cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Therapy for Differentiated Carcinoma of the Thyroid: An Analysis of 706 Cases*

A retrospective analysis of clinical and pathological data was conducted on 706 patients (514 females and 192 males) treated for differentiated thyroid carcinoma at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston from 1951 to 1975 and followed to 1981. The histological diagnoses were mixed papillary/follicular carcinoma (66.7%), papillary carcinoma (14.6%), follicular carcinoma (15.3%), or Hurthle cell carcinoma (3.4%).Patients diagnosed before the age of 40 yr lived significantly longer than those diagnosed over the age of 40 yr, and females lived longer than males. According to survival analyses and disease-free intervals, the order of increasing aggressiveness of the tumors was papillary, mixed, follicular, and Hurthle cell.Total thyroidectomy was associated with longer disease-free intervals and fewer recurrences. The 136 patients who received ablative 131I after surgery had fewer recurrences than a matched group who did not, but the disease-free interval and survival ra...
Promises and prospects of optoelectronic computing

The various concepts of how optoelectronics can be applied to computing have evolved over the past few years. There is less discussion of the use of nonlinear optical materials in computing, except in special-purpose, analog processors and more discussions of optical interconnections for digital computers. The near-term applications being discussed are for interconnections between computers. Longer term applications include high-speed, multiple-wavelength, channels in guided paths; and free-space interconnections that allow high parallelism, and large fan in, and fan out. The guided-wave interconnections in some cases have direct connections, but switchable interconnections in a network are more useful. Increases in performance are possible through architectural and circuit changes that are made possible by using optical interconnections. >
Microsatellite marker development for Galax urceolata (Diapensiaceae)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Microsatellite markers were developed for Galax urceolata to investigate genetic diversity, population structure, and polyploid origins (auto- vs. allopolyploid), and to estimate the minimum number of independent cytotype origins. METHODS AND RESULTS Ten primer sets have been developed, and preliminary study indicates that all loci are appropriate for population-level genetic investigations. All loci are polymorphic with 6 to 46 alleles per locus. Expected heterozygosity ranges from 0.1007 to 0.6085. CONCLUSIONS The microsatellite markers presented will facilitate analyses of polyploid origins, genetic diversity, geographic structure, and gene flow.
Sinoatrial Node Reentry in a Canine Chronic Left Ventricular Infarct Model Role of Intranodal Fibrosis and Heterogeneity of Refractoriness

Background— Reentrant arrhythmias involving the sinoatrial node (SAN), namely SAN reentry, remain one of the most intriguing enigmas of cardiac electrophysiology. The goal of the present study was to elucidate the mechanism of SAN micro-reentry in canine hearts with post–myocardial infarction (MI) structural remodeling. Methods and Results— In vivo, Holter monitoring revealed ventricular arrhythmias and SAN dysfunctions in post–left ventricular MI (6–15 weeks) dogs (n=5) compared with control dogs (n=4). In vitro, high-resolution near-infrared optical mapping of intramural SAN activation was performed in coronary perfused atrial preparations from MI (n=5) and controls (n=4). Both SAN macro- (slow-fast; 16–28 mm) and micro-reentry (1–3 mm) were observed in 60% of the MI preparations during moderate autonomic stimulation (acetylcholine [0.1 µmol/L] or isoproterenol [0.01–0.1 µmol/L]) after termination of atrial tachypacing (5–8 Hz), a finding not seen in controls. The autonomic stimulation induced heterogeneous changes in the SAN refractoriness; thus, competing atrial or SAN pacemaker waves could produce unidirectional blocks and initiate intranodal micro-reentry. The micro-reentry pivot waves were anchored to the longitudinal block region and produced both tachycardia and paradoxical bradycardia (due to exit block), despite an atrial ECG morphology identical to regular sinus rhythm. Intranodal longitudinal conduction blocks coincided with interstitial fibrosis strands that were exaggerated in the MI SAN pacemaker complex (fibrosis density: 37±7% MI versus 23±6% control; P <0.001). Conclusions— Both tachy- and brady-arrhythmias can result from SAN micro-reentry. Postinfarction remodeling, including increased intranodal fibrosis and heterogeneity of refractoriness, provides substrates for SAN reentry.
The Dynamics of Counting and Recounting Votes

The limitations of current paper- and electronic-based voting systems and recount procedures can undermine the credibility of public elections. A corroborative, redundant voting system that performs vote counts via independent mechanisms at the polling place could address these shortcomings. After discussing the strengths and weaknesses of electronic and paper ballots with respect to initial counts, we discuss auditing approaches to corroborate the initial reported results and propose protocols and procedures to strengthen the auditing mechanisms.
Accelerating SURF detector on mobile devices

