cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reoperative surgery for the failed low pelvic anastomosis

Abstract The most serious complication of rectal cancer surgery is an anastomotic catastrophe that can lead to worse oncologic outcomes, decreased ability to maintain the anastomosis, and retain good functional outcome. Redo surgery for failed colorectal and coloanal anastomoses is a surgical challenge, with technical difficulties and high morbidity, but may be the only option to improve a patient׳s quality of life. The aim of this article is to summarize the approaches to salvage the anastomosis that is beset by late complications including leakage, stenosis, sinus tract, chronic presacral chronic sepsis, fistula, or disunion.
Beyond the aortic bifurcation: branched endovascular grafts for thoracoabdominal and aortoiliac aneurysms.

Objectives To evaluate the use of novel technology to treat complex aortic aneurysms involving branches that provide critical end-organ blood supply. Methods A prospective study was conducted in patients with thoracoabdominal, suprarenal, or common iliac aneurysms (TAA, SRA, or CIA) at high risk for open surgical repair. An endovascular graft using the Zenith platform was customized to fit patient anatomy (TAA or SRA) and combined with Jomed balloon-expandable stent-grafts. Prefabricated hypogastric branches were used with a Zenith abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or Fluency self-expanding fenestrated device in conjunction with a self-expanding stent-graft. Analyses were conducted in accordance with the endovascular aneurysm reporting standards document. Follow-up studies occurred at discharge, 1, 6, and 12 months, and included computed tomography and duplex ultrasound scans, and flat plate radiography. Results Fifty patients were treated (9 TAA, 20 SRA, 21 CIA). The mean aneurysm size was 7.6 cm (TAA), 7.2 cm (SRA), and 6.1 cm AAA size associated with a mean CIA size of 3.8 cm. Bilateral CIA aneurysms were present in 86% (18/21) of patients with CIA aneurysms. Perioperative mortality was 2% (1/50) and resulted from a myocardial infarction after a planned conduit and iliac endarterectomy required for device access. Five late deaths occurred (2 TAA, 2 SRA, 1 CIA), three of which (2 TAA, 1 SRA) were aneurysm related. Failure to access internal iliac arteries occurred in three cases, and two late hypogastric branch thromboses occurred. No visceral branches were lost acutely or occluded during follow-up. Sac shrinkage (>5 mm) was noted in 65% of patients at 6 months and in all patients (10/10) by 12 months. There were no ruptures or conversions, but nine patients required secondary interventions. Conclusions Branch vessel technology has made it technically feasible to preserve critical end-organ perfusion in the setting of CIA, SRA, and TAA aneurysms. The relatively low acute mortality rate and lack of short-term branch vessel loss are encouraging and merit further investigation. These advances have the potential to markedly diminish the complications associated with conventional management of complex aneurysms.
AGRICULTURAL PONDS SUPPORT AMPHIBIAN POPULATIONS

In some agricultural regions, natural wetlands are scarce, and constructed agricultural ponds may represent important alternative breeding habitats for amphibians. Properly managed, these agricultural ponds may effectively increase the total amount of breeding habitat and help to sustain populations. We studied small, constructed agricultural ponds in southeastern Minnesota to assess their value as amphibian breeding sites. Our study examined habitat factors associated with amphibian reproduction at two spatial scales: the pond and the landscape surrounding the pond. We found that small agricultural ponds in southeastern Minnesota provided breeding habitat for at least 10 species of amphibians. Species richness and multispecies reproductive success were more closely associated with characteristics of the pond (water quality, vegetation, and predators) compared with char- acteristics of the surrounding landscape, but individual species were associated with both pond and landscape variables. Ponds surrounded by row crops had similar species richness and reproductive success compared with natural wetlands and ponds surrounded by non- grazed pasture. Ponds used for watering livestock had elevated concentrations of phos- phorus, higher turbidity, and a trend toward reduced amphibian reproductive success. Spe- cies richness was highest in small ponds, ponds with lower total nitrogen concentrations, tiger salamanders ( Ambystoma tigrinum) present, and lacking fish. Multispecies reproduc- tive success was best in ponds with lower total nitrogen concentrations, less emergent vegetation, and lacking fish. Habitat factors associated with higher reproductive success varied among individual species. We conclude that small, constructed farm ponds, properly managed, may help sustain amphibian populations in landscapes where natural wetland habitat is rare. We recommend management actions such as limiting livestock access to the pond to improve water quality, reducing nitrogen input, and avoiding the introduction of fish.
Single-transistor transparent-latch clocking

