cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The complexities of comparative effectiveness research on devices: the case of robotic-assisted surgery for prostate cancer.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for prostate cancer (RALP) reveals the complexity of issues in the comparison of the effectiveness of devices. The adoption of RALP has been rapid, despite lacking long-term evidence of its superiority or even equivalence in clinical effectiveness, complication profile, or cost, and it should be no surprise that it has recently come under intense scrutiny in the public media [1]. The uses of and research on robotic devices are emblematic of the tension between evidence-based medicine and innovation in procedures and devices, and highlights the differences between comparative effectiveness research (CER) for medications and CER for devices. In device CER, three overarching questions have to be answered:
Distributed analog linear coding of correlated Gaussian sources over multiple access channels

We study the performance of distributed analog linear coding of correlated multivariate Gaussian sources over the multiple access channel. Assuming the correlation structure is known both at the encoder and the decoder, optimal linear encoding and decoding is introduced. A general performance analysis is presented for both random and optimal linear encoders and compared to a lower bound on the achievable theoretical limit. Simulation results show the agreement between the theoretical analysis and the practical implementation.
Ethanol metabolism in the isolated, perfused rat liver.

Abstract The rate of ethanol oxidation in the continuously perfused, isolated rat liver was studied by measuring the rate of disappearance of the alcohol from the perfusate. Corrections were made for losses due to aspiration. The initial rate of ethanol oxidation was about what was expected from studies in vivo , but the rate decreased with time until at the end of 3 hr it was less than half that observed initially. The suspicion that the declining rate of ethanol oxidation may have been due to lowering NAD : NADH ratios was strengthened by the observation that the decline was impeded, or diminished rates of ethanol oxidation were restored, when pyruvate and fructose, substances known to promote the conversion of NADH to NAD, were added to the perfusion fluid. Studies were performed which showed that the initial rate of ethanol oxidation does not decline in vivo .
Hybrid silicon-carbon nanostructured composites as superior anodes for lithium ion batteries

We have successfully fabricated a hybrid silicon-carbon nanostructured composite with large area (about 25.5 in2) in a simple fashion using a conventional sputtering system. When used as the anode in lithium ion batteries, the uniformly deposited amorphous silicon (a-Si) works as the active material to store electrical energy, and the pre-coated carbon nanofibers (CNFs) serve as both the electron conducting pathway and a strain/stress relaxation layer for the sputtered a-Si layers during the intercalation process of lithium ions. As a result, the as-fabricated lithium ion batteries, with deposited a-Si thicknesses of 200 nm or 300 nm, not only exhibit a high specific capacity of >2000 mA·h/g, but also show a good capacity retention of over 80% and Coulombic efficiency of >98% after a large number of charge/discharge experiments. Our approach offers an efficient and scalable method to obtain silicon-carbon nanostructured composites for application in lithium ion batteries. Open image in new window
Controlling a team of ground robots via an aerial robot

We consider the task of controlling a large team of nonholonomic ground robots with an unmanned aerial vehicle in a decentralized manner that is invariant to the number of ground robots. The central idea is the development of an abstraction for the team of ground robots that allows the aerial platform to control the team without any knowledge of the specificity of individual vehicles. This happens in much the same way as a human operator can control a single robot vehicle by simply commanding the forward and turning velocities without a detailed knowledge of the specifics of the robot. The abstraction includes a gross model of the shape of the formation of the team and information about the position and orientation of the team in the plane. We derive controllers that allow the team of robots to move in formation while avoiding collisions and respecting the abstraction commanded by the aerial platform. We provide simulation and experimental results using a team of indoor mobile robots and a three-dimensional, cable-controlled, parallel robot which serves as our indoor unmanned aerial platform.
A graphical data manipulation language for an extended entity-relationship model

A user can formulate database queries and updates graphically, by manipulating schema diagrams. The authors based the graphical data manipulation interface on the entity-relationship (ER) model because of its widespread use and increasing popularity. They use an extended ER model incorporating various forms of generalization and specialization, including subset, union and partition relationships. They call their model the extended conceptual entity-relationship or ECER model. A comparison with other graphical entity-relationship interfaces is included. >
Expression of the DAF (CD55) and CD59 antigens during normal hematopoietic cell differentiation

