: From 2010 to 2017, a total of 25 patients aged 23–74 years were re-irradiated with LINAC-based SRS and fSRT. Patients were treated to a median dose of 25 Gy in 5 fractions. Results: The median overall survival (OS) after (initial) diagnosis was 39 months with an actuarial 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rate of 88, 56, and 30%, respectively. After treatment with SRS or fSRT, the median OS was 9 months with an actuarial 1-year OS rate of 29%. Local control, assessed for 28 tumors, after 6 months was 57%, while local control after 1 year was 39%. Three patients experienced local failure. There was no evidence of toxicity noted after SRS or fSRT throughout the follow-up period. Conclusion: SRS and fSRT remain a safe, reasonable, effective treatment option for re-irradiation following recurrent glioblastoma. Additionally, treatment volume may predict local control in the salvage setting.
Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Improved Outcomes and Reduced Costs Through Identification of Catheter Malfunction.

Introduction Two patients previously implanted with intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) pumps for management of intractable spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS) were referred to our center for ongoing management of their spasticity. Initial evaluation of these patients revealed high levels of spasticity in the presence of ITB doses 10 times the average daily dose of our other MS patients. Clinical facts High doses of ITB required frequent clinical visits and result in high drug and procedure costs. Both patients' daily doses were greater than 1000 mcg/day resulting in clinical visits every 1-2 months with drug and procedure costs ranging from 16 to 23 thousand dollars annually based on Medicare national average pricing for physician's office. Of the 59 MS patients receiving ITB therapy at our institution, the mean, median, and mode daily doses for ITB are 184, 115, and 159 mcg/day, respectively. The high ITB doses in these patients and poor spasticity control raised suspicion for pump/catheter malfunction and prompted immediate troubleshooting. Findings One patient's catheter was found to be disconnected from the pump and the other's catheter tip was outside the intrathecal space. In both cases, the patients were not receiving the therapy. After pump/catheter replacement, both patients received excellent clinical benefits from ITB at significantly lower daily doses. This reduction in dose resulted in decreased frequency of medication refills (twice annually) which resulted in decreased cost of care (12-19 thousand dollars savings annually per patient). Discussion These cases illustrate the need for early ITB pump troubleshooting to identify catheter problems, improve efficacy, and avoid unnecessary healthcare costs.
Runtime Adaptive Task Inlining on Asynchronous Multitasking Runtime Systems

As the era of high frequency, single core processors have come to a close, the new paradigm of many core processors has come to dominate. In response to these systems, asynchronous multitasking runtime systems have been developed as a promising solution to efficiently utilize these newly available hardware. Asynchronous multitasking runtime systems work by dividing a problem into a large number of fine grained tasks. However, as the number of tasks created increase, the overheads associated with task creation and management cannot be ignored. Task inlining, a method where the parent thread consumes a child thread, enables the runtime system to achieve the balance between parallelism and its overhead. As largely impacted by different processor architectures, the decision of task inlining is dynamic in nature. In this research, we present adaptive techniques for deciding, at runtime, whether a particular task should be inlined or not. We present two policies, a baseline policy that makes inlining decision based on a fixed threshold and an adaptive policy which decides the threshold dynamically at runtime. We also evaluate and justify the performance of these policies on different processor architectures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the impacts of adaptive policy at runtime for task inlining in an asynchronous multitasking runtime system on different processor architectures. From experimentation, we find that the baseline policy improves the execution time from 7.61% to 54.09%. Furthermore, the adaptive policy improves over the baseline policy by up to 74%.
A Rayleigh quotient method for criticality eigenvalue problems in neutron transport

Abstract The alpha- and k-effective eigenproblems describe the criticality and fundamental neutron flux mode of a nuclear system. Traditionally, the alpha-eigenvalue problem has been solved using methods that focus on supercritical systems with large, positive eigenvalues. These methods, however, struggle for very subcritical problems where the negative eigenvalue can lead to negative absorption, potentially causing the methods to diverge. We present Rayleigh quotient methods that are applied to demonstrably primitive discretizations of the one-dimensional slab, multigroup in energy, neutron transport equation. These methods are capable of solving subcritical and supercritical alpha- and k-effective eigenvalue problems. The derived eigenvalue updates are optimal in the least squares sense and positive eigenvector updates are guaranteed from the Perron-Frobenius Theorem for primitive matrices.
Carceral Space, Prisoners and Animals

Karen M. Morin. New York, NY: Routledge, 2018. vi and 175 pp., photos, bibliography, index. $155.00 cloth (ISBN 978-1-138-63987-4).In light of bad news about the speed of climate change, the increa...
A Systematic Review of Pediatric Phase I Trials in Oncology: Toxicity and Outcomes in the Era of Targeted Therapies.

