cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel solid-phase synthesis of mucin-like glycopeptides.

Abstract The glycopeptide, Ac-Pro-Thr(α- d -GalNAc)-Thr(α- d -GalNAc)-Thr(α- d -GalNAc)-Pro-Leu-Lys-NH 2 ( 1 ), which features three consecutive O-glycosylated Thr residues and mimics a portion of mucin 2, has been prepared by solid-phase synthesis. Seven related, partially glycosylated peptides ( 2 – 8 ) were synthesized as well. This suite of molecules allowed a systematic analysis of synthetic protocols. N α -(9-Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-α- d -galactopyranosyl)- l -threonine pentafluorophenyl ester [Fmoc- l -Thr(Ac 3 -α- d -GalN 3 )-OPfp] was used as a building block that coupled efficiently when used in a relatively low molar excess, that is, ∼1.5 equiv, with N , N -dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent. For conversion of the azido group to the N-acetyl function, direct treatment with thioacetic acid was preferred over a two-step procedure involving reduction with dithiothreitol (DTT) followed by N-acetylation. Effective O-deacetylation of 1 – 8 in solution was achieved by treatment with sodium methoxide (10–15 mM; ∼5 equiv) in methanol. On-resin deacetylation techniques were also examined, using sodium methoxide (6–10 mM) in DMF–methanol (17:3) (for 4 and 11 ) or hydrazine (70 mM) in methanol (for 8 ). The more convenient on-resin technique in DMF–methanol gave yields similar to solution conditions, and promises to be widely useful for solid-phase glycopeptide synthesis. HPLC profiles showed that free glycopeptides elute earlier than the corresponding O-acetylated derivatives, and that retention times vary systematically with the number of sugar moieties. 1 H NMR studies carried out in water showed an increase in conformational organization of glycopeptides with increased density of glycosylation.
Sol Sherry Lecture in Thrombosis: How Thrombin ‘Talks’ to Cells Molecular Mechanisms and Roles In Vivo

This article is a summary of the Sol Sherry Lecture of the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, which was presented at the 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association in November 1997. It highlights work from our laboratory addressing the molecular mechanisms by which the coagulation protease thrombin elicits cellular responses, notes some of the novel issues that protease signaling raises, and cites recent work on the role of thrombin signaling in vivo. Thrombin is a multifunctional serine protease. In adult animals, active thrombin is generated in the context of vascular injury when activation of the coagulation cascade triggers conversion of the circulating zymogen prothrombin to active protease. Thrombin generation may also be important in other contexts, as will be shown below. Several of thrombin’s functions involve cleavage of circulating protein substrates, eg, conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin monomer or activation of protein C. However, thrombin also has important actions on cells. It is the most potent activator of platelets.1 It causes endothelial cells to deliver the leukocyte adhesion molecule P-selectin to their surfaces,2 to secrete von Willebrand factor,2 and to elaborate growth factors and cytokines.3 4 It is also a mitogen for fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells.5 Such cellular actions of thrombin raised several important questions. How does thrombin, a protease, act like a hormone to control cellular behaviors? And what are the roles of thrombin-regulated cellular events in vivo? Thrombin’s actions on platelets are of particular interest. Arterial thrombosis underlies most cases of unstable angina and myocardial infarction. Studies in animal models and clinical trials suggest that these events are both platelet dependent and thrombin dependent, but the relative contributions of and interactions between thrombin-induced platelet activation and fibrin formation in acute coronary syndromes are not known. By elucidating …
An experimental study of nanoparticle focusing with aerodynamic lenses

Abstract High sampling efficiencies of analyte ions, molecules or particles are needed to maximize the sensitivity of mass spectrometers. “Ion funnels”, which utilize electrodynamic focusing, have been shown to effectively focus ions with mass-to-charge ratio ( m / z ) ranging from ∼100 to 5000. Focusing efficiencies of ion funnels drop for higher m / z values because very high voltages are needed to overcome the particle inertia. Conventional “aerodynamic lenses” utilize inertia to focus down to 25 nm in diameter (∼5 MDa); to date, Brownian diffusion has prevented the effective focusing of particles smaller than this. We recently reported a design procedure that should, in principle, extend focusing with aerodynamic lenses to particles as small as 3 nm (∼10 kDa), thereby bridging the gap between the ion funnel and the conventional aerodynamic lenses. In this paper, we report for the first time experimental results for the performance of these new “nanolenses”. Measurements were done using spherical oil droplets, proteins, and sodium chloride particles ranging in size from 3 to 30 nm diameter. We found that particle transport efficiencies from atmospheric pressure to vacuum through the aerodynamic lens system were greater than 80% for 10–30 nm particles, and greater than 50% for a ∼3.8 nm protein (Lysozyme from chicken egg white, molecular weight 14.3 kDa). Particle beam diameters were about a factor of two greater than predicted by our numerical simulations, but provide clear evidence that the nanolenses effectively focus all three particle types.
Undressing the First Amendment and Corsetting the Striptease Dancer

