cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative CT analysis for the preoperative prediction of pathologic grade in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) account for approximately 5% of all pancreatic tumors, affecting one individual per million each year.1 PanNETs are difficult to treat due to biological variability from benign to highly malignant, indolent to very aggressive. The World Health Organization classifies PanNETs into three categories based on cell proliferative rate, usually detected using the Ki67 index and cell morphology: low-grade (G1), intermediate-grade (G2) and high-grade (G3) tumors. Knowledge of grade prior to treatment would select patients for optimal therapy: G1/G2 tumors respond well to somatostatin analogs and targeted or cytotoxic drugs whereas G3 tumors would be targeted with platinum or alkylating agents.2, 3 Grade assessment is based on the pathologic examination of the surgical specimen, biopsy or ne-needle aspiration; however, heterogeneity in the proliferative index can lead to sampling errors.4 Based on studies relating qualitatively assessed shape and enhancement characteristics on CT imaging to tumor grade in PanNET,5 we propose objective classification of PanNET grade with quantitative analysis of CT images. Fifty-five patients were included in our retrospective analysis. A pathologist graded the tumors. Texture and shape-based features were extracted from CT. Random forest and naive Bayes classifiers were compared for the classification of G1/G2 and G3 PanNETs. The best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0:74 and accuracy of 71:64% was achieved with texture features. The shape-based features achieved an AUC of 0:70 and accuracy of 78:73%.
Statin use and the risk of Clostridium difficile infection: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Purpose Statins have pleiotropic effects beyond cholesterol lowering by immune modulation. The association of statins with primary Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is unclear as studies have reported conflicting findings. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between statin use and CDI. Patients and methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1978 to December 2016 for studies assessing the association between statin use and CDI. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the methodologic quality of included studies. Weighted summary estimates were calculated using generalized inverse variance with random-effects model. Results Eight studies (6 case-control and 2 cohort) were included in the meta-analysis, which comprised 156,722 patients exposed to statins and 356,185 controls, with 34,849 total cases of CDI available in 7 studies. The rate of CDI in patients with statin use was 4.3%, compared with 7.8% in patients without statin use. An overall meta-analysis of 8 studies using the random-effects model demonstrated that statins may be associated with a decreased risk of CDI (maximally adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.97; P=0.02). There was significant heterogeneity among the studies, with an I2 of 79%. No publication bias was seen. Meta-analysis of studies that adjusted for confounders revealed no protective effect of statins (adjusted OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.70-1.01; P=0.06, I2=75%). However, a meta-analysis of only full-text studies using the random-effects model demonstrated a decreased risk of CDI with the use of statins (OR 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.99; P=0.04, I2=85%). Conclusion Meta-analyses of existing studies suggest that patients prescribed a statin may be at decreased risk for CDI. The results must be interpreted with caution given the significant heterogeneity and lack of benefit on analysis of studies that adjusted for confounders.
Propylene oxide inhibits propylene epoxidation over Au/TS-1

Abstract The kinetics of propylene epoxidation over Au supported on titanium silicalite-1 (Au/TS-1) catalysts were measured in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) free from temperature and concentration gradients. Apparent reaction orders measured at 473 K for H2 (0.7 order), O2 (0.2), and propylene (0.2) for a series of Au/TS-1 with varied Au (0.02–0.09 wt%) and Ti (Si/Ti: 75–143) contents were consistent with those reported previously. Co-feeding propylene oxide enabled measurement of the apparent reaction order in propylene oxide (−0.4 to −0.8 order) and the determination that relevant pressures of propylene oxide reversibly inhibit propylene epoxidation over Au/TS-1, while co-feeding carbon dioxide and water had no effect on the propylene epoxidation rate. Analysis of previously proposed two-site reaction mechanisms in light of reaction orders for O2 (0.4), H2 (1), and C3H6 (0.4), corrected to account for propylene oxide inhibition, provides further evidence that propylene epoxidation over Au/TS-1 occurs via a simultaneous mechanism requiring two distinct, but adjacent, types of sites, and not a sequential mechanism that invokes migration of H2O2 formed on Au sites to PO forming Ti sites. H2 oxidation rates are not inhibited by propylene oxide, implying that the sites required for hydrogen oxidation are distinct from those required for propylene epoxidation.
Managing Medical Information (Tools, Rules, and What’s Cool)

This is a sentiment that rings true for all of us as practitioners of medicine. Of note, however, is that this quote is from 1978 – nearly a third of a century ago.
The OLYMPUS Experiment at DESY

Recent determinations of the proton electric to magnetic elastic form factor ratio from polarization transfer measurements at Jefferson Lab indicate an unexpected and dramatic discrepancy with the elastic form factor ratio obtained using the Rosenbluth separation technique in unpolarized cross section measurements. This discrepancy has been explained as the effect of two-photon exchange beyond the usual one-photon exchange approximation in the calculation of the elastic electron-proton scattering cross section. The OLYMPUS experiment at DESY, Hamburg, Germany has been proposed to definitively determine the effect of two-photon exchange in elastic lepton-proton scattering by precisely measuring the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic unpolarized cross sections.
Island flap anoplasty for anal canal stenosis and mucosal ectropion

