cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STORAGE QUALITY OF ICED CHANNEL CATFISH FED DIFFERENT PROTEIN LEVELS

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were fed diets containing five ratios of digestible energy/ protein which were equivalent to 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40% of protein levels. Fillets from these fish were overwrapped with polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) film and stored in ice for 21 days. Storage quality was measured by using chemical, microbiological and sensory methods. Results showed that diet with lowest protein level (24%) had significantly highest (p < 0.05) fat content in the muscle. However, no significant effect of fat content on free fatty acid content and TBA number in all samples during the entire holding time was found. In general, panelists were unable to differentiate off-flavor and acceptance among fillet samples from fish fed different protein levels.
Early PLDα-mediated events in response to progressive drought stress in Arabidopsis: a transcriptome analysis

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in a variety of stresses including osmotic stress and wounding. PLDα1-derived phosphatidic acid interacts with ABI1 phosphatase 2C and promotes abscisic acid signalling. It has also been shown to regulate proline biosynthesis negatively. Plants with abrogated PLDa show insensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) and impaired stomatal conductance. The goal in the present study was to identify early PLDa-mediated events in response to progressive drought stress in Arabidopsis. Water was withheld from 7-week-old Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) and antisense-PLDα1 (anti-PLDα) in a controlled environment chamber. Diurnal leaf water potential (LWP) and photosynthesis measurements were recorded five and three times a day, respectively. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and microarray analyses were conducted using RNA from shoots collected at the fourth LWP time point on the ninth day after stress imposition. Anti-PLDa experienced severe water stress (-1.28 MPa) at the same time period that Col-0 experienced less water stress (-0.31 MPa). Diurnal LWP measurements showed that anti-PLDa had a lower LWP than Col-0 in both control and drought-stress conditions. Photosynthesis was also more affected in anti-PLDa than in Col-0. Anti-PLDa plants recovered fully following rehydration after 10 d of stress. qRT-PCR revealed up to 18-fold lower values for PLDα transcripts in stressed anti-PLDa plants when compared with stressed Col-0. Microarray expression profiles revealed distinct gene expression patterns in Col-0 and anti-PLDa. No differences in gene expression were detected between the two genotypes in the absence of drought stress. ROP8, PLD8, and lipid transfer proteins were among the differentially expressed genes between the two genotypes.
PROGESTERONE ENHANCES THE SURGE OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE BY INCREASING THE ACTIVATION OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE-RELEASING HORMONE NEURONS

The ability of progesterone (P) to enhance the surge of LH in the rat is well documented, but whether its primary site of action is on the pituitary or brain is unclear. To determine whether P can alter the activation of LHRH neurons, 1) intact female rats were treated with the P antagonist RU486 (5 mg) at 1230 h on proestrus and killed at specified times during the afternoon and evening for comparison of plasma LH levels and cFos expression in LHRH neurons with untreated proestrous rats. RU486 treatment greatly reduced both the magnitude of the LH surge and the degree of cFos induction (numbers of cells expressing cFos and intensity of cFos staining) in LHRH neurons during proestrus. 2) Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were primed with estradiol benzoate (EB, 1 μg) and then were treated with EB alone (50 μg) or EB plus P (5 mg). Treatment with EB without P resulted in significantly lower peak LH levels and a reduced cFos response in LHRH neurons than the EB-P treated rats. These data suggest that the actions of...
Additive effect of treadmill exercise and 17β-estradiol replacement on prevention of tibial bone loss in adult ovariectomized rat

The effects of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and treadmill exercise on tibial bone mass, tibial uptake of 45Ca, and proximal tibia osteoblast and osteoclast cell number were determined in adult ovariectomized rats. Female rats aged 10 months were ovariectomized and divided into five groups: (1) sham-operated; (2) ovariectomized; (3) ovariectomized, given 10 micrograms E2 biweekly; (4) ovariectomized, trained to exercise on a treadmill daily; and (5) ovariectomized, given E2 and exercised. E2 and/or exercise interventions were started 2 months following surgery and continued for 4 months. The calcium content of the tibial metaphysis and diaphysis and the proximal cancellous bone (BV/TV) were lower in the ovariectomized than in the sham-operated controls 6 months after ovariectomy. This lower bone content was associated with a greater bone uptake of 45Ca and a greater number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the proximal tibia compared to the control rats. The metaphyseal calcium content was higher and the 45Ca uptake and osteoblast and osteoclast number were lower in the E2-treated rats than in the nontreated rats. In the exercised group, higher diaphyseal calcium content and proximal cancellous bone were associated with lower bone resorption parameters without a significant effect on bone formation. This study demonstrates that E2 primarily influences tibial cancellous bone of the ovariectomized rat and a positive adaptation to exercise occurs in both cancellous and cortical bone. Under estrogen deficiency, E2 replacement suppresses increased bone formation and resorption; exercise suppresses mainly bone resorption. The effects of E2 replacement and exercise training are independent and additive.
Comparison of capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil in chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Although capecitabine has theoretical advantages in the pharmacokinetics, such as higher intratumoral and lower systemic concentration, relative to bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), outcomes of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with capecitabine or bolus 5-FU have not been directly compared in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we retrospectively compared the outcomes, including toxicity, tumor response, and overall survival, of oral capecitabine plus radiotherapy (RT) with bolus 5-FU plus RT, in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Between August 2006 and January 2012, 98 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer received CRT, with 52 receiving concurrent oral capecitabine and 46 receiving bolus injection of 5-FU. Primary tumor and overall response after CRT were evaluated radiologically, and toxicity, tumor response, and overall survival (OS) were compared in the two groups. Baseline clinical parameters of the two groups were similar. The rates of ≥ Grade 3 hematologic (0% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.045) and non-hematologic (0% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.045) toxicities were significantly lower in the capecitabine group than in the 5-FU group. Primary tumor (30.7% vs. 28.2%, p = 0.658) and overall (13.7% vs. 15.2%, p = 0.273) response rates and median OS time (12.5 months vs. 11.6 months, p = 0.655) were similar in the two groups. Capecitabine plus RT may be a safe and feasible regimen for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, with similar efficacy and low rates of toxicities compared with bolus 5-FU plus RT.
Synthesizing Multicultural, Global, and Civic Perspectives in the Elementary School Curriculum and Educational Research.

