cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hardware/Software Interfaces

The objective of a hardware/software interface is to enable communication between software and custom hardware. The software runs on a microprocessor, while the custom hardware is attached to that microprocessor. We will consider how to implement stable data transfers by synchronizing software and hardware. Next, we will discuss the various implementations of hardware/software interfaces, including memory-mapped interfaces, coprocessor interfaces, and custom-instruction interfaces.
Hummingbird pollination of Malvaviscus arboreus in Costa Rica

Abstract Malvaviscus arboreus is a self-compatible shrub or small tree native to Costa Rica. Floral morphology, nectar flow pattern, and observations of visitor behaviour, all indicate that flowers are specialised for hummingbird pollination. The principal pollinator in Guanacaste Province during the dry season was the cinnamon hummingbird (Amazilia rutila); numerous other flower visitors removed nectar and pollen but only hummingbirds effected pollination. Anthers have dehisced and stigmas are receptive by dawn, and flowers function for a single day, although the corolla may persist for two days before abscission. Peak nectar production occurs in the early morning coinciding with highest visitation rates of pollinators. Pollen grains are large and linked by viscin threads which probably aid in pollen transport. About 50% of flowers set fruit; the fleshy fruit usually contain three or four seeds and are probably dispersed by birds. Dispersal of pollen and fruit by birds gives a large neighbourhood size co...
Managing Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes in Family Practice

Disclosures: Dr Scott discloses he is a consultant and serves on the advisory board and/or speakers' bureau for: Forest Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Novo Nordisk Inc, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer. Dr Davidson discloses he is a consultant and serves on the advisory board and/or speakers' bureau for: Abbott Laboratories, Animas, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cure-DM, Eli Lilly & Co, Generex, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson and Johnson, Lifescan, Merck-Serono, Merck-Sharp and Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, sanofi-aventis, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and occurs in 1 in 9 persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Screening should begin at the time of type 2 diabetes diagnosis to detect the presence of a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and/or an elevated albumin excretion rate. The estimated GFR can be used to stage CKD, assess cardiovascular risk, and develop treatment strategies. A multi-faceted treatment plan delivered using a collaborative care approach that fosters person self-management is important. Glucose-lowering agents should be selected based on renal function and titrated to achieve an A 1C less than 7.0%. Lipid-lowering therapy with a statin should be utilized to achieve a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL, possibly less than 70 mg/dL. An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, or direct renin inhibitor, typically in combination with other antihypertensive therapies, is recommended for persons with hypertension, microalbuminuria/macroalbuminuria, and type 2 diabetes, as this approach has been shown to be renoprotective. Angiotensin-converting inhibitors have an additional benefit of improving cardiovascular outcomes in CKD.
Temperature effects on the Postdiapause Development and Respiratory Rates of Trypoxylon politum (Say) (Hymenoptera: Sphecoidea)

Postdiapause development rates and $\bar V$O2 were determined in Trypoxylon politum maintained outdoors and in the laboratory under constant temperatures of 8, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, and 34°C. This wasp may begin postdiapause development outdoors when the mean daily temperature is as low as 6–7°C if the temperature rises above the theoretical development threshold of 14.9°C for some time during the day. The wasp does not develop at constant temperatures of ≤ 14°C, or at ≥ 34°C. The rate of development increases linearly with temperatures from 18 to 26°C, but declines at 30°C. Prepupal respiratory rates increased significantly at 22°C; the rates of propupal and pupal stages increased at 26°C. Optimal development, with regard to energy utilization (respiration) occurred at 22°C. $\bar V$O2 and age exhibit a catenary relationship at temperatures at which development occurs. The total oxygen consumed during development exhibited a linear relationship with temperature from 22 to 30°C. Thermal accumulations acquired in completing development at 18, 22, and 26°C are very similar. The outside group's thermal acquisition was only 80% of the total at 18–26°C. At 18°C, development appeared to be complete, but wasps failed to eclose and died within the cocoon after reaching the adult stage
Social Capital's Unique Accessibility

Of Bourdieu's four forms of capital (financial, cultural, social, human), only social capital is equally available to working class people and people of higher social standing.
Intermediate Services After Behavioral Health Hospitalization: Effect on Rehospitalization and Emergency Department Visits.

Objective:This study examined the effect of intermediate service use on behavioral health inpatient readmissions and subsequent emergency department (ED) visits among Medicaid enrollees.Methods:Dat...
What Was the Old Division of Labor

This chapter describes the old models of division of labor that have dominated the twentieth century. It focuses on the principles of Taylorism / Scientific Management / Taylorism and Fordism / Mass Production and analyzes the complex intertwining of social and technical factors of these classical models of production.
High-Throughput Discovery of Aptamers for Sandwich Assays.

