cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative measurement of medial femoral knee cartilage volume - analysis of the OA Biomarkers Consortium FNIH Study cohort.

Summary Objective Large studies of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) require well-characterized efficient methods to assess progression. We previously developed the local-area cartilage segmentation (LACS) software method, to measure cartilage volume on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The present study further validates this method in a larger patient cohort and assesses predictive validity in a case–control study. Method The OA Biomarkers Consortium FNIH Project, a case–control study of KOA progression nested within the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), includes 600 subjects in four subgroups based on radiographic and pain progression. Our software tool measured change in medial femoral cartilage volume in a central weight-bearing region. Different sized regions of cartilage were assessed to explore their sensitivity to change. The readings were performed on MRI scans at the baseline and 24-month visits. We used standardized response means (SRMs) for responsiveness and logistic regression for predictive validity. Results Cartilage volume change was associated strongly with radiographic progression (odds ratios (OR) = 4.66; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 2.85–7.62). OR were significant but of lesser magnitude for the combined radiographic and pain progression outcome (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.40–2.07). For the full 600 subjects, theSRM was −0.51 for the largest segmented area. Smaller areas of cartilage segmentation were also able to predict the case–control status. The average reader time for the largest area was less than 20 min per scan. Smaller areas could be assessed with less reader time. Conclusion We demonstrated that the LACS method is fast, responsive, and associated with radiographic and pain progression, and is appropriate for existing and future large studies of KOA.
Qualitatively Estimating the Incidence of Wrongful Convictions

The article provides a qualitative methodology and estimate for a plausible incidence of wrongful convictions at between one-half-of one percent and two percent of all felony convictions in the United States.
Spatial distribution of tropical cyclone rainfall and its contribution to the climatology of Puerto Rico

AbstractThis study explores two different tropical cyclone rainfall (TCR) problems: first, the identification of areas where TCR is highly concentrated and, second, the contribution of tropical cyclones (TCs) to the climatology of Puerto Rico for the period 1970–2010. A total of 86 storms within a 500-km radius of Puerto Rico were analyzed. Daily and monthly rainfall data from 32 weather stations were used to generate interpolated surfaces. Two geostatistical interpolation techniques were implemented: ordinary kriging and ordinary cokriging. Results show that rainfall from most TCs tends to be clustered in the eastern, southeastern, and central regions of the island, with a decrease in values toward the west. TCs closer to Puerto Rico (≤230 km) and embedded in high moisture environments (≥44.5 mm) exhibited the highest rainfall values, with most concentrated in the high elevation areas of the southeastern region of the island. Months with the largest TC contributions to rainfall (20–30%) were August and S...
Dynamic clustering of inventory parts to enhance warehouse management

Inventory management in today's complex manufacturing environments has become increasingly challenging. Ineffective management of inventory can lead to material shortages, excessive inventories, long lead times, waste of space, and poor customer service. Nowadays, various companies are using information systems to establish effective linkages to suppliers, customers, and other agents in the supply chain. These information systems include comprehensive data warehouses that integrate operational data within the supply chain including part usage, customer demand, defect rates, etc. The data can be used in analytics models to improve warehouse operations and inventory management. In this research, an approach is proposed for warehouse inventory management based on part clustering. The proposed approach categorises inventory parts based on their pick frequency, age, price, and sensitivity to transportation. Part grouping helps the decision makers to identify whether to keep the part in the warehouse, move it to an offsite inventory storage, or scrap it. The approach also determines when and how many parts should be moved from the offsite storage to the internal warehouse in order to balance the inventory and minimise the transportation costs. Dynamic reports are generated on a regular basis to effectively manage the inventory. [Received 3 September 2016; Revised 9 March 2017; Accepted 13 March 2017]
Reaching Out: Investigating Different Modalities to Help People with Visual Impairments Acquire Items

We present a lab study of multiple feedback designs for guiding small-scale arm-and-hand movement for people with visual impairments (PVI), so that they can reach out to and grasp an item on a shelf. Little attention has been paid to the guidance of small-scale arm-and-hand movements by PVI, yet this is an essential element of product acquisition in a grocery shopping task and other similar daily activities. We developed a feedback interface that allowed us to explore two types of auditory feedback (speech and tones), haptic vibration feedback, and a combination of both. The result of the study demonstrated that the multi-modal navigational feedback, specifically speech and haptic, was the most effective and preferred mode for small-scale navigation.
Thinking through The Clouds: Comedy in Hegel and Strauss†

