cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Clinical Significance in Rehabilitation Research

Measurement of clinically significant change is critical for rehabilitation research because it can enhance the credibility of rehabilitation efforts and guide evidence-based practices. The practical appeal of clinically significant change is that it can bridge research and clinical practice by focusing on individual rather than group differences. In response to current challenges in rehabilitation outcome measurement, the authors describe methods and strategies for the analysis of clinically significant change. The complementary approaches of reliable change index scores as proposed by Jacobson and Truax (1991) and regression-based z scores as proposed by McSweeney, Naugle, Chelune, and Luders (1993) are highlighted. The article concludes with a case example and discussion of implications for future directions in rehabilitation research.
Pre-induction skin-surface warming minimizes intraoperative core hypothermia

Abstract Study Objective: To test the hypothesis that only one hour of preinduction skin-surface warming decreases the rate at which core hypothermia develops during the first hour of anesthesia. Design: Randomized, prospective study. Setting: Operating theater of a university hospital. Patients: 16 ASA status I and II adult patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Interventions: Eight patients were assigned to receive forced-air warming for one hour before induction of anesthesia (prewarmed group); the other eight patients were covered only with a wool blanket during a similar preinduction period (control group). Measurements and Main Results: Tympanic membrane (core) and mean skinsurface temperatures were measured at 15-minutes intervals, starting one hour before induction of anesthesia. Mean skin temperature increased from 34.0 ± 0.1 °C to 37.0 ± 0.2 °C in the pre-warmed group ( p p p Conclusions: A single hour of preoperative skin-surface warming reduced the rate at which core hypothermia developed during the first hour of anesthesia. Preoperative skin surface warming is particularly helpful during short procedures because redistribution hypothermia is otherwise difficult to treat.
Provenance browser: Displaying and querying scientific workflow provenance graphs

This demonstration presents an interactive provenance browser for visualizing and querying data dependency (lineage) graphs produced by scientific workflow runs. The browser allows users to explore different views of provenance as well as to express complex and recursive graph queries through a high-level query language (QLP). Answers to QLP queries are lineage preserving in that queries return sets of lineage dependencies (denoting provenance graphs), which can be further queried and visually displayed (as graphs) in the browser. By combining provenance visualization, navigation, and query, the provenance browser can enable scientists to more easily access and explore scientific workflow provenance information.
Effect of Prior Acid Etch on Rate of Sn3F3PO4 Formation Subsequent to Topical Application of SnF2

The effect of prior acid etch on the rate of Sn3F3PO4 formation subsequent to in vitro SnF2 interaction with human dental mineral has been investigated using light microscopy, surface replicas, and internal reflection spectroscopy. Results showed that Sn3F3PO4 forms more rapidly on etched surfaces as compared with nonetched controls. The observed accelerated rate was attributed to increased reaction surface provided by prior acid etch plus a rougher surface conducive to crystal nidus formation.
A Statistical NLG Framework for Aggregated Planning and Realization

We present a hybrid natural language generation (NLG) system that consolidates macro and micro planning and surface realization tasks into one statistical learning process. Our novel approach is based on deriving a template bank automatically from a corpus of texts from a target domain. First, we identify domain specific entity tags and Discourse Representation Structures on a per sentence basis. Each sentence is then organized into semantically similar groups (representing a domain specific concept) by k-means clustering. After this semi-automatic processing (human review of cluster assignments), a number of corpus‐level statistics are compiled and used as features by a ranking SVM to develop model weights from a training corpus. At generation time, a set of input data, the collection of semantically organized templates, and the model weights are used to select optimal templates. Our system is evaluated with automatic, non‐expert crowdsourced and expert evaluation metrics. We also introduce a novel automatic metric ‐ syntactic variability ‐ that represents linguistic variation as a measure of unique template sequences across a collection of automatically generated documents. The metrics for generated weather and biography texts fall within acceptable ranges. In sum, we argue that our statistical approach to NLG reduces the need for complicated knowledge-based architectures and readily adapts to different domains with reduced development time. *Ravi Kondadadi is now affiliated with Nuance Commu
TO-GO: TOpology-assist geo-opportunistic routing in urban vehicular grids

Road topology information has recently been used to assist geo-routing, thereby improving the overall performance. However, the unreliable wireless channel nature in urban vehicular grids (due to motion, obstructions, etc) still creates problems with the basic greedy forwarding. In this paper, we propose TO-GO (TOpology-assisted Geo-Opportunistic Routing), a geo-routing protocol that exploits topology knowledge acquired via 2-hop beaconing to select the best target forwarder and incorporates opportunistic forwarding with the best chance to reach it. The forwarder selection takes into account of wireless channel quality, thus significantly improving performance in error and interference situations. Extensive simulations confirm TO-GO superior robustness to errors/losses as compared to conventional topology-assisted geographic routing.
Signal averaged ECGs and quality control

