cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations of dietary sugar and glycemic index with adiposity and insulin dynamics in overweight Latino youth

Background: Few studies have examined the relation between dietary carbohydrate quality, adiposity, and insulin dynamics in children. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine which aspects of dietary carbohydrate, specifically dietary sugar, fiber, glycemic index, or glycemic load, are associated with adiposity and insulin dynamics in overweight Latino children. Design: We examined 120 overweight Latino children (10‐17 y old) with a family history of type 2 diabetes. Dietary intake was determinedbyrepeated24-hdietrecalls.Adipositywasassessedby usingtotal-bodydual-energyX-rayabsorptiometry.Insulindynamics [insulin sensitivity (SI), acute insulin response, and disposition index (an index of ! -cell function)] were measured by using a frequently sampled intravenous-glucose-tolerance test. Results: After adjustment for covariates, total sugar (g/d) was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI; in kg/m 2 ), BMI z scores, and total fat mass (r ! 0.20, r ! 0.22, and r ! 21, respectively; P " 0.05) and negatively correlated with SI and disposition index (r ! # 0.29 and r ! # 0.24, respectively; P " 0.05). Dietary fiber, glycemic index, and glycemic load were not significantly correlatedwithadiposityorinsulindynamicsbeforeoraftercontrol for covariates. Regression analyses showed that total sugar intake explained an additional 3.4%, 4.6%, and 2.4% of the variance in BMI,BMIzscores,andtotalfatmass,respectively,andanadditional 5.6%and4.8%ofthevarianceinSIanddispositionindex(P" 0.05), respectively, after control for covariates. Conclusion: In this cohort, total sugar intake, rather than glycemic index or glycemic load, was associated with higher adiposity measures, lower SI, and lower measures of insulin secretion. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:1331‐8.
Codes of Good Governance Worldwide: What is the Trigger?

This paper examines why and how corporate governance practices are implemented across countries. We look at the worldwide development and adoption of codes of good governance, a set of best practice recommendations regarding the behavior and structure of the board of directors. We find that codes of good governance serve to compensate for deficiencies in the legal system covering shareholders' rights. The results also show that size of capital markets, degree of government intervention, and percentage of foreign investors in the stock market are predictors of the existence of codes of corporate governance, while country openness has no significant effect.
Stair walking transitions are an anticipation of the next stride

According to the CDC, the majority of fall-related accidents occur during stair walking. It is likely that the required increases in range of motion and muscle activity during stair walking contribute to increased fall risk. In addition, compared to level walking, the transition strides before and after stair walking demonstrate increased fall risk. We hypothesized that the transition strides would have joint angle trajectories and muscle activity patterns that are most similar to a theoretical transition stride, calculated as the mean between the before stride and the after stride. Twelve healthy men completed the protocol of level and stair walking. We analyzed three sagittal plane joint angles and six leg muscle activity patterns of the left leg for transitions from level to stairs and from stairs to level, both up and down. We compared each time point of the transition strides to the corresponding time points of the before stride, the after stride, and a theoretical mean stride with a series of 2-sample t-tests. Contrary to our hypothesis, all transition strides exhibited the least number of significantly different time points with the after stride (34%), not the mean stride (51%). This result suggests that the mechanics of a transition stride are not simply an intermediate between a before stride and an after stride, neither are they a continuation of the before stride, but rather they are a unique anticipation of the upcoming surface.
Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Adaptive Functioning

Background Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with adaptive behavior deficits. This study examined the interaction between these 2 factors on parent ratings of adaptive behavior. Methods As part of a multisite study, primary caregivers of 317 children (8 to 16 years, M = 12.38) completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (VABS-II). Four groups of subjects were included: children with prenatal alcohol exposure with ADHD (AE+, n = 82), children with prenatal alcohol exposure without ADHD (AE−, n = 34), children with ADHD (ADHD, n = 71), and control children (CON, n = 130). VABS-II domain scores (Communication, Daily Living Skills, Socialization) were examined using separate 2 (Alcohol Exposure [AE]) × 2 (ADHD diagnosis) between-subjects analyses of covariance. Results There were significant main effects of AE (p 0.27). Follow-up analyses in the Communication domain indicated the effects of ADHD were stronger in comparison subjects (ADHD vs. CON) than exposed subjects (AE+ vs. AE−), and the effects of alcohol exposure were stronger in subjects without ADHD (AE− vs. CON) than in subjects with ADHD (AE+ vs. ADHD). Conclusion As found previously, both prenatal alcohol exposure and ADHD increase adaptive behavior deficits in all domains. However, these 2 factors interact to cause the greatest impairment in children with both prenatal alcohol exposure and ADHD for communication abilities. These results further demonstrate the deleterious effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and broaden our understanding of how ADHD exacerbates behavioral outcomes in this population.
Objectification, Self-Objectification, and Societal Change