Running a SURF (Speeded Up Robust Features) detector on mobile devices remains too slow to support emerging applications such as mobile augmented reality. Porting it without adapting the algorithm to account for mobile platform limitations could result in significant runtime degradation. In this paper, we identify two mismatches between the SURF algorithm and the mobile hardware that cause substantial slow-down of the point detection process: 1) mismatch between the data access pattern and the small cache size, and 2) mismatch between the huge amount of branches and high pipeline hazard penalty. To address the mismatches, we propose two techniques: tiled SURF and gradient moment based orientation assignment. Tiled SURF improves data locality and greatly reduces memory traffic. A method for determining the optimal tile sizes, named content-aware tiling, is designed to minimize runtime and maximize detection accuracy. To avoid the penalties caused by pipeline hazards, we replace the original orientation operator with branching-free gradient moment computations. The proposed techniques are tested on three mobile platforms. Comparing to the original SURF, the accelerated SURF achieves a 6x~8x speedup without sacrificing recognition accuracy. Meanwhile, it achieves 59%~80% reductions in the runtime ratio of the detector running on mobile platforms compared with on x86-based PCs.
Selected hormonal and neurotransmitter mechanisms regulating feed intake in sheep

Appetite control is a major issue in normal growth and in suboptimal growth performance settings. A number of hormones, in particular leptin, activate or inhibit orexigenic or anorexigenic neurotransmitters within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, where feed intake regulation is integrated. Examples of appetite regulatory neurotransmitters are the stimulatory neurotransmitters neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related protein (AgRP), orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone and the inhibitory neurotransmitter, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). Examination of messenger RNA (using in situ hybridization and realtime PCR) and proteins (using immunohistochemistry) for these neurotransmitters in ruminants has indicated that physiological regulation occurs in response to fasting for several of these critical genes and proteins, especially AgRP and NPY. Moreover, intracerebroventricular injection of each of the four stimulatory neurotransmitters can increase feed intake in sheep and may also regulate either growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, cortisol or other hormones. In contrast, both leptin and MSH are inhibitory to feed intake in ruminants. Interestingly, the natural melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) antagonist, AgRP, as well as NPY can prevent the inhibition of feed intake after injection of endotoxin (to model disease suppression of appetite). Thus, knowledge of the mechanisms regulating feed intake in the hypothalamus may lead to mechanisms to increase feed intake in normal growing animals and prevent the wasting effects of severe disease in animals.
Treatment of Cholesterol Embolization Syndrome in the Setting of an Acute Indication for Anticoagulation Therapy

Cholesterol embolization syndrome (CES) is a complication sometimes occurring after invasive endovascular procedures. CES is characterized by release of cholesterol crystals and particles from atheromatous plaques, which can occlude distal vessels and induce an inflammatory response, resulting in end-organ damage. We report the case of a 66-year-old man who presented with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. An intra-aortic balloon pump was placed due to hemodynamic instability following percutaneous coronary intervention. Ten weeks after discharge, he presented with signs and symptoms of CES (e.g., livedo reticularis, acrocyanosis, acute renal failure), and a new left ventricular apical thrombus. Withdrawal of anticoagulation is often recommended in the setting of CES, on the presumption that anticoagulants favor plaque hemorrhage and subsequent cholesterol micro-embolization. Because of the potential disastrous consequences of an embolus, the patient was anticoagulated with warfarin concurrently with corticosteroids to suppress the inflammatory response to cholesterol crystals. His renal function continued to improve and he was discharged without the need for dialysis. This case illustrates that anticoagulation therapy in CES is feasible and appears to be safe in patients with a coexisting urgent indication for anticoagulation. J Med Cases. 2014;5(6):376-379 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc1804 w
Unified geometric theory of gravity and supergravity

A unified geometric formulation of gravitation and supergravity is presented. The action for these theories is constructed out of the components of the curvature tensor for bundle spaces with four-dimensional Lorentz base manifold and structure groups Sp(4) for gravity and OSp(1,4) for supergravity. The requirement of invariance under reflections, local Lorentz transformations, and general coordinate transformations uniquely determines the action and ensures the existence of local supersymmetry in supergravity.
TOR kinase complexes and cell migration

Cell migration is a fundamental process in a wide array of biological and pathological responses. It is regulated by complex signal transduction pathways in response to external cues that couple to growth factor and chemokine receptors. In recent years, the target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase, as part of either TOR complex 1 (TORC1) or TOR complex 2 (TORC2), has been shown to be an important signaling component linking external signals to the cytoskeletal machinery in a variety of cell types and organisms. Thus, these complexes have emerged as key regulators of cell migration and chemotaxis.
Structural, optical, and electronic stability of copper sulfide thin films grown by atomic layer deposition

