cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimally Invasive Pancreaticoduodenectomy Does Not Improve Use or Time to Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

The modifiable variable best proven to improve survival after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy. A theoretical advantage of minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MI-PD) is the potential for greater use and earlier initiation of adjuvant therapy, but this benefit remains unproven. The 2010–2012 National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was queried for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Subjects were classified as MI-PD versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy (O-PD). Baseline variables were compared between groups. The independent effect of surgical approach on the use and timing of adjuvant chemotherapy was estimated using multivariable regression analyses. For this study, 7967 subjects were identified: 1191 MI-PD (14.9 %) and 6776 O-PD (85.1 %) patients. Patients who underwent MI-PD were more likely to have been treated at academic hospitals. Otherwise, the groups had no baseline differences. In both the MI-PD and O-PD groups, approximately 50 % of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, initiated at a median of 54 versus 55 days postoperatively (p = 0.08). After multivariable adjustment, surgical approach was not independently associated with use (odds ratio 1.00; p = 0.99) or time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (–2.3 days; p = 0.07). Younger age, insured status, lower comorbidity score, higher tumor stage, and the presence of lymph node metastases were independently associated with the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. At a national level, MI-PD does not result in greater use or earlier initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. As surgeons and institutions continue to gain experience with this complex procedure, it will be important to revisit this benchmark as a justification for its increasing use for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Serum sex hormone-binding globulin capacity and the percentage of free estradiol in postmenopausal women with and without endometrial carcinoma A new biochemical basis for the association between obesity and endometrial carcinoma

Abstract A significant elevation (mean ± SEM) in the percentage of free estradiol was observed in the serum of postmenopausal (PMP) patients with endometrial carcinoma (1.92 ± 0.13%, n = 13) when compared with a reference group of PMP women (1.65 ± 0.07%, n = 29, p
Environmental scientists, biologically active compounds, and sustainability: the vital role for small-scale science.

Tracking the existence and degree of anthropogenic chemical contamination of water systems is a daunting task. The spatial extent of many jurisdictions is daunting to measure, let alone arranging for time-tracking data sets. Taking a cue from ornithological surveys, perhaps a network of academia/government experts and (“amateur”) citizen-scientists could create a data set that would at least provide a better handle on where to focus resources and attention. Kolok and Schoenfuss discuss the merits and possible organization of such an approach.
Quantitative Tabletop EUV Phase-Contrast, Coherent Diffraction Imaging Microscope

We demonstrate the utility of our CDI-based EUV microscope by quantitatively imaging objects in transmission and reflection. Feature depth is obtained in transmission and height is extracted in the first general, tabletop reflection CDI microscope.
Magnetic Retention of LOX in an Off-Axis Accelerating Environment

Magnetic positive propellant positioning (MP3 ) of cryogenic propellants in spacecraft tanks may outperform existing technologies and, unlike some of the competing technologies, MP3 can be an adaptive management system that optimizes performance for the entire mission profile. Surface Evolver, (SE), a public domain program that seeks minimum energy configurations for modeled systems, provided a foundation on which to build a computational simulation to begin investigating the promise of MP3 . Energies modeled include surface tension, potential energy due to background acceleration, and the change in potential energy due to the presence of a fluid in a magnetic field. A detailed development of these models is presented as well as specific expressions that other researchers can use with SE to study MP3 . Verification and validation of the comprehensive model has been performed using several “known” solutions, three of which are reported herein: a constant gradient, a current carrying wire, and a dipole magnetic field. The computational tool is then used to study the ability of a magnet to retain a pool of LO2 about it when subjected to background acceleration. Results from this study, presented herein, indicate the promise of MP3 for adaptive cryogenic propellant management systems for future spacecraft and fuel depot applications.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
APGEN Scheduling: 15 Years of Experience in Planning Automation

In this paper, we discuss the scheduling capability of APGEN (Activity Plan Generator), a multi-mission planning application that is part of the NASA AMMOS (Advanced Multi- Mission Operations System), and how APGEN scheduling evolved over its applications to specific Space Missions. Our analysis identifies two major reasons for the successful application of APGEN scheduling to real problems: an expressive DSL (Domain-Specific Language) for formulating scheduling algorithms, and a well-defined process for enlisting the help of auxiliary modeling tools in providing high-fidelity, system-level simulations of the combined spacecraft and ground support system.
The Fleece and the Loom: Wool Growers and Wool Manufacturers during the Civil War Decade

Almost by definition American wool manufacturers and wool growers stood on opposite sides of any question relating to tariffs. Yet the Wool and Woolens Act of 1867 served the interests of both groups and was pushed through Congress and across the desk of a reluctant President by their determined joint efforts. The circumstances surrounding this historic episode of commercial alliance are revealing as to the forces that have shaped American tariff policy and provide an insight into incipient efforts on the part of the businessman to control his environment by co-operative as well as by competitive means.
Anodic Oxidation and Profile Determination of Ion Implanted Semi-Insulating GaAs