This review focuses on the ways in which the objectification of individuals and groups of people, as well as the self-objectification that typically develops from such treatment, is implicated in positive and negative societal change. Four areas are reviewed: (a) objectification (including dehumanization, infra-humanization, dehumanized perception, sexualization, and colonialism), (b) self-objectification (including double consciousness, internalized oppression, and colonial mentality), (c) genocide and mass violence, and (c) collective action. After reviewing theories in each area, a set of underlying constructs is presented, organized under higher-order categories. Finally, connections between objectification and genocide perpetration, as well as between self-objectification and collective action, are described. It is concluded that the objectification of other people contributes to societal change that runs counter to principles of equality and respect for others, threatens civil rights, and ultimately can result in genocide or mass killings. Furthermore, self-objectification impairs the ability of oppressed groups to act collectively on their own behalf. In contrast, the process of decolonization supports collective action and positive societal change, in part because it liberates oppressed people from self-objectification.
Bending the cost curve: a unique collaboration between radiation oncologists and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to optimize the use of advanced technology.

Because of increased treatment planning time and quality assurance, IMRT is costly. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Radiation Oncology Physicians Advisory Council have developed a strategy to develop standards for the appropriate use of IMRT.
Transmit patterns for active linear arrays with peak amplitude and radiated voltage distribution constraints

Distribution functions used in array antenna design typically synthesize specified pattern characteristics without consideration for either the peak amplitude of the radiating elements or the aperture radiated power. There do exist applications, however, in which the pattern synthesis must employ such constraints. In the transmit mode of active array antennas, for example, it is desirable to radiate as much power as possible subject to a per-element peak amplitude constraint while simultaneously suppressing the outer sidelobes. This paper discusses the design considerations of the constrained least squares (CLS) distribution function. In the CLS distribution, most of the radiating elements near the array center are set to their maximum value while only a few of the outer elements are tapered. A method for generating CLS distributions given constraints on both the peak element amplitude and the total effective radiated voltage (ERV) is discussed. The design involves specifying the desired ERV and a weighting function that allows selectively suppressing sidelobes in specified regions. The effects of these design parameters on the far-field patterns are explored.
Towards characterizing the effectiveness of random mobility against actuation attacks

Actuation functionality in a sensor network enables an unprecedented interaction with the physical environment. When used by a malicious distributed network however, actuation may become a potent new attack. In this work we explore a new general class of actuation attacks which aim to disable the sensing fidelity and dependability of a wireless sensor network. We propose a countermeasure to this Denial of Service on Sensing (DoSS) based on a controlled level of random mobility. We show how the level of mobility may be traded-off to suit security needs and energy constraints, and to exploit a priori knowledge of the environment. We demonstrate how this random mobility approach performs under various strengths, densities and distributions of the two networks and show that it reduces the number of affected nodes exponentially over time. Furthermore we discuss how this simple mobility approach renders the network more fault-tolerant and resilient in an inherent way without a need for the nodes to communicate and aggregate their sensed data.
IL-21 and BAFF/BLyS Synergize in Stimulating Plasma Cell Differentiation from a Unique Population of Human Splenic Memory B Cells

Both constitutive Ig secretion by long-lived plasma cells (PC) and the recurrent differentiation of memory (mem) B cells into PC contribute to the maintenance of serologic mem. However, the relative contribution of each is unknown. In this study, we describe a novel population of human postswitched mem B cells that rapidly differentiate into PC and thus contribute to serologic mem. These IgG + B cells reside in the region of human spleen analogous to the murine marginal zone and have not previously been examined. These cells are highly responsive to IL-21 in the context of CD40 stimulation. Uniquely, IgG + marginal zone analog B cells are exquisitely sensitive to the combination of IL-21 and B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF/BLyS) that synergize in the absence of further costimulation to induce up-regulation of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 and drive PC differentiation. Other cytokine combinations are not active in this regard. This is the first demonstration that this unique population of mem B cells can respond specifically and exclusively to IL-21 and BAFF/BLyS by differentiating into IgG-secreting PC, and thus contributing to serologic mem in an Ag-independent manner.
Sounds of emotion: production and perception of affect-related vocal acoustics.