Copper sulfide films of nanometer thickness are grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and their structural and optoelectronic properties investigated as a function of time and storage environment. At temperatures as low as 80 °C polycrystalline thin films are synthesized, which index to the stoichiometric (Cu2S) chalcocite phase. As-prepared and prior to exposure to room ambient, conductive films are obtained as a result of a high mobility (4 cm2 V−1 s−1) and a relatively moderate p-type doping of 1018 cm−3. However, exposure to air results in a rapid rise in conductivity due to heavy p-type doping (>1020 cm−3). The evolving electronic properties in air are correlated with a change in both crystalline phase and optical constants. Surface analysis corroborates a copper deficiency induced by room temperature oxidation in air. Surprisingly, storage in a <0.1 ppm oxygen and water atmosphere significantly slows but does not halt the rise in conductivity with time. However, an Al2O3 overlayer—also grown by ALD—results in significantly lower carrier concentrations as well as dramatically slower carrier addition with time, even under ambient conditions. The implications for future use of Cu2S in more efficient (p/n+) and stable thin film photovoltaics are discussed.
Depletion of tissue plasminogen activator attenuates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury via inhibition of neutrophil extravasation

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury following lung transplantation remains a major source of early morbidity and mortality. Histologically, this inflammatory process is characterized by neutrophil infiltration and activation. We previously reported that lung IR injury was significantly attenuated in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1-deficient mice. In this study, we explored the potential role of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in a mouse lung IR injury model. As a result, tPA knockout (KO) mice were significantly protected from lung IR injury through several mechanisms. At the cellular level, tPA KO specifically blocked neutrophil extravasation into the interstitium, and abundant homotypic neutrophil aggregation (HNA) was detected in the lung microvasculature of tPA KO mice after IR. At the molecular level, inhibition of neutrophil extravasation was associated with reduced expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 mediated through the tPA/ LDL receptor-related protein/NF-κB signaling pathway, whereas increased P-selectin triggered HNA. At the functional level, tPA KO mice incurred significantly decreased vascular permeability and improved lung function following IR. Protection from lung IR injury in tPA KO mice occurs through a fibrinolysis-independent mechanism. These results suggest that tPA could serve as an important therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of acute IR injury after lung transplantation.
Diplomatic practices at the United Nations

This article considers the importance of informal, practice-based change as opposed to formal change at the UN. I first evaluate UN reform, showing that diplomacy and institutional change within the UN system are better understood as having evolved less from major, formal reform of the UN Charter (‘the Charter’) than from minor changes in routine practices. I then examine what practice theory and diplomatic studies can learn from each other in terms of how each views the role of leading individuals, illustrating specific practice-based change in relation to the Secretary-General’s role. Next, I show how the appointment process for a new Secretary-General has evolved through informal practice, after which I advance an argument that UN diplomatic practices should be considered not only within the narrow context of a formal diplomatic corps of member state diplomats but also as part of an informal, wider diplomatic community of diplomats and non-state actors. Practice theory helps students of diplomacy think...
Interslice coding of magnetic resonance images using deformable triangular patches

We present a new inter-frame coding for medical images, in particular magnetic resonance (MR) images. Until now, attempts in using inter-frame redundancies for coding MR images have been unsuccessful. We contend that the main reason for this is twofold: bad inter-frame estimation models and ignoring the thermal noise inherent in MRI. Our inter-frame model is a continuous affine mapping based on (and optimized by) deforming triangles. The inherent noise of MRI is dealt with by using a median filter within the estimation loop. Simulations demonstrate the viability of this algorithm. >
The Black President Hokum

By offering a black feminist critique of fictional black presidencies, this essay highlights what the trope of black presidency, articulated via competing narratives of time and historical progress, is meant to manage in contemporary U.S. public culture: a heterogeneous black freedom struggle that is both conjured and contained by the trope of the black president, the objections of black women cultural producers to the disciplinary operations of American popular and political cultures, and multifarious desires for radical alternatives to American empire. By analyzing a range of texts, from Richard Wright's 1940 novel, Native Son , to films such as Deep Impact (1998) and Head of State (2003), the essay shows the fictional black president functions as both a referent for public black anxieties triggered by the shift in public black political culture from social protest to electoral politics and a symbol for a putatively postracial global regime of power.
Neural tube defects and maternal biomarkers of folate, homocysteine, and glutathione metabolism.

