cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Cell-Based, High-Throughput Screening Assay for ATM Kinase Inhibitors

The ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated) protein kinase is a major regulator of cellular responses to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), DNA lesions that can be caused by ionizing irradiation (IR), oxidative damage, or exposure to certain chemical agents. In response to DSBs, the ATM kinase is activated and subsequently phosphorylates numerous downstream substrates, including p53, Chk2, BRCA1, and KAP1, which affect processes such as cell cycle progression and DNA repair. Numerous studies have demonstrated that loss of ATM function results in enhanced sensitivity to ionizing irradiation in clinically relevant dose ranges, suggesting that ATM kinase is an attractive therapeutic target for enhancing tumor cell kill with radiotherapy. Previously identified small-molecule ATM kinase inhibitors, such as CP466722 and Ku55933, were identified using in vitro kinase assays carried out with recombinant ATM kinase isolated from mammalian cells. Since it has not been feasible to express full-length recombinant ATM in bacterial or baculovirus systems, a robust in vitro screening tool has been lacking. We have developed a cell-based assay that is robust, straightforward, and sensitive. Using this high-throughput assay, we screened more than 7000 compounds and discovered additional small molecules that inhibit the ATM kinase and further validated these hits by secondary assays.
A comparison of lifestyle exercise, aerobic exercise, and calisthenics on weight loss in obese children

Previous research has shown that lifestyle exercise is superior to programmed aerobic exercise programs for the long-term treatment of childhood obesity. The present study is designed to evaluate the reliability of this finding, with the addition of a low-intensity calisthenics group to control for nonspecific aspects of participating in an exercise program. Results showed similar and significant weight changes across the exercise conditions during the year of treatment for parents and children. However, during the next year of observation, children in the lifestyle group maintained their weight change, while children in the other two groups gained significant amounts of weight. Similar trends were observed for parents. The results for children replicate the positive effects of lifestyle exercise on child weight control.
The twenty-four hour pneumoencephalogram: with particular reference to ventricular size a series of 150 patients and a review of the literature.

A series of 150 pneumoencephalograms which included 24 h films was reviewed to evaluate previous contradictory reports concerning changes in ventricular size at 24 h and to establish whether it is useful to obtain these follow-up films. In normal patients the changes in the ventricular index one day following the pneumoencephalogram ranged between −4·1 to +6·4% of the initial index. Statistically significant dilatation of the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles was observed both in patients who had dementia and central atrophy, and in those with normal pressure hydrocephalus. This ventricular enlargement was associated with deterioration in neurological status in some cases. Since ventricular enlargement at 24 h occurs in patients both with normal pressure hydrocephalus and with cerebral atrophy with hydrocephalus, it cannot be used to differentiate between these conditions although the most marked changes have been seen in the former. Significant dilatation did not occur in patients without intracranial disease, with cortical atrophy without hydrocephalus, or in a miscellaneous group. In patients with a history of trauma, enlargement at 24 h occurred only when there was some other encephalographic abnormality. The changes in size of the ventricles were not related to the age of the patient, the volume of the injected air, or to the presence of subdural air. There were other findings of the follow-up radiographs. Cortical atrophy was more clearly demonstrated than on the filling films. Dilatation of the temporal horns, of questionable diagnostic significance, was not infrequently observed 24 h after air injection. The mechanisms of these changes are discussed; no single theory provides a complete explanation.
Predicting Susceptibility to Norovirus GII.4 by Use of a Challenge Model Involving Humans

Background. GII.4 is the predominant norovirus genotype worldwide. Challenge models involving humans have shown the association of human histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) and susceptibility to infection with Norwalk virus (GI.1 norovirus), but the association of HBGAs and infection with other noroviruses is based on results of epidemiological studies. We performed the first GII.4 challenge study involving humans and prospectively evaluated the relationship between HBGAs and norovirus infection and associated illness. Methods. Forty healthy adults (23 secretors and 17 nonsecretors of HBGAs) were challenged with 5 × 10 4 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) units of GII.4 norovirus. Subjects were assessed daily for clinical illness, and stool specimens were evaluated for norovirus by RT-PCR. Infection was defined by detection of norovirus and/or seroconversion to GII.4 antibody. Results. Of the 23 secretors, 16 (70%) were infected with norovirus, 13 (57%) became ill (characterized by vomiting and/or diarrhea), and 12 (52%) developed norovirus-associated illness. In contrast, only 1 nonsecretor (5.9%) became ill, and another nonsecretor shed virus for a single day (P< .001 for each variable, compared with secretors). Infection occurred in secretors regardless of ABO blood group. Illness was mild to moderate in severity and lasted 1– 3d ays. Conclusions. Secretor status determined the susceptibility to norovirus GII.4 challenge. This human challenge model should be useful for evaluating norovirus vaccines and antiviral agents. Clinical trials registration. NCT01322503.
The effect of neighborhood disadvantage, social ties, and genetic variation on the antisocial behavior of African American women: A multilevel analysis

