cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in Utilization of Adrenalectomy in the United States: Have Indications Changed?

Minimally invasive approaches have dramatically reduced morbidity associated with adrenalectomy. There has been concern that an increased frequency of adrenal imaging along with the advantages of less morbidity could influence the indications for adrenalectomy. We tested the hypothesis that adrenalectomy has become more common over time and that benign diseases have been increasingly represented among procedural indications. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to determine the incidence of adrenalectomy and the associated surgical indications in the United States between 1988 and 2000. All discharged patients were identified whose primary ICD-9-CM procedure code was for adrenalectomy, regardless of the specific surgical approach (laparoscopic adrenalectomy was not reliably coded). This subset was then queried for associated ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes. Linear regression and t-tests were utilized to determine the significance of trends. The total number of adrenalectomies increased significantly, from 12.9 per 100,000 discharges in 1988 to 18.5 per 100,000 discharges in 2000 (p = 0.000003). The total number of adrenalectomies with a primary ICD-9-CM code for malignant adrenal neoplasm did not increase significantly: from 1.2 per 100,000 discharges in 1988 to 1.6 per 100,000 discharges in 2000 (p = 0.47). The total number of adrenalectomies with a primary ICD-9-CM diagnostic code for benign adrenal neoplasm increased significantly, from 2.8 per 100,000 discharges in 1988 to 4.8 per 100,000 discharges in 2000 (p = 0.00002). The average percentage of adrenalectomies performed for malignant neoplasm was significantly higher during the period 1988–1993 when compared to 1994–2000 (11% vs. 9%; p = 0.002). The average percentage of adrenalectomies performed for benign neoplasm was significantly lower during 1988–1993 when compared to 1994–2000 (25% vs. 28%; p = 0.015). Adrenalectomy is being performed with increasing frequency. This is associated with an increase in the proportion of adrenalectomies performed for benign neoplasms. Assuming no significant change in disease prevalence during the study period, these data suggest that indications for adrenalectomy may have changed somewhat over that period.
Modeling uncertainties in aggregated thermostatically controlled loads using a State queueing model

To study the impacts of price responsive demand on the electric power system requires better load models. This paper discusses the modeling of uncertainties in aggregated thermostatically controlled loads using a state queueing (SQ) model. The cycling times of thermostatically controlled appliances (TCAs) vary with the TCA types and sizes, as well as the ambient temperatures. The random consumption of consumers, which shortens or prolongs a specific TCA cycling period, introduces another degree of uncertainty. By modifying the state transition matrix, these random factors can be taken into account in a discrete SQ model. The impacts of considering load diversity in the SQ model while simulating TCA setpoint response are also studied.
Introduction to the Primates

Introduction to the Primates. Daris R. Swindler. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1998. 284 pp.
Distribution of Cues Across Assessed Levels of Infant Pain

A convenience sample of 24 more experienced, 20 less experienced, and 20 novice nurses assessed videotaped infants in varying degrees of pain (none, mild, moderate, and severe), as determined by an expert panel. Participants identified all information they used in making an assessment (All cues) and that subset they deemed most important (Key cues). Data were analyzed using a two-level analysis of variance (level of assessed pain and pediatric nursing experience). Forty-five of the 62 cues mentioned by participants did not differ across levels of pain. Eleven All cues and 11 Key cues differed between infants in pain and not in pain, suggesting that these cues may be potentially useful as predictors of the presence/absence of pain. Three All cues differed both between pain and no pain as well as between levels of pain, which suggests that participants' awareness of subtle leveling might be used in the discrimination of a wider range of pain levels. Differences in cue utilization among the more experienced, less experienced, and novice participants are discussed.
RF breakdown in high frequency accelerator

RF breakdown in high-frequency accelerators appears to limit the maximum achievable gradient as well as the reliability of such devices. Experimental results from high power tests, obtained mostly in the framework of the NLC/GLC project at 11 GHz and from the CLIC study at 30 GHz, will be used to illustrate the important issues. The dependence of the breakdown phenomena on RF pulse length, operating frequency and fabrication material will be described. Since reliability is extremely important for large scale accelerators such as a linear collider, the measurements of breakdown rate as a function of the operating gradient will be highlighted
Monitoring the condition of natural resources in US national parks