We propose a single-phase clocking scheme for CMOS VLSI designs in which the traditional master-slave data-latches are replaced with transparent-latches where each transparent-latch is implemented using a single NMOS transistor. The clocking scheme places a constraint on the allowable width of the clock pulses which can be satisfied by a clock driver that is integrated with a dynamic buffer. Our example shows that the power dissipation of the single-transistor latch can be 80% less than the two-phase static flip-flop and 70% less than the true single-phase latch. The low power dissipation of the single-transistor latch can therefore be used to improve the gain in architecture-driven voltage scaling where one reduces the supply voltage to reduce power dissipation and applies pipelining to compensate for the reduced speed. In our example, the fraction of power dissipation due to the overhead of the pipelining latches for the single-transistor latch is only 4.7%, versus 15% and 22% for the true single-phase latch and the two-phase static flip-flop, respectively. The single-transistor latch is also very small, which can have a major impact in reducing the area of latch-intensive architectures such as filter structures used in digital signal processing. Our example of a fixed-coefficient transposed-form FIR filter shows that we can reduce the area by 20% in comparison to designs using the true-single-phase latch.
The Trp64Arg polymorphism of the β3-adrenergic receptor is not increased in women with preeclampsia

Abstract Objective Insulin resistance is greater and obesity is more common in women with preeclampsia. The Trp64Arg polymorphism in the β 3 -adrenergic receptor is associated with these metabolic changes. This study investigated whether the Trp64Arg polymorphism is more common in women with preeclampsia. Study design β 3 -Adrenergic receptor genotypes were determined in 177 women with a history of preeclampsia and in 179 normal pregnancies. We also compared prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), length of gestation, baby weight percentile, and glucose values during an oral tolerance test in women with and without the polymorphism. Results The genotypes and allele frequency did not differ significantly between women with preeclamptic and normal pregnancies ( P =.17). Women with and without the polymorphism had similar prepregnancy BMI, glucose at 1-hour screening, gestational age at delivery, and adjusted baby weight. Conclusion The Trp64Arg polymorphism of the β 3 -receptor does not predispose to preeclampsia, and it is it not associated with obesity and carbohydrate intolerance in a population of young pregnant women.
A systematic approach for increasing pneumococcal vaccination rates at an inner-city public hospital.

Abstract Background: While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a standing order as the most effective mechanism to increase pneumococcal and influenza vaccination rates, Georgia's Medical Practice Act does not authorize nurses to screen, order, and administer adult vaccines in inpatient settings. Methods: The setting was a 1000-bed public teaching hospital in metropolitan Atlanta. A 1-month intervention (INT1) included four wards randomized to intervention or control. A 5-month hospital-wide intervention (INT2) followed INT1. The intervention used was provider reminder with in-service training. Chart review was the measure used. The main outcome was pneumococcal vaccination prior to discharge. Results: During INT1, 534 patients (296 intervention and 238 control) were discharged. Of the 534 patients, 475 (89.0%) were African American, 188 (35.2%) were uninsured, and the median age was 48 (range 19 to 96). Of the 205 intervention patients with vaccine indications and no contraindications, 78 of 205 (38%) were vaccinated compared to 7 of 143 (4.9%) of the control patients ( p p Conclusions: Significantly higher proportions of high-risk patients were vaccinated through the use of a preprinted nurse screening and physician order form. However, a significant percentage of patients did not receive the vaccine owing to the physician's failure to order it. In these cases, use of standing orders would have further increased vaccination rates while also promoting a more sustainable program.
Video streaming over wireless networks

Video streaming over wireless networks is compelling for many applications, ranging from home entertainment to surveillance to search-and-rescue operations. Interesting technical challenges arise when the unpredictable nature of the wireless radio channel meets the requirements of high data rate and low latency for video transport. This tutorial provides an overview of the technical challenges of video streaming over wireless networks, with a focus on novel cross-layer design solutions for resource allocation. Performance comparison of various centralized and distributed schemes are presented, using video streaming over wireless home networks as an application example.
Ultrafast cryptography using optical logic in reconfigurable feedback shift registers

High speed optical communications systems are evolving rapidly. Commercial systems achieve high aggregate data rates utilizing wavelength division multiplexing, where multiple wavelength channels carry information at electronic rates, typically 2.5 Gb/s. Data encryption in these systems will most likely be implemented electronically. However, future system may also utilize time division multiple access (TDMA) schemes and technologies for 100 Gb/s, single stream TDMA networks are currently being developed. These high speed TDMA networks will rely on all-optical switches and processors to interface the high-speed electronics in the users nodes to the ultra-high-speed optical data bus. Data encryption in these networks may need to be implemented using optical logic gates. Straightforward duplication of electronic encryption circuits using optical logic gates is not feasible because optical logic gates have low fan-out, require high optical powers, are difficult to synchronize and have high latency. In this paper, we propose a high- speed electro-optic scheme for reconfigurable feedback shift registers (RFSRs) that relies upon electronic encryption circuits to reconfigure a sequence of optical logic gates and which makes use of the latency in the optical gates as memory. We show that, for linear RFSRs, the low number of optical gates is not a drawback and that the period of the sequences is generally very large. Non-linear feedforward functions, such as all-optical bit swapping, many also be introduced to improve the pseudo-random properties of the sequences.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
MIMO integral-action anti-windup controller design and applications to temperature control in RTP systems