Social disorganization theory posits that individuals who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods are more likely to engage in antisocial behavior than are those who live in advantaged neighborhoods and that neighborhood disadvantage asserts this effect through its disruptive impact on social ties. Past research on this framework has been limited in two respects. First, most studies have concentrated on adolescent males. In contrast, the present study focused on a sample of adult African American females. Second, past research has largely ignored individual-level factors that might explain why people who grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods often do not engage in antisocial behavior. We investigated the extent to which genetic variation contributes to heterogeneity of response to neighborhood conditions. We found that the impact of neighborhood disadvantage on antisocial behavior was mediated by neighborhood social ties. Further, the analysis indicated that the effects of neighborhood disadvantage and social ties on antisocial behavior were moderated by genetic polymorphisms. Examination of these moderating effects provided support for the differential susceptibility model of Gene × Environment. The effect of Gene × Neighborhood Disadvantage on antisocial behavior was mediated by the effect of Gene × Neighborhood Social Ties, providing support for an expanded view of social disorganization theory.
Osteosarcoma: Subtle, rare, and misleading plain film features

Osteosarcoma is a malignant, mesenchymal, osteoid, and bone-forming tumor [1-3]. In most cases, typical radiographic features clearly illustrate the aggressive bone-forming nature of the lesion. These features include long-bone metaphyseal location, mixed areas of lysis and sclerosis, cortical destruction, periosteal new bone, and soft-tissue mass. However, numerous factors contribute to misleading radiographic patterns of osteosarcoma. They include histologic low-grade, lytic, or minimally sclerotic lesions, early detection, confinement to the intramedullary canal, benign-appearing periosteal reaction, rare intraosseous locations (subchondral, diaphyseal, intracortical), and rare skeletal sites (e.g., soft tissues, skull, ribs, tarsal bones). Secondary osteosarcomas, such as those arising from infarcts or fibrous dysplasia, may also produce a confusing radiologic picture. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to illustrate cases of osteosarcoma that proved to be difficult diagnostic dilemmas because of their subtle, rare, or misleading plain film features.
Three-Dimensional Navier-Stokes Simulations of Turbine Rotor-Stator Interaction; Part I - Methodology

Fluid flows within turbomachinery tend to be extremely complex. Understanding such flows is crucial to efforts to improve current turbomachinery designs, and the computational approach can be used to great advantage in this regard. This study presents a finite-difference, unsteady, thin-layer Navier-Stokes approach to calculating the flow within an axial turbine stage. The relative motion between the stator and rotor airfoils is made possible with the use of patched grids that move relative to each other. The calculation includes end-wall and tip-leakage effects. The numerical methodology is presented in detail in the present paper (Part I). The computed results and comparisons of these results with experimental data are presented in a companion paper (Part II).
Testing the effectiveness of small radiation shields for mobile phones.

Nine small radiation shields made to adhere to the case of mobile phones were tested at 914 and 1880 MHz. Five popular products were tested because advertisements typically claim they are up to 99% effective in blocking radio frequency (RF) radiation emitted from mobile phones. Also, four other conceptually unusual products were tested because advertisements typically claim they emit oscillations that counteract the RF radiation from mobile phones. Each shield was tested on the same mobile phone, and measurements were made to compare the absorption of RF energy in the head with and without each shield attached to the phone. The phone was positioned against a head model, and an automated measurement process was used to determine specific absorption rate (SAR) in the same way it is used at Motorola to test the compliance of mobile phones with respect to human exposure limits. The location of the peak SAR was not observed to change with any of the shields attached to the phone, and the 1 g, peak spatial average SAR did not change by any statistically significant amount. These results indicate the small shields are ineffective in reducing the exposure of the head to RF energy emitted by a mobile phone.
Placental Histomorphometry in Adolescent Pregnancy

This study of placentas obtained from the deliveries of 71 poor, black adolescents was prompted by data showing that younger adolescent mothers bear more small babies than do older adolescent mothers. Histomorphometric techniques were used to examine the effect of three measures of maternal age (chronologic age, gynecologic age, and bone age) on the placenta. We hypothesized that placental villous/capillary exchange area increases with the age of the adolescent mother. We found that villous/capillary surface area was inversely related to maternal gynecologic age (r = −.26; P =. 01) and unrelated to maternal chronologic age or bone age. We speculate that the structural difference we identified in the placentas of gynecologically younger adolescents reflects a direct effect of maternal gynecologic age on placental development. Since maternal gynecologic age and maternal malnutrition affect placental development differently, we conclude that our findings do not support the hypothesis that younger adolescent ...
The Inferior Gluteal Flap in the Difficult Vulvar and Perineal Reconstruction

