cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimally invasive spinal surgery: a historical perspective

The concept of minimally invasive spinal surgery embodies the goal of achieving clinical outcomes comparable to those of conventional open surgery, while minimizing the risk of iatrogenic injury that may be incurred during the exposure process. The development of microscopy, laser technology, endoscopy, and video and image guidance systems provided the foundation on which minimally invasive spinal surgery is based. Minimally invasive treatments have been undertaken in all areas of the spinal axis since the 20th century. Lumbar disc disease has been treated using chemonucleolysis, percutaneous discectomy, laser discectomy, intradiscal thermoablation, and minimally invasive microdiscectomy techniques. The initial use of thoracoscopy for thoracic discs and tumor biopsies has expanded to include deformity correction, sympathectomy, vertebrectomy with reconstruction and instrumentation, and resection of paraspinal neurogenic tumors. Laparoscopic techniques, such as those used for appendectomy or cholecystectomy by general surgeons, have evolved into procedures performed by spinal surgeons for anterior lumbar discectomy and fusion. Image-guided systems have been adapted to facilitate pedicle screw placement with increased accuracy. Over the past decade, minimally invasive treatment of cervical spinal disorders has become feasible by applying technologies similar to those developed for the thoracic and lumbar spine. Endoscope-assisted transoral surgery, cervical laminectomy, discectomy, and foraminotomy all represent the continual evolution of minimally invasive spinal surgery. Further improvement in optics and imaging resources, development of biological agents, and introduction of instrumentation systems designed for minimally invasive procedures will inevitably lead to further applications in minimally invasive spine surgery.
Involution of the postpartum uterus: An ultrasonic study

The involution of the uterus was studied between 1 and 40 days postpartum utilizing serial ultrasonic scans. All pregnancies and postpartum periods were uncomplicated. The decrease in uterine size was related to a diminution in uterine length. No difference was observed between nullipara and primipara or breast- or bottle-feeding mothers.
A Generative Model for Attractor Dynamics

Attractor networks, which map an input space to a discrete output space, are useful for pattern completion. However, designing a net to have a given set of attractors is notoriously tricky; training procedures are CPU intensive and often produce spurious afuactors and ill-conditioned attractor basins. These difficulties occur because each connection in the network participates in the encoding of multiple attractors. We describe an alternative formulation of attractor networks in which the encoding of knowledge is local, not distributed. Although localist attractor networks have similar dynamics to their distributed counterparts, they are much easier to work with and interpret. We propose a statistical formulation of localist attract or net dynamics, which yields a convergence proof and a mathematical interpretation of model parameters.
The Locus of Highly Accreting Active Galactic Nuclei on the MBH-σ Plane: Selections, Limitations, and Implications

We reexamine the locus of narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) on theMBH-� (black hole mass-bulge velocity dispersion) plane in the light of the results from large new optically selected samples. We find that (1) soft X-ray- selected NLS1s have a lower ratio of BH mass to � 4O iiithan broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies; this remains a robust statistical result, contrary to recent claims otherwise; (2) optically selected NLS1s have systematically lower EddingtonluminosityratiosthanX-ray-selectedNLS1s;and(3)asaresult,thelocusof NLS1sontheMBH-� planeis affected by selection effects. We argue that there is no single explanation for the origin of the MBH-� relation; instead tracks of galaxies on the MBH-� plane differ with redshift, consistent with the downsizing of AGN activity. If these results at face value are incorrect, then the data imply that AGNs with high Eddington accretion reside preferentially in relatively late type galaxies at the present epoch, perhaps a more interesting result and a challenge to theoretical models. Subject headingg galaxies: active — quasars: general
Identifying Customer Expectation of Power Window Sound Quality

Sound quality has become an increasingly demanding request in product design. A study was conducted to identify customer requests of power window sound quality and the primary factors that contribute to customer perception and preference of power window sound. Sound samples were recorded from current production vehicles using a binaural recording system in an acoustic chamber. The sounds were then played back to the evaluation panel in a quiet room to rate perceived sound quality using a semantic differential scale. 48 subjects participated in this study. Factor Analysis results of the ratings found three factors: intensity, pitch variation and sharpness. Variables in the intensity factor correlated well to overall preference of the sound, while pitch variation and sharpness were secondary in contributing to the overall perception of power window sound quality.
The effect of the film H content on the crystallization of laser processed and thermally annealed HWCVD a‐Si:H

We demonstrate the use of laser processing to affect the nucleation of crystallites in thermally annealed HWCVD a-Si:H thin films. The influence of film H content is investigated by XRD measurements during in situ 600 °C thermal anneal on both as grown films and on films that have been laser irradiated. All laser irradiated films show a reduced incubation time (τo) for crystallization compared to as-grown films, with the largest differences exhibited for samples with higher film H. We show that a recently developed model for a nucleation center in a-Si:H can be used to explain how the film H content affects this change in τo and also predict the magnitude of this change with laser processing (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Gearing ratios of a magnetic gear for marine applications