Background Alterations in maternal folate and homocysteine metabolism are associated with neural tube defects (NTDs). The role that specific micronutrients and metabolites play in the causal pathway leading to NTDs is not fully understood.
SAR ADCs in parallel [time-interleaved] converter arrays

• Time-interleaved SAR ADCs are a major focus of active development • Power and area efficiency of SAR architecture suits itself very well to interleaving • Architecture scale well with advancing CMOS process — Process-limited FOM S (jitter) improves with device speed • Many techniques have been needed to enable high-performance, high-speed interleaved systems.
Active marine predators: The sensory world of cephalopods

Most cephalopods are voracious and very mobile predators with highly developed sense organs that rival the equivalent vertebrate sense organs in complexity. A brief description is given of cephalopod predation and the sense organs that are directly, or indirectly, involved: (i) the vertebrate‐like lens eyes with their complex extraocular eye muscle system; (ii) the epidermal head and arm lines which are analogous to the lateral lines of fishes and aquatic amphibians; (iii) the vestibular analogue statocysts with receptor systems for linear (gravity) and angular accelerations; (iv) the proprioceptive neck receptor organ which controls head‐to‐body positions; (v) the sucker and muscle mechanoreceptors; and (vi) the contact and distance chemoreceptors. In addition, the possibility of hearing is discussed.
Immunohistochemistry for lung cancer predictive biomarkers

In the past decade, we have observed tremendous advance in the treatment for NSCLC. The discovery of sensitizing EGFR mutations as the basis of clinical response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has led to a systemic search for other molecular targets, and several new targets, including ALK rearrangements, have been discovered, especially in lung adenocarcinoma. Consequently, a personalized therapeutic approach, that is, the delivery of drugs targeting specific oncogenic pathways active in a given tumor with the intent of acquiring the best response rate, has been increasingly applied to patients with advanced NSCLC. Thus, it has become crucial to routinely test tissue samples from those patients to identify molecular targets. Currently, mutation assays and FISH for gene rearrangements are considered as the universally accepted reference standard for selecting patients for TKI therapy; however, they are subject to long turn-around time, tissue insufficiency and/or difficulty in interpretation. Conversely, immunohistochemistry is a fast and cost-effective technique preferred for screening and diagnosis in regular pathology labs. Thus, the role of immunohistochemistry, in particular that for ALK protein, is being evaluated in this context. In this talk, we will first discuss ALK immunohistochemistry, then mutation specific immnunohistochemistry for EGFR and finally immunohistochemistry for other targets.
STAGED APPROACH TO CORONARY HYBRID CORONARY REVASCULARIZATION IN 515 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

Multiple options for the treatment of multivessel disease now exist including hybrid revascularization. Nuances in hybrid revascularization need further evaluation including timing of these procedures and optimal antiplatelet therapy. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of a staged hybrid
Aero-optics of Compressible Boundary Layers in the Transonic Regime

The current work extends a previous paper by a signi cant grid re nement of a M = 1:3 highdelity implicit large eddy simulation (HFILES) to study the e ects of turbulence on aero-optics. The current work extends the previous by adding a re ned grid of 209 million gridpoints with x = 24, z = 11 and y wallof0:31 and investigated the use of a 4-order Runge-Kutta for better accuracy in the boundary layer. The results show that the previous grid (with x = 46, z = 21) in general gives good results, but over predicts the mean-squared streamwise velocity and density. The resultant impact on the OPD is on the order of 6%. The timestep has been demonstrated to be su ciently small to accurately capture the relevant physics, and the incorporation of the Runge-Kutta had little impact on the accuracy of the solution. Investigations on the turbulent density and the optical path di erence show that the major contribution appears to be due to low density uid ejected from the inner layer into the outer layer where it is then convected downstream.
An Algorithm for the Selection of Proper Group Intervals for Histograms Representing Clinical Laboratory Data

Although numerous statistical methods are available, proper definitive technics to deal with the determination of normal values or ranges in clinical chemistry are unresolved and ill-defined. Initially, the ability of the analyst to define a mathematical function that can be used to best fit the random distribution of generated laboratory values still depends on proper grouping of the data. Herein is proposed a method for grouping data, in order to select the proper class interval to be used. Arbitrariness is removed and maximum information about the population being tested can be achieved. The concepts of “regrouping” and “sign reversal” are utilized, and the validity of this technic for constructing the “best” frequency histogram is verified by a general computer algorithm.
Mathematics and the Arts

(1959). Mathematics and the Arts. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 15, Science and Art, pp. 55-59.
Endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: pituitary microadenoma: 3-dimensional operative video.