Anoplasty is a technique used to treat patients with mucosal ectropion and anal canal stenosis. The island flap design has been demonstrated to have distinct advantages over the older forms of anoplasty. Few reports have addressed the long-term results of this procedure. A review of all patients undergoing island flap anoplasty between 1987 and 1992 was performed. Twenty-eight patients were identified. Indications for anoplasty included anal stenosis in 20 patients and mucosal ectropion in eight patients. Complications included five minor wound separations and one urinary tract infection with subsequent clostridium difficile enterocolitis. In-office follow-up averaged 7 months, at which time all patients were completely healed and significantly improved. Follow-up by phone was performed in 23 patients, extending their follow-up to 36 months. Based on the phone questionnaire, 91 per cent of the patients judged their symptoms as improved, and 9 per cent of patients judged their symptoms as unchanged. No patient judged their condition has worsened. Compared with the earlier forms of anoplasty, the island flap anoplasty is associated with a more simple design, less morbidity, and excellent long-term outcome. The island flap anoplasty should be the preferred design in cases of mucosal ectropion and anal stenosis.
Vattikuti Institute Prostatectomy: Veil of Aphrodite Nerve-sparing Technique

We present our current technique of robotic radical prostatectomy – the Vattikuti Institute Prostatectomy (VIP – and describe an extended nerve sparing of the lateral prostatic fascia which we call the “veil of Aphrodite.” We believe that this technique minimizes morbidity and maximizes functional outcomes. Patients with low-volume and low-grade tumor undergo the veil nerve-sparing procedure. A transperitoneal six-port approach is used. The bladder neck is transected without opening the endopelvic fascia or ligating the dorsal vein complex. Prostatectomy is performed in an antegrade fashion. A plane between the prostatic capsule and the prostatic fascia is developed in a craniocaudal direction sparing prostatic fascia and the neurovascular tissue – the veil tissue. Anastomosis is performed by a double-armed continuous suture. We believe a structured program, stereoscopic displays for assistants, and proper patient selection are essential for a smooth initiation of a robotic prostatectomy program.
In cammino verso l’autenticazione digitale

L’avvento della digitalizzazione ad alta definizione per le opere d’arte, cosi come il rapido sviluppo di strumenti sofisticati per lavorare con le immagini suggeriscono la possibilita di una nuova scienza di stilometria visuale. In altri termini, in certe situazione si possono estrarre firme numeriche da versioni digitali di un lavoro (per esempio, un disegno o un dipinto) di un artista attraverso la matematica, la statistica e l’informatica, al fine di procedere all’autenticazione o di rintracciare lo sviluppo e l’evoluzione della tecnica dell’artista. In particolare, in [1] e stato introdotto un approccio basato sulle ondine per l’analisi di disegni e di dipinti. Qui vogliamo guardare piu da vicino questa metodologia multiscala e fornire alcuni strumenti rudimentali di statistica per la sua valutazione. Sottoporremo poi il processo a un semplice test di robustezza. In entrambi i casi usiamo 1’insieme dei dati di Bruegel e i disegni di riproduzione di panorami di Bruegel presentati in [1].
New ubiquitin-dependent mechanisms regulating the Aurora B–protein phosphatase 1 balance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein ubiquitylation regulates many cellular processes, including cell division. We report here a novel mutation altering the Saccharomyces cerevisiae E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme (uba1-W928R) that suppresses the temperature sensitivity and chromosome loss phenotype of a well-characterized Aurora B mutant (ip1-2). The uba1-W928R mutation increases histone H3-S10 phosphorylation in the ipl1-2 strain, indicating that uba1-W928R acts by increasing Ipl1 activity and/or reducing the opposing protein phosphatase 1 (PP1; Glc7 in S. cerevisiae) phosphatase activity. Consistent with this hypothesis, Ipl1 protein levels and stability are elevated in the uba1-W928R mutant, likely mediated via the E2 enzymes Ubc4 and Cdc34. In contrast, the uba1-W928R mutation does not affect Glc7 stability, but exhibits synthetic lethality with several glc7 mutations. Moreover, uba1-W928R cells have an altered subcellular distribution of Glc7 and form nuclear Glc7 foci. These effects are likely mediated via the E2 enzymes Rad6 and Cdc34. Our new UBA1 allele reveals new roles for ubiquitylation in regulating the Ipl1-Glc7 balance in budding yeast. While ubiquitylation likely regulates Ipl1 protein stability via the canonical proteasomal degradation pathway, a non-canonical ubiquitin-dependent pathway maintains normal Glc7 localization and activity.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Update on the University of Florida Experience with Local Excision and Postoperative Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Early Rectal Carcinoma