Marine propulsion systems have become increasingly electromechanical in recent years. Proposed systems show increasing torque density in an effort to reduce volume and weight. A magnetic gear is proposed to reduce the size of the propulsion motor and achieve similar torque amplification provided by a mechanical gearbox, without the maintenance and breakdown issues. A magnetic gearbox, of the concentric planetary type, will be studied for the high-torque low-speed requirements of a marine propulsion system. Torque ripple is investigated across multiple models to determine acceptable torque transfer performance.
Rapid stimulatory effects of testosterone upon myotubule metabolism and sugar transport, as assessed by silicon microphysiometry

A considerable number of studies bave revealed bebavioral circumstances tbat give rise to small or transient differences in circulating testosterone concentrations; however, carefut consideration of androgen physiology leads to tbe disquieting conclusion that these differences are often untikely to have much physiotogic or behavioral significance. In the present report, we observe that small transients of testosterone secretion could have very rapid anabolic effects on a cultured muscle-derived cell line. Specifically, we have examined the effects of testosterone on metabolism in cultured C2CI2 myotubules, using a silicon microphysiometer. The instrument monitors cellular extrusion of protons and acidic metabolites, and such extrusion is directly linked to ATP hydrolysis, thus providing a real-time measure of cellular metabolism. Te.stosterone caused a small but significant increase in metabolism. Tbe most striking feature of this effect wa.s its rapidity, in that it occurred within 3 br. This rapid enhancement of metabolism suggested that testosterone might be enhancing substrate uptake even more rapidly. Indeed., we found that testosterone increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake within I min. The rapidity of this effect seemed to preclude mediation by classical Intracellular steroid receptors. In support of this, we were unahle to detect specific intracellular binding of testosterone. These findings sbow that testosterone can exert rapid anabolic effects on substrate transport and metabolism in myotuhules. Should this finding general to muscle in vivo, it suggests that relatively small individual differences in testosterone profiles, in response to various social interactions, may have very real consequence for subsequent muscle physiology. © 19% Wilej-Liss, Inc.
Effectiveness of the Self-Regulation Empowerment Program with Urban High School Students.

Impacting the academic performance of high school students in core academic content areas is important because of the high-stakes nature of secondary school course grades relative to their vocation...
The impact of economic news on expected changes in monetary policy

Asset prices may react to news through changes in expected monetary policy. We examine whether economic news directly affects expected changes in monetary policy, measured by changes in federal funds rate futures prices. Because these prices depend on monthly averages of the effective funds rate, the timing of FOMC meetings relative to news announcements is important and we derive a method of weighting the news that incorporates this timing. We find that the market raises (lowers) its expected change in the funds rate target after news that inflation was higher (lower) than expected or employment was stronger (weaker) than expected.
Positioning for autonomous robotics

The performance of intelligent autonomous robotic systems ultimately depends on the capability of the vehicle to find its position with respect to a reference in its environment. In this paper we discuss a positioning system, based on a spinning laser transmitter/receiver and passive reflective beacons in the operating environment. Methods are discussed for path following, trajectory planning, beacons allocation and initialization for positioning.
A modal acoustic emission signal classification scheme derived from finite element simulation

The ability of broadband modal acoustic emission to classify the most common forms of damage mechanisms occurring within a polymer matrix composite material with rod type geometry has been shown. T...
Implant Procedures for the General Dentist

I am very pleased to once again have the privilege of being part of the Dental Clinics of North America and working with such talented editors as Mr. John Vassallo and Ms. Stephanie Carter. This is a wonderful scholarly series dedicated to bringing new, relevant and evidence based scientific information to a readership committed to providing quality dental/oral care to their patients. Implant surgery is a vital service that we as dentists can offer our patients and it is an area of practice that is growing by leaps and bounds. I have been involved in dental and oral surgical resident education for over thirty years and am a firm believer that general dentists have the ability, skill and knowledge to practice and master many different areas in the field of dentistry, based on their education, training and experience. General dentists, as the clinical gate keepers, have the initial opportunity to engage their patients in the discussion of implants. A more complete background in this subject will allow them to grow their clinical practice and meet the needs of their patients. I am grateful to my esteemed colleagues who have so capably contributed to this text and I am confident that it will be a resource that will be of great help to those practitioners interested in introducing implant surgery into their practice as well as to those already offering implant surgical services to their patients. As I have done in the past, I would like to take this opportunity to thank certain individuals who I have been fortunate enough to have worked with or interacted with these past many years (and in some cases decades) and without whose guidance, wisdom and loyalty, my professional and personal life would surely have diminished.
Time-frequency distributions that preserve energy variations

We present and illustrate the shortcomings of Cohen's (1989) class of bilinear time-frequency distributions (BTFD) in preserving short-time energy variations of the individual frequency components of a multi-component signal. We then define a suitable energy variation property and derive a constraint on the BTFD kernel which is necessary and sufficient for this energy variation property. To satisfy the constraints exactly, the kernel must be signal dependent. We conclude that positive time-frequency distributions, which have signal-dependent kernels, may provide the best approach to the exact solution to this problem. >
Readiness of wait-listed black patients to pursue live donor kidney transplant.

