cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism and structural design of the orbital replacement unit of spacecraft

Because the spacecrafts appear functional failures very often in their missions,This will cause a great loss to us. However,on-orbit unit replacement technology makes use of the space manipulator's own fault on the serviceable spacecraft to replace the failure units,upgrade the spacecrafts and add the consumables and so on. On the basis of missions and components,the mechanism designing scheme has been designed about Orbital Replacement Unit. Then structural design has been planned. Finally it established 3D model of the structure by using SolidWorks software. Its feasibility is verified by actual model.
Survey on Malaria Epidemic Situation and Strategies for Its Control in Shenzhen Area

Objective To understand malaria epidemic situation,and estimate the effect of strategies for malaria control in Shenzhen area.Methods The malaria surveillance data from 2007 to 2009 were collected,and analyzed using descriptive epidemiological methods to indicate its charateristics.Comprehensive measures were adapted for malaria control,and effect was estimate by observing the change of malaria moribidities.Results 85 malaria cases were reported during 2007-2009,among which 63.5%(54 /85)of the cases were imported,and average malaria incidence was 0.025 /10 000 annually.31,21,20,5,5 and 2 cases were reported in Luohu,Baoan Longgang,Nanshan,Futian and Yantian District,respectively.The season distribution of malaria cases featured one peak period occurred during June and August.Workers and peasants worked ouside and travellers from malaria enedemic areas,such as Africa and South-east Asia,were high risk populations to malaria.After disease control measures implemented,the total malaria cases and imported cases reported in 2009 were significantly decreased by 46.1% and 65.5%,respectively,as compared with 2008.Conclusion The epidemic situation of malaria was stable in Shenzhen areas,which may be influenced by imported malaria cases,so the control of imported malaria shold be strengthened.
Protective Role of Arginase II in Cerebral Ischemia and Excitotoxicity.

Background: Arginase (Arg), one of the enzymes involved in the urea cycle, provides an essential route for the disposal of excess nitrogen resulting from amino acid and nucleotide metabolism. Two reported subtypes of Arg (ArgI and II) compete with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) to use L-arginine as a substrate, and subsequently regulate NOS activity. It has been reported that Arg has significant effects on circulation that suggest the potential role of this enzyme in regulating vascular function. However, the role of Arg following brain damage has not been elucidated. In this study, we hypothesize that the deletion of ArgII will lead to aggravated brain injury following cerebral ischemia and excitotoxicity. Methods and findings: To test our hypothesis, male C57BL/6 wildtype (WT) and ArgII-/- mice were subjected to permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion and survived for 7 d. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) data revealed a statistically non-significant decrease in CBF in ArgII-/- mice. However, ArgII-/- mice had significantly higher neurologic deficit scores (NDS) and brain infarctions. The hypothesis was further tested in a more specific N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA)-induced acute excitotoxic model. WT and ArgII-/- mice were given a single intrastriatal injection of 15 nmol NMDA. Forty-eight hours later, the excitotoxic brain damage was significantly worse in ArgII-/- mice. The data from both models confirm the neuroprotective effect of ArgII. Conclusion: Therefore, targeting ArgII could be considered into an integrative part of a multi-modal approach to fight acute brain damage excitotoxicity, ischemic brain injury and other forms of brain trauma.
Physical methods for the management of hirsutism

Physical methods for the management of unwanted hair are critically reviewed. Electrolysis and thermolysis are popular and medically proven electrochemical and electrosurgical techniques for permanent hair removal. Many patients seek consultation with their physician prior to having this elective procedure performed. Clinical guidelines are presented for a successful consultation with such patients. Many years ago the unregulated practice of x-ray therapy by unlicensed and poorly trained personnel resulted in tragic morbidity and mortality. Some historical parallels exist between this disturbing period and present day electrolysis and thermolysis practice: only twenty-seven states currently require licensing for permanent hair removal, which is a procedure with rare but potentially serious complications.
Development of a novel method for the bioanalysis of benfotiamine and sulbutiamine in cancer cells

Quantification of benfotiamine and sulbutiamine, synthetic thiamine analogs, in biological samples is an essential step toward understanding the role of these thiamine analogs on cancer cell proliferation. A sensitive method to quantitate benfotiamine and sulbutiamine in cells and media was successfully developed using reversed-phase HPLC. Accuracy, precision, specificity and robustness were evaluated to assess the reliability of this method in accordance with U.S. FDA guidelines. The method provided a linear range from 100–50000 nM for benfotiamine and from 500–30000 nM for sulbutiamine in both cells and media. The method was validated and the precision was found to be within 15% relative standard deviation (RSD), and the accuracy to be within 15% relative error (RE). Benfotiamine and sulbutiamine were used as internal standards for each other to achieve a high level of reproducibility. This method has been successfully applied to the study of benfotiamine and sulbutiamine to determine their uptake and disposition between mammalian cells and cell media. The method can contribute to future studies to determine the effect of benfotiamine and sulbutiamine as novel thiamine analogs on cancer cell proliferation.
Compassion in Survival in Auschwitz