Social networks and communities are rapidly expanding and changing due to the accelerating pace of globalization. In this article, we examine new possibilities for the reform of curriculum and educational research in a way that is responsive to increasingly multicultural and global communities. Drawing on literatures in the areas of multicultural, global, and civic education, we conducted a critical qualitative case study of four elementary school teachers. The teachers, two in the United States and two in the United Kingdom, are known to be exemplary at synthesizing multicultural, global, and civic education. We, the two authors, one a female from China and the other a male from the United States, employed duoethnography methodology to utilize our different positionalities as researchers in our description, analysis and interpretation of the data. As the exemplary teachers in our study illustrate, education needs to be culturally responsive, socially just, well-integrated, and empowering. We conclude with findings that have implications for the reform of curriculum and educational research methodology. Keywords: Multicultural Education, Global Education, Civic Education, Duoethnography
Symptom-Limited Stair Climbing as a Predictor of Postoperative Cardiopulmonary Complications After High-Risk Surgery

Study objective Thoracotomy, sternotomy, and upper abdominal laparotomy are associated with high rate of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications (POCs). We hypothesized that symptom-limited stair climbing predicts POCs after high-risk surgery. Design A prospective evaluation of 83 patients undergoing thoracotomy, sternotomy, and upper abdominal laparotomy surgery. Methods The 52 men and 31 women completed symptom-limited stair climbing. A separate investigator, blinded to the number of flights of stairs climbed, assessed 30-day actual outcomes for POCs, including pneumonia, atelectasis, mechanical ventilation for > 48 h, reintubation, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, pulmonary embolus, and death within 30 days of surgery. The operations performed included 31 lobectomies, 6 wedge resections, 3 pneumonectomies, 3 substernal thymectomies, 1 substernal thyroidectomy, 23 colectomies, 3 laparotomies, 7 abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, 5 esophagogastrectomies, and 1 nephrectomy. Results POCs occurred in 21 of 83 patients (25%) overall, in 9 of 44 patients undergoing thoracotomy/sternotomy (20%), and in 12 of 39 patients undergoing upper abdominal laparotomy (31%). Of those unable to climb one flight of stairs, 89% developed a POC. No patient able to climb the maximum of seven flights of stairs had a POC. The inability to climb two flights of stairs was associated with a positive predictive value of 82% for the development of a POC. The number of days in the hospital postoperatively decreased with a patient's increased ability to climb stairs. Conclusions Symptom-limited stair climbing offers a simple, inexpensive means to predict POCs after high-risk surgery.
Rosiglitazone may assist with glycemic control in the ICU.

INTRODUCTION Hyperglycemia is a frequent sequela of critical illness. Rosiglitazone is an oral hypoglycemic agent of the thiazolinedione class. Thiazolinediones are known to activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) that decreases inflammation in humans and decreases shock induced by zymosan in mice. HYPOTHESIS Rosiglitazone can assist with hyperglycemic control in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS A hospital billing query identified patients prescribed rosiglitazone while in a major university ICU. Patients who received rosiglitazone as an outpatient prior to hospitalization were excluded. Glycemic control was determined by average daily blood glucose, 24-hour insulin dose, and number of patients requiring an insulin drip. Glycemic control was evaluated on days 0, 3, and 7. Student t test was used to compare means. Fisher exact testing was used to compare insulin regimen before and after starting rosiglitazone. RESULTS 34 patients were identified. The average Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was 17.2 +/- 4.4. Sixty-five percent were male, 62% were preexisting diabetics. The mean daily blood glucose was 159 +/- 30 mg/dL on day 0, 146 +/- 37 mg/dL on day 3, and 140 +/- 33 mg/dL on day 7 (P < .03 vs day 0). The mean 24-hour insulin dose was 80.6 +/- 87.9 U on day 0, 72.2 +/- 73.4 U on day 3, and 46.3 +/- 57.2 U on day 7 (P < .003 vs day 0). There was 1 major hypoglycemic event. CONCLUSION Rosiglitazone may assist glycemic control in the ICU. Despite recent concerns of cardiac safety, further research should be done to evaluate its potential as a short-term therapeutic agent in the ICU, given its anti-inflammatory and antishock profile.
Cyclodextrins as selectivity enhancers in capillary zone electrophoresis of proteins