Context—For adults with end-stage kidney disease, live donor kidney transplant (LDKT) has better outcomes than long-term dialysis and deceased donor kidney transplant. However, black patients receive LDKT at a much lower rate than adults of any other race or ethnicity.Objective—To examine the LDKT readiness stage of black patients on the transplant waiting list and its association with LDKT knowledge, concerns, and willingness.Design—Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial to improve knowledge and reduce concerns about LDKT.Patients and Setting—One hundred fifty-two black patients on the kidney transplant waiting list at a single transplant center in the northeastern United States.Main Outcome Measures—LDKT readiness stage, knowledge, concerns, and willingness to talk to others about living donation.Results—Sixty percent of patients were not considering or not yet ready to pursue LDKT, and only 11% had taken action to talk to family members or friends about the possibi...
CETERIS PARIBUS LOST

Many have claimed that ceteris paribus (CP) laws are a quite legitimate feature of scientific theories, some even going so far as to claim that laws of all scientific theories currently on offer are merely CP. We argue here that one of the common props of such a thesis, that there are numerous examples of CP laws in physics, is false. Moreover, besides the absence of genuine examples from physics, we suggest that otherwise unproblematic claims are rendered untestable by the mere addition of the CP operator. Thus, “CP all Fs are Gs”, when read as a straightforward statement of fact, cannot be the stuff of scientific theory. Rather, we suggest that when “ceteris paribus” appears in scientific works it plays a pragmatic role of pointing to more respectable claims.
Impact of chemotherapy on survival in surgically resected retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Abstract Background The role of systemic chemotherapy (CT) in the multimodality treatment strategy for retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) remains controversial. We hypothesized that chemotherapy does not improve overall survival for patients with surgically resected RPS. Methods The National Cancer Database was used to identify all patients with RPS that underwent surgical resection from 1998 to 2011. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to assess overall survival (OS) and logistic regression was used for associations. Propensity score (PS) modeling was performed to create balanced cohorts for analysis. Results A total of 8653 patients with surgically resected RPS were identified; 1525 (17.6%) received CT; 10.6% of patients (n = 163) in the neoadjuvant setting. Factors associated with receipt of CT included moderate (OR 2.3) to poorly differentiated (OR 4.3) tumors, leiomyosarcoma (OR 1.8) or undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (OR 2.3) histology, and R2 resection status (OR 2.2) (all p p p = 0.002). Receipt of chemotherapy was not associated with improved long term survival in adjusted models for the raw and propensity matched cohorts (HR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04–1.31; p = 0.009). Conclusion Current available chemotherapy regimens for RPS do not confer a survival benefit. Routine use of chemotherapy for RPS should be discouraged until new effective systemic agents become available.
TurkServer: Enabling Synchronous and Longitudinal Online Experiments

With the proliferation of online labor markets and other social computing platforms, online experiments have become a low-cost and scalable way to empirically test hypotheses and mechanisms in both human computation and social science. Yet, despite the potential in designing more powerful and expressive online experiments using multiple subjects, researchers still face many technical and logistical difficulties. We see synchronous and longitudinal experiments involving real-time interaction between participants as a dual-use paradigm for both human computation and social science, and present TurkServer, a platform that facilitates these types of experiments on Amazon Mechanical Turk. Our work has the potential to make more fruitful online experiments accessible to researchers in many different fields.
MRI Evaluation and Safety in the Developing Brain

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the developing brain has dramatically increased over the last decade. Faster acquisitions and the development of advanced MRI sequences, such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), perfusion imaging, functional MR imaging (fMRI), and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), as well as the use of higher magnetic field strengths has made MRI an invaluable tool for detailed evaluation of the developing brain. This article will provide an overview of the use and challenges associated with 1.5-T and 3-T static magnetic fields for evaluation of the developing brain. This review will also summarize the advantages, clinical challenges, and safety concerns specifically related to MRI in the fetus and newborn, including the implications of increased magnetic field strength, logistics related to transporting and monitoring of neonates during scanning, and sedation considerations, and a discussion of current technologies such as MRI conditional neonatal incubators and dedicated small-foot print neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) scanners.
Effects of Enterprise Technology on Supply Chain Collaboration and Performance

