cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How dangerous a world is it

In the Western world approximately 2–3% of all pregnancies result in an infant with a major malformation. Inevitably the parents of such children undergo a period of grieving for “the loss of their normal child” and as a part of that grief they seek to apportion blame. If ocular involvement is a feature of the malformation then it is during the period of their grief that we as ophthalmologists are likely to come into contact with the family. We need to understand this process and during our early contact with the family avoid the twin problems of either being dismissive of their search for a causative agent or, alternatively, being too eager to support their proposal that a particular action or event has been responsible for the outcome of the pregnancy. We are rarely aided in this by the attentions of the “popular press” where the demands of investigative journalism are incompatible with a studied evaluation of possible cause and effect. When trying to identify the effect of a possible teratogen on a pregnancy, there are well established criteria which help in the attribution of blame. The possible association is often first recognised through case reporting (and that remains a major value of the isolated case report), but these can be misleading. The picture of affected pregnancies in cocaine addicted mothers is a case in point, …
Baker's Yeast Beta Glucan Supplementation Increases Salivary IgA and Decreases Cold/Flu Symptomatic Days After Intense Exercise

Strenuous exercise, such as running a marathon, is known to suppress mucosal immunity for up to 24 hr, which can increase the risk of developing an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and reduced performance capacity (Allgrove JE, Geneen L, Latif S, Gleeson M. Influence of a fed or fasted state on the s-IgA response to prolonged cycling in active men and women. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2009;19(3):209-221; Barrett B, Locken K, Maberry R, Schwamman J, Brown R, Bobula J, Stauffacher EA. The Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS): a new research instrument for assessing the common cold. J Fam Pract. 2002;51(3):265; Carpenter KC, Breslin WL, Davidson T, Adams A, McFarlin BK. Baker's yeast beta glucan supplementation increases monocytes and cytokines post-exercise: implications for infection risk? Br J Nutr. 2012;1-9). While many dietary interventions have been used to combat postexercise immune suppression, most have been ineffective. The key purpose of this study was to determine if baker's yeast β-glucan (BG) could positively affect the immune system of individuals undergoing intense exercise stress using two experiments. In the first (E1; N = 182 men and women), BG was compared to placebo supplementation for the incidence of URTI symptoms for 28 days postmarathon. In the second (E2; N = 60 men and women) changes in salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) were evaluated after 50-min of strenuous cycling when participants had been supplemented for 10 days with either BG (250 mg/day) or placebo (rice flour). For E1, subjects reported URTI symptoms using a daily health log. For E2, saliva was collected prior to, immediately, and 2-hr postexercise using a salivette. Data for E1 and E2 were analyzed using separate analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with repeated measures (p < .05). In E1, BG was associated with a 37% reduction in the number of cold/flu symptom days postmarathon compared to placebo (p = .026). In E2, BG was associated with a 32% increase in salivary IgA (p = .048) at 2 hr after exercise compared to placebo. In summary, the present study demonstrates that BG may reduce URTI symptomatic days and improve mucosal immunity (salivary IgA) postexercise.
Targeted detection of in vivo endogenous DNA base damage reveals preferential base excision repair in the transcribed strand

Endogenous DNA damage is removed mainly via base excision repair (BER), however, whether there is preferential strand repair of endogenous DNA damage is still under intense debate. We developed a highly sensitive primer-anchored DNA damage detection assay (PADDA) to map and quantify in vivo endogenous DNA damage. Using PADDA, we documented significantly higher levels of endogenous damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in stationary phase than in exponential phase. We also documented that yeast BER-defective cells have significantly higher levels of endogenous DNA damage than isogenic wild-type cells at any phase of growth. PADDA provided detailed fingerprint analysis at the single-nucleotide level, documenting for the first time that persistent endogenous nucleotide damage in CAN1 co-localizes with previously reported spontaneous CAN1 mutations. To quickly and reliably quantify endogenous strand-specific DNA damage in the constitutively expressed CAN1 gene, we used PADDA on a real-time PCR setting. We demonstrate that wild-type cells repair endogenous damage preferentially on the CAN1 transcribed strand. In contrast, yeast BER-defective cells accumulate endogenous damage preferentially on the CAN1 transcribed strand. These data provide the first direct evidence for preferential strand repair of endogenous DNA damage and documents the major role of BER in this process.
FDG PET-CT aids in the preoperative assessment of patients with newly diagnosed thymic epithelial malignancies

Introduction Advanced thymoma (stage III and IV) is difficult to detect by computed tomography (CT), yet it is important to distinguish between early (stage I and II) and advanced disease before surgery, as patients with locally advanced tumors require neoadjuvant chemotherapy to enable effective resection. This study assessed whether the amount of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake can predict advanced thymoma and whether it can separate thymoma from thymic cancer. Methods We retrospectively reviewed FDG positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scans of 51 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with thymic epithelial malignancy. PET-CT findings documented focal FDG activity: SUV max , SUV mean , SUV peak , and total body volumetric standardized uptake value (SUV) measurements. These were correlated with Masaoka–Koga staging and World Health Organization classification. Wilcoxon ranked sum tests were used to assess association between SUV and pathological stage, cancer type, and classification. Results Among the study patients, 37 had thymoma, 12 thymic carcinoma, and 2 thymic carcinoid. Higher focal FDG uptake was seen in patients with type B3 thymoma than in those with type A, AB, B1, or B2 thymoma ( p p p > 0.09), although greater FDG-avid tumor volume was significantly associated with advanced disease ( p Conclusions Focal FDG uptake cannot predict advanced thymoma but is helpful in distinguishing thymoma from thymic carcinoma, or the more aggressive thymoma, type B3.
Recovery of function after brain injury in man.