An integral-action controller synthesis is presented, where the controller achieves closed-loop stability and zero steady-state error due to step-input references. Closed-loop stability is maintained even when the integrators in all of the controller channels are limited or completely switched off to protect against integrator windup. The proposed method is applied to temperature control in rapid thermal processing systems, where critical requirements are imposed on tracking of temperature profiles.
Structural and Functional Constraints Limit Options for Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Escape in the Immunodominant HLA-B27-Restricted Epitope in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Capsid

Control of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by HLA-B27-positive subjects has been linked to an immunodominant CD8 + cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response targeting the conserved KK10 epitope (KRWIILGLNK 263-272 ) in p24/Gag. Viral escape in KK10 typically occurs through development of an R 264 K substitution in conjunction with the upstream compensatory mutation S 173 A, and the difficulty of the virus to escape from the immune response against the KK10 epitope until late in infection has been associated with slower clinical progression. Rare alternative escape mutations at R 264 have been observed, but factors dictating the preferential selection of R 264 K remain unclear. Here we illustrate that while all observed R 264 mutations (K, G, Q, and T) reduced peptide binding to HLA-B27 and impaired viral replication, the replicative defects of the alternative mutants were actually less pronounced than those for R 264 K. Importantly, however, none of these mutants replicated as well as an R 264 K variant containing the compensatory mutation S 173 A. In assessing the combined effects of viral replication and CTL escape using an in vitro coculture assay, we further observed that the compensated R 264 K mutant also displayed the highest replication capacity in the presence of KK10-specific CTLs. Comparisons of codon usage for the respective variants indicated that generation of the R 264 K mutation may also be favored due to a G-to-A bias in nucleotide substitutions during HIV-1 replication. Together, these data suggest that the preference for R 264 K is due primarily to the ability of the S 173 A-compensated virus to replicate better than alternative variants in the presence of CTLs, suggesting that viral fitness is a key contributor for the selection of immune escape variants.
Liquid ventilation attenuates pulmonary oxidative damage

Purpose: Liquid perfluorochemicals reduce the production of reaction oxygen species by alveolar macrophages. We sought to determine whether the use of liquid perfluorochemicals in vivo during liquid ventilation would attenuate oxidative damage to the lung. Materials and Methods: Healthy infant piglets (n = 16) were instrumented for mechanical ventilation and received intravenous oleic acid to create an acute lung injury. The animals were assigned to a nontreatment group receiving conventional mechanical ventilation or a treatment group receiving partial liquid ventilation with a liquid perfluorochemical. Following sacrifice, the bronchoalveolar lavage and lung parenchyma were analyzed for evidence of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins by determination of TBARS and carbonylated protein residues, respectively. Results: Mortality in the control group was 50% at the completion of the study compared with no deaths in the partial liquid ventilation group (P = .025). The alveolar-arterial oxygen difference was more favorable following injury in the partial liquid ventilation group. The liquid ventilation group demonstrated a 32% reduction in TBARS (P = .043) and a 14% reduction in carbonylated protein residues (P = .061). Conclusion: These data suggest that partial liquid ventilation supports gas exchange and reduces mortality in association with a reduction in the production of reactive oxygen species and the concomitant attenuation of tissue damage during the early phase of acute lung injury.
Tide gauge data analysis of the pole tide in the North Sea

SUMMARY It is generally accepted that the pole tide-the oceanic response to the Chandler wobble-is, in the North Sea, characterized by anomalously large amplitudes. In this paper we test that postulate by extracting amplitudes and phases at the Chandler frequency from sea-level signals recorded over the past century and a half around the North Sea. We have also determined the equilibrium pole tide and tidal admittances over the same time span using long-term polar motion. Our analysis has focused on three sub-intervals of time: 1872-1900, 1900-1964; and 1955-1984. We find that the ‘eastward intensification’ is not a persistent feature of the North Sea pole tide over all three intervals. Furthermore, the typical pole tide amplitude during these three time spans varies, but not in the same way as the Chandler potential; this supports Naito’s (1977) and Daillet’s (1981) conclusion, that the variation of the pole tide amplitude with respect to time is at least partially independent of the Chandler forcing. Finally, we have analysed the North Sea annual tide at the same sites, and found that it also exhibits an eastward intensification; however, in contrast to the pole tide, the annual tide’s eastward intensification persists clearly over all three time intervals. These data analyses, combined with our earlier theoretical study of the North Sea pole tide (Xie & Dickman 1995), suggest that the observed ‘pole tide’ signal in the North Sea may be attributed largely to a combination of Chandler wobble and meteorological forcing, but that other causes must exist as well.
Atomic spaces and spectra

