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Background: To assess the correlation/association between ultrasound and sialendoscopy findings in radioactive iodine therapy–induced sialadenitis (RAIS). Methods: Patients presenting with RAIS were investigated with ultrasound and sialendoscopy. Four pathologic ultrasound parameters and seven pathologic sialendoscopy parameters were retrospectively assessed. Correlations/associations between ultrasound and sialendoscopy findings and associations between the changes between the first and last ultrasound and sialendoscopy findings were assessed separately for the parotid (PG) and submandibular glands (SMG). Results: Sixty-seven patients were included. In the first examination, 107 glands were investigated (PGs 88.8%, SMGs 11.21%), and in the last examination, 64 glands were investigated (90.6% PGs, 9.4% SMGs). Highly significant positive associations were observed between the severity or category of ultrasound and sialendoscopy findings for first and last examinations for PGs (both p = 0.0001) and SMGs (p = 0.002; p = 0.037). Duct dilation had a significant negative association with the sialendoscopy findings for PGs in the first and last examinations (both p = 0.0001), but not for SMGs. Comparison of changes in the ultrasound and sialendoscopy findings between the first and last examinations showed a significant positive association for PGs (p = 0.0001) but not for SMGs. Conclusions: Ultrasound and sialendoscopy findings for the parenchyma and duct system in RAIS showed significant associations/correlations and can be useful for effective management in RAIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Salivary Gland Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery seeks to standardize terminology and technique for ultrasonograpy used in the evaluation and treatment of salivary gland disorders. Methods: Development of expert opinion obtained through interaction with international practitioners representing multiple specialties. This committee work includes a comprehensive literature review with presentation of case examples to propose a standardized protocol for the language used in ultrasound salivary gland assessment. Results: A multiple segment proposal is initiated with this focus on the submandibular gland. We provide a concise rationale for recommended descriptive language highlighted by a more extensive supplement that includes an extensive literature review with additional case examples. Conclusion: Recommendations are provided to improve consistency both in performing and reporting submandibular gland ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of patients with head and neck cancer of unknown primary (HNCUP) is challenging. To provide a long-term analysis focusing on protective survival factors for clinical decision-making. Furthermore, the prognostic value of the current N classification system was evaluated. We retrospectively analyzed patients with HNCUP between 2003 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate predictors of overall survival (OS). A primary tumor was found in 67 of 290 patients with suspected HNCUP, leaving after exclusion 141 HNCUP cases for analysis, who received multi-step therapy (MST) (n = 108) or single therapy (n = 28). Chemotherapy (CT) (n = 101), curative MST, ≤3 positive lymph nodes (LN) (n = 33), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 123), HPV+ (n = 21), M0 (n = 70) increased OS by 21.8%, 24.4%, 12.7%, 6.8%, 18.7%, 29.6%, respectively. 5- and 10-year OS was 78.1%/66.6%. The number of metastatic LNs predicted OS is better than N classification. Aspects for clinical decision-making: Curative MST and SCC histology were the most significant predictors for improved OS. Categorizing LN into 1, 2-3, and >3 LNs was more significant than the traditional N classification. The addition of CT to curative MST has a stronger impact on survival than HPV and N classifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring tumor growth dynamics is crucial for understanding cancer. To establish an in vitro method for the continuous assessment of patient-specific tumor growth, tumor organoids were generated from patients with intrahepatic CCA (iCCA). Organoid growth was monitored for 48 h by label-free live brightfield imaging. Growth kinetics were calculated and validated by MTS assay as well as immunohistochemistry of Ki67 to determine proliferation rates. We exposed iCCA organoids (iCCAOs) and non-tumor intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids (ICOs) to sub-therapeutic concentrations of sorafenib. Monitoring the expansion rate of iCCAOs and ICOs revealed that iCCAO growth was inhibited by sorafenib in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, while ICOs were unaffected. Quantification of the proliferation marker Ki67 confirmed inhibition of iCCAO growth by roughly 50% after 48 h of treatment with 4 µM sorafenib. We established a robust analysis pipeline combining brightfield microscopy and a straightforward image processing approach for the label-free growth monitoring of patient-derived iCCAOs. Combined with bioanalytical validation, this approach is suitable for a fast and efficient high-throughput drug screening in tumor organoids to develop patient-specific systemic treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term oncologic outcome and review the state of the art in the management of olfactory neuroblastomas. Material and Methods: The records of all patients treated for olfactory neuroblastomas in two academic departments between 1975 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Data on epidemiological parameters were collected (age, gender), along with staging (Kadish, Morita), histologic grading (Hyams), time and form of treatment, locoregional control, and disease-specific and overall survival. Patients with other malignant diseases, distant metastases of olfactory neuroblastomas at the time of initial diagnosis, a follow-up time of less than 5 years, or insufficient clinical-pathological data were excluded from further analysis. Results: In total, 53 cases made up our final study sample (26 men, 27 women; male–female ratio 0.96:1). Their mean age was 48.6 years (range: 10–84 years). The mean follow-up time was 137.5 months (4–336 months, SD: 85.0). A total of 5 out of 53 study cases (9.4%) showed metastatic involvement of the neck at the time of initial presentation. Local recurrence was detected in 8/53 (15.1%) and regional recurrence in 7/53 of our study cases (13.2%). Three patients (42.8%) from the group of cases with surgery as the sole form of management (7/53, 13.2%) died due to the disease. The cumulative disease-specific survival and overall survivalfor the whole group of patients were 88.6% and 63.6%, respectively. The cumulative disease-specific survival stratified by Kadish A/B vs. Kadish C/D as well as Hyams I/II vs. Hyams III/IV showed superior results for limited tumors, albeit without significance, and low-grade tumors (highly significant difference). Conclusion: Craniofacial or sometimes solely endoscopically controlled resection can warrant resection of the olfactory neuroblastoma with wide margins. However, locoregional failures and distant metastases can occur after a long period of time. The non-negligible incidence of regional recurrences, partly in unusual localizations, leads us to consider the need to identify the "recurrence-friendly" cases and to perform individualized elective irradiation of the neck in cases with high-risk features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radial basis function finite difference (RBF-FD) discretization has recently emerged as an alternative to classical finite difference or finite element discretization of (systems) of partial differential equations. In this paper, we focus on the construction of preconditioners for the iterative solution of the resulting linear systems of equations. In RBF-FD, a higher discretization accuracy may be obtained by increasing the stencil size. This, however, leads to a less sparse and often also worse conditioned stiffness matrix which are both challenges for subsequent iterative solvers. We propose to construct preconditioners based on stiffness matrices resulting from RBF-FD discretization with smaller stencil sizes compared to the one for the actual system to be solved. In our numerical results, we focus on RBF-FD discretizations based on polyharmonic splines (PHS) with polynomial augmentation. We illustrate the performance of smaller stencil preconditioners in the solution of the three-dimensional convection-diffusion equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum random number generation is a key ingredient for quantum cryptography and fundamental quantum optics and could advance Monte Carlo simulations and machine learning. An established generation scheme is based on single photons impinging on a beam splitter. Here, we experimentally demonstrate quantum random number generation solely based on the symmetric emission profile of a dipole aligned orthogonal to the laboratory frame. The demonstration builds on defect centers in hexagonal boron nitride that emit photons in random directions within the dipole emission profile and benefits from the ability to manipulate and align the emission directionality. We prove the randomness in correlated photon detection events making use of the NIST randomness test suite and show that the randomness remains for two independently emitting defect centers. The scheme can be extended to random number generation by coherent single photons with potential applications in solid-state based quantum communication at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practice, inverse problems related to explicit interface detection rely on scarcely available information of the background continuous spatial fields. To accurately carry on inversion in such cases, a method called Hamiltonian Monte Carlo for Simultaneous Interface and Spatial Field Detection (HMCSISFD) is developed. Update of the interface parameters is done in a reversible mesh moving framework leading to a change in domain geometry which forces a recomputation of the spatial field covariance function as it is domain dependent. The eigenvalue problem and its derivatives w.r.t. the parameters are solved again on the updated domain to enable dimensionality reduction of the spatial field parameters through the use of the truncated Karhunen‐Loève expansion. This simultaneous parameter update procedure is applied to the detection of the interface and spatial field properties of a piping