Expression of decay-accelerating factor (DAF or CD55) and of CD59 during hematopoietic cell development in normal bone marrow and on peripheral blood leukocytes were characterized by three-color immunofluorescence experiments. With this technique cell subsets were identified by forward light scatter, orthogonal light scatter, and two cell-surface antigens. For each cell lineage, specific combinations of two monoclonal antibodies labeled with different fluorochromes were used. DAF or CD59 were then quantitated on the defined cell subsets from the fluorescence signal of the respective antibody conjugated with a third fluorochrome. Early uncommitted hematopoietic progenitor cells (CD34+, CD38-) all expressed both proteins homogeneously. Initial commitment to the erythroid (CD71+, CD45dim), myeloid (CD33+), or B lymphocyte (CD10+) lineages was not associated with changes in DAF or CD59 levels. With erythroid development, i.e., after loss of CD45 and decrease of CD71, expression of both proteins decreased. With myeloid maturation, expression of CD59 remained constant and expression of DAF varied. During neutrophil maturation, DAF decreased initially and then reemerged on maturing neutrophils concurrently with the appearance of CD16 (Fc gamma RIII), whereas during monocyte maturation, DAF increased concurrently with up-regulation of CD14. With B cell development, expression of DAF increased concurrently with down-regulation of CD10 and up-regulation of CD20, whereas expression of CD59 diminished slightly late in B cell maturation. Analysis of peripheral blood elements showed that monocytes, neutrophils, and B lymphocytes expressed both proteins homogeneously, but that in contrast to other cell subsets, which all expressed CD59, only a subset of (CD3+) T lymphocytes and (CD16+) Natural killer cells expressed DAF. The absence of DAF was not related to CD4 or CD8 expression or to the presence of activation markers (CD25+, CD38+), memory cell markers (CD58+, CD45RO+), or virgin T cell markers (CD45RA+), but was correlated with expression of CD11b (CR3) and CD11c (gp150/95). Although CD21+ (CR2) and CD35+ (CR1) cells all expressed DAF, CD11a (LFA-1) levels correlated inversely with those of DAF. Although the presence of CD55 and CD59 on early progenitor cells and throughout hematopoietic cell development is consistent with the requirements for both proteins in protection of host cells from complement-mediated injury, the physiological relevance of the unique patterns of variation for each cell lineage is unclear. Nevertheless, the availability of a detailed DAF and CD59 expression map in normal marrow will facilitate analyses of alterations during hematopoietic development that may occur in hematological disorders including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
Inactivation of dark-repair-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli by sunlight

(1974). Inactivation of Dark-repair-deficient Mutants of Escherichia Coli by Sunlight. International Journal of Radiation Biology and Related Studies in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 73-76.
Minocycline reduces gingival collagenolytic activity during diabetes. Preliminary observations and a proposed new mechanism of action.

Diabetes increases gingival collagenase activity, an effect that may be mediated by endogenous tissue changes and exacerbated by an overgrowth of Gram-negative organisms in the gingival crevice (see Ramamurthy & Golub 1983, McNamara et al. 1982). In an attempt to reverse this collagenolytic abnormality, we administered an appropriate antibiotic, minocycline (a semisynthetic tetracycline), to diabetic rats and humans. Adult male conventional or germfree rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin, and half of these animals were administered minocycline (20 mg per day) by tube feeding for 3–4 weeks prior to sacrifice. The buccal gingiva, entire skins, and mandibles were dissected and tested for collagenolytic enzyme activity, collagen content, and alveolar bone loss, espectively. In a preliminary study, minocycline (200 mg per day) was administered for 7 days to an insulin-dependent diabetic adolescent human and an adult non-diabetic human; the twin brother of the diabetic was treated with penicillin. Gingival fluid collagenase activity was measured (using [3H-methyl] collagen as substrate in a new microassay) in 8 periodontal pockets in each subject before and after antibiotic therapy. Examination of collagenase digestion products by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography was also carried out. In rats, minocycline treatment: (1) suppressed the abnormally elevated collagenolytic enzyme activity in gingiva of diabetic rats, even under germfree conditions; (2) inhibited PMN leukocyte collagenase activity in vitro, an effect that was reversed by the addition of calcium ions (penicillin-streptomycin had no effect on the activity of this enzyme); and (3) retarded the abnormal loss of skin collagen and alveolar bone in diabetic rats. In a preliminary study on humans, minocycline therapy reduced the collagenase activity of gingival crevicular fluid, an effect not produced by penicillin. Our data suggests that (1) tetracycline therapy inhibits tissue collagenolytic enzyme activity by a mechanism al least in part unrelated to its antibacterial efficacy, and (2) this mechanism may provide a new therapeutic approach for suppressing excessive collagen resorption which occurs during periodontal disease and which can occur during other pathologic conditions.
Effect of feeding on the pharmacokinetics of oral minocycline in healthy research dogs