The signal variance used to estimate the noise energy during signal averaging and its square root (the standard deviation) are used to estimate the noise amplitude. This latter value, which is observed as a function of the number of heart beats, can be presented in two ways. The first is an estimate of the noise process which is interfering with the signal of interest. This noise function with the signal of interest. This noise function will approach a constant. The constant is obtained by dividing the noise function by square root N (N is the number of cardiac cycles), so that an estimate of the noise in the signal average is obtained. This function approaches zero as more beats are included in the average. >
The HAT Score A simple grading scale for predicting hemorrhage after thrombolysis

Objective: To develop a grading scale to predict the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and prognosis after treatment with IV tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: We constructed a five-point scale based on NIH Stroke Scale score, extent of hypodensity on CT scan, serum glucose at baseline, and history of diabetes to predict the risk of hemorrhage after thrombolysis (HAT score). We evaluated the predictive ability of this scale, using c-statistics, in two independent cohorts: the t-PA treated group in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke study, and consecutive patients treated with IV t-PA at our institution. Results: The percentage of patients who developed any ICH after t-PA increased with higher scores in both cohorts. Collectively, the rate of any symptomatic ICH was 2% (0 point), 5% (1 point), 10% (2 points), 15% (3 points), and 44% (>3 points). The c-statistic was 0.72 (95% CI 0.65–0.79; p p p p p Conclusions: The hemorrhage after thrombolysis (HAT) score is a practical, quick, and easy-to-perform scale that allows reasonable risk stratification of intracerebral hemorrhage after IV tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA). However, the prognostic value of this scale and its use to predict the net benefit from t-PA needs to be refined and prospectively confirmed in a larger cohort of patients before it can be used in clinical decision-making.
Putting it off: family breast cancer history and women's retirement planning.

Objective Cancer diagnoses have significant consequences that extend beyond the individual to family members. Our research builds on prior research by examining how a family history of breast cancer is related to women's retirement preparations. Methods Taking guidance from the stress process model, we generate and test hypotheses using multivariate logistic regression and unique data on retirement planning and familial cancer histories for 467 women. We supplement this analysis with the qualitative findings from two focus groups. Results We find consistent evidence that women with a mother and/or sister who had a breast cancer diagnosis are significantly less likely to engage in retirement preparation activities than otherwise similar women with no family history. The same effect is not observed when other first-degree relatives have different cancer diagnoses. The face validity of these quantitative findings is confirmed by the focus group analysis. Conclusions Our research suggests that the stressors experienced by close female relatives of women who have had breast cancer may lead to behaviors and attitudes that have consequences for their post-retirement quality of life. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discordance in diagnoses and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

This study examines the rate of utilization of mental health services in children and adolescents with 22q11.2DS relative to their remarkably high rate of psychiatric disorders and behavior problems. Seventy-two children and adolescents with 22q11.2DS were participants; their parents completed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The results indicated that 22q11.2DS children and adolescents have higher rates of psychopathology than the general pediatric population, with ADHD and anxiety disorders being the most common. However, among youth with 22q11.2DS, those with psychopathology are often no more likely to receive either pharmacological or non-pharmacological mental health care than those without a given psychiatric diagnosis. Thus, although psychopathology is fairly common in this sample, many children with 22q11.2DS may not be receiving needed psychiatric care. These results have significant implications for these children and their families, as well as for the health care providers who treat them. In particular, the results may suggest a need for careful screening of psychiatric disorders that are likely to affect this population, as well as making appropriate treatment recommendations to remedy childhood mental health problems. Since these children face an extraordinarily high risk of psychoses in late adolescence/adulthood, treatment of childhood psychopathology could be crucial in mitigating the risk/consequences of major psychiatric illnesses in later life.
A tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced myocardial degeneration in rats through off-target phosphodiesterase inhibition.