This article reconstructs a dialogue between three modern philosophical treatments of the Ancient Greek comic poet Aristophanes's play, The Clouds (first performed in 423 BCE), which has generally been received as an unjust satire of Socrates. I argue that Hegel, Kierkegaard, and Leo Strauss all assume a rather unconventional position in their respective readings—especially given their status as philosophers—by actually coming to the comedian's defense, and by showing, in distinct but related ways, how his play grasps the “negativity” in Socrates more profoundly than do the other depictions of the philosopher that have been bequeathed to posterity. By further appealing to the hidden affinities between Aristophanes and Socrates, each of these modern thinkers, finally, shows himself to be invested in the specific function of the comedian-satirist within the polis, an investment that has implications for both antiquity and modernity.
Drone flight scheduling under uncertainty on battery duration and air temperature

Abstract Commercial drones are expected to be widely used in the near future. They are generally powered by batteries to fly aerial areas. Flying time performance is known to change depending on air temperature. Hence, this paper proposes a robust optimization approach to find the optimal flight schedule (i.e., the number of drones and flight paths) in the flight network considering uncertain battery duration. A regression model is first developed to estimate battery duration as a function of air temperature. Three flight duration uncertainty sets (polyhedral, box, and ellipsoidal) are explored based on the regression model, and the robust optimization model is solved for each of the three sets. A decision tool is developed to analyze performance of the sets, and to help a decision maker select an appropriate uncertainty set that is most appropriate for a specific application of interest. The tool considers both minimizing the total operating cost and minimizing the probability of not completing the scheduled flights. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the proposed method.
An ‘off-the-shelf’ fratricide-resistant CAR-T for the treatment of T cell hematologic malignancies

T cell malignancies represent a group of hematologic cancers with high rates of relapse and mortality in patients for whom no effective targeted therapies exist. The shared expression of target antigens between chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and malignant T cells has limited the development of CAR-T because of unintended CAR-T fratricide and an inability to harvest sufficient autologous T cells. Here, we describe a fratricide-resistant “off-the-shelf” CAR-T (or UCART7) that targets CD7+ T cell malignancies and, through CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, lacks both CD7 and T cell receptor alpha chain (TRAC) expression. UCART7 demonstrates efficacy against human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines and primary T-ALL in vitro and in vivo without the induction of xenogeneic GvHD. Fratricide-resistant, allo-tolerant “off-the-shelf” CAR-T represents a strategy for treatment of relapsed and refractory T-ALL and non-Hodgkin’s T cell lymphoma without a requirement for autologous T cells.
Lymphopenia is associated with late onset Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in solid organ transplantation.

BACKGROUND Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) affected 5%-15% of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients prior to universal prophylaxis, classically with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). Guidelines generally recommend 6-12 months of prophylaxis post-SOT, yet optimal duration and robust PJP risk stratification have not been established. METHODS A retrospective, single-center, case-control study of PJP among SOT recipients from January 1998 to December 2013 was conducted. Cases had positive PJ direct fluorescent antibody assay of respiratory specimens. Controls were matched 4:1 by nearest date of SOT. Univariate testing and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS Fifteen cases were identified among 5505 SOT recipients (0.27% rate) and analyzed vs 60 controls. PJP occurred on average 6.1 years (range 0.9-13.8) post-SOT; no case was receiving PJP prophylaxis at diagnosis. Most were treated with reduced immunosuppression and TMP-SMX plus steroids (80%). Six patients (40%) required critical care; 3 (20%) died. There were no significant demographic differences, though cases tended to be older at SOT (54 vs 48 years, P = .1). In univariate analysis, prior viral infection was more common among cases (67% vs 37%, P = .08). Lower absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) at diagnosis date was strongly associated with PJP (400 vs 1230 × 106 cells/μL, P < .001); odds of infection were high with ALC ≤ 500 × 106 cells (OR 18.7, P < .01). CONCLUSION Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is a rare, late complication of SOT with significant morbidity and mortality. Severe lymphopenia may be useful in identifying SOT recipients who warrant continued or reinstated PJP prophylaxis.
Introduction: A Revolutionary Cipher

Cryptology is the science of secret writing. It is made up of two halves; cryptography consists of the techniques for creating systems of secret writing and cryptanalysis encompasses the techniques of breaking them. Over the past 2,500 years, cryptology has developed numerous types of systems to hide messages and subsequently a rich vocabulary in which to describe them. In this chapter we introduce the reader to the vocabulary of cryptology, explain the differences between codes and ciphers and begin the discussion of how to decipher an unknown message.
Zero Thermal Expansion and Abrupt Amorphization on Compression in Anion Excess ReO3-Type Cubic YbZrF7

Heat treatment of cubic YbZrF7, after quenching from 1000 °C, leads to a material displaying precisely zero thermal expansion at ∼300 K and negative thermal expansion at lower temperatures. The zero thermal expansion is associated with a minimum in the lattice constant at ∼300 K. X-ray total scattering measurements are consistent with a previously proposed model in which the incorporation of interstitial fluoride into the ReO3-related structure leads to both edge and corner sharing coordination polyhedra. The temperature dependence of the experimental pair correlation functions suggests that the expansions of edge and corner sharing links partly compensate for one another, supporting the hypothesis that the deliberate incorporation of excess fluoride into ReO3 structure materials can be used as a design strategy for controlling thermal expansion. Cubic YbZrF7 has a bulk modulus, K0, of 55.4(7) GPa and displays pronounced pressure-induced softening [K0′ = −27.7(6)] prior to an abrupt amorphization on compr...
Effects of internal reflections on the performance of lens-integrated mmW and THz antennas