Supply chain collaboration has received increasing attention from scholars and practitioners in recent years. However, our understanding of how enterprise information technology facilitates supply chain collaboration is still very limited. This paper extends the theory established in enterprise information technology and supply chain collaboration literature.
Learning Disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act: The Conundrum of Dyslexia and Time

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires reasonable accommodations for law students with learning disabilities, but provides no concrete guidance on how those accommodations play out for students with learning disabilities like dyslexia. A frequent accommodation for law students with learning disabilities is providing extra time on exams, but is that a reasonable accommodation in legal writing classes? This article examines the 2008 amendments to the ADA, the history of learning disabilities, and literature on extra time as an accommodation to students with learning disabilities. It concludes that extra time is warranted on the typical law school exam and in the typical seminar class (where a paper is usually the sole method of grading students). The article argues, though, that students with learning disabilities should prefer light-loading courses during semesters when they take writing-intensive classes; this accommodation will provide students the extra time they need without fundamentally altering the course or placing undue hardship on the professor.
Tragic Complications of Missed Urethral Injury

A 21-year-old African-American male was brought to the emergency room of a suburban community hospital following a motorcycle accident. The patient had sustained severe injuries, including a fracture of the right femur and a pelvic fracture. In the emergency room, a Foley catheter was placed without any evaluation of a possible urologic injury. The patient was taken to the operating room and the fracture of the femur repaired. On the third postoperative day, the Foley was removed but the patient experienced difficulty in voiding, at which time the catheter was reinserted. Another attempt at voiding was attempted 1 day later with similar results. At that point, it was noticed that the patient was septic and had severe perineal and lower abdominal swelling.
Synthetic Routes to, Transformations of, and Rather Surprising Stabilities of (N-Methyl-N-phenylcarbamoyl)sulfenyl Chloride, ((N-Methyl-N-phenylcarbamoyl)dithio)carbonyl Chloride, and Related Compounds

The title compound classes, (carbamoyl)sulfenyl chlorides and ((carbamoyl)dithio)carbonyl chlorides, have been implicated previously as unstable, albeit trappable, intermediates in organosulfur chemistry. The present work reports for each of these functional groups: (i) several routes to prepare it in the N-methylaniline family; (ii) its direct structural characterization by several spectroscopic techniques; (iii) its rather unexpected stability and its ultimate fate when it decomposes; (iv) a series of further chemical transformations that give highly stable derivatives, each in turn subject to thorough characterization. Relevant kinetic and mechanistic experiments were carried out, including some with p-methyl- and 2,6-dimethyl-substituted N-methylanilines. Given that the title compounds can be isolated and are relatively stable, they may find applications in the preparation of thiolyzable and/or photolabile protecting groups for the sulfhydryl function of cysteine and for the development of new protein synthesis and modification reagents.
An evaluation of some disinfectants.

As part of a continuing surveillance of potential sources of infection in our hospital, we have taken cultures from various inanimate objects in hospital wards and operating rooms. When we found Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the inside surface of the lid of a catheter container, in which Zepharin was used for cold disinfection, we began to look more closely at the methods which we used. Aspirators and resuscitators have been demonstrated to harbor Ps. aeruginosa. Many Pseudomonas and Proteus species are resistant to the frequently used antibiotics and, therefore, infections caused by these organisms are difficult to treat. These organisms are also frequently demonstrated to infect the debilitated patient. Prevention of the introduction of potentially serious bacterial contaminants into the patient, by diagnostic and therapeutic instruments, of course, is the objective of disinfection of these instruments. Many disinfectants that have acceptable properties relating to their effects on instruments have unacceptable bactericidal spectrums. Selection of a disinfectant for "cold sterilization" should be based upon the bactericidal effect on the potentially pathogenic organisms expected to contaminate the objects being processed. A successful manner of evaluating disinfectant solutions is outlined in Table 1, modified from the technic of Spaulding;' however, organisms classified in Group A, vegetative bacteria, are not all equally affected by the types of disinfectants listed, as we demonstrated in the several experiments described below.
Estrogen Attenuates Early Carotid Artery Injury-Induced Inflammation