BACKGROUND The effect of food on minocycline oral absorption in dogs is unknown. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine the pharmacokinetics of minocycline after administration of a single oral dose in fed and fasted dogs. METHODS Ten research hounds were administered oral minocycline (approximately 5 mg/kg) with and without food, in a crossover study, with a one-week wash-out between treatments. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to minocycline administration and over 24 h. Minocycline plasma drug concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet detection and were analysed with compartmental modelling to determine primary pharmacokinetic parameters. Each dog was analysed independently, followed by calculation of means and variation of the dogs. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test [analysing secondary pharmacokinetic parameters - peak concentration (CMAX ), area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC)] was used to compare the two groups. A population pharmacokinetic modelling approach was performed using nonlinear mixed effects modelling of primary parameters for the population as fixed effects and the difference between subjects as a random effect. Covariate analysis was used to identify the source of variability in the population. RESULTS No significant difference was found between treatments for AUC (P = 0.0645), although AUC was higher in fasted dogs. A significant difference was found for CMAX (P = 0.0059), with fasted dogs attaining a higher CMAX . The covariate of fed versus fasted accounted for a significant variation in the pharmacokinetics. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Because feeding was a significant source of variation for the population's primary pharmacokinetic parameters and fasted dogs had higher minocycline concentrations, we recommend administering minocycline without food.
Depth-First Search and Kuratowski Subgraphs

Soit G=(V, E) un graphe non planaire. On montre la methode utilisant les techniques de 1ere profondeur pour extraire sur un sous-graphe de Kuratowsky en un temps O(IVI)
Associations of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness with intradialytic hypotension and hypertension

Intradialytic hypotension and hypertension are both independently associated with mortality among persons with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness are two possible mechanisms underlying these phenomena, but their association with hemodynamic instability during dialysis has not been evaluated. Thirty patients were recruited from chronic dialysis units at San Francisco General Hospital and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed with flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery after upper arm occlusion. Arterial stiffness was assessed using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity measured by tonometry. Intradialytic hypotension and hypertension were defined as the average decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) over 1 week, as well as the frequency over 1 month of hypotension or hypertension. Every 5% decrease in flow-mediated dilation was associated with a 7.5 mmHg decrease in SBP after adjustment for phosphorus, body mass index, atherosclerosis, and ultrafiltration (P=0.02). Every 5 m/s increase in pulse wave velocity was associated with an 8 mmHg increase in SBP after adjustment for predialysis SBP and ultrafiltration (P=0.03). Over 1 month, every 5% lower flow-mediated dilation was associated with a 10% higher frequency of hypotension (P=0.09), and every 5 m/s increase in pulse wave velocity was associated with an 15% higher frequency of hypertension (P=0.02). In a cross-sectional analysis of 30 dialysis patients, endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness were independently associated with intradialytic hypotension and intradialytic hypertension, respectively. Elucidating these potential mechanisms of hemodynamic instability during dialysis may facilitate development of treatment strategies specific to this pathophysiology.
Human development: a Special Issue.

In September 2014, Development organised a four-day workshop titled ‘From Stem Cells to Human Development’. In planning this meeting, we sought to fill what we saw as a gap in the meeting calendar – a way of bringing together a diverse cross-section of researchers with a common interest in
Fault-tolerant in-memory crossbar computing using quantified constraint solving

There has been a surge of interest in the effective storage and computation of data using nanoscale crossbars. In this paper, we present a new method for automating the design of fault-tolerant crossbars that can effectively compute Boolean formula. Our approach leverages recent advances in Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solving for quantified bit-vector formula (QBVF). We demonstrate that our method is well-suited for fault-tolerant computation and can perform Boolean computations despite stuck-open and stuck-closed interconnect defects as well as wire faults. We employ our framework to generate various arithmetic and logical circuits that compute correctly despite the presence of stuck-at faults as well as broken wires.
Strategic timing of distillers grains supplementation for growing cattle grazing smooth bromegrass pastures1

ABSTRACT Two experiments evaluated different strategies for supplementing growing cattle grazing smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) pastures with dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS). Exp. 1 used 55 yearling steers in each of 2 yr to compare cattle stocked at 6.8 animal-unit-months (AUM)/ha receiving no supplement to cattle receiving 0.6% of BW in DDGS daily and stocked at 9.9 AUM/ha. A third treatment also stocked steers at 9.9 AUM/ha and provided increasing amounts of DDGS as forage quality declined over the grazing season. Both supplementation strategies resulted in the same amount of DDGS fed over the entire grazing season. Exp. 2 used 36 steer calves in each of 5 yr to compare cattle stocked at 8.3 AUM/ha grazing smooth bromegrass pastures and receiving no supplement to cattle receiving DDGS at 0.5% of BW daily or cattle receiving no supplement the first 56 d of the experiment after which they were supplemented at 0.5% of BW daily. Cattle in Exp. 2 were followed through a finishing period with all cattle on a similar diet and the same number of days on feed. In both experiments, supplementing cattle with DDGS improved ADG (P
Phytophagous Insect Fauna of the Desert Shrub Hymenoclea salsola in Southern California