Late after-effects of cerebral trauma are difficult to study because patients tend to be seen for persisting symptoms, and not simply for their lesions. We have tried to avoid this bias by recalling periodically, over the years, 520 men with known brain injuries incurred in World War II or in Korea or Vietnam. These men are seen irrespective of clinical need and all undergo intensive behavioural and neurological assessment, which still continues. For such groups, recovery is impressive, though one third shows persistent intellectual loss. In addition, some tasks reveal specific deficits enduring unchanged, after th first 2-3 yr, for the 20-30 yr of follow-up (e.g. visual field defects, certain auditory discrimination losses, trouble on various complex perceptual tasks). These lasting deficits are linked to the site and size of focal injury, often representing remnants of more severe initially-present disorders. The extent of recovery is correlated with age at the time of trauma, the youngest faring best. Extension of such studies to cases of early brain damage (birth to five years), as indicated by hemiparesis, shows the familiar 'escape' of language after early left-hemisphere lesions but this is achieved at a price, the price being borne by non-verbal functions that normally depend on the integrity of the right hemisphere.
A Drug Court Outcome Evaluation Comparing Arrests in a Two Year Follow-Up Period

Since the first drug court in Miami in 1989, the drug court movement has spread throughout the United States, influencing how drug-involved offenders are treated in the criminal justice system. This paper reports on an outcome evaluation of a drug court in San Mateo County, California. Arrest rates were compared for drug court participants (N=618) and non-participants (N=75), and for graduates (N=257) and non-graduates (N=361). Factors associated with rearrest were assessed for participants in both groups. During a two-year follow-up period, there were no significant differences in rearrest rates between the participant and non-participant groups. Comparisons between graduates and non-graduates showed lower rearrest rates for graduates (19% vs. 53%, χ(2)(1)=73.5, p<0.01). In a model including participants and non-participants, only a prior history of conviction predicted an increased likelihood of rearrest whereas being female and older decreased the likelihood of rearrest. In addition, among drug court participants only, graduating decreased the likelihood of rearrest.
Inequality-based reliability estimates for complex systems

Full-system testing for large-scale systems is often infeasible or very costly. Thus, when estimating system reliability, it is desirable to employ a method that uses subsystem tests, which are often less expensive and more feasible. This paper presents a method for bounding full-system reliabilities based on subsystem tests and, if available, full system tests. The method does not require that subsystems be independent. It accounts for dependencies through use of certain probability inequalities. The inequalities provide the basis for valid reliability calculations while not requiring independent subsystems or full-system tests. The inequalities allow for test information on pairwise subsystem failure modes to be incorporated, thereby improving the estimate of system reliability. We illustrate some of the properties of the estimate via an example application.
Manganese(II) octa-uranium(IV) hepta-deca-sulfide.

Single crystals of manganese(II) octa­uranium(IV) hepta­deca­sulfide, MnU8S17, were grown from the reaction of the elements in a RbCl flux. MnU8S17 crystallizes in the space group C2/m in the CrU8S17 structure type. The asymmetric unit is composed of the following atoms with site symmetries shown: U1 (1), U2 (m), U3 (m), Mn1 (2/m), S1 (1), S2 (1); S3 (m), S4 (m), S5 (m), S6 (m) and S7 (2/m). The three UIV atoms are each coordinated by eight S atoms in a bicapped trigonal–prismatic arrangement. The MnII atom is coordinated by six S atoms in a distorted octa­hedral arrangement.
Gamma globulin in treatment of chronic phase of epidemic infectious hepatitis.

Summary Large amounts of gamma globulin administered in the manner described did not alter the clinical pattern of two carefully followed, proven cases of chronic epidemic infectious hepatitis.
Democracy from Above: Democratization and international relations