In a unique way, the stigmatized but poorly understood exotic (also referred to as erotic, striptease, stripper, topless, titty bar, nude, go-go, and barroom) dance clubs are a lightning rod for certain cultural conflicts in the United States. The NIMBY (Not-In-My-Backyard) issue (Fruedenberg 1984; Mann 1989) pits segments of the community against exotic dance stakeholders. Controversy centers on what exotic dance is and its relation to the First Amendment, morality (religious and feminist), and economic impact (on dancers and communities).' Anthropologists have conducted research that shatters stereotypes about such issues as race, gender, and nature; these studies have had real-world consequences. In this article I aim to illuminate why exotic dance is controversial and how the controversy reveals much about contemporary American culture. Perhaps this work on exotic dance, law, and society may supplant urban planning and conflict resolution based largely on stereotypes and generalizations (see American Planning Association [APA] I997). Viewing power and cultural forms as inseparable, Michel Foucault offers theoretical guidance for considering politics and culture through the analysis of the body (1978). In American culture, which in many ways represses the body, the exotic dancing body moves within contested practices of power and knowledge. Simon Roberts explains how law "furnishes the normative 'map' informing the life-world of a society's members as they experience it, and it provides one of the central means through which government exercises a steering role" (1994:692). Victor Turner's (1974) theory of a four-phase social drama also helps us to understand the exotic dance controversy. These phases consist of: first communicating a breach of norms, then fomenting a crisis, followed by ameliorating and avoiding social drama, and lastly, proclaiming the schism or celebrating the reintegration. Contentious issues related to government regulation and to judicial decisions concerning exotic dance warrant attention: (I) dance as expression ("speech") and art, and thus protected by the First Amendment, (2) the mo-
The Effects of Vehicle Passage on Foraging Behavior of Wading Birds

Abstract Protected lands contain a large proportion of existing critical habitat for many wading bird species, but human activities in these areas have the potential to adversely effect these species. The effects of passing vehicles on the foraging behavior of wading birds was studied using observational and experimental methods at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near Titusville, Florida. Foraging wading birds were more likely to be disturbed when vehicles slowed or stopped adjacent to them, than when vehicles continued driving by. In an area with a high rate of human visitation, some individual wading birds responded more strongly to passing vehicles than did others, suggesting that some were habituated to disturbance. Experimental disturbance by a vehicle caused a significant depression in the foraging rates of the Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) and the Great Egret (Ardea alba) and non-significant reductions in foraging rates in the Tricolored Heron (E. tricolor). Nineteen percent of the birds ...
Dancing in the Shadows of War Pedagogical Reflections on the Performance of Gender Normativity and Racialized Masculinity

This article explores the use of performative pedagogy to examine popular culture, the body and gender from a critically engaged, personal, and moral perspective. It examines the effectiveness of using reflexive auto-ethnography in the classroom by having students create Mystories (Denzin, 1997) to explore their conceptions of gender. Moving forward in the reflexive moment, by juxtaposing the image of Pat Tillman and patriotism and the athletes on Dancing with the Stars as archetypes of the hyper masculine (sporting males) over and against excerpts from my students’ self-reflexive stories, I explore my own raced and gendered position as an educator and researcher and the challenges and politics of teaching politically engaged academic inquiry.
iPad use in Iowa Research Network family physician offices.

Background: Through a cancer research infrastructure building grant, iPads were given to health care providers in family physician offices. The purpose of this study was to determine the use and ap...
Techniques for Improving the Efficiency of Agricultural Fluid Power Systems

Techniques pour augmenter le rendement des systemes hydrauliques utilises sur le materiel agricole
Neuron-targeted copolymers with sheddable shielding blocks synthesized using a reducible, RAFT-ATRP double-head agent.

Adaptation of in vitro optimized polymeric gene delivery systems for in vivo use remains a significant challenge. Most in vivo applications require particles that are sterically stabilized, which significantly compromises transfection efficiency of materials shown to be effective in vitro. We present a multifunctional well-defined block copolymer that forms particles useful for cell targeting, reversible shielding, endosomal release, and DNA condensation. We show that targeted and stabilized particles retain transfection efficiencies comparable to the nonstabilized formulations. A novel, double-head agent that combines a reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer agent and an atom transfer radical polymerization initiator through a disulfide linkage is used to synthesize a well-defined cationic block copolymer containing a hydrophilic oligoethyleneglycol and a tetraethylenepentamine-grafted polycation. This material effectively condenses plasmid DNA into salt-stable particles that deshield under int...
Interlayer Electronic Coupling in Arbitrarily Stacked MoS2 Bilayers Controlled by Interlayer S–S Interaction

The vertically heterostructured MoS2 bilayers display a wide range of lattice registry relative to bulk MoS2 through a single or combined in-plane displacement, out-of-plane displacement, and in-plane rotation. Here using density functional theory and numerical structural analysis, we examine both the atomic and electronic structures of the arbitrarily stacked MoS2 bilayers that form either commensurate or incommensurate superstructures. Our analysis shows that the interlayer electronic coupling between two MoS2 layers yields an indirect band gap that varies with the lattice registry, thus confirming the previous theoretical findings. The variation of the coupling strength and the indirect band gap with respect to the lattice registry can be attributed to the change in the mean interlayer sulfur–sulfur distance upon displacement. Importantly, our analysis further shows when the twisted MoS2 bilayers form an incommensurate structure, the interlayer sulfur–sulfur distance is uniformly sampled in-plane and y...
Mechanism of N/O bond scission of N2O by an unsaturated rhodium transient.