Background Inflammation plays an important role in the response to endoluminal vascular injury. Estrogen (17B-estradiol, E2) inhibits neointima formation in animal models and the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) blocks this effect. Hypothesis: Perivascular inflammation as measured by leukocyte infiltration and expression of adhesion molecules/chemokines/ cytokines is modulated by exogenous estrogen administration in the balloon injury model of the rat carotid artery. Methods and Results Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were randomly divided into subgroups and treated with E2, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), E2+MPA, or vehicle (V) and subjected to balloon injury of the right carotid artery. After 24 hours, rats were euthanized and carotid arteries (injured and control) were analyzed for inflammatory cells by flow cytometry. Granulocytes and monocyte/macrophages were increased 26-fold and 12-fold, respectively, in injured compared to contralateral control arteries of vehicle treated rats. E2 reduced the granulocyte and monocyte/ macrophage populations of injured vessels by ~ 50% and increased T-lymphocytes, while MPA had no independent effect on inflammatory cells but completely blocked the E2 effect. Immunohistochemical examination verified these findings and localized inflammatory cells to the adventitial and periadventitial domains of injured vessels. To evaluate the early effects of estrogen on targets of inflammatory signaling, carotid arteries from both OVX+V and OVX+E2 rats were homogenized 2 hours after injury and RNA was isolated. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR revealed marked injury-induced mRNA expression upregulation of adhesion molecules (P-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1), chemoattractants (MCP-1, CINC-2) and cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF- α ) with estrogenic attenuation of this injury effect. ELISA and protein array studies from homogenized OVX+V and OVX+E2 rat carotid arteries 6 hours after injury confirm upregulation of inflammatory mediators with estrogen blunting this injury-induced response. Conclusion Estrogen attenuates neointimal formation after vascular injury, at least in part, by modulating pro-inflammatory mediator expression and by limiting leukocyte entry from adventitial tissues into injured vessels early in the injury response.
Spatial pattern and size structure of Castanopsis castanopsis population in Wuyun Mountain

The size structure and spatial pattern of seedlings of Castanopsis carlesii Hayata, were studied with the contiguous grid quadrat method. The causes and dynamics of the mortality of different grade of seedlings were analysed. The spatial pattern of each grade of seedlings was tested with"v/m ratio"," Morisita's dispersion index", and "Lloyd's patchiness index" etc. The variation of the spatial pattern sampled with different quadrats is discussed.It showed that the seedling bank of C.carlesii (Hemsl.) Hayata population in this area was abundant, with 3.3 seedlings per m\+2, and the size structure was a typical pyramid shape, which indicated a developing population. Each grade of seedlings had respective mortality. From gradeⅠto grade Ⅴ, the curve of mortality had two peaks. Analysis of the seedlings sampled with different quadrats showed an aggregated distribution pattern. The C.carlesii (Hemsl) Hayata seedling population's aggregated distribution pattern was primarily due to the dispersion character of the seeds.The differences among all size grade of seedlings were due to the interspecific competition.
The Design and Implementation of Test Program under Internet

Deals with the design of test program that a client site reach a server site on the Internet that is distributed with Unix. All of these are processed under the ICMP, IP protocol. It introduces implementation of a client's test program using socket.
Endometriosis. 3. Complete operations. Reasons, sequelae, treatment.

Abstract Among 2,454 women who had major gynecologic operations, endometriosis was found in 350. Reproductive function was preserved for 77 young patients who desired children, and ovarian hormonal function was preserved for 129 middle-aged patients. However, the remaining 144 patients (average age, 44.4 years) had uterus, adnexa, and endometriosis resected, because of deep involvement of the ovarian hilum, ureteral wall, sigmoid wall, or other tissues. Endometriosis was removed from 17 postmenopausal women; it probably produced major symptoms in 10. Clinical explanations are presented for physiologic response of this estrogen-sensitive tissue after the menopause. After resection of endometriosis, adnexa, and uterus, 96 patients received oral estrogen therapy for postoperative menopausal symptoms. Indications and contraindications for this treatment are discussed. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma was found adjacent to endometriosis in 3 patients (less than 1%).
Scapula Kinematics of Youth Baseball Players

Literature has revealed the importance of quantifying resting scapular posture in overhead athletes as well as quantifying scapular kinematics during dynamic movement. Prior to this project much of the attention in throwing research had been focused on the position of the humerus without description of the positioning of the scapula. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to present scapular kinematics during pitching in youth baseball players. Twenty-five youth baseball players (age 11.3 + 1.0 years; body height 152.4 + 9.0 cm; body mass 47.5 + 11.3 kg), with no history of injury, participated in the study. Scapular kinematics at the events of maximum humeral external rotation (MER) and maximum humeral internal rotation (MIR) during the pitching motion were assessed three-dimensionally while pitching fastballs for strikes. Results revealed that at the event of MER, the scapula was in a position of retraction, upward rotation and a posterior tilt. While at the event of MIR, the scapula was protracted, upward rotated and tilted anteriorly.
Delinquency and Victimization

This chapter examines juvenile delinquency and related topics, including factors that attenuate these problems. It begins with a discussion of juvenile delinquency, and then discusses violence, victimization, and co-victimization, along with risk and protective factors for juvenile delinquency. The chapter also highlights the underlying factors which contribute to delinquency, including peer influence, hypermasculinity, gangs, the street code, poverty, and discrimination.
Mouse Models of Breast Cancer Share Amplification and Deletion Events with Human Breast Cancer