Abstract Objective. The objective was to study the feasibility and complications of the use of the inferior gluteal flap in the difficult vaginal, perineal, and vulvar reconstruction among women treated for gynecologic cancers. Methods. A prospective pilot study is reported. Between October 1994 and May 1996, seven patients underwent either unilateral ( n = 3) or bilateral ( n = 4) inferior gluteal flaps for primary reconstruction of extensive vulvar, perineal, and vaginal defects. Results. The median age of the patients was 59 years (range, 40–70). The indications for the construction of the flaps were radical resection of recurrent vulvar cancer ( n = 2), radical resection of stage IV vulvar cancer ( n = 2), resection of recurrent Paget's disease of the vulva ( n = 1), resection of perineal recurrence of cancer of the cervix ( n = 1), and resection of enteroperineal fistula following total pelvic exenteration ( n = 1). The median surface area of the vulvar and perineal defect was 113 cm 2 (range, 10.5–448 cm 2 ). The median operative time for both the extirpative and the reconstructive procedures was 270 min (95–685 min) and the median estimated blood loss was 200 mL (50–950 mL). The median postoperative hospital stay was 15 days (9–29). None of the patients experienced complete graft loss. Two patients suffered necrosis of the tip of the flap that resulted in minimal wound dehiscence which healed by secondary intention, and one patient suffered graft separation which required graft revision and reconstruction. The patients were followed for a median of 11 months (3–26 months). No late complications of the reconstructive surgery were recorded. Conclusions. The inferior gluteal flap can be safely used for the reconstruction of the difficult and extensive vulvar, perineal, and vaginal defects with excellent results.
Size makes a difference: use of a low-prime cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and autologous priming in small adults

Low hematocrit (Hct < 20) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with higher mortality and other adverse outcomes. More frequently, low Hct is encountered in patients with small body size and women patients. This prompted us to take an aggressive approach in our care of these patients, involving a strategy for predicting patients at risk of low Hct, with the aid of an electronic worksheet that accurately predicts CPB Hct, and two prevention strategies: use of a low-prime CPB circuit (LP) for all adult patients with a body surface area (BSA) <1.7 m2 and use of autologous circuit priming (AP), in addition to the low-circuit volume in some patients. The two cohorts of patients in whom these techniques were employed were compared to a group matched for body size where our standard adult circuit (STD) was used. There were 233 patients in the standard group, 139 in the LP group, and 68 in the LP/AP group. The CPB circuit prime volume was 1710 ml for the STD group and 1110 ml for the LP group. Use of ...
Environmental Security: Concept and Implementation

Environmental security, a relatively new and still somewhat contentious concept, may be defined as the intersection of environmental and national security considerations at a national policy level. It may be understood as a result of several important trends. One, of course, is the breakdown of the bipolar geopolitical structure that characterized the cold war. A second, less visible to many in the policy community, is the shift of environment from compliance and remediation to strategic for society. This process is occurring at many different scales, from implementation of Design for Environment methodologies within firms, to integration of environmental and trade considerations in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Taken together, these trends suggest that environmental security may be an important evolution of national state and international policy systems. If this is to occur, however, the concept must be defined with sufficient rigor to support an operational program.
GEOCOMMUNICATION, A CORNERSTONE GRADUATE COURSE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

We instituted the new course “Geocommunication” as one of four required courses in our recently revised geology M.S. curriculum. The course was specifically designed to address our students' needs, especially in the areas of organizing and writing scientific journal articles, thesis proposals, and research proposals. Our underlying goals were to impress students with the importance of communication skills in the geosciences and to help get their professional careers off to a good start. The course was centered on two major projects: a manuscript for a professional journal and a research proposal. Using data from a short field exercise, students wrote their journal manuscripts one section at a time (Materials and Methods through Conclusion, then Introduction and Abstract). The research proposal was patterned after a thesis proposal or a proposal for external funds; both versions involved fellow students as “external reviewers.” The course ended with oral presentations of these proposals. Students completin...
Debate: Liberalism, Equality, and Fraternity in Cohen’s Critique of Rawls

Above all, we note the fact that the so-called rights of man, the droits de l'homme as distinct from the droits du citoyen, are nothing but the rights of a member of civil societyÐi.e., the rights of egoistic man, of man separated from other men and from the community . . . Political emancipation is the reduction of man, on the one hand, to a member of civil society, to an egoistic, independent individual, and, on the other hand, to a citizen, a juridical person . . . Only when the real, individual man reabsorbs in himself the abstract citizen, and as an individual human being has become a species-being in his everyday life, in his particular work, and in his particular situation, only when man has recognized and organized his ``own powers'' as social powers, and, consequently, no longer separates social power from himself in the shape of political power, only then will human emancipation have been accomplished.ÐMarx, On The Jewish Question, 1844
Cord blood transplant in childhood ALL.