Phytophagous insects representing 8 orders, 33 families, 64 genera, and 80 species are reported as comprising the insect fauna of the native, xerophytic shrub Hymenoclea salsola Torrey & Gray (Compositae) in southern California. Most insects attacking this plant are polyphagous, ectophagous, sap- and foliage-feeding species. At least 9 of 16 associated monophages are new or probably new species. More than half of the 75 identified species also occur on other Ambrosiinae (i.e., Ambrosia and Xanthium spp.) in southern California. Half were found at 4 or fewer of 55 sample sites, and most of these rare species were restricted to only part of the total geographic range of H. salsola in California. The most constant associates were two undescribed monophagous gall midges. Most species were represented by few individuals in collections at each survey site.
The Retail Hardware Decline

Until recently the hardware store held a place of prominence among retail institutions, but it is gradually losing that important position. What has caused the retail hardware trade to experience t...
Limiting spectroscopic interferences of 239Pu and 237Np in a UO2 matrix using LA-ICP-MS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the spectral overlap for actinides and directly measure plutonium in uranium oxide and neptunium in uranium oxide matrix without an internal standard using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The system successfully measured 239Pu and 237Np with linear correlation coefficients (>0.99), relative standard deviations, limits of detections (0.026 and 0.111 wt% respectively) and percent biases reported. Each sample set was measured and analyzed within an hour which suggests a more rapid analytical technique than current methods used in nuclear safeguards to quantify plutonium and neptunium in a uranium matrix.
Integrative health coaching: a behavior skills approach that improves HbA1c and pharmacy claims-derived medication adherence.

Objective Medication adherence requires underlying behavior skills and a supporting mindset that may not be addressed with education or reminders. Founded in the study of internal motivation and health psychology, integrative health coaching (IHC) helps patients gain insight into their behaviors and make long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes. The purpose of the study is to determine whether IHC improves oral medication adherence, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and psychosocial measures, and to assess whether adherence changes are sustained after the intervention. Methods Using a prospective observational design, participants (n=56) received 14 coaching calls by telephone over 6 months. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was calculated for time intervals before, during, and after the intervention. HbA1c and patient-reported psychosocial outcomes were obtained to test interactions with MPR. Results Medication adherence (MPR) increased from 0.74±0.197 to 0.85±0.155 during coaching, and was sustained at 0.82±0.175 during a 6-month period after the study. Better adherence correlated with a greater decrease in HbA1c. HbA1c decreased from 8.0±1.92% to 7.7±1.70% over the 6-month intervention. All psychosocial measures showed significant improvement. In addition to discussing medication adherence strategies with their coach, patients discussed nutrition and exercise (86.9% of calls), stress management (39.8%), and social support and relationships (15.4%). Conclusions IHC targets internal motivation and supports behavior change by facilitating patients’ insight into their own behaviors, and it uses this insight to foster self-efficacy. This approach may yield sustainable results for medication adherence and warrants further exploration for health-related behavior change.
The Analysis of Various Modles’ Effect on Training Community Physicians About Tuberculosis Protection

OBJECTIVE To discuss various modules’ effect on the training work about the knowledge of tuberculosis protection. METHODS Divided 492 community physicians of Tongxiang City into 16 by the township, about 30 people each, Using the method of drawing a random sample average divided into two groups and adopting two teaching modules of interactive discussion and simple lecturing, we trained them about tuberculosis protection. The author also makes analysis of the physicians’ improvement in grasping the knowledge and the differences in the effect of the training under two different modules. RESULTS After the training, these physicians all made progresses in grasping the knowledge of tuberculosis protection(P0.05), but the overall effect of training between the two modules there was no difference(P0.05). However,the interactive discussion is better than simple lecturing for physicians’ age above 50(t=2.466 , P0.05) . CONCLUSIONS Through short term of training of tuberculosis protection, community physicians have well grasped the knowledge, which helps the work of tuberculosis protection. It also serves as reference for further training of public health protection for community physicians.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE METHOD OF ROCKMASSES CLASSIFICATION IN RALWAY TUNNEL

The experimental study of the railroad tunnel wall rock classification research in our country is early and researched systematiclly.It made quite influential to our country underground project wall rock classifica- tion method development.This article introduced the third stage railway tunnel wall rock classification devel- opment from on century 60′s to this century.Primarily gradually from the past qualitative division to cur- rently by qualitative primarily,auxiliary by the rock intensity,the rock longitudinal wave intensity isometric new classification method"Engineering Rock Classification Standard"closed up to the national standardiza- tion,changes wall rock sort to the classification.On the order inverts Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ level.
Sequential Trials of Methotrexate, Cisplatin and Bleomycin for Penile Cancer

AbstractMethotrexate, bleomycin or cisplatin was used to treat 21 patients with advanced bidimensionally measurable epidermoid carcinoma of the penis. Patient characteristics were similar in all 3 drug trials. Drug therapy was continued with each agent until the disease progressed. Significant tumor regression was observed in 8 of 13 men (61 per cent) treated with methotrexate, 3 of 12 (25 per cent) treated with cisplatin and 3 of 14 (21 per cent) treated with bleomycin. Responders tended to be younger than nonresponders (median age 48 versus 59 years, respectively, p less than 0.05) and lived a median of 8 versus 2 months, respectively (p equals 0.03). Cross-resistance was not encountered among the 3 drugs. Future trials might investigate combination regimens of all 3 agents.
Diseases of the liver.

