cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Refractory Electrical Storm suppression by bretylium.

Electrical Storm (ES) is a syndrome of recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurring three or more times in a 24 h period [1]. Treatment of such patients remains one of the most difficult challenges in medicine. Although adequate management is not well established, it usually relies on the use of anti-arrhythmics, electrical cardioversion, defibrillation and ablation techniques [1,2,3]. Despite aggressive therapy, mortality remains alarmingly high at N80–90% [4]. We report an idiopathic case of refractory electrical storm in a young patient eventually suppressed by bretylium.
Davidson on Justification and Rationalization

Suele suponerse que la explicacion de las acciones hace a las acciones intencionales inteligibles racionalmente a la luz de las creencias y deseos del agente. Donald Davidson comparte este supuesto. Sin embargo, defendere este rasgo de la explicacion de la accion no encuentra acomodo en su teoria de la explicacion de las acciones. Mas aun, este insuficienca proporciona razones poderosas para abandonar el causalismo sobre la explicacion de las acciones.
Location memory biases reveal the challenges of coordinating visual and kinesthetic reference frames

Five experiments explored the influence of visual and kinesthetic/proprioceptive reference frames on location memory. Experiments 1 and 2 compared visual and kinesthetic reference frames in a memory task using visually-specified locations and a visually-guided response. When the environment was visible, results replicated previous findings of biases away from the midline symmetry axis of the task space, with stability for targets aligned with this axis. When the environment was not visible, results showed some evidence of bias away from a kinesthetically-specified midline (trunk anterior–posterior [a–p] axis), but there was little evidence of stability when targets were aligned with body midline. This lack of stability may reflect the challenges of coordinating visual and kinesthetic information in the absence of an environmental reference frame. Thus, Experiments 3–5 examined kinesthetic guidance of hand movement to kinesthetically-defined targets. Performance in these experiments was generally accurate with no evidence of consistent biases away from the trunk a–p axis. We discuss these results in the context of the challenges of coordinating reference frames within versus between multiple sensori-motor systems.
Characterization of aminopeptidase activity from three species of microsporidia: Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Vittaforma corneae.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites of the phylum Microspora. To date, more than 1,200 species within 144 genera have been described, with 14 infecting humans. Currently, no effective treatment exists for human microsporidiosis. In this study, the biochemical properties of the aminopeptidases were investigated within several species of microsporidia. Aminopeptidase activity was detected in 3 species of microsporidia, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, E. hellem, and Vittaforma corneae, using a fluorometric substrate assay. Each species exhibited distinct aminopeptidase properties. The cytosolic neutral aminopeptidase activities of the Encephalitozoon spp. were characterized as preferentially cleaving leucine, whereas those of V. corneae cleaved arginine. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis estimated the molecular mass of E. cuniculi, E. hellem, and V. corneae as 74, 72, and 79 kDa, respectively. Enzymatic activity was inhibited by bestatin and it's analogue, nitrobestatin, indicating that the ...
Metodologias qualitativas de investigação em Educação Musical

Neste artigo sao abordadas as questoes gerais que respeitam as Metodologias Qualitativas de Investigacao em geral e em Educacao Musical em particular. Proporciona-se o seu enquadramento na Investigacao vs. Metodologias Quantitativas, tracando a sua origem filosofica, conceito de realidade, etnografia e biografia. Especificamente em relacao a Educacao Musical, discutem-se metodos e criterios no que toca a recolha e analise de dados bem como problemas de etica e criterios de qualidade.
Impact of uncertainty in longitudinal T1 measurements on quantification of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

The objective of this study was to assess the uncertainty in T1 measurement, by estimating the repeatability coefficient (RC) from two repeated scans, in normal appearing brain tissues employing two different T1 mapping methods. All brain MRI scans were performed on a 3 T MR scanner in 10 patients who had low grade/benign tumors and partial brain radiation therapy (RT) without chemotherapy, at pre-RT, 3 weeks into RT, end RT (6 weeks) and 11, 33, and 85 weeks after RT. T1-weighted images were acquired using (1) a spoiled gradient echo sequence with two flip angles (2FA: 5° and 15°) and (2) a progressive saturation recovery sequence (pSR) with five different TR values (100-2000 ms). Manually drawn volumes of interest (VOIs) included left and right normal putamen and thalamus in gray matter, and frontal and parietal white matter, which were distant from tumors and received a total of accumulated radiation doses less than 5 Gy at 3 weeks. No significant changes or even trends in mean T1 from pre-RT to 3 weeks into RT in these VOIs (p ≥ 0.11, Wilcoxon sign test) allowed us to calculate the repeatability statistics of between-subject means of squares, within-subject means of squares, F-score, and RC. The 2FA method produced RCs in the range of (9.7-11.7)% in gray matter and (12.2-14.5)% in white matter; while the pSR method led to RCs ranging from 10.9 to 17.9% in gray matter and 7.5 to 10.3% in white matter. The overall mean (±SD) RCs produced by the two methods, 12.0 (±1.6)% for 2FA and 12.0 (±3.8)% for pSR, were not significantly different (p = 0.97). A similar repeatability in T1 measurement produced by the time efficient 2FA method compared with the time consuming pSR method demonstrates that the 2FA method is desirable to integrate into dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for rapid acquisition.
Non-Deductible IRAs And Intermediate Holding Periods