Sandwich assays are among the most powerful tools in molecular detection. These assays use “pairs” of affinity reagents so that the detection signal is generated only when both reagents bind simultaneously to different sites on the target molecule, enabling highly sensitive and specific measurements in complex samples. Thus, the capability to efficiently screen affinity reagent pairs at a high throughput is critical. In this work, we describe an experimental strategy for screening “aptamer pairs” at a throughput of 106 aptamer pairs per hour—which is many orders of magnitude higher than the current state of the art. The key step in our process is the conversion of solution-phase aptamers into “aptamer particles” such that we can directly measure the simultaneous binding of multiple aptamers to a target protein based on fluorescence signals and sort individual particles harboring aptamer pairs via the fluorescence-activated cell-sorter instrument. As proof of principle, we successfully isolated a high-qual...
Pyruvate oxidase of Streptococcus pneumoniae contributes to pneumolysin release.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of community acquired pneumonia and acute otitis media. Certain aspects of S. pneumoniae’s virulence are dependent upon expression and release of the protein toxin pneumolysin (PLY) and upon the activity of the peroxide-producing enzyme, pyruvate oxidase (SpxB). We investigated the possible synergy of these two proteins and identified that release of PLY is enhanced by expression of SpxB prior to stationary phase growth. Mutants lacking the spxB gene were defective in PLY release and complementation of spxB restored PLY release. This was demonstrated by cytotoxic effects of sterile filtered supernatants upon epithelial cells and red blood cells. Additionally, peroxide production appeared to contribute to the mechanism of PLY release since a significant correlation was found between peroxide production and PLY release among a panel of clinical isolates. Exogenous addition of H2O2 failed to induce PLY release and catalase supplementation prevented PLY release in some strains, indicating peroxide may exert its effect intracellularly or in a strain-dependent manner. SpxB expression did not trigger bacterial cell death or LytA-dependent autolysis, but did predispose cells to deoxycholate lysis. Here we demonstrate a novel link between spxB expression and PLY release. These findings link liberation of PLY toxin to oxygen availability and pneumococcal metabolism.
Use of Electronic Resources for Psychiatry Clerkship Learning: A Medical Student Survey

The primary aim of this study is to examine medical students’ use patterns, preferences, and perceptions of electronic educational resources available for psychiatry clerkship learning. Eligible participants included medical students who had completed the psychiatry clerkship during a 24-month period. An internet-based questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the outcomes described above. A total of 68 medical students responded to the survey. Most respondents reported high utilization of electronic resources on an array of devices for psychiatry clerkship learning and indicated a preference for electronic over print resources. The most commonly endorsed barriers to the use of electronic resources were that the source contained irrelevant and non-specific content, access was associated with a financial cost, and faculty guidance on recommended resources was insufficient. Respondents indicated a wish for more psychiatry-specific electronic learning resources. The authors’ results suggest that a demand exists for high-quality electronic and portable learning tools that are relevant to medical student education in psychiatry. Psychiatry educators are usefully positioned to be involved in the development of such resources.
Teaching Anesthesia Residents to Identify Non-technical and Cognitive Skill Deficiencies

Effective management of life-threatening emergencies requires non-technical and cognitive skills such as teamwork and decision-making, in addition to sound medical knowledge. We evaluated the impact of a self-reflection tool on trainees’ identification of non-technical and cognitive skill (NTCS) deficiencies after managing simulated emergencies. We also examined whether trainees pursued further learning on self-identified weaknesses during simulation debriefing. Seventy-five anesthesiology residents participated in this prospective study embedded in an existing simulation curriculum. Residents managed a simulated emergency and were randomized to one of two reflective exercises (i.e., using the NTCS Tool or not). They were then asked to self-identify three areas for performance improvement. Next, all subjects participated in a debriefing session with faculty using a learner-focused protocol. We compared the frequency of NTCS domains in the self-identified areas for improvement between the two groups. We also evaluated whether residents asked to explore those self-identified areas during the debriefing. The NTCS group identified a greater number of NTCS themes compared to the control group (N = 64, 55% vs. N = 41, 38%, p = 0.01). Eighty percent of residents addressed at least one self-identified weakness during the debriefing. This instructional intervention effectively primed residents to consider NTCS themes when evaluating their own performance. Explicit reflection on performance may help residents direct their learning behaviors to mirror their learning needs.
Psychological Assessment With the MMPI–2/MMPI–2–RF, 3rd ed., by A. F. Friedman, P. K. Bolinskey, R. W. Levak, & D. S. Nichols

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2) is one of the most widely used personality tools in psychological assessment and also one of the most researched (Sellbom & Anderson, 2013...
Agoraphobia and Panic Disorder