Background Optimal therapy for high risk and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains uncertain. Wider availability of cord blood from related and unrelated donors has prompted studies of its use for hematopoeitic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Procedure We evaluated 26 consecutive cord blood transplants (CBT) for ALL performed at our center from 1996 to 2002 on studies using consistent conditioning therapy and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Median patient age was 8.5 years (range, 0.5–24 year). Cord blood (CB) was from unrelated donors in 25/26 cases. Median CB nucleated cell dose was 3.26e7/kg (range, 0.8–12.9). Results With median follow-up of 548 days, 16/26 patients (62%) are event-free survivors. Acute GVHD developed in 14/24 evaluable patients, reaching grade III–IV in 7 patients. Chronic GVHD occurred in 10/22 evaluable patients. Multivariate analysis showed higher total nucleated cell dose per kilogram to be the strongest predictor of event-free survival. Conclusions We conclude that CBT can effectively treat ALL in children with high risk features and following relapse. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An integrated system for designing minimum cost survivable telecommunications networks

This paper provides a Design System for obtaining minimum cost survivable telecommunications networks. It integrates heuristics for obtaining survivable topologies and improving the cost of the network with heuristics for provisioning capacity. The heuristics are based on the characteristic of the underlying graph. The Design System provides survivable telecommunications networks with 25 nodes in a matter of seconds and within 16% of a fairly relaxed lower bound.
Sustaining ECOWAS In The Dynamic Confluence Of Regional Market Constraints

This paper discusses the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a concept founded and deeply rooted in the market and economic integration of the participating countries, as well as a model frame for the larger, if more ambitious, integration of the entire continent. It contends that if effectively implemented, sub-Saharan Africa would experience a huge transition that would tremendously transform its participation in globalization so significantly than is otherwise the case today. In this paper, we outline the contending dynamics and constraints in the sub-region. From this premise, it focuses on the market integration challenges facing ECOWAS as it identifies the institutional, structural and infrastructural constraints, with their backgrounds and origins in the colonial antecedents of the member countries. It is our contention that effective economic integration (substantially lacking at present) requires the development of core human “facilitators”, as well as institutional and infrastructural convergence and compatibility in functional market structures. While we note that the need, and indeed urgency, to fully integrate the sub-region is hampered by the lack of a realistic timetable or framework for implementation, we also note the lack of prioritization of integratable policy options. In this paper, however, we have not addressed what or which policy options should enjoy sequential priority in the realization of full economic integration, even though such criticality is noted. The failure of full economic integration more than 25 years after inception speaks to larger underlying constraint components within and without the sub-region that must be addressed. The futility of an integration initiate with such disparate and divergent in-country policy initiatives cannot be over-emphasized. As a process, regional economic integration is a value-driven process that can potentially deliver benefits to consumers and present firms with new markets, as well as challenges. Hopefully, addressing these constraints would persuade a holistic and more optimistic assessment of the sub-region (as opposed to individual country assessment) as an alternative location that is sufficiently attractive in its competitive offer and sensitivity to Foreign Direct Investment.
Controlling Gastric pH: The Impact of Newer Agents on the Critically ILL Patient

The critically ill patient is at increased risk for developing erosive injury of the stomach, duodenum, and esophagus. To date, the most effective way to prevent and treat this problem is by assuring excellent intensive care support and by reducing gastric acid secretioa The histamine II2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) are effective in both prevention and treatment of such gastric mucosal injury. Newer agents are available that have potential for use in this setting, although none have been studied as extensively in critically ill patients as have the H2RAs. These new agents include proglumide, pirenzepine, misoprostol, omeprazole, and somatostatin. To date, only the latter has been extensively studied in critically ill patients. Omeprazole, which suppresses acid very effectively, may be problematic in the critically ill, limited by its oral dosage form, acid-labile properties, and potential drug interactions.
Insurance, Misrepresentation, Causation, and Statutory Rescission

Focused on Arkansas insurance law, with applicability to other state's misrepresentation analysis, this article treats one state's law of misrepresentation in the application for life or health insurance policies. It traces the development of the law from common law origins and through two statutory revisions and related case law. It illustrates problems of legal analysis and synthesis and provides a good model for a student note or comment in a law review or law journal. The article also works to clarify ambiguity in the law of representation and warranty in the insurance context. The analysis is relevant to an understanding of how pre-existing medical conditions both affect an applicant's insurability and the carrier's and policy holder's litigation positions in the event the carrier denies a claim for benefits on the grounds of misrepresentation. Health insurance applications, and the incentives that exist to answer medical history questions with answers that provide a health insurance misrepresentation, are the underlying types of case facts that are present in this synthesis.
Dietary supplement use among participants of a databank and biorepository at a comprehensive cancer centre.