The selectivity in the capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) of a variety of acidic and basic proteins including α-chymotrypsinogen A, cytochrome c, lysozyme, ribonuclease A, ovalbumin, and β-lactoglobulins A and B, was altered by adding 6-monodeoxy-6-monoamino-β-cyclodextrin or carboxymethylated β-cyclodextrin to the electrophoretic medium of aqueous 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 2.5. On the other hand, no significant improvement was obtained in the separation upon addition of heptakis (2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin. Whereas protein adsorption on the wall of raw silica capillaries was significant in the absence of cyclodextrin, by addition of β-cyclodextrin or its derivatives to the background electrolyte, wall adsorption was reduced with concomitant enhancement of the recovery. The results confirm that in various separation techniques, particularly those which employ microcolumns, certain cyclodextrin additives can be useful selectivity enhancers not only in the separation of small sample molecules but also in that of proteins.
Nosocomial infection rates during a one-year period in a nursing home care unit of a Veterans Administration hospital.

Infections in long-term care institutions are a constant source of morbidity in residents in these facilities. We report our experience with infection rates during a 1-year surveillance period in a 120-bed nursing home care unit of a Veterans Administration hospital. Our purpose was (1) to establish our own infection rate and (2) to ascertain the relationships (a) between infection rate and level of required nursing care and (b) between infection rate and staffing adequacy. Our overall nosocomial infection rate for 1987 was 4.6 infections/1000 patient days. The majority of infections were urinary tract infections, with the predominant pathogen Proteus mirabilis. One ward in the nursing home care unit had a significantly higher infection rate compared with that of the other wards (p < 0.05), and there was a significantly higher infection rate in residents who required total nursing care versus less dependent residents (p < 0.05). We were unable to find a direct relationship between the degree of staff shortages and infection rate. This prolonged infection control surveillance indicated our nosocomial infection rates were similar to those in previously published reports. We also identified problem infections in certain areas, which led us to develop staff in-service programs to address these problems. In summary, we believe this information is useful not only for us but for others involved in the care of residents in long-term care facilities inasmuch as there are little published data on yearly infection rates per patient days.
Experimental and computational investigations of sulfur-resistant bimetallic catalysts for reforming of biomass gasification products

A combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental studies of supported catalysts was used to identify H{sub 2}S-resistant biomass gasification product reforming catalysts. DFT calculations were used to search for bimetallic, nickel-based (1 1 1) surfaces with lower sulfur adsorption energies and enhanced ethylene adsorption energies. These metrics were used as predictors for H{sub 2}S resistance and activity toward steam reforming of ethylene, respectively. Relative to Ni, DFT studies found that the Ni/Sn surface alloy exhibited enhanced sulfur resistance and the Ni/Ru system exhibited an improved ethylene binding energy with a small increase in sulfur binding energy. A series of supported bimetallic nickel catalysts was prepared and screened under model ethylene reforming conditions and simulated biomass tar reforming conditions. The observed experimental trends in activity were consistent with theoretical predictions, with observed reforming activities in the order Ni/Ru > Ni > Ni/Sn. Interestingly, Ni/Ru showed a high level of resistance to sulfur poisoning compared with Ni. This sulfur resistance can be partly explained by trends in sulfur versus ethylene binding energy at different types of sites across the bimetallic surface.
THE ISLAND TUBE AND ISLAND ONLAY HYPOSPADIAS REPAIRS OFFER EXCELLENT LONG-TERM OUTCOMES: A 14-YEAR FOLLOWUP

ABSTRACTPurpose: We have used an inner preputial flap as a transverse island tube (IT) for the 1-stage repair of proximal hypospadias when the urethral plate could not be preserved and as an island...
Phylogenetic relationships of tachinid flies in subfamily Exoristinae (Tachinidae: Diptera) based on 28S rDNA and elongation factor‐1α