The National Park Service has developed a long-term ecological monitoring program for 32 ecoregional networks containing more than 270 parks with significant natural resources. The monitoring program assists park managers in developing a broad-based understanding of the status and trends of park resources as a basis for making decisions and working with other agencies and the public for the long-term protection of park ecosystems. We found that the basic steps involved in planning and designing a long-term ecological monitoring program were the same for a range of ecological systems including coral reefs, deserts, arctic tundra, prairie grasslands, caves, and tropical rainforests. These steps involve (1) clearly defining goals and objectives, (2) compiling and summarizing existing information, (3) developing conceptual models, (4) prioritizing and selecting indicators, (5) developing an overall sampling design, (6) developing monitoring protocols, and (7) establishing data management, analysis, and reporting procedures. The broad-based, scientifically sound information obtained through this systems-based monitoring program will have multiple applications for management decision-making, research, education, and promoting public understanding of park resources. When combined with an effective education program, monitoring results can contribute not only to park issues, but also to larger quality-of-life issues that affect surrounding communities and can contribute significantly to the environmental health of the nation.
"Noninvasive" techniques for syllabic companding in signal processors

Two novel methods are described for syllabic companding in signal processors which make state variable updating unnecessary, for piecewise constant input and output gains. Measurements and simulations are used as confirmation of the validity of the proposed techniques.
A proof of Ewell's octuple product identity

We give a new proof of Ewell’s octuple product identity in [7] by using a general theorem developed by the first author in [3].
Erotomania revisited : From kraepelin to DSM-III-R

Erotomania, the persistent delusion of being loved from afar by another person, has defied easy categorization for years. Kraepelin and de Clerambault both discussed the syndrome in detail, but it has recently appeared officially for the first time, in DSM-III-R, as a subtype of delusional (paranoid) disorder, in a return to the original Kraepelinian formulation. The author reviews the history, theories of etiology, course, and treatment of erotomania. He concludes that the DSM-III-R classification is correct and that neuroleptics and enforced separation, although only moderately effective, are the best treatments for troublesome cases.
Papanicolaou Screening in Developing CountriesAn Idea Whose Time Has Come

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in developing countries. Although progress is optional in all settings, Papanicolaou screening is feasible anywhere that cervical screening is appropriate and should be implemented without further delay in high-risk communities with access to curative treatment services. Successful prophylactic cervical cancer vaccines, prospects for which remain uncertain, will not eliminate requirements for cervical screening. The feasibility of human papillomavirus test analysis has not been demonstrated in low-resource developing country settings. Because past failures of cervical screening in developing countries are attributable to failures in programmatic quality rather than to technological limitations of the screening test, a shift in paradigmatic focus from technology toward quality is mandatory. Because visual screening techniques coupled with immediate ablative treatment are rendered obsolete by an embedded quality-control paradox, a moratorium should be placed on all such programs. Considerable opportunity costs, borne by the underserved, are associated with prioritizing research of novel interventions in developing countries when satisfactory interventions already exist.
Letter to the editor: Applying the blood flow restriction pressure: the elephant in the room

to the editor: We read with interest the article by Spranger et al. ([7][1]) in which the authors discussed the exercise pressor reflex in response to blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise. Within, the authors cite an impracticality of standardizing cuff pressure due to differences in cuff width,
Unusual ectopic pregnancies: sonographic findings and implications for management.

Abstract Ectopic pregnancy is a considerable source of morbidity and mortality for women of childbearing age. Improved detection and increased risk factors have led to a dramatic rise in the incidence of ectopic pregnancy in recent years. Early diagnosis is critical for the health of the patient as well as the success rate of future pregnancies. Besides laparoscopy, sonography is the mainstay for evaluating ectopic pregnancy. It is important to understand the sonographic features of ectopic pregnancies, including unusual cases that occur outside the fallopian tube.
Enough with the Stereotypes: Representations of Women in Terrorist Organizations*

Objective The ways in which women terrorists are represented by the media and studied by law enforcement and academic institutes is the subject of this essay. Method The author reviews academic studies, government and nonprofit agency studies, and media characterizations. Results This review illustrates a disconnect between women's roles and the way their actions are represented by the media and studied by academics and law enforcement agencies.
Integration of Ultrasound in Medical Education at United States Medical Schools A National Survey of Directors’ Experiences

Objectives Despite the rise of ultrasound in medical education (USMED), multiple barriers impede the implementation of such curricula in medical schools. No studies to date have surveyed individuals who are successfully championing USMED programs. This study aimed to investigate the experiences with ultrasound integration as perceived by active USMED directors across the United States. Methods In 2014, all allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States were contacted regarding their status with ultrasound education. For schools with required point-of-care ultrasound curricula, we identified the USMED directors in charge of the ultrasound programs and sent them a 27-question survey. The survey included background information about the directors, ultrasound program details, the barriers directors faced toward implementation, and the directors' attitudes toward ultrasound education. Results One-hundred seventy-three medical schools were contacted, and 48 (27.7%) reported having a formal USMED curriculum. Thirty-six USMED directors responded to the survey. The average number of years of USMED curriculum integration was 2.8 years (SD, 2.9). Mandatory ultrasound curricula had most commonly been implemented into years 1 and 2 of medical school (71.4% and 62.9%, respectively). The most common barriers faced by these directors when implementing their ultrasound programs were the lack of funding for faculty/ equipment (52.9%) and lack of time in current medical curricula (50.0%). Conclusions Financial commitments and the full schedules of medical schools are the current prevailing roadblocks to implementation of ultrasound education. Experiences drawn from current USMED directors in this study may be used to help programs starting their own curricula.
Control of human postprandial pancreatic exocrine secretion: a function of the gastroduodenal region.