A new anodic oxidation process of GaAs, using N-Methylacetamide, adjusted to a pH value of 8.3 and a constant current source, was employed to evaluate Te and Si implanted profiles in semi-insulating GaAs. The samples were implanted at 350°C and encapsulated in Si3N4 for anneal at temperatures up to 900°C Differential Hall measurements indicated strong deviations from predicted Gaussian profiles and maximum carrier concentrations below 1018 cm–3.
Moral Intuitions Connect Political and Religious Beliefs

Rather than thinking about religious beliefs influencing political attitudes through an intentional cognitive process, this paper examines whether these belief systems overlap because they both represent an underlying psychological construct reflecting first principle beliefs on social organization. Using an original dataset, I find evidence that Haidt and Graham's Moral Foundations (intuitions that guide moral decision making) of Ingroup, Authority and Purity concerns help to explain an individualist orientation toward society that manifests itself in conservative political beliefs and religious salience and beliefs like being born again and believing in the Bible as the literal word of God. Furthermore, the Moral Foundations of Fairness and Harm are associated with liberal political views and a communitarian religious orientation that emphasizes helping others more than simply avoiding personal wrongdoing.
A normative analysis to determine the goals of ethics education through utilizing three approaches: rational moral education, ethical acculturation, and learning throughout life

Ethics education is an emerging concept at the intersection of ethics and education, and this article aims to define the goals of ethics education in order to specify the general structure of teaching ethics in healthcare. Additionally, providing the opportunity to map the next stages of ethics education, such as what to teach and how to teach, is another purpose of the suggested normative framework. Kohlberg’s cognitive-developmental approach, Handelsman et al.’s ethical acculturation model, and the Delors Report’s learning throughout life concept are utilized to determine the notion of teaching ethics and its objectives. Through the integration of these three approaches and the adaptation of the Delors Report’s pillars, the goals of ethics education are described as: (1) increasing ethical knowledge; (2) improving ethical skills to strengthen ethical sensitivity, awareness, and judgement; (3) developing ethical behavior; and (4) promoting cultural competence. These goals indicate that ethics education is an ongoing process transcending to teach or learn certain ethical codes, norms, and principles. Exploring and recognizing individuals’ abilities, personal values, and cultural backgrounds are also essential requirements of teaching ethics. Furthermore, this perspective demands administrating existing ethical challenges, differences, and conflicts in healthcare through augmenting cultural competence rather than imposing and/or assimilating policies.
The General Leg Calculus

We now proceed to merge the approaches of the Ricci and Cartan calculus given in the two previous chapters into a single unified theory. Our point of departure is the observation that given an arbitrary vector ξ in E3, we may regard it either as an element ξ of T P having contravariant components ξ r , or as an element ξ* of T P * having covariant components ξ r . The choice — if one is indicated — may be dictated by geometrical or physical considerations. However, since the spaces T P and T P * are isomorphic, the choices are algebraically equivalent, and the transitions between them are given by the rules $$ {T_P} \to T_P^*\,:\,{\xi ^r} \mapsto \,{\xi _r} = \,{g_{rs}}{\xi ^s} $$ (1.1) $$ T_P^* \to \,{T_P}:\,{\xi _r} \mapsto \,{\xi ^r} = \,{g^{rs}}{\xi _s} $$ (1.2) where the components of the metric tensors grs and grs satisfy $$ {g^{rt}}{g_{st}} = \delta _s^r. $$ (1.3) .
An Empirical Study of Personality Change After Stroke

16 Personality changes after stroke are not well understood. There are three specific areas that need to be examined: 1) the dimensions of personality vulnerable to change post-stroke, 2) the extent to which personality patterns converge to a unitary “Organic Personality Disorder” or reflect exaggerations of premorbid personality features; and, 3) the contribution of pre-morbid personality characteristics to post-stroke depression. Toward this end, close relatives of ischemic stroke patients rated pre- and post-stroke personality patterns with the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R; Costa & McCrae, 1985), a standard personality measure. Non-parametric comparison tests (Bonferroni corrections were used to adjust the alpha level for each set of multiple comparisons) showed significant changes in 3 of 5 personality domains assessed by the NEO. These included higher neuroticism ( p p p p p p p p 2 =.26, p 2 =.19, p 2 =.15, p 2 =.25, p
Probabilistic Generation of Ragtime Music from Classical Melodies

This paper examines the computational problem of taking a classical music composition and algorithmically recomposing it in a ragtime style. Because ragtime music is distinguished from other musical genres by its distinctive syncopated rhythms, our work is based on extracting the frequencies of rhythmic patterns from a large collection of ragtime compositions. We use these frequencies in two different algorithms that alter the melodic content of classical music compositions to fit the ragtime rhythmic patterns, and then combine the modified melodies with traditional ragtime bass parts, producing new compositions which melodically and harmonically resemble the original music. We evaluate these algorithms by examining the quality of the ragtime music produced for eight excerpts of classical music alongside the output of a third algorithm run on the same excerpts; results are derived from a survey of 163 people who rated the quality of the ragtime output of the three algorithms.
Patterns of Range Use and Social Organization in Aye-Ayes (Daubentonia Madagascariensis) on Nosy Mangabe