Few events have captured the attention of policymakers and the public like the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of independent states in Central and Eastern Europe. In the aftermath of these events, there was tremendous optimism when confronted with the prospects of how to create and preserve democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet Republics. In the United States, the Clinton administration announced that the foreign policy doctrine of containment would be replaced with a doctrine of “enlargement” (Bloomfield 1994; Lake 1993; Smith 1994; Wiarda 1997). A major part of the enlargement strategy involved international support for democracy, often through regional organizations (cf. Christopher 1995). For example, the idea of regional institutions promoting and protecting democracy became a major justification for NATO expansion (cf. Albright 1997; Asmus, Kugler, and Larrabee 1993; Yost 1998). Academic attention to the issue of transitions to and the survivability of democracy, including identifying conditions propitious for success, predated the events of 1989. The “third wave” of democratization spurred a considerable body of research examining the origins and consequences of these transitions, many of which occurred nearly fifteen years prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall (Huntington 1991; Shin 1994). Based on the lessons of Latin America, Southern Europe, and to a lesser extent Africa, the research provided the foundation from which to discuss the roadblocks to democratization in Eastern Europe as well as continued challenges to the future of democracy in other parts of the world.
Accelerated Premalignant Polyposis and Second Colon Cancers: Incriminating Immunosuppression, Radiotherapy, and Systemic Chemotherapy Agents

Cancer survivors are known to be at increased risk for second primary cancers. In addition, immunosuppression and previous cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy are linked with increased risk of both colonic adenomas and adenocarcinomas. We performed a systematic review searching for manuscripts discussing second colon cancers, accelerated polyposis, immunosuppression, radiation, and chemotherapy. We sought to identify a link between immunosuppression and increased risks specific to premalignant polyposis and second colon cancers. We identified multiple studies demonstrating associations between radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, and immunosuppression with a higher propensity for second colon adenomas and adenocarcinomas. When compared to the general population, these risks were more profound and the rate at which these second malignancies developed was significantly increased. We believe that timing for colonoscopic surveillance in these patients should be different from the general population in order to identify promptly these rapidly progressive neoplasms. Screening for second malignancies should be considered early after remission of the primary cancer is documented, especially when a prolonged survival or a cure is anticipated. We also recommend consideration be given to increasing the frequency of colonoscopy in these cohorts. Future studies are required in order to establish the optimal time interval for surveillance colonoscopy in these high-risk individuals.
Anodic Oxidation of Graphite

The anodic oxidation of 3000°C annealed pyrolytic graphite electrode was studied by the technique of potential sweep at linearly changing from 0.00V to+1.50V vs PHE, and by measuring the change of (00l) X-ray diffraction patterns, in 10M/l sulfuric acid electrolyte at 25°C.Experimental results are summerized as follows:(1) On the anodic potential sweep curves, two oxidation current peaks are observed as a small peak at about+1.2V and major current beyond+1.3V. The for, mer peak corresponds to the adsorption of oxygen on graphite surface and the latter to formation of graphite bisulfate lamellar compound prior to oxygen evolution.(2) On the cathodic sweep curves, the reduction current that appears as a peak between+1.30V and+1.00V corresponds to the decomposition of lamellar compound.
ANAEROBIC GROWTH OF MOLDS ISOLATED FROM FERMENTATION STARTERS USED FOR FOODS IN ASIAN COUNTRIES

Ragi, murcha, look pang, bubod, chiu-chu, and Chinese yeast are used as starters for a number of fermentations based on rice and cassava in the Orient. The starter consists regularly of certain species of Mucor, Rhizopus, and Amylomyces and not of other molds, even though the production of starters is often made under unsanitary conditions. All 60 isolates from these starters from Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, China, Taiwan, and Thailand grew under anaerobic conditions. The Mucor isolates belong in the section Racemosus and possess numerous chlamydospores. A survey of strains representative of 12 families ofthe Zygomycetes indicates that species of most genera will not grow under anaerobic conditions. The three genera in which some species grow under anaerobic conditions are Mucor, Rhizopus, and Amylomyces (Mucorales: Mucoraceae). Amylomyces is like Rhizopus in that growth is strictly filamentous under anaerobic conditions, further proving their close relationship. Het? erothallic Mucor mating types of the species that grew under anaerobic conditions failed to produce zygospores when tested under anaerobic conditions. One homothallic species likewise failed to produce zygospores. In Amylomyces, chlamydospore production was almost com? pletely suppressed under anaerobic conditions. None of the species tested formed sporangia in the absence of oxygen. When the starter cultures of Mucor were tested with 5% COz, 10% H2, and 85% N2 in an anaerobic system, growth was similar to that of cultures in an aerobic environment; however, the growth was greatly reduced when C02 was omitted from the anaerobic mixture (10% hydrogen, 90% nitrogen).
Data analysis for accelerated life tests with constrained randomization

Accelerated life tests (ALTs) often involve experimental protocols with constrained randomization such as subsampling or random block. As a result, life-time data may construct a grouped structure among the observations. In this paper, we develop a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) approach for analyzing ALT data with a grouped structure in order to reflect random effects of groups in the model. The GLMM approach provides a flexible way to model censored failure time data with random effects. Particularly, for Weibull failure time distribution, we describe an iterative procedure for the model parameters estimation and derive the asymptotic variance-covariance matrix using the approximated likelihood function. Two examples of life-time data with subsampling and random block are analyzed by the proposed method, which is implemented by modern computer software.
Design of Static Frequency Converter Based on Dual-CPU