PF-04254644 is a selective kinase inhibitor of mesenchymal epithelial transition factor/hepatocyte growth factor receptor with known off-target inhibitory activity against the phosphodiesterase (PDE) family. Rats given repeated oral doses of PF-04254644 developed a mild to moderate myocardial degeneration accompanied by sustained increase in heart rate and contractility. Investigative studies were conducted to delineate the mechanisms of toxicity. Microarray analysis of Sprague–Dawley rat hearts in a 6 day repeat dose study with PF-04254644 or milrinone, a selective PDE3 inhibitor, revealed similar perturbation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP) pathway. PDE inhibition and activation of c-AMP were further substantiated using PDE3B immunofluorescence staining and through a c-AMP response element reporter gene assay. The intracellular calcium and oxidative stress signaling pathways were more perturbed by treatment with PF-04254644 than milrinone. The rat cardiomyocytes calcium assay found a dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium with PF-04254644 treatment. These data suggest that cardiotoxicity of PF-04254644 was probably due to activation of c-AMP signaling, and possibly subsequent disruption of intracellular calcium and oxidative stress signaling pathways. The greater response with PF-04254644 as compared with milrinone in gene expression and micro- and ultrastructural changes is probably due to the broader panel of PDEs inhibition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cortical connections of the frontoparietal opercular areas in the Rhesus monkey

The connections of the frontoparietal opercular areas were studied in rhesus monkeys by using antero- and retrograde tracer techniques. The rostral opercular cortex including the gustatory and proisocortical motor (ProM) areas is connected with precentral areas 3, 1, and 2 as well as with the rostral portion of the opercular area which resembles the second somatosensory type of cortex (area SII) and the ventral portion of area 6. Its distant connections are with the ventral portion of prefrontal areas 46, 11, 12, and 13 as well as with the rostral insula and cingulate motor area (CMAr). The mid opercular region (areas 1 and 2) is connected with pre- and postcentral areas 3, 1, and 2 as well as SII. Additionally, it is connected with the ventral portion of area 6, area 44, area ProM, the gustatory area, and the rostral insula. Its distant connections are with area 4, the ventral portion of area 46, area 7b, and area POa in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). The rostral parietal opercular region is connected with the postcentral portions of areas 3, 1, and 2; areas 5, 7, and SII; the gustatory area; and the vestibular area. Its other connections are with area 4, area 44, the ventral portion of area 46, area ProM, CMAr, and the supplementary motor area (SMA). The caudal opercular region is connected with the dorsal portion of area 3; areas 2, 5, and 7a; and areas PEa as well as IPd of IPS. It is also connected with area SII, insula, and the superior temporal sulcus. Its distant connections are with area 44; the dorsal portion of area 8 and the ventral portion of area 46; as well as CMAr, SMA, and the supplementary sensory area. This connectivity suggests that the ventral somatosensory areas are involved in sensorimotor activities mainly related to head, neck, and face structures as well as to taste. Additionally, these areas may have a role in frontal (working) and temporal (tactile) memory systems. J. Comp. Neurol. 403:431–458, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An efficient 3-bit-scan multiplier without overlapping bits, and its 64/spl times/64 bit implementation

In this paper, we present an efficient 3-bit-scan multiplier without overlapping bits which has good power-delay area trade-offs. Generation of partial product terms in this multiplier is performed in parallel with the multiplication operation. Parallel partial product generation results in a multiplier which is faster than conventional sequential multipliers. The architecture of the 3-bit-scan multiplier without overlapping bits is therefore suitable for synchronous sequential multipliers which are required to operate at low power and at relatively high speed for their area.
Tick-borne encephalitis virus neutralizing antibodies in different immunoglobulin preparations

Patients with primary immunodeficiency (PIDs) depend on the presence of a variety of antibody specificities in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Using the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), geographic variability in IVIG antibody content was shown. Care should therefore be exercised when treating PIDs in a given geography, as only locally sourced plasma contains the antibody specificities against the circulating pathogens in the given locality.
Named entity discovery using comparable news articles

In this paper we describe a way to discover Named Entities by using the distribution of words in news articles. Named Entity recognition is an important task for today's natural language applications, but it still suffers from data sparseness. We used an observation that a Named Entity is likely to appear synchronously in several news articles, whereas a common noun is less likely. Exploiting this characteristic, we successfully obtained rare Named Entities with 90% accuracy just by comparing time series distributions of a word in two newspapers. Although the achieved recall is not sufficient yet, we believe that this method can be used to strengthen the lexical knowledge of a Named Entity tagger.
A de novo designed protein–protein interface