Abstract: In his writing Darwin emphasized direct veridical links between vocal acoustics and vocalizer emotional state. Yet he also recognized that acoustics influence the emotional state of listeners. This duality—that particular vocal expressions are likely linked to particular internal states, yet may specifically function to influence others—lies at the heart of contemporary efforts aimed at understanding affect-related vocal acoustics. That work has focused most on speech acoustics and laughter, where the most common approach has been to argue that these signals reflect the occurrence of discrete emotional states in the vocalizer. An alternative view is that the underlying states can be better characterized using a small number of continuous dimensions such as arousal (or activation) and a valenced dimension such as pleasantness. A brief review of the evidence suggests, however, that neither approach is correct. Data from speech-related research provides little support for a discrete-emotions view, with emotion-related aspects of the acoustics seeming more to reflect to vocalizer arousal. However, links to a corresponding emotional valence dimension have also been difficult to demonstrate, suggesting a need for interpretations outside this traditional dichotomy. We therefore suggest a different perspective in which the primary function of signaling is not to express signaler emotion, but rather to impact listener affect and thereby influence the behavior of these individuals. In this view, it is not expected that nuances of signaler states will be highly correlated with particular features of the sounds produced, but rather that vocalizers will be using acoustics that readily affect listener arousal and emotion. Attributions concerning signaler states thus become a secondary outcome, reflecting inferences that listeners base on their own affective responses to the sounds, their past experience with such signals, and the context in which signaling is occurring. This approach has found recent support in laughter research, with the bigger picture being that the sounds of emotion—be they carried in speech, laughter, or other species-typical signals—are not informative, veridical beacons on vocalizer states so much as tools of social influence used to capitalize on listener sensitivities.
HIV/AIDS in Asia: The Shape of Epidemics and Their Molecular Epidemiology *

The Asia-Pacific region is a home to 60% of the population in the world and to approximately one quarter of people with HIV/AIDS. Close to a million of people has been infected and a half million people died of AIDS annually in Asia, becoming the second largest epicenter of global AIDS epidemic. Molecular epidemiology has been useful tool to track a course of HIV spread. In-depth knowledge from the studies on molecular epidemiology elucidates the dynamics of HIV spread and the interrelationship of epidemics in the different regions in Asia.
Reducing social pain: Sex differences in the impact of physical pain relievers

There is evidence that social pain or “hurt feelings” and physical pain share the same neural system. Although researchers have found that a physical pain reliever can reduce social pain, studies suggest that sex differences may influence these findings. Our results indicate that women who took ibuprofen felt less hurt or social pain when they were excluded from a game and when they relived a painful experience than did women who took a placebo. Men who took the pain reliever, by contrast, felt more hurt in both situations than did those who took the placebo. Further, the sex difference revealed in men's and women's ratings of their social pain was reflected in their open-ended verbal descriptions of social and physical pain.
Chromosomal Copy Number Alterations are Associated with Tumor Response to Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer response to chemoradiation (CRT) varies from no response to a pathologic complete response (pCR). Identifying predictive biomarkers of response would therefore be useful. We assessed whether chromosomal copy number alterations (CNAs) can assist in predicting pCR. Pretreatment tumor biopsies and paired normal surgical tissues from the proximal resection margin were collected from 95 rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative CRT and total mesorectal excision in a prospective Phase II study. Tumor and control DNA were extracted, and oligonucleotide array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was used to identify CNAs, which were correlated with pCR. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was then used to identify functionally relevant genes in aberrant regions. Finally, a predictive model for pCR was built using support vector machine (SVM), and leave-one-out cross validation assessed the accuracy of aCGH. Chromosomal regions most commonly affected by gains were 20q11.21-q13.33, 13q11.32-23, 7p22.3-p22.2, and 8q23.3-q24.3, and losses were present at 18q11.32-q23, 17p13.3-q11.1, 10q23.1, and 4q32.1-q32.3. The 25 (26%) patients who achieved a pCR had significantly fewer high copy gains overall than non-pCR patients (P = 0.01). Loss of chromosomal region 15q11.1-q26.3 was significantly associated with non-pCR (P < 0.00002; Q-bound < 0.0391), while loss of 12p13.31 was significantly associated with pCR (P < 0.0003; Q-bound < 0.097). IPA identified eight genes in the imbalanced chromosomal regions that associated with tumor response. SVM identified 58 probes that predict pCR with 76% sensitivity, 97% specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 91% and 92%. Our data indicate that chromosomal CNAs can help identify rectal cancer patients more likely to develop a pCR to CRT.
Rhetorical Strategies in the Presentation of Ethology and Comparative Psychology in Magazines after World War II

European ethology and North American comparative psychology have been the two most prominent approaches to the study of animal behavior through most of the twentieth century. In this paper I analyze sets of popular articles by ethologist Nikolaas Tinbergen and psychologist Frank Beach, in an effort to understand the contrasting rhetorical styles of the two. Among the numerous ways in which Tinbergen and Beach differed were with respect to expressing the joy of research, the kind of scientific approach adopted, their treatment of animals, their sense of history, and the types of illustrations they chose. In general, Tinbergen‘s articles placed him closer to nature and Beach‘s more in the tradition of dispassionate scientific inquiry. These differences in rhetoric may have been one factor in the greater success of ethology after World War II.
Minority Family Patterns and Intermarriage