This chapter examines the conditions created by the Italian anti-Semitic racial laws (1937) and the concentration camps, which provide the most extreme context for examining compassion. Although scholarly studies generally approach Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi and Smoke over Birkenau by Liana Millu as Holocaust art, these texts clearly incorporate key components of neorealist aesthetics. In order to analyze Levi’s text, the following themes are examined: the relations between compassion and imagination, national and ethnic differences. The critical works of Richard Wollheim and Daniel Putnam are employed in analyzing compassion’s relation to imagination and thought.
Wondering what to blame? Turn PV performance assessments into maintenance action items through the deployment of learning algorithms embedded in a Raspberry Pi device

Monitoring of photovoltaic (PV) systems can maintain efficient operations. However, extensive monitoring of large quantities of data can be a cumbersome process. The present work introduces a simple, inexpensive, yet effective data monitoring strategy for detecting faults and determining lost revenues automatically. This was achieved through the deployment of Raspberry Pi (RPI) device at a PV system's combiner box. The RPI was programmed to collect PV data through Modbus communications, and store the data locally in a MySQL database. Then, using a Gaussian Process Regression algorithm the RPI device was able to accurately estimate string level current, voltage, and power values. The device could also detect system faults using a Support Vector Novelty Detection algorithm. Finally, the RPI was programmed to output the potential lost revenue caused by the abnormal condition. The system analytics information was then displayed on a user interface. The interface could be accessed by operations personal to direct maintenance activity so that critical issues can be solved quickly.
Rockfall Activity Index (RAI): A lidar-derived, morphology-based method for hazard assessment

Abstract In this paper, we introduce the Rockfall Activity Index (RAI), a point cloud-derived, high-resolution, morphology-based approach for assessing rockfall hazards. With the RAI methodology, rockfall hazards are evaluated in a two-step procedure. First, morphological indices (local slope and roughness) are used to classify mass wasting processes acting on a rock-slope. These classifications are then used with estimated instability rates to map rockfall activity across an entire slope face. The rockfall hazard is quantified as the estimated annual kinetic energy produced by rockfall along 1-m length segments of a slope face. Field assessment of the RAI method at multiple study sites indicates that the morphology-derived classification and hazard assessment routines provide results that closely match the observed behavior and performance of rock slopes.
Exploiting decellularized cochleae as scaffolds for inner ear tissue engineering.

Use of decellularized tissues has become popular in tissue engineering applications as the natural extracellular matrix can provide necessary physical cues that help induce the restoration and development of functional tissues. In relation to cochlear tissue engineering, the question of whether decellularized cochlear tissue can act as a scaffold and support the incorporation of exogenous cells has not been addressed. Investigators have explored the composition of the cochlear extracellular matrix and developed multiple strategies for decellularizing a variety of different tissues; however, no one has investigated whether decellularized cochlear tissue can support implantation of exogenous cells. As a proof-of-concept study, human Wharton’s jelly cells were perfused into decellularized cochleae isolated from C57BL/6 mice to determine if human Wharton’s jelly cells could implant into decellularized cochlear tissue. Decellularization was verified through scanning electron microscopy. Cocheae were stained with DAPI and immunostained with Myosin VIIa to identify cells. Perfused cochleae were imaged using confocal microscopy. Features of the organ of Corti were clearly identified in the native cochleae when imaged with scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Acellular structures were identified in decellularized cochleae; however, no cellular structures or lipid membranes were present within the decellularized cochleae when imaged via scanning electron microscopy. Confocal microscopy revealed positive identification and adherence of cells in decellularized cochleae after perfusion with human Wharton’s jelly cells. Some cells positively expressed Myosin VIIa after perfusion. Human Wharton’s jelly cells are capable of successfully implanting into decellularized cochlear extracellular matrix. The identification of Myosin VIIa expression in human Wharton’s jelly cells after implantation into the decellularized cochlear extracellular matrix suggest that components of the cochlear extracellular matrix may be involved in differentiation.
Characterization of the FAD2 Gene Family in Soybean Reveals the Limitations of Gel-Based TILLING in Genes with High Copy Number.

