cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light-at-night, circadian disruption and breast cancer: assessment of existing evidence

Background Breast cancer incidence is increasing globally for largely unknown reasons. The possibility that a portion of the breast cancer burden might be explained by the introduction and increasing use of electricity to light the night was suggested >20 years ago. Methods The theory is based on nocturnal light-induced disruption of circadian rhythms, notably reduction of melatonin synthesis. It has formed the basis for a series of predictions including that non-day shift work would increase risk, blind women would be at lower risk, long sleep duration would lower risk and community nighttime light level would co-distribute with breast cancer incidence on the population level. Results Accumulation of epidemiological evidence has accelerated in recent years, reflected in an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification of shift work as a probable human carcinogen (2A). There is also a strong rodent model in support of the light-at-night (LAN) idea. Conclusion If a consensus eventually emerges that LAN does increase risk, then the mechanisms for the effect are important to elucidate for intervention and mitigation. The basic understanding of phototransduction for the circadian system, and of the molecular genetics of circadian rhythm generation are both advancing rapidly, and will provide for the development of lighting technologies at home and at work that minimize circadian disruption, while maintaining visual efficiency and aesthetics. In the interim, there are strategies now available to reduce the potential for circadian disruption, which include extending the daily dark period, appreciate nocturnal awakening in the dark, using dim red light for nighttime necessities, and unless recommended by a physician, not taking melatonin tablets.
Target tracking control with limited communication and steering dynamics

This paper presents a study which extends previous work on collective motion control of a group of vehicles for target tracking. The approach is to drive the group centroid to follow a moving target while keeping all vehicles near the centroid. The provided analysis shows that the system is stable. However, the tracking performance is sensitive to imperfect communication and steering dynamics. Simulation results show the performance degrades significantly when delays and steering dynamics are present. An analysis is provided to identify a major cause of the performance degradation. An alternative control law is proposed in the paper. Comparisons of the simulation results show the improved performance of the new control law.
Experimental Evolution of Multicellular Complexity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The origin and evolution of multicellularity was directly investigated using experimental evolution. Using settling selection, multicellularity evolved quickly and repeatedly from a common unicellular ancestor, Baker’s yeast. The transition occurred by persistent adhesion of daughter cells following cell replication. The resulting multicellular individuals had a morphology reminiscent of snowflakes, with many characteristics of extant multicellular species, including cell–cell attachment, a single-cell bottleneck, and juvenile and adult life history stages. Cellular division of labor by apoptosis evolved in large snowflake clusters, ameliorating the effects of a trade-off between snowflake settling and growth rate. Continued settling selection led to additional adaptation, such as a more hydrodynamic cluster shape. The majority of the developmental changes that evolved after the transition to multicellularity were contingent on this transition and even on the specific mode of cluster formation. The origin and subsequent evolution of multicellular complexity in snowflake yeast can be directly attributed to natural selection.
Pointwise-Dense Region Queries in Spatio-temporal Databases

Applications such as traffic management and resource scheduling for location-based services commonly need to identify regions with high concentrations of moving objects. Such queries are called dense region queries in spatio-temporal databases, and desire regions in which the density of moving objects exceeds a given threshold. Current methods for addressing this important class of queries suffer from several drawbacks. For example, they may fail to find all dense regions, provide ambiguous answers, impose restrictions on size, or lack a notion of local density. We address these issues in this paper, starting with a new definition of dense regions. We show that we are able to answer dense region queries completely and uniquely using this definition. Dense regions in our approach may have arbitrary shape and size, as well as local density guarantees. We present two methods, the first, an exact method, and the second, an approximate method. We demonstrate through extensive experiments that our exact method is efficient and is superior to current approaches. Our approximate method runs orders of magnitude faster than our exact method, at the cost of a tolerable loss of accuracy.
Intrabony Defects, Open-Flap Debridement, and Decortication: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Intramarrow penetration (IMP) is often incorporated in regenerative periodontal surgical procedures. However, the actual benefits of adding IMP to such a procedure remain undocumented. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the contribution of IMP to the outcomes of open-flap debridement (OFD) treatment of intrabony defects.Methods: Forty-two chronic periodontitis patients, each contributing a 2-wall, 3-wall, or combined 2- to 3-wall intrabony defect, were treated. Sites were randomly assigned into one of two groups: control (OFD alone) or test (OFD + IMP). Papilla preservation flaps were raised, and defects were thoroughly debrided. In the control group, complete primary closure of flaps was ensured after debridement. In the test group, IMP was performed before flap closure, using a round bur to penetrate the cortical defect wall. Clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed at baseline and 12 months after treatment.Results: At baseline, there were no statist...
Maintaining Vigilance to Promote Best Outcomes for Hospitalized Elders

This article presents contemporary evidence regarding the promotion of a culture of caring for hospitalized older persons through nursing vigilance. A summary of the literature regarding the need for vigilance, what to be vigilant about, and how vigilance can be enhanced for hospitalized older persons is provided, as well as recommendations for practice, education, research, and policy. Evidence indicates that vigilance is enhanced by having nurses who have specialized knowledge to differentiate normal aging from abnormal pathology, and who use point-of-care information, electronic health records, patient care information systems, and computerized adverse events detection systems to monitor symptoms and outcomes and prevent errors. The use of specialized models of patient care and adequate nurse-patient staffing also have been shown to prevent errors and improve patient outcomes.
The cost-effectiveness of a modestly effective HIV vaccine in the United States.