Multiple reflections from electrically large hemispherical lens surfaces of lens-integrated antennas are investigated using an iterative Huygens' integral approach. In particular for mmW- and THz-band applications, double-slot antennas on extended hemispherical high-resistivity Silicon lenses have been widely used due to the high Gaussisicity of their radiation/reception patterns. Previous studies assumed an electrically-large lens and evaluated the antenna pattern using first-order physical optics approximation. Although this approach is fairly accurate for estimating the radiation pattern of such antennas, the reception pattern and the associated performance of receiving sensors need a more careful consideration due to the relatively large level of internal reflections from the concave boundary of the high index lens. Here, we present an iterative method to compute and study the effects of multiple refections inside electrically large lenses. The rich nature of quasi-optical wave behavior is demonstrated through several examples corresponding to individual bounces of the incident, reflected, and transmitted waves from a double slot antenna.
Movement vigor as a traitlike attribute of individuality

A common aspect of individuality is how we evaluate economic variables like reward and effort. This valuation affects not only decision making but also motor control, raising the possibility that v...
Radiation therapy for Peyronie's disease: is there a place?

AbstractPeyronie’s disease is a disabling condition, the treatment of which remains controversial. We evaluated 40 patients who underwent external beam radiation therapy for the treatment of chronic Peyronie’s disease. While patients with penile plaque, penile curvature and impotence were treated little improvement was noted. Patients with penile pain or pain on erection responded well to radiation with rapid resolution of the pain. We conclude that external beam radiation therapy has only limited application in patients with Peyronie’s disease. Patients with primary symptoms of penile pain or pain with erection may be improved through the use of external beam radiation therapy.
Preoperative goal setting and perioperative communication in an academic training institution: Where do we stand?

Abstract Background We collected data regarding specific aspects of perioperative surgical education within our institution's Section of Surgical Sciences as a needs assessment. Methods Categorical general surgery residents and attending surgeons were queried regarding their perceptions of resident preoperative planning and perioperative communication. Results The overall response rate was 81%, with 35 resident and 54 faculty respondents. Residents reported selecting an operative learning objective a median of 50% (IQR 36–67) of the time, whereas attending surgeons perceived this to be the case a median of 26% (IQR 15–35) of the time (P Conclusions This study demonstrates deficits in resident goal setting and perioperative communication within our program, which are targets for future intervention. We share these results as a potential tool for other programs.
Lower Bone Density on Preoperative Computed Tomography Predicts Periprosthetic Fracture Risk in Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Background:The effect of bone mineral density (BMD) on outcomes from total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has not been studied. BMD can be estimated by measuring Hounsfield units (HU) on standard compute...
209 Overexpression of WAVE1 activates pluripotency-related genes in porcine somatic cells

Despite extensive efforts, cellular reprogramming in livestock species has had limited success. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have been established; however, these cells often show incomplete reprogramming status, and constitutive expression of exogenous reprogramming factors is required due to inactivation of endogenous pluripotency-related genes. A previous study reported that overexpression of the Xenopus egg-derived WAVE1 gene assists reprogramming of murine somatic cells into the pluripotent state. The WAVE1 gene is also required for oocyte-mediated reprogramming by transcriptional activation of embryonic genes. In this study, we investigated the role of porcine WAVE1 in cellular reprogramming by inducing overexpression of WAVE1 in porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFF). Previously, we cloned the coding sequences (CDS) of porcine WAVE1 using porcine expressed sequence tags (EST) and predicted porcine WAVE1 sequences. The WAVE1 CDS, derived from porcine mature oocytes, was overexpressed in PFF by transfection using the Neon system. Then, G418-based antibiotic selection was performed to enrich cells constitutively overexpressing WAVE1. After cell culture for 4 weeks, RNA was extracted from the WAVE1 transfected and control PFF, and cDNA was synthesised from the RNA using random hexamers. The cDNAs were used for quantitative reverse transcription PCR to analyse the expression pattern of pluripotency- and reprogramming-related genes: POU5F1, NANOG, KLF2, SOX2, DPPA3, ZFP42, ESRRB, TET1, TET2, and TET3. The expression of target genes were normalized to GAPDH level and the ΔΔCt algorithm was used for analysis. Three technical replications and 4 biological replications were performed. Student’s t-test was used for the comparison and P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. On average, a 20-fold increase of WAVE1 was observed in the transfected cells compared with control cells. Interestingly, overexpression of WAVE1 activated some of the pluripotency-related genes in porcine PFF. Specifically, transcript levels of NANOG, KLF2, and SOX2 were increased compared with those in the control cells (P < 0.05). In addition, levels of POU5F1 and DPPA3 tended to be higher in WAVE1-overexpressing cells compared with those in the control cells (P < 0.1). However, transcript levels of other pluripotency-related genes (ZFP42, DPPA3, and ESRRB) did not change in WAVE1-overexpressing cells. The expression level of TET family (TET1, TET2, and TET3), which is enriched in pluripotent stem cells and a key regulator of DNA methylation, was not changed in WAVE1-overexpressing cells. These results indicate that WAVE1 can be a novel factor in porcine cellular reprogramming. Considering that a key defect of current porcine iPSC generation is insufficient expression of endogenous pluripotency genes, application of WAVE1 may enhance quality of porcine iPSC. We intend to evaluate expression of pluripotency markers at the protein level in WAVE1-overexpressing cells and investigate mechanisms underpinning WAVE1-mediated reprogramming process in future studies.
Fabrication and characterization of emulsified and freeze-dried epoxy/cellulose nanofibril nanocomposite foam