As an approach to both explore the physical/chemical parameters that drive molecular self-assembly and to generate novel protein oligomers, we have developed a procedure to generate protein dimers from monomeric proteins using computational protein docking and amino acid sequence design. A fast Fourier transform-based docking algorithm was used to generate a model for a dimeric version of the 56-amino-acid beta1 domain of streptococcal protein G. Computational amino acid sequence design of 24 residues at the dimer interface resulted in a heterodimer comprised of 12-fold and eightfold variants of the wild-type protein. The designed proteins were expressed, purified, and characterized using analytical ultracentrifugation and heteronuclear NMR techniques. Although the measured dissociation constant was modest ( approximately 300 microM), 2D-[(1)H,(15)N]-HSQC NMR spectra of one of the designed proteins in the absence and presence of its binding partner showed clear evidence of specific dimer formation.
Reliable estimation of biochemical parameters from C3 leaf photosynthesis-intercellular carbon dioxide response curves

The Farquhar-von Caemmerer-Berry (FvCB) model of photosynthesis is a change-point model and structurally overparameterized for interpreting the response of leaf net assimilation (A) to intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci). The use of conventional fitting methods may lead not only to incorrect parameters but also several previously unrecognized consequences. For example, the relationships between key parameters may be fixed computationally and certain fits may be produced in which the estimated parameters result in contradictory identification of the limitation states of the data. Here we describe a new approach that is better suited to the FvCB model characteristics. It consists of four main steps: (1) enumeration of all possible distributions of limitation states; (2) fitting the FvCB model to each limitation state distribution by minimizing a distribution-wise cost function that has desirable properties for parameter estimation; (3) identification and correction of inadmissible fits; and (4) selection of the best fit from all possible limitation state distributions. The new approach implemented theoretical parameter resolvability with numerical procedures that maximally use the information content of the data. It was tested with model simulations, sampled A/Ci curves, and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements of different tree species. The new approach is accessible through the automated website leafweb.ornl.gov.
violence, sacrifice, and divination: giving and taking life in eastern Indonesia

Classical theorists have focused on the “gift of life” in sacrifice and its reinforcement of hierarchical divisions, but have paid little attention to the violent “taking of life” and the divinatory significance of the body. This case study from the Kodi people of Sumba examines what is at stake in the bloody struggle between sacrificers and their animal victims. Social relations between juniors and seniors are dramatized by the subjugation and killing of water buffalo that have been contributed by junior members. When these usually meek, docile animals suddenly turn on their slaughterers in a final desperate battle of resistance, the young men who sacrifice them identify with the animals they kill and praise their courage and manliness. The violent death of the animals is part of a contested process that moves from metonymic bonds to metaphoric transfers, taking symbolic associations and giving them a performative significance. After death, the “reading” of the liver and storing of the horns turns the buffalo into a visual medium of communication and memory, returning the “voice” that a myth says was lost at domestication. [sacrifice, violence, divination, man/animal symbolism, Indonesia]
Auger electron spectroscopic investigation of the transition density of states for lithium

Abstract New measurements of the KVV Auger spectrum from lithium are compared with soft X-ray K -emission data and with theoretical density-of-states (DOS) calculations. Good agreement between the Auger and soft X-ray spectra indicates that energy-dependent many-body effects are extremely weak in both spectroscopies. Comparison with the theoretical DOS suggests that Auger transitions involving only the 2 p electrons are strongly favored in lithium.
One Share, One Vote: A Perception of Legitimacy

Vital in preserving managerial accountability, the firmly established one share, one vote rule provides shareholders with limited rights to elect directors who appoint managers and to approve certain extraordinary transactions. Without the deterrents of risk of capital loss and fear of removal, management may exercise power without responsibility. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) embraced the one share, one vote model, and its leadership continues to emphasize the rule as good for investors and their public markets. Managers who fear the acquisition of voting control, and their subsequent removal, by new owners, favor moving their companies to markets where disproportionate voting rights are permitted, thus allowing their control of voting power. As a result, the NYSE proposed the elimination of the rule, out of fear of losing these companies from their listings, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has indicated its willingness to permit access to the trading markets of common stock with disproportionate or no voting rights. Accordingly, the continued vitality of the one share, one vote rule is dependent upon the will of Congress. This article, after reviewing the rule’s controversial background, addresses disenfranchisement techniques, the value represented by voting rights, the effects on present public policies, and most importantly, the long-term impact on public confidence in the fairness and integrity of our securities markets. The transcendent question, and the focus of any analysis dealing with the protection of investors and the securities markets, is whether the ultimate resolution of the controversy will weaken or support a perception of legitimacy.
Detroit's Wealth of Ruins: A Photographic Exploration of Structure and Agency in Motor City

Detroit’s fall has been long in the making. The biggest city ever to declare bankruptcy, Detroit has suffered out-migration since the 1950s, as people followed the jobs that started to leave the city. Auto manufacturing declined and eventually collapsed, and with it did Motor City. Detroit is a victim, symbol, sign of the times, but it is something else, too. Detroit’s citizens have made the city an urban museum. Part of the attraction for tourists is what also entices millions to flock to Rome and Athens every year: a chance to see the glory of times past. Like classical cities, Detroit symbolizes the end of an era — in this case, of American manufacturing. The dramatic ruins of wealth sit alongside a wealth of ruins.
Induced Superconductivity and Engineered Josephson Tunneling Devices in Epitaxial (111)-Oriented Gold/Vanadium Heterostructures.