This note examines the feasibility of using the non-deductible IRA with 10 percent early withdrawal penalty tax as an intermediate-term investment vehicle. In todays market, individuals who do not expect o be in a lower tax bracket when they withdraw funds should consider this use of the non-deductible IRA only if they place common stock in their IRA. Individuals who expect to be in a lower tax bracket often can effectively use this strategy whether they invest in bonds or stock. The attractiveness of this strategy is greatly enhanced if we return to a higher inflationary (and returns) environment and/or if marginal tax rates are increased.
A GENETIC AND BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF MATE CHOICE AND SONG NEIGHBORHOODS IN INDIGO BUNTINGS.

Neighboring males of indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea) share songs in southern Michigan. We sampled polymorphic enzymes to compare the genetic variation between mates and the variation among contiguous song neighborhoods. Mate choice was independent of the genetic and morphometric similarity of female and male, and these measures were independent of each other. The incidence of extrapair copulations and fertilizations was independent of the song of cuckolding males. Breeding success of the mated pairs was independent of their genetic or morphological similarity. Males characterized by different song dialects did not differ in mean lifetime reproductive success. We found no significant genetic differences among the neighborhoods. Most birds that bred in one song neighborhood were born in another, and neighborhoods were not isolated demes. Bunting songs may provide no information to a female about genetic quality of males. The results are consistent with a neutral model of no mate choice for genes.
Why Wagner? A Response to Robert Zieger

Robert Zieger's “Historians and the U.S. Industrial Relations Regime” offers both a crisp historiographical survey of the field and a thoughtful agenda for further research. Iagree with much of what he has to say, particularly concerning our fascination with the first fifteen yearsof modern labor policy (running from the early New Deal through the Taft-Hartley Act) and our relative neglect of the postwar era. Having said this, I want to turn our attention back to 1935, in part because the Wagner Act is such an important and defining moment, and in part becauseZieger casually dismisses critical interpretations of the Wagner Act's passage and logic as “ahistorical” or “ideologically-driven speculations.” As one whose scholarship is caricatured in this way, I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
Detection and Analysis of Phase Separation in Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition InGaN

InGaN films in the 0-50% InN composition range have been analyzed for the occurrence of phase separation. The ~0.5 um thick InGaN films were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) in the 690 to 780°C temperature range and analyzed by θ-2θ x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area diffraction (SAD). As-grown films with up to 21% InN were single phase. However, for films with 28% InN and higher, the samples showed a spinodally decomposed microstructure as confirmed by TEM and extra spots in SAD patterns that corresponded to multiphase InGaN. An explanation of the data based on the GaN-InN pseudo-binary phase diagram is discussed.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's Mary in DROWNE'S WOODEN IMAGE

It is no secret that Nathaniel Hawthorne struggled with the Puritan faith and even flirted with Catholicism in his later life as has been noted in his Italian Notebooks and criticism on The Marble ...
Estimation of the distance between the divalent cation binding site of des-1-41-light chain-activated bovine plasma protein C and a nitroxide spin label attached to the active-site serine residue

The paramagnetic effect of Mn2+ on the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of a nitroxide spin label covalently attached to the active-site serine residue of des-1-41-light chain bovine plasma-activated protein C, and situated at a distance of approximately 1.2 nm from this amino acid, has been utilized to estimate the distance on the enzyme surface between the single Mn2+ site and the free electron of the spin label. This distance has been found to be approx. 1.12 nm. A significant paramagnetic effect of Mn2+ on the spectrum of this same nitroxide spin label bound to activated protein C (APC) has been found. However, in this case distance calculations are complicated by the existence of a multiplicity of Mn2+ sites on APC. If it is assumed that a single Mn2+ site is responsible for the paramagnetic effect on the spectrum of the spin label, the interelectron distance on APC would be approx. 0.90 nm.
Hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Flacourtia montana J. Grah leaf extract in male Wistar rats