During a two-year field study on aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) ecology and behavior on the island of Nosy Mangabe, I collected information on mating, spacing, and social behavior in 6 males and 2 females. Daubentonia spacing patterns on Nosy Mangabe are different from those of other nocturnal primates studied to date. Male home ranges overlaped greatly, while female home ranges rarely overlapped. Large female home ranges make it difficult for males to defend a single female and her territory. This, coupled with preliminary evidence of asynchronous breeding seasons, would explain why males exhibited polygyny rather than monogamy and did not exhibit long-term defense of resources. However, peculiarities of Nosy Mangabe — small size, lack of predator pressure, limited immigration and emigration opportunities — may affect the social organization of the species on the island. The results of this study indicate that spacing systems do not adequately represent the breadth of diversity in social and mating systems across species and that they should only be used as a first order variable in determining categories of social organization in nocturnal primates.
Proximal algorithms and temporal difference methods for solving fixed point problems

In this paper we consider large fixed point problems and solution with proximal algorithms. We show that for linear problems there is a close connection between proximal iterations, which are prominent in numerical analysis and optimization, and multistep methods of the temporal difference type such as TD( $$\lambda $$ ), LSTD( $$\lambda $$ ), and LSPE( $$\lambda $$ ), which are central in simulation-based exact and approximate dynamic programming. One benefit of this connection is a new and simple way to accelerate the standard proximal algorithm by extrapolation towards a multistep iteration, which generically has a faster convergence rate. Another benefit is the potential for integration into the proximal algorithmic context of several new ideas that have emerged in the approximate dynamic programming context, including simulation-based implementations. Conversely, the analytical and algorithmic insights from proximal algorithms can be brought to bear on the analysis and the enhancement of temporal difference methods. We also generalize our linear case result to nonlinear problems that involve a contractive mapping, thus providing guaranteed and potentially substantial acceleration of the proximal and forward backward splitting algorithms at no extra cost. Moreover, under certain monotonicity assumptions, we extend the connection with temporal difference methods to nonlinear problems through a linearization approach.
Densified Winner Take All (WTA) Hashing for Sparse Datasets

WTA (Winner Take All) hashing has been successfully applied in many large-scale vision applications. This hashing scheme was tailored to take advantage of the comparative reasoning (or order based information), which showed significant accuracy improvements. In this paper, we identify a subtle issue with WTA, which grows with the sparsity of the datasets. This issue limits the discriminative power of WTA. We then propose a solution to this problem based on the idea of Densification which makes use of 2-universal hash functions in a novel way. Our experiments show that Densified WTA Hashing outperforms Vanilla WTA Hashing both in image retrieval and classification tasks consistently and significantly.
Hudson Bay, a Case Study

It is generally understood that the Canadian claim to title over Hudson Bay includes also Hudson Strait, the bay’s connecting link with the Atlantic Ocean. Hudson Bay, in northeastern Canada, has a length of about 900 miles between extremes of latitude,2 and its greatest width is 520 miles. Nearly one quarter of the total area of Hudson Bay is accounted for by James Bay which leads southward from the perimeter of Hudson Bay for a distance of 200 miles. James. Bay has a width of 80 to 100 miles throughout most of its course.
Using passive acoustics to localize vocalizing oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau)

Identifying where fish inhabit is a fundamentally important topic in ecology and acoustic tools can help management to prioritize acoustically sensitive times and areas. In this study, passive acoustic monitoring is presented as a viable tool for monitoring the positions of vocalizing fish species, like the oyster toadfish. Time of arrival differences (TOADs) of sound recordings on a four-hydrophone array were used to pinpoint the location of male oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, a sedentary fish that produces boatwhistle vocalizations to attract females. Coupling the TOAD method with cross correlation of the different boatwhistles, individual toadfish were mapped during three-hour periods at dawn, midday, dusk, and midnight to examine the relationship between temporal and spatial trends. Seven individual males were identified within 24.2 m of the hydrophone array and up to 18.2 m of the other individuals. The advantages and disadvantages of using the TOAD method to localize individual fish will be discussed. Additionally, preliminary data on how individual toadfish respond to the anthropogenic sound of passing motorized vessels as well as conspecific boatwhistles will be introduced.
Subjective well-being and travel: retrospect and prospect