Regulation of the exocrine pancreatic secretion elicited by a meal in man is incompletely understood. In this study, we attempted to localize in the gastrointestinal tract areas that control postprandial trypsin secretion and to determine the effects of individual components of jejunal chyme on the meal-stimulated trypsin secretion. Trypsin outputs elicited by ingesting a mixed-nutrient meal and diverting it at the liagmeent of Trieitz proximal to an occlusive balloon were compared with those occurring when the same meal was ingested, diverted at the ligament of Treitz, and immediately reinfused distal to the balloon, a procedure that exposed the entire gastrointestinal tract to chyme. Two different meals, one of semielemental and one of complex nutrients, were used with similar results. Trypsin outputs were similar whether or not jejunal chyme was diverted. In addition, no component—exogenous nutrients or endogenous secretions—of chyme reaching the jejunum after a meal further modified the trypsin secretion elicited by the gastrododenal segment. This finding suggests that the gastroduodenal segment is sufficient to elicit the entire postprandial trypsin output and is the physiologic determinant of meal-stimulated trypsin secretion.
Application of delayed enhancement MSCTU scanning and image processing in congenital urinary obstruction lesions in children

Objective: To evaluate the value of delayed enhancement MSCTU scanning and image processing in the diagnosis of congenital urinary obstructive lesions in children.Methods: Delayed enhancement MSCTU scanning,image processing and ultrasonography were performed in 108 patients with congenital urinary obstruction lesions before operation,all cases were confirmed by operation.The cortical-phase images and the parenchymal-phase images were reconstructed with multiplanar reconstruction(MPR),the excretory-phase images were reconstructed with maximum intensity projection(MIP),curved planar reconstruction(CPR) and shade-surface displayment(SSD).The results of the two methods(MSCTU and ultrasonography) were then compared.Results: Ureteric pelvic junction obstruction(UPJO) of the left kidney is 76.19% in boys,and it is obviously higher than other urinary anomalies;the morbidity of hydro-duplex kidneys with hydro-duplex ureter is 84.00%,and most of the patients are girls.Renal function of the diseased kidneys are better in obstruction at ureteropelvic distalis,secretory function of the diseased kidneys exist in severe UPJO,and excretory function is disturbed;renal function of the diseased kidneys is the worst in severe renal hypoplsia and hydro-duplex kidneys.The accordance rate of MSCTU and ultrasonography with operation is 96.3%,60.04%,respectively.MPR is a facile technique and it is for viewing function and construction of kidneys;CPR,MIP and SSD are for observing whole shape of collecting system,evaluating excretory function of kidneys,defining the site of obstruction and making qualitative diagnosis.Conclusion: Grasping best low-dose delayed enhancement MSCTU scanning time and adopting reasonable methods of image processing can diagnose congenital complex urinary obstruction lesions accurately in children,and it could be selected as one stop choice in diagnosing urinary lesions before operation.
Characterization of human endothelial cell urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor protein and messenger RNA

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture (HUVEC) express receptors for urokinase-type plasminogen activators (u-PA). The immunochemical nature of this receptor and its relationship to u-PA receptors expressed by other cell types is unknown. Cross-linking active site-blocked u-PA to HUVEC lead to an increase in its apparent molecular mass by approximately 40 Kd. The predominant u-PA binding protein isolated from whole cell detergent extracts migrated with a molecular mass of approximately 36 Kd using affinity chromatography. In contrast, when only cell surface proteins were radiolabeled before extraction, the predominant labeled u-PA binding protein isolated migrated with a molecular mass of approximately 46 Kd. Several pieces of evidence suggested that the difference in molecular mass between these two u-PA binding proteins resulted from glycosylation of a single receptor protein. First, a polyclonal antibody against u-PA receptor isolated from phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated U-937 cells reacted with both the 36- and 46-Kd proteins on Western blotting. Second, the size of the unmodified receptor was estimated by amplifying a full-length cDNA for u-PA receptor from an endothelial cell cDNA library using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the DNA sequence of the receptor cloned from transformed human fibroblasts (Roldan et al, EMBO J 9:467, 1990). The size of the cDNA (approximately 1,054 base pairs, bp) and the presence of a single 1.4-kilobase (Kb) mRNA transcript on Northern blot analysis predict an unglycosylated receptor protein of approximately 35 Kd. Third, synthesis of 35S-labeled 46-Kd cell surface receptor protein was inhibited when the cells were grown in the presence of tunicamycin, while the synthesis of the 36-Kd species was unaffected. Moreover, the apparent molecular mass of purified surface-labeled receptor (approximately 46 Kd) was reduced by N-glycanase. These studies suggest that the u-PA receptor on the surface of HUVEC is a glycoprotein derived from a protein of approximately 35 Kd which is similar immunologically to u-PA receptors on other cell types.
A decade (2004 – 2014) of FTIR prostate cancer spectroscopy studies: An overview of recent advancements