We report a unique experimental approach to create topological superconductors by inducing superconductivity into epitaxial metallic thin film with strong spin–orbit coupling. Utilizing molecular beam epitaxy technique under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, we are able to achieve (111) oriented single phase of gold (Au) thin film grown on a well-oriented vanadium (V) s-wave superconductor film with clean interface. We obtained atomically smooth Au thin films with thicknesses even down to below a nanometer showing near-ideal surface quality. The as-grown V/Au bilayer heterostructure exhibits superconducting transition at around 3.9 K. Clear Josephson tunneling and Andreev reflection are observed in S–I–S tunnel junctions fabricated from the epitaxial bilayers. The barrier thickness dependent tunneling and the associated subharmonic gap structures (SGS) confirmed the induced superconductivity in Au (111), paving the way for engineering thin film heterostructures based on p-wave superconductivity and nano device...
Case 21-2006: A 61-year-old man with left-sided facial pain

A 61-year-old man was seen in the neurosurgery clinic because of facial pain. The pain had begun eight months earlier and was characterized by sharp paroxysms over the left side of the face that were brought on by the patient's eating or touching his moustache; there was a dull, throbbing pain in the same area. The neurologic examination was normal. A diagnostic and therapeutic procedure was performed.
Analysis of Vision Testing for Primary and Middle School Students from 1991 to 2010 in Dali Prefecture

Objective: To know the prevalence of students' poor eyesight and its changes from 1991 to 2010 in Dali Prefecture and to provide evidence for prevention and control measures.Methods: On the basis of the "Manual of National Survey of Student's Physical Health",primary and middle school students' uncorrected visual acuity was tested respectively in the year of 1991,2000,2005 and 2010.Results: The poor eyesight rate increased irrespective of student's ethnicity and gender,and the rate worsened with increasing year as well as with the increase of grade.The average unhealthy rates of sight for Bai boys in the primary school,junior high and senior high schools were 15.48%,31,06%,and 49.26% respectively,compared to those of 20.05%,38.83%,and 58.61% for Bai girls.The average unhealthy rates of sight for Han boys in the primary school,junior high and senior high schools were 23.07%,52.89%,and 69.47% respectively,and 28.61%,63.00%,77.58% for Han girls.The unhealthy rate of sight for Han girls in urban and rural areas was higher than that for Han boys(The poor eyesight rate for boys in the primary school has no statistic significance).The unhealthy rate of sight for Bai girls in primary school was moderate in degree,and severe in degree for the rest.Myopia prevailed among students of Han and Bai nationalities,while the rate of high degree visual impairment for Han students was higher than that for Bai students.Conclusion: The poor eyesight rate,with the prevalence of high degree of visual impairment and myopia,worsened among students in Dali Prefecture.Attention should be paid to this.
Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage

This section provides a comprehensive procedural report for percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedure with up-to-date explanatory notes, synopsis of the indications and contraindications and potential complications in an organized and practical format.
Radiation fog chemical composition and its temporal trend over an eight year period

Abstract Radiation fog samples have been collected at a rural site in Central Pennsylvania from 2007 through 2015 in order to document chemical composition, assess concentration changes over time, and to provide insight into emission sources that influence the region. The collection of samples over multiple years makes this one of the few long duration radiation fog studies that have been completed. During the course of the campaign, 146 samples were obtained and analyzed for pH, major inorganic ions, low molecular weight organic acids, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN). Ammonium (median concentration = 209 μN), sulfate (69 μN), calcium (51 μN), and nitrate (31 μN) were the most abundant inorganic ions, although these were present at much lower concentrations than for radiation fog studies conducted in other locations. Organic acids, of which formate (20 μM) and acetate (21 μM) were the most abundant, were closer in magnitude to measurements made during previous studies. Organic acids accounted for 15% of TOC, which had a median concentration of 6.6 mgC l −1 . The median concentration of TN was 3.6 mgN l −1 , 18% of which was determined to be organic nitrogen. Statistically significant decreasing trends from 2007 to 2015 were noted for sulfate, ammonium, chloride, and nitrate. For the same period, an increase in pH was observed. Seasonal trends were identified for a number of species as well. The partitioning of ammonia between the gas and aqueous phases was also investigated and found to deviate significantly from equilibrium.
Direct shape optimization for strengthening 3D printable objects