Objective We assessed the prevalence, patterns and predictors of dietary supplement use among participants of the databank and biorepository (DBBR) at a comprehensive cancer centre in western New York.
Resistance in Sorghums to the Greenbug; Laboratory Determination of Mechanisms of Resistance

Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) displayed differential preference reactions when given a choice of resistant or susceptible sorghums. Resistant lines PI 264453, IS 809, KS 30, and SA 7536-1 were less preferred than susceptible sorghum Tx 2536 and Tx 7000. A similar response was shown for F1 hybrids of susceptible X resistant lines but to a lesser degree. Duration of stadia was increased, whereas progeny per adult, adult longevity, and length of reproductive period were decreased for greenbugs reared on resistant sorghums. Nymphal mortality did not differ in resistant or susceptible sorghums. Honeydew excretion by aphids on resistant sorghums was generally less than on susceptible sorghums, which indicated reduced feeding.
The Social Aspects of Hand Washing in American Restaurants An Administrative Approach to Reducing Public and Private Health Care Costs

Proper hand sanitation prevents spreading of many types of illness and infection, thereby lowering the quantitative and qualitative costs of public and private health care. Research shows that thin...
Duration Flight of the NASA Super Pressure Balloon

Offering the science user community extended stratospheric balloon flights with heavy payloads is the goal of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) super pressure balloon development efforts. This work is lead by the NASA Balloon Program Office at Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility. The super pressure balloon development project has faced and addressed a number of challenges in this effort. The use of both ground model and flight test balloons have greatly increased the knowledge of these flight systems. An overview of recent ground tests is presented. These tests helped establish a guide in assessing the potential for the balloon to initially deploy, a challenged faced by all of these pumpkin shaped super pressure balloons. A ~57,000 cubic meter super pressure balloon was designed based on the findings from these ground tests, and successfully test flown in June 2008. The highlights from this short test flight are presented. The exceptional performance of this balloon fostered the next step up in size to a ~201,000 cubic meter test flight balloon. The launch and deployment of this test flight NASA super pressure balloon took place during December 2008. This flight was launched near McMurdo Station in Antarctica, and the extended duration test flight was over 7 weeks in length at a constant altitude. Preliminary results of this duration test flight as well as future plans for both ground testing and additional test flights are presented. Future test flights, which are staged in increments of increasing suspended load, are highlighted. This includes the projected balloon volumes, payload capabilities, test flight locations, and proposed flight schedule. The next flight balloon is a ~400,000 cubic meter structure intended to fly in the summer of 2009. An indoor test of a model balloon to replicate this larger flight balloon was completed in late 2008 and performance results of this testing are shown.
Error Identification in Individual Finite Elements: A Path to the Integration of Continuum and Computational Mechanics

A procedure for extracting equivalent continuum parameters, i.e., (EI) equiv , from skeletal structures has been extended. This procedure which exploits a direct symbolic relationship between the approximation polynomials used in computational mechanics and the equations of continuum mechanics has been used to unify and improve the finite element and finite difference methods. This, in turn, allowed error measures to be put on a solid theoretical foundation and has led to the development of new methods of error identification.
Needs analysis on the development of evidence-based practice in an undergraduate problem-based learning context

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a formal information behavior recently imposed on healthcare providers, which emphasizes the incorporation of the best research evidence into the delivery of patient care. Internationally, policies that require both healthcare practice and the educational environment under which health science students are educated to be evidence based are on the rise. In medical and health sciences curricula, EBP and problem-based learning (PBL) are often seen as synonymous, as traditional medical PBL requires students to seek out research evidence related to posed clinical problems. However, students in an undergraduate radiography program exhibit difficulties in implementing EBP, despite successful completion of a PBL course. This study describes the findings of a needs analysis undertaken to better understand the issues hindering the development of effective evidence-based decision making skills in the PBL context.
Water supply quality monitoring results analysis of Ye county