The mechanism of formation of triplet (PNP)RhO and (PNP)Rh(N2) (PNP = N(SiMe2CH2PtBu2)2) from reaction of two molecules of (PNP)Rh with N2O has been studied by DFT, evaluating mechanisms which (1) ...
CHURCHILL RIVER SALT-WATER TIDAL MODEL

The Port of Churchill is located just inside the mouth of the Churchill River, on the western shore of Hudson Bay (Fig. 1, Photo 1). Each shipping season, about 25 x 106 bushels of grain are shipped to Europe and Britain. The Port opens just after mid-July when Hudson Strait and Bay become relatively clear of ice. However, it is forced to close 3 months later by ice forming upstream in the rapids, sweeping down as slush ice at ebb tide, jamming between the ships and the dock and breaking mooring lines. Since the route to Europe is shorter and therefore the laidin cost of the grain slightly less than from other Canadian ports, there is a demand to extend the operating season at Churchill. A feasibility study and field survey in 1965 by Dick (Refs. 1, 2) showed that the Port could remain open about 2 weeks longer than the present October 23 closing if the slush ice could be kept out of the harbour. To this end, the National Harbours Board in 1974 commissioned the Hydraulics Laboratory of the National Research Council of Canada to do an hydraulic model study of the harbour and estuary.
On Williamson and simplicity in modal logic

According to Timothy Williamson, we should accept the simplest and most powerful second-order modal logic, and as a result accept an ontology of "bare possibilia". This general method for extracting ontology from logic is salutary, but its application in this case depends on a questionable assumption: that modality is a fundamental feature of the world.
Vasovasostomy and Vas Occlusion: Preliminary Observations Using Artificial Devices in Guinea Pigs*

Intravas devices designed to reverse a vasectomy or to occlude the vasa instead of transecting them were evaluated in guinea pigs. Absorbable intravas devices (AID) were inserted into the vasa at the time of vasovasostomy and produced a return of normal semen quality in 73% of the experimental animals as compared with only 40% in the control group. Seventy per cent of the AID group sired litters. In a second group of guinea pigs, vasectomy was replaced by the bilateral insertion of reversible intravas plugs (RIP) which occluded the lumina. After a period of azoospermia, the central, occlusive pins were removed from the devices. Sperm-positive animals were bred and three of five sired normal offspring. Histologic examination of the vasa revealed morphologic changes in some AID animals, these being attributed to the vasectomy procedure. A similar evaluation of the functional RIP insertion site revealed the desired occlusive tissue-device interfaces.
Candida in pancreatic infection: a clinical experience

Pancreatic infection remains a significant clinical problem, with substantial morbidity and mortality. Published case reports of Candida species identified in these infections prompted a review of 17 consecutive patients recently treated for peripancreatic infection by scheduled relaparotomy. Six patients were transferred from other hospitals, all having undergone prior operative intervention (median stay elsewhere: 58 days). The 11 other patients underwent initial operation an average of 14 days after admission. Candida species were identified in the initial operative cultures of 5 patients (29%), three of whom had undergone previous drainage at other hospitals. Two patients (11.7%) had Candida identified at subsequent operation. Six patients were treated with Amphotericin B for a median of 12 days (range 6-32) and a median dosage of 420 mg (range 225-830 mg). All patients were cleared of their Candida infection, but three subsequently died, for an overall mortality of 17.6%. Candida infected patients suffered a 42 per cent mortality. Our series supports the suspicion that Candida is much more frequent (41% of patients) than previously recognized in peripancreatic sepsis, and is commonly acquired after the initial operation. Amphotericin B therapy is effective in clearing Candida infection, but affected patients have a high associated mortality.
Arterial Compliance and Autonomic Functions in Adult Male Smokers