Recently there has been an increasing demand for software that can help designers create functional 3D objects with required physical strength. We introduce a generic and extensible method that directly optimizes a shape subject to physical and geometric constraints. Given an input shape, our method optimizes directly its input mesh representation until it can withstand specified external forces, while remaining similar to the original shape. Our method performs physics simulation and shape optimization together in a unified framework, where the physics simulator is an integral part of the optimizer. We employ geometric constraints to preserve surface details and shape symmetry, and adapt a second-order method with analytic gradients to improve convergence and computation time. Our method provides several advantages over previous work, including the ability to handle general shape deformations, preservation of surface details, and incorporation of user-defined constraints. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on a variety of printable 3D objects through detailed simulations as well as physical validations.
Robotic inferior vena cava surgery

Abstract Objective Inferior vena cava (IVC) surgery is uncommon and has traditionally been performed through open surgical approaches. Renal cell carcinoma with IVC extension generally requires vena cavotomy and reconstruction. Open removal of malpositioned IVC filters (IVCF) is occasionally required after endovascular retrieval attempts have failed. As our experience with robotic surgery has advanced, we have applied this technology to surgery of the IVC. We reviewed our institution’s experience with robotic surgical procedures involving the IVC to determine its safety and efficacy. Methods All patients undergoing robotic surgery that included cavotomy and repair from 2011 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were obtained detailing preoperative demographics, operative details, and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Results Ten patients (6 men) underwent robotic vena caval procedures at our institution. Seven patients underwent robotic nephrectomy with removal of IVC tumor thrombus and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Three patients underwent robotic explantation of an IVCF after multiple endovascular attempts at removal had failed. The patients with renal cell carcinoma were a mean age of was 65.4 years (range, 55-74 years). Six patients had right-sided malignancy. All patients had T3b lesions at time of diagnosis. Mean tumor length extension into the IVC was 5 cm (range, 1-8 cm). All patients underwent robotic radical nephrectomy, with caval tumor thrombus removal and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The average operative time for patients undergoing surgery for renal cell carcinoma was 273 minutes (range, 137-382 minutes). Average intraoperative blood loss was 428 mL (range, 150-1200 mL). The patients with IVCF removal were a mean age of 33 years (range, 24-41 years). Average time from IVCF placement until robotic removal was 35.5 months (range, 4.3-57.3 months). Before robotic IVCF removal, a minimum of two endovascular retrievals were attempted. Average operative time for patients undergoing IVCF removal was 163 minutes (range, 131-202 minutes). Intraoperative blood loss averaged 250 mL (range, 150-350 mL). All procedures were completed robotically. The mean length of stay for all patients was 3.5 days (range, 1-8 days). All patients resumed ambulation on postoperative day 1. Nine patients resumed a regular diet on postoperative day 2. One patient with a renal tumor sustained a colon injury during initial adhesiolysis, before robotic radical nephrectomy, which was recognized at the initial operation and repaired robotically. Robotic radical nephrectomy and caval tumor removal were then completed. No blood transfusions were required intraoperatively, but three patients required blood transfusions postoperatively. Conclusions Although robotic IVC surgery is uncommon, our initial limited experience demonstrates it is safe and efficacious.
Bevacizumab chemotherapy for management of pulmonary and laryngotracheal papillomatosis in a child

Recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis (RRP) can be a devastating condition for a child to endure, and pulmonary involvement may have terminal consequences. Adjuvant therapies have been trialed and reported over the years; however, these chemotherapy options have not been successful. Bevacizumab (Avastin, Genetech Inc., South San Francisco, CA) is a vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) inhibitor that has shown promise in the management of papillomatosis. Most research has focused on intralesional injections of this antiangiogenic drug. The systemic use of bevacizumab is not as well described. This is a case report of a 12-year-old female diagnosed with severe laryngotracheal papillomatosis near birth who underwent a tracheostomy tube placement at 1 year of age. She required weekly debridements to prevent tracheal obstruction. When lung involvement was diagnosed at 1 year of age, cidofovir was started intravenously. Over the course of the past 10 years, the patient was managed with celecoxib (Celebrex, Pfizer, New York, NY), anti-reflux medications, zithromycin, propranolol, Gardasil (Merck and Co., Kenilworth, NJ), and a 7-year course of interferon-alpha. Intravenous bevacizumab was started when the patient's pulmonary status deteriorated. There was remarkable improvement in her laryngotracheal disease within 6 weeks of therapy. Following 3 months of bevacizumab, the patient's disease was completely resolved at the laryngeal level and nearly gone in the trachea, and she was decannulated. A computed scan was performed following 5 months of intravenous bevacizumab, and the pulmonary RRP nodules completely resolved. The patient had no major or minor complication from the chemotherapy to date. Systemic Bevacizumab is a promising modality of adjuvant therapy for significant papillomatosis. Laryngoscope, 127:1538-1542, 2017.
Low dose inflammatory potential of silica particles in human-derived THP-1 macrophage cell culture studies – Mechanism and effects of particle size and iron