Agoraphobia is marked by anxiety about being separated from a place or person associated with safety and typically entails avoidance of public places and traveling far from home. Panic attacks are sudden, brief episodes of extreme anxiety. Not uncommon in themselves, the panic attacks of significance in panic disorder arise unexpectedly and are associated with significant distress and impairment. Syndromes that include agoraphobia, panic attacks, or both have been classified formally as distinct anxiety disorders in the United States since 1980. Panic disorder with agoraphobia is the combined syndrome that is especially familiar in mental health practice settings. Since the 1970s, clinical researchers have developed effective pharmacological and psychological treatments for agoraphobia and panic syndromes.
Effects of reduced severity ammonia pretreatment on pelleted corn stover

Abstract Biomass densification impacts pretreatment efficacy and subsequent biochemical conversion to biofuels and other biobased chemicals. Pelleted corn stover was used to evaluate the soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA) pretreatment efficacy at high solid loadings with reductions ammonia concentration, temperature, and pretreatment time. Pretreatment resulted in 70% greater delignification of stover pellets than loose stover. Glucose yields from enzymatic hydrolysis were 49% higher for the pelleted stover and yields did not change with a twofold increase in pretreatment solid loadings. Hydrolysis yields were modeled as a function of pretreatment conditions and the developed model predicted a maximum 24-h hydrolysis glucose yield of 96% at a pretreatment temperature of 60 °C, for 4 h, with 18% ammonia. Pretreatment severity can still be reduced while maintaining 90% or higher yields with different combinations of temperature, time, and ammonia concentration. Temperature was the most important pretreatment parameter within the design space for achieving high glucose yields. FTIR and SEM analysis of SAA-pretreated corn stover pellets illustrated that the pelleting process increases pretreatment efficacy by modifying the biomass structure, disrupting the lignin-hemicellulose linkages, and partially removing lignin. Using pelleted biomass can reduce the required severity of SAA-pretreatment while still producing glucose yields above 90%. Using pelleted corn stover as a biorefinery feedstock has potential to lower pretreatment costs in addition to the improved handling and transportation.
A Characterization of Homogeneous Spaces with Positive Hyperbolic Rank

Here we present a necessary and sufficient condition for a negatively curved homogeneous space to be a rank one symmetric space. In particular, we show rigidity if such a space has positive hyperbolic rank greater than equal to that of its 'Abelian direction'. The notion of hyperbolic-rank extends the notion of rank in negatively curved spaces. The central theorem is an analogue of a result by U. Hamenstadt for compact negatively curved manifolds. We also provide an example of a nonsymmetric hyperbolic rank two homogeneous space, demonstrating the sharpness of the theorem.
Evaluation of Accessible Porosity Using Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure Data in Shale Samples

We present a novel approach to correct accessible/fluid-saturated porosity values calculated using mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) for shale samples. On the basis of recent studies, accessible porosity of shale samples calculated from the MICP test is corrected to consider conformance and grain compressibility. However, we show here that the shale samples experience an additional phenomenon during the MICP test that has not yet been addressed, i.e., compression of inaccessible/unfilled pores. Therefore, we propose a general approach consisting of three distinct corrections to accurately estimate accessible porosity of the shale sample using MICP data: (1) conformance, (2) grain compressibility, and (3) inaccessible pore compressibility. First, we develop a mathematical model to estimate both pore and grain compressibility using MICP data and then calculate accessible porosity using the above-mentioned corrections. In the mathematical formulation, we divide the shale matrix into three constitue...
Conformational dynamics of P-glycoprotein in lipid nanodiscs and detergent micelles reveal complex motions on a wide time scale

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a highly substrate-promiscuous efflux transporter that plays a critical role in drug disposition. P-gp utilizes ATP hydrolysis by nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) to drive transitions between inward-facing (IF) conformations that bind drugs and outward-facing (OF) conformations that release them to the extracellular solution. However, the details of the protein dynamics within either macroscopic IF or OF conformation remain uncharacterized, and the functional role of local dynamics has not been determined. In this work we measured the local dynamics of the IF state of P-gp in lipid nanodiscs and in detergent solution by hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange MS. We observed "EX1 exchange kinetics," or bimodal kinetics, for several peptides distributed in both NBDs, particularly for P-gp in the lipid nanodiscs. Remarkably, the EX1 kinetics occurred on several time scales, ranging from seconds to hours, suggesting highly complex, and correlated, motions. The results indicate at least three distinct conformational states in the ligand-free P-gp and suggest a rough conformational landscape. Addition of excess ATP and vanadate, to favor the OF conformations, caused a generalized, but modest, decrease in H/D exchange throughout the NBDs and slowed the EX1 kinetic transitions of several peptides. The functional implications of the results are consistent with the possibility that conformational selection provides a source of substrate promiscuity.
Litigation, Privacy and the Electronic Age