Abstract Flacourtia montana and its related species have been used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases. The present study evaluated the hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of F. montana methanolic extract. The hepatoprotective effect of F. montana was evaluated against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Administration of paracetamol (2 g/kg) showed a significant biochemical and histological deterioration in the liver of experimental animals. Pretreatment with F. montana (200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt. p.o) significantly ( P ⩽ 0.001) reduced the elevated levels of serum enzymes like serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and reversed the hepatic damage in the liver which evidenced the hepatoprotective activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of F. montana was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma models. F. montana (200 and 400 mg/kg) showed a significant ( P ⩽ 0.001) reduction in rat paw edema with 76.39% and 80.32%, respectively induced by carrageenan against the reference anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (10 mg/kg) (83.10%). Oral administration of F. montana (200 and 400 mg/kg) also significantly ( P ⩽ 0.001) reduced the granuloma mass formation in cotton pellet granuloma method. The reducing power and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging were increased at increasing doses of F. montana. The results of the present study demonstrate that the methanolic extract of F. montana possess hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.
The effect of sensation seeking and emotional brand attachment on consumers’ intention to consume risky foods in restaurants

ABSTRACTSensation seeking and emotional brand attachment have been studied extensively, but limited research has been conducted on “risky foods.” This study explored how sensation seeking, emotional brand attachment, and risky food consumption varies demographically, and the relationships among those variables. Approximately 300 responses were collected from a restaurant serving “risky” and “nonrisky” foods. Significant differences included that consumption of raw/undercooked fish/eggs was higher in younger groups. Females showed more affection toward emotionally attached restaurants. The hypotheses testing showed the positive relationship from sensation seeking and emotional attachment to risky food consumption. Results offer information about marketing to different demographic groups.
Entropy Growth in the Early Universe, and the Search for Determining if Gravity is Classical or Quantum, Part I (Confirmation of Initial Big Bang Conditions?)

We begin our inquiry by asking two questions. First, is there an approximate match up between the total entropy of the universe, and the sum total of entropy between super massive black holes at the center of spiral galaxies? Note that Sean Carroll in 2005 presented a black hole entropy value which could have a super massive black hole in the center of a galaxy having more than 1089 non dimensionalized units of entropy in value. This value would be greater than what H. J. de Vega calculated as the entropy value of the entire universe. And there are conceivably up to a million spiral galaxies. Secondly, we accept what De Vega presented about entropy, i.e. its approximate present day value was nearly reached during the end of the re heating of the universe, right after the big bang. If so, the second question is what initiated entropy growth in the beginning ? This paper shows how increased entropy values from an initially low big bang level can be measured experimentally by counting relic gravitons. Furthermore the physical mechanism of this entropy increase is explained via analogies with early-universe phase transitions. The role of Jack Ng's revised infinite quantum statistics in the physics of gravitational wave detection is acknowledged. Ng's infinite quantum statistics can be used to show that gravitons ΔS ≈ ΔN is a starting point to the increasing net universe cosmological entropy. Finally, in a nod to similarities with ZPE analysis, it is important to note that the resulting/\] ΔS ≈ ΔNgravitons ≠ 1089, that in fact it is much lower, allowing for evaluating initial graviton production as an emergent field phenomena, which may be similar to how ZPE states can be used to extract energy from a vacuum if entropy is not maximized.. Finally, the implications of if or not gravitons have mass will be reviewed as far as how graviton mass issues, and the nature of gravitational waves, may affect experimental measurements of relic big bang conditions. The relationship of some models of KK gravitons as having similar evolution equations to GW in GR models will be commented upon, with suggestions as to how that ties in DM values.
The Trend Profile of Mean Global Total Column Ozone 1964-2009

Ground station measurements of total column ozone worldwide in the study period 1964-2009 are aggregated into zonal averages. Latitudinally weighted mean global ozone is estimated from these data on an annual time scale. Trend profile analysis of the mean global ozone time series shows a depletion rate of 0.31 DU per year on average across the entire sample period. The observed ozone depletion rate is not sustained and not of a magnitude that has an implication with respect to the ability of the ozone layer to protect life on the surface of the earth from the harmful effects of UV radiation. The results are consistent with prior results for both ground station and satellite data. The findings are inconsistent with the Montreal Protocol and the Rowland-Molina theory of ozone depletion on which it is based.
Mining temporally changing web usage graphs