Abstract This paper presents a retrospective study from 2004 to 2014 of FTIR prostate cancer spectroscopy related to tissues and cell biology. Since vibrational spectroscopy is delicately sensitive to the biochemical composition of the sample and variations therein, it is possible to monitor metabolic processes in tissue and cells, and to construct spectral maps based on thousands of collected IR spectra. These reveal information on tissue structure, distribution of cellular components, metabolic activity and the health condition of cells and tissues. In addition, rapid collection, reliable data, a powerful ability to structure elucidation about IR spectroscopy, and the need for a rapid diagnosis of traditional biopsy (subject to sampling and inter-observer) have potentiated infrared as a way for a new type of analysis based on optical examination and being more objective than conventional colour methods.
Tuning in: The Music Therapist’s Journey

Hanser charts the process of becoming a music therapist, and the personal journey that the music therapist must take in order to be effective. As a guide for one who is suffering, the wise music therapist arrives equipped with the presence of body, mind, and soul to accompany a person through this voyage. Hanser includes activities that prepare the music therapist physically, emotionally, mentally, existentially, spiritually, and musically for the journey with another. Key questions ask the music therapist to search within, and far and wide, in order to be fully present.
Imagination and Its Development in Childhood

For the old psychology, which viewed all forms of man’s mental activity as associative combinations of accumulated impressions, the problem of imagination was an irresolvable puzzle. This psychology was forced to reduce imagination to other functions. The essential feature that distinguishes imagination from other forms of mental activity is that it does not repeat combinations of accumulated impressions but builds a new series of impressions from them. The very foundation of the activity that we refer to as imagination is the introduction of something new into the flow of our impressions, the transformation of these impressions such that something new, an image that did not previously exist, emerges. The problem of imagination was therefore inherently irresolvable for associative psychology since it represented all activity as a combination of elements and images that are already present in consciousness.
Reduced models and design principles for half-harmonic generation in synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators

We develop reduced models that describe half-harmonic generation in a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator above threshold, where nonlinearity, dispersion, and group-velocity mismatch are all relevant. These models are based on (1) an eigenmode expansion for low pump powers, (2) a simultonlike sech-pulse ansatz for intermediate powers, and (3) dispersionless box-shaped pulses for high powers. Analytic formulas for pulse compression, degenerate vs nondegenerate operation, and stability are derived and compared to numerical and experimental results.
A randomized, parallel-arm, phase II trial to assess the efficacy of preoperative ixabepilone with or without cetuximab in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

1133 Background: Epithelial growth factor receptor pathway (EGFR) is expressed in TNBC and may be important in a subset of this heterogeneous disease. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of an a...
Design of a multi-band, dual substrate concentric annular ring antenna

We present a multi-band and dual-polarization microstrip antenna designed for the S- and X-bands. The S-band element is an annular ring shorted with vias on the inner edge to suppress surface waves. The X-band element is a combination of a concentric annular ring slot shorted on the outer edge and a narrowband patch. All elements achieve circular polarization by truncating opposing corners of the rings. Both bands utilize two orthogonal feeds to allow either right hand or left hand circular polarization. This paper shows performance optimized for the X-band element at 7.8 GHz and 9.2 GHz. We achieve a peak realized gain to boresight of 7.0 dB and 3.5 dB respectively.
Semi-automatic 3D lung nodule segmentation in CT using dynamic programming

We present a method for semi-automatic segmentation of lung nodules in chest CT that can be extended to general lesion segmentation in multiple modalities. Most semi-automatic algorithms for lesion segmentation or similar tasks use region-growing or edge-based contour finding methods such as level-set. However, lung nodules and other lesions are often connected to surrounding tissues, which makes these algorithms prone to growing the nodule boundary into the surrounding tissue. To solve this problem, we apply a 3D extension of the 2D edge linking method with dynamic programming to find a closed surface in a spherical representation of the nodule ROI. The algorithm requires a user to draw a maximal diameter across the nodule in the slice in which the nodule cross section is the largest. We report the lesion volume estimation accuracy of our algorithm on the FDA lung phantom dataset, and the RECIST diameter estimation accuracy on the lung nodule dataset from the SPIE 2016 lung nodule classification challenge. The phantom results in particular demonstrate that our algorithm has the potential to mitigate the disparity in measurements performed by different radiologists on the same lesions, which could improve the accuracy of disease progression tracking.
Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae fatty acid composition for increased tolerance to octanoic acid