Soybean seed oil typically contains 18-20% oleic acid. Increasing the content of oleic acid is beneficial for health and biodiesel production. Mutations in FAD2-1 genes have been reported to increase seed oleic acid content. A subset of 1,037 mutant families from a mutagenized soybean cultivar (cv.) Forrest population was screened using reverse genetics (TILLING) to identify mutations within FAD2 genes. Although no fad2 mutants were identified using gel-based TILLING, four fad2-1A and one fad2-1B mutants were identified using forward genetic screening and subsequent target sequencing. TILLING has been successfully used as a nontransgenic reverse genetic approach to identify mutations in genes controlling important agronomic traits. However, this technique presents limitations in traits such as oil composition due to gene copy number and similarities within the soybean genome. In soybean, FAD2 are present as two copies, FAD2-1 and FAD2-2. Two FAD2-1 members: FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B; and three FAD2-2 members: FAD2-2A, FAD2-2B, and FAD2-2C have been reported. Syntenic, phylogenetic, and in silico analysis revealed two additional members constituting the FAD2 gene family: GmFAD2-2D and GmFAD2-2E, located on chromosomes 09 and 15, respectively. They are presumed to have diverged from other FAD2-2 members localized on chromosomes 19 (GmFAD2-2A and GmFAD2-2B) and 03 (GmFAD2-2C). This work discusses alternative solutions to the limitations of gel-based TILLING in functional genomics due to high copy number and multiple paralogs of the FAD2 gene family in soybean.
Peer Influence, Peer Selection and Adolescent Alcohol Use: a Simulation Study Using a Dynamic Network Model of Friendship Ties and Alcohol Use

While studies suggest that peer influence can in some cases encourage adolescent substance use, recent work demonstrates that peer influence may be on average protective for cigarette smoking, raising questions about whether this effect occurs for other substance use behaviors. Herein, we focus on adolescent drinking, which may follow different social dynamics than smoking. We use a data-calibrated Stochastic Actor-Based (SAB) Model of adolescent friendship tie choice and drinking behavior to explore the impact of manipulating the size of peer influence and selection effects on drinking in two school-based networks. We first fit a SAB Model to data on friendship tie choice and adolescent drinking behavior within two large schools (n = 2178 and n = 976) over three time points using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. We then alter the size of the peer influence and selection parameters with all other effects fixed at their estimated values and simulate the social systems forward 1000 times under varying conditions. Whereas peer selection appears to contribute to drinking behavior similarity among adolescents, there is no evidence that it leads to higher levels of drinking at the school level. A stronger peer influence effect lowers the overall level of drinking in both schools. There are many similarities in the patterning of findings between this study of drinking and previous work on smoking, suggesting that peer influence and selection may function similarly with respect to these substances.
Action recognition from point cloud patches using discrete orthogonal moments

3D sensors such as standoff Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) generate partial 3D point clouds that resemble patches of irregularly-shaped, coarse groups of points. 3D modeling of this type of data for human action recognition has been rarely studied. Although 2D---based depth image analysis is an option, its effectiveness on this type of low-resolution data hasn't been well answered. This paper investigates a new multi-scale 3D shape descriptor, based on the discrete orthogonal Tchebichef Moments, for the characterization of 3D action pose shapes made of low-resolution point cloud patches. Our shape descriptor consists of low-order 3D Tchebichef moments computed with respect to a new point cloud voxelization scheme that normalizes translation, scale, and resolution. The action recognition is built on the Naive Bayes classifier using temporal statistics of a `bag of pose shapes'. For performance evaluation, a synthetic LIDAR pose shape baseline was developed with 62 human subjects performing three actions - digging, jogging, and throwing. Our action classification experiments demonstrated that the 3D Tchebichef moment representation of point clouds achieves excellent action and viewing direction predictions with superb consistency across a large range of scale and viewing angle variations.
Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Seizures, Convulsions and Epilepsy

The pharmacological and medicinal properties of Cannabis sativa in the production of euphoria and the treatment of pain, nausea, anorexia, glaucoma, muscle spasticity, seizures, convulsions, epilepsy and many other indications have been the subject of considerable interest for thousands of year. While Δ9-THC is the chemical constituent in cannabis most commonly associated with these actions, other phytocannabinoids have also been shown to possess significant pharmacological activity and therapeutic potential. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one such compound that produces a variety of pharmacological effects of potential clinical importance, while at the same time being practically devoid of the psychoactivity and abuse liability associated with Δ9-THC. Despite its lack of psychoactivity, CBD and CBD-containing cannabis extracts are controlled as Schedule 1 substances by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. However, the accumulating evidence showing that CBD formulations can provide therapeutic benefit in treating debilitating diseases has prompted actions by both the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration to facilitate continued preclinical and clinical research. Some of the most promising clinical applications for CBD-based therapeutics are in neuronal hyperexcitability, seizures, convulsions and epilepsy. An increasing amount of preclinical and clinical evidence supports the use of CBD for these indications; however, the safety and efficacy of CBD dose formulations in infants, adolescents and other patient populations remain to be firmly established. In addition, the mechanisms of action responsible for CBD’s clinical effects remain to be fully elucidated, it inhibits cytochrome P450s and it has drug interaction liabilities. There is also speculation that extracts of cannabis produce a synergistic entourage effect that improves efficacy over CBD alone. Thus, there remains a clear need for further studies of the structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of action of CBD-based formulations to ensure that the therapeutic indices of dosage formulations are clearly understood and optimized for patient populations.
The Bell Rockets