Web mining has been explored to a vast degree and different techniques have been proposed for a variety of applications that include Web Search, Web Classification, Web Personalization etc. Most research on Web mining has been from a ‘data-centric’ point of view. The focus has been primarily on developing measures and applications based on data collected from content, structure and usage of Web until a particular time instance. In this project we examine another dimension of Web Mining, namely temporal dimension. Web data has been evolving over time, reflecting the ongoing trends. These changes in data in the temporal dimension reveal new kind of information. This information has not captured the attention of the Web mining research community to a large extent. In this paper, we highlight the significance of studying the evolving nature of the Web graphs. We have classified the approach to such problems at three levels of analysis: single node, sub-graphs and whole graphs. We provide a framework to approach problems in this kind of analysis and identify interesting problems at each level. Our experiments verify the significance of such an analysis and also point to future directions in this area. The approach we take is generic and can be applied to other domains, where data can be modeled as a graph, such as network intrusion detection or social networks.
Communication preferences of pediatric cancer patients: talking about prognosis and their future life

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthcare providers communicate information to patients in a truthful and developmentally appropriate manner. However, there is limited guidance about how to translate these recommendations into clinical practice. The aim of this study was to explore how young cancer patients experienced communication around their illness, especially communication about possible outcomes from disease or treatment. Participants included young people ages 8 to under 18 years with cancer (N = 16). Semi-structured interviews focused on their expectations about the future, the process of information exchange, and their preferences for communication within the pediatric oncology setting. Overall, participants wanted medical information to be provided to them by their healthcare providers and wanted to be direct participants in medical conversations. However, many participants displayed some ambivalence or conveyed conflicting wishes for prognostic information. For example, some participants reported that they were satisfied with what they knew, but later raised lingering questions. While not the focus of the study, almost every participant discussed social concerns as a key concern for their present and future life. While most pediatric cancer patients want to be involved in conversations about their cancer care, including conversations about prognosis, this is an individual and sometimes fluctuating decision, and healthcare providers should be encouraged to discuss preferences for involvement with patients and families. This study highlights the importance of understanding the developmental factors that make pediatric patients unique, especially with regard to their patterns of communication.
The Settlers’ Empire: Colonialism and State Formation in America's Old Northwest. By Bethel Saler. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2014. Pp. 392. $45.00.)

Wisconsinite Frederick Jackson Turner discovered the genius of American democracy in the history of the Old Northwest, his native region. The author of this new book turns Turner on his head in The...
Convergent validation and transfer of learning studies of a virtual reality-based pattern cutting simulator.

Research has clearly shown the benefits of surgical simulators to train laparoscopic motor skills required for positive patient outcomes. We have developed the Virtual Basic Laparoscopic Skill Trainer (VBLaST) that simulates tasks from the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) curriculum. This study aims to show convergent validity of the VBLaST pattern cutting module via the CUSUM method to quantify learning curves along with motor skill transfer from simulation environments to ex vivo tissue samples. 18 medical students at the University at Buffalo, with no prior laparoscopic surgical skills, were placed into the control, FLS training, or VBLaST training groups. Each training group performed pattern cutting trials for 12 consecutive days on their respective simulation trainers. Following a 2-week break period, the trained students performed three pattern cutting trials on each simulation platform to measure skill retention. All subjects then performed one pattern cutting task on ex vivo cadaveric peritoneal tissue. FLS and VBLaST pattern cutting scores, CUSUM scores, and transfer task completion times were reported. Results indicate that the FLS and VBLaST trained groups have significantly higher task performance scores than the control group in both the VBLaST and FLS environments (p < 0.05). Learning curve results indicate that three out of seven FLS training subjects and four out of six VBLaST training subjects achieved the “senior” performance level. Furthermore, both the FLS and VBLaST trained groups had significantly lower transfer task completion times on ex vivo peritoneal tissue models (p < 0.05). We characterized task performance scores for trained VBLaST and FLS subjects via CUSUM analysis of the learning curves and showed evidence that both groups have significant improvements in surgical motor skill. Furthermore, we showed that learned surgical skills in the FLS and VBLaST environments transfer not only to the different simulation environments, but also to ex vivo tissue models.
Management of Incidental Liver Lesions on CT: A White Paper of the ACR Incidental Findings Committee

The ACR Committee on Incidental Findings presents recommendations for managing liver lesions that are incidentally detected on CT. These recommendations represent an update from the liver component of the ACR 2010 white paper on managing incidental findings in the pancreas, adrenal glands, kidneys, and liver. The Liver Subcommittee-which included five abdominal radiologists, one hepatologist, and one hepatobiliary surgeon-developed this algorithm. The recommendations draw from published evidence and expert opinion and were finalized by informal iterative consensus. Algorithm branches categorize liver lesions on the basis of patient characteristics and imaging features. They terminate with an assessment of benignity or a specific follow-up recommendation. The algorithm addresses most, but not all, pathologies and clinical scenarios. The goal is to improve the quality of care by providing guidance on how to manage incidentally detected liver lesions.
Sexual Orientation in State Hate Crime Laws: Exploring Social Construction and Criminal Law