Background The recent RV144 clinical trial showed that an ALVAC/AIDSVAX prime-boost HIV vaccine regimen may confer partial immunity in recipients and reduce transmission by 31%. Trial data suggest that efficacy may initially exceed 70% but decline over the following 3.5 years. Estimating the potential health benefits associated with a one-time vaccination campaign, as well as the projected benefits of repeat booster vaccination, may inform future HIV vaccine research and licensing decisions.
Super- and sub-Einstein intrinsic viscosities of spherical nanoparticles in concentrated low molecular weight polymer solutions

We explore the intrinsic viscosity of 40 nm silica particles in concentrated solutions of low molecular weight hydroxyl terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether (PEGDME) and polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF). Our goal is to develop a correlation between the intrinsic viscosity and the strength of the polymer segment-surface attractions, epc. We show when the particles are large compared to the polymer radius of gyration and the polymer molecular weight is below the entanglement molecular weight, the intrinsic viscosity can be larger or smaller than the Einstein value of 2.5 expected for spheres with hard surfaces experiencing no-slip boundary conditions at the fluid/particle interface. Extensive small angle X-ray scattering studies are undertaken to extract epc and establish the thermodynamic state of particle dispersion. We demonstrate a monotonic dependence of intrinsic viscosity on epc with weaker polymer segment-particle surface interactions leading to sub-Einstein intrinsic viscosities. When interpreted in terms of a continuum model, our results suggest that the variations in intrinsic viscosity can be understood in terms of adsorbed layers which can have different viscosities from that of bulk fluid and which can slip at the particle surface. Increased layer viscosities are encouraged by large epc while slip and or low viscosities are encouraged by low epc.
Cancer Nanotechnology: The impact of passive and active targeting in the era of modern cancer biology

Cancer nanotherapeutics are progressing at a steady rate; research and development in the field has experienced an exponential growth since early 2000's. The path to the commercialization of oncology drugs is long and carries significant risk; however, there is considerable excitement that nanoparticle technologies may contribute to the success of cancer drug development. The pace at which pharmaceutical companies have formed partnerships to use proprietary nanoparticle technologies has considerably accelerated. It is now recognized that by enhancing the efficacy and/or tolerability of new drug candidates, nanotechnology can meaningfully contribute to create differentiated products and improve clinical outcome. This review describes the lessons learned since the commercialization of the first-generation nanomedicines including DOXIL® and Abraxane®. It explores our current understanding of targeted and non-targeted nanoparticles that are under various stages of development, including BIND-014 and MM-398. It highlights the opportunities and challenges faced by nanomedicines in contemporary oncology, where personalized medicine is increasingly the mainstay of cancer therapy. We revisit the fundamental concepts of enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) and explore the mechanisms proposed to enhance preferential "retention" in the tumor, whether using active targeting of nanoparticles, binding of drugs to their tumoral targets or the presence of tumor associated macrophages. The overall objective of this review is to enhance our understanding in the design and development of therapeutic nanoparticles for treatment of cancers.
Gm and Inv studies on baboons, Papio cynocephalus: analysis of serum samples from Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Serum samples from 526 baboons (Papio cynocephalus) from 10 troops from the Laikipia district of northern Kenya, from 60 baboons from two troops from the Awash National Park, central Ethiopia, and from 127 baboons from South Africa were tested for Gm and Inv allotypes. Four of the 10 troops from Kenya formed a western cluster and six formed an eastern cluster. The clusters were separated by approximately 10 miles. The samples were tested for Gm (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24) and for Inv (1, 2, 3). All samples were negative for Gm (2, 6, 14, 16, 24). All from Kenya and Ethiopia were negative for Inv (2), and all were positive for Gm (11, 17) and for Inv (3). The south African samples differed from the others in that 10 were negative for Gm (11) and four were positive for Inv (2). Taking all animals into account, polymorphism was present for Gm (1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15, 21) and for Inv (1, 2). No two Kenya troops had the same array of phenotypes or of haplotypes, but the four western troops were more similar to each other than to the six eastern troops. Three haplotypes were present in the eastern troops that were not present in the western troops and five were present in the western troops that were not present in the eastern troops. Five haplotypes appeared in at least some troops of each cluster of troops. The samples from each of the two troops from Ethiopia show the same three phenotypes but with significantly different frequencies. It is suggested that the variation in haplotype frequencies observed among the 10 troops from Kenya is the result of a founder effect deriving largely from fission of a large troop into two smaller troops. The data show that speculations about the evolutionary origin of the allotypes are premature. For most species, too few animals have been tested and except for those in this study their origins are not known. Finally, the samples have been from too restricted an area.
Regional, Laminar and Cellular Distribution of Immunoreactivity for ERβ in the Cerebral Cortex of Hormonally Intact, Postnatally Developing Male and Female Rats