Breast tumor heterogeneity has been well documented through the use of multiplatform -omic studies in human tumors. However, there is no integrative database to capture the heterogeneity within mouse models of breast cancer. This project identifies genomic copy number alterations (CNAs) in 600 tumors across 27 major mouse models of breast cancer through the application of a predictive algorithm to publicly available gene expression data. It was found that despite the presence of strong oncogenic drivers in most mouse models, CNAs are extremely common but heterogeneous both between models and within models. Many mouse CNA events are largely conserved in human tumors and in the mouse we show that they are associated with secondary tumor characteristics such as tumor histology, metastasis, as well as enhanced oncogenic signaling. These data serve as an important resource in guiding investigators when choosing a mouse model to understand the gene copy number changes relevant to human breast cancer.
Abstract 1383: Histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase SUV39H1 is associated with clinical outcome of renal clear cell carcinoma patients

Background: Epigenetic alternations have three important components including DNA methylation, histione modifications, and non-coding RNA. The epigenetic changes are highly dynamic and also reversible, which regulate a variety of biological processes. Euchromatin which is a loosely packed form of chromatin is highly associated with active gene expression. In contrast, heterochromatin is associated with high histone methylation and DNA methylation but low RNA transcription. SUV39H1 catalyzes the histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) in heterochromatin regions, which also mediates DNA methylation at pericentric heterochromatin. Currently, the oncogenic role of SUV39H1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) pathogenesis is poorly understood. To this end, we assessed the role of SUV39H1 in renal RCC cells and association with clinical outcome of RCC patients. Results: In SUV39H1 knocked down cells, we observed global H3K9me3 level reduction and cell growth inhibition. Proximal ligation assay was used to determine the H3K9me3 and 5-methylcytosine (5mC) interaction in RCC cells. Knocking down of SUV39H1 gene significantly reduced the co-localization of H3K9me3 and 5mC in pericentric repetitive sequences. Moreover, Southern blot demonstrated that expansion of a pentanucleotide (GGAAT) repeats was associated with upregulation of SUV39H1, which is linked to SUV39H1 function with microsatellite instability and rearrangement. In The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found that SUV39H1 gene expression was upregulated in RCC tissues compared to normal tissues, and high SUV39H1 expression predicted a worse overall survival outcome (p = 0.002) in RCC patients. Conclusion: SUV39H1 upregulation promotes cell proliferation and microsatellite instability. SUV39H1 expression could serve as a prognostic biomarker for RCC patients. Citation Format: Wei Meng, Ri Cui, Saikh Jaharul Haque, Carlo M. Croce, Arnab Chakravarti. Histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase SUV39H1 is associated with clinical outcome of renal clear cell carcinoma patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1383. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1383
The “Belt and Road” Initiative and Economic Integration

This chapter describes the main features of the “One Belt, One Road” Initiative, which is also called the “Belt and Road (B&R)” Initiative, and analyses possible economic impacts of the Initiative on various countries. The Initiative, suggested by China at the end of 2013, includes several routes on land and sea that connect together many cities in China, Central and South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. These routes not only facilitate the transport of commodities and people between cities, but also promote the development of the cities along the routes.
DIP-FORMING—A Continuous Casting Process

Basic conditions and laboratory development activity leading to a dip-forming continuous casting process for copper wire rod are presented. The problems encountered and how they were solved are described, and the mechanical and electrical properties and limitations of the resultant metal are detailed.
Comparison of [14C]glucose and [14C]deoxyglucose as tracers of brain glucose use

Because glucose metabolism and functional activity in brain regions are normally coupled, knowledge of regional brain glucose use can yield insights into regional functional activity. The deoxyglucose (DG) method is widely used for this purpose in experimental animals and humans but questions have arisen regarding its limits and accuracy. Therefore an experiment was designed to compare the DG method on a structure-by-structure basis with another tracer of glucose use, [6-14C]glucose, in normal rats. The cerebral metabolic rates obtained using the two tracers were similar in the telencephalon, but the results using DG were substantially lower in the midbrain and hindbrain (diencephalon, 18%; mesencephalon, 20%; metencephalon, 29%; and myelencephalon, 35%). The primary DG metabolite, DG 6-phosphate (DG-6-P) was found to disappear in a non-uniform manner from the major brain structures: telencephalon less than diencephalon less than mesencephalon = metencephalon less than myelencephalon. Thus a correlation was found between the rate of DG-6-P loss and the extent to which the DG method gave lower values of glucose use. Thus this may explain, at least in part, the discrepancies between the two methods.
Community Trends in Mortality