Several studies have described and analyzed the development and diffusion of hate crime laws in the United States, but none specifically examined state-level differences in protected categories. Forty-five of the 50 states have a hate crime statute, but only 30 of those include sexual orientation. In this study the social construction framework is applied to the hate crime policy domain in order to determine whether or not variations in the social and political status of gays and lesbians are associated with the inclusion of sexual orientation in state hate crime laws. Content analysis of daily newspapers in six states revealed that a positive social construction is associated with groups seeking hate crime law protections, and that political influence may also be a key factor.
The Fast of Ramadan in Yogyakarta

This chapter examines the place of the fasting month of Ramadan in Islamic discourse,religious practice and experience in Yogyakarta.
A Technique for Stochastic Control Problems with Unbounded Control Set

We describe a change of time technique for stochastic control problems with unbounded control set. We demonstrate the technique on a class of maximization problems that do not have optimal controls. Given such a problem, we introduce an extended problem which has the same value function as the original problem and for which there exist optimal controls that are expressible in simple terms. This device yields a natural sequence of suboptimal controls for the original problem. By this we mean a sequence of controls for which the payoff functions approach the value function.
The 1990-91 recession: impact on health care.

The Persian Gulf war is over. The U.S. economy is experiencing some signs of relief from the recession. However, it's too soon for health care executives to forget these events. Their effects on health care will be felt for some time to come.
Creative Cognition: Integrating Cognitive Psychology and Creativity Research

Extensive creativity research in organizations has been completed through affective, motivational, and social psychology lenses. However, relatively little organizational research has been conducte...
Stiffness and beyond: What MR elastography can tell us about brain structure and function under physiologic and pathologic conditions

Brain magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) was developed on the basis of a desire to "palpate by imaging" and is becoming a powerful tool in the investigation of neurophysiological and neuropathological states. Measurements are acquired with a specialized MR phase-contrast pulse sequence that can detect tissue motion in response to an applied external or internal excitation. The tissue viscoelasticity is then reconstructed from the measured displacement. Quantitative characterization of brain viscoelastic behaviors provides us an insight into the brain structure and function by assessing the mechanical rigidity, viscosity, friction, and connectivity of brain tissues. Changes in these features are associated with inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration that contribute to brain disease onset and progression. Here, we review the basic principles and limitations of brain MRE and summarize its current neuroanatomical studies and clinical applications to the most common neurosurgical and neurodegenerative disorders, including intracranial tumors, dementia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Going forward, further improvement in acquisition techniques, stable inverse reconstruction algorithms, and advanced numerical, physical, and preclinical validation models is needed to increase the utility of brain MRE in both research and clinical applications.
Vaccine Therapy in Sarcoma

Vaccine therapy has been a widely explored immunotherapy modality in sarcoma. Ongoing studies continue to explore its future role in the therapeutic landscape of sarcoma. Many subtypes of sarcoma are ideal vaccine targets given their wide expression of immunogenic proteins and antigens, including cancer-testis antigen family (NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A3, PRAME, and LAGE-1), gangliosides (GM2, GD2, and GD3), and sarcoma-specific fusion proteins (SSX, FOXO1, EWSR1, and TLS CHOP). These sarcoma features and others, including tumor lysate and dendritic cells pulsed with antigen, have been exploited in various vaccine strategies. While vaccine therapy has induced some responses in sarcomas, further research will help to identify optimal treatment strategies in these patients and tailoring of immunotherapeutic approaches by sarcoma subtype and each unique biology.
“Remembrance”: A Self-Care Tool for Clinicians

Despite increasing attention in the medical and nursing literature about the importance of self-care for clinicians and the prevention of burnout, coping with the deaths of patients is an often-neglected component of clinical training. In this article, we describe the development of "Remembrance," an interdisciplinary approach to acknowledge and process the deaths of patients on our inpatient palliative care service, paying particular attention to how patients and their families affect us as clinicians. We believe that such a practice is an important component of both quality end-of-life care and clinician self-care, which should be routinely taught and incorporated into clinical services. We provide a template that summarizes our approach, which can be easily adapted by other hospitals to use.
Follow-up after implementing a web-based support tool for intrathecal pump drug management