Although the improvement of well-being is often an implicitly-assumed goal of many, if not most, public policies, the study of subjective well-being (SWB) and travel has so far been confined to a relatively small segment of the travel behavior community. Accordingly, one main purpose of this paper is to introduce a larger share of the community to some fundamental SWB-related concepts and their application in transportation research, with the goal of attracting others to this rewarding area of study. At the same time, however, I also hope to offer some useful reflections to those already working in this field. After discussing some basic issues of terminology and measurement of SWB, I present from the literature four conceptual models relating travel and subjective well-being. Following one of those models, I review five ways in which travel can influence well-being. I conclude by examining some challenges associated with assessing the impacts of travel on well-being, as well as challenges associated with applying what we learn to policy.
Acquiring and visualizing 3D/4D ultrasound recordings of tongue motion

Abstract Ultrasound is increasingly common in speech and phonetics research as technology continues to improve. The first digital 3D/4D ultrasound system was utilized for speech research nearly a decade ago, but data access, processing, and visualization were limited to (non-speech) clinical imaging applications. Access to the raw (pulse-echo or scan-converted) image data is a critical step toward making 3D/4D ultrasound an effective tool for speech research. In addition, there is a need for technical characterization of 3D/4D ultrasound systems together with a presentation of their strengths and limitations for research. This paper gives a general technical description of ultrasound systems, beginning with conventional 2D image acquisition and working up toward 3D/4D systems. Emphasis is given to one particular system – the Philips EPIQ 7G system with xMatrix X6-1 digital 3D/4D transducer – for which access to raw scan-converted data is now possible. For parameter settings typical of general abdominal imaging, frame rates around 20 fps are easily achieved (with frame rates possible up to 173 fps depending on image volume size, scan line density, and imaging depth), with spatial resolution comparable to research-grade 2D transducers. Using a modified Philips foot pedal, ultrasound recordings can be made with synchronous audio, and time-aligned with a minimum uncertainty equal to the ultrasound frame duration. In speech research, frame rates around 20 fps – with corresponding time-alignment uncertainty near 50 ms – provide good 3D coverage and enable many new phonetics questions to be posed and addressed.
Omnidirectional Surface Vehicle for Fish Cage Inspection

Aquaculture meets the growing demand for aquatic products. However, significant economic loss and environmental impact may occur if fish escape from a damaged cage. In this paper, we present an omnidirectional surface vehicle (OSV) for efficient fish cage inspection. The OSV features symmetric multi-hull design for omnidirectional maneuverability in aquaculture sites. The overactuated thruster configuration with ducted propellers provides redundancy and reliability in the complex fish farm environment. An underwater camera with motorized depth adjustment allows the OSV to inspect the fish cage at different depths. The neural network based damage detection functionality is capable of detecting holes with irregular shapes. The detection algorithm is implemented onboard the OSV with discrete hardware accelerator, which improves the robustness and accuracy of the inspection by allowing each damage point to be detected multiple times. With pose of the OSV measured by high-accuracy localization devices, positions of the holes in the fish cage can be estimated with respect to the fish farm. This fish cage inspection methodology shows satisfying accuracy in a pool test. The experimental results show that the estimated position of the hole closely aligns with the ground truth.
‘Carpal tunnel syndrome’ and ‘tennis elbow’ as prodromes for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegener’s granulomatosis)

A 62-year-old man presented with excruciating joint pains, back stiffness and numbness of his hands and feet. Over the past 18 months, he had experienced similar episodes for which the diagnoses of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and lateral epicondylitis had been made. Physical examination revealed polyarticular arthritis affecting the shoulders, wrists and right knee. Palpable purpura overlying the calves and ankles was present. Laboratory tests showed markedly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in the setting of negative blood and urine cultures. Rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies were negative. Chest CT demonstrated bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. A punch biopsy of the rash showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Anti-proteinase-3 titers returned strongly positive. A diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis was made. Treatment with high-dose steroids, followed by rituximab resulted in normalisation of inflammatory markers with subsequent resolution of joint pains, rash and pulmonary infiltrates and improvement of neuropathic symptoms.
Increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of magnetic tunnel junctions by cryogenic preamplification

Cryogenic preamplification using silicon–germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors has proven to be effective in increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the tunnel magnetoresistance of high resistance magnetic tunnel junctions at 8 K. The magnetic tunnel junctions used have resistances greater than 1 MΩ, and the cryogenic measurement system still has sufficient bandwidth for the 1/f noise to roll off. A noise model for the system has been proposed and evaluated experimentally. The noise temperature and minimum noise temperature of the transistor used in the experiment are calculated and compared. The signal-to-noise ratio of the junction alone and the transistor-junction system is derived from the sample and circuit parameters and compared. Experimental data show a signal-to-noise ratio increase by a factor of 6.62 after adding in the cryogenic preamplifier. An increase in 1/f noise in the antiparallel state of the tunneling junction as opposed to the parallel state is also observed giving evidence of 1/f noise dependence on the magnetic state of the junction.
Nomogram update based on TAILORx clinical trial results - Oncotype DX breast cancer recurrence score can be predicted using clinicopathologic data.