Silica and iron are major constituents in ambient particulate matter, and iron is a common impurity in many engineered nanomaterials. The purpose of this work was to determine the pro-inflammatory and other biological effects and mechanism of particle size and iron presence under low dose, non-cytotoxic conditions that are likely to approximate actual exposure levels, in contrast with higher dose studies in which cytotoxicity occurs. Specifically, human-derived THP-1 macrophages were exposed to 1 μg/ml of pristine and iron-coated 50 nm and 2 μm engineered silica nanoparticles. Particles were first characterized for size, size distribution, surface area, iron concentration, phase and aggregation in cell culture media. Then, biological assays were conducted to determine a non-lethal dose used in subsequent experiments. Superoxide production, lipid peroxidation, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-1β) mRNA expression were measured as a function of particle size and iron presence. Smaller particle size and the presence of iron increased superoxide production, lipid peroxidation, and the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression. Separate addition of an iron-chelator, a scavenger of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, and an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), suppressed the increase in cytokine mRNA expression. Furthermore, free iron itself showed none of the aforementioned effects. The results highlight the importance of particle size and iron in lung inflammation for both natural and engineered nanomaterials, under low dose, non-toxic conditions, and support the role of an oxidant, lipid peroxidation and PC-PLC dependent inflammatory mechanism.
Measures of Attitudes towards Sexual Orientation: Heterosexism, Homophobia, and Internalized Stigma

The past 40 years have witnessed rapid growth in the study of sexual orientation and identity. Within psychology, this has been accompanied by an ever-growing number of measures designed to assess sexual orientation related constructs. This chapter reviews the most recent and widely employed self-report instruments. These measures diversely assess attitudes of heterosexual individuals toward Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual targets as well as the attitudes of LGB individuals toward their own sexual orientation. Though these assessments all tap self-reported anti-LGB bias, they differ widely in the definition, hypothesized components, and labeling of the construct of interest. The goal of this chapter is to provide information about these important variations in the operationalization of anti-LGB bias and the psychometric quality of resulting tests in a centralized location.
Respecting State Judicial Articles

Differences in the establishment and empowerment of American judicial systems should trigger variations in the ways in which cases are handled and law is practiced. Such differences are found in the sections of state constitutions dealing with the judiciary and known as judicial articles. Unfortunately, those differences are often overlooked. Perhaps the oversight is partially attributable to the widely held view that any variations in the constitutional foundations of judicial systems are meaningless, in that no practical consequences flow from them. In effect this view parallels the popular notion that all seemingly comparable branches of state governments actually have comparable powers, and that whatever differences exist originate chiefly from such non-constitutional sources as political ideology and community setting. A circuit court is a circuit court is a circuit court. When you've seen one intermediate appellate court, you've seen them all. Those sentiments are troubling because the differences in state judicial articles are meaningful and should result in significant consequences in judicial powers. Under current American constitutional law, all trial courts do not possess the same power to make substantive law; all high courts do not possess the same authority to regulate the practice of law; and all judges do not possess the same responsibility for checking legislative conduct. This article will first explore some of the current differences in state judicial articles, as well as some of the historical changes in the judicial article of Illinois. The article will then highlight a few of the consequences that should flow from those differences. A brief discussion of a few problems in differentiating state judicial articles will conclude this article. In calling for more attention to constitutional language, this paper urges that as there has developed an increased sensitivity to the differences in individual rights from one American state to another, there should also develop a heightened recognition of and respect for variations in the structure, function and operation of American judicial systems.
Bone Mineral Density of the Radius Predicts All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Diabetes Heart Study.