Considerable effort is devoted to show how space and body differ in relativity. We consider the example of two rockets set in motion in synchronous way, connected by a fragile thread; rockets are allowed to move faster and faster: while spatial distance of rockets remains unchanged, the Lorentz-contracted thread breaks. We show that one can record the history of contraction effects just like one does with the time dilation effect measuring time using a clock; this allows us to design a body-contraction measuring device.
MicroRNAs associated with inflammation in shoulder tendinopathy and glenohumeral arthritis

Inflammation is associated with glenohumeral arthritis and rotator cuff tendon tears. Epigenetically, miRNAs tightly regulate various genes involved in the inflammatory response. Alterations in the expression profile of miRNAs and the elucidation of their target genes with respect to the pathophysiology could improve the understanding of their regulatory role and therapeutic potential. Here, we screened key miRNAs that mediate inflammation and linked with JAK2/STAT3 pathway with respect to the coincidence of glenohumeral arthritis in patients suffering from rotator cuff injury (RCI). Human resected long head of the biceps tendons were examined for miRNA profile from two groups of patients: Group 1 included the patients with glenohumeral arthritis and massive rotator cuff tears and the Group 2 patients did not have arthritis or rotator cuff tears. The miRNA profiling revealed that 235 miRNAs were highly altered (fold change less than −3 and greater than +2 were considered). Data from the NetworkAnalyst program revealed the involvement and interaction between 3,430 different genes associated with inflammation out of which 284 genes were associated with JAK2/STAT3 pathway and interconnect 120 different pathways of inflammation. Around 1,500 miRNAs were found to play regulatory role associated with these genes of inflammatory responses and 77 miRNAs were found to regulate more than 10 genes. Among them, 25 genes with less than tenfold change were taken to consideration which altogether constitute for the regulation of 102 genes. Targeting these miRNAs and the underlying regulatory mechanisms may advance our knowledge to develop promising therapies in the management of shoulder tendon pathology.
Maternal serum uric acid levels and blood pressure during pregnancy: A community-based cohort study.

Abstract Objective Studies find both very low and high serum uric acid (UA) levels are related to oxidative stress and to conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease in the general population. Pregnancy studies have focused only on high maternal UA. In present study, we tested whether unusually high and low levels of maternal serum UA are associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy. Study design The Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health Study enrolled 3019 pregnant women between their 16th–27th week of pregnancy from 52 clinics in 5 Michigan communities (1998–2004). UA levels were measured in maternal blood collected at enrollment from a sub-cohort of 1223 participants. BP was abstracted from prenatal medical records; these analyses used highest recorded diastolic BP (DBP) and its companion systolic BP (SBP). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated using the formula of (2 × DBP + SBP)/3. Covariates, including maternal race/ethnicity, age at enrollment, education level, medical insurance status, body mass index before pregnancy, parity, smoking during pregnancy, alcohol use during pregnancy, and gestational week at blood collection, were considered as potential confounding variables. Associations between UA levels and BP were evaluated with linear spline or multiple linear regression models. Models’ robustness was examined with bootstrap estimation of variance, sensitivity analysis, and 10-fold cross-validation. Results Both DBP and MAP had a J-shaped relationship with maternal UA; the breakpoints (nadirs) were 0.153 and 0.161 mmol/L UA, respectively. For DBP versus UA, adjusted regression coefficient (β) = −95.67 (standard error (SE) = 37.67 and p = 0.01) for the left and adjusted β = 48.95 (SE = 9.56 and p Conclusion Extreme high and low maternal serum UA levels may be informative in studying maternal blood pressure during pregnancy.
Steps in the fertilization process: understanding and control.

The fertilization process begins when spermatozoa are released from the male and enter into the oocyte’s environment (external fertilization) or are deposited into the female (internal fertilization) and it ends when the zygote is formed. In this report the fertilization process is discussed in the context of a hierarchy of specificities leading to successful fertilization. In 1919 F.R. Lillie conceptualized the specific interaction and fusion of sperm and egg in the “receptor terminology” that is in use today. Sperm and egg receptors are discussed in this context and the rabbit sperm membrane protein, RSA-1 is presented as an example of a sperm zona binding protein. Lillie’s sperm-egg receptor paradigm is still not fully understood, yet with a better understanding of each level in the hierarchy will come the possibility of control not only to inhibit fertilization but also to treat infertility.
Response: Moving Beyond the Ideal/Nonideal Debate: A Call for Critical Reconstructive Philosophy