Abstract The phylogenetic relationships within the largest subfamily of Tachinidae, Exoristinae, were explored using nucleotide sequences of two genes (EF-1α and 28S rDNA). A total of fifty-five and forty-three taxa were represented in the analyses for each gene, respectively, representing forty-three genera. Neighbour joining, parsimony and maximum likelihood inference methods were employed to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships in separate analyses of each gene, and parsimony was used to analyse the combined dataset. Although certain taxa were highly mobile, phylogenetic reconstructions generally supported recent classification schemes based on reproductive habits and genitalia. Generally, the monophyly of Tachinidae and Exoristinae was supported. Tribes Winthemiini, Exoristini and Blondeliini were repeatedly constructed as monophyletic groups, with the former two clades often occupying a basal position among Exoristinae. Goniini and Eryciini generally clustered together as a derived clade within Exoristinae; however, they were never reconstructed as two distinct clades. These results suggest that the possession of unembryonated eggs is plesiomorphic within the subfamily and that there may have been multiple transitions between microtype and macrotype egg forms.
Outerplanar Partitions of Planar Graphs

Anouterplanargraph is one that can be embedded in the plane so that all of the vertices lie on one of the faces. We investigate a conjecture of Chartrand, Geller, and Hedetniemi, that every planar graph can be edge-partitioned into two outerplanar subgraphs. We refute the stronger statement that every planarly embedded graph can be edge-partitioned into two outerplanar subgraphs, one of which is outerplanarly embedded. We give a method that yields outerplanar partitions of certain graphs not covered by previous results. We formulate a conjecture about 4-connected maximal planar graphs that implies the original conjecture. Finally, we verify a weaker form of the conjecture in which outerplanar subgraphs are replaced by subgraphs with no homeomorphs ofK4.
The free energy of formation of datolite

The solubility of datolite, CaBSi04(OH), has been determined experimentally at temperatures from 100 to 250°C and Pv = PH20,Activity products (Q) were calculated for the dissolution reaction after 8-10 time intervals in experiments of up to four months' duration in order to determine Koo..A linear relationship between log Koo.and reciprocal temperature [log Keq= 4.405 + 637.01T (K); R = 0.97] suggests the attainment of equilibrium. The IlG? extrapolated to 25°C, -2318 :t 2 kl/mol, is the same as a calculated calorimetric value (Semenov et aI., 1988) and close to the value of - 2317 kl/mol estimated with the use of the polyhedral model of Chermak and Rimstidt (1989). However, at elevated temperatures f1G? values determined from solubility data diverge from the other two estimations, suggesting that the latter may be more accurate. The IlG? values calculated from the data of Semenov et ai. (1988) have been used to d~termine the temperature dependence of datolite-danburite stability relations and activity diagrams for the system CaO-B203-Si02-H20 at 250°C in an effort to place limits on solution compositions in equilibrium with mineral assemblages in the quaternary system. Higher activities of H3B03.aqand Si02.aq and lower pH are required for the formation of danburite than for datolite, whereas high a Ca2+ favors the crystallization of datolite.
Devices for distal protection during percutaneous coronary revascularization.

Despite early perceptions that distal embolization of atherosclerotic plaque contents was a rare event during balloon angioplasty, it has now become clear that manipulation of atherosclerotic lesions with wires, balloons, atherectomy catheters, or stents does liberate plaque debris. The tendency of this liberated debris to cause clinical manifestations depends on the amount of debris, the size of particles, and the sensitivity of the perfused organ. Additionally, clinical experience with various embolic protection devices (EPDs) has shown that the capture and retrieval of potentially embolic debris reduce adverse events in situations where the amount of debris is largest (eg, saphenous vein grafts [SVGs]) and where the end organ is most sensitive (myocardium, with no reflow and creatine kinase [CK]-MB release; brain with new lesions on magnetic resonance imaging or clinical stroke). In contrast, other adjunctive medical therapies such as glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, which have been shown to reduce overall rates of CK-MB release during other coronary interventional procedures, have failed to mitigate the impact of distal embolization in SVG intervention.1–3 Embolic protection is thus now firmly established as a routine component of SVG and carotid stenting, although randomized trials have not been performed for the latter indication.4,5 Although it is almost certain that atherosclerotic or atherothrombotic debris is released during other interventions on peripheral, renal, and native coronary arteries, the link between such embolization and clinical events (and hence the rationale for embolic protection) has been more difficult to demonstrate. This may be due to smaller amounts of embolic debris, less sensitive metrics of end-organ damage, or less complete capture of debris by devices tested to date in those locales. For example, initial trials of distal embolic protection in native coronaries during primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction have shown retrieval of smaller amounts of debris than seen …
Images and Imaginations: An Exploration of Nanotechnology Image Galleries

Throughout the brief history of nanoscience and nanotechnology, the prominence of digital images and animations is noteworthy. Many appear in online image galleries that provide an important public interface for presenting and promoting scientific research. In this essay, the authors examine a selection of images from image galleries, identify some of their features and functions, and discuss how the artistic and scientific conventions used to present these images define nanotechnology for both researchers and members of the broader public.
Distributed, Automatic File Description Tuning in Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Systems