The ability to image the liver in horses can add valuable diagnostic information or aid in guided biopsy procedures. Anytime the size, shape, position, and texture of the liver can be determined, additional information about the horse’s condition is gained. Conditions such as cholelithiasis, neoplasia, fibrosis can be detected ultrasonographically.
Aberrant Kynurenine Signaling Modulates DNA Replication Stress Factors and Promotes Genomic Instability in Gliomas.

Metabolism of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (TRP) is implicated in a number of neurological conditions including depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. The TRP catabolite kynurenine (KYN) has recently emerged as an important neuroactive factor in brain tumor pathogenesis, with additional studies implicating KYN in other types of cancer. Often highlighted as a modulator of the immune response and a contributor to immune escape for malignant tumors, it is well-known that KYN has effects on the production of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which can have a direct impact on DNA repair, replication, cell division, redox signaling, and mitochondrial function. Additional effects of KYN signaling are imparted through its role as an endogenous agonist for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and it is largely through activation of the AhR that KYN appears to mediate malignant progression in gliomas. We have recently reported on the ability of KYN signaling to modulate ex...
Robust AF relay transmission with multiple source-destination pairs under channel uncertainty

The paper considers a wireless network in which simultaneous communications occur within multiple single antenna source-destination node pairs. An Amplify-and-Forward (AF) relay, equipped with multiple antennas, assists the communication. The relay implements linear beamforming (BF) aiming to minimize the total relay power subject to signal-to-interference ratio (SINR) constraints for each source-destination (S-D) pair. A relay transmission scheme is proposed that instead of assuming the availability of full channel state information (CSI), a typical assumption in such scenario, it considers a more practical case in which there is CSI error at the relay. The maximum SINR loss due to the imperfect CSI is computed and used to further tighten the SINR constraints of each S-D pair. A method recently proposed by the authors [3] is then used along with the tighter SINR constraints to obtain the beamforming weights. The proposed approach is computationally simple and simulation results show that it greatly reduces outage probability.
“Advocacy” and “Activism” Are Not Dirty Words–How Activists Can Better Help Conservation Scientists

Whether scientists should be advocates for conservation has been amatter of debate in the scientific community and literature (Brussard and Tull, 2007; Lackey, 2007; Noss, 2007; Chan, 2008; Nelson and Vucetich, 2009; Scott and Rachlow, 2010; Parsons, 2013; Rose and Parsons, 2015). Some are set against it, such as Lackey (2007), who considers that while scientists should be involved in the policy process, they should not show any preferences for conservation policies, nor even use valueladen terms in their work, such as good, healthy, or degradation. On the other side of the spectrum, Noss (2007) argues that everyone has opinions and values and, when it comes to making policy recommendations, who better to do so than scientists, who are closest to the facts? However, Noss (2007) also highlights that there is a style of advocacy appropriate for scientists and another for environmental activists. Hixon (2000) adds that scientists are citizens, like everyone else, and as such have an obligation to engage in political debate and policy, because if they do not (as Noss, 2007 alluded to), decisions are made by those who are less familiar with the scientific method, and do not have as good a grasp of the facts as scientists do. In some sectors of the marine conservation field, advocacy is being seen as increasingly important. For example, Shiffman and Hammerschlag (2016a) found that 75% of shark biologists they surveyed said that shark scientists should advocate, and 53% said that policy statements should be included in their papers. However, for many scientists, advocacy is still almost a “dirty word” and they are staunch in their belief that scientists should remain in the ivory tower and remain “pure” (Rose and Parsons, 2015), and that scientists who engage in advocacy are not being objective and/or are no longer a “real” scientists (Parsons, 2013). But what exactly is advocacy? Also, what is the difference between advocacy and activist, and why in particular is activism often viewed so negatively? This paper discusses some of these issues.
Description of the female of Phalacropsylla hamata (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae)

The previously unknown female of Phalacropsylla hamata Tipton & Mendez is described and an allotype is designated. A key is provided to aid in distinguishing females of this genus.
Eight unexpected cases of vancomycin associated acute kidney injury with contemporary dosing