In this speech, the Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan discusses one problem in the legal system created by advances in technology the tension between the privacy interests of litigants and the increased availability of information in modern society. Although openness is a central tenet of the legal system, until recent advancements in information technology, significant logistical difficulties in obtaining records on all but the most notable cases made most information unavailable to the public. However, advances in technology have greatly facilitated access to the universe of legal doents. Judge Kaplan explores the potential consequences of increased availability of information in a number of contexts and argues that it imposes an important responsibility on Courts to rethink the boundaries between public and private in litigation and to exercise increased caution in dealing with processes that touch on these boundaries. Cite as: 4 YALE SYMP. L. & TECH. 1 (2001)
Learning stochastic object model from noisy imaging measurements using AmbientGANs

The objective optimization of image-derived statistics, including the test statistic of an observer for specific decision tasks, requires a characterization of all sources of variability in the measured data. To accomplish this, it is necessary to establish a stochastic object model (SOM) that describes the variability within a group of objects to-be imaged. In order for the SOM to be realistic, it is desirable to establish it by use of experimental image data, as opposed to establishing it in a non-data-driven manner. Deep learning methods that employ generative adversarial networks (GANs) hold promise for learning SOMs that can generate images that match distributions of training image data. However, because experimental data recorded by an imaging system represent noisy and indirect measurements of the object, conventional GANs cannot be directly employed for this task. Recently, an augmented GAN architecture named AmbientGAN was proposed that can characterize a distribution of images from noisy and indirect measurements of them and knowledge of the measurement operator. In this work, for the first time, we investigate AmbientGANs for establishing SOMs by use of noisy imaging measurements. A canonical tomographic imaging system that is described by a two-dimensional Radon transform model is investigated. The AmbientGAN is evaluated by performing binary signal detection tasks that employ the generated images and true images.
Acid Tests of Corporate Advantage

A framework for forging corporate strategy for firms with multiple lines of business is offered. Building on the Collis and Montgomery (1997) framework, the tests of corporate advantage operationalize the dimensions of corporate strategy — thereby offering a basis for comparing the attractiveness of diversified firms. Special attention is given to the role of the headquarters office in helping its business units to adhere to implementation principles that reinforce corporate advantage.
Effective Implementation of Animal Assisted Education Interventions in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education Classroom

The use of therapy dogs as an animal-assisted education (AAE) intervention in the early childhood special education classroom (ECSE) is a growing phenomenon. Research reflects the potential of using canines to support the academic and functional performance of young students with disabilities. Using therapy dogs in a classroom setting to support AAE might seem simple, but the author encourages ECSE teachers, principals, and handlers to adopt certain practices that will ultimately promote safe human–animal interactions and effective educational opportunities. The effective implementation of AAE with therapy dogs in an ECSE classroom requires the discussion of appropriate protocol; careful planning between the handler, principal, school staff; and reflective practice. A protocol will ensure the safety and well-being of young students with disabilities and the canine. Handlers and ECSE teachers should embrace a co-planning approach that synthesizes the content knowledge of the ECSE teacher and the canine expertise of the handler. Reflective practices along with co-planning will ensure both teacher and handler implement an intervention that potentially optimizes student learning toward an academic or functional performance goal. Collaboration among professionals is critical to meeting established student learning outcomes. A lack of collaboration may result in the implementation of ill-planned, ill-implemented practices that are misaligned to established human–animal interaction standards and may have negative consequences for student and canine health and behavior. This article will discuss strategies that will help school staff and therapy dog handlers promote appropriate practices during the implementation of AAE interventions.
Using Kepler's laws and Rutherford scattering to chart the seven gravity assists in the epic sunward journey of the Parker Solar Probe

On August 12, 2018, NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) to explore regions very near the Sun. Losing enough energy and angular momentum to approach the Sun requires either an impractical amount of fuel or a maneuver called a gravity assist. A gravity assist is essentially an elastic collision with a massive, moving target—Rutherford scattering from a planet. Gravity assists are often used to gain energy in missions destined for the outer solar system, but they can also be used to lose energy. Reaching an orbit sufficiently close to the Sun requires that PSP undergoes not one but seven successive gravity assists off the planet Venus. This simple description poses several conceptual challenges to the curious physics student. Why is it so much more challenging to get to the Sun than to leave the Solar System? Why does it take more than one gravity assist to achieve this, and why does it require seven? Would it be more effective to use Mercury instead of Venus? These questions can be answered using the basic physics principles of Kepler's laws and Rutherford scattering. The reasoning can be presented in an illuminating graphical format to show that these and other seemingly arcane aspects of interplanetary exploration can be understood at the undergraduate level.
Heterogeneity and chimerism of endothelial cells revealed by single-cell transcriptome in orthotopic liver tumors.