INTRODUCTION Smoking is known to augment sympathetic activity and may lead to increased arterial stiffness. Several studies have reported association of increased sympathetic activity and arterial stiffness to cardiovascular risks among smokers. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) of peripheral arteries, instead of aorta can be used as a non-invasive indicator of arterial stiffness. AIM To measure non-invasively, the autonomic functions and peripheral arterial stiffness in smokers, and to find out whether the aforementioned factors are modified by the level of physical activity in these smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, HIMS, Dehradun, over a period of 12 months (2013-2014) on 100 adult males (20-40 years); 50 smokers and 50 non-smokers. The parameters analysed include relevant anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters, Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), sustained Hand Grip Test (HGT) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) domains. Data interpretation and analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.0. Comparison of the above mentioned parameters amongst groups was done with unpaired t-test. The relationship of pack-years & physical activity with vascular functions was assessed by Pearson's correlation. Interaction of various grades of smoking and physical activity with Cardiovascular System (CVS) parameters was assessed by one-way ANOVA. RESULTS Smokers had higher values of PWV (5.7±0.5m/s) as compared to non-smokers (4.8±0.4m/s) (p<0.001). ΔDBP during HGT was lower (7±3.18mmHg) among smokers as compared to non-smokers (19.4±3.5mmHg) (p<0.001). Smoking (pack-years) was positively related to PWV (r= .03) but showed a weak negative relationship with change in Diastolic Blood Pressure (ΔDBP) (r= -0.084, p=0.56) showing that, more the frequency of smoking, the more was arterial stiffening and the lesser was the sympathetic response to the HGT. The smokers had significantly higher sympathetic activity; Low Frequency (LF) & Low Frequency: High Frequency ratio (LF: HF) (p<.001) whereas High Frequency (HF) was significantly lower (p<.001) showing a decline in parasympathetic activity. CONCLUSION Smokers demonstrated higher peripheral PWV and higher intrinsic sympathetic activity and this increase in intrinsic sympathetic activity may lead to increased arterial stiffness. Interaction of autonomic function and PWV with levels of physical activity and grades of smoking showed no significant differences, suggesting the fact that increased physical activity or reduced smoking may not have any effect on the endothelial dysfunction or CVS morbidity caused by smoking.
Nucleotide sequence of the gene for the Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Pseudomonas testosteroni

The structural gene for the delta 5-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Pseudomonas testosteroni has been sequenced by the dideoxy method. The sequence obtained confirms the amino acid (aa) sequence of Benson et al. [J. Biol. Chem. 246 (1971) 7514-7525] at all but 5 aa residues of the 125-aa polypeptide. Amino acid residues 22, 24, 33, and 38, reported to be asparagines by Benson et al., are found to be encoded by aspartic acid codons. Amino acid residue 77, reported to be a glutamine by Benson et al., is encoded by a glutamic acid codon. The identification of aa 38 as aspartic acid, coupled with its presence in the active site, as indicated by previous affinity and photoaffinity-labeling studies and confirmed independently by x-ray crystallographic studies, strengthens the hypothesis that Asp-38 is the aa responsible for the 4 beta to 6 beta proton transfer which is part of the enzymatic reaction.
Teaching points with 3-dimensional mapping of cardiac arrhythmias: taking points: activation mapping.

The map obtained of a tachycardia is greatly influenced by how meticulously individual activation points are annotated to indicate the timing of activation. The annotation window is typically set to display surface leads and intracardiac electrograms.1,2 These include the electrogram or ECG lead used as the timing reference as well as the bipolar and unipolar signals from the mapping catheter.3–5 Assuming that the point of reference electrograms remains stable and the window of interest and tachycardia cycle length are unchanged, the consistency of annotating the timing of mapping catheter–derived electrograms is the defining factor for the accuracy of the map. The operator must have a consistent plan as to how to annotate the electrogram timing as well as a method of handling double potentials and fragmented signals. ### Electrogram Annotation Several potential options as to how to annotate the electrogram timing exist, including whether to use unipolar or bipolar signals, taking the maximum amplitude of the electrogram, earliest portion of the electrogram, and so forth. #### Earliest Part of the Electrogram This method is the least desirable approach. The earliest signal may represent far-field activation, and in some instances, especially on the septum or where there are neighboring electrically active structures or in the vicinity of scar/slow conduction, a marked discrepancy between the earliest recorded far-field signal and the timing of actual activation at the site can exist (Figure 1). Although such discrepancy is magnified with unipolar recordings, the problem also exits with standard spaced bipolar recordings. Figure 1. Probably the least accurate method of taking activation points involves simply taking the earliest or start of the bipolar signal. The schematic shows possible findings for assessing activation times on adjacent sides of the septum, with early activation at the right side of the septum. Although this approach may correctly identify the ablation target in some …
Limits of Property Taxes and Charges

Public finance theories argue local governments should primarily use broad-based and stable property taxes. However, the housing bust after the Great Recession challenges this argument, and histori...
Ontogeny of bite force in a validated biomechanical model of the American alligator