Estrogen influences cerebral cortical development. Among the receptors involved are classical (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta) intracellular estrogen receptors. In the first 2 weeks of postnatal life, cortical ERalpha is transiently expressed at much higher levels than in adulthood. In this study, development of ERbeta was examined by mapping ERbeta immunoreactivity in relation to major cortical regions, layers and cell types in postnatal male and female rats that were 1-28 postnatal days (PND) old. These studies revealed that ERbeta-immunoreactive nuclei were present in the allocortices on PND 1 but were not detected in isocortex until PND 7. Allocortical labeling was also higher on PND 1 than at all later ages, while in isocortical areas low numbers of ERbeta nuclei were seen on PND 7 that rose to higher, near adult densities by PND 21. Finally, double labeling showed that ERalpha was expressed mainly in neurons immunopositive for calretinin, while ERbeta was localized predominantly in parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells. Thus, the postnatal cortical developments of ERbeta and ERalpha occur according to different timetables, different patterns and in association with different cortical cells. It thus seems it likely that the two also make distinct contributions to postnatal cortical development and/or sexual differentiation.
Infrared microscopy of Joule heating in graphene field effect transistors

We use infrared microscopy to image the temperature profile of graphene field-effect transistors operating at constant source to drain current bias. We find a peak in the temperature profile, i.e. a “hot spot” appears near the drain (anode) electrode of the graphene sheet at high current while operating in the hole-doped regime. We shift the hot spot position on the graphene sheet by tuning the gate voltage into an ambipolar transport regime. This shows a direct demonstration and manipulation of Joule heating in graphene transistors.
Induction of IL-33 expression and activity in central nervous system glia

IL-33 is a novel member of the IL-1 cytokine family and a potent inducer of type 2 immunity, as mast cells and Th2 CD4+ T cells respond to IL-33 with the induction of type 2 cytokines such as IL-13. IL-33 mRNA levels are extremely high in the CNS, and CNS glia possess both subunits of the IL-33R, yet whether IL-33 is produced by and affects CNS glia has not been studied. Here, we demonstrate that pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) significantly increase IL-33 mRNA and protein expression in CNS glia. Interestingly, IL-33 was localized to the nucleus of astrocytes. Further, CNS glial and astrocyte-enriched cultures treated with a PAMP followed by an ATP pulse had significantly higher levels of supernatant IL-1beta and IL-33 than cultures receiving any single treatment (PAMP or ATP). Supernatants from PAMP + ATP-treated glia induced the secretion of IL-6, IL-13, and MCP-1 from the MC/9 mast cell line in a manner similar to exogenous recombinant IL-33. Further, IL-33 levels and activity were increased in the brains of mice infected with the neurotropic virus Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. IL-33 also had direct effects on CNS glia, as IL-33 induced various innate immune effectors in CNS glia, and this induction was greatly amplified by IL-33-stimulated mast cells. In conclusion, these results implicate IL-33-producing astrocytes as a potentially critical regulator of innate immune responses in the CNS.
Improving Compliance with Immunization in the Older Adult: Results of a Randomized Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To compare three approaches for improving compliance with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination of elderly patients. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial using three parallel group practices at a public urban teaching hospital. SETTING: Public teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: All patients 65 years of age and older (n = 1202) seen by resident physicians (n = 66) attending three ambulatory medical practices from October 1, 1989 to March 31, 1990. INTERVENTIONS: All three provider groups received intensive education in immunization standards. The control group received no further intervention. Staff in the second group offered education to patients at their visits. In the third group, the prevention team, a flowsheet was used, patient education offered, and staff had their tasks redefined to facilitate compliance; for vaccinations, eg, nurses could vaccinate independent of MD initiative. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Medical records were reviewed for the 1202 patients seen, including 756 patients seen during both the 1988-89 and 1989-90 influenza seasons, to determine documented offering and receipt of vaccinations. During the intervention period (1989-90), influenza vaccinations were offered significantly more frequently to prevention team patients (68.3%) than to patients in either the patient education (50.4%) or control (47.6%) groups (P = 0.006), even after adjusting for the patients' prior vaccination status, age, gender, race, and high-risk co-morbidity and for physicians' level of training. Likewise, pneumococcal vaccinations were offered more frequently to previously unvaccinated prevention team patients (28.3%) than to patient education (6.5%) or control (5.4%) group patients (P = 0.001), even after adjusting for the factors using multivariate analysis. Compliance rates did not differ between patient education and control subjects for either vaccine. Pre-intervention physician surveys documented higher perceived than actual compliance for both vaccines, with 89.0% and 52.8% of physicians believing that they complied with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination guidelines, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this trial provide strong support for organizational changes that involve non-physician personnel to enhance vaccination rates among older adults.
Avian Use of Harvested Crop Fields in North Dakota During Spring Migration