At present,the static frequency converter(SFC) start mode is usually used as the common start mode in the large synchronous unit.In order to meet the requirements of SFC,the converter control system is designed.System design uses backplane bus and dual-CPU design idea to meet fast control requirements,and is easy to expand,used as a common control platform of new energy power generation control.Through applications in Panjiakou pumped-storage power station transformation,the stability and correctness of this control system design are verified.
Alignment Method Research and Errors Analysis of Reflex Light-tube

For the lower parallel accuracy problems of long distance reflex light,in this paper,a high precision method of reflex light-tube's assembly and calibration is introduced. The reflex light-tube is assembled and calibrated by the light detection system using the digital photoelectric autocollimator,high precision pentaprism,plane reflex mirror. The working principle of high precision pentaprism,light path building method of autocollimator,adjustment method,the possible error in detection process and correction methods are introduced. The experiments show that the optical axis parallelism of the reflex light-tube can achieve 2″by using the proposed method and device and avoide the surface error when use the large flat mirror for detection. The detection device is simple,smart and high accuracy.
Prediction of Heart Rate Changes from Speech Features During Interaction with a Misbehaving Dialog System

Most research on detecting a speaker’s cognitive state when interacting with a dialog system has been based on selfreports, or on hand-coded subjective judgments based on audio or audio-visual observations. This study examines two questions: (1) how do undesirable system responses affect people physiologically, and (2) to what extent can we predict physiological changes from the speech signal alone? To address these questions, we use a new corpus of simultaneous speech and high-quality physiological recordings in the product returns domain (the SRI BioFrustration Corpus). “Triggers” were used to frustrate users at specific times during the interaction to produce emotional responses at similar times during the experiment across participants. For each of eight return tasks per participant, we compared speaker-normalized pre-trigger (cooperative system behavior) regions to posttrigger (uncooperative system behavior) regions. Results using random forest classifiers show that changes in spectral and temporal features of speech can predict heart rate changes with an accuracy of ~70%. Implications for future research and applications are discussed.
The Bankart shoulder reconstruction; the use of pullout wires and other practical details.

The pull-out wire technique for suturing tendons and ligamentous structures was originally described by Bunnell. Its application to the present problem has been carried out by the authors since 1947. A comparable method, used for two years, was described in 1949 by Luckey who had operated on fifteen patients. After simiiar exposure, Luckey preserved and divided the capsule and sutured its lateral end to the freshened glenoid rim with a No. 24 or No. 26 gauge steel wire. He employed only one pull-out stitch through two drill holes and did not attempt to repair time labrum in any instance nor did he shorten the subscapularis. He reported no recurrence after follow-ups of one to two years. The method reported here, therefore, is by no means original. We prefer the use of braided wire because of its great tensile strength and the ease with which it can be handled. We use large coat buttons in tying the sutures. The steps described, we believe, are not sufficiently different from Bankart technique to incur his disapproval. We have, like him, never attempted to show the defect in the humeral head and have trusted our repair to overcome the increased tendency to recurrence that it causes when present. The essential points of our technique are then: (1) adequate assistance and positioning; (2) use of the Bankart retractor; (3) attachment of the glenoid labrum, the capsule or lateral subscapularis or both to the freshened neck by means of two Bunnell braided wire pull-out sutures; (4) shortening of subscapularis; (5) postoperative fixation and resistance exercises.
Introduction to Festschrift in Honor of Jean J. Boddewyn

In 1999, Jean Boddewyn, prompted by the re-launch of the Journal of International Management (JIM), published a provocative article, “The Domain of International Management”, in which he critiqued current definitions of international management. More recently, the editors of the Journal of International Business Studies have been engaged in clarifying the domain of international business (Eden 2008), building on Boddewyn (1997). With the announcement of a new journal, Global Strategy Journal, from the Strategic Management Society, the question arises: How do these three fields of inquiry differ? Where do they overlap? How does Boddewyn‟s work on defining international management and international business help us understand the distinctions? In this paper, we build on Boddewyn‟s earlier research to explore the three fields of inquiry, develop new domain statements, and link them to one another.
Robotic versus open pediatric ureteral reimplantation: Costs and complications from a nationwide sample.