Background Pediatric phase I oncology trials have historically focused on safety and toxicity, with objective response rates (ORRs) Materials and methods This was a systematic review of phase I pediatric oncology trials published in 2012-2017, identified through PubMed and EMBASE searches conducted on March 14, 2018. Selection criteria included full-text articles with a pediatric population, cancer diagnosis, and a dose escalation schema. Each publication was evaluated for patient characteristics, therapy type, trial design, toxicity, and response. Results Of 3,431 citations, 109 studies (2,713 patients) met eligibility criteria. Of these, 78 (72%) trials incorporated targeted therapies. Median age at enrollment/trial was 11 years (range 3-21 years). There were 2,471 patients (91%) evaluable for toxicity, of whom 300 (12.1%) experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Of 2,143 patients evaluable for response, 327 (15.3%) demonstrated an objective response. Forty-three (39%) trials had no objective responses. Nineteen trials (17%) had an ORR >25%, of which 11 were targeted trials and 8 were combination cytotoxic trials. Targeted trials demonstrated a lower DLT rate compared with cytotoxic trials (10.6% vs. 14.7%; p = .003) with similar ORRs (15.0% vs. 15.9%; p = .58). Conclusion Pediatric oncology phase I trials in the current treatment era have an acceptable DLT rate and a pooled ORR of 15.3%. A subset of trials with target-specific enrollment or combination cytotoxic therapies showed high response rates, highlighting the importance of these strategies in early phase trials. Implications for practice Enrollment in phase I oncology trials is crucial for development of novel therapies. This systematic review of phase I pediatric oncology trials provides an assessment of outcomes of phase I trials in children, with a specific focus on the impact of targeted therapies. These data may aid in evaluating the landscape of current phase I options for patients and enable more informed communication regarding risk and benefit of phase I clinical trial participation. The results also suggest that, in the current treatment era, there is a rationale to increase earlier access to targeted therapy trials for this refractory patient population.
Model-based statistical guided wave damage detection for an aluminum plate:

Accurate decision-making requires understanding the factors that influence those decisions. In guided wave structural health monitoring, the first aim is to detect the presence of damage. This deci...
Controversies in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Gynecologic Malignancies

ABSTRACT Objective Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy represents an evolution in the advancement of minimally invasive surgical techniques for gynecologic cancers. Prospective and retrospective studies have consistently shown its accuracy in the detection of lymph node metastases for endometrial and cervical cancers. However, consistent with any emerging surgical technique in the early phases of adoption, new questions have arisen regarding its application and impact. This paper served as a scoping review to identify the key controversies that have arisen in the field of SLN biopsy for endometrial and cervical cancers. Data Sources Several key controversies were identified, and PubMed, the Cochrane Library (cochranelibrary.com) advanced search function, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines were searched for supporting evidence. These included search terms such as “the accuracy of SLN biopsy for high grade endometrial cancer or cervical cancers >2-cm,” “cost effectiveness of SLN biopsy for gynecologic cancers,” “clinical significance of low volume metastases in endometrial cancer,” “morbidity of SLN biopsy for endometrial and cervical cancer,” and “impact on cancer survival of SLN biopsy for endometrial and cervical cancer.” Methods of Study Selection Studies were selected for review if they included significant numbers of patients, were level I evidence, or were prospective trials. Where this level of evidence failed to exist, seminal observational series that were published in high-quality journals were included. Tabulation, Integration, and Results Similar studies were listed and subcategorized and cross-compared, excluding those that included repeated analyses of the same patient populations. The relevant clinical trials or observational studies were clustered and reviewed for each chosen controversy. Adequate evidence supports the accuracy of SLN biopsy in the staging of high-grade endometrial cancer and cervical cancer, and it seems to be a cost-effective strategy for invasive endometrial cancer. Conclusive evidence was lacking with respect to the oncologic outcomes related to SLN biopsy, the impact on patient morbidity, and whether clinicians should treat isolated tumor cells in SLNs with adjuvant therapy. Conclusion SLN biopsy is an accepted staging strategy for cervical and endometrial cancer surgery; however, controversies remain in how it can be applied with the most safety and efficacy. These ultimately need to be resolved with further clinical trials and observations of larger series of patients.
Getting under the skin: ultrasound in dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) characterized by inflammatory infiltrates involving skin and skeletal muscle. The disease course and affected features – muscle, skin, f...
Silicon Carbide for Advanced In-Vivo Medical Devices