by J. F. ADAMS* and N. J. KUHN(Received 28th July 1988)1. The subject-matter of this paper is in some sense known; but we will try to organise,explain and reprove it, and to give examples.In essence, a space or spectrum X is "atomic" if a map /: X-*X may be proved to bean equivalence by a simple, computable test applied in one dimension; this goes back to[4] (published as [5]) and first appeared in print in [12]. That it is useful to prove Xatomic and then apply the fact has been amply shown, beginning with [3].This notion is related to two others. Unique factorisation results for spaces andspectra have been considere [6,9,d in14] Her. e one needs the notion of an "irreducible"or "indecomposable" object X, and a slightly stronger notion of "prime".We first show that the case of "spaces" and the case of "spectra" can be consideredtogether, by concentrating on the fact that the hom-set [X,X] is (under suitableassumptions) a profinite monoid. In this case we show that the "weaker" conditionimplies the "stronger", as follows.(a) If X is indecomposable then its hom-se [_X, ATt] is "good", and(b) if [X,AT] is "good" then X is both "atomic" and "prime".We give some illustrative examples, including some which arise "in nature" as stablesummands of classifying spaces BG. We conclude with the proofs.Related results have been obtained by M. C. Crabb and J. R. Hubbuck; we aregrateful to them for letters, and also to F. R. Cohen and F. P. Peterson.2. First we unify the two cases to be considered.Proposition 2.1. The hom-set [X,X] is a profinite monoid with zero in both thefollowing cases.(2.2) X is p-complete a CW-complex of finite type and [_X,X~\ means homotopy classesof pointed maps.(2.3) X is p-complete a spectrum of finite type and [X,X~\ means maps in the homotopycategory of spectra.We will comment in Section 3.
Image-based motion blur for stop motion animation

Stop motion animation is a well-established technique where still pictures of static scenes are taken and then played at film speeds to show motion. A major limitation of this method appears when fast motions are desired; most motion appears to have sharp edges and there is no visible motion blur. Appearance of motion blur is a strong perceptual cue, which is automatically present in live-action films, and synthetically generated in animated sequences. In this paper, we present an approach for automatically simulating motion blur. Ours is wholly a post-process, and uses image sequences, both stop motion or raw video, as input. First we track the frame-to-frame motion of the objects within the image plane. We then integrate the scene's appearance as it changed over a period of time. This period of time corresponds to shutter speed in live-action filming, and gives us interactive control over the extent of the induced blur. We demonstrate a simple implementation of our approach as it applies to footage of different motions and to scenes of varying complexity. Our photorealistic renderings of these input sequences approximate the effect of capturing moving objects on film that is exposed for finite periods of time.
Evaluation of the Angiographic Grading Scale in Aneurysms Treated with the WEB Device in 80 Rabbits: Correlation with Histologic Evaluation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The WEB Occlusion Score has been proposed to assess angiographic outcomes for intracranial aneurysms treated with the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device. Using a large series of experimental aneurysms treated with the WEB, we had the following objectives: 1) to compare angiographic outcomes as measured by the WEB Occlusion Scale with histologic results, and 2) to assess interobserver and intraobserver agreement of the WEB Occlusion Scale. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intracranial aneurysms were created in 80 rabbits and treated with WEB devices. Animals were sacrificed at last follow-up for histologic evaluation. DSA was performed just after the deployment of the device and at follow-up. Four investigators independently and retrospectively graded the DSA twice according to the WEB Occlusion Scale. One histopathologist blinded to the angiographic results graded the occlusion according to a 4-point scale patterned on the WEB Occlusion Scale. Intra- and interobserver agreement were evaluated for DSA. Follow-up angiographic grading and histologic reference were compared to determine the WEB Occlusion Scale accuracy for complete (with or without recess filling) versus incomplete occlusion and adequate (complete occlusion or neck remnant) versus inadequate occlusion. RESULTS: Inter- and intraobserver weighted κ for the angiographic WEB Occlusion Scale were, respectively, 0.76 and 0.76, indicating substantial agreement. The sensitivity and specificity of the WEB Occlusion Scale for complete occlusion at follow-up compared with the histologic reference standard were, respectively, 75% and 83.3%, with an overall accuracy of 80%. Similarly, for adequate occlusion at follow-up, sensitivity was 97.7%, specificity was 64.9%, and overall accuracy was 82.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The WEB Occlusion Scale appears to be consistent, reliable, and accurate compared with a histologic reference standard.
Exploring the Civic Identities of Latina/o High School Students: Reframing the Historical Narrative

Notions of citizenship, as taught through the official state curriculum, are narrow and fail to consider the importance of histories that reveal a composite of diverse races/ethnicities, multiple languages, and complex patterns of immigration and transnationalism. The richness of such histories embodies the experiences and contributions of Latinas/os along the geopolitical border of the United States and Mexico. This qualitative case study analysis focuses attention on the teaching and learning practices and experiences in a secondary classroom serving late arrival immigrant students. The teacher and students willingly trouble the existing historical narrative and consequently insert other perspectives and civic identities into said narrative. The uses of more critical notions of historical inquiry and knowledge of the historical narrative as a cultural tool are vital in disrupting traditional histories and themes, thus promoting civic participation among marginalized communities.
A Unique Role for Endothelial Cell Kinesin Light Chain 1, Variant 1 in Leukocyte Transendothelial Migration

A reservoir of parajunctional membrane in endothelial cells, the lateral border recycling compartment (LBRC), is critical for transendothelial migration (TEM). We have previously shown that targeted recycling of the LBRC to the site of TEM requires microtubules and a kinesin molecular motor. However, the identity of the kinesin and mechanism of cargo binding were not known. We show that microinjection of endothelial cells with a monoclonal antibody specific for kinesin-1 significantly blocked LBRC-targeted recycling and TEM. In complementary experiments, knocking down KIF5B, a ubiquitous kinesin-1 isoform, in endothelial cells significantly decreased targeted recycling of the LBRC and leukocyte TEM. Kinesin heavy chains move cargo along microtubules by one of many kinesin light chains (KLCs), which directly bind the cargo. Knocking down KLC 1 isoform variant 1 (KLC1C) significantly decreased LBRC-targeted recycling and TEM, whereas knocking down other isoforms of KLC1 had no effect. Re-expression of KLC1C resistant to the knockdown shRNA restored targeted recycling and TEM. Thus kinesin-1 and KLC1C are specifically required for targeted recycling and TEM. These data suggest that of the many potential combinations of the 45 kinesin family members and multiple associated light chains, KLC1C links the LBRC to kinesin-1 (KIF5B) during targeted recycling and TEM. Thus, KLC1C can potentially be used as a target for anti-inflammatory therapy.
Metanephric Stromal Tumor: Report of 31 Cases of a Distinctive Pediatric Renal Neoplasm

We report 31 cases of a novel pediatric renal neoplasm, metanephric stromal tumor (MST). Mean patient age was 2 years, and the most common presentation was that of an abdominal mass. Gross examination typically revealed a fibrous lesion centered in the renal medulla containing smooth-walled cysts (mean tumor size, 5.5 cm). MST is histologically identical to the stromal component of metanephric adenofibroma (MAF, previously termed nephrogenic adenofibroma) and is an unencapsulated spindle cell lesion that entraps native kidney. Characteristic histologic features of MST include alternating cellularity that imparts a nodular low-power appearance, onion-skin cuffing around entrapped renal tubules, heterologous differentiation (glia or cartilage), and vascular alterations (angiodysplasia of entrapped arterioles, juxtaglomerular cell hyperplasia in entrapped glomeruli). Three tumors in which the vascular alterations were particularly florid were associated with extrarenal vasculopathy and attendant morbidity. A majority of cases stained for CD34, although the degree of staining was variable. Most patients were treated with surgical excision alone, and none experienced recurrence or metastasis. Recognition of this entity can spare a child potentially toxic adjuvant chemotherapy that might be used for lesions in its differential diagnosis, specifically clear cell sarcoma of the kidney.
Changes in Human Blood Preserved for Transfusion

The purpose of the present studies was to determine the rate and mode of disintegration of human blood in various preservatives suitable for transfusion.Blood was drawn from healthy adults in amounts of 300 to 600 cc in 1500 cc Erlenmeyer flasks containing the preservatives to be studied. The blood mixtures were then apportioned aseptically, 50 cc into each 250 cc Erlenmeyer flask, plugged with sterile cotton and stored at 2-5°C. Evaporation was nil. Bacterial contamination was excluded. At 5-day intervals one flask of the series was withdrawn from storage, the cells and plasma thoroughly mixed by careful shaking, and the entire sample centrifugated. The plasma was then pipetted off for analysis.The preservatives used were: Anhydrous dextrose, U. S.P. (Merck), and anhydrous dextrose (Eastman Kodak Co.). Sodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7 + 2H2O) (Merck's Reagent Grade). Heparin (Connaught Laboratories).Plasma hemoglobin was determined by the method of Wu,1 plasma potassium by the technic of Truszkowski and Zwemer,...
P5-20-05: Peripheral Blood Transcriptomics and Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity.

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) cardiotoxicity is dose-dependent and unpredictable. Currently, the clinical methods used for detection of pre-symptomatic DOX-induced cardiotoxicity show low diagnostic sensitivity and identify the existing cardiomyopathy rather than prevent it. It has been reported that DOX cardiomyopathy can occur at low doses, suggesting the presence of increased phenotypic sensitivity by some individuals. Studies have found specific gene expression signatures of circulating blood cells in response to physiological and pathological changes, suggesting that they can be used as biosensors for diagnostic purposes. This study aimed to characterize the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) gene expression profile associated with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity with an ultimate goal to identify biomarkers for early prediction of DOX cardiotoxicity. Materials and Methods. Twenty Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into 2 groups: DOX-treated (n=12) and controls (n=8). DOX-treated rats received a single intraperitoneal dose of 12 mg/kg DOX (similar to 65mg/m 2 for humans) and the controls were injected with saline. All rats were sacrificed 48 hours after DOX administration and blood, and samples from the heart left ventricle (LV) were collected. Histopathological alterations were evaluated microscopically. RNAs was isolated from cardiac LV and PBMCs. Cardiac and PBMC genome-wide expression profiling were performed using Illumina Rat Ref-12 BeadChip microarrays. For statistical analysis the raw data were log 2 transformed and median normalized. The differential analysis per gene was performed using a 2-sample (control vs. DOX-treated) Student9s t-test. Statistical significance was set at false discovery rate (FDR) Results. A total of 1406 transcripts were differentially expressed in the hearts (247 upregulated and 1159 downregulated) and 1526 in PBMCs (271 upregulated and 1255 downregulated) between DOX-treated rats and control rats. Of these 1237 genes (92%) were similarly differentially regulated (179 upregulated and 1058 downregulated) both in the hearts and PBMCs. Fifty metabolic/signaling pathways were significantly affected by DOX-treatment. The top ten of these include oxidative phosphorylation; cell proliferation and differentiation; TGF, WNT and cytoskeletal remodeling; insulin signaling; cell adhesion; regulation of amino acid metabolism, cytoskeleton remodeling, PI3K/AKt signaling and CCR5 signaling in macrophages and T lymphocytes. Discussion: The results from this study showed that PBMC gene expression profile reflected a similar pattern in the hearts of rats treated with DOX and provide a novel and important information about the feasibility of the PBMC as a surrogate marker for DOX cardiotoxicity. The data obtained lay a foundation for further clinical studies to identify the cardiotoxicity risk, predict DOX-treatment response and ultimately to allow the anti-cancer therapy to be tailored to individual patients. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-20-05.
Comments on Population Dynamics of Exotic Insects

This paper is a commentary on the recent article “Population Dynamics of Exotic Insects” by A. D. Turnbull (1967) which treats largely of the competitive displacement principle, DeBach (1966), DeBach and Sundby (1963). Dr. Turnbull has used this latest publication as a vehicle to reiterate his concern over the possible adverse effects of competition on biological control agents. In an earlier publication, Turnbull and Chant (1961), this concern was expressed in relation to the multiple introduction of entomophagous species which they considered bad practice. Now competitive displacement has been seized upon as perhaps another illustration of the unfavorable effects of competition. But in exploiting a situation that seemingly supports this position the author appears to have sacrificed perspective, which in turn has led into serious error. Honest error is understandable, even excusable, and Dr. Turnbull's errors would not be particularly bothersome if they comprised the only flaw in his paper. But error in this case has led to certain statements and implications concerning biological control which if left unchallenged stand to do considerable and perhaps permanent harm to that highly important field of pest control. This is what has induced me to expend time and effort in rebuttal.
Case 6-2013: A 54-year-old man with recurrent diarrhea

A 54-year-old man was admitted to this hospital because of recurrent diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. The initial episode of diarrhea occurred 2.5 years before admission. Diagnostic procedures were performed.
Abstract 3861: Bladder cancer-associated gene expression signatures identified by profiling of exfoliated urothelia

PURPOSE: Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the United States and one of the most prevalent worldwide. It harbors a probability of recurrence of >50%; thus, rigorous, long-term surveillance of patients is advocated. Flexible cystoscopy coupled with voided urine cytology is the primary diagnostic approach, but cystoscopy is an uncomfortable, invasive procedure and the sensitivity of voided urine cytology is poor in all but high-grade tumors. We sought to define a robust genetic signature that can be used to diagnose bladder cancer in a non-invasive manner. METHODS: Gene expression microarrays were utilized to analyze the transcript profiles of 52 urine samples from subjects with bladder tumors and 40 subjects without bladder tumors (cohort I). Data from microarrays containing 56,000 targets were subjected to a panel of statistical analyses to identify bladder cancer-associated gene signatures. Hierarchical clustering and supervised learning algorithms were used to classify samples on the basis of tumor burden. Furthermore, supervised machine learning and a cross-validation approach were used to build a 40-gene molecular classifier which was then validated in voided urine samples by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in an independent group of patients (cohort II – 46 subjects with bladder cancer and 37 subjects without bladder cancer). RESULTS: Hierarchical clustering classified normal urothelium and bladder cancer with 84% accuracy. A genetic profile consisting of 40 probes was identified in those patients (cohort I) with bladder cancer. In an independent experiment, 14 of the 40 genes indentified above were validated in voided urine samples by qPCR in cohort II. Utilizing this 14 gene signature, the diagnostic accuracy of detecting bladder cancer was 81%. CONCLUSION: Our results show that it is possible to achieve the detection of bladder cancer using molecular signatures present in exfoliated tumor urothelia. Further investigation and validation of the cancer-associated profiles in a diverse cohort may reveal important biomarkers for the detection and surveillance of bladder cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3861. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3861
Acute Toxicity of Sodium Salts of Sulfapyridine, Sulfathiazole and Sulfamethylthiazole.

ConclusionsIt has been shown that the acute toxicity of sodium sulfamethylthiazole in rats, as measured by intraperitoneal injection, is almost twice as high as that of sodium sulfathiazole, which in turn is slightly greater than the toxicity of sodium sulfapyridine.The pH and buffer capacities of solutions of the sodium salts, and differences in solubility of the free compounds as factors influencing the toxicity, are discussed.
Anisotropic $ {\alpha } $ -Fe/Nd–Fe–B Exchange-Spring Magnets Produced by High-Pressure Crystallization

A series of Nd–Fe–B + $\alpha $ -Fe nanocomposites was prepared by pressure crystallization of quasi-amorphous rare-earth lean precursors. The crystallization temperature of Nd2Fe14B was determined to be 560 °C. Fully dense compacts crystallized under the pressures of up to 1 GPa exhibited a fully exchange coupled behavior with coercivities ranging from 1.98 to 2.5 kOe, depending on the Nd content. The evolution of coercivity as a function of pressure crystallization time indicated slower crystallization/growth kinetics compared with the ribbons crystallized under atmospheric pressure. All crystallization took place within 5 min and optimum coercivities were obtained after 20 min of holding time. Both the X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurement $M(H)$ results indicated the presence of a crystalline texture. Microstructural characterizations by a transmission electron microscope revealed a layered structure composed of alternating layers of Nd2Fe14B and $\alpha $ -Fe.
Difference in student pharmacist attitudes and readiness for interprofessional learning after an activity with student nurses

Abstract Background Some research suggests that despite positive attitudes toward IPE at the start of health professions programs, a decline in positivity is often seen. Purpose To determine if there is a difference between student pharmacist and nurse attitudes for interprofessional learning and to determine if readiness scores change for student pharmacists after an IPE experience. Results At baseline, there was no difference in student pharmacists and student nurses RIPLS scores. Post-IPE experience, scores declined significantly (p Conclusion While student pharmacists and student nurses have positive attitudes toward IPE prior to a structured experience, post-experience attitudes toward IPE declines in student pharmacists.
Sabine Hirschauer. The Securitization of Rape: Women, War and Sexual Violence

How did political actors elevate wartime rape to the ostensibly supra-political realm of security? This is the question addressed by Sabine Hirschauer's The Securitization of Rape. While the causes...
SU-F-T-339: Comparison Between Coplanar and Non-Coplanar RapidArc Approach of Hippocampal-Sparing Whole Brain Radiotherapy

Purpose: To compare the dosimetry of coplanar and non-coplanar RapidArc whole brain plans for hippocampal sparing Methods: We studied the RapidArc plans of patient with brain metastases, with the prescription of 3750 cGy in 15 fractions. The coplanar approach used a full clockwise (CW) arc and a full counterclockwise (CCW) arc, with the couch angle to be 0°. The non-coplanar approach used a full arc with a couch angle of 0°, and a partial arc with a couch angle of 90°. Treatment planning system is Eclipse Ver. 11. Constraints for eyes, lens, brainstem, optical nerves and chiasm are employed in the optimization so that these OARs’ dose are below tolerance. Constraints for hippocampus are employed so that they receive dose as low as possible while maintain good coverage to whole brain. The beam delivery machine is Varian 21 IX. T1-weighted MRI images were used for hippocampus contouring. Results: The target coverage index for coplanar and non-coplanar RapidArc plans are 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively, with homogeneity index of 0.223 vs 0.226, which is defined as (D2% – D98%)/Dmean of target volume. V95 and V100 are 99.0% and 94.8% for coplanar plan, vs 99.1% and 95.4% for non-coplanar plan, while the mean dose of hippocampus are 1244.5 cGy for coplanar plan vs 1212.3 cGy for non-coplanar plan. Dose for eyes, lens, optical nerves, optical chiasm and brainstem are all below tolerance. Conclusion: Coplanar RapidArc plan provides good target coverage while achieves good hippocampal sparing, and there is no benefit to use non-coplanar approach.
Introduction: Capitalist Moral Philosophy, Narrative Technology, and the Boundaries of the Nation-State

Some economic ideas are too interesting to be left to economists. This book proposes to unpack the implications of one such idea: Adam Smith’s ‘invisible hand’, a metaphor little noted at the first publication of The Wealth of Nations in 1776, but one that has since come to stand in for almost all there is of capitalist moral philosophy. Though a long-lasting and hard-working metaphor, Smith’s ‘invisible hand’ metaphor dissolves away, when you try to analyse it, into a surprisingly fragile and self-contradictory set of perspectival viewpoints. But I believe there is a reason for the metaphor’s longevity: it suggests an ironic mode of social action in which the results of individual actions are displaced to some indefinite spatial and temporal distance, creating by implication an unimaginably complex and detailed web of moral causality. The discipline of political economy, as it developed after Smith, generally accepted Smith’s optimistic take on this moral complexity, suggesting that free-market policies spontaneously led to prosperous and stable social orders in ways that could not be controlled or even known in detail by the state, but could be easily ascertained in retrospect. In the twentieth century, defenders of capitalism (like Friedrich Hayek) suggested that the very incalculability suggested by the ‘invisible hand’ metaphor proved the superiority of capitalist to socialist economic regimes.
A Production Economy

Introduction In the last chapter, we analyzed a model of a pure exchange economy. Although there were only two people, Robinson Crusoe and Friday, and only two goods, bread and rum, our model was a general equilibrium model. That is, it was a model that took everything into account simultaneously: Robinson's preferences for bread and for rum, as well as Friday's, and Robinson's initial endowments of bread and rum, as well as Friday's. To keep that model simple, there were only two people and two goods, and there was no production. The quantities of the two goods were taken as given and fixed. We now turn to another general equilibrium model, in which everything is taken into account simultaneously. However, in this model we analyze production. To keep this model easy, we assume that there is only one person in the economy, who functions both as a producer and as a consumer. We call that one person Robinson Crusoe. (The reader interested in literature may remember that in Defoe's novel, Robinson was alone on the island for many years before Friday arrived. Our productionmodel can be viewed as an economic analysis of work and consumption on the island, before Friday's arrival.) In our analysis of the pure exchange economy, we discussed Pareto optimality (or Pareto efficiency) and related concepts, and we analyzed market equilibria. We showed the crucial connections between Pareto optimality and the market, connections that are expressed in the first and second fundamental theorems of welfare economics.
Fundamental Marketing Equation: It is more than In-Depth Sales Analysis

This paper presents a basic framework of, what the author calls, Fundamental Marketing Equation (FME). FME is a teaching device which can be effectively used along with a case method. It requires identification of variables which bear on a corporate marketing performance. It then requires a heuristic analysis of a relationship between the identified variables and the performance criterion. The author found the FME approach to benefit students in two ways. It helps them sharpen managerial sensitivity to sales responsiveness of independent variables. It also helps them develop market planning skills.
Effect of Stable Xenon Inhalation on ICP in Head Injury

Stable xenon enhanced CT (Xe/CT) allows for the measurement of local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) with high resolution and anatomic specificity. Its application in head injury victims may ultimately provide important prognostic and clinical information as well as insight into basic pathophysiology (Harrington et al. 1986; Latchaw et al. 1986). Animal and human studies have suggested that stable xenon inhalation may cause cerebral blood flow to increase (Gur et al. 1985; Junck et al. 1985; Obrist et al. 1985). In the head injured population, this effect might result in an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP). We evaluated changes in ICP in patients with head injury while undergoing clinical cerebral blood flow studies using Xe/CT.
Small RNAs from a Big Genome: The piRNA Pathway and Transposable Elements in the Salamander Species Desmognathus fuscus.

Most of the largest vertebrate genomes are found in salamanders, a clade of amphibians that includes 686 species. Salamander genomes range in size from 14 to 120 Gb, reflecting the accumulation of large numbers of transposable element (TE) sequences from all three TE classes. Although DNA loss rates are slow in salamanders relative to other vertebrates, high levels of TE insertion are also likely required to explain such high TE loads. Across the Tree of Life, novel TE insertions are suppressed by several pathways involving small RNA molecules. In most known animals, TE activity in the germline is primarily regulated by the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. In this study, we test the hypothesis that salamanders’ unusually high TE loads reflect the loss of the ancestral piRNA-mediated TE-silencing machinery. We characterized the small RNA pool in the female and male adult gonads, testing for the presence of small RNA molecules that bear the characteristics of TE-targeting piRNAs. We also analyzed the amino acid sequences of piRNA pathway proteins from salamanders and other vertebrates, testing whether the overall patterns of sequence divergence are consistent with conserved pathway function across the vertebrate clade. Our results do not support the hypothesis of piRNA pathway loss; instead, they suggest that the piRNA pathway is expressed in salamanders. Given these results, we propose hypotheses to explain how the extraordinary TE loads in salamander genomes could have accumulated, despite the expression of TE-silencing machinery.
Left atrial appendage exclusion for atrial fibrillation: does the protection from stroke prevail in the long-term?

On March 13 th 2015, the approval of the Watchman left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced an important tool for stroke prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the United States (1). AF is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and afflicts approximately 33.5 million people worldwide (2). Stroke is a feared complication of AF, and systemic anticoagulation is a standard of care for stroke prevention in AF. However, systemic anticoagulation is fraught with potential disadvantages, such as bleeding, need for compliance with medication, compliance with a regular diet in case of warfarin, medication interactions, and need for temporary interruption during surgical procedures.