Utilization of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) material for light weight and high strength structural composites has attracted considerable attention in the recent years. CNF aerogels have a microporous structure that could have potential properties, such as ultra-low density, high porosity, high specific surface area, high flexibility, and low thermal conductivity. However, producing such a product is still somewhat problematic. In this study, an epoxy/CNF (EP/CNF) nanocomposite foam with micro-rib structures has been developed using emulsification combined with freeze-dried processes. The microstructures of these new EP/CNF composite foams were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The surface morphology showed that CNF fiber walls were uniformly sealed with epoxy resin after curing. Mechanical properties, water resistance, and thermal stability of the EP/CNF composites foams were tested using the compression test, water absorption test, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the CNFs played an important role in forming a skeleton like structure within these composite foams. The amount of EP in the EP/CNF emulsions had significant effect on the compressive properties and water resistance. Samples fabricated with higher epoxy content had higher compressive properties, better water resistance, and thermal stability. The epoxy/CNF nanocomposites properties were significantly improved as compared to pure CNF aerogel. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the nanocomposites was influenced by the EP/CNF composition. The mechanical and physical properties of EP/CNF nanocomposite foams could be optimized via changing the weight ratio of epoxy resin in EP/CNF emulsion according to the demanding of specific application.
Greater Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity Is Associated With Higher Resting Metabolic Rate: Results From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) tends to decline with aging. The age-trajectory of decline in RMR is similar to changes that occur in muscle mass, muscle strength, and fitness, but while the decline in these phenotypes has been related to changes of mitochondrial function and oxidative capacity, whether lower RMR is associated with poorer mitochondrial oxidative capacity is unknown. In 619 participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we analyzed the cross-sectional association between RMR (kcal/day), assessed by indirect calorimetry, and skeletal muscle maximal oxidative phosphorylation capacity, assessed as postexercise phosphocreatine recovery time constant (τ PCr), by phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between τ PCr and RMR, adjusting for potential confounders. Independent of age, sex, lean body mass, muscle density, and fat mass, higher RMR was significantly associated with shorter τ PCr, indicating greater mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Higher RMR is associated with a higher mitochondrial oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle. This association may reflect a relationship between better muscle quality and greater mitochondrial health.
Discovering Arrest Warrants During Illegal Traffic Stops: The Lower Courts’ Wrong Turn in the Exclusionary Rule Attenuation Analysis

Suppose that a police officer illegally stops a vehicle, discovers that the driver has an outstanding arrest warrant, and takes him into custody. Should evidence then seized in a search incident to the arrest be admissible under the theory that the discovery of an outstanding arrest warrant attenuates the taint of the illegal traffic stop? This question has been the subject of heated conflict in both federal and state courts. Courts are divided, and even those that agree have failed to apply a consistent analysis, leading to unpredictable results. This article is the first to provide an in-depth analysis of this issue and to propose how the courts should apply the exclusionary rule. It advocates a strict application of the Brown v. Illinois attenuation factors, which will typically lead to the suppression of the fruit of an illegal traffic stops despite the discovery of an arrest warrant. This article also addresses the lower courts' misapplication of Brown and how this failure leads to grave public policy concerns and threatens to reduce the Fourth Amendment to a mere "form of words".
Intravascular Flow Stimulates PKD2 (polycystin-2) Channels in Endothelial Cells to Reduce Blood Pressure