Given the information which has been developed in the preceding chapters, it is possible to test some general hypotheses relating mortality rates to measurable properties of zooplankton species. Mortality statistics available for testing include (1) absolute total mortality (individuals per day), (2) relative total mortality (percentage/day), and (3) relative predation mortality (percentage/day). The one quantifiable property common to all developmental stages and species is size, which can be expressed either in terms of wet weight or length. The general hypothesis to be tested here is that definite statistical relationships exist between the various measurements of mortality rate and the size of herbivores.
Characterization of Protein-Protein Interactions Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM), invented in 1986, expanded the application of scanning tunneling microscopy to nonconductive, soft, and live biological samples (Binnig et al., 1986; Hansma et al., 1988; Marti et al., 1988; Drake et al., 1989). AFM has several capabilities, including characterizing topographic details of surfaces from the submolecular level to the cellular level (Radmacher et al., 1992), and monitoring the dynamic process of single molecules in physiological relevant solutions (Drake et al., 1989; Engel and Muller, 2000). More excitingly, AFM not only extends our ‘‘vision,’’ but also extends our ability to ‘‘touch and manipulate’’ during our exploration of the biological system at the molecular level.
Peter’s Prayer: The Enduring Relevance of Nishmat

The prayer of Nishmat Kol Chai (the soul of every living being) is among the most eloquent prayers of gratitude. It is quite possible that the author of this amazing prayer was the Apostle Peter (Rabbi Shimon Cephas). This prayer highlights the importance of being thankful to God for everything but also stresses the importance of helping the weak and downtrodden. This prayer should be the mantra of every person, especially leaders. Nations, organizations, and people that want to be prosperous and happy should emulate God and live a life filled with compassion for all and deeds of loving kindness. Recent history repeatedly demonstrates that a life built on maximizing wealth, shareholder value, or greed is one that can only lead to disaster.
BDNF provides many routes toward STN DBS-mediated disease modification

The concept that subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) may be disease modifying in Parkinson's disease (PD) is controversial. Several clinical trials that enrolled subjects with late-stage PD have come to disparate conclusions on this matter. In contrast, some clinical studies in early- to midstage subjects have suggested a disease-modifying effect. Dopaminergic innervation of the putamen is essentially absent in PD subjects within 4 years after diagnosis, indicating that any neuroprotective therapy, including STN DBS, will require intervention within the immediate postdiagnosis interval. Preclinical prevention and early intervention paradigms support a neuroprotective effect of STN DBS on the nigrostriatal system via increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). STN DBS-induced increases in BDNF provide a multitude of mechanisms capable of ameliorating dysfunction and degeneration in the parkinsonian brain. A biomarker for measuring brain-derived neurotrophic factor-trkB signaling, though, is not available for clinical research. If a prospective clinical trial were to examine whether STN DBS is disease modifying, we contend the strongest rationale is not dependent on a preclinical neuroprotective effect per se, but on the myriad potential mechanisms whereby STN DBS-elicited brain-derived neurotrophic factor-trkB signaling could provide disease modification. © 2018 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Epizoic cyanobacteria associated with harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) from Tobago, West Indies

On Tobago, there is a species of sclerosomatid harvestman ( Prionostemma sp.) that serves as a host to a variety of cryptogams. In the living condition, the exterior of the harvestmen is light blue in appearance, which quickly fades to a bluish-green following preservation in ethanol. Observations of specimens with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the occurrence of several types of epizoic organisms, including prokaryotic cells (several sizes of bacilli and cocci) and at least two species of fungi. Moreover, using PCR with specific primers, we confirmed the presence of at least one species of epizoic cyanobacterium occurring on the tegument of the harvestmen. The tegument of the carapace and abdomen of Prionostemma sp. is full of numerous small pits that may facilitate colonisation and survival by epizoic organisms.
A Map Framework for Support Recovery of Sparse Signals Using Orthogonal Least Squares

We propose the maximum a posteriori accelerated orthogonal least-squares (MAP-AOLS) algorithm, a novel greedy scheme for accurate reconstruction of a sparse binary signal from its compressed measurements. The algorithm leverages the distributions of the sensing matrix, signal, and noise to find a support set that is optimal in the maximum a posteriori (MAP) sense. This stands in contrast to existing greedy orthogonal least squares (OLS) methods that perform reconstruction without fully exploiting all the available statistical information. In each iteration of the proposed algorithm, the distributions of the sensing matrix, noise, and signal with respect to the support set are used to identify and select the column of the sensing matrix with the largest likelihood ratio of the alternate and null hypotheses. Our extensive simulations demonstrate superiority of MAP-AOLS over existing greedy algorithms with only a minor increase in computational costs. Moreover, the proposed scheme has significantly lower computational complexity than traditional OLS.
What are the Marital Problems of Happy Couples? A Multimethod, Two‐Sample Investigation