Abstract Objectives Oncotype DX (ODX), 21-gene breast cancer (BC) assay, predicts risk of recurrence and benefits of addition of chemotherapy to hormonal therapy for early-stage BC. We previously published a nomogram/calculator that could predict ODX results without performing the test by using clinicopathologic characteristics of BC available from pathology reports. Patients with intermediate-risk (11–25) ODXRS (RS) were excluded from that nomogram. This update tests the predictive value of clinicopathologic variables for forecasting the ODXRS while including intermediate-risk-ODXRS patients and stratifying ODXRS based on recently published TAILORx clinical trial results (0–25 = low-risk, 26–100 = high-risk-ODXRS; intermediate-risk-ODXRS belongs to the low-risk category). Material and methods The nomogram was built on 65,754 ODX-tested ER+/HER2-/lymph-node-negative patients with 6–50 mm tumor, captured by the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) from 2010 to 2014. Five clinicopathologic variables (age, tumor size, grade, progesterone-receptor status (PR) and BC-histologic type) were assessed with logistic regression to predict for a low-risk (0–25) or a high-risk (26–100) ODXRS. Results were validated on a separate 18,585 ODX-tested cohort from 2015. Results Grade and PR were the highest significant predictors of both low-risk and high-risk-ODXRS, followed by histologic type, tumor size and age. The Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve showed strong statistical model for both low-risk and high-risk-ODXRS prediction outcomes (c-index = 0.81). Conclusions An updated nomogram is now developed/validated on the entire population of ODX-tested patients (84,339) captured by the NCDB. The nomogram/calculator, available on-line at the UTMCK/Shiny website ( https://utgsm.shinyapps.io/OncotypeDXCalculator/ ), will continue serving as a surrogate for BC patients for which ODX testing is not affordable, available or necessary.
Use of nano-immuno assay to generate rapid, quantitative nanoscale proteomic profiling of the hypoxia pathway in renal cell carcinoma clinical specimens.

10513 Background: Novel agents that inhibit kinases in the hypoxia pathway [VEGF, PDGF] can achieve response rates of 30-57% in renal cell carcinoma (RCC); however, threshold levels of targets and ...
The Meaning and Telos of Israel’s Election: An Interfaith Response to N.T. Wright’s Reading of Paul

N. T. Wright offers a systematic and highly influential metanarrative to account for Paul’s theology of Israel. However, Wright overlooks or underemphasizes important dimensions of Paul’s thinking, leading to problematic distortions. Thus, Wright claims that God rejected the historic people of Israel due to their failure to missionize the gentile nations, an idea not easily found in the Hebrew Bible texts Paul utilizes or in Paul’s own statements concerning his fellow Jews. Wright relies heavily on the diatribe of Rom 2 to build a Pauline theology of Israel, but he downplays the many positive things Paul says elsewhere about Israel’s status. Particularly troubling is Wright’s use of Rom 5 to argue that Paul characterizes Torah as divinely intended to draw sin onto Israel, with the expected consequence that human sin would reach its zenith within Israel, a view that moves Wright toward the very supersessionism against which Paul cautioned his gentile followers. These exegetical decisions, which form a tightly structured messiah-oriented understanding of Israel’s election, ignore what the Hebrew Bible and Paul affirm: while God accomplishes certain larger aims through Israel, God’s election of Israel is ultimately grounded in God’s inalienable love for Israel and Israel’s ancestors.
Acute total hip arthroplasty for older patients with acetabular fractures: A meta-analysis.

Abstract Objective Multiple treatment options for acetabular fractures in geriatric patients exist. However, no large-scale studies have reported the outcomes of acute total hip arthroplasty (THA) in this patient population. We systematically evaluated all available evidence to characterize clinical outcomes, complications, and revisions of acute THA for acetabular fractures in geriatric patients. Methods Meta-analysis of 21 studies of 430 acetabular fractures with mean follow-up of 44 months (range, 17−97 months). Two independent researchers searched and evaluated the databases of Ovid, Embase, and United States National Library of Medicine using a Boolean search string up to December 2019. Population demographics and complications, including presence of heterotopic ossification (HO), dislocation, infection, revision rate, neurological deficits, and venous thromboembolic event (VTE), were recorded and analyzed. Results Weighted mean Harris Hip Score was 83.3 points, and 20% of the patients had reported complications. The most common complication was HO, with a rate of 19.5%. Brooker grade III and IV HO rates were lower at 6.8%. Hip dislocation occurred at a rate of 6.1%, 4.1% of patients developed VTE, deep infection occurred in 3.8%, and neurological complications occurred in 1.9%. Although the revision rate was described in most studies, we were unable to perform a survival analysis because the time to each revision was described in only a few studies. The revision rate was 4.3%. Conclusions Acute THA is a viable option for treatment of acetabular fracture and can result in acceptable clinical outcomes and survivorship rates in older patients but with an associated complication rate of approximately 20% . Considering the limited treatment options, THA might be a viable alternative for appropriately selected patients.
BDNF and TrkB may be new hope for treatment of tumor