Broad-spectrum herbicide applications and improved harvesting efficiency of crops have reduced the availability of weed seeds and waste grains for game and nongame wildlife. Over the last decade, corn and soybean plantings have steadily increased in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota, while sunflower plantings have declined. The PPR is an important corridor for migratory birds, and changes in food availabilities at stopover habitats may affect how food resources are used. In early spring 2003 and 2004, we compared bird use of harvested fields of sun- flower, soybeans, small grains, and corn in the PPR of North Dakota. Across both years and all crop types, we observed 20,400 birds comprising 29 species. Flocks of Lapland Longspurs (Calcarius lapponicus) and Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) and flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) made up 60% and 15%, respectively, of the bird counts. We found that species richness and bird densities were higher in harvested sunflower fields and cornfields than in harvested small-grain and soybean fields, with soybean fields harboring the fewest species and lowest bird density. Blackbird densities tended to be lower in fields tilled after fall harvest than in fields not tilled. These results suggest that some granivorous bird populations in the Northern Great Plains could be positively affected by planting of row crops with postharvest vertical structure (e.g., sunflower, corn) and use of no-till land management practices.
An illuminated microcatheter for 360-degree trabeculectomy in congenital glaucoma: A retrospective case series

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of achieving a 360° ab externo trabeculectomy using an illuminated ophthalmic microcatheter for the treatment of primary congenital glaucoma. Methods This retrospective, consecutive case series included 16 eyes of 10 patients ≤3 years of age at the time of surgery and diagnosed with primary congenital glaucoma. All patients underwent a trabeculectomy via microcatheter with the intent of catheterizing the full circumference of Schlemm's canal and rupturing the entire canal in a single procedure. The main outcome measure was the success rate of achieving a complete 360° as compared to a partial trabeculectomy. Secondary outcome measures included intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication usage, and adverse events. Clinical examination data are reported up to 12 months postoperatively. Results Of 16 eyes included, 12 (75%) achieved a complete 360° trabeculectomy using the microcatheter; 4 of 16 eyes (25%) achieved a partial trabeculectomy. For all treated eyes the postoperative reduction in IOP from baseline was statistically significant at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up visits ( p p = 0.03). Conclusions A complete or partial trabeculectomy was safely completed in eyes with primary congenital glaucoma using a microcatheter with an illuminated, atraumatic tip.
Photoionization Yield vs Energy in H2O and D2O

A simple conductivity jump method was used to measure the escaped solvated electron yield following two-photon excitation of water with Raman-shifted light from an amplified mode-locked Nd:YAG laser. Between 7.8 and 9.3 eV, the quantum efficiency for the escape yields changes from 1.9% to 22%, with an almost exponential dependence on the excitation energy. Quantum efficiency in D2O is smaller and resembles the H2O behavior at 0.35 eV lower energy. The quantum yield measured for one-photon excitation near the water absorption edge at 6.4 eV is a surprisingly large 1.3%. We propose that the mechanism for low energy photoionizaton of water is best described as a dissociative proton-coupled electron transfer to a preexisting trap.
Analysis of Agreement between Expired-Air Carbon Monoxide Monitors

Introduction: The current study examined the level of agreement in expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) values, focusing especially on those confirming abstinence, between the two most commonly used CO monitors, the Vitalograph BreathCO and the Bedfont piCO+ Smokerlyzer. Methods: Expired-air samples were collected via both monitors from adult dependent smokers (44 M, 34 F) participating in studies using CO values to confirm abstinence durations of: 24 hours, 12 hours, or no abstinence. All met DSM-IV nicotine dependence criteria and had a mean (SD) Fagerstrom Test of Cigarette Dependence score of 5.1 (1.8). Paired data collected across multiple visits were analyzed by regression-based Bland–Altman method of Limits of Agreement (LoA). Findings: Analysis indicated a lack of agreement in CO measurement between monitors. Overall, the Bedfont monitor gave mean (±SEM) readings 3.83 (±0.23) ppm higher than the Vitalograph monitor. Mean differences between monitors were larger for those ad lib smoking (5.65 ± 0.38 ppm) than those abstaining 12–24 hours (1.71 ± 0.13 ppm). Yet, there also was not consistent agreement in classification of 24-hour abstinence between monitors. Conclusions: Systematic differences in CO readings demonstrate these two very common monitors may not result in interchangeable values, and reported outcomes in smoking research based on CO values may depend on the monitor used.
The Biology of Oligonychus platani on Pyracantha