To the editor We write in follow-up of our article published describing the creation of a web-based tool to support the ordering of intrathecal pump medications.[1][1] Nine months following implementation of this tool, users were asked to complete an anonymous online survey evaluating the quality
Chronic neutrophilic leukemia: 2018 update on diagnosis, molecular genetics and management

Disease Overview and Diagnosis Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a potentially aggressive myeloproliferative neoplasm, for which current WHO diagnostic criteria include leukocytosis of ≥ 25 x 109/L of which ≥ 80% are neutrophils, with < 10% circulating neutrophil precursors with blasts rarely observed. In addition, there is no dysplasia, nor clinical or molecular criteria for other myeloproliferative neoplasms. Update on Diagnosis Previously the diagnosis of CNL was often as one of exclusion based on no identifiable cause for physiologic neutrophilia in patients fulfilling the aforementioned criteria. The 2016 WHO classification now recognizes somatic activating mutations of CSF3R (most commonly CSF3RT618I) as diagnostic, allowing for an accurate diagnosis for the majority of suspected cases through molecular testing. These mutations are primary driver mutations, accounting for the characteristic clinical phenotype and potential susceptibility to molecularly targeted therapy. Risk Stratification Concurrent mutations, common to myeloid neoplasms and their precursor states, most frequently in SETBP1 and ASXL1, are frequent and appear to be of prognostic significance. Although data are evolving on the full genomic profile, the rarity of CNL has delayed complete understanding of its full molecular pathogenesis and individual patient prognosis.
TCTAP A-105 Functional Status Among Patients with Heart Failure Receiving Home Health Care Services

Activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are often used as indicators of a patient’s functional status. For example, the items of ADL and IADL are assessed using Outcome Assessment Information Set (OASIS), which is a system of electronic health records (
A Computationally Efficient Model for Predicting Successful Memory Encoding Using Machine-Learning-based EEG Channel Selection

Computational cost is an important consideration for memory encoding prediction models that use data from dozens of implanted electrodes. We propose a method to reduce computational expense by selecting a subset of all the electrodes to build the prediction model. The electrodes were selected based on their likelihood of measuring brain activity useful for predicting memory encoding better than chance (in terms of AUC). A logistic regression prediction model was built using spectral features of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) from the selected electrodes. We demonstrate our method on iEEG data from 37 human subjects performing free recall verbal short-term memory tasks. The method achieves a 36.3% reduction in the number of electrodes used for prediction, resulting in a 64.9% reduction in inference computation time with just a 0.3% loss in prediction performance compared to the case when all electrodes were used. The electrodes selected using our method provided improved prediction performance compared to those electrodes that were not selected in 31 out of 37 patients. Building upon this observation, we also developed a method to identify the subjects for whom the proposed electrode selection method would be beneficial.
Linear systems with structure group and their feedback invariants

A general method described by Hermann and Martin (1976) for the study of the feedback invariants of linear systems is considered. It is shown that this method, which makes use of ideas of topology and algebraic geometry, is very useful in the investigation of feedback problems for which the classical methods are not suitable. The transfer function as a curve in the Grassmanian is examined. The general concepts studied in the context of specific systems and applications are organized in terms of the theory of Lie groups and algebraic geometry. Attention is given to linear systems which have a structure group, linear mechanical systems, and feedback invariants. The investigation shows that Lie group techniques are powerful and useful tools for analysis of the feedback structure of linear systems.
Aberrations and Artifacts Confound Optical Resolution

In this chapter I encourage critical thinking, a skeptical approach to data, and continuous questioning, which are the key characteristics of a scientist. From the early history of microscopes people questioned the validity of observations and warned about artifacts (Baker, 1769). Are the extremely small objects that are observed with a microscope artifacts?
Incidence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections With Compliance With Preventive Guidelines

This study describes the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in a large academic medical center and shows that even with prevention guideline adherence, catheter-associated urinary tract infections cannot truly be a never event.
Superior vena cava replacement combined with venovenous shunt for thymic carcinoma.