Peers in peer-to-peer file-sharing systems cannot effectively share their files if they are poorly described. Terms one user employs to describe an instance of a file may not be those that are commonly associated with the file, making this instance difficult to locate. To alleviate this problem, a server can ask its peers for help in improving the description of files they have in common. We consider the design of a fully distributed, automatic system for the exchange of descriptive metadata. Experimental results show that the proposed techniques are effective in improving search accuracy with reasonable cost.
Lower bounding Klondike Solitaire with Monte-Carlo planning

Despite its ubiquitous presence, very little is known about the odds of winning the simple card game of Klondike Solitaire. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the use of probabilistic planning to shed light on this issue. Unfortunatley, most probabilistic planning techniques are not well suited for Klondike due to the difficulties of representing the domain in standard planning languages and the complexity of the required search. Klondike thus serves as an interesting addition to the complement of probabilistic planning domains. In this paper, we study Klondike using several sampling-based planning approaches including UCT, hindsight optimization, and sparse sampling, and establish empirical lower bounds on their performance. We also introduce novel combinations of these approaches and evaluate them in Klondike. We provide a theoretical bound on the sample complexity of a method that naturally combines sparse sampling and UCT. Our results demonstrate that there is a policy that within tight confidence intervals wins over 35% of Klondike games. This result is the first reported empirical lower bound of an optimal Klondike policy.
Efficacy and tolerability of conversion to monotherapy with lamotrigine compared with valproate and carbamazepine in patients with epilepsy

Abstract Objective. This randomized, open-label study was designed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of lamotrigine monotherapy with those of valproate and carbamazepine monotherapy in patients with epilepsy whose seizures were uncontrolled on their prestudy antiepileptic drug monotherapy. Methods. Patients meeting eligibility criteria were randomized 2:1 to lamotrigine:carbamazepine or lamotrigine:valproate. The treatment phase was divided into a 4-week dose-escalation phase (Weeks 1–4), during which lamotrigine, carbamazepine, or valproate was added to patient's prestudy monotherapy; an 8-week add-on phase (Weeks 5–12), during which patients were stabilized on both the study medication and their prestudy antiepileptic therapy; an 8-week withdrawal phase (Weeks 13–20), during which prestudy antiepileptic therapy could be withdrawn if clinically appropriate; and an 8-week monotherapy phase (Weeks 21–28), during which patients could be treated with study medication as monotherapy. Results. The numbers of patients randomized to the carbamazepine and valproate arms of the study were 144 (98 lamotrigine, 46 carbamazepine) and 158 (105 lamotrigine, 53 valproate), respectively. Successful monotherapy sustained for at least 7 weeks was achieved in comparable percentages of patients in the lamotrigine group (56%) and the carbamazepine group (54%) and in more patients in the lamotrigine group (49%) than the valproate group (40%). Among monotherapy completers, the percentage of patients with zero seizures during the monotherapy phase was comparable for lamotrigine (41%) and carbamazepine (30%) and significantly higher (P Conclusion. Lamotrigine monotherapy was as effective as and better tolerated than carbamazepine or valproate monotherapy in patients whose seizures were uncontrolled on their prestudy antiepileptic drug monotherapy.
Aortic anatomic severity grade correlates with resource utilization.

Background Potential cost effectiveness of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) compared with open aortic repair (OAR) is offset by the use of intraoperative adjuncts (components) or late reinterventions. Anatomic severity grade (ASG) can be used preoperatively to assess abdominal aortic aneurysms, and provide a quantitative measure of anatomic complexity. The hypothesis of this study is that ASG is directly related to the use of intraoperative adjuncts and cost of aortic repair. Methods Patients who undergo elective OAR and EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysms were identified over a consecutive 3-year period. ASG scores were calculated manually using three-dimensional reconstruction software by two blinded reviewers. Statistical analysis of cost data was performed using a log transformation. Regression analyses, with a continuous or dichotomous outcome, used a generalized estimating equations approach with the sandwich estimator, being robust with respect to deviations from model assumptions. Results One hundred forty patients were identified for analysis, n = 33 OAR and n = 107 EVAR. The mean total cost (± standard deviation) for OAR was per thousand (k) $38.3 ± 49.3, length of stay (LOS) 13.5 ± 14.2 days, ASG score 18.13 ± 3.78; for EVAR, mean total cost was k $24.7 ± 13.0 ( P = .016), LOS 3.0 ± 4.4 days ( P = .012), ASG score 15.9 ± 4.13 ( P = .010). In patients who underwent EVAR, 25.2% required intraoperative adjuncts, and analysis of this group revealed a mean total cost of k $31.5 ± 15.9, ASG score 18.48 ± 3.72, and LOS 3.9 ± 4.5, which were significantly greater compared with cases without adjunctive procedures. An ASG score of ≥15 correlated with an increased propensity for requirement of intraoperative adjuncts; odds ratio, 5.75 (95% confidence interval, 1.82-18.19). ASG >15 was also associated with chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease, hypertension, female sex, increased cost, and use of adjunctive procedures. Conclusions Complex aneurysm anatomy correlates with increased total cost and need for adjunctive procedures during EVAR. Preoperative assessment with ASG scores can delineate patients at greater risk for increased resource use. Patient comorbid factors are associated with anatomic complexity defined according to ASG. A critical examination of the relationship between anatomic complexity and finances is required within the context of aggressive endovascular treatment strategies and shifts toward value-based reimbursement.
The Dynamics of Web Traffic