Oligonyilius platani (McGregor) is a serious pest of pyracantha in southern Arizona. The various stages are described. The length of the life cycle varied from 32 days at 58° to 9.6 days at 84°F. Adults lived approximately 15 days and laid about 24 eggs.
Specialization and the Survival of Self‐Help Organizations

This article examines the survival rates of 589 self-help organizations in order to understand how self-help niches, organizations specializing in biomedical, human services, and behavioral health, differentially impact longevity. Drawing on a study of the self-help movement, we examine how the various mechanisms by which specialization impacts self-help movement organizations' chances of survival. Extending the concepts of embeddedness, countervailing powers, and organizational specialization to self-help organizations, we investigate how formal structures and professional alliances differentially promote longevity. Results show how formalization enhances self-help organizations' longevity, and serves as a mechanism by which specialization impacts organizational viability. While formalization has a robust and beneficial impact on longevity, some professional linkages are negatively associated with survival and others are positively associated with it.
Occupational Injuries and Protection Measures of Medical Workers of Dermatovenereology of Liuzhou City

[Objective]To understand the characteristics and distribution of occupational injury of medical workers of dermatovenereology,to develop scientific and effective protection measures,to reduce or prevent the occurrence of occupational injury,and improve the health levels of medical workers.[Methods]Totally 548 medical workers engaged in the work of skin venereal disease and 221 administrative workers were investigated by questionnaire survey,the data were analyzed by SPSS11.5.[Results]The occupational injury rate of doctor and nurse was 61.13% and 65.37%,respectively;which were significantly higher than that of administrative workers(14.93%);the occupational injury rate of medical workers in tertiary hospitals was higher than that of primary and secondary-care hospitals(χ2=6.44,P0.05);first 2 occupational injures were psychological injury and physical injury;nurses were the group with high risk of occupational injury.[Conclusion]Occupational injury rate of medical workers of dermatovenereology is high in Liuzhou City.To strengthen occupational safety and education,to raise awareness of protection is the key to reduce occupational injuries;to arrange the allocation of resources reasonably,to strengthen the protection of high risk groups is the necessary measure for reducing occupational injuries.
Hypertension: Update 2008

We are happy to report continued progress during the past year in achieving the goals outlined previously for Hypertension .1 The readership of the journal has been further expanded; the quality and impact of the published original research continue to increase; the review process appears to be fairly efficient and (we hope you agree) effective in selecting the best papers in the field; and Hypertension provides an important vehicle for disseminating clinically important information and for achieving the mission of the American Heart Association (AHA) and its scientific councils. The main credit for this progress goes to you, as authors, editorial board members, reviewers, and readers, for your support of Hypertension and for your excellent scientific contributions. In this report we summarize a few statistics and new initiatives and provide a brief perspective on what we can, and should, do better. Figure 1 shows the steady increase in article submissions during the past 5 years. These data do not include submissions for the Proceedings of the AHA Council for High Blood Pressure Research, the Inter-American Society of Hypertension, or the International Workshop on Structure and Function of Large Arteries, which include an additional 160 articles for 2007. Figure 1. Number of article submissions for original scientific contributions for January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2007. These data do not include 160 articles for the Proceedings of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, Inter-American Society of Hypertension, and the International Workshop on Structure and Function of Large Arteries. Articles were submitted from 65 countries. The top 5 countries and their percentages of the total number of articles submitted are shown in Figure 2. Figure 2. The top 10 countries and their percentages of the total submitted articles for 2007. Approximately 58% of articles submitted in 2007 were clinical …
Redesigning the Research Arc of First-Year Composition: Renegotiating and Remapping an Approach to Information Literacy

Redesigning the Research Arc of First-Year Composition: Renegotiating and Remapping an Approach to Information Literacy
Using Human Factors to Establish Occupant Task Lists for Office Building Simulations

The purpose of this research is to establish an in-depth understanding of task-related occupant behaviors to serve as the basis for the design of an occupant-building interaction interface. Building simulations are frequently used to design buildings and predict energy performance. Yet, all of these assumptions are related to occupant behavior and interactions with the building. In an occupant-controlled environment, an understanding of the occupant decision-making process must be represented in the simulation task lists. Current task lists assume general occupant behaviors based on averages, and lack the details required for this understanding. This paper looks to strike a balance between simplicity and complexity in the generation of task lists to establish a process for developing an understanding of occupant behavior at a greater level of detail than current practice. A contextual task analysis questionnaire characterizes occupant behavior to provide the link between the building, occupant, and task. ...
Hamlet’s Arab Journey: Shakespeare’s Prince and Nasser’s Ghost