The University of Florida experience using local excision and post-opertive radiation therapy is reviewed. Preoperative evaluation, surgical approaches, and the indications for routine postoperative irradiation are discussed. Local excision and irradiation represent a viable alternative in carefully selected patients without adversely affecting outcome.
A Bayesian total uncertainty analysis framework for assessment of management practices using watershed models

Abstract A Bayesian total uncertainty analysis framework is presented to assess the model estimates of the effectiveness of watershed management practices in reducing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. The framework entails a two-stage procedure. First, various sources of modeling uncertainties are characterized during the period before implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs). Second, the effectiveness of BMPs are probabilistically quantified during the post-BMP period. The framework was used to assess the uncertainties in effectiveness of two BMPs in reducing daily total nitrogen (TN) loads in a 54 ha agricultural watershed in North Carolina using the SWAT model. The results indicated that the modeling uncertainties in quantifying the effectiveness of selected BMPs were relatively large. Assessment of measured data uncertainty revealed that higher errors were observed in simulating TN loads during high flow events. The results of this study have important implications for decision-making under uncertainty when models are used for water quality simulation.
Multiple Streams in Hawaii: How the Aloha State Adopted a 100% Renewable Portfolio Standard

Renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are an important policy tool for reducing carbon emissions and advancing the global shift toward renewable energy. As the U.S. federal government backs away from commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, subnational governments play an increasingly important role in mitigating climate change. In June 2015, Hawaii became the first state in the United States to adopt a 100% RPS. Through understanding the conditions that gave rise to Hawaii’s RPS, policy actors will be better informed as they navigate policy processes in other states and jurisdictions. This study uses Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to explore the policy process that led to Hawaii’s 100% RPS. Data were collected during the summer of 2016 via interviews with 25 key policy actors and informants in Hawaii. Expectations based on the MSF are confirmed, and the results suggest factors that might be included or explored in future studies of RPS adoption. 可再生能源组合标准(RPS)是减少碳排放和普及全球使用可再生能源的重要政策工具。由于美国联邦政府放弃减少温室气体排放的承诺，国家以下各级政府在缓解气候变化方面发挥着越来越重要的作用。2015年6月，夏威夷成为美国第一个采用100% RPS的州。通过掌握夏威夷RPS产生的条件，政策参与者能更好地了解其他各州和管辖区的政策指导进程。本研究运用金登的多源流框架(MSF)来探索夏威夷100% RPS产生的政策过程。研究数据来源于2016年夏天对夏威夷25名主要政策参与者和情报者的访谈。基于MSF的猜测得到了证实，结果表明了今后RPS运用研究中可能涉及或将被发掘的因素。 Los estandares de portafolio renovable (RPS) son una herramienta politica importante para reducir las emisiones de carbono y avanzar el cambio global hacia la energia renovable. A medida que el gobierno federal de los EE. UU. Se aleja de los compromisos de reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, los gobiernos estatales desempenan un papel cada vez mas importante en la mitigacion del cambio climatico. En junio de 2015, Hawai se convirtio en el primer estado de los EE. UU. En adoptar un 100% de RPS. Al comprender las condiciones que dieron origen al RPS de Hawai, los actores politicos estaran mejor informados a medida que navegan por los procesos de politicas en otros estados y jurisdicciones. Este estudio utiliza el marco de multiples flujos de Kingdon (MSF) para explorar el proceso de politicas que condujo al 100% de RPS de Hawai. Los datos se recopilaron durante el verano de 2016 a traves de entrevistas con 25 actores clave de politicas e informantes en Hawai. Se confirman las expectativas basadas en la MSF, y los resultados sugieren factores que podrian incluirse o explorarse en futuros estudios de adopcion de RPS.
Newly Discovered migratory corridor and foraging ground for Atlantic green turtles, Chelonia mydas, nesting on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

Abstract This study is the first to use satellite telemetry to track post-nesting movements of endangered green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Gulf of Guinea. Satellite transmitters were attached in 2018 to six Atlantic green turtles nesting on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, to track their post-nesting movements and locate their foraging grounds. Track lengths of 20-198 days were analyzed, for a total of 536 movement days for the six turtles. Migratory pathways and foraging grounds were identified by applying a switching state space model to locational data, which provides daily position estimates to identify shifts between migrating and foraging behavior. Turtles exhibited a combination of coastal and oceanic migrations pathways that ranged from 957 km to 1,131 km. Of the six turtles, five completed their migration and maintained residency at the same foraging ground near the coastal waters of Accra, Ghana until transmission was lost. These five resident turtles inhabit heavily fished and polluted waters and are vulnerable to a variety of anthropogenic threats. The identification of these foraging grounds highlights the importance of these coastal waters for the protection of the endangered Atlantic green turtle.
A unique copper coordination structure with both mono- and bi-dentate ethylenediamine ligands