Family institutions govern the biological reproduction of a society, and through them many of the economic and emotional needs of human beings are met. Much of the interaction in the families of racial and cultural minorities parallels that in other American families, but minority status does have some effects on family life. In this chapter, following a discussion of fertility levels, we shall consider black families, Mexican American families, Puerto Rican families, American Indian families, and finally intermarriage.
A Hydrogen-Induced Decohesion Model for Treating Cold Dwell Fatigue in Titanium-Based Alloys

Cold dwell fatigue in near-alpha Ti alloys is a time-dependent fracture process at ambient temperature that involves fatigue in the presence of creep to produce cracking on low-energy fracture (e.g., cleavage) facets in hard alpha grains. In this article, cold dwell fatigue is treated as a hydrogen-induced decohesion process by using a nonlinear cohesive stress-strain relation to describe the decrease in the cohesive strength with increasing local hydrogen contents. It is postulated that during cold dwell fatigue, time-dependent deformation occurs by 〈a〉 slip that results in dislocation pileups in soft alpha grains. The stress and dilatational fields of the dislocation pileups assist the transport of internal hydrogen atoms from soft grains to neighboring hard grains. The accumulation of internal hydrogen atoms at the trap sites leads to decohesion along crystallographic planes, which can be slip or hydride habit planes. The decohesion model is applied to treat cold dwell fatigue in Ti-6Al-4V with a basal-transverse texture by modeling the effects of hydrogen-induced decohesion on the stress-fatigue life (S-N f) response, the time-dependent crack growth response (da/dt), and the fracture toughness (K c) as functions of grain orientation. A probabilistic time-dependent fatigue crack growth analysis is then performed to assess the influence of microtexture on the dwell fatigue life of a Ti-6Al-4V ring disk subjected to a long-duration hold at the peak stress of the loading cycle. The results of the probabilistic life computations indicate that dwell fatigue resistance in Ti-6Al-4V may be improved and the risk of disk fracture may be reduced significantly by controlling the microtexture or reducing the size and volume fraction of hard alpha grains in the microstructure.
Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)-Anthecotulide Using Enyne and Meyer–Schuster Rearrangements

The bioactive sesquiterpene lactone (+)-anthecotulide (1) is synthesized for the first time, in a six-step sequence devoid of protecting groups. The key transformations are a novel Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric enyne rearrangement of a terminal alkynyl ester (4), to form the α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone core, and a final-step mild Au(I)-catalyzed Meyer–Schuster rearrangement
Aspect-Level Influence Discovery from Graphs

Graphs have been widely used to represent objects and object connections in applications such as the web, social networks, and citation networks. Mining influence relationships from graphs has gained increasing interests in recent years because providing information on how graph objects influence each other can facilitate graph exploration, graph search, and connection recommendations. In this paper, we study the problem of detecting influence aspects, on which objects are connected, and influence degree (or influence strength), with which one graph node influences another graph node on a given aspect. Existing techniques focus on inferring either the overall influence degrees or the influence types from graphs. In this paper, we propose a systematic approach to extract influence aspects and learn aspect-level influence strength. In particular, we first present a novel instance-merging based method to extract influence aspects from the context of object connections. We then introduce two generative models, Observed Aspect Influence Model (OAIM) and Latent Aspect Influence Model (LAIM), to model the topological structure of graphs, the text content associated with graph objects, and the context in which the objects are connected. To learn OAIM and LAIM, we design both non-parallel and parallel Gibbs sampling algorithms. We conduct extensive experiments on synthetic and real data sets to show the effectiveness and efficiency of our methods. The experimental results show that our models can discover more effective results than existing approaches. Our learning algorithms also scale well on large data sets.
Oxidative stress and light-evoked responses of the posterior segment in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy, oxidative stress is linked with impaired light-evoked expansion of choroidal thickness and subretinal space (SRS). METHODS We examined nondiabetic mice (wild-type, wt) with and without administration of manganese, nondiabetic mice deficient in rod phototransduction (transducin alpha knockout; GNAT1(-/-)), and diabetic mice (untreated or treated with the antioxidant α-lipoic acid [LPA]). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure light-evoked increases in choroidal thickness and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at 88% to 100% depth into the retina (i.e., the SRS layer). RESULTS Choroidal thickness values were similar (P > 0.05) between all untreated nondiabetic dark-adapted groups and increased significantly (P 0.05). In diabetic mice, the light-dependent increase in SRS ADC was significantly (P < 0.05) restored with LPA. CONCLUSIONS Apparent diffusion coefficient MRI is a sensitive method for evaluating choroid thickness and its light-evoked expansion together with phototransduction-dependent changes in the SRS layer in mice in vivo. Because ADC MRI exploits an endogenous contrast mechanism, its translational potential is promising; it can also be performed in concert with manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI). Our data support a link between diabetes-related oxidative stress and rod, but not choroidal, pathophysiology.
The follicular phase in pigs: Follicle populations, circulating hormones, follicle factors and oocytes,