Biorenewable chemicals such as short and medium chain fatty acids enable functional or direct substitution of petroleum-derived building blocks, allowing reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gases while meeting market needs of high-demand products like aliphatic alcohols and alpha olefins. However, producing these fatty acids in microorganisms can be challenging due to toxicity issues. Octanoic acid (C8) can disrupt the integrity of the cell membrane in yeast, and exogenous supplementation of oleic acid has been shown to help alleviate this. We recently engineered the Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase by replacing serine residue 1157 with alanine to prevent deactivation by phosphorylation. Expression of Acc1S1157A in S. cerevisiae resulted in an increase in total fatty acid production, with the largest increase for oleic acid. In this study, we evaluated the effect of this modified lipid profile on C8 toxicity to the yeast. Expression of Acc1S1157A in S. cerevisiae BY4741 increased the percentage of oleic acid 3.1- and 1.6-fold in the absence and presence of octanoic acid challenge, respectively. Following exposure to 0.9 mM of C8 for 24 h, the engineered yeast had a 10-fold higher cell density relative to the baseline strain. Moreover, overexpressing Acc1S1157A allowed survival at C8 concentrations that were lethal for the baseline strain. This marked reduction of toxicity was shown to be due to higher membrane integrity as an 11-fold decrease in leakage of intracellular magnesium was observed. Due to the increase in oleic acid, this approach has the potential to reduce toxicity of other valuable bioproducts such as shorter chain aliphatic acids and alcohols and other membrane stressors. In an initial screen, increased resistance to n-butanol, 2-propanol, and hexanoic acid was demonstrated with cell densities 3.2-, 1.8-, and 29-fold higher than the baseline strain, respectively. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1531-1538. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Post-Nafta Mexican Peso Crisis: Bailout or Aid? Isolationism or Globalization?

This essay discusses the events of the 1994/1995 Mexican peso crisis, subsequent U.S. Congressional/Executive debate over sending U.S. financial aid, and executive action. The United States had entered the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) one year earlier, and investors and politicians were hailing it as a great success. The United States seemed positioned to be the financial leader of the new post-cold-war era. But beginning on December 20, 1994 when Mexico decided to no longer support the peso against the dollar, the pesoâ€™s value dropped over 50%. This devaluation hurt Mexico, international investors, and the legitimacy of the NAFTA and trade liberalization. Those in support of the NAFTA felt the side effects of inaction in response could possibly reach neighboring countries, and result in an economic crisis. President Clinton could ill afford to sit idly by. However, the 104th Congress was sympathetic towards the anti-NAFTA labor-left and the anti-NAFTA protectionist-right. The recently elected â€œContract with Americaâ€ Republicans were elected on an agenda of government reduction not increased spending. This essay examines events leading to the devaluation, subsequent debates, and the Presidentâ€™s action. It concludes that if the United States is to maintain its economic dominance it must continue towards liberalized trade and globalization, and withstand the protectionist and labor movementâ€™s desire to move towards isolationism.
The strictness of strict liability

This article conceptualizes what strict liability is in the criminal law. Four properties are found to be individually necessary, only jointly sufficient, for there to be the kind of moral blameworthiness that must underlie any just punishment: prima facie wrongdoing, absence of justification, prima facie culpability, and absence of excuse. Whenever criminal liability is imposed without the presence of one or more of these properties, the liabuility is said to be strict.
Integrating high levels of variable renewable energy into electric power systems

As more variable renewable energy (VRE) such as wind and solar are integrated into electric power systems, technical challenges arise from the need to maintain the balance between load and generation at all timescales. This paper examines the challenges with integrating ultra-high levels of VRE into electric power system, reviews a range of solutions to these challenges, and provides a description of several examples of ultra-high VRE systems that are in operation today.
Prediction with confidence—A general framework for predictive inference

Abstract This paper proposes a general framework for prediction in which a prediction is presented in the form of a distribution function, called predictive distribution function. This predictive distribution function is well suited for the notion of confidence subscribed in the frequentist interpretation, and it can provide meaningful answers for questions related to prediction. A general approach under this framework is formulated and illustrated by using the so-called confidence distributions (CDs). This CD-based prediction approach inherits many desirable properties of CD, including its capacity for serving as a common platform for connecting and unifying the existing procedures of predictive inference in Bayesian, fiducial and frequentist paradigms. The theory underlying the CD-based predictive distribution is developed and some related efficiency and optimality issues are addressed. Moreover, a simple yet broadly applicable Monte Carlo algorithm is proposed for the implementation of the proposed approach. This concrete algorithm together with the proposed definition and associated theoretical development produce a comprehensive statistical inference framework for prediction. Finally, the approach is applied to simulation studies, and a real project on predicting the incoming volume of application submissions to a government agency. The latter shows the applicability of the proposed approach to dependence data settings.
Recommending program transformations: Automating repetitive software changes