Abstract This video demonstrates an endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of an ACTH secreting pituitary microadenoma. The patient is a 62-year-old male that was found to have a 5 mm pituitary adenoma after he exhibited signs and symptoms of Cushing's disease. His endocrine laboratory studies confirmed central hypercortisolism. This video highlights dissection of the adenoma pseudocapsule from the remainder of the pituitary gland for tumor removal. A gross total resection was achieved and his post-operative cortisol levels were consistent with a biochemical cure of his Cushing's disease. Figures and captions for relevant anatomy during tumor resection are depicted at the end of the video.
A Job You Can't Lose: Work and Hobbies in the Great Depression

The category of leisure activity known as hobbies appears to have experienced an unprecedented growth in public acceptance in the United States during the great depression. Municipalities, schools, and businesses sponsored hobby clubs. The media, including newspapers, magazines and radio, regularly focused on hobby activity. Several national organizations emerged to promote hobbies, and the collecting activities of the president of the United States became a model for both children and adults. Yet, there was nothing close to a consensus about what activities properly constituted a hobby or what benefits were supposed to be derived from partaking in one. In fact, there is really no way to know if more people engaged in hobbies (however they might be defined) in the Thirties than in previous decades. On the other hand, it would seem presumptuous to assume that there was no correlation at all between the great outpouring of hobby literature and hobby participation. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, and in the face of the plethora of hobby shows, hobby articles, and hobby programs that appeared during the depression, the hobby boom of the Thirties probably represented a real increase in mass participation. However, even if there were no expansion in the size of the hobby population, there was an important change in the meaning of hobbies as personal activity. Beginning in the 1920's and accelerating rapidly in the 1930's, discussions of individual hobby activities such as stamp collecting, music making, woodworking, and the like, were often linked under the more inclusive category of "hobbies."1 More exact than "leisure," which had already developed a lengthy scholarly pedigree, the new category referred to a socially sanctioned subset of leisure. The word "hobby" became a strategic term used less to be descriptive than to carry the weight of authoritative approval when applied to individual activities. In other words, the term "hobby," as used in the Thirties, was more an ideological construct created to distinguish between "good" and "bad" pastimes, than a natural category of leisure activity. A group of self-professed experts surfaced in academia and journalism to join the hobbyists themselves in a lively discussion over the definition and merits of hobbies. This dialogue may not have contributed substantially to clarifying the term, but it did serve to construct the category. The development of an animated discourse on hobbies by a group of people with a shared set of perceptions established a particular value-loaded vocabulary with which to frame the discussion. Even when they disagreed among themselves as to specific interpretations, their use of common themes delineated the parameters of the issues and thus helped to fix the meaning of the category if not its contents. This new category of leisure was so thoroughly ingrained in the cultural environment by the hobbies movement
Photoassisted MBE of II-VI Semiconductor Films and Superlattices

This paper will review recent progress in the growth of II-VI semiconductors at NCSU by photoassisted molecular beam epitaxy, an energy-assisted growth technique in which the substrate is illuminated during the entire growth process. The materials focused on here include undoped and As-doped CdTe, As-doped HgCdTe, and In-doped HgCdTe. These materials were grown as single epilayers, as well as incorporated in other structures including heterojunctions and modulation-doped superlattices. The photo-assist during growth has allowed a substantial reduction in substrate growth temperatures, as well as an enhanced activation of n-type and p-type dopant species. The structural, electrical, and optical properties of the samples will be discussed below.
Endometrial integrin expression in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero

Objective To determine if the endometrium of women exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES) demonstrates altered integrin expression compared with normal fertile controls. Design Case control study. Expression of eight integrins in 15 luteal phase endometrial biopsies from DES-exposed women were compared with 17 biopsies from age- and cycle day-matched controls. All patients were ovulatory. Endometrial biopsies were performed in the luteal phase, and all were histologically "in phase." Setting Infertility practice of an academic teaching hospital. Patients Women exposed in utero to DES and matched fertile controls. Main Outcome Measures Intensity of endometrial integrin immunohistochemical staining by the semiquantitative HSCORE technique. Results Endometrial stroma of DES-exposed women demonstrated greater expression of the integrin subunits α 5 and α v. No differences were noted between DES-exposed women and fertile controls in the glandular epithelial expression of integrin subunits α 1, α 2, α 3, α 6, and α v nor the stromal staining of subunits α 6 and β 3. Epithelial expression of integrin subunits β 3 and α 4, reliable luteal markers of uterine receptivity, were similar in DES and control patients. Conclusion Markers of uterine receptivity are similar in the endometrium of women exposed in utero to DES compared with normal fertile controls. Interesting differences exist in stromal integrin expression between groups, though the significance of this finding is uncertain at present. It is unlikely that DES-exposed women have significantly altered endometrial function as a cause of infertility.
Life Course Pathways to Racial Disparities in Cognitive Impairment among Older Americans