The predominant pattern of follicle development in pigs is characterized by continuous activation, slow growth to the antral stage, and rapid growth to 4 to 5 mm followed by atresia. The only time that this pattern is broken is when a small portion of the follicle population is selected for ovulation. The mechanisms that regulate the selection of ovulatory follicles are not well understood. However, the ovulatory cohort shifts from FSH to LH dependence at the expense of the nonovulatory follicles as indicated by the following: 1) decreased secretion of FSH, and 2) decreased expression of the FSH receptor and increased expression of the LH receptor. The selection of ovulatory follicles may be dependent on the interaction of members of the intraovarian IGF system to maintain a high level of IGF-I bioavailability. The maintenance of a proliferating population of antral follicles is critically dependent on circulating FSH. A naturally or experimentally induced increase in circulating FSH levels results in an increase in antral follicles; conversely, decreased secretion of FSH is followed by a decrease in the number and in health status of antral follicles. Gonadotropin treatment with eCG or PG600 triggers selection of ovulatory follicles, and although these treatments do not increase litter size, they are beneficial for treatment of anestrus and, in conjunction with hCG or GnRH analogs, provide better control of the time of ovulation. The use of porcine FSH has not increased ovulation rate or improved oocyte developmental competence. To improve reproductive efficiency in the future, research should be directed toward obtaining more knowledge about genetic and physiological regulation of ovulatory follicle selection and the effect of follicle development on oocyte developmental competence.
17β-estradiol stimulates ascorbic acid and LHRH release from the medial basal hypothalamus in adult male rats

In the present investigation, 17s-estradiol (E2) and tamoxifen, an antiestrogen, were evaluated for their effects on the release of ascorbic acid (AA) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). Medial basal hypothalami (MBH) from adult male rats were incubated with graded concentrations of E2 (10-9 to 10-6 M) or a combination of E2 (10-7 M) and tamoxifen (10-7 and 10-6 M) in 0.5 ml of Krebs Ringer bicarbonate buffer for 1 hr. AA and LHRH in the incubation medium were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay, respectively. E2 significantly elevated both AA and LHRH release and the minimal effective dose was 10-7 M. A combination of E2 (10-7 M) and tamoxifen (10-6 M) totally blocked E2-induced AA and LHRH release. The stimulatory effect of E2 was also suppressed in the presence of NG-monomethyl-l-arginine, a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), illustrating that the release is mediated by nitric oxide (NO). To further characterize the role of NO, the ti...
Surgical management of acute myocardial ischemia following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Role of the intra-aortic balloon pump.

Acute myocardial ischemia is a serious complication of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, often requiring emergency myocardial revascularization. Since our initial report of 17 such patients, we have encountered an additional 32 patients requiring emergency myocardial revascularization since September, 1981. The indication for emergency myocardial revascularization was ischemic chest pain in all 32 patients. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty resulted in injury to the right coronary artery in 11 patients, the left anterior descending artery in 19 patients, and the left main artery in two patients. The onset of ischemia was immediate in 26 patients but delayed up to 22 hours in six patients. Chest pain was associated with ST-segment elevation in 21 patients, hypotension in 7 patients, and cardiac arrest in 6 patients. Immediate intra-aortic balloon pumping was instituted in the angioplasty suite in 16 patients. The mean time from onset of ischemia to completed revascularization was 156 minutes with a mean of 1.6 grafts performed per patient. Seventeen patients (53%) had enzyme evidence of myocardial infarction postoperatively, with a significantly higher (p
A phase II clinical trial of sorafenib in androgen-independent prostate cancer: Characterization of pharmacokinetics

C152 INTRODUCTION: Sorafenib is a novel multikinase inhibitor with activity against Raf/MEK/ERK pathway and tyrosine kinases (VEGFR, PDGFR, c-kit and c-Ret). This open label phase II trial was conducted to determine if sorafenib is associated with a 50%, 4 month probability of progression free survival. The results from pharmacokinetic (PK) characterization for the first stage of this study are described here. METHODS: Patients with progressive metastatic androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC) were enrolled in this study. Sorafenib was given continuously at a dose of 400 mg orally twice daily in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was time to disease progression. Secondary endpoints included measurement of overall response rate and characterization of sorafenib’s PK in patients with AIPC. The blood samples for PK were collected on day 1 and 2 of first cycle; at baseline, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hrs after the ingestion of initial doses. Samples were analyzed using a validated LC-MS-MS method. PK parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis using WinNonlin professional V 5.0. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (median age 64 years, media PSA at study entry 53.3 ng/mL) were enrolled between Sep 2004 and Apr 2005 for the first stage of this trial. No complete or partial response was observed. Sorafenib was generally well tolerated and had manageable side effects. PK analysis showed the geometric mean for exposure (AUC0-12) was 9.76 hr*mg/L (95% confidence interval, 6.76-14.09) and for maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 1.28 mg/L (95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.87). The time to maximum plasma concentration (tmax) ranged from 2 to 12 hr (median 6.01 hrs). The accumulation ratio after second dose ranged from 0.68 to 6.43 (median 1.84), indicating accumulation after multiple dosing, as expected based on sorafenib’s half life of 25-48 hrs. CONCLUSIONS: The PK parameters calculated after first oral dose namely Cmax9 tmax and AUC0-12 were found to have high overall variability. This variability may be secondary to environmental, physiological, biopharmaceutical and genetic or other non-genetic variables. Evaluation of genetic polymorphism as a contributory factor to variability in PK is currently ongoing.
Chapter 16.2 - Chemical and Combustion Kinetics: 16.2 The Application of Densitometric Methods to the Measurement of Rate Processes in Shock Tubes