Introduction We sought to compare complications and direct costs for open ureteral reimplantation (OUR) versus robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation (RALUR) in a sample of hospitals performing both procedures. Anecdotal reports suggest that use of RALUR is increasing, but little is known of the outcomes and costs nationwide. Objective The aim was to determine the costs and 90-day complications (of any Clavien grade) in a nationwide cohort of pediatric patients undergoing OUR or RALUR. Methods Using the Premier Hospital Database we identified pediatric patients (age < 21 years) who underwent ureteral reimplantation from 2003 to 2013. We compared 90-day complication rates and cost data for RALUR versus OUR using descriptive statistics and hierarchical models. Results We identified 17 hospitals in which both RALUR and OURs were performed, resulting in a cohort of 1494 OUR and 108 RALUR cases. The median operative time was 232 min for RALUR vs. 180 min for OUR (p = 0.0041). Incidence of any 90-day complications was higher in the RALUR group: 13.0% of RALUR vs. 4.5% of OUR (OR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.46–6.91, p = 0.0037). The difference remained significant in a multivariate model accounting for clustering among hospitals and surgeons (OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.46–6.75; p = 0.0033) ( Figure). The median hospital cost for OUR was $7273 versus $9128 for RALUR (p = 0.0499), and the difference persisted in multivariate analysis (p = 0.0043). Fifty-one percent (55/108) of the RALUR cases occurred in 2012–2013. Discussion We present the first nationwide sample comparing RALUR and OUR in the pediatric population. There is currently wide variation in the probability of complication reported in the literature. Some variability may be due to differential uptake and experience among centers as they integrate a new procedure into their practice, while some may be due to reporting bias. A strength of the current study is that cost and 90-day postoperative complication data are collected at participating hospitals irrespective of outcomes, providing some immunity from the reporting bias to which individual center surgical series' may be susceptible. Conclusions Compared with OUR, RALUR was associated with a significantly higher rate of complications as well as higher direct costs even when adjusted for demographic and regional factors. These findings suggest that RALUR should be implemented with caution, particularly at sites with limited robotic experience, and that outcomes for these procedures should be carefully and systematically tracked. Figure. Left: Univariate and multivariate odds of 90-day complication comparing open ureteral reimplantation (OUR) and robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation (RALUR). Right: Comparison of OUR and RALUR direct costs in 2013 USD. Figure options Download full-size image Download high-quality image (256 K) Download as PowerPoint slide
Finding Identity Group Fingerprints in Documents

This paper describes how social identity group "fingerprints" can be extracted from a document collection by applying topic analysis methods in a novel way. The results of document classification experiments suggest that these group-level attributes provide better predictions of group affiliation than document-level attributes. Applications of this method for forensic authorship analysis are also discussed.
Comparative Oncology of Skin Cancer

Studying the naturally occurring skin cancers seen in companion (pet) animals provides an opportunity to improve our knowledge about the biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of skin cancer across species, contributing to advances in human and animal health through a comparative oncology approach. A comparative oncology approach to the study of skin cancer integrates knowledge and studies of these naturally occurring cancers in pets with other basic and clinical research. Studying the similarities and the differences between neoplastic conditions of animals and humans can provide additional knowledge and insight into the biology of cancer. This chapter reviews the clinical features, pathology, and molecular biology associated with the common skin cancers seen in animals, focusing on the similarities and differences between animals and humans.
Phosphorylation of Runx1 by Cyclin-Dependent Kinases Regulates Its Interaction with HDAC1 and HDAC3.

Runx1/AML1 is a key regulator of hematopoiesis and leukemic transformation, as RUNX1(−/−) mice do not develop definitive hematopoietic stem cells, and sever alleukemic oncogenes, e.g. AML1-ETO, CBFβ-SMMHC, or TEL-AML1, inhibit Runx1activities. We have investigated regulation of cell cycle progression by Runx1. Runx1stimulates G1 to S cell cycle progression in hematopoietic cell lines and in transduced myeloid progenitors, and inhibition of Runx1 by CBFβ-SMMHC or AML1-ETO slows G1 progression. Runx1 induces cdk4 and cyclin D3 transcription, and exogenous cdk4, cyclin D2, or c-Myc overcomes inhibition of G1 progression by CBF oncoproteins. In addition to regulating cell cycle progression, Runx1 protein levels are themselves increased as hematopoietic cells progress from G1 to S to G2/M, though mRNA levels remain constant. Runx1 contains three consensus cdk sites, (S/T)PX(R/K), S48, S303, and S424, and using phospho-specific antisera we find that each of these is modified in hematopoietic cells. Mutation of these serines to aspartic acid, mimicking phosphorylation, increases trans-activation of a reporter containing four CBF sites or the TCRβ promoter, whereas mutation to alanine reduces trans-activation. p300 interacts similarly with Runx1(tripleA) and Runx1(tripleD). We have now evaluated interaction of HDACs1–8 with these variants and Runx1 and find that both HDAC1 and HDAC3 have reduced affinity for RUNX1(tripleD), as assessed by co-immunoprecipitation from transiently transfected 293T cells. Evaluation of single serine residue mutants (S48D, S303D, and S424D) demonstrates reduced affinity of HDAC1 or HDAC3 specifically for the Runx1(S424D) mutant, consistent with previous mapping of the Runx1:HDAC1 and Runx1:HDAC3 interactions to this region of Runx1. Thus, cdk phosphorylation of Runx1 S424 reduces affinity for HDAC1 and HDAC3, increasing Runx1 trans-activation potency. Regulation of Runx1 activity by cdks may control key developmental processes, including expansion of definitive HSC during development and regulation of the balance between adult HSC quiescence and proliferation.
Photoacoustic evaluation of human inflammatory arthritis in human joints