Abstract Introduction Advanced-stage thymic malignancies are a heterogeneous group of mediastinal tumors that include thymoma and thymic carcinoma infiltrating the surrounding thoracic structures. When the tumor infiltrates the superior vena cava (SVC), radical resection can be selectively achieved via en bloc SVC resection and its prosthetic conduit replacement. We herein report a case of SVC replacement for thymic carcinoma en bloc radical resection. Case presentation A 75-year-old Japanese man presented at our hospital due to progressive dyspnea and edema of his face and upper extremities. CT showed a 55 × 40 × 38-mm tumor located at the anterior mediastinum lesion. This tumor had invaded the superior vena cava and both brachiocephalic veins. We performed surgical resection for the thymic carcinoma located at the mediastinum that invaded the superior vena cava and both brachiocephalic veins. The surgery was performed through a full median sternotomy and transmanubrial approach without using an artificial heart and lung. The tumor involved the SVC, right brachiocephalic vein (RBCV) and left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV). We performed SVC replacement for thymic carcinoma en bloc radical resection. Discussion This report has two important implications. First, a venovenous shunt (VVS) from the distal LBCV to the right auricle was very useful and safe before performing an SVC complete clamp. The second implication of our study was that using a PTFE with a large inner diameter may prevent thrombus occlusion. Conclusions We experienced SVC replacement for thymic carcinoma en bloc radical resection. We were able to safely performed this surgery using our usual approach.
Market-driven bioeconomic general equilibrium impacts of tourism on resource-dependent local economies: A case from the western Philippines.

Abstract Tourism is frequently promoted as a strategy for sustainable economic development in developing countries. However, the preferred methodology for empirically assessing tourism's economic impacts on local economies, applied computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling, does not account for how tourism affects local natural resource stocks upon which many households depend. We develop a bioeconomic local CGE model to show how market-driven impacts of tourism expansion affect natural resource availability over time. We then show how changes in resource availability affect local incomes of different socioeconomic groups. We parameterize our model with household, business, and tourist survey data from a municipality in the Philippines. We find that tourism expansion increases local real incomes in the short run, but this causes a decline in a local open-access natural resource that erodes real incomes over time, particularly for households engaged in the natural resource sector. Different market integration contexts, as expressed through trade linkages, can mitigate natural resource decline, but this reduces the overall local economic benefit of tourism.
Establishing the boundary conditions for female board directors’ influence on firm performance through CSR

Abstract Integrating social role theory and stakeholder theory with group diversity literature and using data from a sample of S&P 1500 firms from 2007 to 2015, this study examines the boundary conditions under which female board representation increases firm performance through their positive influence on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Specifically, the effects of female board representation on firm performance through CSR is most pronounced when female directors have a greater power to promote CSR and when the firm has the motivation (i.e., being innovation intensive) to engage in CSR. Moreover, this moderated mediation model holds especially for three dimensions of CSR (e.g., environment, community, and employee relations), shedding light on the nuances of what women bring to the table.
Towards a framework to develop neuroimaging biomarkers of relapse in schizophrenia.

Abstract Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that often requires long-term relapse-prevention treatment. This treatment is effective for most individuals, yet approximately 20–30 % of them may still relapse despite confirmed adherence. Alternatively, for about 15 % it may be safe to discontinue medications over the long term, but since there are no means to identify who those individuals will be, the recommendation is that all individuals receive long-term relapse-prevention treatment with antipsychotic maintenance. Thus, the current approach to prevent relapse in schizophrenia may be suboptimal for over one third of individuals, either by being insufficient to protect against relapse, or by unnecessarily exposing them to medication side effects. There is great need to identify biomarkers of relapse in schizophrenia to stratify treatment according to the risk and develop therapeutics targeting its pathophysiology. In order to develop a line of research that meets those needs, it is necessary to create a framework by identifying the challenges to this type of study as well as potential areas for biomarker identification and development. In this manuscript we review the literature to create such a framework.
Educational Crowding Out: Do Immigrants Affect the EducationalAttainment of American Minorities?

The paper studies whether immigration affects the probability of high school graduation of American-born minorities. Since both the costs and the benefits of education are likely to rise due to immigration, the direction of the impact is ambiguous. The paper uses pooled 1980 and 1990 Census data to test for a link. State fixed effect estimates suggest a negative and significant impact of immigrants on the probability of completing high school for native-born blacks and Hispanics. The results are robust to use of metropolitan fixed effects, controlling for the pupil-teacher ratio in the state, and removing those who have recently moved. The results for blacks are also robust to removal of observations from California. However, the results for Hispanic natives depend crucially on the inclusion of the Californian subsample.
Pan-Cancer Analysis Shows TP53 Mutations Modulate the Association of NOX4 with Genetic Programs of Cancer Progression and Clinical Outcome