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is the ligands of tyrosine kinase receptor B,for the binding of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to tyrosine kinase receptor B receptor,signal transmitted to the nucleus,resulting in a variety of biological effects.Lots of researchs had found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine kinase receptor B expression in malignant tumors more than non-cancerous adjacent tissue and normal tissue,and their effect can promote tumor blood vessel formation,suppress of cell anoikis,promote tumor growth,differentiation and metastasis.The relationship of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine kinase receptor B provide a new therapeutic strategy for clinical treatment.From the current basic and clinical research,this treatment strategy has great prospect. Key words: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Receptor,TrkB; Neoplasms; Therapy
Forming and loading giant unilamellar vesicles with acoustic jetting

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are a useful platform for reconstituting and studying membrane-bound biological systems, offering reduced complexity compared to living cells. Several techniques exist to form GUVs and populate them with biomolecules of interest. However, a persistent challenge is the ability to efficiently and reliably load solutions of biological macromolecules, organelle-like membranes, and/or micrometer-scale particles with controlled stoichiometry in the encapsulated volume of GUVs. Here, we demonstrate the use of acoustic streaming from high-intensity focused ultrasound to make and load GUVs from bulk solutions, without the need for nozzles that can become clogged or otherwise alter the solution composition. In this method, a compact acoustic lens is focused on a planar lipid bilayer formed between two aqueous solutions. The actuation of a planar piezoelectric material coupled to the lens accelerates a small volume of liquid, deforming the bilayer and forming a GUV containing the solution on the transducer side of the bilayer. As demonstrated here, acoustic jetting offers an alternative method for the generation of GUVs for biological and biophysical studies.
Unifying heterogeneous expression data to predict targets for CAR-T cell therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy combines antigen-specific properties of monoclonal antibodies with the lytic capacity of T cells. An effective and safe CAR-T cell therapy strategy re...
Effect of Adenosine Monophosphate on Intermediate Metabolism and Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Tetrahymena

Abstract Tetrahymena were grown with shaking for 17 hours in the presence and absence of AMP. Under these conditions, glycogen content increased but there was a marked inhibition of glyoxylate oxidation and of the incorporation of label from acetate into glycogen during a 1-hour incubation. AMP treatment also caused and increase in the rate of incorporation of [3H]uracil into RNA which was maximal about 2 hours after the start of growth. Experiments were performed in which cells from log and transition phase cultures were incubated with acetate, pyruvate, and octanoate, but with only one substrate labeled in any one flask. Measurements were made of the amount of label incorporated from each labeled substrate into glycogen, lipids, CO2, and glutamate, and the results were analyzed according to a previously established model for the structure of metabolism in Tetrahymena. It was found that the model, which utilizes three pools of acetyl-CoA, permitted a quantitative fit to the data. Analysis of the data showed that AMP treatment reduced the rate of the Krebs cycle, the rate of glyconeogenesis, and the rate of pyruvate utilization in both log and transition phase cells from these labeled substrates. Incorporation of label from acetate into glutamate, however, was increased by AMP treatment in log cells and decreased in transition phase cells. AMP treatment markedly decreased the fraction of label entering into glyconeogenesis from the peroxisomal pool of acetyl-CoA. There was no change in the ATP:ADP ratio in log cells treated with AMP, and a slight decrease in the sum ATP + ADP. In transition phase cells, however, the ATP:-ADP ratio decreased and the sum of ATP + ADP also increased compared to control cells. Since many of the changes in intracellular flux patterns occurred in both log and transitional cells, changes in enzyme levels or control mechanisms other than the ATP:ADP ratios must be invoked to explain the effects of AMP on metabolism.
Increasing vehicular safety at intersections by using LFMSK modulated radar sensors

This paper deals with environment perception for automotive application especially in intersection-related scenarios. The recognition of relevant objects within intersection-related scenarios is performed not at least with high performance 24 GHz radar sensors. These sensors are dedicated to detect objects in the surroundings of the equipped demonstrator vehicle. The modulation of the transmit signal plays an important role for precise measurements. In this paper a linear frequency modulated shift keying (LFMSK) measurement principle is proposed.
Antibody binding specificity to donor sperm in sera from infertile patients.