The compound (ethylenediamine-N)-bis(ethylenediamine-N,N′)-copper(II) bis(nitrate) is reported. It has an asymmetric unit containing Cu(II) penta-coordinating to two chelating ethylenediamine (en) and one monodentate en ligands with square-pyramidal-based geometry having severe trigonal distortion, together with two nitrate anions. It is the first crystallographic confirmation of the existence of penta-coordination with exclusively en ligands for any metal center, as well as the first monodentate en attached to Cu(II) seen in the solid state. It can be visualized as the penta-ammine effect realized solely with bi-amine ligands, defying the presumed necessity of mono-amines. X-ray crystallography establishes it to have P21/c space group with a = 12.83 A, b = 9.77 A, c = 11.91 A, and β = 94.8° (at 100 K). Spectroscopic analysis of this compound is consistent with the crystallographic assessment of the coordination chemistry, and it is found to be a S = 1/2 paramagnet.
Increased intratumoral infiltration in IDH wild-type lower-grade gliomas observed with diffusion tensor imaging.

Diffuse lower grade gliomas (LGG) with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene mutations (IDHMUT) have a distinct survival advantage compared with IDH wild-type (IDHWT) cases but the mechanism underlying this disparity is not well understood. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) has identified infiltrated non-enhancing tumor regions that are characterized by low isotropic (p) and high anisotropic (q) diffusion tensor components that associate with poor survival in glioblastoma. We hypothesized that similar regions are more prevalent in IDHWT (vs. IDHMUT) LGG. p and q maps were reconstructed from preoperative DTI scans in N = 41 LGG patients with known IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion status. Enhancing and non-enhancing tumor volumes were autosegmented from standard (non-DTI) MRI scans. Percentage non-enhancing tumor volumes exhibiting low p and high q (Vinf) were then determined using threshold values (p = 2 × 10−3mm2/s, q = 3 × 10–4 mm2/s) and compared between IDHWT and IDHMUT LGG, and between IDHMUT LGG with and without 1p/19q codeletion. Vinf volumes were significantly larger in IDHWT LGG than in IDHMUT LGG (35.4 ± 18.3% vs. 15.9 ± 7.6%, P < 0.001). Vinf volumes did not significantly differ between IDHMUT LGG with and without 1p/19q codeletion (17.1 ± 9.5% vs. 14.8 ± 5.8%, P = 1.0). IDHWT LGG exhibited larger volumes with suppressed isotropic diffusion (p) and high anisotropic diffusion (q) which reflects regions with increased cell density but non-disrupted neuronal structures. This may indicate a greater prevalence of infiltrative tumor in IDHWT LGG.
The role of place image for business site selection: a research framework, propositions, and a case study

Business site selection involves a complex interplay of myriad economic and non-economic factors, and due to its strategic implications is important for decision making for both policymakers and companies. On the one hand, cities spend substantial amount of public dollars marketing places to attract and retain potential businesses; on the other companies invest a significant amount on location decisions, land, labor, and capital in quest for long-term sustainable growth. There is an increasing realization that in addition to economic factors, place image is of paramount importance for attracting new businesses and investment (in: Anholt, Places: identity, image, and reputation, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2010). In this research paper based on an extensive review of the literature, a research framework and propositions are developed for place image and business site selection. The paper posits that brand, visual image, and reputation will have a positive direct effect on place image, and place image will have a positive direct impact on site selection decision. A recent case study of Amazon that provides valuable insights on factors (e.g., place image) that Amazon considered in its site selection for headquarters 2 decision.
Getting Out of a Sticky Situation: Approaching Intra-Abdominal Adhesions

Video Objective This video aims to review how to anticipate and evaluate a patient for the presence of adhesions, review surgical tips and tricks for approaching lysis of adhesions, and review evidence for products made reducing formation of adhesions. Setting This is done through a case study of a patient presenting with pelvic pain through to be secondary to adhesive disease Interventions We present surgical video of the techniques, tips, and tricks used for laparoscopic adhesiolysis. Conclusion This video will help surgeons at all levels learn how to evaluate a patient for the presence of adhesions, some surgical techniques to approach adhesions, and to understand evidence behind adhesion preventing products.
Neferine, an alkaloid from lotus seed embryo targets HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cells via pro‐oxidant anticancer mechanism

Apoptosis and autophagy are important processes that control cellular homeostasis and have been highlighted as promising targets for novel anticancer drugs. This study aims to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of Neferine (Nef), an alkaloid from the lotus seed embryos of Nelumbo nucifera (N. nucifera), as a dual inducer of apoptosis and autophagy through the reactive oxygen species (ROS) activation in cervical cancer cells. Nef and N. nucifera extract suppressed the cell viability of HeLa and SiHa cells in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, Nef showed minimal toxicity to normal cells. Furthermore, Nef inhibited anchorage-independent growth, colony formation and migration ability of cervical cancer cells. Nef induces mitochondrial apoptosis by increasing pro-apoptotic protein bax, cytochrome-c, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9, poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage, DNA damage (pH2 AX) while downregulating Bcl-2, procaspase-3 and procaspase-9, and TCTP. Of note, apoptotic effect by Nef was significantly attenuated in the presence of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), suggesting pro-oxidant activity of this compound. Nef also promoted autophagy induction through increasing beclin-1, atg-4, atg-5 and atg-12, LC-3 activation, and P 62/SQSTM1 as determined by western blot analysis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Nef is a potent anticancer compound against cervical cancer cells through inducing apoptosis and autophagic pathway involving ROS.
Chapter 8 – Visual Attention