Objective:To learn water supply quality of Ye County,and provide a scientific basis for the implementation of rural drinking water supply.Methods: To make a sample test of the water supply quality on the city and 18 townships of Ye county,and evaluate according to GB5749-2006 "Drinking Water Health Standards" that jointly issued by National Standards Commission and Ministry of Health.Results: The pass rate of decentralized water supply in wet season is 62%,and dry season is 66%,the pass rate of centralized water supply in wet season is 80%,and dry season is 78% during in different seasons of different water supply.Conclusion: Overall,the centralized water supply quality is better than the decentralized water supply quality in Ye county,which is especially reflected in the microbial indicators.Therefore we need to transform the unqualified decentralized water supply in order to ensure the safety of people drinking water.
Effect of sequential treatments of fermentation and ultrasonication followed by extrusion on bioactive content of apple pomace and textural, functional properties of its extrudates

Summary Apple pomace (AP) is a potential source of phenolic compounds, and most of the phenolics are presented in the bound form. Liberation of these bound phenolics is required to improve their health functionality. In this context, AP was naturally fermented followed by the ultrasonication and microwave drying. Fermentation time (FT), pomace to water ratio (PWR), ultrasonication intensity (UI) and microwave power (MWP) had significant (P < 0.05) effect on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of AP. At the optimum pretreatment conditions of 24 h FT, 5% (w/v) PWR, 37 W cm−2 UI and 90 W MWP, TPC and AA of AP were 40.3% and 92.9%, respectively, higher than that of the control AP. Extrudates from pretreated AP also had improved textural (hardness, brittleness, crispness) and functional (water absorption index, water solubility index) properties. Pretreatment reduced crystalline fraction amount and enhanced solubility of AP.
Determinants of Patient-Oncologist Prognostic Discordance in Advanced Cancer.

Importance Patients with advanced cancer often report expectations for survival that differ from their oncologists’ expectations. Whether patients know that their survival expectations differ from those of their oncologists remains unknown. This distinction is important because knowingly expressing differences of opinion is important for shared decision making, whereas patients not knowing that their understanding differs from that of their treating physician is a potential marker of inadequate communication. Objective To describe the prevalence, distribution, and proportion of prognostic discordance that is due to patients’ knowingly vs unknowingly expressing an opinion that differs from that of their oncologist. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional study conducted at academic and community oncology practices in Rochester, New York, and Sacramento, California. The sample comprises 236 patients with advanced cancer and their 38 oncologists who participated in a randomized trial of an intervention to improve clinical communication. Participants were enrolled from August 2012 to June 2014 and followed up until October 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures We ascertained discordance by comparing patient and oncologist ratings of 2-year survival probability. For discordant pairs, we determined whether patients knew that their opinions differed from those of their oncologists by asking the patients to report how they believed their oncologists rated their 2-year survival. Results Among the 236 patients (mean [SD] age, 64.5 [11.4] years; 54% female), 161 patient-oncologist survival prognosis ratings (68%; 95% CI, 62%-75%) were discordant. Discordance was substantially more common among nonwhite patients compared with white patients (95% [95% CI, 86%-100%] vs 65% [95% CI, 58%-73%], respectively; P = .03). Among 161 discordant patients, 144 (89%) did not know that their opinions differed from that of their oncologists and nearly all of them (155 of 161 [96%]) were more optimistic than their oncologists. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, patient-oncologist discordance about survival prognosis was common and patients rarely knew that their opinions differed from those of their oncologists.
Penetrating Craniomaxillofacial Injury Caused by a Pneumatic Nail Gun

Craniomaxillofacial injuries can be complex, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. The primary survey is always the first step in trauma management prior to proceeding with further evaluation and treatment. A 26-year-old man presented with a penetrating nail gun injury through the oral and nasal cavities. He did not present in extremis but required elective endotracheal intubation for intraoperative assessment and treatment. Airway management was enhanced by the use of lingual nerve and inferior alveolar nerve blocks via the Vazirani-Akinosi technique to maintain spontaneous respiration while the tongue was distracted from the palate. The nail was removed and rapid sequence induction initiated for orotracheal intubation. Local nerve blocks can be an effective tool in the armamentarium of the craniomaxillofacial trauma surgeon in managing blunt and penetrating injuries. We demonstrate its utility in airway management when a penetrating foreign body in the upper airway precludes orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation.
The Life and Death of a Magnet

In the first four chapters of Book iii of his De Magnete, William Gilbert described the laws that govern magnetic bodies. For instance, he noted how a magnetized needle, which is ordinarily oriented along Earth’s magnetic meridian, “quits the earth’s poles” when placed near a small magnetized sphere, or terrella, and reorients itself along the meridian of the terrella. He also explained how the fragments of a loadstone orient themselves after having been separated, and how iron may acquire “verticity,” the tendency to orient itself between the poles of a nearby loadstone. In the next eight chapters, included below, Gilbert expands on these topics, carefully explaining the motion of iron wires and compass needles placed near, or even inside of, small magnetized spheres. He also explains how magnetism can be born, so to speak, during the industrial process of smelting, and under what circumstances magnetic properties can change and die.
Improving Fast Dual Ascent for MPC - Part I: The Distributed Case