The liver is a common host organ for cancer, either through lesions that arise in liver epithelial cells [e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)] or as a site of metastasis by tumors arising in other organs (e.g., colorectal cancer). However, the changes that occur in liver stromal cells in response to cancer have not been fully characterized, nor has it been determined whether the different sources of liver cancer induce distinct stromal changes. Here, we performed single-cell profiling of liver stromal cells from mouse models of induced spontaneous liver cancer or implanted colorectal liver metastases, with a focus on tumor endothelial cells (ECs). While ECs in liver tissue adjacent to cancerous lesions (so-called adjacent normal) corresponded to liver zonation phenotypes, their transcriptomes were also clearly altered by the presence of a tumor. In comparison, tumor EC transcriptomes show stronger similarities to venous than sinusoidal ECs. Further, tumor ECs, independent of tumor origin, formed distinct clusters displaying conserved “tip-like” or “stalk-like” characteristics, similar to ECs from subcutaneous tumors. However, they also carried liver-specific signatures found in normal liver ECs, suggesting an influence of the host organ on tumor ECs. Our results document gene expression signatures in ECs in liver cancer and show that the host organ, and not the site of tumor origin (liver versus colorectal), is a primary determinant of EC phenotype. In addition, primarily in tumors, we further defined a cluster of chimeric cells that expressed both myeloid and endothelial cell markers and might play a role in tumor angiogenesis.
Comparative Effectiveness of Two Nonsurgical Treatments to Reduce Oral Health Disparities From Untreated Tooth Decay in Older Adults: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Trial.

Background The majority of dental caries lesions in older adults are at the gumline, at the edges of failed fillings and crowns, and in the surfaces of roots after gum recession. These lesions are difficult to restore with conventional surgical treatments using a dental drill and restorations often fail. Clinical guidelines are general and apply treatments that were designed for younger individuals in the dental care of older adults. Objective This study will compare the effectiveness of 2 evidence-based nonsurgical strategies to manage dental caries lesions in adults aged 62 or older: (1) biannual topical application of silver diamine fluoride versus (2) atraumatic restorative treatment + biannual fluoride varnish. Methods A cluster randomized clinical trial is being conducted in 22 publicly subsidized and other low-income housing facilities/sites (Arm 1: 11 sites, 275 participants; Arm 2: 11 sites, 275 participants). At baseline, participants will be screened for caries lesions. Those with nonurgent lesions will be treated according to the treatment arm to which the housing site was randomly assigned. The primary outcomes are caries lesion arrest, tooth sensitivity, and tooth pain at 52 weeks after treatment. Analytic methods for the primary aim include a generalized estimating equation approach to determine noninferiority of silver diamine fluoride relative to atraumatic restorative treatment + fluoride varnish treatment. Results The trial was funded in April 2019. Enrollment began in September 2019 and results are expected in June 2023. Conclusions This study will inform the standard of care for treating caries lesions in older adults. If effective, either of these interventions has broad applicability in clinical and community-based settings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03916926; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03916926. International registered report identifier (irrid) DERR1-10.2196/17840.
Frontline Support for Concealed Carry on Campus: A Case Study in a Border Town

An increasing number of states have passed legislation allowing individuals to carry concealed weapons on university campuses. Past research has examined the perceptions of campus carry among college students, but most of the extant literature represents efforts occurring prior to these legislative changes and seldom explores the perceptions of minority populations. Current scholarship also lacks research on how faculty, staff, and administrators perceive campus carry policies. This study investigates all campus stakeholders’ knowledge of the campus carry policy and their support for it in a university located in a U.S.-Mexico border town. Results from the structural equation modeling indicate that campus members have limited knowledge of the campus carry policy and expressed low support for the policy. Assimilation of Hispanics significantly impacted their support for concealed carry on campus both directly and indirectly.
Few-shot Adaptation of Generative Adversarial Networks

This paper proposes a simple and effective method, Few-Shot GAN (FSGAN), for adapting GANs in few-shot settings (less than 100 images). FSGAN repurposes component analysis techniques, learning to adapt the singular values of the pre-trained weights while freezing the corresponding singular vectors. This provides a highly expressive parameter space for adaptation while constraining changes to the pretrained weights. We validate our method in a challenging few-shot setting of 5-100 images in the target domain. We show that our method has significant visual quality gains compared with existing GAN adapation methods. We report extensive qualitative and quantitative results showing the effectiveness of our method. We additionally highlight a problem for few-shot synthesis in the standard quantitative metric used by data-efficient image synthesis works.
The effects of conference call tones on market perceptions of value uncertainty