Adding features and fixing bugs in software often require systematic edits which are similar but not identical changes to multiple code locations. Finding all relevant locations and making the correct edits is a tedious and error-prone process. This chapter presents several state-of-the art approaches to recommending program transformation in order to automate repetitive software changes. First, it discusses programming-by-demonstration (PBD) approaches that automate repetitive tasks by inferring a generalized action script from a user’s recorded actions. Second, it presents edit location suggestion approaches that only recommend candidate edit locations but do not apply necessary code transformations. Finally, it describes program transformation approaches that take code examples or version histories as input, automatically identify candidate edit locations, and apply context awareness, customization program transformations to generate a new program version. In particular, this chapter describes two concrete example-based program transformation approaches in detail, Sydit and Lase. These two approaches are selected for an in-depth discussion, because they handle the issue of both recommending change locations and applying transformations, and they are specifically designed to update programs as opposed to regular text documents. The chapter is then concluded with open issues and challenges of recommending program transformations.
Stock Market Volatility around Expiration Days in Japan

This study evaluates the impact of stock trading activity around expirations of Japanese stock index options and futures contracts on the underlying stock prices. Though these expiration days are associated with higher than average trading volume, tests indicate that the intraday return volatility in the last hours of trading on expiration days and the first hours following expirations is only marginally greater than that on non-expiration days. Moreover, portfolio return reversals of 0.1% or less during the last hour of trading at expiration and the first hours of trading following the expiration are statistically insignificant and smaller in magnitude than typical bid-ask spreads, commission rates and market impact costs would warrant. Finally, in comparing the expiration effects for the two similar Nikkei index futures contracts traded in the Singapore and the more-heavily-regulated Osaka/Tokyo markets, no important differences can be discerned. The implications of these findings for the newest restrictions on index arbitrage activity by Japan's Ministry of Finance and the Tokyo Stock Exchange are discussed.
Building mobile phone applications

Cellular telephones have become an integral part of the modern world in much the same way as the Internet has, providing human connectivity in a way never before possible. While most cell phones are used for their original intent, making telephone calls wirelessly, mobile devices are also coming loaded with features and capabilities, which are often times little used and often ignored. Three such capabilities are (a) the Short Message Service (SMS) or text message, (b) WAP browsers, and (c) Java MIDlets. In this talk, I will compare the relative advantages, costs, and lessons learned while developing applications based on each of these technologies. Examples include a wide range of interactive SMS applications, ranging from simple data access applications to more complex applications that maintain session state across multiple accesses.
Empirical values of branching ratios in the three-body recombination reaction for O(1S) and O2(0,0) airglow chemistry

Abstract The branching ratios e and α in the three-body recombination reaction for O(1S) greenline and O2(0,0) atmospheric band airglow chemistry represent the fraction of O2 that branch into the b 1 ∑ g + and c 1 ∑ u - electronic states, respectively. In the present work, the empirical values of these branching ratios have been deduced using a numerical optimization approach. They were obtained using the optimization scheme known as the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES) with our MACD-00 model and simultaneous volume emission rate (VER) measurements of the O(1S) greenline and O2(0,0) atmospheric band emissions. The CMA-ES was employed as the optimization algorithm that would match the O(1S) and O2(0,0) VER profiles simulated by the MACD-00 model to observations made by OXYGEN/S35, S310.10, NASA Flight 4.339, ETON flights P229H and P230H, OASIS, SOAP/WINE, MULTIFOT, and WINDII. We found that most of the values deduced for e were in the [0.1, 0.3] range, while most of the values of α were in the [0.01, 0.03] range. Excluding the outliers, the average branching ratio values involving the production of O 2 ( b 1 ∑ g + ) and O 2 ( c 1 ∑ u - ) were determined to be e = 0.15 ± 0.02 and α = 0.018 ± 0.004, respectively. Overall, the simulations showed good agreement with the observations albeit with some discrepancies in the peak altitudes and shape of the profiles, possibly due to small perturbations in the observed VER profiles that are not considered in our simulations.
Children’s Oncology Group (COG) clinical trials as exemplars of pragmatism in clinical research.

e18188Background: In 2016, President Obama announced the “Moonshot Cancer Initiative” to advance cancer research. One of the key components of this initiative is promoting enrollment in pragmatic c...
Aberrant RNA Splicing in Cancer