How couples handle marital conflict may depend on what issues they are facing, as some issues may be more difficult to resolve than others. What is unclear, however, is what issues happy couples face and how these issues may be different for couples depending on their developmental stage. To explore this possibility, the current study used both self-reports and observations drawn from two separate samples of happily married couples-one early in middle adulthood (N = 57 couples; average marital duration = 9 years) and one in older adulthood (N = 64 couples; average marital duration = 42 years). Results indicated that all issues were relatively minor, but early middle-aged couples reported more significant problems than did older couples. As to determining the most salient topic for happy couples, it depended on the spouses' gender, developmental stage, and how salience was assessed (i.e., highest rated issue vs. most discussed issue). Only moderate links were found between what happy couples said was their most serious concern and what they actually tried to resolve during observations of marital problem-solving, but there were differences in how spouses behaved based on the proportion of their time discussing certain topics. Findings suggest that more attention should be devoted to understanding what marital issues happy couples discuss and why, as doing so may reveal how couples maintain their marital happiness.
Risk of Postdural Puncture Headache in Adolescents and Adults.

BACKGROUND Spinal anesthesia is known to have numerous benefits, including reductions in nausea and opioid consumption; however, postdural puncture headache (PDPH) remains a significant risk associated with this technique. The literature specifically examining this complication in adolescents is scarce. Our primary objective was therefore (1) to estimate the incidence of PDPH with a 27G pencil-point needle in patients between the ages of 12 and 19 undergoing ambulatory lower extremity procedures and (2) to compare it to the incidence in adults aged 20-45 years. METHODS After institutional review board (IRB) approval, patients aged 12-45 years undergoing ambulatory lower extremity surgery were approached. Patients undergoing the procedure under combined spinal-epidural (CSE) or spinal anesthesia with a 27G pencil-point needle were eligible for enrollment. Patients were consented before surgery and received a survey via e-mail on postoperative day (POD) 4 inquiring about the presence of a headache. Each headache was described by the participant and assessed for severity, time of onset, duration, location, and whether it was of a postural nature. All patients reporting a postural headache were contacted by a physician author to confirm a diagnosis of PDPH using the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria. RESULTS A total of 656 patients were included in the analysis. Overall, 3.4% of patients developed PDPH. The percentage developing PDPH was 4.9% (3.0-7.8) among those aged 12-19 years and 1.8% (0.8-3.9) in the 20- to 45-year-old group. After adjusting for covariates, the age group between 12 and 19 years was associated with an almost 3-fold increase in the odds (2.8 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.1-7.3]) for the development of PDPH compared to that in the 20-45 age group. One patient in the adult group required an epidural blood patch. CONCLUSIONS The overall incidence for the development of PDPH in ambulatory patients <45 years of age is low. However, the odds for developing PDPH is significantly higher in teenagers compared to those aged 20-45 years. This increase was not associated with an increase in the need for an epidural blood patch. Providers may incorporate these data in their consent process and have a higher index of suspicion for PDPH in teenagers who report headaches after neuraxial anesthesia.
Animal (Non-human) Companionship for Adults Aging in Place during COVID-19: A Critical Support, a Source of Concern and Potential for Social Work Responses.

Older adults living in the community are at disproportionate risk for loneliness and isolation and associated increased health risks (Malcolm et al., 2019); this risk has been further exacerbated b...
Boundary-integral study of a freely suspended drop in a T-shaped microchannel

Abstract The motion of small droplets through microfluidic channels, membrane pores, and other confined geometries presents considerable computational challenge due to drop deformation, small clearances, and complex geometries. This paper addresses the challenge by developing a moving-frame boundary-integral method and demonstrating its utility with simulations of a three-dimensional, freely-suspended deformable drop moving through a T-shaped microchannel at small Reynolds number. The drop size is comparable to the channel height, which is much smaller than the channel depth. The drop is fed into a straight channel or arm of the T-junction, with prescribed flow ratio through the other two branches. This setup typically results in strong drop interaction with the furthest corner of the junction. For computational efficiency, the base flow in the channel without the drop is first determined. Then, a “moving-frame” or computational cell around the drop is dynamically generated, using the first solution to provide the fluid velocity on the cell boundary. This method is used to map the outcomes (movement into one branch or the other, or breakup and partitioning between the branches) as a function of the flow ratio between the two branches and the drop capillary number, size relative to the channel height, and viscosity ratio with the carrier fluid. A critical capillary number or size ratio is observed, below which the drop does not break. Above the critical value, the range of flow ratios over which impending breakup is predicted increases with increasing capillary number and size ratio. The volume partitioning in the range where breakup occurs is essentially unity for equal flow rates between the two branches, even though the geometry is asymmetric, and then the volume partition of the daughter drops favors the branch with higher flow rate and with a stronger dependence on the flow ratio for the smaller drop sizes and capillary numbers. The viscosity ratio has a small but noticeable effect, with drops of similar viscosity to the carrier fluid breaking most easily.
Montessori as an alternative early childhood education

Montessori education was developed over 100 years ago, and persists as a marginal ‘niche reform’ of the standard model. Here I discuss two unresolved dichotomies in early childhood education – the ...