Blacks are especially hard hit by cognitive impairment at older ages compared to whites. Here, we take advantage of the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2010) to assess how this racial divide in cognitive impairment is associated with the racial stratification of life course exposures and resources over a 12-year period among 8,946 non-Hispanic whites and blacks ages 65 and older in 1998. We find that blacks suffer from a higher risk of moderate/severe cognitive impairment at baseline and during the follow-up. Blacks are also more likely to report childhood adversity and to have grown up in the segregated South, and these early-life adversities put blacks at a significantly higher risk of cognitive impairment. Adulthood socioeconomic status is strongly associated with the risk of cognitive impairment, net of childhood conditions. However, racial disparities in cognitive impairment, though substantially reduced, are not eliminated when controlling for these life course factors.
Does Laboratory Testing Corroborate Clinical Results? An Evaluation of Oxidised ZrNB Alloy to Cobalt Chromium Femoral Components

Demand for TKR surgery is rising, including a more diverse patient demographic with increasing expectations [1]. Therefore, greater efforts are being devoted to laboratory testing. As a result, laboratory testing may set a clinical performance presumption for surgeons and patients. For example, oxidized ZrNB (Oxinium) femoral components have been projected to show 85% less wear than CoCr femoral components in bench-top testing [2]. However, recent clinical data show no difference in outcomes between Oxinium® and CoCr for the same design [3]. While it does not show lagging peformance for the Oxinium components, it does call into question the predictive ability of simulation. To better understand the performance of these two materials, a non standardized simulator evaluation was conducted. One commercially available design (Legion PS) was evaluated with two variations of femoral component material (n = 3/material) Oxinium® and Cobalt Chromium. All testing was conducted using a 7.5 kGy moderately crosslinked UHMWPE (XLPE). A 6-station knee simulator was utilized to simulate stair-climbing kinematics. The lubricant used was Alpha Calf Fraction serum which was replaced every 0.5 million cycles for a total of 5 million cycles. Soak controls were used to correct for fluid absorption and statistical analysis was performed using the Student9s t-test. Total wear rate results for the tibial inserts are shown in Figure 1. There was no statistical difference in volume loss (p = 0.8) or wear rate (p = 0.9) for the Oxinium® system when compared to the CoCrsystem under stair-climbing kinematics. Visual examination revealed typical wear scars and features on the condylar surfaces, including burnishing. These results corroborate the recent clinical data showing no difference between Oxinium® components and their CoCr analogs [3]. The kinematics used here are not a combination of normal level walking with stair-climbing conditions as was published originally for the Oxinium® material [2], but stair-climbing kinematics only. Even though the stair-climbing profile utilized here does not represent standardized kinematics, it provided results that are in line with clinical observations for these femoral materials. Logic suggests that a combined duty cycle is more representative of patient behavior so there must be additional test factors contributing to the prediction previously reported. The goal of bench top testing is to simulate actual clinical performance so test models must be validated as clinicaly relevant in order to be predictive. Furthermore, the results of this test indicate that the different femoral materials evaluated in this study do not alter the wear characteristics of this TKR. This is further supported by a similar previous study showing the relative contribution of design versus materials in terms of wear behavior [4]. The main determination comes from clinical evidence, and as it has been demonstrated by Kim, et al [3], there is no significant difference in the clinical results of the two TKR devices analyzed.
Intracavernous injection therapy in post-priapism cavernosal fibrosis.

AbstractWe report a case of priapism and extensive corporeal induration following diagnostic intracavernous injection. This patient has used intracavernous injection therapy successfully for 9 months.
The Tip of the Iceberg: On the Roles of Regulatory Small RNAs in the Virulence of Enterohemorrhagic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli are gastrointestinal pathogens that disrupt the intestinal microvilli to form attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on infected cells and cause diarrhea. This pathomorphological trait is encoded within the pathogenicity island locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE). The LEE houses a type 3 secretion system (T3SS), which upon assembly bridges the bacterial cytosol to that of the host and enables the bacterium to traffic dozens of effectors into the host where they hijack regulatory and signal transduction pathways and contribute to bacterial colonization and disease. Owing to the importance of the LEE to EHEC and EPEC pathogenesis, much of the research on these pathogens has centered on its regulation. To date, over forty proteinaceous factors have been identified that control the LEE at various hierarchical levels of gene expression. In contrast, RNA-based regulatory mechanisms that converge on the LEE have only just begun to be unraveled. In this minireview, we highlight major breakthroughs in small RNAs (sRNAs)-dependent regulation of the LEE, with an emphasis on their mechanisms of action and/or LEE-encoded targets.
Children's Exposure to Mobile In-App Advertising: An Analysis of Content Appropriateness