RNA splicing, the enzymatic process of removing segments of premature RNA to produce mature RNA, is a key mediator of proteome diversity and regulator of gene expression. Increased systematic sequencing of the genome and transcriptome of cancers has identified a variety of means by which RNA splicing is altered in cancer relative to normal cells. These findings, in combination with the discovery of recurrent change-of-function mutations in splicing factors in a variety of cancers, suggest that alterations in splicing are drivers of tumorigenesis. Greater characterization of altered splicing in cancer parallels increasing efforts to pharmacologically perturb splicing and early-phase clinical development of small molecules that disrupt splicing in patients with cancer. Here we review recent studies of global changes in splicing in cancer, splicing regulation of mitogenic pathways critical in cancer transformation, and efforts to therapeutically target splicing in cancer.
Cancer-Associated Thrombosis and Bleeding Risk in Gastrointestinal Malignancies with Apixaban and Rivaroxaban Compared to Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Abstract Background: Randomized control trials (RCT) have examined the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared to dalteparin in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). Increased major bleeding (MB) was seen with edoxaban and increased clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) was seen with rivaroxaban and there has been specific concern about increased risk of bleeding among patients with gastrointestinal malignancies (GIM). Results from RCTs comparing apixaban to dalteparin in CAT are pending. Objective: Using the Mayo Clinic VTE registry, we examined the rates of MB, CRNMB, and overall bleeding (MB + CRNMB) in patients with GIM treated with anticoagulation for CAT. Methods: Consecutive patients treated for CAT were enrolled into Mayo Clinic VTE Registry between March 1, 2013 and July 27, 2018 and were followed prospectively for safety and efficacy. Clinical, demographic and imaging data were collected from each participant at the time of study recruitment. Cancer type, stage, and treatment with chemotherapy were recorded. Major and CRNMB events were evaluated at 3-month intervals. Clinical status was assessed by written questionnaire in subjects unable to return at 3 months. Unreturned questionnaires were followed up with a scripted phone interview. The study was approved by Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board. Results: In the 535 subjects in the registry with CAT, the mean age (64.6 vs. 62.8 years), mean BMI (28.4 vs. 28.8), and percent female (46.4% vs 40.6%) were numerically similar between DOAC and LMWH treatment groups (Table 1). Metastatic disease was present in 53.6% and 60.2% and chemotherapy was being administered in 66.5% and 71.2% of DOAC and LMWH treated patients, respectively. Thrombocytopenia ( Conclusion: In our registry of subjects with CAT, we identified a significantly increased rate of CRNMB and overall bleeding, but not MB with the use of DOACs. In our data, GIM alone does not appear to account for the increased bleeding risk seen in CAT with DOACs, as we demonstrated no significant increase in major, CRNMB, or overall bleeding compared to LMWH. Direct comparison between apixaban and rivaroxaban was limited by sample size and number of events. Download : Download high-res image (525KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Ending the Death Lottery

When the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, it did so under the assumption that certain safeguards would remedy the arbitrariness of capital sentencing. Comparative proportionality review, in which the state supreme court would review jury sentences to ensure a modicum of consistency, was a central part of many states’ attempts to comply with the Eighth Amendment. In Ohio, however, this safeguard is illusory; the state supreme court has never reversed a capital case on proportionality grounds, despite reviewing almost three hundred cases. This Article explores this unfortunate phenomenon. Using a quantitative methodology, this Article assesses the degree to which Ohio capital cases sentenced after the adoption of life-without-parole (between 1996-2011) are comparatively proportionate. After finding that over forty percent of Ohio’s capital cases during that period were comparatively excessive, the Article argues that Ohio’s current use of the death penalty contravenes the Eighth Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional. The Article then proposes two alternative remedies to solve this problem: (1) institute meaningful proportionality review with the aid of social science or (2) abolish the death penalty. Finally, the Article considers the consequences of this study for the almost two-thirds of death penalty states that use comparative proportionality review. Part II of the paper briefly traces the requirements of the Eighth Amendment and the origins of proportionality review. Part III describes Ohio’s use of proportionality review and explains why it is largely a matter of form over substance. Part IV presents the empirical study of Ohio’s capital cases from 1996-2011 and highlights its central conclusions. Part V argues that these results show that Ohio’s capital system violates the Eighth Amendment. Next, Part VI proposes ways to remedy the constitutional shortcoming. Finally, Part VII explores the applicability of the study to the large majority of death penalty jurisdictions that currently use proportionality review.
Butanol vapor adsorption behavior on active carbons and zeolite crystal