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging combined with ultrasonography (US) holds promise to offer a novel and powerful tool for clinical management of inflammatory arthritis, including early detection and treatment monitoring. As a complement to US, PA imaging can assess additional hemodynamic changes in inflammatory synovium, including hyperemia and hypoxia, both important and early physiological biomarkers of synovitis reflecting the increased metabolic demand and the relatively inadequate oxygen delivery of the inflammatory synovial tissue. In this study on arthritis patients and normal volunteers, the targeted metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints were imaged using our real-time US-PA dual-modality imaging system. The blood volume and the blood oxygenation in the segmented synovium were quantified, and the results from the arthritis patients were compared to those from the normal volunteers. This initial study on human subjects demonstrated that PA imaging, by working at the optical wavelengths that are sensitive to oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, is capable of identifying and characterizing inflammation in joints based on the detection of hemodynamic changes.
Trulia, Inc.: Post-Jobs-Act IPO

When rival Zillow Group, Inc., went public in July 2011, it was only a matter of time before Trulia, Inc. (Trulia), followed suit. In late 2011, Trulia's board of directors was intent on going public when it hired Sean Aggarwal as its CFO to see the firm through the initial public offering (IPO) process. In late May 2012, he is considering when to go public, in the wake of Facebook's disappointing IPO earlier in the month, which had stalled the IPO market. Also, in April 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act was passed into law, bringing new regulations that affected the IPO process for emerging growth companies (EGC), or companies with less than $1 billion in revenue in their most recent fiscal year. Trulia would qualify as an EGC, and therefore was eligible to avail itself of the reduced disclosure and public on-ramp provisions of the law. This case examines an IPO that follows in close proximity to the passage of the JOBS Act. Aggarwal must determine what provisions of the new law to adopt with few precedents to go by. The case includes a simple valuation exercise of Trulia's preliminary price range for instructors who wish to cover this topic. It also covers two other controversial issues about IPOs: the high costs of going public and the disappearance of small IPOs in the United States from 2001 to 2011, as motivation for the JOBS Act. A brief review is given of each topic and the controversy surrounding it to allow instructors flexibility in exposing students to these issues. This case was written for Darden's second-year MBA elective focusing on financing arrangements, but would be useful in undergraduate or graduate courses covering investment banking, capital raising, or corporate finance. . . .
Machine Learning Applications in Baseball: A Systematic Literature Review

Statistical analysis of baseball has long been popular, albeit only in limited capacity until relatively recently. In particular, analysts can now apply machine learning algorithms to large basebal...
Hypocrisy, Inconsistency, and the Moral Standing of the State

Several writers have argued that the state lacks the moral standing to hold socially deprived offenders responsible for their crimes because the state would be hypocritical in doing so. Yet the state is not disposed to make an unfair exception of itself for committing the same sorts of crimes as socially deprived offenders, so it is unclear that the state is truly hypocritical. Nevertheless, the state is disposed to inconsistently hold its citizens responsible, blaming or punishing socially deprived offenders more often or more harshly than other offenders, even when the crimes are the same. The state’s stable disposition to inconsistently hold offenders responsible undermines its standing to hold offenders responsible for the same reasons that hypocrisy undermines standing; instead of making an unfair exception of itself, the state makes an unfair exception of others. Strikingly, this means that the state lacks the standing to hold anyone responsible for a crime for which it is unfairly disposed to hold citizens responsible inconsistently, not just socially deprived offenders. Thus, it is even more urgent that the state regain its moral standing by working toward a justice system that holds offenders responsible consistently.
Medical-Legal Partnership Impact on Parents' Perceived Stress: A Pilot Study.

Stress has adverse effects on health, and prolonged stress exposure is a risk factor for several mental and physical illnesses.1 Families living in poverty face many stressors created and maintaine...
The Innovations Process with Applications to Identifications

Publisher Summary Optimality of algorithm depends on the availability of precise knowledge of the matrices in the system. In most engineering applications, precise knowledge of the numerical values of some or all of the elements in the required matrices would be incomplete. It is possible, from physical considerations, to specify approximate values and ranges for these unknown parameters, lack of precise knowledge would degrade the results that are obtained from the filtering operation. The significance of this degradation would depend on the particular application. For many applications, it would be necessary to reinforce the available a priori knowledge by estimating the significant parameters in question using measurement data obtained during the system's operation. The problem of estimating system parameters is referred to as the “system identification” or the “identification problem.” The present study leads to a system identification procedure, which possesses the desirable properties of computational efficiency, ease of digital computer implementation, guaranteed convergence under weak restrictions, and “real-time” capability, in the sense that the identification task could be performed in parallel with that of sequential state estimation.
Conformational energy studies of the growth hormone inhibitor, cyclo (Aha-Cys-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys).