In Hamlet’s Arab Journey: Shakespeare’s Prince and Nasser’s Ghost, Margaret Litvin traces the reception of “the Arab Hamlet” and shows how both the text and the eponymous character have been utiliz...
Using Fundamental Factors to Forecast Equity Market Volatility

This paper introduces a model for forecasting future volatility using fundamental factors. The fundamental factors include the extent to which the market’s valuation deviates from its predicted value, the losses reported by companies with negative earnings, projected earnings growth rates, and Treasury Bill rates. The main result is that fundamental factors provide significant incremental explanatory for predicting volatility relative to that provided by past volatility realizations alone. In particular, markets in which there is a large difference between current and theoretical values, markets in which there is a high aggregate amount of negative earnings reported by companies with losses, and markets with high shorter-term expected earnings growth rates should all have higher volatility. Markets with higher short-term interest rates have tighter financial conditions, and therefore should also have higher volatility. The explanatory power of fundamental factors is greatest when VIX is at moderate rather than extreme levels, so that there is no expectation of long-term mean reversion for volatility. In addition, the explanatory power of fundamental factors is greatest when the model forecasts an increase in VIX. The overall conclusion is that forecasts of future volatility should incorporate fundamental factors.
Collaboration in Special Education: Bringing Shalom to the Individual Education Program Meeting

This chapter is a combined product of years of experience as a special education practitioner and professional development in the area of faith-learning integration. Metaparadigms of special education was used as a novel framework for faith-learning integration in the field of special education. Specifically, the concept of collaboration was utilized as a model of the process of faith-learning integration. The concepts of expertise, motivation, and group dynamics are presented as underpinnings to collaboration, specifically to the development of an Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting with the goal of achieving shalom.
The ESVEM trial: Electrophysiologic Study Versus Electrocardiographic Monitoring for selection of antiarrhythmic therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmias

ESVEM (Electrophysiologic Study Versus Electrocardiographic Monitoring) is an ongoing multicenter trial supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute that began enrollment of patients on October 1, 1985. We describe here the methodology of the trial and data regarding enrollment of patients in the trial. The purpose of the trial is to determine whether electrophysiologic study or electrocardiographic Holter monitoring more accurately predicts antiarrhythmic drug efficacy in patients with aborted sudden death or sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Consenting patients with inducible, sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias and at least 480 premature ventricular contractions during 48 hours are randomized to undergo antiarrhythmic drug selection either by electrophysiologic study or by Holter monitoring. Up to six drugs (mexiletine, pirmenol, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, and sotalol) are assessed in random order until one is predicted effective. An efficacy prediction is achieved in the electrophysiology limb if ventricular tachyarrhythmias are no longer inducible and in the Holter limb if ventricular ectopy is largely suppressed. Patients in whom a drug is predicted effective are followed while they are taking that drug to detect one of the three primary endpoints: arrhythmia recurrence, sudden death, or unmonitored syncope. In the first 37 months, 967 patients satisfied inclusion and exclusion criteria to undergo baseline studies. Two hundred eighty-six were eligible for and consented to randomization. In total, approximately 500 patients will be randomized and 285 subjects will be followed while receiving drugs that are predicted effective in this trial. Approximately 70 patients are expected to attain a primary end-point during a mean follow-up ot 3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Racial disparities in breast cancer mortality among women with diabetes mellitus.

116Background: Multiple reasons have been cited for racial disparities in breast cancer survival, including differences in screening, tumor biology, estrogen receptor status, stage at presentation, treatment and comorbidities. Recent studies suggest that minority women are more likely to have diabetes and diabetes has been shown to increase breast cancer risk and worsen cancer prognosis. We sought to evaluate whether there is disparity in breast cancer mortality among breast cancer survivors with comorbid diabetes. Methods: We identified women >65 years diagnosed with primary breast cancer between 2007 and 2010 from the SEER-Medicare database and followed them for 36 months after cancer diagnoses. Our primary outcome was breast cancer mortality. We excluded patients for whom diagnoses were obtained from death certificates or at autopsy, with incomplete data with regards to the stage at diagnosis and those without Part B coverage. The association between race and breast cancer mortality was assessed using ...
Risk Factors for Reoperation in Patients Treated Surgically for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Subanalysis of the 8-year Data From the SPORT Trial.