This study aimed to determine the association between areal and volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) with all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Associations between BMD and all-cause mortality were examined in 576 women and 517 men with T2D in the Diabetes Heart Study. Volumetric BMD in the thoracic and lumbar spine was measured with quantitative computed tomography. Areal BMD (aBMD) in the lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, ultradistal radius, mid radius, and whole body was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Association of BMD with all-cause mortality was determined using sequential models, stratified by sex: (1) unadjusted; (2) adjusted for age, race, smoking, alcohol, estrogen use; (3) model 2 plus history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and coronary artery calcification; (4) model 3 plus lean mass; and (5) model 3 plus fat mass. At baseline, mean age was 61.2 years for women and 62.7 years for men. At mean 11.0 ± 3.7 years' follow-up, 221 (36.4%) women and 238 (43.6%) men were deceased. In women, BMD at all skeletal sites (except spine aBMD and whole body aBMD) was inversely associated with all-cause mortality in the unadjusted model. These associations remained significant in the mid radius (hazard ratio per standard deviation = 0.79; p = 0.0057) and distal radius (hazard ratio per standard deviation = 0.76; p = 0.0056) after adjusting for all covariates, including lean mass. In men, volumetric BMD measurements but not aBMD were inversely associated with mortality and only in the unadjusted model. In this longitudinal study, lower baseline aBMD in the radius was associated with increased all-cause mortality in women with T2D, but not men, independent of other risk factors for death.
Nonlocal and nonlinear surface plasmon polaritons and optical spatial solitons induced by the thermocapillary effect

We study the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on a metal surface which hosts a thin film of a liquid dielectric. The Ohmic losses that are inherently present due to the coupling of SPPs to conductors' electron plasma, induce temperature gradients and fluid deformation driven by the thermocapillary effect, which lead to a nonlinear and nonlocal change of the effective dielectric constant. The latter extends beyond the regions of highest optical intensity and constitutes a novel thermally self-induced mechanism that affects the propagation of the SPPs. We derive the nonlinear and nonlocal Schrodinger equation that describes propagation of low intensity SPP beams, and show analytically and numerically that it supports a novel optical spatial soliton excitation.
Estimating Human State from Simulated Assisted Driving with Stochastic Filtering Techniques

This work proposes a process for formulating a model and estimation scheme to predict changes in decision authority with a simulated autonomous driving assistant. The unique component of this modeling approach is the use of direct estimation of governing mental decision states via recursive psychophysiological inference. Treating characteristic quantities of the environment as inputs, and behavioral and physiological signals as outputs, we propose the estimation of intermediate or underlying psychological states of the human can be used to predict the decision to engage or disengage a driving assistant, using methods of stochastic filtering. Such a framework should enable techniques to optimally fuse information and thereby improve performance in human-autonomy driving interactions.
Current Diagnosis and Treatment Options for HCC

HCC commonly occurs in the backdrop of an underlying cirrhosis. However, it is also seen in non-cirrhotic patients. A number of methods have been developed to diagnose and treat HCC. These include surgical, percutaneous, and transarterial interventions as well as various drug treatments. Despite some success with these methods, whole liver transplantation remains the only viable treatment option for HCC. Moreover, genetic heterogeneity of patient population poses a major challenge for developing effective therapies.
Dorion Cairns, Empirical Types, and the Field of Consciousness

After a sketch of how Cairns learned from his master, a phenomenology is offered of how eidē are always intended to, i.e., at least when situated in what Aron Gurwitsch called the margin of the field of consciousness, a matter that becomes clearer when a case of what Husserl called “empirical types” is considered. A manuscript by Cairns on eideation, including empirical types, which are vague eidē, IS edited in the appendix.
Risk stratification in deep brain stimulation surgery: Development of an algorithm to predict patient discharge disposition with 91.9% accuracy.

Clinical decision making is susceptible to biases and can be improved with the application of predictive models and decision support systems (DSS). The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive risk stratification model and DSS that could accurately predict whether a patient was likely to be of high- or low-acuity discharge disposition (DD) status subsequent to DBS surgery. Data were collected for 135 DBS patients by reviewing medical records. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to develop the predictive algorithm. The two significant predictive models showed good fit and were calibrated by using AUROC curve analysis. The model predicting DD in all patients (n = 135) yielded a predictive accuracy of 91.9% (AUROC = 0.825, p < .001). The model predicting DD in Parkinson's Disease patients (n = 91) yielded a predictive accuracy of 89.0% (AUROC = 0.853, p < .001). Age was a significant predictor of DD across all patients (OR = 1.11, p < .05) and BMI was a significant predictor of DD amongst Parkinson's Disease patients (OR = 1.16, p < .05). It is possible to accurately predict the DD of DBS patients using routinely collected preoperative variables. The predictive algorithms were applied in the form of a model-driven DSS to assist in improving clinical decision making and patient safety.