This paper examines the distribution of Web audiences over time using a rich new data set. We show that traffic churn is highly structured. While large sites have stable audiences, variance in traffic increases exponentially as sites get smaller. Web traffic concentration overall is remarkably stable. We propose and test a simple model that reproduces the most important features of the observed data. Under a wide variety of initial conditions - including when sites start with equal traffic - the model converges to an approximate power law traffic distribution. We argue that these patterns are the result of preferential stability and discuss its implications for communication and the online public sphere.
Black Community Organizing in the Obama Era: The Case of Los Angeles

Though our first Black president, Barack Obama, began his career as a community organizer, it is not clear how much the Black community still embraces this established tool for achieving social justice and equity. As African American pundits and political elites continue to question how much a Black president can and should do for his community, two questions are repeatedly overlooked: to what degree does the Black community remain mobilized through grassroots organizations to provide the political space for a Black president to maneuver? What is the prognosis for Black community organizing beyond Obama?The Black community has a long history of innovative organizing strategies, which build grassroots power amongst people who fight for their own, shared interests within a community. As the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements led to gains in political incorporation and representation and an expansion of the Black middle class, many in the Black community moved from organizing outside the halls of power to take advantage of insider access and networking to pursue justice and equality. In a contemporary political context of partial political incorporation for the Black community, what role should community organizing play? Although Los Angeles has become recognized as a hub of renewed labor and community organizing energy since the 1900s, its Black community has experienced a variety of demographic and political changes. Such trends, which have occurred over decades in California, complicate its place within the power map of the city. Moreover, similar changes are now appearing across the country. Relying upon an analysis of the history of Black community organizing in Los Angeles, a survey of current demographic, economic, and social conditions in the city, an analysis of current Black community organizing campaigns, and interviews of current Black community organizers, this paper will attempt to answer the question of what roles community organizing might continue to play in the advancement of social justice and equity for Los Angeles’s Black community.
Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide Reduction on Polycrystalline Platinum in Acid Electrolytes: Effects of Bromide Adsorption

Changes in the electrocatalytic activity of Pt for the oxygen and hydrogen peroxide reduction reactions (ORR and HPRR, respectively) in an aqueous acidic electrolyte induced by the adsorption of bromide, as a model impurity, have been investigated using chronoamperometric techniques under forced convection. Experiments were carried out using a polycrystalline Pt|Pt rotating ring-disk electrode in O2-saturated 0.1 M HClO4 containing 10 μM KBr (800 ppb). Potential steps were applied to the Pt disk from Eo, at which Br– is fully desorbed, to more positive values, Estep, at which Br– undergoes adsorption. During this period, the currents both at the disk, idisk, and at the ring, iring, were monitored, with the ring polarized at a potential at which H2O2(aq) oxidation proceeds under diffusion-limited conditions. The results obtained, assuming the ORR does not interfere with Br– adsorption, made it possible to correlate idisk and iring with the coverage of adsorbed Br–, θBr–, and Estep. As evidenced from the da...
Conformation-dependent recognition of a protein by T cells requires presentation without processing.

Presentation of a protein antigen to T cells is believed to follow its intracellular breakdown by the antigen-presenting cell, with the fragments constituting the trigger of immune recognition. It should then be expected that T-cell recognition of protein antigens in vitro will be independent of protein conformation. Three T-cell lines were made by passage in vitro with native lysozyme of T cells from two mouse strains (B10.BR and DBA/1) that had been primed with the same protein. These cell lines responded well to native lysozyme and very poorly to unfolded (S-sulphopropyl) lysozyme. The response of the T-cell lines to the antigen was major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted. A line from B10.BR was selected for further studies. This line responded to the three surface-simulation synthetic sites of lysozyme (representing the discontinuous antigenic, i.e. antibody binding, sites) and analogues that were extended to a uniform size by a nonsense sequence. T-cell clones prepared from this line were specific to native lysozyme and did not respond to the unfolded derivative. Furthermore, several of these clones showed specificity to a given surface-simulation synthetic site. The exquisite dependency of the recognition by the clones on the conformation of the protein antigen and their ability to recognize the surface-simulation synthetic sites indicate that the native (unprocessed) protein was the trigger of MHC-restricted T-cell recognition.
A Hierarchical Control Algorithm for Aggregated Electric Vehicles in Distribution Networks