There is a rising concern among parents that mobile advertisements may contain violent and sexual content even when the app itself is safe for children. Because mobile advertisements are not controlled by the content rating of apps, unexpected objectionable contents may occur and be harmful to children's mental health. This study is the first to explore the content appropriateness of the in-app advertisements on mobile devices from children's online safety perspective. We find in-app advertisements are common in the free apps designed for children on smart platforms. Experimental results show that a large percent of the in-app advertisements carry inappropriate contents for children. Unfortunately, neither mobile platforms nor advertising networks provide maturity policies to restrict the content appropriateness of the in-app advertisements. This research suggests that these challenges cannot easily be tackled by one entity. Instead, advertisement providers, advertising networks, app developers, and mobile platforms should collaborate in developing policies and mechanisms to monitor the content appropriateness of the in-app advertisements.
GATA-Factor-Mediated Transcription and Tor1/2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae from a Physiological Perspective

Signal transduction pathways, through which nutrient availability in the environment generates signals that are transduced and transmitted to the transcriptional apparatus, have been and will continue to be a subject of enthusiastic investigation. The field of Tor-based signaling is fast-paced and complex, especially for students and those not intimately involved in it on a daily basis. The present review was prepared against this backdrop. It attempts to meet two objectives: to introduce investigators with little exposure to nutrient-responsive signaling to that portion of the regulatory network associated with nitrogen catabolism and glutamate-directed carbon metabolism, and to do so from a stronger than usual vantage point of metabolic physiology.
Transitional care models: preventing readmissions for high-risk patient populations

Transition from hospital to home is a vulnerable period for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. A pilot of the Transitional Care Model at a community hospital reduced readmission rates for patients with heart failure by 48%. This article shares the experience of a large metropolitan health care system in expanding transitional care across facilities to decrease readmission rates.
Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Directed anti-Hydrochlorination of Unactivated Alkynes with HCl

A regioselective anti-hydrochlorination of unactivated alkynes is reported. The reaction utilizes in situ generated HCl as the source of both the Cl– and H+ and is catalyzed by palladium(II) acetate, with loadings as low as 25 ppm. Removable picolinamide and 8-aminoquinoline bidentate directing groups are used to control the regioselectivity of the chloropalladation step and stabilize the resulting alkenylpalladium(II) intermediate for subsequent protodepalladation. This method provides access to a broad array of substituted alkenyl chlorides in excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. The products from this transformation were successfully derivatized via Stille coupling to a variety of trisubstituted alkene products. Reaction progress kinetic analysis was performed, shedding light on a possible mechanism for this catalytic process.
Utility Maximizing Sequential Sensing Over a Finite Horizon

We consider the problem of optimally utilizing $N$ resources, each in an unknown binary state. The state of each resource can be inferred from state-dependent noisy measurements. Depending on its state, utilizing a resource results in either a reward or a penalty per unit time. The objective is a sequential strategy governing the decision of sensing and exploitation at each time to maximize the expected utility (i.e., total reward minus total penalty and sensing cost) over a finite horizon $L$ . We formulate the problem as a partially observable Markov decision process and show that the optimal strategy is based on two time-varying thresholds for each resource and an optimal selection rule to sense a particular resource. Since a full characterization of the optimal strategy is generally intractable, we develop a low-complexity policy that is shown by simulations to offer a near optimal performance. This problem finds applications in opportunistic spectrum access, marketing strategies, and other sequential resource allocation problems.
Demography of Living Arrangements Among Oldest-Old Mexican Americans: Evidence From the Hispanic Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly:

Objective: In this article, we examine the demographics of living arrangements and household headship status among Mexican-origin individuals aged 85+ years. Method: Data come from the Hispanic Est...
Time Trends in Food Allergy Diagnoses, Epinephrine Orders, and Epinephrine Administrations in New York City Schools.

Objectives To assess time trends in food allergy diagnoses, epinephrine autoinjector (EAI) prescriptions, and EAI administrations in the school setting. Study design In this retrospective study, deidentified student data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which oversees >1 million students in 1800 schools, were provided to investigators. Data from school years 2007-2008 to 2012-2013 pertaining to diagnoses of food allergy, student-specific EAI orders, and EAI administrations among students in New York City were analyzed for trends over time, via the use of ORs and χ2 calculation. Results The prevalences of providing physician documentation of food allergy and EAI orders, and the incidence of EAI administrations, all increased approximately 3-fold over the years of the study. Of 337 EAI administrations, more than one-half used stock EAI, and three-quarters were for students without a student-specific order preceding the incident. Conclusions The rise in food allergy diagnoses, EAI prescriptions, and EAI administrations suggest either a true increase in allergic disease, increased reporting, and/or, in the case of EAI administrations, increased appropriate use. As the majority of EAI administrations used stock supply, availability of nonstudent-specific stock EAI appears vital to management of anaphylaxis in schools. Collaboration between physicians, families, and schools is needed to identify students at risk for severe allergic reactions and to ensure preparedness and availability of EAI in the event of anaphylaxis.
Open road or blind alley? Welfare reform, mothers, and children with disabilities

Welfare reform was examined for 39 Michigan families whose children have significant health or intellectual and behavioral disabilities. As a group, these families received little specialized assistance or services to address their unique needs. Family-cited barriers to self-sufficiency included poorly trained welfare caseworkers, limited public transportation, and inadequate child care. Having an older child was the only discriminating variable between working and non-working mothers. However, working mothers only had temporary positions with no benefits and low pay. All families, whether employed or not, lived below the poverty line.
Successful Endovascular Management of a Case of Aorto-oesophageal Fistula Presenting as Life Threatening Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed.