Vancomycin is one of the most commonly utilized antibiotics in US hospitals. It remains the drug of choice for the treatment of serious infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. For many of these deep-seated infections, guidelines recommend achieving troughs of 15-20 mg/L for treatment efficacy. At our institution we observed a number of cases of presumed vancomycin-induced acute tubular necrosis clinically diagnosed by the nephrology service. We report eight cases of presumed vancomycin-induced acute tubular necrosis, three of which required hemodialysis before resolution of nephrotoxicity. Only three of the eight patients received nephrotoxins prior to development of nephrotoxicity. All eight patients ultimately recovered renal function following discontinuation.
Validity of effective medium theory in multilayered hyperbolic materials

Abstract Metal-dielectric multilayers can be designed to exhibit remarkable optical properties, including negative refraction for subwavelength superlensing. In this study, the applicability of the medium-homogenized effective medium theory (EMT) in place of multilayered thin-film optics is examined. Three metal-dielectric material and thin film thickness combinations that give rise to hyperbolic dispersion in different spectral regions are considered. In addition to investigating the radiative properties, the energy streamline method is used to determine the refraction angle and lateral displacement of rays. The electromagnetic fields inside the films are depicted to illustrate the coherent effect or the lack thereof. The radiative penetration depth is profiled to understand the effectiveness and limits of such multilayers in optical manipulation. The conditions and mechanism for the breakdown of EMT are elucidated in this case study.
Interactive Demonstrations for Statistics Education on the World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a tool that can beused in many ways for basic statistics education. Using the latest WWW technology, educators can nowinclude interactive demonstrations in the form of J...
Variations in native protein glycation and plasma antioxidants in several birds of prey

Birds are an anomaly among vertebrates as they are remarkably long-lived despite having naturally high blood glucose and metabolic rates. For mammals, hyperglycemia leads to oxidative stress and protein glycation. In contrast, many studies have shown that domestic and wild birds are relatively resistant to these glucose-mediated pathologies. Surprisingly very little research has examined protein glycation in birds of prey, which by nature consume a diet high in protein and fat that promotes gluconeogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate protein glycation and antioxidant concentrations in serum samples from several birds of prey (bald eagle (BAEA), red-tailed hawk (RTHA), barred owl (BAOW), great horned owl (GHOW)) as protein glycation can accelerate oxidative stress and vice versa. Serum glucose was measured using a commercially available assay, native albumin glycation was measured by mass spectrometry and various antioxidants (uric acid, vitamin E, retinol and several carotenoids) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Although glucose concentrations were not significantly different between species (p=0.340), albumin glycation was significantly higher (p=0.004) in BAEA (23.67±1.90%) and BAOW (24.28±1.43%) compared to RTHA (14.31±0.63%). Of the antioxidants examined, lutein was significantly higher in BAOW (p=0.008). BAEA had the highest beta-cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene concentrations (p<0.005). The high concentrations of antioxidants in these birds of prey relative to other birds likely helps protect from complications that may otherwise arise from having high glucose and protein glycation.
Activity restriction and risk of preterm delivery.

AbstractPurpose: We sought to determine whether activity restriction (AR) in a cohort of women at high risk for preterm delivery is associated with the risk of preterm delivery.Materials and methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units MFMU’s Preterm Prediction Study; a multicenter prospective cohort study designed to identify risk factors of preterm birth (PTB). The study group consisted of women with a singleton gestation that at their first study visit (23–24 weeks) had at least one of the following criteria: patient reported contractions, severe back pain, a cervical length <15 mm, spotting, protruding membranes, or positive fetal fibronectin. Women were assessed for AR at a 27- to 29-week study visit. Associations between AR and preterm delivery (<37 weeks) were examined through logistic regression models before and after adjustment for confounders.Results: Of the 1086 women that met the inclusion criteria, 16.5% (n = 179) delivered preterm. In this cohort, 9.7% (n = 105...
A whole building fault detection using weather based pattern matching and feature based PCA method

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings consume more than 14% energy in the U.S. Malfunctioning sensors, components, and control systems, as well as degrading systems in HVAC and lighting systems are main reasons for energy waste and unsatisfactory indoor environment. Studies have demonstrated that large energy saving can be achieved by automated fault diagnosis followed by corrections. Data-driven based methods have been widely adopted in component level fault detection and diagnosis in building sectors. For a whole building system in which various sub-systems are coupled together and have closely interactions, conventional data-driven based methods that have been successful for component level fault detection encounter many challenges such as the curse of dimensionality, difficulty to generate system baseline, and developing system model. A new data-driven based strategy which includes a weather based pattern matching method and feature based Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method is proposed for whole building level fault detection. Symbolic Aggregate approXimation (SAX) method is employed to find similar weather patterns in historical database to accurately and dynamically generate baseline datasets. In order to handle the issue of high dimensionality of a whole building's dataset, a feature selection process is performed using Partial Least Square Regression and Genetic Algorithm (PLSR-GA) method. Selected features are then used in a PCA modeling and fault detection process. Data from a real campus building are obtained to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Naturalized Epistemology and the Study of Language