A large number of electric vehicles( EVs) getting connected to power grid need feasible control architecture and optimization algorithm. In order to optimize the charging and discharging management of EVs, this paper first introduced the concept of EVs aggregator,and then proposed hierarchical control architecture for EVs. Based on the hierarchical control architecture of EVs,this paper constructed a bi-level optimization control model for EVs to achieve the goal of valley-filling. In order to avoid the difficulties in solving the optimization problem with the increasing of EVs,an improved solution algorithm was proposed,which decomposed the high-dimensional optimization problem into many low-dimensional ones,so has good convergence property and could greatly improve the computational efficiency. Finally,the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed model and improved algorithm were verified through different case scenarios.
Discrimination between nonhyperactivated and classical hyperactivated motility patterns in human spermatozoa using computerized analysis

The objective identification of human hyperactivated (HA) motility has been controversial. The present study defines new criteria for automatic sorting of all HA patterns that are consistent with the classical descriptions. Sperm from fertile men were prepared in Ham's F-10 medium. Based on the author's previously published slow-motion method, 342 sperm were selected that represented the non-HA, circling high-curvature, thrashing, star, and helical patterns. Automatic sorting for HA was achieved with the use of three criteria: linearity less than or equal to 65 and velocity greater than or equal to 100 microns/s and head displacement greater than or equal to 7.5 microns. Additional criteria were determined for identifying each HA class separately. Whether using the new or old method, the incidence of HA is significantly associated with multiple fertilization endpoints.
Trust and Critical Thinking.

AbstractThis article discusses the tension between trust, as an expression of interpersonal commitment, and critical thinking, which includes a demand for reasons. It explores the importance of each for individual flourishing, and then seeks to establish some ways in which they intersect, drawing on ideas of authority and trustworthiness. It argues that despite the appearance of a deep tension between trust and critical thinking, they are importantly interdependent: if trust is to be warranted, critical thinking to determine trustworthiness is required; and if critical thinking is to be developed, contingent trust in certain authorities is necessary.
Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme 9 Phosphorylation as a Novel Mechanism for Potentiation of the Inflammatory Response

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial endotoxin, induces inflammation in macrophages via activation of NF-κB signaling. Sumoylation is a post-translational modification mediated by the small ubiquitin-like modifier, SUMO. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9 (UBC9) is the only known SUMO conjugating enzyme. LPS treatment lowers SUMO-1 and UBC9 mRNA levels in primary astrocytes. UBC9 can degrade NF-κB inhibitor α (Ikbα) via a SUMO2/3-ubiquitin pathway. However, UBC9 may also promote Ikbα stability by SUMO-1 conjugation that further regulates NF-κB signaling. The role of UBC9 in liver inflammation is unknown. We reported that CDK1-mediated phosphorylation of UBC9 enhanced its stability. Herein, we describe an anti-inflammatory role of UBC9 that is lost when it is phosphorylated during inflammation. LPS exposure caused induction in UBC9 phosphorylation and CDK1 activation specifically in Kupffer cells in vivo and in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Silencing or overexpression experiments in vitro and in vivo showed that UBC9 was required to blunt the proinflammatory response elicited by LPS. LPS stimulation raised the binding of phospho-UBC9 but not the unphosphorylated counterpart, to Ikbα in RAW264.7 macrophages. Hence, phospho-UBC9 may promote NF-κB signaling by regulating Ikbα and this may be a novel mechanism that deregulates liver inflammatory signaling.
Draft Genome Sequence of Agrobacterium rhizogenes Strain NCPPB2659

ABSTRACT This work reports the draft genome sequence of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain NCPPB2659 (also known as strain K599). The assembled genome contains 5,277,347 bp, composed of one circular chromosome, the pRi2659 virulence plasmid, and 17 scaffolds pertaining to the linear chromosome. The wild-type strain causes hairy root disease in dicots and has been used to make transgenic hairy root cultures and composite plants (nontransgenic shoots with transgenic roots). Disarmed variants of the strain have been used to produce stable transgenic monocot and dicot plants.
Amazonian Mosaics: Identity, Interaction, and Integration in the Tropical Forest

Identity is one of anthropology’s oldest and favorite topics of inquiry. Interests have bounced between polemic ideas of primordial conditions, biology, descent, and natural communities to those of situation and contingency, alliance, and imagined communities. Identity in cultural anthropology is most commonly viewed as a sense of self or self-awareness – of personhood or subjectivity – that involves reflexive understandings of sameness and difference with “others” (Jenkins 1996). This paper discusses questions of identity and, particularly, historical and archaeological identities in Amazonia. It takes as its point of departure the idea that questions of identity, like those of equally popular agency or practice, are scalar. Further, in place of traditional views of cultural and ecological uniformity, recent research on all fronts, aided by the immense power of computers and remotely sensed imagery, suggests that variability and dynamic change are no less pronounced in Amazonia than any other equally proportioned place on earth (and see Chapters 11, 12, 20 and 50 in this volume). Archaeologists also have grappled protractedly with questions of identity (see, e.g., Jones 1997), insofar as they attempt to reveal how groups of artifacts or other material things reflect the identities (ethnicity, gender, and role) of the people who made or interacted with them and how these identities were deployed in social interactions (by agents). Recently, archaeologists have turned to questions of the body and personhood as strategic loci of social agency in the archaeological record. They approach these questions quite differently than cultural anthropologists, sociologists, and linguists who take the present as the point of departure. Archaeologists see the human body not only as a privileged site
Bioelectrochemical Systems as a Multipurpose Biosensing Tool: Present Perspective and Future Outlook