Abstract The conformation of the molecule cyclo (Aha- Cys-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys ) was studied by empirical conformational energy calculations. The low-energy structure found contains a type II' bend centered at the D-Trp-Lys residues. The lowest energy conformer has the aromatic ring of DTrp positioned such that the γ-protons of the Lys side-chain are in the shielding region (i.e., perpendicular to the center of the aromatic ring). This is in agreement with the NMR results. A mechanism of action for the inhibition of GH release is presented which suggests a conformational change occurs in the D-Trp side-chain ring upon binding to the receptor. The resulting structure has the Phe-D-Trp ring-ring stacking suggested to be responsible for binding and agonist activity of model growth-hormone releasing peptides.
A Multigrid Algorithm for an Elliptic Problem with a Perturbed Boundary Condition

We discuss the preconditioning of systems coupling elliptic operators in \(\Omega \subset {\mathbb{R}}^{d}\), d=2,3, with elliptic operators defined on hypersurfaces. These systems arise naturally when physical phenomena are affected by geometric boundary forces, such as the evolution of liquid drops subject to surface tension. The resulting operators are sums of interior and boundary terms weighted by parameters. We investigate the behavior of multigrid algorithms suited to this context and demonstrate numerical results which suggest uniform preconditioning bounds that are level and parameter independent.
Hiding Behind the Curtain: Anonomyous Versus Open Peer Review

For more than 50 years peer review has guided the decision-making process of editors regarding the merit of publishing scientific work. Peer reviews can be influenced by knowledge of the authors’ identities as well as anonymity of the referee. The value of the current peer review system apparently offsets areas of dissatisfaction that include: (a) reviewer bias as a result of knowing author identity, (b) unequal valuation of reviewer versus author anonymity, (c) resource expense for authors, reviewers, editors, and journals, and (d) inhibition of free communication. This chapter discusses the merits of hiding reviewer and author identity in the peer review process as well as the increasing importance of post publication review.
An Alternative Formulation of Discontinous Galerkin Schemes for Solving Hamilton–Jacobi Equations

The aim of this paper is to develop an alternative formulation of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) schemes for approximating the viscosity solutions to nonlinear Hamilton–Jacobi (HJ) equations. The main difficulty in designing DG schemes lies in the inherent non-divergence form of HJ equations. One effective approach is to explore the elegant relationship between HJ equations and hyperbolic conservation laws: the standard DG scheme is applied to solve a conservation law system satisfied by the derivatives of the solution of the HJ equation. In this paper, we consider an alternative approach to directly solving the HJ equations, motivated by a class of successful direct DG schemes by Cheng and Shu (J Comput Phys 223(1):398–415, 2007), Cheng and Wang (J Comput Phys 268:134–153, 2014). The proposed scheme is derived based on the idea from the central-upwind scheme by Kurganov et al. (SIAM J Sci Comput 23(3):707–740, 2001). In particular, we make use of precise information of the local speeds of propagation at discontinuous element interface with the goal of adding adequate numerical viscosity and hence naturally capturing the viscosity solutions. A collection of numerical experiments is presented to demonstrate the performance of the method for solving general HJ equations with linear, nonlinear, smooth, non-smooth, convex, or non-convex Hamiltonians.
Corneal collagen crosslinking in patients treated with dextran versus isotonic hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) riboflavin solution: a retrospective analysis

Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) is a widely used treatment for halting the progression of keratoconus. Although initial studies of CXL were performed with a riboflavin solution containing dextran, recent protocols for CXL have indicated the use of a riboflavin solution containing isotonic hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). This study was performed to investigate differences in visual outcomes and Scheimpflug (Pentacam) analysis in patients who have undergone epithelium-off CXL with riboflavin solution containing either 20% dextran versus 1.1% HPMC. All patients in this non-randomized, non-masked, retrospective cohort analysis were treated at Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. Thirty-seven eyes of 33 patients were crosslinked with a dextran solution and 19 eyes of 19 patients crosslinked with an isotonic HPMC solution, both using an epithelium-off 30-min, 3 mW/cm2 protocol. All patients had a diagnosis of keratoconus or post-refractive surgery ectasia. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and Pentacam parameters were compared at all follow up visits (1, 6, 12, and 24 months). Differences between groups treated with HPMC and dextran were compared using student’s t-test. Differences between treated eye and fellow eye were calculated and compared between HPMC and dextran groups using paired t-test. Patients treated with a dextran solution had significantly greater improvement in BSCVA at 1, 6, and 24 months (p < 0.05) compared to the isotonic HPMC-treated group. Kmax increased in both groups at 1 month; however, HPMC-treated patients had a greater increase compared to dextran-treated patients (p = 0.01). Kmax decreased in both groups at 6 and 12 months, although this finding was only significant in the HPMC-treated group at 12 months. Our data suggest that crosslinking with the dextran solution may result in significantly better visual outcomes (demonstrated by visual acuity) compared to the isotonic HPMC riboflavin solution. Dextran solutions may have other potential advantages intrinsic to its biochemical properties facilitating more efficient crosslinking. Further research and long-term evidence regarding the use of dextran versus HPMC riboflavin solutions in collagen crosslinking is necessary.
Utility of Neuropsychological Testing in the Differential Diagnosis of Early Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) (P03.086)