Quine (1969) in ‘Epistemology Naturalized’, attacks an entire conception of how philosophy ought to approach the topic of human knowledge. This conception, which we could call external epistemology, relies on a number of distinctions which are unsupportable by Quine’s lights: a priori vs. a posteriori knowledge, necessary vs. contingent truth, matters of meaning vs. matters of fact. Lying at the basis of these distinctions are the assumptions that there are such things as linguistic rules, and that these rules have a crucial role to play in a philosophical account of knowledge. Quine’s attack on external epistemology is ultimately an attack on these fundamental assumptions.
Abstract 3619: The role of CXCR4 in progression of malignant glioma

High grade malignant gliomas are devastating, uniformly fatal cancers for which no effective therapies exist. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor. Recent studies have shown that cytokines/chemokines can regulate many malignant features of tumor cells. CXCL12/CXCR4 axis activates various signaling pathways that promote chemotaxis, adhesion and migration, cell proliferation and survival. PI3 kinase, Ras, stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun Nterminal kinase (JNK), phospholipase C (PLC)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p38 MAPK and AKT are all downstream effectors of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis, through which tumor cell growth, dissemination and migration are facilitated. To enhance our understanding of the development and progression of glioma which may lead to novel and useful biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in the context of GBM, we analyzed the role of CXCR4 in glioma using the published data and literature. (1).To determine the prognostic role of CXCR4 in malignant glioma, we analyzed the microarray data from Rembrandt Databases by Affymetrix HG U133 v2.0 Plus on 523 glioma patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival showed that glioma patients with high CXCR4 expression (n=329) have short overall survival compared to those with low CXCR4 expression (n=54), logrank test: P=2.2e-8 9. Among GBM, high CXCR4 expression (n=178) have short overall survival compared to those with low CXCR4 expression (n=9), logrank test: P=0.044. Among Astrocytoma, high CXCR4 expression (n=102) have short overall survival compared to those with low CXCR4 expression (n=33), logrank test: P=0.0247 (http://www.betastasis.com/glioma/rembrandt/kaplan-meier_survival_curve/). (2).To determine the relationship between glioma progression and chemokine receptor CXCR4, we made a meta-analysis based on 14 published articles. All 14 eligible studies having 805 patients from China and USA were included. These studies showed that CXCR4 expression in glioma was correlated to high WHO grade glioma (OR=8.26, 95% CI=3.42-19.93, P Citation Format: Mingli Liu. The role of CXCR4 in progression of malignant glioma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3619.
The Behavior of Polymer-Based Dielectrics Under Cryogenic Conditions

Dielectrics is ubiquitous in all electrical systems. In this chapter we introduce many aspects in a systematic manner in order for the reader to be able to follow it in a sequence. Firstly, the various media and the salient features of each are discussed. The media range from vacuum to highly compressed gases, liquids, and solids. The basic mechanism of dielectric behavior is discussed in each different case when subject to electric field. The imposed electric field can be of different forms such as steady-state AC and DC voltages. It can also be due to transients in the system brought about by switching operations or they could be due to naturally occurring phenomena namely lightning. The configuration of electrode geometries and the polarity of the electrodes bring about phenomena within the media that need to be understood in order to design electrical systems for a variety of applications. We also focus our attention particularly when the media are at cryogenic temperatures. The electronic and ionic reaction mechanics change drastically at low temperatures. In the early part of this chapter the discussion is centered around the basics such as partial discharge, electrical breakdown, dielectric losses, and permittivity. This is followed by applications of power cable design and operation at or near the boiling point of liquid helium. The reader is directed to some real life experiences of such cable systems. Once again the emphasis here has been on the dielectric aspects and the role that materials play in enabling such technology. With the advent of high temperature superconductors (HTS) the outlook was more promising as superconductivity could be achieved at around the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K).
Outcomes of Donation after Circulatory Death Liver Grafts from Donors 50 Years or Older: A Multicenter Analysis

BackgroundAs the population in the United States continues to age, an increase in the number of potential donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors with advanced chronological age can be expected. The aim of this study was to analyze a multi-institutional experience in liver transplantation usin
Novel use of covered stents to treat profound cyanosis in a hepatic vein exclusion Fontan

Fontan completion in patients with complex cardiac anatomy, and specifically heterotaxy syndrome, can present unique physiologic considerations. For example, existing venous connections may be "unmasked" after a cavopulmonary anastomosis operation. We present the case of a child with heterotaxy, dextrocardia, single-ventricle physiology, and anomalous hepatic venous drainage that resulted in profound shunting and cyanosis. We addressed the problem utilizing a novel strategy with a "fenestrated" covered stent.
Excavation and Curation Strategies for Complex Burials in Tropical Environments