With that stated, let me contextualize my argument. A debate has been raging in political philosophy and philosophy of education over the best approach to doing normative philosophy. Often this debate is framed within the Kantian/Rawlsian tradition and revolves around the distinction between ideal and nonideal theory. While this debate has yielded interesting discussions, the framing of this debate is based upon the false assumption that normative philosophy is best done within the Kantian/Rawlsian tradition. Even critics of ideal theory work within this tradition when they construct free-standing principles from which to judge social issues prior to an immanent analysis of society. However, as critical theorists such as Axel Honneth, Jurgen Habermas, and others have argued, the Kantian/Rawlsian approach is problematic for a number of reasons.1 One major weakness in framing the debate in this manner, as Axel Honneth explains, “is that it has been decoupled from an analysis of society ... [and] although theories of justice necessarily formulate normative rules according to which we can assess the moral legitimacy of social orders, today these principles are drawn in isolation from the norms that prevail in given practices and institutions, and are then only applied secondary to social reality.”2
Children’s social status and anticipated shame and guilt experiences:

Previous research indicates that the behavioral profile of high-status children is not monolithic but varied. This study contributes to the existing research on high-status children by showing that...
Membrane-mediated interaction drives mitochondrial ATPase assembly and cristae formation.

Because of rapid progress in various imaging and structural biology techniques, it is increasingly recognized that components of cellular membranes self-organize into remarkable structures with rich architectural features. Striking examples include the immunological synapse ([Grakoui et al., 1999][1
Intimate Partner Violence and a Rights-Based Approach to Healing

Chapter 4 applies principles from a rights-based approach to clinical practice to work with those who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). The problem of IPV is defined and framed within the context of human rights and selected prevalence data are summarized. The experiences of several special populations affected by IPV are highlighted (i.e., children and families; heterosexual male and LGBTQ survivors; and undocumented survivors). Relevant human rights mechanisms and tools are described and selected core principles and foundational considerations for clinical social workers working with IPV survivors are discussed. Rights-based recommendations and several key challenges for clinical practice with this population are presented. Attention to work with perpetrators (a commonly under-examined topic) is explored in this chapter, highlighting the value of conducting a holistic assessment and working with the complexities presented from a rights-based framework including with those perpetrators who may have been mandated to receive services. Restorative justice approaches are described and discussed, as an alternative model to addressing the problem of IPV. The chapter ends with suggested class activities and selected resources.
A PageRank-Based Heuristic Algorithm for Influence Maximization in the Social Network

The influence maximization is the problem of how to find a small subset of nodes (seed nodes) that could maximize the spread of influence in social network. However,it proved to be NP-hard.We propose a new heuristic algorithm, the High-PageRank greedy algorithm(HPR_Greedy),which searches the seed nodes in a small portion containing only the high-PageRank nodes, based on the power-law influence distribution in non-uniform networks. The experimental results showed that, compared with classical algorithms, the HPR_Greedy algorithm reduced search time and achieved better scalability without losing influence.
Componentes básicos de la sexualidad humana.

Full understanding of any person’s sexuality requires consideration of at least five components or levels of character, behavior and biology. These components are easily kept in mind with the mnemonic PRIMO: gender Patterns, Reproduction, sexual Identity, sexual Mechanisms, and sexual Orientation.
Ultra-Compact and Modular 5G Phased-Array 4-Channel Beamformer Front-Ends with <2° RMS Phase Error

This paper presents the state-of-the-art millimeter wave IC development for 5G communication systems in various frequency bands. 2×2 TRX beamformer IC's at 26, 28 and 39 GHz achieve <2° RMS phase error, high channel-to-channel isolation, low-power consumption (<250 mW in TX and <200 mW RX modes, per channel), and include fast T/R switching (<100 ns), 4-level fast phase and gain weighting memory access (<30 ns) and temperature reporting. Ultra-compact IC's enable low-cost panel implementations as well as modular and cost effective system-in-package (SiP) solutions for 5G flat panel phased array systems.
Frequency of venous thrombotic events in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and 5q deletion syndrome during lenalidomide therapy

Lenalidomide is known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with hematologic malignancies. The role of antithrombotic prophylaxis in patients receiving lenalidomide is well established in multiple myeloma. However, when used in patients with a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)—in particular, del(5q) patients—the risk of venous thromboembolism and the need for anticoagulation are unknown. We performed a retrospective for MDS patients with 5q deletion. The total number of patients was 64, and 24 (38%) were treated with lenalidomide. Of those who received lenalidomide, venous thrombotic events (VTE) occurred in 4 (17%). All events occurred after 1 year of lenalidomide therapy. Although limited by the cohort size, concurrent erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) were not associated with increased thrombotic events, and the diagnosis of VTE did not affect survival. Our data suggest an increased incidence of VTE with prolonged lenalidomide treatment, mainly if MDS responds to this therapy.
Analysis of DCE-MRI for Early Prediction of Breast Cancer Therapy Response

Positive response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been correlated to better long-term outcomes in breast cancer treatment. Early prediction of response to NACT can help modify the regimen for non-responding patients, sparing them of potential toxicities of ineffective therapies. It has been observed that tumor functions such as vascularization and vascular permeability change even before noticeable changes occur in the tumor size in response to the treatment. Therefore, it is essential to have reliable imaging based features to measure these changes. Texture analysis on parametric maps from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has shown to be a good predictor of breast cancer response to NACT at an early stage. But hand crafted texture features might not be able to capture the rich spatio-temporal information in the parametric maps. In this work, we studied the ability of convolutional neural networks in predicting the response to NACT at an early stage.
Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Metastatic Urinary Cancers.