This chapter deals with the application of densitometric methods to the measurement of rate processes in shock tubes. Densitometry for the measurement of rates in the shock tube involves the determination of total gas density as a continuous function of time by some nonintrusive method. This chapter describes densitometric techniques that are applied to the measurement of rate processes in shock waves, including a complete listing, but with a somewhat cursory discussion of the results obtained through their use. The methods discussed are atomic absorption methods, Rayleigh scattering, and refractive index methods. The atomic absorption method is divided into electron beam densitometry and X-ray absorption. In Rayleigh scattering approach an intense, parallel light source is focused at a point in the free-stream flow and perpendicular scattering is observed.
Patterns and Prognostic Importance of Hepatic Involvement in Patients with Serous Ovarian Cancer: A Single-Institution Experience with 244 Patients

Purpose To evaluate the frequency, patterns, and prognostic importance of metastatic hepatic involvement in serous ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods This institutional review board-approved retrospective study, with waived informed consent, included 244 patients with pathologically proven serous ovarian cancer (mean age ± standard deviation, 59 years ± 10.7; range 19-93 years). Electronic medical records and all available imaging studies over a median follow-up of 44 months (interquartile range [IQR], 27-70) were reviewed to identify the frequency of liver parenchymal invasion (LPI) from perihepatic peritoneal metastasis and hematogenous liver metastases. The associations and prognostic importance of LPI and hematogenous metastases were studied by using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional analysis. Results Eighty-four of 244 patients (34%) developed perihepatic metastases, of whom 55 (23%) developed LPI after median of 43 months (IQR, 25-63). Hematogenous hepatic metastases developed in 38 of 244 patients (16%) after median of 42 months (IQR, 26-64). At multivariate analysis, age (P = .008; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.009, 1.07) and suboptimal cytoreduction (P = .03; HR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.12, 4.07) were associated with LPI. Increasing age (P = .01; HR, 1.04; 95% CI: 1.008, 1.08), high-grade tumor (P = .01; HR, 6.75; 95% CI: 1.44, 120.5), and advanced stage (P = .03; HR, 3.16; 95% CI: 1.94, 4.56) were associated with hematogenous metastases. Overall survival with and without LPI was similar (median, 80 months; IQR, 50-not reached vs 123 months; IQR, 49-279; P = .6). Hematogenous metastases were associated with significantly shorter survival at univariate (median 63 months, IQR 43-139 vs 145 months, IQR 50-not reached; P = .006) and multivariate analyses (P = .03; HR, 1.88; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.28). Conclusion Differentiating hematogenous metastases and LPI is important for radiologists; hematogenous metastases are associated with shorter survival, while LPI does not adversely affect survival and prognostically behaves like peritoneal disease. © RSNA, 2016.
Role of epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-malignant condition that can lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma, is characterized by histological changes in the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus. Numerous molecular changes occur during the multistage conversion of Barrett’s metaplasia to dysplasia and frank adenocarcinoma. Epigenetic changes, especially changes in DNA methylation are widespread during this process. Aberrant DNA methylation has been shown to occur at promoters of tumor suppressor genes, adhesion molecules and DNA repair genes during Barrett’s esophagus. These epigenetic alterations can be used as molecular biomarkers for risk stratification and early detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We also show that genome wide analysis of methylation surprisingly reveals that global hypomethylation and not hypermethylation is the dominant change during Barrett’s metaplasia. The transformation of Barrett’s esophagus to frank adenocarcinoma is in turn characterized by much smaller wave of selective promoter hypermethylation. These studies reveal many novel, potential targets for new therapies and illustrate the utility of incorporating these epigenetic changes as biomarkers during endoscopic surveillance interval for patients with Barrett’s esophagus.
The Role of Toll-Like Receptors in Hematopoietic Malignancies.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that shape the innate immune system by identifying pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) and host-derived damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPS). TLRs are widely expressed on both immune cells and non-immune cells, including hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, effector immune cell populations, and endothelial cells. In addition to their well-known role in the innate immune response to acute infection or injury, accumulating evidence supports a role for TLRs in the development of hematopoietic and other malignancies. Several hematopoietic disorders, including lymphoproliferative disorders and myelodysplastic syndromes, which possess a high risk of transformation to leukemia, have been linked to aberrant TLR signaling. Furthermore, activation of TLRs leads to the induction of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which can promote tumorigenesis by driving cell proliferation and migration and providing a favorable microenvironment for tumor cells. Beyond hematopoietic malignancies, the upregulation of a number of TLRs has been linked to promoting tumor cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis in a variety of cancers, including those of the colon, breast, and lung. This review focuses on the contribution of TLRs to hematopoietic malignancies, highlighting the known direct and indirect effects of TLR signaling on tumor cells and their microenvironment. In addition, the utility of TLR agonists and antagonists as potential therapeutics in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies is discussed.
Nodal reliability evaluation of impact of hurricanes on transmission and distribution systems