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the acts of visual attention, as attention is a thriving area of vision research. This chapter reviews a substantial portion of the literature focusing on the “visual” side of visual attention. The evidence suggests that focal attention can be directed to one or, perhaps, a few that we see at any moment are represented either preattentively or postattentively. The chapter is divided into four sections: vision before attention; vision with attention; vision after attention; and vision without attention. Most of what is known about vision comes from studies in which the stimulus is the focus of attention. There are stimuli that receive some processing resources but fail to leave any lasting impression on the observer. These may be seen but instantly forgotten, leaving implicit but not explicit traces for the experimenter to measure.
GPU Acceleration of Sparse Neural Networks.

In this paper, we use graphics processing units (GPU) to accelerate sparse and arbitrary structured neural networks. Sparse networks have nodes in the network that are not fully connected with nodes in preceding and following layers, and arbitrary structure neural networks have different number of nodes in each layers. Sparse Neural networks with arbitrary structures are generally created in the processes like neural network pruning and evolutionary machine learning strategies. We show that we can gain significant speedup for full activation of such neural networks using graphical processing units. We do a prepossessing step to determine dependency groups for all the nodes in a network, and use that information to guide the progression of activation in the neural network. Then we compute activation for each nodes in its own separate thread in the GPU, which allows for massive parallelization. We use CUDA framework to implement our approach and compare the results of sequential and GPU implementations. Our results show that the activation of sparse neural networks lends very well to GPU acceleration and can help speed up machine learning strategies which generate such networks or other processes that have similar structure.
Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 Is an Active Phase in Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Formate

Determining the catalytically active phase in electrochemical CO2 reduction has been challenging. In their work recently published in Nature Communications on July 8, 2020, Zhang et al. studied the phase transition of a tanninlead(II) complex in electrochemical CO2 reduction and revealed that the in-situ formed hydrocerussite[Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2] is the stable active phase for formate production. This new finding may help settle the debate on the real active site of Pb-based materials for CO2 electroreduction.
Myelodysplastic syndrome in a 30-year-old man with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a diagnostic challenge

ABSTRACT Background Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) mainly occur in the elderly but can rarely affect younger individuals too. The correct diagnosis relies on careful morphologic evaluation, cytogenetic/molecular results, and excluding reactive conditions mimicking MDS. We present the clinical, pathologic, cytogenetic, and molecular features of a case of MDS with excess blasts-2 (MDS-EB-2) in a 30-year-old male who was found to have pancytopenia during his hospitalization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and discuss the diagnostic challenges of MDS in patients with COVID-19. Case presentation A 30-year-old man presented to an outside hospital with fever, chills, weakness, coughing spells, dizziness and shortness of breath and was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia due to COVID-19. At the outside hospital, he was found to be pancytopenic, and a subsequent bone marrow aspiration and biopsy raised concern for a COVID-19 induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. In addition, MDS could not be ruled out. The patient was thus referred to our institute for further management. The patient's peripheral blood showed pancytopenia with occasional dysplastic neutrophils and a few teardrop cells. Given the diagnostic uncertainty, a bone marrow aspiration and a biopsy were repeated revealing a hypercellular bone marrow with erythroid hyperplasia, megakaryocytic hyperplasia, trilineage dysplasia, increased blasts (13%), many ring sideroblasts, and mild to moderate myelofibrosis, consistent with MDS-EB-2. Chromosomal analysis revealed isochromosome 14. Next generation sequencing demonstrated SF3B1 K700E mutation. Discussion and conclusion The diagnosis of MDS can be challenging, particularly in young patients. Cytopenia and myelodysplastic features have been reported in COVID-19 patients, making the diagnosis of MDS more elusive. A careful pathologic examination of the bone marrow with ancillary studies including flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and cytogenetic and molecular studies in combination with a thorough clinical evaluation, leads to the accurate diagnosis.
A theory of glacial cycles: resolving Pleistocene puzzles

Abstract. Since the summer surface air temperature that regulates the ice margin is anchored on the sea surface temperature, we posit that the climate system constitutes the intermediary of the orbital forcing of the glacial cycles. As such, the relevant forcing is the annual solar flux absorbed by the ocean, which naturally filters out the precession effect in early Pleistocene but mimics the Milankovitch insolation in late Pleistocene. For a coupled climate system that is inherent turbulent, we show that the ocean may be bistable with a cold state defined by the freezing point subpolar water, which would translate to ice bistates between a polar ice cap and an ice sheet extending to mid-latitudes, enabling large ice-volume signal regardless the forcing amplitude so long as the bistable thresholds are crossed. Such thresholds are set by the global convective flux, which would be lowered during the Pleistocene cooling, whose interplay with the ice-albedo feedback leads to transitions of the ice signal from that dominated by obliquity to the emerging precession cycles to the ice-age cycles paced by eccentricity. Through a single dynamical framework, the theory thus may resolve many long-standing puzzles of the glacial cycles.
Bariatric surgery decreases the number of future hospital admissions for diastolic heart failure in subjects with severe obesity: a retrospective analysis of the US National Inpatient Sample database.