Abstract Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have widely been used to assess treatment-related symptoms in clinical trials and provide insight into the patients’ perspective during treatment. This mini-review sought to outline the benefits of measuring patient-reported outcomes, describe the most common measures used in recent pivotal studies in metastatic urinary cancers, and summarize the main findings published in the last 2 yr. In general, European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer QLQC30 and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy were the most common PROMs used in these trials. PROMs provided important information concerning patients’ quality of life and symptom burden during treatment, including insight into how these drugs may be tolerated in real-world clinical circumstances; however, many still do not assess patients' social and emotional experiences. Based on this mini-review, the combination of a symptomatic toxicity scale and validated quality of life measure represents a reliable strategy to assess patient perspectives during treatment. Patient summary In this mini-review on patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs), we explored data from recent pivotal studies in metastatic urinary cancer. We found that all recent clinical trials in metastatic urinary cancers assessed patient-reported outcomes, primarily through the use of quality of life measures. We recommend the use of both a symptomatic toxicity scale and a quality of life scale to evaluate PROMs.
Problems associated with the reading of arithmetic

X f a child is not successful in arithmetic, many teachers mistakenly assume the entire problem to be a "natural" dislike for the subject. The child's lack of success may be characterized by incomplete homework, inaccurate work, unwillingness to explore by himself the field of mathematics beyond those assignments made by the teacher in the standard text, inattentiveness, and a verbally pronounced discontent with the subject. Admittedly, each of these symptoms could be associated with a dislike of mathematics, but each of them could also be attributed to reading problems associated with mathematics and not to mathe-
Heterogeneity of Melanoma with Stem Cell Properties.

Metastatic melanoma continues to present a significant challenge—with a cure rate of less than 10% and a median survival of 6–9 months. Despite noteworthy advances in the field, the heterogeneity of melanoma tumors, comprised of cell subpopulations expressing a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype concomitant with drug resistance markers presents a formidable challenge in the design of current therapies. Particularly vexing is the ability of distinct subpopulations of melanoma cells to resist standard-of-care treatments, resulting in relapse and progression to metastasis. Recent studies have provided new information and insights into the expression and function of CSC markers associated with the aggressive melanoma phenotype, such as the embryonic morphogen Nodal and CD133, together with a drug resistance marker ABCA1. This chapter highlights major findings that demonstrate the promise of targeting Nodal as a viable option to pursue in combination with standard-of-care therapy. In recognizing that aggressive melanoma tumors utilize multiple mechanisms to survive, we must consider a more strategic approach to effectively target heterogeneity, tumor cell plasticity, and functional adaptation and resistance to current therapies—to eliminate relapse, disease progression, and metastasis.
A 12- or 48-V Input, 0.9-V Output Active-Clamp Forward Converter Power Block for Servers and Datacenters

DC-to-DC power supplies are critical components for processors in high performance computing and datacenter servers. Conversion from an intermediate bus voltage (e.g., 12 or 48 V) to the core voltage (∼0.9 V) of processors must be efficient, compact, and cost effective. This paper proposes two versions of active-clamp forward converter (ACFC) power blocks to supply core voltage from either 12 or 48 V intermediate bus voltage. The ACFC power block can be individually tested prior to assembly and vertically soldered onto the motherboard to fit in a standard 1U server. A low loss, compact planar transformer is designed into the ACFC power block printed circuit board (PCB). A custom, standing slab inductor not only provides high inductance and high saturation current but also helps to mechanically support the power block. A one-piece copper winding connects the transformer to the inductor, thereby reducing the dc loss in the current path. Thorough analysis is performed to model the conversion loss of the proposed power block. Experimental results show a peak efficiency of 90.4% (12 V input) and 89.5% (48 V input) with 0.9-V output.
The Resilience Bank Account: Skills for Optimal Performance

The day-to-day life of a cardiothoracic surgeon and other high-stakes occupations is riddled with chronic stress punctuated by acute, sometimes life-threatening, crises. Additional stress from the realms of a surgeon's personal life can add to the silent burden surgeons often carry. The tolls paid for poor management of the cumulative stress load can impact surgeons and their patients, leading to errors of clinical judgment, burnout, early departures from practice, health issues, and substance abuse. This article reviews 6 individual skills or habits that can, when proactively integrated into a daily routine, make the difference. The idea of investing in a resilience bank account is suggested as a metaphor for the reserve building and cumulative positive impact of these habits over time.
In Vitro Production of Bison Embryos