Microbial bielectrocatalysis is the process of utilizing an intact microorganism for catalyzing redox reactions and the field has been rapidly expanding in the last 15 years. Although microbial bioelectrocatalysis has been primarily studied for power generation and wastewater treatment, this mini-review will focus on the use of bioelectrochemical systems for biosensing applications. This will include sensors for water quality, corrosion, and toxic shock. We will also discuss the transition of bioelectrochemical systems to photobioelectrochemical systems and discuss their recent applications in sensing. Finally, we will discuss the future outlook for microbial bioelectrocatalysis for biosensing applications.
Physical and Psychological Effects of a 12-Session Cancer Rehabilitation Exercise Program.

Background The positive effects of regular exercise for cancer survivors are becoming increasingly apparent. However, comprehensive examination of the benefits of modest levels of physical activity is somewhat lacking. Objectives This study aimed to test the hypothesis that participating in a 12-session exercise program will improve depression, fatigue, aerobic endurance, muscular strength, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with cancer. Methods A group of 20 older adult women with a prior cancer diagnosis were evaluated during a 6- to 10-week exercise program that occurred twice weekly. The majority of patients had breast cancer (n = 14), but treatment status varied (11 were currently undergoing treatment, and 9 were post-treatment). Each patient completed initial and exit assessments, which consisted of three physical function tests and three psychosocial questionnaires. Patient charts contained the initial and final assessment scores and personal demographics. Findings Analyses of pre- and postprogram data using paired t tests revealed that 12 exercise sessions (each lasting about an hour) significantly improved six-minute walk test, 30-second sit-and-stand test, hand grip strength test (dominant and nondominant hand), and overall QOL scores in patients. As a result, moderate levels of exercise have a beneficial effect in this population.
The successful treatment of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) overdose in a patient with malignancy and HIV/AIDS with uridine triacetate.

Abstract According to the NIH, about 275 000 patients receive treatment with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and more than 1300 die from 5-FU toxicity every year from life-threatening myelosuppression, gastrointestinal complications, and neurotoxicity. Immunocompromised persons are at higher risk of developing toxicity. Recently uridine triacetate (Vistagard®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the only specific antidote available for 5-FU poisoning. In a clinical trial (n = 135), 96% of patients with 5-FU toxicity recovered after treatment, where as in a historical control group only 10% survived. This is the first published case report of survival after 5-FU overdose who also was immunocompromised from HIV/AIDs. A 52 year old male with history of HIV/AIDS (CD4 70), CNS toxoplasmosis and anal cancer presented to the emergency department after realizing he had received an entire course of 5-FU in 24 instead of 96 h. Treatment with uridine triacetate was arranged in the emergency department. After receiving treatment the patient was asymptomatic and had an uncomplicated hospital course. 5-FU poisoning must be recognized early as uridine triacetate is approved by the FDA for use within 96 h following the end of 5-FU administration. Emergency medicine physicians should promptly recognize and treat 5-FU poisoning. However, this may be challenging as patients may not seek medical attention until many hours or several days after last administration since symptoms are often delayed with 5-FU poisoning.
Sonourethrography in the Evaluation of Urethral Strictures: A Preliminary Report

A total of 17 patients with suspected stricture disease underwent conventional retrograde urethrography and sonourethrography. When the length of the stricture as assessed by each imaging modality was compared to measurements at open urethroplasty in 7 patients, sonourethrography was consistently more accurate. Distension of the urethra with saline during the ultrasound examination enabled classification of the degree of spongiofibrosis, which was confirmed by full depth biopsy in 5 patients. Sonourethrography cannot adequately image the posterior urethra, even when the transcrotal approach is used. However, because it is a dynamic 3-dimensional study and can be repeated without risk of radiation exposure, sonourethrography is preferable to radiographic retrograde urography to evaluate patients with suspected anterior urethral strictures.
Prospective Relationships Between Ethnic Discrimination and Substance Use by Mexican‐American Adolescents

Guided by the integrative model (Garcia Coll et al., 1996), this study examines prospective associations between perceived ethnic discrimination by peers, parental support, and substance use from 7th to 11th grades (Mage = 12.3-16.3 years) in a community sample of 674 Mexican-American adolescents. Results from a cross-lagged panel model indicate that discrimination predicts relative increases in adolescent substance use. Results also revealed a transactional relation between substance use and supportive parenting over time. Supportive parenting was associated with reductions in substance use, but adolescent substance use also predicted lower levels of later parental support. The findings suggest reducing discrimination by peers and supportive parenting as potential targets for intervention in the prevention of substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]