Abstract Quarterly earnings conference calls convey fundamental information, as well as manager and analyst opinion about the firm. We examine how market uncertainty regarding firm valuation is affected by conference call tones. Using textual analysis of all publicly available earnings calls (2002–2012) for U.S. firms, we find measures of conference call tones are negatively related to measures of firm value uncertainty from the equity options market. Overall, while value uncertainty is more sensitive to analyst tones than manager tones, differences between analyst and manager tones are strongly associated with increases in value uncertainty. Tone spreads convey important signals to market participants.
The Trinity and the New Testament – a Counter-Challenge to Dale Tuggy

Dale Tuggy argues that my trinitarian views are in conflict with the theology of the New Testament; the New Testament, rather, is unitarian. I show several flaws in this argument, and point out the New Testament evidence that eventually led to the formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Adjuvant Therapy for Colorectal Cancer

Adjuvant therapy has afforded improved outcomes following resection of locoregional colorectal cancer. In stage III colon cancer, the addition of oxaliplatin to fluoropyrimidines represents the standard in the adjuvant setting. The role of adjuvant therapy in stage II colon cancer remains controversial, though adjuvant therapy (oxaliplatin-based combination therapy or fluoropyrimidine monotherapy) could be considered and justified in stage II disease with high-risk features for recurrence. The development of various gene expression signatures may provide additional information in determining candidates for adjuvant therapy in stage II colon cancer, particularly those at low risk of recurrence. In locally advanced rectal cancer, neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by total mesorectal excision and adjuvant fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin-based therapy represents a currently favored treatment approach. There are growing data to support the use of perioperative or adjuvant therapy in resectable colorectal liver and pulmonary metastases. In this chapter, we highlight the historical development and recent advances in the adjuvant therapy of locally advanced colorectal cancer and resectable colorectal metastases.
Safety of 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a well-characterized hemoglobinopathy affecting more than 20 million individuals worldwide and carries an increased risk of cerebral vasculopathy, cerebral infarct, and stroke. As mechanisms of cerebral infarction in SCD are partly attributable to microvascular vaso-occlusive crises, manifesting as altered cerebral blood flow and associated impaired oxygen delivery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods that can quickly provide a comprehensive perspective on structural and functional disease status, without exogenous contrast administration or ionizing radiation, have emerged as crucial clinical tools for surveillance. However, early ex vivo MRI work in suspended erythrocytes containing hemoglobin S at 0.35 Tesla (T) suggested that sickled erythrocytes can orient preferentially in the presence of an external magnetic field, and as such, it was suggested that MRI exams in sickle cell hemoglobinopathy could induce vaso-occlusion. While this observation has generally not impacted clinical imaging in individuals with SCD, it has led to resistance for some sickle cell studies within the engineering community among some imaging scientists as this early observation has never been rigorously shown to be unconcerning. Here, we performed MRI at the clinical field strength of 3 T in 172 patients with SCD, which included standard anatomical and angiographic assessments together with gold standard diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI; spatial resolution = 1.8 × 1.8 × 4 mm; b-value = 1000 s/mm2) for acute infarct assessment (performed approximately 20 min after patient introduction to the field isocenter). The presence of vasculopathy, as well as chronic and acute infarcts, was evaluated by two independent board-certified radiologists using standard clinical criteria. In these patients (52.3% female; mean age = 19.6 years; age range = 6-44 years), hematocrit (mean = 25.8%; range = 15-36%), hemoglobin phenotype (87.8% HbSS variant), presence of silent infarct (44.2%), and overt chronic infarct (13.4%) were consistent with a typical SCD population; however, no participants exhibited evidence of acute infarction. These findings are consistent with 3 T MRI not inducing acute infarction or vaso-occlusion in individuals with SCD and suggest that earlier low-field ex vivo work of erythrocytes in suspension is not a sufficient cause to discourage MRI scans in patients with SCD.
Changing Etiology and Epidemiology of Human Liver Cancer

Collectively, liver cancer accounts for 8.2% of all reported cancer deaths in men and women, and it is the third/fourth most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Currently, there are more than 840,000 new cases of this nearly always fatal cancer each year. The combined age-standardized rate of mortality from liver cancer for men and women worldwide was 8.5 per 100,000 in 2018. The countries that traditionally are considered as part of the Middle East span two World Health Organization (WHO) regions: Eastern Mediterranean and Europe. Of these countries, Egypt has the second highest age-standardized rate of mortality from liver cancer, 49.0 and 16.7 per 100,000 for men and women, respectively, in the world. Indeed, this mortality rate is only exceeded globally by Mongolia. Further, liver cancer has a poor prognosis, less than a 15% 5-year survival. The etiologies of liver cancer diagnosed today are well understood, and with the emergence of fatty liver disease as a risk factor, this cancer is especially emergent in the countries of the Middle East where a majority of adults are now obese and the rates are rising.
Identifying Racial Differences in Vocational Rehabilitation Services