Study design Retrospective analysis of prospective data from the degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) arm of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial. Objective The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for reoperation in patients treated surgically for DS and compare outcomes between patients who underwent reoperation with nonreoperative patients. Summary of background data Several studies have examined outcomes following surgery for DS, but few have identified risk factors for reoperation. Methods Analysis included patients with neurogenic claudication (>12 weeks), clinical neurological signs, spinal stenosis, and DS on standing lateral x-rays. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate patient characteristics and risk factors. Treatment effects (TEs) were calculated and compared between study groups. Results Of 406 patients, 72% underwent instrumented fusion, 21% noninstrumented fusion, and 7% decompression alone. At 8 years, the reoperation rate was 22%, of which 28% occurred within 1 year, 54% within 2 years, 70% within 4 years, and 86% within 6 years. The reasons for reoperation included recurrent stenosis or progressive spondylolisthesis (45%), complications such as hematoma, dehiscence, or infection (36%), or new condition (14%). Reoperative patients were younger (62.2 vs. 65.3, P = 0.008). Significant risk factors were use of antidepressants (P = 0.008, hazard ratio [HR] 2.08) or having no neurogenic claudication upon enrollment (P = 0.02, HR 1.82). Patients who were smokers, diabetics, obese, or on workman's compensation were not at greater risk for reoperation. At 8-year follow-up, scores for SF-36 bodily pain (BP), Oswestry Disability Index, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/Modems version (ODI), and stenosis frequency index were better in nonreoperative patients. TE favored nonreoperative patients for SF-36 BP, physical function, ODI, Stenosis Bothersomeness Index, and satisfaction with symptoms (P Conclusion The incidence of reoperation for patients with DS was 22% 8 years following surgery. Patients with a history of no neurogenic claudication and patients taking antidepressants were more likely to undergo reoperation. Outcome scores and TE were more favorable in nonreoperative patients. Level of evidence 2.
The Value of a Resident Aesthetic Clinic: A 7-Year Institutional Review and Survey of the Chief Resident Experience.

Background With the evolving plastic surgery training paradigm, there is an increasing emphasis on aesthetic surgery education during residency. In an effort to improve aesthetic education and to encourage preparation for independent practice, our institution has supported a resident-run aesthetic clinic for over two decades. Objectives To provide insight into the educational benefits of a resident-run cosmetic clinic through longitudinal resident follow up and institutional experiential review. Methods A retrospective review was conducted to identify all clinic-based aesthetic operations performed between 2009 and 2016. To capture residents' perspectives on the cosmetic resident clinic, questionnaires were distributed to the cohort. Primary outcome measures included: volume and types of cases performed, impact of clinic experience on training, confidence level performing cosmetic procedures, and satisfaction with chief clinic. Unpaired t tests were calculated to compare case volume/type with level of confidence and degree of preparedness to perform cosmetic procedures independently. Results Overall, 264 operations performed by 18 graduated chief residents were reviewed. Surveys were distributed to 28 chief residents (71.4% completion rate). Performing twenty or more clinic-based procedures was associated with higher levels of preparedness to perform cosmetic procedures independently (P = 0.037). Residents reported the highest confidence when performing cosmetic breast procedures when compared to face/neck (P = 0.005), body/trunk procedures (P = 0.39), and noninvasive facial procedures (P = 0.85). Conclusions The continued growth of aesthetic surgery highlights the need for comprehensive training and preparation for the new generation of plastic surgeons. Performing cosmetic procedures in clinic is a valuable adjunct to the traditional educational curriculum and increases preparedness and confidence for independent practice.
The Assignment of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification for Adult Polytrauma Patients: Results From a Survey and Future Considerations.

BACKGROUND:The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status (PS) classification system assesses the preoperative health of patients. Previous studies demonstrated poor interrater reliability and variable ASA PS scores, especially in trauma scenarios. There are few studies that evaluat
Differences in free surfactant concentration and aggregation properties for amphiphiles with the same critical micelle concentration

Abstract The impact of surfactant architecture on aggregation behavior is investigated using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice surfactant model. Many prior studies have observed differences in macroscopic surfactant system properties or in aggregation behavior for diblock surfactant architectures with varying head length, tail length, and head-to-tail ratio. However, the critical micelle concentration (cmc) also varies with these parameters, thus complicating the comparisons. In the present study, we separate the effects of varying cmc and varying architecture by comparing properties of amphiphiles with the same cmc using a simple lattice nonionic surfactant model in implicit solvent. We find that architectural variables such as the head length and the head-to-tail ratio do have a significant effect on structural micellar properties. We also identify differences in free surfactant concentrations, even when calculated in the volume accessible to them in solution. We modify a previously proposed correction to the free surfactant concentration in order to obtain the cmc from simulations at high concentrations. The differences in aggregation behavior reported using this model can be extended to differences in observed macroscopic properties for real surfactant systems.
Temporally distinct transcriptional regulation of myocyte dedifferentiation and Myofiber growth during muscle regeneration