Three-dimensional computational modeling offers tools with which to investigate forces experienced by the skull during feeding and other behaviors. American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) generate some of the highest measured bite forces among extant tetrapods. A concomitant increase in bite force accompanies ontogenetic increases in body mass, which has been linked with dietary changes as animals increase in size. Because the flattened skull of crocodylians has substantial mediolaterally oriented muscles, crocodylians are an excellent model taxon in which to explore the role of mediolateral force components experienced by the feeding apparatus. Many previous modeling studies of archosaur cranial function focused on planar analysis, ignoring the mediolateral aspects of cranial forces. Here, we used three-dimensionally accurate anatomical data to resolve 3D muscle forces. Using dissection, imaging and computational techniques, we developed lever and finite element models of an ontogenetic series of alligators to test the effects of size and shape on cranial loading and compared estimated bite forces with those previously measured in vivo in A. mississippiensis We found that modeled forces matched in vivo data well for intermediately sized individuals, and somewhat overestimated force in smaller specimens and underestimated force in larger specimens, suggesting that ontogenetically static muscular parameters and bony attachment sites alone cannot account for all the variation in bite force. Adding aponeurotic muscle attachments would likely improve force predictions, but such data are challenging to model and integrate into analyses of extant taxa and are generally unpreserved in fossils. We conclude that anatomically accurate modeling of muscles can be coupled with finite element and lever analyses to produce reliable, reasonably accurate estimate bite forces and thus both skeletal and joint loading, with known sources of error, which can be applied to extinct taxa.
RNA stability regulates human T cell leukemia virus type 1 gene expression in chronically-infected CD4 T cells

Regulation of expression of HTLV-1 gene products from integrated proviruses plays an important role in HTLV-1-associated disease pathogenesis. Previous studies have shown that T cell receptor (TCR)- and phorbol ester (PMA) stimulation of chronically infected CD4 T cells increases the expression of integrated HTLV-1 proviruses in latently infected cells, however the mechanism remains unknown. Analysis of HTLV-1 RNA and protein species following PMA treatment of the latently HTLV-1-infected, FS and SP T cell lines demonstrated rapid induction of tax/rex mRNA. This rapid increase in tax/rex mRNA was associated with markedly enhanced tax/rex mRNA stability while the stability of unspliced or singly spliced HTLV-1 RNAs did not increase. Tax/rex mRNA in the HTLV-1 constitutively expressing cell lines exhibited high basal stability even without PMA treatment. Our data support a model whereby T cell activation leads to increased HTLV-1 gene expression at least in part through increased tax/rex mRNA stability.
The Influence of Cellular Debris on Cell Guidance and Implications for Incorporating Silicon Based Micropatterns

Determining what external stimuli influence cell differentiation, morphology, and growth continues to be a focus on many research groups to meet the healthcare Grand Challenges. While prior work has shown the influence of stiffness, surface chemistry and topography, these parameters often change in tandem, making it difficult to delineate the role of an individual component. This study examined the possible incorporation of microelectronic processing to produce reusable substrates for cell guidance studies. Subsequent plating of substrates cleaned with methods common in a microelectronic fabrication process showed complex responses including migration. Optical characterization of surfaces after cleaning showed remaining cellular debris that could be removed through the incorporation of a piranha solution. The micro patterned substrates did allow controlled comparison between dental pulp stem cells and osteoblast cells. The dental pulp cells did not show any cell alignment or cell proliferation (as indicated by cell density) with the isotropic or anisotropic micropatterns on the initial plating. The osteoblast cells (control) only aligned with the lines and not any of the other patterns (dots, holes or hexagons).
Implementation of an Early Extubation Protocol in Cardiac Surgical Patients Decreased Ventilator Time But Not Intensive Care Unit or Hospital Length of Stay

Objective The optimal timing of extubation following cardiac surgery is currently unknown. Protocols implemented in order to achieve a rapid extubation may achieve this goal, but not prove beneficial in terms of outcomes. Design A prospective clinical trial. Setting Tertiary care cardiac surgical intensive care unit. Participants Adult cardiac surgical patients. Interventions Implementation of an 8-tier multidisciplinary rapid weaning protocol. Measurements and Main Results Ventilator times 6 months prior to and 6 months after implementation of the protocol were measured. Outcomes associated with ventilator times were measured by dividing the patients into tertiles ( 12 hours). Primary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay. Secondary outcomes included mortality at 30 days and other major morbidities. In all, 459 patients were included in the study. With implementation of the protocol, median ventilation times decreased from 7.4 hours (interquartile range, IQR = 3rd quartile – 1st quartil e= 6.72 hours) to 5.73 hours (IQR = 5.51 hours) (p Conclusions Decreasing intubation times to
Decreased UCHL1 expression as a cytologic biomarker for aggressive behavior in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Background There are currently no reliable markers associated with aggressive behavior in well-differentiated and moderately differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. We aimed to determine whether expression of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 in conjunction with Ki67 can identify metastatic potential of well-differentiated and moderately differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from fine-needle aspiration samples obtained by endoscopic ultrasound. Methods Retrospective review of 48 patients with well-differentiated and moderately differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration at a single center identified 35 biopsy samples with adequate material for analysis. Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1 immunocytochemistry of primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors was performed along with Ki67 staining and scored semiquantitatively. The combination of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1 score ≤4 (weak) and Ki67 ≥3% (high) was considered a positive test for predicting tumors associated with metastases. Results Weak ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 staining had 80% sensitivity, 65% specificity, 63% positive predictive value, and 81% negative predictive value to identify primary tumors associated with metastatic disease. The combination of weak ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 staining and high Ki67 staining increased the test specificity to 95%. On multivariable analysis, combined positive test of weak ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1 staining and high Ki67 staining was an independent predictor of metastatic disease (P = .047). Conclusion Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 is a novel biomarker for identifying malignant potential of primary well-differentiated and moderately differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and in combination with Ki67 is an independent predictor of development of metastatic disease.
Linking functional connectivity and dynamic properties of resting-state networks