Adverse weather such as hurricanes can have a significant impact on power system reliability. More accurately predicting the impact of hurricanes on power systems can help utilities to be better prepared for upcoming hurricanes. Nodal reliability indices are important for allocating resources to the different parts of the power system. In this paper, a fuzzy inference system (FIS) built by using fuzzy c-mean clustering is combined with minimal cut-set method to compute the nodal reliability indices of transmission systems during hurricane duration. Here, FIS is used to map the nonlinear functional relationship between hurricane parameters and the increment multipliers of the failure rates (IMFR) of transmission lines. Moreover, the extension of the proposed method and the application of these indices to distribution systems are discussed. The proposed method is applied to the modified IEEE Reliability Test System (RTS). The implementation demonstrates that the proposed method is effective and efficient and is flexible in applications.
“But my diary has ever been scornful of stated rules!” The Diary as Self in Virginia Woolf ’s Diary

(2006). “But My Diary Has Ever Been Scornful of Stated Rules!”: The Diary as Self in Virginia Woolf's Diary. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 21, Epistolarity in the Twenty-First Century, pp. 104-121.
Orbital Ordering and Vibronic States in Manganese Perovskites

The structural, magnetic, and transport properties of LaMnO3 reveal a progressive change from a static orbital ordering into (001) planes at temperatures T TJT. The thermal conductivity, measured below 300 K, shows a strong phonon contribution contrary to previous reports made on oxidized samples. Ferromagnetic order in the insulator LaMn0.5Ga0.5O3 confirms the existence of 3D ferromagnetic Mn(III)-O-Mn(III) vibronic superexchange interactions. Pressure on single-crystal samples was used as a variable to clarify the complex phase diagram of the La1−xSrxMnO3 system in the compositional range 0.12 ≤ x ≤ 0.17. Three thermodynamically distinguishable ferromagnetic phases could be identified. Dynamic orbital disorder in vibronic phases and dynamic two-phase fluctuations are shown to suppress dramatically the thermal conductivity.
Exploring Public Service Journalism: Digitally Native News Nonprofits and Engagement

Although the public journalism movement met its demise in U.S. newsrooms around the turn of the 21st century, new market models and technological tools now make it far easier for journalists to acc...
The Architecture of Alignment: The Russia–China Relationship and International Agreements

AbstractThe relative durability of the growing alignment between Russia and China is perhaps the central question regarding this relationship. This article examines the degree to which cooperation and policy coordination have become institutionalised between these two states through the creation of a complex and self-reinforcing network of bilateral and multilateral agreements. Grounded in the literature on treaty nestedness and utilising social network analysis, this article examines 154 bilateral Russia–China agreements and 54 agreements and declarations signed under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Critical Advising: A Freirian-Inspired Approach

Advising is not a politically neutral activity. It requires pedagogical grounding that promotes critical reflection and action consistent with praxis. Advisors can turn to literature citing Brazili...
Learning in the “Global Village”: Performing Arts Edutourism in Bali, Indonesia

In the past half century, educational tourism (edutourism) study abroad programs where foreigners study gamelan, dance, and other traditional performing arts have transformed the Balinese arts tourism industry. Drawing on historical, analytical, and ethnographic methods, this article analyzes the development and scope of these programs as educational experiences and commodities. I argue that these programs’ intersecting facets of education and leisure market kebalian (Balineseness) as a consumable cultural category, but also provide distinctive opportunities for a foreign student to transcend the role of turis (tourist) through meaningful, participatory experiences of Balinese performing arts within Balinese settings.
Clinician's Guide to Early Rule-Out Strategies With High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin.