In dual decomposition, the dual to an optimization problem with a specific structure is solved in distributed fashion using (sub)gradient and recently also fast gradient methods. The traditional dual decomposition suffers from two main short-comings. The first is that the convergence is often slow, although fast gradient methods have significantly improved the situation. The second is that computation of the optimal step-size requires centralized computations, which hinders a fully distributed implementation of the algorithm. In this paper, the first issue is addressed by providing a tighter characterization of the dual function than what has previously been reported in the literature. Then a distributed and a parallel algorithm are presented in which the provided dual function approximation is minimized in each step. Since the approximation is more accurate than the approximation used in standard and fast dual decomposition, the convergence properties are improved. For the second issue, we extend a recent result to allow for a fully distributed parameter selection in the algorithm. Further, we show how to apply the proposed algorithms to optimization problems arising in distributed model predictive control (DMPC) and show that the proposed distributed algorithm enjoys distributed reconfiguration, i.e. plug-and-play, in the DMPC context.
The use of syntactic features in formulating sentences in English as a second language by native speakers of Spanish

This study examined how native speakers of Spanish formulated sentences in English as a second language (L2) when randomly ordered words were orally presented. Participants included 206 adult literacy students (70 native Spanish speakers and 136 native English speakers) whose word reading equivalency was at third- through fifth-grade levels. The Word Ordering subtest of the Test of Language Development-3 was administered. Although they showed a similar pattern of performance in the sentence type (i.e., declarative, interrogative, or imperative sentence), the two groups showed a different pattern in the misuse of syntactic features. Pertaining to grammatical features, verbs were the most difficult item for the native speakers of Spanish. The findings of this study were explained through the intricate nature of English verbs as well as unique lexicalization patterns resulting from the typological difference between Spanish and English.
How Hearing Loss and Age Affect Emotional Responses to Nonspeech Sounds

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hearing loss and age on subjective ratings of emotional valence and arousal in response to nonspeech sounds. Method Three groups of ...
Risk Factors for Overweight in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Previous literature suggests children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher prevalence of excess weight than typically developing (TD) children, but information addressing risk factor concordance between those with ASD and TD children is lacking. We used a retrospective analysis of children (N = 2610) who visited an Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (AS-ATN) center in the United States or Canada. This analysis occurred concurrently with two other research teams within AS-ATN. We found substantial agreement between predictors of weight in children with ASD and known correlates of obesity in typical children. These included Asian and Hispanic ethnicities, four medication groups, and psychopathological comorbidities such as aggression, anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms. The similarities of risk factors for weight between TD and ASD children will allow for use of existing protocols for weight interventions with minimal modification, saving resources otherwise spent pursuing new risk factors or treatments.
Evaluation of the inactivation effect of Triton X-100 on Ebola virus infectivity

Abstract Background The recent Ebola virus disease outbreak occurred in West Africa since December 2013 highlighted the need of appropriate virus inactivation procedures to be set up to allow the necessary processing of specimens outside BSL-4 facilities and to perform laboratory tests without affecting clinical decisions. For this purpose, international guidelines suggest the pre-treatment of the samples with Triton X-100. Objectives Due to the limited scientific evidence about the efficacy of Triton X-100 on enveloped-viruses, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Triton X-100 on the virus infectivity and to establish the optimal conditions for its use. Study design We evaluated the effect of Triton X-100 on the infectivity of enveloped-viruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Ebola virus (EBOV) at different experimental conditions. The residual virus infectivity was measured by limiting dilution assay on Vero E6 cells. Repeated experiments were performed, as specified, and for the titration of residual infectivity each dilution was tested in triplicate. Results Results obtained with WNV showed that infectivity was reduced by 6 Logs, after 1 h of treatment with different concentrations of Triton X-100 (ranging from 0.5% to 0.05%). This effect was not time-dependent using 0.1% Triton X-100. Subsequently, we applied the method on EBOV and one hour exposure to 0.1% Triton X-100 strongly affected EBOV infectivity (4 Logs of infectivity reduction). Conclusions We report that Triton X-100, when used alone, is able to strongly reduce the infectivity of a classical enveloped virus such as WNV and we provide, for the first time, scientific evidence that 0.1% Triton X-100 efficaciously affect Ebola virus infectivity. Even though a complete virus inactivation is not achieved, Triton X-100 certainly can contribute to mitigate the risk for the workers of accidental infection and improve the overall safety of the laboratory procedures. Further studies must be performed to deeply investigate alternative solutions able to balance higher level of safety and good performance in clinical chemistry and hematology parameters analysis, necessary for the appropriate and effective management of EVD patients.
A three-photon microscope with adaptive optics for deep-tissue in vivo structural and functional brain imaging