Introduction Aorto-oesophageal fistula is a rare but life threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Severity of presentation and complexity of subsequent management depends on the size of the defect on both the aortic side and oesophagus. Report The patient was a 67 year old Chinese man, who presented initially with a Stanford type A dissection with caudal extension to the right common iliac artery. The patient underwent replacement of the ascending aorta and proximal arch with debranching of the right innominate artery and aortic valve replacement. A follow up computed tomography (CT) aortogram done in the post-operative period showed a stable appearance of the caudal extension of the aortic dissection. The patient was discharged with a plan for future stenting of the thoracic aorta. Three weeks later the patient re-presented with an upper gastrointestinal bleed from an aorto-oesophageal fistula. The patient underwent endovascular stenting of the descending aorta for management of the fistula. Repeat oesophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a small erosion 35 cm from the incisors where the previous bleeding site had been. No further bleeding was seen. Discussion The patient recovered uneventfully after the procedure. Follow up CT aortogram done at 6 weeks demonstrated thrombosis of the false lumen of the descending thoracic aorta. Aorto-oesophageal fistula related to chronic type B aortic dissection is an extremely rare clinical entity and presents a challenge to the treating surgeon. This case demonstrates that selected cases can be judiciously managed by thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair alone.
Beyond Docetaxel: Emerging Agents in the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer

Increased understanding of the biology of advanced prostate cancer has yielded multiple targets that are worthy of evaluation. Multiple signaling pathways appear to play a role in the maintenance and progression of the malignant phenotype. These pathways, such as PI3 kinase/Akt pathway, the mTOR pathway, the Hsp90 pathway, and the insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway, are currently being investigated in clinical trials. Other fundamental processes such as histone deacetylation are also involved in prostate cancer progression. Testing agents targeting these pathways will provide crucial information regarding whether inhibition will yield clinical benefit for prostate cancer patients.
Abnormalities in Parathyroid Hormone Secretion in Primary and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

High levels of serum parathyroid hormone are present in patients with primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. In primary hyperparathyroidism, approximately 90% of the patients have an adenoma of the parathyroid glands and hypercalcemia is usually seen in this disorder. On the other hand, patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism have hyperplasia of all four parathyroid glands and hypocalcemia. Although in the two above-described abnormalities the amount of parathyroid tissue is enlarged and the secretion of PTH increased, it will seem that other mechanisms also are involved in the abnormal secretion of PTH observed in these patients.
Technology Integration Project Planning and Execution

Technology integration project involves so many players that it requires an effective project management to achieve a successful integration of a technology to business. As a program/project manager, you are aware of the significant impact of your project on the entire corporation even in a proof-of-concept or a pilot project. You want to ensure the success of the project and move forward for further rollout. You would use your past knowledge and experience of project management and in addition, you may refer to helpful references on successful project management. It would be a good idea to take a project management class and obtain a certification of project management professional (PMP) accredited by project management institute (PMI). PMI is “one of the world’s largest professional membership associations, with half a million members and credential holders in more than 180 countries. It is a not-for-profit organization that advances the project management profession through globally recognized standards and certifications, collaborative communities, an extensive research program, and professional development opportunities (http://www.pmi.org).” This would enhance recognition and acknowledgement of your expertise as a program/project manager. The project management planning and execution steps presented in this chapter is primarily based on the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK®) published by PMI, focusing on technology integration project. PMBOK is a collection of processes and knowledge areas generally accepted as best practices within the project management discipline.
Invitro translation of epoxide hydratase messenger RNA

Abstract Rat liver epoxide hydratase mRNA, found exclusively associated with polysomes tightly bound to the endoplasmic reticulum, was translated using a rabbit reticulocyte protein synthesizing system. Epoxide hydratase synthesized in vitro was found to be identical to the native enzyme in terms of molecular weight and partial proteolytic peptide patterns, indicating the absence of a cleavable signal sequence. Translatable levels of epoxide hydratase mRNA increased 3-fold at 4 hours after phenobarbital administration. This increase was inhibited by cordycepin, an RNA synthesis chain terminator. These results demonstrate that epoxide hydratase is induced by phenobarbital through transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional nuclear events.