Previously, we have shown TGF-β-induced NOX4 expression is involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process critical for cancer metastasis, and that wild-type (WT) and mutant (Mut) p53 have divergent effects on TGF-β induction of NOX4: WT-p53 suppresses whereas Mut-p53 augments NOX4 mRNA and protein production in several tumor cell models. We sought to validate and extend our model by analyzing whole-exome data of primary tumor samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We constructed a Pan-Cancer dataset from 23 tumor types and explored NOX4 expression patterns in relation to EMT and patient survival. NOX4 mRNA levels increase as a function of cancer progression in several cancers and correlate with Mut-p53 mRNA and genes involved in programs of EMT, cellular adhesion, migration, and angiogenesis. Tumor macrophages appear to be a source of NOX2, whose association with genetic programs of cancer progression emulate that of NOX4. Notably, increased NOX4 expression is linked to poorer survival in patients with Mut-TP53, but better survival in patients with WT-TP53. NOX4 is negatively associated with markers of apoptosis and positively with markers of proliferation in patients with Mut-TP53, consistent with their poorer survival. These findings suggest that TP53 mutations could “switch” NOX4 from being protective and an indicator of good prognosis to deleterious by promoting programs favoring cancer progression.
Neurotrophic control of size regulation during axolotl limb regeneration

Abstract The mechanisms that regulate the sizing of the regenerating limb in tetrapods such as the Mexican axolotl are unknown. Upon the completion of the developmental stages of regeneration, when the regenerative organ known as the blastema completes patterning and differentiation, the limb regenerate is proportionally small in size. It then undergoes a phase of regeneration that we have called the “tiny-limb” stage, that is defined by rapid growth until the regenerate reaches the proportionally appropriate size. In the current study we have characterized this growth and have found that signaling from the limb nerves is required for its maintenance. Using the regenerative assay known as the Accessory Limb Model, we have found that the size of the limb can be positively and negatively manipulated by nerve abundance. We have additionally developed a new regenerative assay called the Neural Modified-ALM (NM-ALM), which decouples the source of the nerve from the regenerating host environment. Using the NM-ALM we discovered that non-neural extrinsic factors from differently sized host animals do not play a prominent role in determining the size of the regenerating limb. We have also discovered that the regulation of limb size is not autonomously regulated by the limb nerves. Together, these observations show that the limb nerves provide essential and instructive cues to regulate the final size of the regenerating limb.
Treatment patterns, and survival of patients with metastatic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: A National Cancer Database (NCDB) study.

11561Background: Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma (UPS) is regarded as one of the most common types of soft tissue sarcoma. Although prior studies have highlighted its metastatic potential, the...
Resilient Interval Observer for Simultaneous Estimation of States, Modes and Attack Policies.

This paper considers the problem of designing interval observers for hidden mode switched nonlinear systems with bounded noise signals that are compromised by false data injection and switching attacks. The proposed observer consists of three components: i) a bank of mode-matched observers, which simultaneously estimates the corresponding mode-matched continuous states and discrete states (modes), as well as learns a model of the unknown attack policy, ii) a mode observer that eliminates the incompatible modes based on a residual-based set-membership criterion, and iii) a global fusion observer that combines the outputs of i) and ii). Moreover, in addition to showing the correctness, stability and convergence of the mode-matched estimates, we provide sufficient conditions to guarantee that all false modes will be eliminated after sufficiently large finite time steps, i.e., the system is mode-detectable under the proposed observer.
Faith in Moderation: Islamist Parties in Jordan and Yemen

List of figures List of tables Preface Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Note on transliterations and translations 1. Moderation and the dynamics of political change 2. Political liberalization as a mechanism of control 3. Public political space 4. Cultural dimensions of political contestation 5. Justification and moderation 6. Conclusion: does inclusion lead to moderation? References Index.
Perceived Barriers to Health Promotion Behavior of Women in Early Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder

Women with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) have a higher risk of chronic illness and a mortality rate that is 50 to 100% greater than men’s (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2008). Lifestyle changes in the recovery from AUD include adopting behaviors that foster health and identifying women’s barriers to health promotion behavior is important to fostering a healthy lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived barriers to health promotion behavior of women in early recovery from AUD. Participants were women (N = 50) who attended 12-step recovery meetings for alcoholism, of which: 86% were 26 to 57 years old; 72% had greater than a ten year history of consumption; 80% had less than six months of sobriety; 50% had relapsed three or more times. Results indicated some women perceived certain barriers to be very troublesome but generally barriers were only a moderate challenge. Greatest perceived barriers cited were financial aspects, fatigue, time management issues, selfefficacy concerns, and communication difficulties. Implications for practice include conducting research on the nature of the most concerning barriers and the impact that severity of disease, culture, ethnicity, or demographics has on these barriers. Increasing awareness of women’s barriers, lobbying and supporting policies and systems processes that reduce barriers and support access to preventative services, early intervention, gender specific programs, and addressing patient-specific barriers will improve outcomes. Utilizing a comprehensive approach will have the greatest impact on the health promotion behaviors of individuals and the population health status of women with AUD.