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a highly versatile semiconductor material that has long been used in harsh applications such as space, corrosive and high-temperature environments and, more recently, the human body. The impressive and highly advantageous materials properties of SiC have shown that this material is ideally suited for medical applications due to its proven bio- and hemocompatibility. Indeed, SiC appears to be quite unique for use in the human brain whereby implants made using SiC coatings have demonstrated vastly improved performance with virtually no human body immune response which plagues Silicon technology. After over two decades of focused research and development SiC is now ready for use in the healthcare sector and this paper provides an up to date assessment of SiC devices for long-term human use. First the plethora of applications that SiC is uniquely positioned for in human healthcare is reviewed so that healthcare professionals will be fully aware of the significant opportunities now possible with the rapid development of this technology. Next progress in two areas will be presented: Neural implants and deep-tissue cancer therapy using SiC nanotechnology.
Identification of Potential Modulators of the RGS7/Gβ5/R7BP Complex:

Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins serve as critical regulatory nodes to limit the lifetime and extent of signaling via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Previously, approaches to pharmacologically inhibit RGS activity have mostly focused on the inhibition of GTPase activity by interrupting the interaction of RGS proteins with the G proteins they regulate. However, several RGS proteins are also regulated by association with binding partners. A notable example is the mammalian RGS7 protein, which has prominent roles in metabolic control, vision, reward, and actions of opioid analgesics. In vivo, RGS7 exists in complex with the binding partners type 5 G protein β subunit (Gβ5) and R7 binding protein (R7BP), which control its stability and activity, respectively. Targeting the whole RGS7/Gβ5/R7BP protein complex affords the opportunity to allosterically tune opioid receptor signaling following opioid engagement while potentially bypassing undesirable side effects. Hence, we implemented a novel strategy to pharmacologically target the interaction between RGS7/Gβ5 and R7BP. To do so, we searched for protein complex inhibitors using a time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based high-throughput screening (HTS) assay that measures compound-mediated alterations in the FRET signal between RGS7/Gβ5 and R7BP. We performed two HTS campaigns, each screening ~100,000 compounds from the Scripps Drug Discovery Library (SDDL). Each screen yielded more than 100 inhibitors, which will be described herein.
Bayesian-Wilson coefficients in lattice QCD computations of valence PDFs and GPDs

We propose an analysis method for the leading-twist operator product expansion based lattice QCD determinations of the valence parton distribution function (PDF). In the first step, we determine the confidence-intervals of the leading-twist $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ Wilson coefficients, ${C}_{n}({\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}{z}^{2})$, of the equal-time bilocal quark bilinear, given the lattice QCD matrix element of Ioffe-time distribution for a particular hadron $H$ as well as the prior knowledge of the valence PDF, $f(x,\ensuremath{\mu})$ of the hadron $H$ determined via global fit from the experimental data. In the next step, we apply the numerically estimated ${C}_{n}$ in the lattice QCD determinations of the valence PDFs of other hadrons, and for the zero-skewness generalized parton distribution (GPD) of the same hadron $H$ at nonzero momentum transfers. Our proposal still assumes the dominance of leading-twist terms, but it offers a pragmatic alternative to the usage of perturbative Wilson coefficients and their associated higher-loop uncertainties such as the effect of all-order logarithms at larger sub-Fermi quark-antiquark separations $z$.
Multilocus Sequence Typing System (MLST): Genetic Diversity and Genetic Components to Virulence

Data from whole genome sequencing of Entamoeba histolytica strains have been used to identify polymorphic loci. Sixteen of these loci were used to genotype 63 E. histolytica strains obtained from an area in Bangladesh where amebiasis is endemic. These markers seemed to segregate autonomously and exhibit extensive haplotype diversity. Despite the genetic heterogeneity, a strong association was observed between two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cylicin-2 gene and disease phenotype. This observation suggests that there are genetic differences between virulent and avirulent parasites and that, because of the naturally occurring high background reassortment, multilocus sequence typing in E. histolytica will permit us to link genetic markers with disease outcome in clinical samples.
Enteroviruses and myocarditis: viral pathogenesis through replication, cytokine induction, and immunopathogenicity.