PKD2 (polycystin-2, TRPP1), a TRP polycystin channel, is expressed in endothelial cells (ECs), but its physiological functions in this cell type are unclear. Here, we generated inducible, EC-specific Pkd2 knockout mice to examine vascular functions of PKD2. Data show that a broad range of intravascular flow rates stimulate EC PKD2 channels, producing vasodilation. Flow-mediated PKD2 channel activation leads to calcium influx that activates SK/IK channels and eNOS serine 1176 phosphorylation in ECs. These signaling mechanisms produce arterial hyperpolarization and vasodilation. In contrast, EC PKD2 channels do not contribute to acetylcholine-induced vasodilation, suggesting stimulus-specific function. EC-specific PKD2 knockout elevated blood pressure in mice without altering cardiac function or kidney anatomy. These data demonstrate that flow stimulates PKD2 channels in ECs, leading to SK/IK channel and eNOS activation, hyperpolarization, vasodilation and a reduction in systemic blood pressure. Thus, PKD2 channels are a major component of functional flow sensing in the vasculature.
Serum glucose and phosphorus concentrations during continuous renal replacement therapy using commercial replacement solutions with or without phosphorus.

INTRODUCTION Continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) is a common practice in the intensive care unit often associated with electrolyte derangements. Recently, our institution added a phosphate dialysis solution, Phoxillum®, to our formulary as an option for CVVH fluid in addition to the bicarbonate-based Prismasol® products available. We sought to evaluate the impact of Phoxillum in patients who required CVVH when compared to Prismasol with regard to phosphate and glucose management. METHODS This was a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort analysis approved by Partners Health Care System Institutional Review Board that included patients who received a minimum of 24 hours of either Prismasol 4/2.5 or Phoxillum for CVVH from February 2017 to November 2017. Phosphate and glucose levels were monitored daily while on CVVH. Prevalence of hypoglycemia (glucose 180 mg/dL), hypophosphatemia (phosphate 4.3 mg/dL) were collected in terms of days of occurrence while on CVVH. Oral and intravenous phosphate repletion requirements were collected for all patients. FINDINGS Hypophosphatemia occurred more frequently while patients were receiving Prismasol as compared to Phoxillum (130 [24.9%] vs. 13 [6.2%], rate ratio [RR] 0.20 [95% confidence interval-CI = 0.10-0.42, P < 0.0001]), and consequently there was a numerically lower need for intravenous phosphorous repletion in the Phoxillum group (RR = 0.58, 95% CI [0.26, 1.30], P = 0.19]. There was a numerically higher incidence of hyperphosphatemia while patients were on Phoxillum therapy as compared to Prismasol (78 [37%] vs. 145 [27.7%], RR 1.25 [95% CI = 0.84, 1.86, P = 0.27]). There was no difference between the Phoxillum and Prismasol groups in terms of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. There was no notable difference in the cost found between the two therapies. DISCUSSION The findings suggest that the use of Phoxillum for CVVH may be associated with decreased incidence of hypophosphatemia and a potentially decreased need for phosphate repletion in patients who require CVVH.
Bempedoic Acid: A New Drug for an Old Problem

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of bempedoic acid for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction. Data Sources: A PubMed search was conducte...
Libanius: Ten Mythological and Historical Declamations: Introduction, Translation, and Notes

This book offers translations of ten rhetorical declamations of the fourth-century AD sophist Libanius of Antioch and some related texts, almost all appearing for the first time in a modern language. In these works the declaimer impersonates such mythological or historical figures as Poseidon, Paris, Achilles, and Orestes, either in court (as prosecutor or defendant) or by trying to persuade his audience to take a course of action. The texts illustrate the sophist's eloquence and had an educational purpose in the schools, but were also delivered before adult audiences. They also put the Hellenic past on display for audiences of the Greek East in the Roman Empire. The annotated translations are accompanied by analyses of their themes, structure, and argumentation.
Short Term Outcomes and Complications of a Single Incision Sling and Trans-Obturator Sling for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence

Study Objective To compare the efficacy of the Altis single incision sling (SIS) to traditional trans-obturator (TOT) slings for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Design Single center prospective non-randomized cohort study. Setting Academic Healthcare Facility. Patients or Participants 149 patients with SUI who were undergoing a mid-urethral sling placement with a SIS or a TOT sling between March 2018 and April 2019. Interventions Placement of Altis SIS or TOT sling. Measurements and Main Results Of the 149 patients who were treated for SUI, 73 had an Altis SIS placed and 76 had a TOT sling placed. Patients completed the Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI) Form at 3, 6 and 12 months; which reflected subjective outcomes. Objective outcome was evaluated with a cough stress test at 3, 6 and 12 month intervals. At the 3 month mark there was a statistically significant difference in both subjective and objective outcomes in favor of the Altis SIS compared with the TOT sling, (p 0.05). Subjectively there was a 88% success rate for the Altis sling and 83% for the TOT sling, with objective cure rates being 91.8% and 90.2% for the Altis SIS and TOT sling respectively. Intra-operative and postoperative complications including bleeding, transient urinary retention and pain showed no statistical significance between the 2 slings. Three sling erosion (4.1%) requiring revision were seen in the Altis SIS group compared with 1 (1.3%) in the TOT group, (p>0.05). Conclusion Findings from this study suggests that the objective and subjective outcomes as well as operative complications for the Altis SIS and the TOT sling are comparable, indicating that both slings are equally efficacious in treating patients with SUI after a short-term follow up.
Successful use of early, repeat fecal microbiota transplantation for initial treatment of severe, refractory Clostridioides difficile colitis.