Abstract Background Considerable evidence documents the effectiveness and efficacy of bariatric surgery (BaS) in reducing the prevalence and severity of obesity-related co-morbidities. Diastolic heart failure (DHF) is a condition with considerable morbidity and mortality, yet recalcitrant to medical therapy. Objective Our objectives were to assess whether BaS is associated with a decrease in hospital admissions for DHF and determine its impact upon DHF hospital admissions among patients with hypertension (HTN) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Setting Academic institution. Methods Data on 296 041 BaS cases and 2 004 804 controls with severe obesity were extracted from the US National Inpatient Sample database for the years 2010 to 2015 and compared. Univariate and multivariable analysis were performed to assess the impact of pre-2010 BaS on the rate of hospital admissions for DHF, adjusting for demographics, co-morbidities, and other risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Results Relative to controls, all baseline CVD risk factors were less common among BaS cases. Nonetheless, even after adjusting for all CVD risk factors, controls exhibited marked increases in the odds of DHF overall (odds ratio = 2.80; 95% confidence interval = 2.52–3.10). Controls with HTN and CAD demonstrated an almost 3-fold increase in odds of DHF admissions. Similarly, controls with no HTN demonstrated a 5-fold increase in odds of admissions for DHF when compared to the surgical group. Conclusions In this retrospective, case control study of a large, representative national sample of patients with severely obesity, BaS was found to be associated with significantly reduced hospitalizations for DHF when adjusted for baseline CVD risk factors. It also reduced DHF incidence in high-risk patients with HTN and CAD.
Children's appraisals of threat in pediatric cancer

Abstract Purpose Although many children with cancer cope well with challenges, some experience distress that results in poor adjustment. Children's perceptions of threat may be one explanation for heterogeneity in outcomes, but relatively little is known about what children find threatening. This study aimed to describe the threats that children report. Method Youth (4–18 years old) newly diagnosed with cancer and their primary/parent caregivers (PC) participated in a multi-method study. Appraisals of threat were assessed via self-report and a narrative technique at two weeks post-diagnosis. PCs reported children's anxiety and depressive symptoms three months post-diagnosis and children reported their quality of life (QOL) six months post-diagnosis. Results Youth reported various types of threatening events (e.g., receiving the cancer diagnosis, fear or pain of procedures) across multiple domains (e.g., threat to self, physical threat, threat of loss). Adolescents tended to report threat to life (e.g., the seriousness of the diagnosis itself) whereas younger children reported other threats (e.g., procedural pain). Children with high perceived threat to self had higher subsequent anxiety symptoms and lower QOL compared to those with low appraisals of threat to self. There was also a significant mean difference between high and low appraisals of threat of loss in child reported QOL. Conclusions Youths’ reported threats, as well as how threat appraisals related to adjustment outcomes in distinct ways, underscores the developmental nature of how youth interpret medically stressful events and the utility of developmentally sensitive assessment. Understanding perceived threat could ultimately inform efforts to foster positive long-term adaptation for youth with cancer.
An origin for multiphase gas in galactic winds and haloes

The physical origin of high velocity cool gas seen in galactic winds remains unknown. Following Wang (1995), we argue that radiative cooling in initially hot thermally-driven outflows can produce fast neutral atomic and photoionized cool gas. The inevitability of adiabatic cooling from the flow's initial 10^7-10^8K temperature and the shape of the cooling function for T 0.5 cool radiatively on scales ranging from the size of the energy injection region to tens of kpc. We highlight the beta and star formation rate surface density dependence of the column density, emission measure, radiative efficiency, and velocity. At r_cool, the gas produces X-ray and then UV/optical line emission with a total power bounded by 10^{-2} L_star if the flow is powered by steady-state star formation with luminosity L_star. The wind is thermally unstable at r_cool, potentially leading to a multi-phase medium. Cooled winds decelerate significantly in the extended gravitational potential of galaxies. The cool gas precipitated from hot outflows may explain its prevalence in galactic halos. We forward a picture of winds whereby cool clouds are initially accelerated by the ram pressure of the hot flow, but are rapidly shredded by hydrodynamical instabilities, thereby increasing beta, seeding radiative and thermal instability, and cool gas rebirth. If the cooled wind shocks as it sweeps up the circumgalactic medium, its cooling time is short, thus depositing cool gas far out into the halo. Finally, conduction can dominate energy transport in low-beta hot winds, leading to flatter temperature profiles than otherwise expected, potentially consistent with X-ray observations of some starbursts.
Spatial perspectives of infant health care:: The distribution of infant health care delivery in Hillsborough County, Florida