Publisher Summary Viruses—especially enteroviruses—are major etiological agents in clinical myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Indeed, presence of viral RNA in heart biopsies is a negative prognostic indicator, as mortality rates in these individuals are significantly higher than in patients having virus-negative biopsies. Most likely, many different methods of myocyte damage exist, with distinct pathogenic mechanisms dominating in various patients in accordance with their genetic constitution, and the genetic characteristics of the initiating pathogen. The difficulty for clinicians is in deciding how t o treat patients. Immunity—while often viewed as the culprit in the pathogenicity of myocarditis—is also necessary for virus control. Immunosuppression may inhibit autoimmune reactions, but could lead to persistent virus infections which could be equally damaging. Classical immunosuppressive therapy is of little benefit t o the majority of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy patients. Recent preliminary trials with interferon- alpha suggest that attacking the virus infection directly may be therapeutic. Currently, a large multicenter trial for interferon therapy in patients with biopsy-proven cardiac infections is underway. This is instrumental in elucidating the pathogenicity of clinical inflammatory heart disease. However, because interferon therapy itself can cause cardiogenic shock and acute perimyocarditis, caution should be practiced in its use in heart disease.
Ocean Engineering Mechanics: Introduction to Wave-Structure Interaction

In this chapter, basic analyses of the interactions of waves and compliant fixed and floating structures are presented. The reason for discussing both fixed and floating structures in a single chapter is that several of the analytical techniques are common to both. As in the previous chapters, the structural geometries studied here are those that can be dealt with on an analytical basis. The analyses of wave interactions with complicated structural geometries require the use of numerical techniques, such as finite-element analysis. Such situations are not addressed herein. The initial discussions of each type of structure are based on the assumption that the incident wave field is composed of regular, linear waves. These discussions are followed by considerations of structural motions in irregular (random), linear seas. Depending on water depth at the site, the wind fetch, and the wind duration, the irregular-wave analyses presented in Chapter 5 can be used for seas having a Beaufort Wind Force Scale up to 5. Sea states are used to quantify the severity of a sea, and are discussed in Chapter 1. The various sea-state scales are presented in Table 1.2. Basic Concepts As introduced in Section 9.2, the ambient water mass excited by an unsteadily moving body is called the added mass . The magnitude of the added mass is proportional to the inertial reaction force on the body resulting from the body motions. When the body moves close to the free surface, waves are also created.
Protein quaternary fold recognition using conditional graphical models

Protein fold recognition is a crucial step in inferring biological structure and function. This paper focuses on machine learning methods for predicting quaternary structural folds, which consist of multiple protein chains that form chemical bonds among side chains to reach a structurally stable domain. The complexity associated with modeling the quaternary fold poses major theoretical and computational challenges to current machine learning methods. We propose methods to address these challenges and show how (1) domain knowledge is encoded and utilized to characterize structural properties using segmentation conditional graphical models; and (2) model complexity is handled through efficient inference algorithms. Our model follows a discriminative approach so that any informative features, such as those representative of overlapping or long-range interactions, can be used conveniently. The model is applied to predict two important quaternary folds, the triple β-spirals and double-barrel trimers. Cross-family validation shows that our method outperforms other state-of-the art algorithms.
Experimental Studies of Puerperal Infection

Abstract Pregnant, white mice were found to be more susceptible to intraperitoneal inoculation of streptococci than were nonpregnant mice. However, in the vagina of the normal rabbit, a virulent streptococcus was eliminated in a remarkably short time. This elimination apparently was not dependent upon the P H of the vaginal secretion. When, after repeated implantations, virulent, hemolytic streptococci established themselves in the vagina, they were degraded in pathogenicity and hemolytic activity. They recovered both of these properties after artificial cultivation and animal passage.
Complicación pulmonar de las infestaciones parasitarias