Purpose There is a paucity of literature surrounding the use of early fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for patients presenting with an initial episode of severe, refractory Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Information on optimal antibiotic dosing and therapy duration surrounding FMT during an acute, initial episode of CDI is also limited. Described here is a case of successful treatment of CDI after 4 FMTs during an acute, initial episode of severe, refractory Clostridioides difficile colitis. Summary A 69-year-old community-dwelling, Caucasian male presented after 48 hours of vomiting and diarrhea. A stool sample was collected and resulted positive for Clostridioides difficile by both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The patient was treated with several days of oral and rectal vancomycin therapy in addition to intravenous metronidazole, but those treatments failed. His clinical and nutrition status deteriorated over the course of several days until salvage therapy was ordered, with administration of 1 inpatient nasogastric FMT and 1 inpatient colonoscopic FMT followed by outpatient colonoscopic FMTs on 2 consecutive days within 2 weeks of hospital discharge. Conclusion This case suggests a role for early, repeat FMT during an initial presentation of a severe Clostridioides difficile colitis episode refractory to pharmacologic antimicrobial therapy. It also adds to emerging literature regarding the timing of antibiotic cessation surrounding FMT.
Epigenetics in Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Epigenetic alterations in our genetic material can lead to heritable changes in the risk, clinical manifestations, course, and the outcomes of many diseases. Understanding these epigenetic mechanisms can help in identifying potential therapeutic targets. This is especially important in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), where prenatal as well as postnatal factors impact susceptibility to this devastating condition, but our therapeutic options are limited. Developmental factors affecting intestinal structure and function, our immune system, gut microbiome, and postnatal enteral nutrition are all thought to play a prominent role in this disease. In this manuscript, we have reviewed the epigenetic mechanisms involved in NEC. These include key developmental changes in DNA methylation in immature intestine, role of long non coding RNA (lncRNA) in maintaining intestinal barrier function, epigenetic influences of prenatal inflammation on immunological pathways in NEC pathogenesis such as toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and epigenetic changes associated with enteral feeding causing upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes. We have assimilated research findings from our own laboratory with an extensive review of the literature utilizing key terms in multiple databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Science Direct.
Local and Global Linear Convergence of General Low-rank Matrix Recovery Problems

We study the convergence rate of gradient-based local search methods for solving low-rank matrix recovery problems with general objectives in both symmetric and asymmetric cases, under the assumption of the restricted isometry property. First, we develop a new technique to verify the Polyak-Lojasiewicz inequality in a neighborhood of the global minimizers, which leads to a local linear convergence region for the gradient descent method. Second, based on the local convergence result and a sharp strict saddle property proven in this paper, we present two new conditions that guarantee the global linear convergence of the perturbed gradient descent method. The developed local and global convergence results provide much stronger theoretical guarantees than the existing results.
Impact of marketplace lending on consumers’ future borrowing capacities and borrowing outcomes

Abstract Using comprehensive credit bureau data, we document that consumers who borrow from marketplace lending (MPL) platforms have lower credit scores and higher default rates in the long run relative to observably similar applicants for bank loans. The long-run credit scores and default rates of MPL borrowers are especially worse when the MPL platforms provide less information to MPL investors, when MPL borrowers are benchmarked against relationship bank borrowers, and for one-time MPL borrowers as compared to repeat MPL borrowers. Overall, our results suggest that MPL lenders face greater information asymmetries with respect to their borrowers than traditional banks.
The limitations of external measurements for aging small mammals: the cautionary example of the Lesser Treeshrew (Scandentia: Tupaiidae: Tupaia minor Günther, 1876)

Age is a basic demographic characteristic vital to studies of mammalian social organization, population dynamics, and behavior. To eliminate potentially confounding ontogenetic variation, morphological comparisons among populations of mammals typically are limited to mature individuals (i.e., those assumed to have ceased most somatic growth). In our morphometric studies of treeshrews (Scandentia), adult individuals are defined by the presence of fully erupted permanent dentition, a common criterion in specimen-based mammalogy. In a number of cases, however, we have had poorly sampled populations of interest in which there were potentially useful specimens that could not be included in samples because they lacked associated skulls. Such specimens typically are associated with external body and weight measurements recorded by the original collectors, and we sought to determine whether these data could be used successfully as a proxy for age or at least to establish maturity. We analyzed four traditional external dimensions (head-and-body length, tail length, hind foot length, and ear length) and weight associated with 103 specimens from two allopatric populations of the Lesser Treeshrew (Tupaia minor Gunther, 1876) from Peninsular Malaysia and from Borneo, which we treated as separate samples (populations). Individuals were assigned to one of eight age categories based on dental eruption stage, and measurements were compared among groups. In general, mean sizes of infants and subadults were smaller than those of adults, but the majority of subadults fell within the range of variation of adults. The large overlap among infants, subadults, and adults in external measurements and weight indicates that such measures are poor proxies for age in this species, probably for treeshrews in general, and possibly for other small mammals. This has significant implications for any investigation wherein relative age of individuals in a given population is an important consideration.
FSMA and Third Party Rights: Victory for FCA in Supreme Court