Articles, see p 1586 and p 1597 Despite uneasiness among clinicians about the increasing sensitivity of assays for cardiac troponin (cTn), it is rare that clinical algorithms for laboratory-based tests have as much data to guide decision making as do high-sensitivity assays for cTn (hsTn) for diagnosis (rule-in) or exclusion (rule-out) of myocardial infarction (MI). Rather, the proliferation of research evaluating variations in such algorithms in the emergency department (ED) has the potential to overwhelm clinicians with options. In this issue of Circulation , 2 observational studies1,2 that directly compare the diagnostic performance of multiple hsTn-based testing strategies are a step forward in helping providers. These 2 studies illustrate several critical principles and tradeoffs driving the ongoing evolution of early rule-out strategies using hsTn. As a mandatory reminder, although the principles are informative, the specific algorithms discussed in this editorial are not applicable to the “contemporary sensitive”3 assays that predominate in current practice in the United States. In addition, the specific concentration values reported as cut points are for the hsTnI assay used in the 2 studies and will differ from the assay for hsTnT that has recently been approved in the United States. Of the emerging applications for hsTn, the rapid rule-out of MI in the ED is the application most likely to be embraced by clinicians.4 This application most directly leverages the superior analytic and clinical sensitivity of hsTn assays as an advantage by translation into a robust negative predictive value (NPV) for MI. Consistent with the focus of the reports by Chapman et al1 and Boeddinghaus et al,2 this editorial addresses the negative predictive rather than positive predictive performance of these strategies and illustrates 3 major components of evolving early rule-out strategies with hsTn (Figure). Figure. Schematic representation of five …
Randomized Clinical Trial Investigating the Effects of an Anxiety Sensitivity Intervention on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Replication and Extension.

A growing body of research suggests the importance of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Specifically, AS cognitive concerns (fears of cognitive dyscontrol) may be particularly relevant for those with elevated PTSS. Preliminary research has suggested that interventions targeting AS may be beneficial in decreasing PTSS, but to date there has been no randomized controlled trial testing the direct and indirect effects of an AS cognitive concerns intervention among a clinical sample of trauma-exposed individuals. The current study tested these effects among a sample 63 trauma-exposed participants who were randomized to either an AS cognitive concerns intervention or a repeated contact control. Results indicated a direct effect of the intervention on PTSS 1 month postintervention, and that this effect was mediated by changes in AS, specifically AS cognitive concerns, during the intervention period. Effect sizes were in the small-to-medium range (variance accounted for ranged from .05 to .15; odds ratio for diagnostic change = .06). These findings provide further evidence that targeting AS may be beneficial in the treatment of PTSS, and expansion upon this area of research by demonstrating these effects may be specific to AS cognitive concerns and can be achieved within a mixed clinical sample.
Internet-Based Assessment of Oncology Health Care Professional Learning Style and Optimization of Materials for Web-Based Learning: Controlled Trial With Concealed Allocation.

Background: Precision medicine has resulted in increasing complexity in the treatment of cancer. Web-based educational materials can help address the needs of oncology health care professionals seeking to understand up-to-date treatment strategies. Objective: This study aimed to assess learning styles of oncology health care professionals and to determine whether learning style-tailored educational materials lead to enhanced learning. Methods: In all, 21,465 oncology health care professionals were invited by email to participate in the fully automated, parallel group study. Enrollment and follow-up occurred between July 13 and September 7, 2015. Self-enrolled participants took a learning style survey and were assigned to the intervention or control arm using concealed alternating allocation. Participants in the intervention group viewed educational materials consistent with their preferences for learning (reading, listening, and/or watching); participants in the control group viewed educational materials typical of the My Cancer Genome website. Educational materials covered the topic of treatment of metastatic estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer using cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors. Participant knowledge was assessed immediately before (pretest), immediately after (posttest), and 2 weeks after (follow-up test) review of the educational materials. Study statisticians were blinded to group assignment. Results: A total of 751 participants enrolled in the study. Of these, 367 (48.9%) were allocated to the intervention arm and 384 (51.1%) were allocated to the control arm. Of those allocated to the intervention arm, 256 (69.8%) completed all assessments. Of those allocated to the control arm, 296 (77.1%) completed all assessments. An additional 12 participants were deemed ineligible and one withdrew. Of the 552 participants, 438 (79.3%) self-identified as multimodal learners. The intervention arm showed greater improvement in posttest score compared to the control group (0.4 points or 4.0% more improvement on average; P=.004) and a higher follow-up test score than the control group (0.3 points or 3.3% more improvement on average; P=.02). Conclusions: Although the study demonstrated more learning with learning style-tailored educational materials, the magnitude of increased learning and the largely multimodal learning styles preferred by the study participants lead us to conclude that future content-creation efforts should focus on multimodal educational materials rather than learning style-tailored content. [J Med Internet Res 2017;19(7):e265]