Abstract The purpose of the study is to: (1) examine the location of the infant health care facilities in Hillsborough County; (2) identify the infant mortality rate (deaths under 1 year of life) and the postneonatal mortality rate (deaths from 28 to 365 days of life) by census tract; (3) rank the census tracts by socioeconomic level; and (4) compare the relationship between the location of infant health care facilities, infant death rates, and census tract socioeconomic status. The infant mortality rate has long been considered one of the most reliable indexes of the general health of a population. Whenever a change occurs in the standard of living of a nation, that change will be reflected with a change in the number of infant deaths. Infant mortality is also a sensitive barometer of the availability and effectiveness of certain types of social and medical services. Insufficient medical and health services, along with under-utilization of existing services, contribute to excessive infant mortality levels. Existing medical techniques and knowledge, if applied properly, could prevent most causes of infant deaths in the United States. The assumption of an inverse relationship between socioeconomic status and infant death rates is clearly supported by the data from Hillsborough County. Postneonatal mortality rates are particularly sensitive to socioeconomic conditions. During this period death occurs largely from accidents or infectious, digestive and respiratory diseases. Less clearly established is any significant relationship between high infant death rates and distance to health care facilities. This study has shown that distances are greater to some such services in those tracts scoring low on death rates than tracts which score high. The population of the high-ranking tracts apparently are financially able to overcome the friction of distance between home and health care. The converse is also evident: proximity to health care services by itself does little to ameliorate the depressed socioeconomic conditions which undoubtedly contribute to a high rate of infant mortality.
Web-based weather expert system (WES) for Space Shuttle launch

The Web-based weather expert system (WES) is a critical module of the virtual test bed development to support "go/no go" decisions for space shuttle operations in the Intelligent Launch and Range Operations program of NASA. The weather rules characterize certain aspects of the environment related to the launching or landing site, the time of the day or night, the pad or runway conditions, the mission durations, the runway equipment and landing type. Expert system rules are derived from weather contingency rules, which were developed over several years by NASA. Backward chaining, a goal-directed inference method is adopted, because a particular consequence or goal clause is evaluated first, and then chained backward through the rules. Once a rule is satisfied or true, then that particular rule is fired and the decision is expressed. The expert system is continuously verifying the rules against the past one-hour weather conditions and the decisions are made. The normal procedure of operations requires a formal pre-launch weather briefing held on launch minus 1 day, which is a specific weather briefing for all areas of space shuttle launch operations. In this paper, the Web-based weather expert system of the Intelligent Launch and Range Operations program is presented.
A Reliable Multicast Protocol with Delay Guarantees

The reliable multicast protocol guarantees that all receivers place the source messages in the same order. We have changed this protocol from an event driven protocol to a timed protocol in order to also guarantee that all of the receivers have the message by a dead line. In this work we present two modifications to the timed protocol that provide shorter deadlines. In the examples that we consider the tighter deadlines approach the nominal network delay.
Rare Earth Metal Ions as Probes of Calcium Ion Binding Sites in Proteins NEODYMIUM(III) ACCELERATION OF THE ACTIVATION OF TRYPSINOGEN

Abstract The rate of activation of the conversion of trypsinogen to trypsin has been found to be greatly accelerated by the neodymium(III) ion. The similarity of this process to the calcium(II) ion activation suggests that both metal ions bind at identical sites in trypsinogen. The rate of activation in the presence of the neodymium ion is much greater than that of the calcium ion, probably reflecting the increased stability constant of the neodymium-protein complex. In contrast to the calcium ion, however, neodymium(III) can be scrutinized by a variety of spectral and magnetic techniques which should reveal information concerning the calcium ion binding sites in proteins. Since the chemistry and the range of sizes of the rare earth metal ions are so similar to that of the calcium ion, it is suggested that generally these ions should make good replacement ions for probing the calcium ion binding sites of proteins and enzymes.
Consecutive electrochemical processes in controlled potential electrolysis: The isolation of intermediates

Abstract The fundamental relations pertaining to the controlled potential electrolysis of a reaction path which involves two consecutive irreversible electrochemical reactions have been derived. The results show that in the true mass transport limiting current region, the conditions are such that no intermediates appear and plots of log i vs. t should be linear. This result is contrary to previous findings. The conditions necessary for the isolation of intermediates are discussed.
Children's Emotional Reactions to Stressful Parent-Child Interactions: The Link Between Emotion Regulation and Vagal Tone