Bison are an iconic species of cultural, conservation, and commercial interest. Various assisted reproductive technologies have been tested in bison over the last few decades (e.g., superovulation and embryo transfer), but their efficiencies are low. Since 2007, several methods for producing bison embryos in vitro have been published. All of these methods are based on cattle embryo production models and have varying degrees of success with regard to embryo production rates. In this chapter, a brief summary of these reports is presented followed by a detailed protocol that has been successfully used to produce bison embryos in vitro and live offspring following embryo transfer.
Uterus-sparing Surgery - Outcomes of Transvaginal Uterosacral Ligament Hysteropexy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Recently, there has been a paradigm shift toward uterine conservation during the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), specifically uterine prolapse. There are few reports on transvaginal uterosacral ligament hysteropexy (TULH). This study aimed to describe our surgical technique and outcomes. DESIGN Retrospective review and description of surgical technique. Anatomic outcome has been reported using the POP quantification system. Complications were segregated. A comparison of parametric continuous variables was performed using paired t test. Categoric variables were evaluated using the Pearson χ2 test and the Fisher exact test. A p-value <.05 was considered significant. SETTING Teaching hospital. PATIENTS Forty patients who underwent TULH from 2009 to 2017. INTERVENTIONS TULH. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A total of 40 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 56.1% had preoperative stage 3 prolapse. The median operative time was 116 minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 158.5 mL. Transient ureteral obstruction occurred in 2 patients. The mean follow-up time was 17.2 months, and all patients had significant improvement of prolapse (p <.001). There was also an improvement in urinary incontinence and bladder storage symptoms (p <.001). None of the patients were reoperated on for recurrent POP. CONCLUSION TULH is an effective uterus-preserving surgical alternative for the treatment of uterovaginal prolapse and provides good apical support. It is also associated with a low short-term recurrence and incidence of reoperation. TULH is a viable option for suitable patients with uterovaginal prolapse who desire uterine conservation.
Productivity and Fruit Composition of Dry-On-Vine Raisin Grapes Pruned to 15- or 20-Node Canes on an Overhead Trellis

Summary Goals: Dry-on-vine (DOV) raisin grapes are cane-pruned to allow for cane severance, which initiates the DOV process, and to maximize yield potential. Yield components of Thompson Seedless raisin grapes, including the number of clusters per node, cluster and berry weight, and soluble solids per berry, have been shown to follow particular patterns with respect to node position, and this has informed pruning practice. However, DOV raisins in California are made from varieties that ripen earlier than Thompson Seedless, and they may have different fruiting characteristics. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine how the number of nodes per cane, and node position, affected yield components of DOV raisin grape varieties. Key findings: Basal nodes produced the fewest clusters due to poorer bud break and lower fruitfulness. Fiesta was the most fruitful variety, followed by Selma Pete, and then Thompson Seedless and DOVine. Cluster fresh weight increased whereas berry soluble solids (Brix) decreased with node position, regardless of cane length. Fruit from longer canes had less soluble solids (Brix) than the fruit from shorter canes, thus cane length did not usually affect total soluble solids (fruit fresh weight x soluble solids (Brix)) per cane. Fiesta produced more fresh fruit and total soluble solids per cane than other varieties. Impact and significance: Cane length had contrasting effects on fresh fruit weight and soluble solids, with shorter canes producing less fruit with higher soluble solids, whereas long canes produced more fruit of lower soluble solids. Harvested on the same date, these effects sufficiently countered each other such that canes of different lengths produced similar amounts of total soluble solids (sugar per cane) in two of three years. In California, where early maturity is preferred to ensure adequate drying time, shorter canes may be better than longer ones. However, if cane severance can be delayed to allow the berries to accumulate more sugar, which might be possible in other growing regions, or when drying emulsion may be used to hasten drying, longer canes could potentially increase raisin yield.
The impact of the RASSF1C and PIWIL1 on DNA methylation: the identification of GMIP as a tumor suppressor.