The literature on racial differences in vocational rehabilitation (VR) services has not been updated for over a decade. Using the 2017 individual-level national RSA-911 data, supplemented with the ...
Transthoracic Epicardial Catheter Ablation : Indications, Techniques, and Complications

Transthoracic epicardial catheter ablation is a useful supplemental or even preferred strategy to eliminate cardiac arrhythmias in the electrophysiology laboratory. The indication for this technique has extended to a diverse range of cardiac arrhythmias, including scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT), idiopathic VTs, accessory pathways, atrial tachycardias, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation, as the epicardial substrates of these tachyarrhythmias have become increasingly recognized. When endocardial ablation and epicardial ablation through the cardiac veins are unsuccessful, transthoracic epicardial ablation should be the next option. Intrapericardial access is usually obtained through a subxiphoidal pericardial puncture. This approach might not be possible in patients with pericardial adhesions caused by prior cardiac surgery or pericarditis. In such cases, a hybrid procedure involving surgical access with a subxiphoid pericardial window and limited anterior or lateral thoracotomy might be a feasible and safe method of performing epicardial catheter ablation in the electrophysiology laboratory. Potential complications associated with this technique include bleeding and collateral damage to the coronary artery and phrenic nerve. Although the risk of these complications is low, electrophysiologists who attempt epicardial catheter ablation should know the complications associated with this technique, how to minimize their occurrence, and how to rapidly recognize and treat the complications that they encounter. This review discusses the indications, techniques, and complications of transthoracic epicardial catheter ablation.
SPECIALIZED BUS TRANSIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PATIENTS, AND RETIREMENT HOME RESIDENTS.

This paper presents the results of investigating the feasibility of establishing specialized bus transit for high school students after school hours, patients, and retirement home residents in an urban area involving two cities in California, USA. Data on travel demands and patterns for the three groups in the study area was gathered through various methods and limited field observations were made. Various groups were contacted for their input; 1219 high school students, 132 junior high students, for comparison purposes 327 patients, 134 retirement home residents, 15 transportation officials and consultants, 7 malls, 11 churches, bus drivers and 320 parents of the students. Some of these groups represented the destinations where the three target groups might want to go. Others represented the facilities where waiting areas might be established for the new system. The study area was Fremont/Newark (California, USA) where eight high schools, two major medical centers, and eleven retirement homes are located. The study showed that, within the study area, there exists sufficient demand and acceptability for specialized bus transit from the three target groups. Such daily demand, on the average, can sustain a bus transit system made of at least 19 large buses in the cities of Fremont and Newark. The proposed system has a good base of support from most of the parties concerned whether they are users, destination facility operators, or potential providers of the waiting areas. The benefits of the system were explicitly stated by most of the potential users. Benefits include, but are not limited to: more destinations that can be reached, having waiting areas, and bus trips that start from convenient places without Transactions on the Built Environment vol 30, © 1997 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509 66 Urban Transport and the Environment for the 21st Century the necessity to walk long distances, (especially for retirement home residents and students). The group with the highest degree of willingness to use the system is the high school students after school hours (51 %) followed by patients (44.8%). On the other hand, 12.8% and 38.2% of retirement home residents surveyed said that they would use the special bus daily and weekly respectively.
Dormancy Induction and Release in Buds and Seeds

Dormancy is a complex trait in both buds and seeds, which is an important mechanism for survival during the life cycle of plants. Over the years, a vast wealth of information has been generated on how environmental and developmental signals impact dormancy in buds and seeds. At the molecular level, these studies have identified many factors including light (photoperiod), temperature (cold), hormones, circadian clock, and epigenetic regulation that control dormancy-associated genes regulating induction and release of dormancy in buds and seeds. Due to intrinsic differences between buds and seeds across a multitude of plant species, it should not be surprising that similar and dissimilar signals may control different phases of dormancy. This review focuses on the main similarities in gene expression and molecular mechanisms involved in bud and seed dormancy and release. A model perennial weed, leafy spurge, is presented as an example to compare commonalities in gene expression and molecular mechanisms during bud and seed dormancy and release. The study indicated that the physiological state of dormant imbibed, but growth competent seeds (21d C) are more analogous to paradormant buds than that of ecodormant buds. In addition, common molecular mechanisms associated with dormancy transitions in buds and seeds involved processes associated with abscisic acid- and auxin-signaling and transport, cell cycle, and AP2/ERF transcription factors or their up-stream regulators.
Design of multilayer stacked patch array with waveguide feeding network for high power SAR system