SUMMARY This paper examines children's physiological reactions to stressful parent-child interactions and tests the notion that vagal tone is a physiological index of the ability to regulate emotion. Basal vagal tone and the suppression of vagal tone at age 4-5 were examined as predictors of mother ratings of child's emotion regulation ability at age 8. Two hypotheses about the mechanism by which vagal tone predicts emotion regulation were examined: a stress inoculation hypothesis and a recovery from arousal hypothesis. Path analyses showed that age 4-5 regulatory physiology predicted child emotion regulation scores at age 8, and that this was partially mediated by the 4- to 5-year-old child's ability to maintain a low heart rate during stressful parent-child interactions. Interrupted time-series analyses of these events as a function of the child's basal vagal tone showed that children with higher basal vagal tone have both a larger heart rate increase to these events as well as faster recovery than chil...
The Resolution of Alcohols

The resolution of nearly one hundred and fifty alcohols and phenols are recorded in the literature. Practically every known method of resolution has been applied to these classes of substances and several methods of considerable utility have been developed. This chapter gives a description and evaluation of results obtained to date. A brief statement of the underlying principles and the main steps of the procedure for all the important methods of resolution are included. Keywords: alcohols; resolution crystallization; fractionation; differential interaction; active agent; diastereoisomeric derivatives; salts; acid esters; experimental procedures
Molecular modelling of inclusion compounds from hydrophobic dyes and γ‐cyclodextrin

This paper arises from studies aimed at developing new approaches to combining the fabric formation and coloration steps of fabric processing. A key aspect of these studies involved the evaluation of cyclodextrin (CD)-based compounds as hosts for dye molecules that could be released onto a fabric surface following fabric formation. In this study, experimental data from wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry experiments were used in tandem with molecular modelling studies to confirm the formation of γ-CD–dye complex inclusion compounds and to demonstrate the utility of parameterised model number 3 (PM3) semi-empirical molecular modelling methods for predicting the nature of the preferred γ-CD–dye inclusion compounds. Calculations revealed that the inclusion compounds containing two dye molecules was preferred over the inclusion compound containing one dye molecule. Further, molecular modelling of the inclusion compound obtained using γ-CD linked to an epichlorohydrin-based oligomer and commercial disperse dyes showed inclusion compound formation to be an energetically favourable process.
Molecular interactions and cooperativity in coadsorption: CO + {No}/{Pt(111) }

Abstract The coadsorption of different molecules on simple surfaces provides the opportunity to examine problems that do not occur in single component adsorption systems. To understand cooperative adsorption phenomena at a fundamental level, we have measured the low-coverage desorption of NO from a Pt(111) surface precovered with up to 10% of a monolayer (ML) of CO. The data exhibit a pronounced kinetic compensation, characterized by a compensation temperature of ∼ 335 K. We apply a transfer matrix analysis that extracts meaningful information about surface-mediated CONO interactions. The analysis illuminates a direct connection between lateral interaction energies, kinetic compensation, and enhanced versus competitive adsorption.
A Theoretical Understanding of Hot Gas Around Galaxies

Within the past decade, it has become clear that some elliptical galaxies possess as much as 1010 M⊙ of gas with a temperature of about 107 K (e.g., Forman, Jones, and Tucker 1985; Trinchieri, this volume). In addition, it has been known that million degree gas is common in our galactic disk (Nousek et al. 1982) and such gas might flow outward from the disk to surround the galaxy (Spitzer 1956). The production and evolution of hot gas in elliptical and spiral galaxies is considerably different, and they will be treated in turn. First, a number of relevant timescale and other quantities need to be discussed.
WiLdnet: design and implementation of high performancewifi based long distance networks

WiFi-based Long Distance (WiLD) networks with links as long as 50-100 km have the potential to provide connectivity at substantially lower costs than traditional approaches. However, real-world deployments of such networks yield very poor end-to-end performance. First, the current 802.11 MAC protocol has fundamental shortcomings when used over long distances. Second, WiLD networks can exhibit high and variable loss characteristics, thereby severely limiting end-to-end throughput. This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation of WiLDNet, a system that overcomes these two problems and provides enhanced end-to-end performance inWiLD networks. To address the protocol shortcomings, WiLDNet makes several essential changes to the 802.11 MAC protocol, but continues to exploit standard (low-cost) WiFi network cards. To better handle losses and improve link utilization, WiLDNet uses an adaptive loss-recovery mechanism using FEC and bulk acknowledgments. Based on a real-world deployment, WiLDNet provides a 2-5 fold improvement in TCP/UDP throughput (along with significantly reduced loss rates) in comparison to the best throughput achievable by conventional 802.11. WiLDNet can also be configured to adapt to a range of end-to-end performance requirements (bandwidth, delay, loss).
A general procedure for mild and rapid reduction of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds using ammonium formate as a catalytic hydrogen transfer agent

Abstract Various aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds were selectively and rapidly reduced to their corresponding amino derivatives in very good yield using anhydrous ammonium formate as a catalytic hydrogen transfer agent.
A model for changing the way organizations learn

This article provides a typology of organizational learning styles, examines how organizations really learn, offers a diagnostic managers can use on their own businesses, and presents a new learning model that promotes organizational change.