We developed a three-photon adaptive optics add-on to a commercial two-photon laser scanning microscope. We demonstrated its capability for structural and functional imaging of neurons labeled with genetically encoded red fluorescent proteins or calcium indicators deep in the living mouse brain with cellular and subcellular resolution.
The Hidden Costs of Hidden Costs

This brief comment expands on the “long macro view” observation of Prof. Robert Lusch that human choices, including market choices, have massive and unseen costs. It is argued here that a central c...
Modeling the Water Column, Sediment and Biota Concentrations of The Detroit River.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has identified 43 Areas of Concern (AOC's) on the Great Lakes. The Detroit River, a binational waterway, is one such …
The Focal Adhesion: A Network of Molecular Interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights some of the unique ways that protein–protein interactions are modulated within focal adhesions to control the cell's phenotypic readout. The integrin family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors primarily mediates cell adhesion to the extra cellular matrix (ECM). Detailed structure–function analysis of individual proteins has revealed a complex network of protein–protein interactions utilizing a wide spectrum of protein- and lipid-binding domains or motifs. Precise spatial and temporal control of these interactions, and thus the composition of focal adhesions, serves to stabilize and regulate the structural links between the ECM and the cell's internal cytoskeleton to control cell shape and motility. They are also important for coordinating the long-term cellular response to changes in the external environment to regulate cell survival, proliferation, and apoptosis. Integrin-based adhesion signaling is of paramount importance to nearly every aspect of a multicellular organism's development and tissue homeostasis. The precise mechanism(s) determining the spectrum and timing of individual protein–protein interactions within the focal adhesion and in establishing specific signaling cassettes is still largely unknown. In addition, many cells express more than one integrin type, each capable of interacting with overlapping, as well as distinct, complements of ECM and intracellular proteins, often utilizing different modalities. In this regard, much more research is needed.
Moms, babies, and bugs in immune development

Bacteria and mammals have co-evolved with one another over millennia, and it has become impossible to interpret mucosal immunity without taking the microbiota into consideration. In fact, the primary role of the mucosal immune system is regulating homeostasis and the host relationship with the microbiota. Bacteria are no longer seen as simply invading pathogens, but rather a necessary component to one’s own immune response. On the one hand, the microbiota is a vital educator of immune cells and initiator of beneficial responses; but, on the other, dysbiosis of microbiota constituents are associated with inflammation and autoimmune disorders. In this review, we will consider recent advances in the understanding of how the microbiota influences host mucosal immunity, particularly the initial development of the immune response and its implications.
Proposal for a cyclotron resonance maser in InSb

A scheme for amplifying cyclotron resonance radiation in InSb is outlined. To obtain amplification two requirements must be satisfied. The first is that the electron velocity distribution be monoenergetic. Such distributions can be produced by photoexciting electrons in cold p-type InSb. Detailed calculations show that, with a reasonable electron density, the distribution remains monoenergetic throughout the electron lifetime. The second requirement for amplification is that stimulated absorption of cyclotron radiation be inhibited as compared to stimulated emission. This criterion is met by producing the photoelectrons at an energy just below that of the optical phonon in InSb. As a consequence, the stimulated absorption line is broad compared to that for emission, so the latter predominates. Numerical estimates indicate that there is a reasonable chance of producing a far infrared amplifier based upon this technique.
Scheduling Models for Optimizing Human Performance and Well-Being

Personnel are critical components of many systems. Properly considering human capability and the man-machine interface is essential in order to maximize system effectiveness. The overall performance of a system is often directly related to how system personnel are scheduled. This chapter summarizes research related to scheduling personnel where the objective is to optimize system performance while considering human performance limitations and personnel well-being. Topics such as work rest scheduling, job rotation, cross-training, and task learning and forgetting are considered. For these topics, mathematical models and best practices are described. Additionally, important topics for future research are identified and discussed.
Instability of Low Density Supersonic Waves of a Viscous Isentropic Gas Flow Through a Nozzle

In this work, we examine the stability of stationary non-transonic waves for viscous isentropic compressible flows through a nozzle with varying cross-section areas. The main result in this paper is, for small viscous strength, stationary supersonic waves with sufficiently low density are spectrally unstable; more precisely, we will establish the existence of positive eigenvalues for the linearization along such waves. The result is achieved via a center manifold reduction of the eigenvalue problem. The reduced eigenvalue problem is then studied in the framework of the Sturm–Liouville Theory.