: Indirect testing for elevated sera levels of antisperm antibody assumes that all relevant antigens are present on the target sperm utilized. In the present study, the heterogeneity of reactivity of positive sera with sperm from different donors was addressed. When 68 sera that previously tested positive by either sperm immobilization test (SIT) or ELISA or both were tested for antisperm antibody levels by a quantitative ELISA using nine different sperm donors, the frequency of positive reactions was 51% for men and 81% for women. A 50% correlation of SIT- and ELISA-positive results could be improved to 85% using the same sperm specimen. This would improve the overall correlation of functional and ELISA test results from 95% to 99% in the infertile population studied. The data suggest that individual sperm may vary in their antigenic expression and that comparison of methods between laboratories could be improved if equivalent target sperm were used.
Legal Models of Management Structure in the Modern Corporation: Officers, Directors, and Accountants

This chapter explores the skew between the two models of corporate decision-making, considers the more prominent alternative models which have been suggested, and proposes a direction for reform. These models are received legal model and working model. The received legal model of the corporation, the board selects officers, sets policy, and generally manages the corporation's business. The working model, however, the board normally performs none of these functions. The skew between the legal and working models of management structure, and the resulting dysfunctions, it is not surprising that proposals for reform of the board have become a permanent part of the American corporate scene. In many corporations the executives go so far as to wholly deny the board—supposedly entrusted with supreme power over the corporation—access to certain categories of information. Instead, directors are almost wholly dependent for information either on the very executives whose performance the information is supposed to reflect, on accountants who are themselves dependent on those executives.
Technologies for Augmented Reality: Calibration for Real-Time Superimposition on Rigid and Simple-Deformable Real Objects

A current challenge in augmented reality applications is the ability to superimpose synthetic objects on real objects within the environment. This challenge is heightened when the real objects are in motion and/or are non-rigid. Yet even more challenging is the case when the moving real objects involved are deformable. In this article, we present a robust method for calibrating marker-based augmented reality applications to allow real-time, optical superimposition of synthetic objects on dynamic rigid and simple-deformable real objects. Moreover, we illustrate this general method with the VRDA Tool, a medical education application related to the visualization of internal human knee joint anatomy on a real human knee.
Cold plasma boundaries and auroral arcs

Auroral arcs often extend for more than a thousand kilometers with little deviation of their relative position within the auroral oval. At high altitudes, the outer limits of the plasmasphere are usually marked by sharp decreases in the cold plasma densities. It is suggested that some auroral arcs follow the ionospheric trace of these boundary shells.
Spasticity Management After Stroke

Many poststroke survivors develop spasticity. Spasticity is usually associated with other neurologic impairments, in particular paresis, which complicate the evaluation of its consequences and of treatment outcomes. The diagnosis and the assessment of spasticity are based on clinical examination, in particular resistance to passive movement and abnormal involuntary muscle contraction. Nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments are commonly combined to manage spasticity, based on prespecified goals. There is evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of most medications commonly used to treat spasticity; however, more evidence is needed regarding functional outcomes and the impact of combining treatment modalities.
Irrigation method and harvest time affect storage quality of two early-season, tablestock potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars

Abstract Storage quality was evaluated for two tablestock potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars grown in a sub-tropical climate under three irrigation methods and harvested over a three-week period. Early-maturing ‘Fabula’ and ‘Red LaSoda’ potatoes were irrigated with either seepage (SE), surface drip (SD), or sub-surface drip (Sub-SD; tape buried 15 cm) irrigation, during two spring seasons. Inherent potato seed dormancy in ‘Fabula’ resulted in delayed and non-uniform plant establishment. At horticultural maturity, vines were killed using a chemical desiccant to promote tuber periderm maturation. Tubers were harvested 1–3 weeks after vine kill (H1, H2, H3), and tuber quality was evaluated weekly during 14 days storage at 10 °C and 80–85% relative humidity (RH). In ‘Fabula’, H1 tubers, with more immature periderms, had the highest weight loss (5.3%) and were significantly less firm after 14 days of storage. Average cumulative weight loss for later harvests was 1.4% and tubers remained firm throughout storage. Pulp (cortex, xylem, perimedullary and pith tissue) ascorbic acid content of H1 ‘Fabula’ tubers decreased during storage; however, it was higher in SD and Sub-SD (17.1 mg 100 g−1) than in SE tubers (11.8 mg 100 g−1) after 14 days. There were no significant differences in whole tuber or peel ascorbic acid content during storage; average was 20.1 mg 100 g−1 and 7.2 mg 100 g−1, respectively. Although dry matter content in the peel decreased with increased delay to harvest time for all irrigation methods, it remained constant throughout storage. Average dry matter content, for all harvest times, during storage was 16.7%, 8.8% and 14.8% for whole tuber, peel and pulp tissue, respectively. ‘Red LaSoda’ plants tend to grow faster than ‘Fabula’ and, therefore were compositionally more mature at harvest; no significant differences in dry matter or ascorbic acid content were observed before or during storage. However, similar to ‘Fabula’ tubers at H1, firmness decreased by 7 days in storage for all irrigation methods, possibly due to excessive fresh weight loss. Harvest and storage quality of ‘Fabula’ and ‘Red LaSoda’ grown under either SD or Sub-SD was comparable to SE at H2 and H3, with the potential to significantly reduce irrigation water usage during production.
Estimating surface temperature in forced convection nucleate boiling - A simplified method

The estimation of wall temperature in forced convection boiling usually involves lengthy calculations. However, a simplified empirical technique has been developed using a liquid nitrogen data base [1], the principle of corresponding states, and the Kutateladze expression for maximum nucleate heat flux in pool boiling [2].
All-optical spatial multicasting using cascaded silicon photonic devices