This article analyses the judgment of the Supreme Court in Financial Conduct Authority (Appellant) v Macris (Respondent) [2017] UKSC 19. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) emerged triumphant in this appeal and the outcome has altered the fortunes of persons regulated by the City watchdog. Reversing the Court of Appeal’s judgment, the Supreme Court held by majority that Mr Achilles Macris (M) had not been identified in the Final Notice given to JP Morgan Chase (JPMC). Accordingly, any “third party rights” under section 393 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) were not engaged because the notice did not identify M when interpreted by information readily available in the public domain. Lord Sumption found the analogy with the law of defamation to be unhelpful. Lord Mance said that this was “a difficult case” and Lord Neuberger said it was “difficult to resolve” the meaning of the word “identifies” in section 393(1)(a) despite the provision being a “good example” of Parliament’s enactment of generally lucid statutory language. In 2012, the Synthetic Credit Portfolio (SCP) operated by JPMC had lost $6.2bn because of the rogue “London Whale” trades. Because of the notorious losses the Final Notice entailed a financial penalty or “conduct costs” of £137.6m. Between 2012-2016 the world’s twenty foremost international banks paid a total of £264bn in conduct costs of which JPMC’s share was £33.64bn. As the head of the Chief Investment Office, which managed excess deposits including the portfolio comprising the SCP’s traded credit instruments, M’s functions as JPMC’s employee were “controlled functions” under section 59 of FSMA. The losses were linked to high risk trading tactics, feeble management and failing to react to information alerting JPMC to the SCP’s problems. The appeal, explained Lord Sumption, turned on the meaning of “identifies” and on the meaning of the notice to which that word is being applied. His Lordship judged that “a person is identified in a notice under section 393 if he is identified by name or by a synonym for him, such as his office or job title”. He said that it must be evident from the notice that the synonym could only apply to one person and he must be identifiable from information contained either in the notice or publicly available elsewhere. Lord Sumption explained that it is possible to turn to public information available elsewhere only where it enables the interpretation (as opposed to supplementation) of the notice’s language. The ratio of Macris was subsequently applied by the Court of Appeal in the case of FCA v Grout [2018] EWCA Civ 71 which concerned Julien Grout (G) who was one of four traders in the SCP managed by M. Putting the Supreme Court’s test into action, Longmore, Moylan and Newey LJJ held that the FCA’s notice did not identify G – who was foreign exchange trader – for the purposes section 393 of FSMA. The notice did not identify only one person, as required by the test set out in Macris by the Justices of the Supreme Court.
On the coupling of hydrography, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and settling organic particles offshore in the Arabian Sea

Processes and issues related to the connections between hydrography, plankton, and the flux of organic carbon to great depth are reviewed for the offshore Arabian Sea and compared with observations in similar regimes of other seas. The south-north and west-east gradients and seasonality in the Arabian Sea are emphasized, but generalizations about the area as a whole are shunned. New data include regional differences in seasonality of satellite-observed chlorophyll for two years. The rule for the depth dependence of organic flux is unclear, therefore, this should be the first priority for future investigations. While the data for supply of organic carbon by settling and demand for the depth interval 200–1,000 m in the eastern Arabian Sea are in fair agreement, this is not true for the interval between 300 and 400 m. For advancing the understanding of the generation of flux in the upper layers and the consumption at depth, very much needs to be learned about the biology of the principal species of Zooplankton and nekton. To keep the task manageable, further studies of flux should focus on only one or two subdivisions of the Arabian Sea.
Abstract 20241: Better Parameters of Ventilation-co2 Output Relationship Predict Death in Chf Patients