This paper describes a novel Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna design in Ku Band. This antenna is an 8 × 2 array composed by a waveguide feeding network in order to support high-level input power, and multilayer stack patches which are exited by electromagnetic coupling from the waveguide through a resonant iris with dumbbell shape. Both polarizations (linear horizontal and vertical) have been designed to achieve a polarimetric and interferometric sensor.
Adaptive Nonlinear Compensation of Reactive Power

The potential of a new adaptive control for reactive power sources is investigated. In the large disturbance regimes, the adaptive signals supplement the nominal, thyristor activated, reactors and capacitors in manipulating the network voltage. Convergence of the scheme, and its relationship to the inherent system nonlinearities is considered.
Characterization of the Subunits of the Flagella of Proteus vulgaris

Abstract A procedure is described for the purification of Proteus vulgaris flagellin. The purified protein is homogeneous on acrylamide gel electrophoresis under a variety of conditions and in the ultracentrifuge. The amino acid composition of the unmodified and oxidized flagellin is reported. The protein is totally lacking in half-cystine, histidine, and tryptophan. Molecular weight determinations, by sedimentation equilibrium in the presence of 6 m guanidine, tryptic maps, and the amino acid composition are all consistent with the conclusion that Proteus vulgaris flagellin consists of a polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of approximately 40,000. Alanine, recovered in a yield of 0.5 residue per mole of protein, was the sole amino-terminal residue, as determined by the cyanate method. The results obtained with this flagellin, in conjunction with data available on flagellins of other bacteria, lead to the conclusion that identical subunits, of about 40,000 molecular weight, having a similar number of basic residues, form the fundamental building block of bacterial flagella.
Functional mapping–guided resection of low-grade gliomas in eloquent areas of the brain: improvement of long-term survival: Clinical article

Object Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) frequently infiltrate highly functional or “eloquent” brain areas. Given the lack of long-term survival data, the prognostic significance of eloquent brain tumor location and the role of functional mapping during resective surgery in presumed eloquent brain regions are unknown. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 281 cases involving adults who underwent resection of a supratentorial LGG at a brain tumor referral center. Preoperative MR images were evaluated blindly for involvement of eloquent brain areas, including the sensorimotor and language cortices, and specific subcortical structures. For high-risk tumors located in presumed eloquent brain areas, long-term survival estimates were evaluated for patients who underwent intraoperative functional mapping with electrocortical stimulation and for those who did not. Results One hundred and seventy-four patients (62%) had high-risk LGGs that were located in presumed eloquent areas. Adjusting for other known progno...
Microbial disease causation in marine invertebrates: problems, practices, and future prospects

Diseases of marine organisms appear to be increasing world-wide, but the causes of many of these remain a mystery. Here we outline steps that we have taken to identify various pathogens of marine invertebrates. These methods, however, rely on the successful cultivation of marine pathogens in the laboratory. Although Koch's postulates were established to generate evidence that a microorganism is the cause of an infectious disease, the limitations of these postulates in detecting microbes that are resistant to cultivation renders the sole use of them impossible in some situations. We, therefore, discuss some sensitive and comprehensive methods for detecting human-associated pathogens that can be adapted and applied to marine systems. A set of nucleic acid sequence-based approaches for establishing microbial disease causation in marine invertebrates is outlined that can be used in collaboration with traditional culture-based and histopathological methods to build a compelling case for microbial disease causation. In addition to providing potential evidence of causation, these same methods can add greatly to the current database of knowledge dealing with marine microbial communities and will ultimately enhance our understanding of emerging diseases in marine systems.
The Garland Handbook of Southeast Asian Music

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2008 Pages: 520 Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 978-0-415-96075-5 (soft cover). Prices: $49.95 USD(soft cover).
Set Theory for the Working Mathematician

This text presents methods of modern set theory as tools that can be usefully applied to other areas of mathematics. The author describes numerous applications in abstract geometry and real analysis and, in some cases, in topology and algebra. The book begins with a tour of the basics of set theory, culminating in a proof of Zorn's Lemma and a discussion of some of its applications. The author then develops the notions of transfinite induction and descriptive set theory, with applications to the theory of real functions. The final part of the book presents the tools of 'modern' set theory: Martin's Axiom, the Diamond Principle, and elements of forcing. Written primarily as a text for beginning graduate or advanced level undergraduate students, this book should also interest researchers wanting to learn more about set theoretical techniques applicable to their fields.