La literatura de los cinco ultimos anos presenta numerosos informes de complicacion pulmonar por parasitos animales. Estos parasitos causan complicacion pulmonar por tres vias diferentes: l.-Por medio de la larva migratoria mientras pasa al traves de los pulmones. 2.-Por una accion directa del parasito adulto sus larvas migratorias o sus huevos. 3.-Por una accion indirecta (Toxina o accion anafilactica). Como el espacio no permite el estudio de tantos parasitos, tengo que limitarme a un solo parasito, el Strongyloides, estudiarlo en detalle con referencia especial al ataque pulmonar producido por el comparandolo con el ataque pulmonar producido por el Ascaris.
The HLA Complex

The history of HLA typing originates in the early attempts to define the types of leukocytes. Although red cell antigens had been known since the time of Landsteiner, early efforts to apply the techniques of red cell typing to detect the antigens on leukocytes were fraught with technical problems. A comprehensive review of these historical methods and techniques is provided by Walford1 and by Killman.2
Modelling of advanced, pre‐cast cladding connections for seismic design

These studies, prepared for the International Symposium on Building Technology and Earthquake Hazard Mitigation, held in Kunming, PRC, demonstrate the importance of including all major building components in computer analysis aimed at the realistic portrayal of overall building seismic response.
Approximating Minimum Bending Energy Path in a Simple Corridor

In this paper, we consider the problem of computing a minimum bending energy path (or MinBEP) in a simple corridor. Given a simple 2D corridor C bounded by straight line segments and arcs of radius 2r, the MinBEP problem is to compute a path P inside C and crossing two pre-specified points s and t located at each end of C so that the bending energy of P is minimized. For this problem, we first show how to lower bound the bending energy of an optimal curve with bounded curvature, and then use this lower bound to design a (1 + e)-approximation algorithm for this restricted version of the MinBEP problem. Our algorithm is based on a number of interesting geometric observations and approximation techniques on smooth curves, and can be easily implemented for practical purpose. It is the first algorithm with a guaranteed performance ratio for the MinBEP problem.
Regional differences in deceased donor liver transplantation and their implications for organ utilization and allocation

We examined the UNOS database from 7/15/00-7/17/05 for Regional deceased donor liver utilization. For each region, we performed logistic regression and derived odds ratios (OR) for donor characteristics associated with livers being transplanted outside of the region or not transplanted at all. Regions with smallest and least significant OR were considered aggressive users of suboptimal organs. We estimated how many untransplanted livers from less aggressive regions might be used by more aggressive regions. Only Region 9 was significantly more aggressive than others (median OR: 6 vs. 16; p < 0.01; median OR size: 1.4 vs. 3.6; p < 0.01). Region 9 transplanted at higher median Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (20.4 [6-73] vs. 18.3 [6-70], p < 0.01), but had the lowest one- and five-yr graft survival (p < 0.01). Of 30,474 livers, 5056 were not transplanted, of which 3690 were procured outside Region 9 but met Region 9 use criteria. Of these, 1488 and 1807 livers had donor risk indices ≤ 2, for hypothetical 12 and 8 h cold ischemia time (CIT), respectively. Regional differences in liver utilization are profound. Region 9 is significantly more aggressive. At the most, 297-361 organs per year may have been used under Region 9's use criteria but overall graft survival may have declined.
Technology Adoption in Higher Education: Overcoming Anxiety through Faculty Bootcamp.

The reluctance to design and teach online courses in higher education is often attributed to technology anxiety in faculty. This article documents a faculty development model that has successfully helped faculty overcome this obstacle. “Bootcamps,” faculty development programs held at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI, were specifically and intentionally designed to be consistent with the principles of andragogy and transfer of learning to assist faculty in technology adoption for teaching and learning in an online environment. The faculty development “Bootcamps” can be easily adapted for implementation at other higher education institutions.
First Line Therapy for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Metastatic pancreatic cancer remains a difficult disease to treat; however, there are more new drug combinations on the horizon each week. We will discuss the results of the MPACT trial presented at the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstracts #4005, #4058, and #4059) and compare to the 2011 FOLFIRINOX data. Image: MPACT control and experimental arms.
Trypanosoma cruzi exhibits inter- and intra-strain heterogeneity in molecular karyotype and chromosomal gene location