We demonstrate all-optical spatial multicasting enabled by nanophotonic devices in two cascaded silicon chips. We evaluate each spatially-multicasted signal using 10-Gb/s BER measurements, facilitating the path towards fully-monolithic photonic integrated circuits performing complex network-level functionalities.
Regulation of hemolymph osmolality in feral and domestic honeybees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract Experiments were conducted to compare the ability of unmanaged feral and managed domestic honeybees in the arid Southwest to regulate hemolymph solutes, osmolality, and uric acid. Honeybees from feral and domestic colonies were desiccated (at 30°C and 0% humidity) for 2 h with undesiccated bees held as controls. Hemolymph osmolality, proteins, amino acid, and uric acid concentrations were analyzed. Hemolymph osmotic pressures of desiccated feral bees were significantly lower than those of domestic honeybees ( P P P
The Oracle Story, Part 1: 1977-1986

Starting in 1977, the founders of the Oracle Corporation created a product and a company which in less than 20 years would come to dominate the DBMS marketplace, and become one of the world's largest computer software and services companies. With virtually no outside financial investment, the founders bootstrapped the company by developing project software under contract while working overtime to develop the original Oracle relational database management systems product. Through a combination of insightful decisions about the direction of the technology and fortunate advances in the marketplace, Oracle was able to leapfrog the established software vendors who were committed to older legacy DBMS approaches. And by aggressive and smart marketing and ongoing development work, Oracle was able to outdistance their RDBMS competitors and hold their own even against IBM. This article tells about the first 10 years of the Oracle story.
John Neihardt and his oral interpretation of poetry

(1952). John Neihardt and his oral interpretation of poetry. The Southern Speech Journal: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 96-101.
A convenient calibration technique for neutron detectors

Abstract A method of measuring the value and energy dependence of the detection efficiency of neutron detectors is described. Results are presented for both plastic and liquid scintillators at neutron kinetic energies between 2.5 and 19 MeV.
Translational research--the imperative for integrating evidence into pediatric nursing practice to improve health outcomes.

With the translation of research and integration of evidence into practice, the quality of health outcomes for children and their families is improved and pediatric nursing practice is transformed. EVIDENCE GENERATED FROM research and translated into pediatric nursing practice leads to improved health outcomes for children and their families (Christian, 2012a, 2012b, 2012c, 2013a, 2013b, 2013c). New knowledge and evidence generated from clinical nursing research builds upon and extends nursing knowledge, thereby improving clinical outcomes and the quality of nursing practice (Polit & Beck, 2012). New approaches and interventions developed and tested through research create new methods and more effective strategies for addressing the challenging health problems that affect children and their families. This new evidence generated from research is then translated and integrated into practice to improve the quality of care. Translating research evidence into pediatric nursing practice provides the foundation for improving the quality of pediatric nursing care, ultimately resulting in improved child and family health outcomes (Christian, 2011, 2012a, 2012b). Quality health outcomes are linked to evidence-based practice and produce the best possible outcomes for patients (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). Thus, evidence-based practice improves the quality of pediatric nursing care and children’s health outcomes (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2011). Moreover, translation of new evidence and integration into pediatric nursing practice transforms the practice landscape through the development of new intervention strategies. To that end, it is imperative that new research evidence is translated and integrated into pediatric nursing practice in order to improve health outcomes for children and their families. In this issue of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, seven research articles have employed a variety of research
MULTICULTURAL IDENTITY AND GAY MEN IN THE ERA OF AIDS

In establishing integrated identities, gay men face psychosocial challenges that differ from those of most heterosexuals, although heterosexual males of minority cultures may confront similar developmental tasks. In the 1990s, the need for gay men to integrate bicultural identity and the "coming-out" process is further complicated by the stigma of AIDS. This paper aims to enhance clinicians' understanding of the multiple influences of culture and subculture, the AIDS epidemic, and racial and ethnic factors on the healthy development of gay males.
Comparison of grain boundary compositions in B-doped and B-free Ni3Al

Analyse par spectrometrie Auger de la composition des joints dans les alliages Ni-24 et 25,2 Al contenant ou non 0,24 B.Pour les alliages libres de bore,les joints se trouvent enrichis en Al ou Ni suivant la teneur en aluminium.Pour les alliages contenant du bore,les joints presentent la meme composition que les alliages sans bore.Ceci montre une forte tendance a la cosegregation B-Ni.
Assessing Organizational Behavior Models: A Comparison of Linear and Nonlinear Methods1

This study highlights the use of nonlinear statistic techniques in a behavioral model that incorporates dispositional and situational variables. When ordinary least squares and log-linear/logit results were compared, various unique associations were found between job satisfaction, job complexity, locus of control, and the number of available benefits. Overall, the findings prove that more nonlinear modeling is needed in the behavioral sciences.