Abstract Butanol is considered a promising, infrastructure-compatible biofuel. Unfortunately, the fermentation pathway for butanol production is restricted by its toxicity to the microbial strains used in the process. Gas stripping technology can efficiently remove butanol from the fermentation broth as it is produced, thereby decreasing its inhibitory effects. Adsorption can then be used to recover butanol from the vapor phase. Active carbon samples and zeolite were investigated for their butanol vapor adsorption capacities. Commercial activated carbon was modified via hydrothermal H2O2 treatment, and the specific surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups of activated carbon were tested before and after treatment. Hydrothermal H2O2 modification increased the surface oxygen content, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, micropore volume, and total pore volume of active carbon. The adsorption capacities of these active carbon samples were almost three times that of zeolite. However, the un-modified active carbon had the highest adsorption capacity for butanol vapor (259.6 mg g−1), compared to 222.4 mg g−1 after 10% H2O2 hydrothermal treatment. Both modified and un-modified active carbon can be easily regenerated for repeatable adsorption by heating to 150 °C. Therefore, surface oxygen groups significantly reduced the adsorption capacity of active carbons for butanol vapor.
A novel pathway for microbial metabolism of levodopa.

Particular bacteria from the gut microbiota metabolize levodopa (l-dopa), reducing bioavailability of the drug for treating Parkinson’s disease.
Topic-Driven Environmental Rhetoric: edited by D. G. Ross, New York, NY, Routledge, 278 pp., $150.00 (hardcover), $49.46 (eBook)

“When I say the word environmental, what is the first thing that comes to mind?” (Ross, p. 1). So begins Ross’ edited collection, Topic-Driven Environmental Rhetoric, which examines how language an...
How Reliant are Older Americans on State and Local Government Pensions

State and local government pension plans cover about 19.5 million participants, and many participants are heavily reliant on these pensions for retirement income. Most of these plans, however, are underfunded. Based on data from the Health and Retirement Study, we examined the lifetime work histories of those observed at ages 67 to 72 in 2004, 2008, or 2014. Seventy-seven percent of single persons and 61 percent of couple households had never worked for state or local (SL some of the cuts are paid for by reduced taxes; and the affected households will bequeath less.
Simulation-Based Analysis of Sign Blanket Replacement Strategies:

Transportation agencies are responsible for maintaining traffic signs, a critical part of any transportation network, in a satisfactory condition. This is achieved by the implementation of sign mai...
Optimal control modulation of HIV reservoir formation rate by antigen infusion

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infects helper-T cells, and takes advantage of the naturally occurring quiescent phenotype of T cells to persist even under effective treatment conditions. If an infected cell does not produce virus and enters this quiescent state, it forms a natural reservoir that is not targeted by either the existing antiretroviral drugs or the immune system. These quiescent cells intermittently switch to an activated phenotype and begin to produce virus, and are the primary source of viral rebound following treatment cessation. Recent experimental results have shown that, despite this reservoir having a years-long half-life under treatment, most of the cells in the reservoir were infected in a few weeks prior to the start of treatment. This can only be explained by assuming that this reservoir has a short half-life off treatment and a very long half-life on treatment. In this paper, we introduce a novel model of reservoir formation and turnover explaining this difference as a result of antigen-dependent activation. We introduce a second control input through infusion of HIV antigen, mimicking the non-infection pseudovirus (PV) produced by protease inhibitor therapy. This model is coupled to an existing model of immune response to HIV. We fit the parameters of this model to the existing clinical observations of latency. We show that the use of antigen infusion therapy can result in order-of-magnitude decrease in the size of the quiescent reservoir, and that this may provide a way to rapidly stabilize a post-treatment control state in treated HIV infected individuals.
Genomics and Interventional Oncology in Primary Liver Cancer

Personalized medicine is revolutionizing oncologic care. Molecular and imaging “fingerprinting” of cancer through genomics, radiomics, and radiogenomics has allowed for the meticulous characterization of many forms of malignancy, including primary liver cancers. With this data, treatments are being developed that precisely target and exploit key variations in individual tumors. As these methods continue to evolve, interventional oncologists are well positioned to capitalize on the advances being made. This article will provide a concise overview of the genomic, radiomic, and radiogenomic research on hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, in addition to discussions on how precision medicine would relate to interventional oncology.
Chapter 13 – ELASTICITY

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on Elasticity. The states of plane stress and plane strain are interesting and useful examples of stress analysis of a two-dimensional elastic solid. The state of plane stress is commonly introduced in the first course of mechanics of materials. The assumption of plane stress means that the solid is very thin and that it is loaded only in the direction of its plan. There are three common approaches to the variational formulation of the plane stress (or plane strain) problem: (1) displacement formulation, (2) stress formulation, and (3) mixed formulation. This chapter discusses common displacement method and utilizes the total potential energy of the system. This can be proved to be equal to assuming a Galerkin weighted residual approach.