Spontaneous brain activity is organized into resting-state networks (RSNs) involved in internally-guided, higher-order mental functions (default mode, central executive and salience networks) and externally-driven, specialized sensory and motor processing (auditory, visual and sensorimotor networks). RSNs are characterized by their functional connectivity in terms of within-network cohesion and between-network integration, and by their dynamic properties in terms of synchrony and metastability. We examined the relationship between functional connectivity and dynamic network features using fMRI data and an anatomically constrained Kuramoto model. Extrapolating from simulated data, synchrony and metastability across the RSNs emerged at coupling strengths of 5 ≤ k ≤ 12. In the empirical RSNs, higher metastability and synchrony were respectively associated with greater cohesion and lower integration. Consistent with their dual role in supporting both sustained and diverse mental operations, higher-order RSNs had lower metastability and synchrony. Sensory and motor RSNs showed greater cohesion and metastability, likely to respectively reflect their functional specialization and their greater capacity for altering network states in response to multiple and diverse external demands. Our findings suggest that functional and dynamic RSN properties are closely linked and expand our understanding of the neural architectures that support optimal brain function.
Approach and case-study of green infrastructure screening analysis for urban stormwater control.

Abstract Urban stormwater control is an urgent concern in megacities where increased impervious surface has disrupted natural hydrology. Water managers are increasingly turning to more environmentally friendly ways of capturing stormwater, called Green Infrastructure (GI), to mitigate combined sewer overflow (CSO) that degrades local water quality. A rapid screening approach is described to evaluate how GI strategies can reduce the amount of stormwater runoff in a low-density residential watershed in New York City. Among multiple possible tools, the L-THIA LID online software package, using the SCS-CN method, was selected to estimate relative runoff reductions expected with different strategies in areas of different land uses in the watershed. Results are sensitive to the relative areas of different land uses, and show that bioretention and raingardens provide the maximum reduction (∼12%) in this largely residential watershed. Although commercial, industrial and high-density residential areas in the watershed are minor, larger runoff reductions from disconnection strategies and porous pavement in parking lots are also possible. Total stormwater reductions from various combinations of these strategies can reach 35–55% for individual land uses, and between 23% and 42% for the entire watershed.
Extraction of User Opinions by Adjective-Context Co-clustering for Game Review Texts

We present our preliminary work on extracting fine-grained user opinions from game review texts. In sentiment analysis, user-generated texts such as blogs, comments and reviews are usually represented by the words which appeared in the texts. However, for complex multi-faceted objects such as games, single words are not sufficient to represent opinions on individual aspects of the object. We propose to represent such an object by pairs of aspect and each aspect’s quality/value, for example “great-graphics”. We used a large adjective-context co-occurrence matrix extracted from user reviews posted at a game site, and applied co-clustering to reduce the dimensions of the matrix. The derived co-clusters are pairs of row clusters × column clusters. By examining the derived co-clusters, we were able to discover the aspects and their qualities which the users care about strongly in games.
Nonlinear Distributional Mapping (NoDiM) for harmonization across amyloid-PET radiotracers.

Abstract Introduction There is a growing need in clinical research domains for direct comparability between amyloid-beta (Aβ) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) measures obtained via different radiotracers and processing methodologies. Previous efforts to provide a common measurement scale fail to account for non-linearities between measurement scales that can arise from these differences. We introduce a new application of distribution mapping, based on well established statistical orthodoxy, that we call Nonlinear Distribution Mapping (NoDiM). NoDiM uses cumulative distribution functions to derive mappings between Aβ-PET measurements from different tracers and processing streams that align data based on their location in their respective distributions. Methods Utilizing large datasets of Florbetapir (FBP) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (n = 349 female (%) = 53) and Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) from the Harvard Aging Brain Study (n = 305 female (%) = 59.3) and the Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (n = 184 female (%) = 53.3), we fit explicit mathematical models of a mixture of two normal distributions, with parameter estimates from Gaussian Mixture Models, to each tracer's empirical data. We demonstrate the accuracy of these fits, and then show the ability of NoDiM to transform FBP measurements into PiB-like units. Results A mixture of two normal distributions fit both the FBP and PiB empirical data and provides a strong basis for derivation of a transfer function. Transforming Aβ-PET data with NoDiM results in FBP and PiB distributions that are closely aligned throughout their entire range, while a linear transformation does not. Additionally the NoDiM transform better matches true positive and false positive profiles across tracers. Discussion The NoDiM transformation provides a useful alternative to the linear mapping advocated in the Centiloid project, and provides improved correspondence between measurements from different tracers across the range of observed values. This improved alignment enables disparate measures to be merged on to continuous scale, and better enables the use of uniform thresholds across tracers.
Fewer Hospitals Provide Operative Fracture Care to Medicaid Patients Than Otherwise-Insured Patients in 4 Large States.