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether neuropsychological testing can discriminate between patients with mild behavioral variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). BACKGROUND: Despite advances in the clinical characterization of bvFTD, early diagnosis can be difficult. The present study assessed the utility of neuropsychological assessment in the differential diagnosis of early bvFTD and MCI. DESIGN/METHODS: We compared the cognitive performance of patients with early bvFTD (n=22) and MCI (n=18) (MMSE >25) on a brief neuropsychological protocol assessing verbal and visual memory (Philadelphia Verbal Learning Test, PVLT; delayed recall of the Rey-Osterrieth figure), processing speed (Trail-Making Test-A), language (30-item Boston Naming Test), working memory (Digits Backward), visuospatial ability (Rey-Osterrieth figure), verbal generation (FAS letter fluency; category fluency), and conceptual flexibility (Trail-Making Test-B; modified Visual-Verbal Test). RESULTS: Despite comparable MMSE scores (bvFTD MMSE=27.3, MCI MMSE=26.6, p>.05), bvFTD patients performed significantly worse than MCI patients on letter fluency (bvFTD=26.9, MCI=38.6, T=3.0, p CONCLUSIONS: BvFTD and MCI produce distinct neuropsychological profiles at early stages of disease. Measures such as MMSE may be insensitive to these distinctions. BvFTD patients were more impaired in tasks of verbal generation and conceptual flexibility (consistent with frontal lobe dysfunction), while patients with MCI were more impaired in tests of verbal and visual memory (consistent with hippocampal dysfunction). Overall, a brief neuropsychological protocol utilizing tests of memory, letter fluency and conceptual flexibility can help differentiate early bvFTD from MCI. Disclosure: Dr. Gasenberg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rascovsky has nothing to disclose. Dr. Libon has received research support from Bayer Healthcare. Dr. Boller has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grossman has nothing to disclose.
An Aqueous Thermodynamic Model for the Complexation of Sodium and Strontium with Organic Chelates valid to High Ionic Strength. I. Ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA)

An aqueous thermodynamic model is developed, which accurately describes the effects of Na+ complexation, ionic strength, carbonate concentration, and temperature on the complexation of Sr2+ by ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA) under basic conditions. The model is developed from the analysis of literature data on apparent equilibrium constants, enthalpies, and heat capacities, as well as on an extensive set of solubility data on SrCO3(c) in the presence of EDTA obtained as part of this study. The solubility data for SrCO3(c) were obtained in solutions ranging in Na2CO3 concentration from 0.01 to 1.8 m, in NaNO3 concentration from 0 to 5 m, and at temperatures extending to 75○C. The final aqueous thermodynamic model is based upon the equations of Pitzer and requires the inclusion of a NaEDTA3− species. An accurate model for the ionic strength dependence of the ion-interaction coefficients for the SrEDTA2− and NaEDTA3−aqueous species allows the extrapolation of standard state equilibrium constants for these species, which are significantly different from the 0.1 m reference state values available in the literature. The final model is tested by application to chemical systems containing competing metal ions (i.e., Ca2+) to further verify the proposed model and indicate the applicability of the model parameters to chemical systems containing other divalent metal-EDTA complexes.
Other Greenhouse gasesOpen image in new window

One greenhouse gas, ozone, is important and beneficial in both protecting the surface of the planet from ultraviolet radiation and in giving the earth’s atmosphere a special layer, the stratosphere.
Peptic Ulcer Disease: Deciding What Procedure When

The number of operations performed for peptic ulcer disease has declined. However, operations are still necessary for ulcer complications and for some patients with refractory disease. This chapter outlines the principle goals that ulcer operations are intended to achieve, the indications for definitive anti-ulcer procedures, and the basis for determining what type of resection, vagotomy, and reconstruction will be most successful in various ulcer situations.
Look Who’s Talking: T-Even Phage Lysis Inhibition, the Granddaddy of Virus-Virus Intercellular Communication Research

That communication can occur between virus-infected cells has been appreciated for nearly as long as has virus molecular biology. The original virus communication process specifically was that seen with T-even bacteriophages—phages T2, T4, and T6—resulting in what was labeled as a lysis inhibition. Another proposed virus communication phenomenon, also seen with T-even phages, can be described as a phage-adsorption-induced synchronized lysis-inhibition collapse. Both are mediated by virions that were released from earlier-lysing, phage-infected bacteria. Each may represent ecological responses, in terms of phage lysis timing, to high local densities of phage-infected bacteria, but for lysis inhibition also to locally reduced densities of phage-uninfected bacteria. With lysis inhibition, the outcome is a temporary avoidance of lysis, i.e., a lysis delay, resulting in increased numbers of virions (greater burst size). Synchronized lysis-inhibition collapse, by contrast, is an accelerated lysis which is imposed upon phage-infected bacteria by virions that have been lytically released from other phage-infected bacteria. Here I consider some history of lysis inhibition, its laboratory manifestation, its molecular basis, how it may benefit expressing phages, and its potential ecological role. I discuss as well other, more recently recognized examples of virus-virus intercellular communication.