Bioarchaeologists often are faced with the challenge of managing field excavations and lab analyses of skeletal remains at the same time—along with student and staff training and curation of osteological remains—and cannot be in two places at once. This article presents strategies for the recovery of human remains useful for large projects where multiple burials must be recovered simultaneously, remains are poorly preserved, and complex burial practices such as seated body positions and commingled remains are present. The excavation and curation strategies are presented in the context of the seated burial practice in the Maya region, a funerary tradition that requires detailed documentation of the burial as well as the body in order to understand its meaning. Classic period (AD 250-900) seated burials do not fit a single biological profile; in fact, the taphonomic profile of one seated individual at Actuncan, Belize, suggests a closer relationship to body processing and/or context than to status. Tropical and semitropical environmental conditions also require modified curation procedures, which present ethical challenges as well as physical ones.
Development and evolution of a two-day intensive resident experience in geriatric medicine.

As the older adult population increases, the need to enhance medical education and training in Geriatric Medicine (GM) is essential. To enhance resident training, faculty at two southeastern universities developed a Resident Award Summit, a two-day active learning experience, designed to expose family and internal medicine residents to GM principles and the various career options available in GM. Over 10 years, 353 residents from 108 residency programs participated. Resident feedback indicated that attending the event had a positive impact on future practice (M = 4.65, SD = .58) and showed that the amount of GM training received was limited, with 83.5% and 70.2% ranking adequacy of medical student and resident training as limited, respectively. To impact practice, long-term change must occur. Experiences such as the Resident Award Summit allow GM faculty to educate and prepare residents though positive teaching experiences, providing residents with the skills needed to care for older adults in their communities.
The Radial Basis Functions Method for Improved Numerical Approximations of Geological Processes in Heterogeneous Systems

A robust, high order modeling approach is introduced, based on the finite difference-based radial basis functions method, for solving the groundwater flow equation in the presence of an active well, in the case of a confined aquifer in a complex geological environment. The two important novelties of this work are the analytical handling of the wells’ singularities and the ability to do this accurately and efficiently in a heterogeneous medium. It is argued that the most commonly used methods for this type of problem have severe weaknesses in both the treatment of the singularities associated with the well, and in representing heterogeneities which commonly occur in geological processes. The method presented here is first applied to the groundwater flow problem in a homogeneous medium for which the analytical solution is known, to show its high order algebraic convergence. The method is then compared against the United States geological survey’s MODFLOW software on a quasi-realistic benchmark test case in a heterogeneous medium. It is shown that much fewer nodes are needed by the proposed method to yield a similar accuracy.
Developing adaptive teams: A theory of dynamic team leadership

As we engage the new millennium, accelerating technological, cultural, political, and financial turbulence buffets organizations-often unpredictably so. Responding to an uncertain and unpredictable future is not so much an issue of advanced strategy and planning but rather one of organizational innovation, agility, and adaptability (Terreberry, 1968). Organizations that can adapt quickly will survive and may even exploit hidden opportunities in the unexpected. Those that are slow to adapt face decline and dissolution. These environmental trends have been evident for some three decades. Many organizations have responded by creating leaner and more agile structures, by shifting to team-based work organizations (Lawler, Mohrman, & Ledford, 1995), and by building the capabilities of their members.
Rust infection and survival of 49 Pinus monticola families at a field site six years after planting

This field trial evaluates white pine blister rust resistance of 49 families of Pinus monticola from Oregon and Washington. The Optical site had 93% of the trees infected six years after planting, but rust mortality is currently low. Families ranged between 31 to 100 percent infected and the number of stem symptoms ranged between three and eighteen. Families with R-gene resistance (HR) from the Cr2 gene were highly susceptible at Optical due to the presence of a virulent race of rust (vcr2). Families without Cr2 and with moderate to high frequencies of canker-free or bark reaction ('Q' families) in seedling screening at Dorena Genetic Resource Center (DGRC) were the most resistant at Optical with higher bark reaction and lower percent infection, mortality, and number of stem symptoms. Another subset of the families were inoculated in a seedling trial at DGRC using rust strains not containing vcr2. The Cr2 families had predictable levels of resistance and Q families also showed moderate levels of resistance in the DGRC seedling trial. Percent stem symptom and bark reaction traits were positively correlated between screening and field trials. Also the number of needle lesions in artificial screening was positively correlated with the number of stem symptoms at Optical.
Poverty and Social Justice: The Building Stones of Social Work Identity

Poverty and social justice have historically been integral components of the social work profession. This profession has earned national and international recognition for its contribution to the we...