Objective:To determine whether Medicaid patients receive operative fracture care at an equal number of hospitals as otherwise-insured patients and to compare travel distances between Medicaid and otherwise-insured patients.Design:Retrospective, population-based cohort study of administrative health
Readability of Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Part B Procedural Safeguards: An Update.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the readability of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B procedural safeguard documents, as distributed by each of the 50 U.S. s...
Online Privacy in Public Places: How do Location, Terms and Conditions and VPN Influence Disclosure?

Do we disclose more information online when we access Wi-Fi from home compared to the University, or an Airbnb rental, or a coffee shop? Does it matter if we are shown terms and conditions (T&C) before getting online? Will signing into a virtual private network (VPN) affect our disclosure? We conducted an experiment (N = 276) to find out. Our results suggest that while VPN promotes disclosure of personal information and unethical behaviors in an Airbnb network, the provision of T&C inhibits this disclosure. Conversely, in a University network, provision of terms and conditions encourages disclosure of unethical behavior, but the presence of VPN cue inhibits it. Further, a user's belief in the publicness heuristic (public networks are risky) dictate how much users reveal in various locations based on their perceptions of relative security of accessing Wi-Fi from those locations.
A Flexible Synthesis of Indoles from ortho-Substituted Anilines: A Direct Synthesis of Isocryptolepine.

Various types of substrates are used as efficient precursors for the synthesis of indoles via imine formation with aldehydes followed by base-promoted cyclization.
The 2016 Failed Coup Attempt and its Influence on Policing the Kurdish and Other Ethnic Minorities Across Turkey

In 2016, a cadre of military and police officials attempted a coup to overthrow the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the following months and years, the government has removed thousands of military and police officials from their positions after allegations of a widespread conspiracy were posed, with many being incarcerated. As a result, the Turkish National Police were forced to conduct dramatic reforms in its organization and practice. In addition, President Erdogan ended peace negotiations with the ethnic Kurds in eastern Turkey, which caused further destabilization to the nation and political processes. The challenges posed by these events will be described and analyzed in detail.
Surface modified polypropylene membranes for treating hydraulic fracturing produced waters by membrane distillation

ABSTRACTMembrane distillation is an emerging technology for treating hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced waters (PW). Suppression of membrane fouling by inorganic and polar and non-polar org...
Prediction of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia: Validation of an Experience-Based Computer Model.

Abstract Background: Diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) requires certain clinical features along with the detection of platelet activating antibodies induced by heparin interaction with platelet factor 4 (PF4). Although the PF4 enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) is a highly sensitive laboratory test, it is not specific. Adding excess heparin to the sample can confirm a positive PF4 ELISA result when it decreases antibody binding by 50% or more, potentially improving the specificity of the assay. We sought to determine the clinical value of the PF4 ELISA and confirmatory test by developing a predictive algorithm for HIT. Methods: We retrospectively identified 116 patients with positive anti-PF4/heparin antibodies at Duke University Medical Center in 2005. We collected data on all patients to allow for clinical classification as HIT positive or HIT negative. HIT positive patients had at least a 30% decline in platelet count after 4–14 days of heparin exposure, or within 48 hours if recent (within last 100 days) heparin exposure. Anti-PF4/heparin antibody titers were determined by ELISA using a confirmatory step with excess heparin. A multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to the 2005 data, to estimate the relationship between patient characteristics (including age, gender, race, and clinical service), laboratory findings (including peak PF4 titer, confirmatory positive status), and clinical HIT status (HIT positive versus HIT negative). The model was then validated on an independent sample of 97 patients with positive anti-PF4/heparin antibodies retrospectively identified at Duke University Medical Center from January to July of 2006. Results: We found no significant relationship between age, race, or gender and clinical HIT status. In multivariate analysis, the peak PF4 titer and confirmatory positive status were independent predictors of HIT. Figure 1 depicts median, 25th, and 75th percentiles of the predicted probabilities for the HIT-positive and HIT-negative patients in the 2005 training and 2006 test populations. The predictive accuracy on the 2005 training set (c-index 0.783, Somer's Dyx 0.566) was maintained when the algorithm was applied to the independent 2006 test population (c-index 0.799, Somer's Dyx 0.597). Figure 2 depicts the ROC curves for both patient populations. Conclusions: This is the first study to our knowledge that has demonstrated the clinical utility of the Heparin/PF4 ELISA confirmatory test for the diagnosis of HIT. Based upon the PF4 ELISA and confirmatory assays, a predictive computer algorithm can distinguish patients likely to have HIT from those who are not. Accurate predicted probabilities of HIT will enable clinicians to more rapidly initiate appropriate therapy. Download : Download high-res image (64KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure Download : Download high-res image (76KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure
Flexible and Scalable Biochemical Energy Harvesting: A Yarn-Based Biobattery