Molecular karyotypes of 6 strains and 6 clones of Trypanosoma cruzi were determined using orthogonal-field-alternation gel electrophoresis. At least 15 different chromosome-sized DNA molecules, ranging in size from less than 200 kilobase pairs to greater than 2000 kilobase pairs, were resolved for each of the isolates examined. Many of the bands were present in different relative intensities suggesting that the number of individual chromosomes per organism may be considerably higher. Significant inter- and intra-strain differences in molecular karyotype and in the chromosomal locations of the genes for the spliced leader, tubulins, 5S ribosomal RNA and a heat shock protein were found. These marked chromosomal differences among T. cruzi strains and clones may be related to the high degree of phenotypic heterogeneity previously found in this parasite.
Quaternary and domain structure of glycoprotein processing glucosidase II.

Glucose trimming from newly synthesized glycoproteins regulates their interaction with the calnexin/calreticulin chaperone system. We have recently proposed that glucosidase II consisted of two different subunits, α and β. The α subunit is the catalytic component, and deletion of its homologue in yeast obliterates glucosidase II activity. Deletion of the homologue of the noncatalytic β subunit in Schizosaccharomices pombe drastically reduces glucosidase II activity, but the role of the β subunit in glucosidase II activity has not been established. Furthermore, a direct interaction between α and β subunits has not been demonstrated. Using chemical cross-linking and hydrodynamic analysis by analytical ultracentrifugation, we found that the two subunits form a defined complex, composed of one catalytic subunit and one accessory subunit (α1β1) with a molecular mass of 161 kDa. The complex had an s value of 6.3 S, indicative of a highly nonglobular shape. The asymmetric shape of the α1β1 complex was confirmed ...
Statistical Interpretation of the Importance of Phase Information in Signal and Image Reconstruction

In the Fourier representation of signals and images, phases have long been realized to be more important than magnitudes in the reconstruction. In this paper, a justification is presented from a statistical viewpoint. The main result shows that under random magnitudes, the DC component of the inverse Fourier transform converges to a positive value, while all the other components converge to zero. For random phases, such a result does not exist.
The relationship between enhanced remediation and NCLEX success

Abstract The prediction of first-attempt National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses success remains important for students and schools of nursing. We provide a brief overview of the literature of predictors of success and report a successful remediation method in an associate degree program, from 80.5% pre- to 93.6% postintervention. Of the many predictors evaluated, only the first-year medical–surgical grades and exposure to enhanced remediation were associated with improved odds of first-attempt success.
Assessing the Efficacy of Treatments for ADHD Overview of Methodological Issues

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and impairing psychiatric condition that affects significant numbers of children, adolescents and adults. Clinicians in a variety of practice settings (hospital, outpatient, residential, research) strive to diagnose, treat and monitor ADHD in an efficient and evidence-based manner. Tools that facilitate the gathering and interpretation of information from a variety of sources can effectively augment a diagnostic assessment, and can also be useful for longitudinal monitoring. Multiple assessment tools are available, with varying degrees of psychometric validity, clinical utility and overall feasibility (time and cost). This review provides an overview of several available ADHD rating scales and continuous performance tests, and offers a discussion of potential strengths and weaknesses of the instruments. While these tools do not in and of themselves make a diagnosis of ADHD, they can certainly assist in the diagnostic assessment, be crucial in assessing the efficacy of medications in clinical trials, and be a useful adjunct in the clinical management of ADHD.
Proton-stopping power of argon, krypton, and xenon

Parameters for the Bethe stopping-power theory for Ar, Kr, and Xe are obtained both via integration over optical oscillator strengths and from explicit plane-wave Born-approximation calculations. The former procedure produces a Bethe mean excitation energy ($I$) significantly lower than that measured, while the latter procedure produces $I$ values within 10 eV of the measured values for Ar and Kr. For Xe the experimental $I$ value lies midway between the two calculated $I$ values. Inner-shell corrections are obtained from the explicit calculations. The $K$-shell corrections (${C}_{K}$) are a factor of 2 larger than those obtained from hydrogenic calculations. The total inner-shell correction ($\ensuremath{\Sigma}{\mathrm{nl}}^{}{C}_{\mathrm{nl}}$) is in qualitative agreement for Ar, Kr, and Xe with results from a statistical model. However, the quantitative difference between the two sets of inner-shell corrections leads to significant increases in $I$ values inferred from experimental measurements below 1 MeV proton energy.
Packed red blood cell transfusion is an independent risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants

Packed red blood cell transfusion is an independent risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants
Corrosion Evaluation of Steel Clad Copper Concentric Neutrals

Corrosion of bare and tin alloy coated copper concentric neutral strands in underground distribution cable has received much attention in recent years. Although disagreement still exists on the extent of the problem and the mechanisms that cause it, a number of mitigative techniques are being evaluated.
The Biology of Behavior and the Study of Human Fertility: A Review Essay*

Books reviewed in this article: Paul-Andre Rosental L'intelligence demographique: sciences et politiques des populations en France (1930–1960) James R. Carey Longevity: The Biology and Demography of Life Span Susan Scott and Christopher J. Duncan Demography and Nutrition: Evidence from Historical and Contemporary Populations Laura R. Woliver The Political Geographies of Pregnancy
The mechanism of magnetic field-induced increase of excitability in hippocampal neurons

The influence of a pulsed magnetic field (PMF) on hippocampal evoked potentials has been investigated in vitro. The exposure to PMF (0.16 Hz, 15 mT) applied for 30 min amplified the population spike and the slope of EPSP recorded from stratum pyramidale and stratum radiatum respectively. This amplification was additive to previously induced LTP and occurred in an NMDA-independent way. The increase in the activity of electrical synapses accompanied PMF-induced amplification of evoked potentials. Since PMF exposure modified paired-pulse facilitation and paired-pulse inhibition, it was concluded that it modifies excitatory and inhibitory processes in the hippocampus. Control experiments revealed that observed effects were exclusively related to PMF exposure. The results support and extend our previous research indicating a significant influence of magnetic fields on hippocampal physiology.
Characteristics of different amino acids as protein precursors in mouse brain: Advantages of certain carboxyl-labeled amino acids

Abstract We have studied the metabolism of the carboxyl-labeled amino acids leucine, tyrosine, and valine in mouse brain and the incorporation of these isotopes into protein. When metabolized into compounds other than protein each of these amino acids is decarboxylated so that the radioactive portion of the molecule is lost as 14CO2. During the first 16 min after intravenous administration, when the maximal rate of protein labeling occurs, radioactive metabolites from these amino acids do not build up. Nearly 90% of the label is in the precursor amino acid itself at 8 min and over 80% at 16 min. Because metabolites of the carboxyl-labeled amino acids do not accumulate, the trichloroacetic acid-soluble fraction is a simple and reliable measure of the radioactivity of the precursor amino acid available for protein synthesis. In addition, because radioactive metabolites are essentially absent they cannot label protein. The use of these carboxyl-labeled amino acids simplifies the technical and theoretical complications that arise in measuring brain protein synthesis and allows studies impractical with many other radioactive amino acids. In contrast, the corresponding tritiated amino acids—leucine-4,5-3H, tyrosine-3,5-3H, and valine-2,3-3H—give rise to large amounts of labeled metabolic products, including large quantities of tritiated water. Tritiated water makes up 50% of the total TCA-soluble fraction only 4-min after injection of tritiated leucine. Valine-2,3-3H gives rise to considerably fewer metabolic products than leucine-4,5-3H or tyrosine-3,5-3H apparently because the linear pathway for valine catabolism eliminates the tritium from valine before its products enter into central metabolism. All three amino acids, leucine, valine, and tyrosine, are rapidly incorporated into brain proteins. The rate of incorporation is nearly identical for leucine and tyrosine and somewhat slower for valine.
The effect of collection procedure on the sperm output and copulatory behavior of AI stud boars

Abstract Sixteen mature boars in routine use at an artificial insemination (AI) facility were subjected to routine semen collection (Control) or were sexually stimulated either by penile diversion prior to collection (DIV), by collection with a non-estrous gilt in the dummy sow (WG) or by collection with a non-estrous gilt in the dummy sow following physical contact with a non-estrous gilt for 2-h periods daily over the 3 days prior to collection (HWG). Each boar was subjected to all four collection procedures over a 4-week experimental period. While slight increases in sperm concentration and in the total yield of sperm were observed following sexual stimulation, neither of these parameters differed significantly (P > 0.05) from those observed during Control collections. Boars on the HWG treatment produced a significantly larger (P