Introduction: Measures of ventilation-co2 output relationship have been shown to be more prognostic than peak O2 uptake in assessing life expectancy in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Hypothesis: Because both the ratios (Ve/Vco2) and slopes (Ve-vs-Vco2) of ventilation-co2 output of differing durations can be used, we aim to ascertain which measurements of ventilation-co2 output relationship best predicted CHF life expectancy. Methods: 271 CHF patients with NYHA class II-IV underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and were followed-up for a median duration of 479 days. Four different linear regression Ve-vs-Vco2 slopes were calculated from warm-up exercise onset to: 180s, anaerobic threshold (AT), ventilatory compensation point (VCP); and peak exercise. Five Ve/Vco2 ratios were calculated for the following durations: rest (120s), warm-up (30s), AT (60s), lowest value (90s), and peak exercise (30s). Death or heart transplant were considered end-points. Multiple statistical an...
Continous industrial fermentations.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses continuous internal fermentations. Continuous fermentations of some interest include generator-type processes for producing itaconic acid and acetone-ethanol. Although it has no immediate industrial use, intracellular glycogen formation in Escherichia coli grown in continuous culture has been extensively investigated; this study is instructive as a model of the continuous production of an overflow metabolite accumulating as the result of the limitation of a required nutrient, in this case nitrogen. Fermentation science received its greatest impetus with the advent of antibiotics, and an increasing number and variety of industrial fermentations have emerged that, like antibiotic fermentations, yield fine chemicals and require close biological and mechanical controls. Continuous fermentations may be classified either on the basis of the manner in which they are operated or the production process to which they are applied. The formation of many chemical products of fermentation is based on specific nutritional deficiencies and depends on the existence of an inverse relationship between the growth rate of an organism and the synthetic rate of a metabolic product.
Expression of the a, x, and y Variable Region Genes of Heavy Chains among IgG, IgM, and IgA Molecules of Normal and a Locus Allotype-Suppressed Rabbits

The contribution of the V H subgroup genes, a, x and y, to the formation of individual IgG molecules has been studied in normal and a locus allotype-suppressed rabbits. Using anti-x32, anti-y33 and antisera to the a locus allotypes (anti-a1, anti-a2 and anti-a3), we used indirect precipitation of 125 I-labeled IgG or Fab of specific allotype or inhibition of precipitation for the quantitative analyses. In normal rabbits homozygous with respect to the a locus, about 70 to 90% of the total IgG molecules possess the a locus allotypic specificities and most or all of the remaining molecules, depending on the genotype, could be accounted for as x32 or y33 molecules. Additional IgG molecules with unknown allotypic specificities for the V H region were found in two normal a3 rabbits and in an a1 allotype-suppressed rabbit; these molecules are probably the products of allelic alternatives to x 32 and/or y 33 . Allotype-suppression of a locus molecules was compensated for by an increase in the number of molecules synthesized by closely linked V H subgroup genes, x and y . A similar ratio of the a2, x32, and y33 molecules was observed among Ig fractions with different net electrical charges. In a partially a2-suppressed rabbit, the results of indirect precipitation and sequential precipitation indicated that no two of the allotypic specificities, a2, x32, or y33, are located on the same IgG molecule or on the same Fab fragment. In homozygotes, a locus suppression was found for IgM and IgA as well as for IgG. The expression of a selected V H gene in a cell synthesizing Ig molecules results from linked gene exclusion apparently independent of C H gene selection.
Music: Anthropological Aspects

The article surveys the main trends in the anthropological study of music from the 1980s to the present. These trends are as follows: (1) music as culture and the mediation of social process, (2) music as discourse and the nature of musical meaning, (3) music and identity, (4) music and modernization, (5) music and technology, (6) music and knowledge, and (7) music as sonic practice.
The effect of three chemical oxidants on subsequent biodegradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) in batch slurry reactors

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that chemical oxidation may be compatible with subsequent biodegradation in contaminated soils. To test this, soil contaminated with 2,4-dinintrotoluene (2,4-DNT) was treated in batch slurry reactors with (1) ozone, (2) modified Fenton chemistry (MFC), and (3) iron-activated sodium persulfate (SPS). Chemical and subsequent biological oxidation were monitored, and compared with biodegradation alone. Release of nitrite and nitrate distinguished biological from chemical oxidation of 2,4-DNT, respectively. DNT-degrading microorganisms were enumerated. The disappearance of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulated during chemical oxidation was also monitored. RESULTS: In the biological reactor 66% of the 2,4-DNT was degraded, but further biodegradation was inhibited by nitrite concentrations approaching 18 mmol L−1. At the doses tested, all oxidants achieved chemical oxidation followed by biodegradation, resulting in 98% DNT removal overall. Ozone achieved the greatest DNT removal (70%), but also caused the greatest reduction in DNT degraders and the longest rebound time (60 days) before biodegradation of the remaining DNT and VFAs. SPS resulted in the least DNT removal by chemical oxidation (37%), but showed no obvious rebound period for DNT degraders, and even signs of co-existing chemical and biological oxidation. By releasing nitrate, which is less toxic than nitrite, the oxidants kept nitrite levels below 18 mmol L−1, enabling the follow-on biodegradation step to attain lower concentrations of 2,4-DNT than biodegradation alone. CONCLUSIONS: All three chemical oxidants were compatible with biodegradation of residual 2,4-DNT. Post-oxidation bioremediation should be included in remedial designs. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry