cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oncologic Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Videoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy for Metastatic Melanoma

Background Open inguinal lymphadenectomy for regionally metastatic melanoma is associated with a high wound-related morbidity. Videoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VIL) is a minimally invasive approach with fewer wound-related complications, yet its adoption has been hindered by a lack of oncologic outcomes data. Study Design Data were prospectively collected on all VILs performed for melanoma from 2008 to 2012 (n = 40) and compared with a retrospective cohort of open superficial inguinal lymphadenectomies from 2005 to 2012 (n = 40). Continuous variables were analyzed with Student's t -test, binomial variables with chi-square, and survival curves using log-rank comparison. Results Median follow-up for patients undergoing VIL was 19.1 months compared with 33.9 months in the open inguinal lymphadenectomy group. There were no statistical differences in demographics (age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, Charlson comorbidity index) or clinicopathologic features (primary site, stage, Breslow depth, ulceration). Lymph node yield was similar (VIL, 12.6; open, 14.2; p = 0.131). Overall recurrence rates were also similar: 27.5% in the VIL group and 30.0% in the open group (p = 0.805). One patient in the VIL group and 2 in the open group suffered recurrence in the nodal basin. Although median survival was not reached in the VIL group, Kaplan-Meier estimates of disease-free survival (p = 0.226) and overall survival (p = 0.308) were similar. In a comprehensive analysis of wound complications including infection, skin necrosis, and seroma, patients undergoing VIL had markedly less morbidity (VIL, 47.5%; open, 80.0%; p = 0.002). Conclusions Videoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy is associated with similar oncologic outcomes and markedly reduced wound complications when compared with open inguinal lymphadenectomy. The minimally invasive procedure may be the preferred method for inguinal lymphadenectomy in melanoma.
Defining HIV risk and determining responsibility in postsocialist Poland.

Drawing on 15 months of ethnographic research on HIV prevention programs in Poland, I explore the consequences of the shift from models of HIV prevention that emphasize “risk groups” and AIDS blame, to models that focus on “risky behaviors” and universal risk. The centrality of choice making and individual risk management in these models suggests objective risk assessment free from moralizing arguments. The Polish national prevention strategy shifted to focus on choice making, address all risk groups, and include concrete prevention strategies. This shift created a backlash that resulted in the reassertion of moral arguments about risk and risk groups that positioned those most vulnerable to HIV outside the purview of prevention efforts. AIDS organizations working with marginalized, “morally problematic” populations used the label “at risk” to legitimize claims to resources. They enacted a model of risk reduction in which the relevant actor is the individual buffeted by social forces, and behavior change, and therefore HIV risk reduction, is a long process because of myriad forms of vulnerability clients face. Despite efforts to reconceptualize risk, organizations positioned the individual as the locus of HIV prevention interventions, rather than attempting to address the social context that shapes risk.
The integrated library approach to parallel computing

This paper describes preliminary work on the development of a language implementation technique that integrates the compilation of user level code with a special hierarchical library. To demonstrate this system, we have designed a Fortran77-based high level language (called MF) that does not permit the programmer to manage work or data distribution. For the system to be effective, the programmer must make calls to the library. At each call site, the compiler is provided with information about potential distributions for each of the variables involved. Our approach is intended to be used to gather empirical data about the portability and efficiency of specific programs written in MF and how their distribution requirements vary from machine to machine. >
Economic Diameter of Steel Penstocks

Formulas are developed in this paper for determining the economic diameter of steel penstocks for hydro-electric power plants and pumping plants based on a minimum total annual cost. The formulas d...
Abstract #LB-15: Targeting androgen-induced androgen receptor (AR)-independent pro-survival signaling in prostate cancer

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Androgen ablation therapy (AAT) is initially effective in inhibiting prostate tumor growth, but eventually relapses to hormone-refractory prostate cancer (PCa). The failure of AAT might be due to activation of alternative survival signaling regardless of AR status in PCa cells. Thus, the focus of our study is to delineate DHT-mediated prosurvival signaling pathways, identify and target these signaling by combining AR inhibitors with other pharmacological inhibitors , which might successfully inhibit PCa growth. Our results suggested that DHT caused a simultaneous activation of multiple survival signaling pathways namely Akt, mTOR, NF-\#954;B and AR (only in androgen-dependent) in AR-positive and -negative PCa cells. So, we used specific inhibitors LY294002 (Akt), PD098059 (ERK), [SCH51344][1] (Ras/Rac), Rapamycin (mTOR), \[6-Amino-4-(4-phenoxyphenylethylamino)quinazoline\] (NF-\#954;B) and casodex (AR), all of which failed to inhibit DHT-mediated cell proliferation and survival in PCa cells. So, we screened a panel of dietary compounds that are known to exhibit anti-cancer activity in PCa cells; our results suggested that psoralidin inhibits DHT-mediated pro-survival signaling (AR, Akt, mTOR, ERK, Ras/Raf and NF-\#954;B) thereby resulting in the inhibition of cell proliferation in PCa cells, indicating that psoralidin may have multiple targets within a cellular environment. Currently, we are combining AR inhibitors with other specific inhibitors to determine which combination is the most useful in inhibiting PCa growth. Also, our ongoing studies are focused on the effect of psoralidin on DHT-mediated prostate tumor growth in vivo models. The outcome of this study may enable development new therapeutic strategies to inhibit PCa growth. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr LB-15. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=GENPEPT&access_num=SCH51344&atom=%2Fcanres%2F69%2F9_Supplement%2FLB-15.atom
Exploring Graph Analytics for Cloud Troubleshooting

We propose VFocus, a platform which uses streaming graph analytics to narrow down the search space for troubleshooting and management in large scale data centers. This paper describes useful guidance operations which are realized with graph analytics and validated with representative use cases. The first case is based on real data center traces to measure the performance of troubleshooting operations supported by VFocus. In the second use case, the utility of VFocus is demonstrated by detecting data hotspots in a big data stream processing application. Experimental results show that VFocus guidance operations can troubleshoot Virtual Machine (VM) migration failures with accuracy of 83% and with delays of only hundreds of milliseconds when tracking migrations on 256 servers hosing 1024 VMs. Such successes are achieved with negligible runtime overheads and low perturbation for applications, in comparison to brute-force approaches.
Single, straight, wants kids: media framing of single, heterosexual fatherhood via assisted reproduction

AbstractThe new reproductive technologies have made possible various postmodern family forms. I highlight an emerging form that has received little attention: single fathers by choice (SFCs), created by single men using egg donation and surrogacy. I focus on heterosexual SFCs, which have been largely ignored in the scholarly literature even as gay and lesbian parenthood have increasingly become topics of feminist inquiry. This type of fatherhood raises several important questions for gender and family scholars about the ‘traditional’ family, the relationship between masculinity and fatherhood, and men’s own desires for parenthood without a female partner. I analyze US media framing to explore cultural sense-making of SFCs. While media framing cannot tell us about men’s lived experiences as intentional single fathers, it does point to larger discourses that potentially impact these men as they engage in non-normative fathering. I identify three core themes within the media frames: (1) viewing men and women...
Breast Cancer Screening Paved with Good Intentions: Application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model to Racial/Ethnic Minority Women.

Racial/ethnic minority women experience disparities in breast cancer. Studies suggest that this may be partly related to later stage of diagnosis. Adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines is frequently lower in racial/ethnic minority populations, which may contribute to this disparity. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of intentions to obtain breast cancer screening based on established guidelines using the information-motivation-behavioral skills model. Data for this study were obtained from the community-based Kin KeeperSM Cancer Prevention Intervention study and included 278 racial/ethnic minority women (Black = 138; Latina = 68; Arab = 80). Data were collected between 2009 and 2010 and analyzed in 2013. Structural equation models were tested to examining the effects of functional breast cancer literacy, motivation, and breast cancer screening behavior. Motivation was significantly associated with breast cancer screening. Breast cancer literacy (information) is positively associated with breast cancer screening. The findings indicate that the higher the level of breast cancer literacy and the more motivated patients are, the more likely they are to be screened. In addition, there was a significant association between the covariate race and other model constructs. Functional breast cancer literacy and motivation interventions are important factors to consider when designing breast cancer screening interventions in racial/ethnic minority women. These interventions should consider cultural and contextual factors that are associated with screening behavior.
Presumption Meets Reality: An Exploration of the Confidentiality Obligation in International Commercial Arbitration

Much has been written about the duty of confidentiality in international commercial arbitration. Most scholars and practitioners agree that a presumption of confidentiality - whether implied or explicit - exists between the parties to an international commercial arbitration. However, there is a disconnect between that presumption and the frequent realities of disclosure and publicity imposed by courts, arbitrators, and sometimes even the parties themselves. Despite the English Court of Appeal's 1997 decision in Ali Shipping v. Shipyard 'Trogir', which signaled a revived movement toward a judicially enforceable duty of confidentiality, the question of confidentiality in international arbitral proceedings is far from settled. Thus, through a comprehensive survey of relevant common law, statutory law, institutional rules, contract theory, and scholarly commentary, this article attempts to fill in the gaps between presumption and reality by shedding light on the current meaning of confidentiality in international commercial arbitration.
Buckling Loads of Beams or Plates on Continuous Supports

A method is developed for finding the buckling loads of beams or plates over continuous rigid or elastic supports. These loads are found as the roots of characteristic equations tha t are developed in terms of the known characteristic modes of buckling and corresponding characteristic buckling loads of the beam or plate without the rigid or elastic supports. The method is an application of the direct method of the Calculus of Variations and consists of minimizing the potential energy of the system subject to the constraints tha t are the inner supports, rigid or elastic. The object of this paper is to develop a method whereby the buckling loads of beams or plates, having simply supported, fixed, or free boundaries, and subject to inner constraints in the form of intermediate rigid or elastic supports, may readily be calculated. These buckling loads are the roots of the characteristic equations tha t arise from the condition tha t the potential energy of the system shall be a minimum subject to the constraints. By developing the buckled shape of the system as a Generalized Fourier Series in terms of the characteristic (or eigen) functions of the unrestrained system, in many cases known or easily found, it is possible to express the potential energy in a simple and compact form from which there is no difficulty in deriving the characteristic equation. Few terms of these equations need be used to obtain reasonably accurate results in most problems. The beam has been previously solved, but the present treatment will be found to have advantages in some cases over the existing method. This is particularly evident if the beam is uniform. In the case of the plate results believed to be new are found.
Project based Learning to Support Enterprise Business Analytics Education

Enterprise business analytics (BA) tools have gained significant attention as a viable option for manipulating large data sets during complex business decision making. However, the cross-functional, boundary spanning nature of these applications make them particularly difficult to learn for users, who predominantly work in functional silos. A typical enterprise BA project involves aggregating large datasets from multiple functional areas, discovering relationships in the data and building models to help visualize and evaluate the selected key performance indicators (KPI). However, most BA learning programs emphasize tool procedural or skill based knowledge, which does not allow end users to understand the broader scope of enterprise analytics project implementations. Cross functional group project based learning programs are needed to provide real world experiences, increasing the end userâs motivation to learn and enhancing their cognitive outcomes. There is also a need to create validated models to assess the outcomes of these learning programs. This research study develops and conducts an innovative project based learning program among the users of a leading ERP vendorâs analytics tool and collects survey data to confirm the benefits of such group project based learning programs in enhancing the participantâs motivation to learn and improving their cognitive outcomes that emphasize cross functional concepts.
A simple method for determination of reduced glutathione

The article is about a modified method of tetraox-pyrimidine 305. There is a good linearity from 0.02mg/mL to 0.10mg/mL glutathione.Regression equation: y=5.77x, R2=0.9970,and maximum deviation is less than 4%. The method has been applied to the determination of GSH in fermentation with satisfactory results.
Multi-channel and cognitive radio approaches for wireless sensor networks

In traditional wireless sensor networks communicating on a single channel data throughput measured at the sink is constrained by the radio capability, interference, and collisions. Enabling a multi-channel transmission is a potential solution to alleviate the above problem and improve the network performance. Many approaches have been proposed to exploit multiple channels on unlicensed frequencies. The advanced development of cognitive radio enables wireless sensor networks to use vacant licensed channels. Cognitive radio wireless sensor networks enable a dynamic channel selection with the restriction of releasing a channel when a primary user is present. When nodes are set on different channels, coordination has to be carefully designed to ensure a successful transmission. This issue is mainly addressed at the MAC and network layers. In this paper, we provide an intensive survey on various aspects of traditional and cognitive multi-channel wireless sensor networks. Different approaches are categorized based on their underlying topology. Major developments are discussed and drawbacks of the existing approaches are identified.
Establishing the State of Affairs for Evidence-Based Practices in Students With Severe Disabilities

The use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) was mandated with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), and continues with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Accordingly, all c...
Polygamy and monogamy in Kandyan Sri Lanka

Marriage in Sinhalese society has long been noted for its extreme flexibility, transitional nature, and nonexc] usivity. Recent studies have pointed to the interrelationship between these facts, th...
The place of eluxadoline in the management of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain associated with defecation with altered stool frequency or stool form. The global prevalence of IBS ranges from 10% to 15% and total healthcare cost attributable to IBS is significant. Among individuals with IBS, the condition has dramatic effects on health-related quality of life, work and school productivity, and activities of daily living. It may be diagnosed with confidence, based on symptom-based diagnostic criteria, exclusion of alarm features and directed diagnostic testing. Management of IBS typically begins with dietary and lifestyle modifications, progressing to over-the-counter therapies, and then to prescription medications, both approved and nonapproved for IBS. This narrative summarizes the efficacy and safety of three US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription therapies for IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), with a focus on the most recently marketed agent, eluxadoline, and its role in the treatment IBS-D.
The impact of cytoskeletal organization on the local regulation of neuronal transport

Neurons are akin to modern cities in that both are dependent on robust transport mechanisms. Like the best mass transit systems, trafficking in neurons must be tailored to respond to local requirements. Neurons depend on both high-speed, long-distance transport and localized dynamics to correctly deliver cargoes and to tune synaptic responses. Here, we focus on the mechanisms that provide localized regulation of the transport machinery, including the cytoskeleton and molecular motors, to yield compartment-specific trafficking in the axon initial segment, axon terminal, dendrites and spines. The synthesis of these mechanisms provides a sophisticated and responsive transit system for the cell.
Towards an end-to-end airborne remote-sensing system for post-hazard assessment of damage to hyper-critical infrastructure: research progress and needs

The objective of this article is to synthesize research findings and requirements pertaining to development of time-sensitive remote-sensing systems (TSRSS) that support decision-making pertaining ...
Normalizing shadows in multi-temporal aerial frame imagery using relative radiometric adjustments to support near-real-time change detection

This study addresses the problem of shadows in multi-temporal imagery, which is a key issue with change detection approaches based on image comparison. We apply image-to-image radiometric normaliza...
Application of Gurson Void Growth Model to Dynamic Fracture

Strain localization is usually considered to be the precursor of ductile failure, and, beginning with Considere (1885), a great deal of effort has been directed towards determining the plastic instability point that precedes such well-known phenomena as necking, shear band formation and crack growth. The work of Hutchinson and Neale (1977) is one of the more recent examples of this work. However, at the microscopic level the nucleation, growth and coalescence of voids is generally accepted as an important mechanism in the ductile failure process. In a recent paper Chu and Needleman (1980) coupled the work of Hutchinson and Neale with the void growth continuum theory of Gurson (1977) to determine forming-limit diagrams for biaxial stretched sheets. In dynamic fracture the void growth concept may be even more important in that failure often occurs with no well defined strain localization. The spallation of thick plates under impact conditions is an example. In a study on the inertia effects on ductile failure Fyfe and Rajendran (1980) found that plastic instability is inhibited by inertia effects to the extent that classical plastic instability criteria under high strain-rate loading may of necessity require redefinition.
Cell cycle analysis of apoptosis using flow cytometry.

Publisher Summary Using flow cytometry to analyze asynchronous and synchronized cell populations, this chapter describes a number of features of drug-induced apoptosis in cultured cells: (1) apoptosis can occur in any cell cycle phase; (2) a given agent can induce apoptosis in more than one cell cycle phase; (3) there is a clear temporal relationship between cell cycle “arrest” induced by different agents and the onset of apoptosis; (4) proteolysis of specific intracellular proteins represents an early event of apoptosis; ( 5 ) aberrant mitosis precedes apoptosis under a variety of conditions, including exposure to inhibitors of DNA synthesis; (6) cells with sub-G, DNA content are not always apoptotic cells; (7) DNA content can be an unreliable index of cell cycle position; and (8) under all conditions, cell cycle “stasis” precedes drug-induced apoptosis. The chapter describes specific examples of applications of standard flow cytometric methods to the analysis of drug-induced apoptosis in HeLa S3 cells.
Paraoxonases: An Historical Perspective

This chapter provides a brief overview of the history of studies on human paraoxonases. It honors the memory of the late Dr. Bert La Du (1920–2005), who with his graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and collaborators made many contributions to our knowledge of this family of enzymes and the genes that encode them. Dr. La Du was honored for these contributions at the First International Conference on Paraoxonases (PONs) – “Paraoxonases: Basic and Clinical Directions of Current Research” held in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2004. Many of the scientists who trained with and/or collaborated with the late Dr. La Du were present at this Second International Conference on Paraoxonases and have contributed to this volume. This chapter begins with a review of some of the early esterase enzymology and the discovery of plasma paraoxonase activity. The pioneering work of Dr. Norman Aldridge who differentiated the A- and B-esterases is described.
Thyroid and Cardiovascular Risk

Here we present data on the clinical effects of alterations in thyroid hormone levels, with a focus on the cardiovascular risk associated with subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Observational studies and small randomized trials have suggested that subclinical hypothyroidism causes reversible alterations in traditional cardiovascular risk factors and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease. The data supporting the assumption of such cardiovascular risk from subclinical hypothyroidism are inconsistent, but patients less than 65 years of age or those with a TSH concentration of 10 mU/l or higher may be at increased risk of coronary heart disease and cardiac death. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Large, randomized clinical trials are needed to identify the populations of individuals with subclinical thyroid dysfunction whose cardiovascular risk would improve with treatment.
Troponin measurements in ischemic heart disease: more than just a black and white picture.

Current nomenclature categorizes patients with ischemic discomfort into those who present with ST elevation on the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) versus those who do not present with ST elevation [(1)][1]. Patients presenting with ST-segment elevation are, of course, easy to recognize using the ECG
Nationalism and the “End of Nature”

An analysis of the nexus between international relations and environmental sustainability since the early twentieth century indicates that strategic competition among sovereign nation states has greatly impeded efforts to understand and address environmental challenges. In particular, the rise of militaristic nationalism has caused extensive environmental destruction and has frequently corrupted the practice of science by tying it to the secretive culture of the national security state. During the twentieth century, numerous advocates of environmental sustainability struggled to limit the destructive impact of nationalism on scientific cooperation, and their work has attained a new relevance in the age of climate change.
Crashes and Clashes: How to Make Sense of How People Make Sense of Suspicious Events

The Euromaidan and the ensuing war in Ukraine constituted signal geopolitical events, but their ramifications at the micro-level have been less explored. The articles by Toal et al. and Hale et al....
CHAPTER 22 – Nutrition and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States and is a disease associated with multiple genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle factors. An important and recognized feature of breast cancer is the heterogeneity on a molecular level. Diet is presumed to play a significant role in both the risk of breast cancer and the progression of disease. Variable cellular characteristics also should be anticipated to be among the determinants of response to diet interventions that may reduce risk for breast cancer or cancer recurrence. In addition to the cellular factors and mitogens that can affect growth regulation and apoptosis and thus influence carcinogenesis in all cell types, an important characteristic of normal cell proliferation and differentiation in the breast is the responsiveness of these cells to ovarian steroids. Currently, findings from epidemiologic and laboratory studies support the fact that women should choose diets that are plant based and limited in alcohol, which may reduce risk for primary breast cancer. While support for fat restriction in the prevention of breast cancer is conflicting, it must be borne in mind that although breast cancer is a major health concern for U.S. women, cardiovascular disease remains the largest cause of mortality. Limiting intake of fat, especially saturated fat, may help to reduce cardiovascular disease risk for all women, including breast cancer survivors.
A Single-Case Research Evaluation of Collaborative Therapy Treatment Among Adults

The authors implemented an A–B–A single-case research design to explore the degree of effectiveness of a 12-session Collaborative Language System intervention with adult clients (N = 7; age between...
Rediscovering an American Legacy of Service through a Free Curriculum

AbstractThis case study highlights a free curriculum created to commemorate the World War I centennial and to celebrate the future of volunteerism and global citizenship education by encouraging st...
Adaptive Control of Aerobatic Quadrotor Maneuvers in the Presence of Propeller-Aerodynamic-Coefficient and Torque-Latency Time-Variations

We present a study of the dynamics and control of a 28-gram quadrotor during the execution of aerobatic maneuvers in the presence of propeller-aerodynamic-coefficient and torque-latency time-variations. First, through a momentum-theory-based analysis of the flow field surrounding the robot during aerobatic flight, we develop a dynamic linear time-varying (LTV) description of the torque acting on the flyer in which both considered effects explicitly appear as distinct mathematical terms. Then, an adaptive control scheme, composed of a backstepping controller and a modified recursive least-squares (RLS) estimator, is designed to counteract the negative effects produced by the time-varying dynamics of the torque that drives the flyer. The suitability and efficacy of the proposed methods are demonstrated through real-time flight experiments in which the quadrotor autonomously performs three different types of aerobatic maneuvers: triple flips, Pugachev's Cobras and mixed flips. Furthermore, analyses of the experimental data compellingly show that the proposed control scheme consistently improves the performance of the aerial vehicle during aerobatic flight, compared to those achieved by using a high-performance linear time-invariant (LTI) controller that does not account for time-varying torque generation.
World Christianity and Mission 2020: Ongoing Shift to the Global South:

This article marks the thirty-sixth year of including statistical information on World Christianity and mission in the International Bulletin of Mission Research. We report on some of the major fin...
Emergence of opposite neurons in a firing-rate model of multisensory integration

ABSTRACT Opposite neurons, found in macaque dorsal medial superior temporal (MSTd) and ventral intraparietal (VIP) areas, combine visual and vestibular cues of self-motion in opposite ways. A neural circuit recently proposed utilizes opposite neurons to perform causal inference and decide whether the visual and vestibular cues in MSTd and VIP should be integrated or segregated. However, it is unclear how these opposite connections can be formed with biologically realistic learning rules. We propose a network model capable of learning these opposite neurons, using Hebbian and Anti-Hebbian learning rules. The learned neurons are topographically organized and have von Mises-shaped feedforward connections, with tuning properties characteristic of opposite neurons. Our purpose is two-fold: on the one hand, we provide a circuit-level mechanism that explains the properties and formation of opposite neurons; on the other hand, we present a way to extend current theories of multisensory integration to account for appropriate segregation of sensory cues.
Proteolytic processing of PD-L1 by ADAM proteases in breast cancer cells

Expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on the surface of tumor cells and its interaction with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes suppress anti-tumor immunity. In breast tumors, PD-L1 expression levels are the highest in estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (triple-negative) cancers. In this study, we show that a portion of PD-L1 exogenously expressed in several triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, as well as endogenous PD-L1, is proteolytically cleaved by cell surface metalloproteases. The cleavage generates an ~ 37-kDa N-terminal PD-L1 fragment that is released to the media and a C-terminal PD-L1 fragment that remains associated with cells but is efficiently eliminated by lysosomal degradation. We identify ADAM10 and ADAM17, two closely related members of the ADAM family of cell surface metalloproteases, as enzymes mediating PD-L1 cleavage. Notably, treatment of cells with ionomycin, a calcium ionophore and a known activator of ADAM10, or with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of ADAM17, dramatically increases the release of soluble PD-L1 to the media. We postulate that ADAM10 and/or ADAM17 may contribute to the regulation of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway and, ultimately, to anti-tumor immunity in triple-negative breast cancer.
Comparison of spectral FRET microscopy approaches for single-cell analysis.

Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a valuable tool for measuring molecular distances and the effects of biological processes such as cyclic nucleotide messenger signaling and protein localization. Most FRET techniques require two fluorescent proteins with overlapping excitation/emission spectral pairing to maximize detection sensitivity and FRET efficiency. FRET microscopy often utilizes differing peak intensities of the selected fluorophores measured through different optical filter sets to estimate the FRET index or efficiency. Microscopy platforms used to make these measurements include wide-field, laser scanning confocal, and fluorescence lifetime imaging. Each platform has associated advantages and disadvantages, such as speed, sensitivity, specificity, out-of-focus fluorescence, and Z-resolution. In this study, we report comparisons among multiple microscopy and spectral filtering platforms such as standard 2-filter FRET, emission-scanning hyperspectral imaging, and excitation-scanning hyperspectral imaging. Samples of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells were grown on laminin-coated 28 mm round gridded glass coverslips (10816, Ibidi, Fitchburg, Wisconsin) and transfected with adenovirus encoding a cAMP-sensing FRET probe composed of a FRET donor (Turquoise) and acceptor (Venus). Additionally, 3 FRET "controls" with fixed linker lengths between Turquoise and Venus proteins were used for inter-platform validation. Grid locations were logged, recorded with light micrographs, and used to ensure that whole-cell FRET was compared on a cell-by-cell basis among the different microscopy platforms. FRET efficiencies were also calculated and compared for each method. Preliminary results indicate that hyperspectral methods increase the signal-to-noise ratio compared to a standard 2-filter approach.
Familial adenomatous polyposis: results after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in teenagers.

PURPOSE Virtually all untreated patients with familial adenomatous polyposis develop colorectal carcinoma. Thus, prophylactic colectomy is indicated. Detractors of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis prefer ileorectal anastomosis for teenagers because of the potential negative impact of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis on quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the effects on quality of life of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in teenagers with familial adenomatous polyposis. METHODS Between 1981 and 1998, 48 teenagers underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for familial adenomatous polyposis. One patient had proctectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis after previous ileorectal anastomosis. A temporary diverting loop ileostomy was established in 42 patients (87.5 percent). One patient had colonic carcinoma diagnosed preoperatively. Two other patients were found to have unsuspected rectal cancer at surgery. Mean follow-up (+/- standard deviation) in 43 patients was 80.5 +/- 42 months. RESULTS There was no immediate postoperative mortality. Postoperative complications included pelvic sepsis (3 patients; 1 requiring reoperation) and bleeding (1 patient; no surgery required). One patient died of metastatic colonic carcinoma. Ten patients required reoperation, seven had bowel obstruction, one had portal hypertension, and two required an ileostomy. The mean (+/- standard deviation) daytime and nighttime stool frequency was 4 +/- 1.5 and 1 +/- 1, respectively. One patient reported daytime and nighttime incontinence, and two patients reported nighttime incontinence only. No patient experienced impotence or retrograde ejaculation. Social, sexual, sport, housework, recreation, family, travel, and work activities were improved or unchanged in 82.5, 87, 80, 90, 80, 92.5, 77.5, and 89 percent of patients, respectively. Three male patients fathered children, and three female patients had a total of six children after normal pregnancies and deliveries. CONCLUSION The impact of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis on quality of life was favorable in the majority of teenagers. The risk of rectal cancer should be the major consideration before proposing an operation to teenagers with familial adenomatous polyposis.
High-Frequency Quantitative Photoacoustic Imaging and Pixel-Level Tissue Classification

The recently proposed frequency-domain technique for photoacoustic (PA) image formation helps to differentiate between different-sized structures. Although this technique has provided encouraging preliminary results, it currently lacks a mathematical framework. Recently, H-scan ultrasound (US) imaging was introduced for characterizing acoustic scattering behavior at the pixel level. This US imaging technique relies on matching a model that describes US image formation to the mathematics of a class of Gaussian-weighted Hermite polynomial (GWHP) functions. Herein, we propose the extrapolation of the H-scan US image processing method to the analysis of PA signals. Radiofrequency (RF) PA data were obtained using a Vevo 3100 with LAZR-X system (Fujifilm VisualSonics). Experiments were performed using tissue-mimicking phantoms embedded optical absorbing spherical scatterers. Overall, preliminary results demonstrate that H-scan US-based processing of PA signals can help distinguish micrometer-sized objects of varying size.
The Drape Tower: A "Hands-Free" Draping Technique for Intraoperative Lateral Fluoroscopy Views.

SUMMARY Maintaining surgical field sterility during fracture surgery is critical for reducing the likelihood of postoperative infection. Lateral fluoroscopic views are frequently obtained by rotating the emitter under the bed and up immediately adjacent to the sterile field on the side of the injured limb. Contamination can be prevented by sterilely covering the emitter with each rotation from the upright to the lateral positions. Here, we describe a novel draping setup, which maintains fluoroscopic coverage in a "hands-free" manner. The technique uses widely available materials and allows the surgeon to proceed with surgery without the need for additional hands to manage the drape.
A few more trees the chromatic symmetric function can distinguish

A well-known open problem in graph theory asks whether Stanley’s chromatic symmetric function, a generalization of the chromatic polynomial of a graph, distinguishes between any two nonisomorphic trees. Previous work has proven the conjecture for a class of trees called spiders. This paper generalizes the class of spiders to n -spiders, where normal spiders correspond to n = 1 , and verifies the conjecture for n = 2 .
A Retrospective Comparison of the Effectiveness and Safety of Intravenous Olanzapine Versus Intravenous Haloperidol for Agitation in Adult Intensive Care Unit Patients.

Objective:Intravenous (IV) olanzapine could be an alternative to first-generation antipsychotics for the management of agitation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We compared the effectiveness...
Influence of brood pheromone on honey bee colony establishment and queen replacement

There is both anecdotal and empirical evidence to suggest that honey bee queen longevity has decreased in recent years, leading to premature supersedure and queen failure. This is particularly evid...
The Impact of Hearing Experience on Children's Use of Phonological and Semantic Information During Lexical Access.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which phonological competition and semantic priming influence lexical access in school-aged children with cochlear implants (CIs) and ...
CHRONIC MUCOCUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS, DEFICIENCY OF DELAYED: HYPERSENSITIVITY, AND SELECTIVE LOCAL ANTIBODY DEFECT

Abstract Three patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis were found to have an immune defect consisting of inability to manifest delayed hypersensitivity to skin tests or to active sensitisation with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Two of these patients demonstrated a selective defect in parotid-fluid IgA antibody directed against Candida albicans. The quantity and distribution of salivary immunoglobulins were normal. In-vitro response of the patient's lymphocytes to both specific ( C. albicans ) and non-specific (phytohaemagglutinin) mitogenic stimulation was normal. In contrast, other patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis manifested delayed hypersensitivity and demonstrated high levels of C. albicans specific IgA antibody in parotid fluid. This suggests that an immunological deficiency may account for some forms of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
The Interfacing of Preservice and Inservice Experiences of Reform-Based Teaching: A Longitudinal Study

This article contrasts four elementary teachers who were graduates of a teacher education program that incorporated a reform-based mathematics methods course. The report provides results from a four-year longitudinal study that extended from the time that the participants were preservice teachers until the end of their second year of teaching. The article provides background information of each teacher, vignettes from her teaching, excerpts from interviews, and an analysis of each teacher's case. Results from the case studies indicate that two of the four teachers sustained their cognitively-based conceptions about mathematics teaching and learning, and implemented these conceptions into practice. The analysis suggests that there were several factors that influenced the teachers' conceptions and the choices they made in their teaching: personal commitment, professional strength, curriculum, planning, assessment, beliefs, knowledge, and support from school administration. The article concludes with implications for teaching and questions about the nature of what might be required in the beginning years of teaching if new teachers are expected to implement reform-based mathematics teaching practices.
Energy-Time Trade-offs in VLSI Computation

We show a lower bound of Ω(I2(n)) on the energy-time product ET for a function with the information complexity I(n) both in uniswitch and multiswitch energy models. However the multiswitch circuits can be shown to be more energy efficient than the uniswitch circuits. We show a lower bound of Ω(I2(n)) on the uniswitch energy and a lower bound of Ω(I3/2(n)) on the multiswitch energy. The matching upper bounds can be shown to exist for several functions.
Curriculum-Based Measurement and the Evaluation of Reading Skills of Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners in Bilingual Education Classrooms.

Eighty-three students enrolled in general education classrooms and 62 Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in bilingual education classrooms were assessed in reading English t...
Steady state and convergence characteristics of the fixed point RLS algorithm

The steady-state mean square prediction error is derived for the fixed point recursive-least-squares (RLS) algorithm, both for the exponentially windowed RLS (forgetting factor, gamma >
Investigating the Potential for Super-Resolution in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an emerging 3D x-ray imaging modality in which tomographic sections of the breast are generated from a limited range of tube angles. Because non-normal x-ray incidence causes the image of an object to be translated in sub-pixel increments with increasing projection angle, it is demonstrated in this work that DBT is capable of super-resolution (i.e., sub-pixel resolution). The feasibility of super-resolution is shown with a commercial DBT system using a bar pattern phantom. In addition, a framework for investigating super-resolution analytically is proposed by calculating the reconstruction profile for a sine input whose frequency is greater than the alias frequency of the detector. To study the frequency spectrum of the reconstruction, its continuous Fourier transform is also calculated. It is shown that the central projection cannot properly resolve frequencies higher than the alias frequency of the detector. Instead, the central projection represents a high frequency signal as if it were a lower frequency signal. The Fourier transform of the central projection is maximized at this lower frequency and has considerable spectral leakage as evidence of aliasing. By contrast, simple backprojection can be used to image high frequencies properly. The Fourier transform of simple backprojection is correctly maximized at the input frequency. Adding filters to the simple backprojection reconstruction smoothens pixilation artifacts, and reduces spectral leakage found in the frequency spectrum. In conclusion, this work demonstrates the feasibility of super-resolution in DBT experimentally and provides a framework for characterizing its presence analytically.
Effects of Orange II and Sudan III azo dyes and their metabolites on Staphylococcus aureus

Azo dyes are widely used in the plastic, paper, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Some metabolites of these dyes are potentially genotoxic. The toxic effects of azo dyes and their potential reduction metabolites on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA 1556 were studied. When the cultures were incubated with 6, 18, and 36 μg/ml of Orange II and Sudan III for 48 h, 76.3, 68.5, and 61.7% of Orange II and 97.8, 93.9, and 75.8% of Sudan III were reduced by the bacterium, respectively. In the presence of 36 μg/ml Sudan III, the cell viability of the bacterium decreased to 61.9% after 48 h of incubation, whereas the cell viability of the control culture without the dye was 71.5%. Moreover, the optical density of the bacterial cultures at 10 h decreased from 0.74 to 0.55, indicating that Sudan III is able to inhibit growth of the bacterium. However, Orange II had no significant effects on either cell growth or cell viability of the bacterium at the tested concentrations. 1-Amino-2-naphthol, a metabolite common to Orange II and Sudan III, was capable of inhibiting cell growth of the bacterium at 1 μg/ml and completely stopped bacterial cell growth at 24–48 μg/ml. On the other hand, the other metabolites of Orange II and Sudan III, namely sulfanilic acid, p-phenylenediamine, and aniline, showed no significant effects on cell growth. p-Phenylenediamine exhibited a synergistic effect with 1-amino-2-naphthol on cell growth inhibition. All of the dye metabolites had no significant effects on cell viability of the bacterium.
Turbine Blade Cooling Studies at Texas A&M University: 1980-2004

Gas turbines are used extensively for aircraft propulsion, land-based power generation, and industrial applications. Developments in turbine cooling technology play a critical role in increasing the thermal efficiency and power output of advanced high-temperature gas turbine engines. Gas turbine blades are cooled internally by passing the coolant through several rib-enhanced serpentine passages to remove heat conducted from the outside surface. External cooling of turbine blades by film cooling is achieved by injecting relatively cooler air from the internal coolant passages out of the blade surface to form a protective layer between the blade surface and hot gas-path flow. The most important research contributions on turbine blade cooling studies at Texas A&M University's Turbine Heat Transfer Laboratory from 1980 to 2004 are summarized. For turbine blade internal cooling, the focus is on the effect of rotation on rotor blade coolant passage heat transfer with rib turbulators, pin fins, dimples, and impinging jets. For turbine blade external cooling, the focus is on unsteady high freestream turbulence effects on film-cooling performance with a special emphasis on turbine blade edge region heat transfer and cooling problems.