We demonstrated an innovative, flexible yarn-based biobattery that generates green electricity from bacterial respiration. The battery can be easily scaled up by controlling the length of the yarn of a single battery or connecting multiple yarns in series. Bacterial cells in the yarn break down the organic fuels (e.g. glucose and lactic acid) and transfer the produced electrons to the electrode, providing power for external applications. The yarn-based biobattery was knotted into a bracelet by connecting three battery units in series, generating the current density of 329.95 A/m3. Furthermore, this proposed biobattery can be woven or embroidered into a large smart fabric, potentially providing hundreds of milliamperes for powering actual wearable electronics.
Cellular Sheaves of Lattices and the Tarski Laplacian

This paper initiates a discrete Hodge theory for cellular sheaves taking values in a category of lattices and Galois connections. The key development is the Tarski Laplacian, an endomorphism on the cochain complex whose fixed points yield a cohomology that agrees with the global section functor in degree zero. This has immediate applications in consensus and distributed optimization problems over networks and broader potential applications.
The serial effects of multimodality therapy for stage III non-small cell carcinoma on lung function

7551 Purpose: To describe the effects of multimodality treatment on lung function in patients with stage III non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCLC) Methods: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) we...
Modeling Item Revisit Behavior: The Hierarchical Speed-Accuracy-Revisits Model.

This article presents a new approach to the analysis of how students answer tests and how they allocate resources in terms of time on task and revisiting previously answered questions. Previous res...
Trade in international maritime services : how much does policy matter?

Maritime transport costs significantly impede international trade. The authors examine why these costs are so high in some countries, and, quantify the importance of two explanations: restrictive trade policies, and private anti-competitive practices. Both matter, they find, but private anti-competitive practices have the greater impact. Trade liberalization, and the breakup of private carrier agreements, would lead to a reduction in average liner transport prices of a third, and cost savings of up to $ 3 billion on goods carried to the United States alone. The policy implications are clear: not only should government policy be further liberalized, but there should be stronger international disciplines on restrictive business practices. The authors propose developing such disciplines in the current round of services negotiations at the World Trade Organization.
De‐Escalated Adjuvant Therapy after Transoral Robotic Surgery for Human Papillomavirus–Related Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: The Sinai Robotic Surgery ( SIRS ) Trial

BACKGROUND Treatment of human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPVOPC) results in unprecedented high survival rates but possibly unnecessary toxicity. We hypothesized that upfront surgery and neck dissection followed by reduced-dose adjuvant therapy for early and intermediate HPVOPC would ultimately result in equivalent progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival while reducing toxicity. METHODS This study was a nonrandomized phase II trial for early-stage HPVOPC treated with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) followed by reduced-dose radiotherapy. Patients with previously untreated p16-positive HPVOPC and <20 pack years' smoking history were enrolled. After robotic surgery, patients were assigned to group 1 (no poor risk features; surveillance), group 2 (intermediate pathologic risk factors [perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion]; 50-Gy radiotherapy), or group 3 (poor prognostic pathologic factors [extranodal extension [ENE], more than three positive lymph nodes and positive margin]; concurrent 56-Gy chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin). RESULTS Fifty-four patients were evaluable; there were 25 in group 1, 15 in group 2, and 14 in group 3. Median follow-up was 43.9 months (9.6-75.8). Disease-specific survival was 98.1%, and PFS was 90.7%. PFS probability via Kaplan-Meier was 91.3% for group 1, 86.7% for group 2, and 93.3% for group 3. There were five locoregional failures (LRFs), including one distant metastasis and one contralateral second primary. Average time to LRF was 18.9 months (9.6-59.0); four LRFs were successfully salvaged, and the patients remain disease free (11.0-42.7 months); one subject remains alive with disease. CONCLUSION The results indicate that upfront surgery with neck dissection with reduced-dose radiation for T1-2, N1 stage (by the eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual) HPVOPC results in favorable survival with excellent function in this population. These results support radiation dose reduction after TORS as a de-escalation strategy in HPVOPC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Transoral robotic surgery can provide a safe platform for de-escalation in carefully selected patients with early-stage human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer. In this clinical trial, disease-specific survival was 100%, over 90% of the cohort had a reduction of therapy from standard of care with excellent functional results, and the five patients with observed locoregional failures were successfully salvaged.