Introduction Recently we have identified a novel RASSF1C-PIWIL1-piRNA pathway that promotes lung cancer cell progression and migration. PIWI-like proteins interact with piRNAs to form complexes that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. We have illustrated in previous work that RASSF1C modulates the expression of the PIWIL1-piRNA gene axis, suggesting the hypothesis that the RASSF1C-PIWI-piRNA pathway could potentially contribute to lung cancer stem cell development and progression, in part, through modulation of gene methylation of both oncogenic and tumor suppressor genes. Therefore, we tested this hypothesis using a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell model to identify Candidate Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs) modulated by the RASSF1C-PIWIL1-piRNA pathway. Materials and methods We studied the impact of over-expressing RASSF1C and knocking down RASSF1C and PIWIL1 expression on global gene DNA methylation in the NSCLC cell line H1299 using the Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) method. Results DMRs were identified by comparing DNA methylation profiles of experimental and control cells. Over-expression of RASSF1C and knocking down RASSF1C and PIWIL1 modulated DNA methylation of genomic regions; and statistically significant candidate genes residing DMR regions in lung cancer cells were identified, including oncogenes and tumor suppressors. One of the hypermethylated genes, Gem Interacting Protein (GMIP), displays tumor suppressor properties. GMIP expression attenuates lung cancer cell migration, and its over-expression is associated with longer survival of lung cancer patients. Conclusions The RASSF1C-PIWI-piRNA pathway modulates key oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. GMIP is hypermethylated by this pathway and has tumor suppressor properties.
The Genetic Basis of Transcriptional and Spatial Heterogeneity of Squamous Features in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Summary Recent studies indicate that pancreatic cancer expression profiles are variable and largely reflect a classical or basal-type phenotype. We performed genetic sequencing, RNA-seq, and histologic review of multiregion sampled pancreatic cancers and found that squamous and squamoid features, indicators of poor prognosis, correlate with a “basal-like” expressional type. Cancers with squamous features were more likely to have truncal mutations in chromatin modifier genes and intercellular heterogeneity for MYC amplification that was associated with entosis. In most patients the basal phenotype coexisted with a glandular component, and phylogenetic studies indicated that it arose from a subclonal population in the tumor. These data provide a unifying paradigm for understanding the interrelationship of basal-type features, squamous histology, and somatic mutations in chromatin modifier genes in the context of the clonal evolution of pancreatic cancer.
Learning from Power Sector Reform : The Case of The Philippines

The Philippines power sector underwent a substantial and largely complete reform process. Following a severe shortage of supply in the late 1980s and the Asian Financial crisis of 1997, which made the dollar-denominated debt of the National Power Corporation extremely burdensome, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act was passed in 2001. This was intended to improve the quality of service and reduce power tariffs via the introduction of private participation and competition at the wholesale and retail levels. Although the implementation of the full reform program took longer than originally expected, the unwavering support given to the reform agenda by successive presidents of the country ensured that the planned steps had all been completed by 2013. At that time, retail competition and open access for consumers in Luzon and Visayas of more than one megawatt were introduced. The reform process was not impeded by complications that would have arisen if consumer subsidies had been endemic, but retail prices are even higher than might have been expected in the absence of subsidies, due to domestic taxation and the presence of some inefficiencies that have not yet been eliminated by the onset of competition.
A General Purpose Variational Formulation for Boundary Value Problems of Orders Greater than Two

We develop a new general purpose variational formulation, particularly suitable for solving boundary value problems of orders greater than two. The functional related to this variational formulation requires only Η1 regularity in order to be well-defined. Using the finite element method based on this new formulation thus becomes simple even for domains in dimensions greater than one. We prove that a saddle-point solution to the new variational formulation is a weak solution to the associated boundary value problem. We also prove the convergence of the numerical methods used to find approximate solutions to the new formulation. We provide numerical tests to demonstrate the efficacy of this new paradigm.
Predictive risk-score model for selection of patients with high-risk stage II colon cancer for adjuvant systemic therapy.

BACKGROUND Adjuvant systemic therapy is selectively considered for high-risk stage II colon cancer, but which patients benefit most from adjuvant systemic therapy is unclear. METHODS Patients who underwent resection of stage II colon cancer were identified from the National Cancer Database (2010-2016). Risk-factors for decreased overall survival on multivariable analysis were used to establish a predictive risk-score model for all-cause mortality. After propensity matching within each risk group, 5-year overall survival was estimated based on receipt of adjuvant systemic therapy. RESULTS Of the 15,241 patients evaluated, 2,857 (18.8%) received adjuvant systemic therapy. Risk factors for decreased overall survival included age >75 (hazard ratio 3.3, P 3.5 ng/mL (hazard ratio 1.6, P < .001), T4a T-stage (hazard ratio 2.0, P < .001), T4b T-stage (hazard ratio 2.4, P < .001), lymphovascular invasion (hazard ratio 1.2, P = .003), perineural invasion (hazard ratio 1.3, P = .003), and non-R0 proximal/distal resection margins (hazard ratio 1.7, P < .001). An internally validated risk-score model using these factors was developed composed of low-risk (n = 8,489), moderate-risk (n = 4,623), and high-risk (n = 2,129) groups; within each group, 19.9%, 15.7%, and 20.8% of patients, respectively, received adjuvant systemic therapy. After propensity matching, adjuvant systemic therapy was not associated with improved 5-year overall survival for low-risk patients (89.8% vs 88.3%, P = .280), but was for moderate-risk (80.5% vs 70.8%, P < .001), and high-risk (65.2% vs 45.7%, P < .001) patients. CONCLUSION A predictive risk-score model incorporating patient and tumor factors identifies a high-risk cohort of stage II colon cancer patients who may benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy, although the minority of these patients appear to be receiving treatment.