Tissue regeneration requires a series of steps, beginning with generation of the necessary cell mass, followed by cell migration into damaged area, and ending with differentiation and integration with surrounding tissues. Temporal regulation of these steps lies at the heart of the regenerative process, yet its basis is not well understood. The ability of zebrafish to dedifferentiate mature “post-mitotic” myocytes into proliferating myoblasts that in turn regenerate lost muscle tissue provides an opportunity to probe the molecular mechanisms of regeneration. Following subtotal excision of adult zebrafish lateral rectus muscle, dedifferentiating residual myocytes were collected at two time points prior to cell cycle reentry and compared to uninjured muscles using RNA-seq. Functional annotation (GAGE or K-means clustering followed by GO enrichment) revealed a coordinated response encompassing epigenetic regulation of transcription, RNA processing, and DNA replication and repair, along with protein degradation and translation that would rewire the cellular proteome and metabolome. Selected candidate genes were phenotypically validated in vivo by morpholino knockdown. Rapidly induced gene products, such as the Polycomb group factors Ezh2 and Suz12a, were necessary for both efficient dedifferentiation (i.e. cell reprogramming leading to cell cycle reentry) and complete anatomic regeneration. In contrast, the late activated gene fibronectin was important for efficient anatomic muscle regeneration but not for the early step of myocyte cell cycle reentry. Reprogramming of a “post-mitotic” myocyte into a dedifferentiated myoblast requires a complex coordinated effort that reshapes the cellular proteome and rewires metabolic pathways mediated by heritable yet nuanced epigenetic alterations and molecular switches, including transcription factors and non-coding RNAs. Our studies show that temporal regulation of gene expression is programmatically linked to distinct steps in the regeneration process, with immediate early expression driving dedifferentiation and reprogramming, and later expression facilitating anatomical regeneration.
Continuous-wave modulation of a femtosecond oscillator using coherent molecules.

We describe a new method to broaden the frequency spectrum of a femtosecond oscillator in the continuous-wave (CW) domain. The method relies on modulating the femtosecond laser using four-wave mixing inside a Raman-based optical modulator. We prepare the modulator by placing deuterium molecules inside a high-finesse cavity and driving their fundamental vibrational transition using intense pump and Stokes lasers that are locked to the cavity modes. With the molecules prepared, any laser within the optical region of the spectrum can pass through the system and be modulated in a single pass. This constitutes a CW optical modulator at a frequency of 90 THz with a steady-state single-pass efficiency of ∼10-6 and transient (10 μs-time-scale) single-pass efficiency of ∼10-4. Using our modulator, we broaden the initial Ti:sapphire spectrum centered at 800 nm and produce upshifted and downshifted sidebands centered at wavelengths of 650 nm and 1.04 μm, respectively.
NCCN Frameworks for Resource Stratification of NCCN Guidelines: Adult Cancer Pain and Palliative Care

The NCCN Framework aims to provide adapted guidelines for low- and middle-resource countries to improve the experience of patients with cancer. In particular, the NCCN Frameworks for Adult Cancer Pain and Palliative Care and were designed to help expand access to pain management and palliative care for patients in low-resource countries. The NCCN Framework is one of several tools that can improve cancer care in the developing world. The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa, a collaborative effort between NCCN, American Cancer Society, Clinton Health Access Initiative, and African Cancer Coalition, was developed to harmonize NCCN recommendations with local guidelines across Africa and to make best use of available services and resources.
Quantitative assessment of cyanide in cystic fibrosis sputum and its oxidative catabolism by hypochlorous acid

Abstract Rationale Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are known to produce cyanide (CN-) although challenges exist in determinations of total levels, the precise bioactive levels, and specificity of its production by CF microflora, especially P. aeruginosa. Our objective was to measure total CN- levels in CF sputa by a simple and novel technique in P. aeruginosa positive and negative adult patients, to review respiratory tract (RT) mechanisms for the production and degradation of CN-, and to interrogate sputa for post-translational protein modification by CN- metabolites. Methods Sputa CN- concentrations were determined by using a commercially available CN- electrode, measuring levels before and after addition of cobinamide, a compound with extremely high affinity for CN-. Detection of protein carbamoylation was measured by Western blot. Measurements and main results The commercial CN- electrode was found to overestimate CN- levels in CF sputum in a highly variable manner; cobinamide addition rectified this analytical issue. Although P. aeruginosa positive patients tended to have higher total CN- values, no significant differences in CN- levels were found between positive and negative sputa. The inflammatory oxidant hypochlorous acid (HOCl) was shown to rapidly decompose CN-, forming cyanogen chloride (CNCl) and the carbamoylating species cyanate (NCO-). Carbamoylated proteins were found in CF sputa, analogous to reported findings in asthma. Conclusions Our studies indicate that CN- is a transient species in the inflamed CF airway due to multiple biosynthetic and metabolic processes. Stable metabolites of CN-, such as cyanate, or carbamoylated proteins, may be suitable biomarkers of overall CN- production in CF airways.