zone. Inversion is done considering hydraulic head and discharge rate data, with a priori known observation noise, from a carefully designed laboratory seepage flow experiment in a domain consisting a predefined piping zone. The static pipe in the experiment is representative of a pipe in equilibrium beneath an embankment/levee where the current hydraulic gradient isn't sufficient to cause further pipe progression. Markov chains obtained from the HMCSISFD method show convergence and the true interface and spatial field parameters are found to lie well within the 95% high probability density regions and the 0.05 and 0.95 quantiles, respectively, provided a proper choice for the observation noise is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the possibility of using excavated material with system‐related admixtures as a substitute construction material, considering the current rules and regulations in the field of landfilling or disposal. In addition to conventional injections with bentonite‐ and cement‐containing suspensions, which always require longer setting times and are relevant for classification during disposal with sulfate values in the eluate, fast‐setting multicomponent resins are suitable for filling or consolidation, e.g. fast‐reacting, high‐foaming silicate resins, polyurethane resins for stopping water ingress, or rubber‐elastic, versatile 3‐component acrylate gels. However, the discussion is currently focusing on tunnelling compounds to which foams or resins have been added and which, according to Systal's "system‐related admixtures", are to be remunerated as special services. This paper deals with the question how to deal with the excavated material contaminated with organic matter under soil protection law and waste law. On the basis of the results of laboratory tests, the question arises as to whether tunnel excavation with a few percent of organic, system‐related admixtures would not make an excellent substitute building material in the sense of the draft substitute building materials ordinance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of early detection tools for prostate cancer and ability to better localize disease, there has been increased interest in focal or targeted therapies that carry less morbidity than traditional whole-gland treatments. The Sonablate® high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(K) clearance in the United States for ablation of prostate tissue. HIFU utilizes an ultrasound (US) transducer that focuses US beams on a preset point as much as 4 cm from the energy source without injuring intervening tissue. The Sonablate system guides the surgeon step-by-step to perform effective ablation of a target lesion. The surgeon can assess treatment effect with tissue change monitoring, and care is taken to prevent rectal wall injury. We believe hemiablation is the most favorable focal HIFU treatment to optimize cancer control and minimize the side effects associated with whole gland therapy. We recommend considering HIFU ablation as an extension of active surveillance rather than definitive treatment. Further research on long-term oncologic and functional outcomes is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pathophysiology of headaches associated with rhinosinusitis is poorly known. Since the generation of headaches is thought to be linked to the activation of intracranial afferents, we used an animal model to characterise spinal trigeminal neurons with nociceptive input from the dura mater and paranasal sinuses. Methods: In isoflurane anaesthetised rats, extracellular recordings were made from neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus with afferent input from the exposed frontal dura mater. Dural and facial receptive fields were mapped and the paranasal cavities below the thinned nasal bone were stimulated by sequential application of synthetic interstitial fluid, 40 mM potassium chloride, 100 µM bradykinin, 1% ethanol (vehicle) and 100 µm capsaicin. Results: Twenty-five neurons with input from the frontal dura mater and responses to chemical stimulation of the paranasal cavities were identified. Some of these neurons had additional receptive fields in the parietal dura, most of them in the face. The administration of synthetic interstitial fluid, potassium chloride and ethanol was not followed by significant changes in activity, but bradykinin provoked a cluster of action potentials in 20 and capsaicin in 23 neurons. Conclusion: Specific spinal trigeminal neurons with afferent input from the cranial dura mater respond to stimulation of paranasal cavities with noxious agents like bradykinin and capsaicin. This pattern of activation may be due to convergent input of trigeminal afferents that innervate dura mater and nasal cavities and project to spinal trigeminal neurons, which could explain the genesis of headaches due to disorders of paranasal sinuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate sonographic findings of low-grade malignant tumors of the parotid gland. The sonographic findings of all patients treated for T1-T2 low-grade carcinomas of the parotid gland between 2003 and 2018 were retrospectively examined and compared with those of patients with pleomorphic adenomas for the following parameters: definition of tumor margins, echotexture, echogenicity, shape and vascularization. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ2 test. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 310 patients (62 with T1-T2 low-grade malignant tumors, 248 with pleomorphic adenomas) were evaluated. Our analysis detected a statistically significant difference in the definition of margins, echotexture, echogenicity and shape. Furthermore, we could detect a specific pattern (anechoic islets in a small hypoechoic lesion with distal enhancement) appearing far more frequently in low-grade malignant lesions. It seems that there is still potential to reduce the incidence of the false working hypothesis "benign lesion" on imaging of low-grade malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system is an important regulator of ingestive behaviors, i.e., it promotes food and water intake. Here, we investigated the role of orexin in drinking induced by the potent dipsogen angiotensin II (ANG II). Specifically, male and female orexin-deficient mice received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of ANG II, followed by measuring their water intake within 15 min. We found that lower doses of ANG II (100 ng) significantly stimulated drinking in males but not in females, indicating a general sex-dependent effect that was not affected by orexin deficiency. However, higher doses of ANG II (500 ng) were sufficient to induce drinking in female wild-type mice, while female orexin-deficient mice still did not respond to the dipsogenic properties of ANG II. In conclusion, these results suggest sex-dependent effects in ANG II-induced drinking and further support the sexual dimorphism of orexin system functions. • ICV ANG II stimulated water drinking in male wild-type and orexin-deficient mice. • Higher doses of ANG II were required to induce drinking in female wild-type mice. • Female orexin-deficient mice did not show ANG II-induced drinking. • These results indicate that the dipsogenic effects of ANG II are sex-dependent. • We provide further evidence of a sexual dimorphism of the orexin system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical method was developed for the quantitation of the mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons in cosmetic raw materials separating those of one or two aromatic rings from those of three and more aromatic rings. Normal phase high performance liquid chromatography was used with donor‐acceptor complex chromatography. The composition of both fractions and the quantities of respective compounds were determined by comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry and by liquid chromatography coupled to gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of consumer financial products have begun to come pre-packaged with binding individual arbitration agreements. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule forbidding these agreements sought to ensure that consumers damaged by their banks' actions could have their day in court. When Congress chose to repeal the so called "Arbitration Rule" in 2017, it dealt a serious blow to consumers' rights. Consumers are nearly universally precluded from joining class action claims against large financial institutions due to the widespread and largely unfettered use of class-action waivers in arbitration agreements. This Note argues that class-action waivers should be regulated to ensure that individuals with inferior bargaining power and legal resources are not subjected to poor treatment at the hands of their banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The novel Rfm3 locus causing undesired fertility restoration in the msm1 cytoplasm of winter barley is located on the short arm of chromosome 6H. Undesired fertility restoration of cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) mother lines in absence of the functional Rfm1 restorer gene is a significant problem for hybrid breeding in winter barley. Here, we describe that a novel restorer locus on the short arm of chromosome 6H, designated Rfm3, is closely linked to two mitochondrial transcription termination factor family (mTERF) protein coding genes. Genome-wide association studies in a multiparental mapping population revealed that two of the most significantly associated markers are located very close to these genes, with one marker lying directly within one mTERF gene sequence. Sequences of the candidate genes in the parental lines, segregating individuals and an independent set of breeding lines clearly revealed haplotypes discriminating completely sterile, partially fertile and Rfm1-restorer lines. The haplotypes segregate for several single nucleotide polymorphisms, a 6 bp insertion–deletion (InDel) polymorphism and another 2 bp InDel. CMS-unstable genotypes carrying haplotypes associated with undesired fertility restoration showed significantly higher grain setting on bagged spikes when plants were subjected to elevated temperatures during anthesis, indicating a temperature influence on pollen fertility. SNPs associated with desirable Rfm3 haplotypes can be implemented in marker-assisted selection of stable CMS mother lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In United States v. Dahda, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit held that, under Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ("Title III"), the lower court properly denied Dahda's motion to suppress evidence gathered by law enforcement using a mobile interception device- a device that wiretaps cell phones. A key part of the decision focused on the definition of mobile interception devices. The Tenth Circuit defined them as devices used to intercept communications that are movable. The Seventh Circuit, in contrast, has defined mobile interception devices as devices used to intercept mobile communications. This Comment argues that both definitions are overly broad in the modern context and are at odds with the congressional intent underlying Title III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare multifocal extracapsular dissection with complete parotidectomy in the treatment of unilateral multifocal cystadenolymphomas of the parotid gland.Materials and Methods: The records from all patients treated for unilateral multifocal cystadenolymphomas of the parotid gland at a tertiary referral center between 2000 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Results: 203 patients were included in the study. 96 patients were managed by multifocal extracapsular dissection, 107 patients underwent complete parotidectomy. Metachronous tumors were detected in 7 cases (3.4%) with a significant difference in the occurrence rate between multifocal extracapsular dissection (7/96, 7.3%) and complete parotidectomy (0/107, 0%) (p = 0.004). Permanent facial palsy was significantly more common after complete parotidectomy (21/107, 19.6%) than multifocal extracapsular dissection (2/96, 2.1%) (p = 0.000).Conclusions: The functional benefit of multifocal extracapsular dissection was counterbalanced by the advantage of complete parotidectomy, in terms of recurrences. Extracapsular dissection is at its limit in cases of multifocal cystadenolymphomas and the indication for it should be thoroughly verified in each and every case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical treatment of structural brain damage today is largely limited to symptomatic approaches and the avoidance of secondary injury. However, neuronal precursor cells are constantly produced within specified regions of the mammalian brain throughout life. Here we evaluate the potential of the known chemoattractive properties of the glycoprotein laminin on neuroblasts to relocate the cells into damaged brain areas. Injection of a thin laminin tract, leading from the rostral migratory stream to an excitotoxic lesion within the medial prefrontal cortex of rats, enabled neuroblasts to migrate away from their physiological route towards the olfactory bulb into the lesion site. Once they reached the damaged tissue, they migrated further in a non-uniform orientation within the lesion. Furthermore, our data indicate that the process of diverted migration is still active 6 weeks after the treatment and that at least some of the neuroblasts are capable of maturing into adult neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Radial forearm flap donor side defects can be treated by vacuum therapy and conventional wound dressing. The aim of this study was to compare different wound management considering wound healing, including risk factors and cost effectiveness. Materials and methods: Retrospective study including patients treated with radial flaps in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery in Erlangen from January 2005 to August 2013. Wound healing was assessed regarding complications considering several risk factors and comorbidities. Data were analyzed comparing conventional dressing and vacuum therapy, including a calculation of costs. Results: The study included 138 patients (n=55 conventional dressing; n=83 vacuum dressing). The incidence of wound complications in the vacuum group was 50.6 and 32.7% in the conventional dressing group (p=.058). The presence of risk factors and comorbidities did not have significant impact on the occurrence of complications. Costs for vacuum therapy turned out to be at least five times higher. Conclusion: In view of the current state of research, these results show that using vacuum dressings has no significant benefit in the wound management of forearm donor side defect covered with fullthickness skin grafts. If the costs and economical aspects are also considered, conventional wound dressing may be preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Orexin deficiency in mice did not affect binge-like eating in either sex. • Orexin deficiency increased body weight and post-binge hypophagia mainly in females. • Orexin deficiency increased post-binge stress levels selectively in females. • Male wild-type mice showed post-binge anxiety, but orexin-deficient mice did not. • These results emphasize the sexual dimorphism of the orexin system. Binge eating disorder is a debilitating disease characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption and associated with psychiatric comorbidities. Despite a growing body of research investigating the neurobiological underpinnings of eating disorders, specific treatments are lacking. Given its fundamental role in feeding behaviors, we investigated the role of the orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide system in binge-like eating and associated phenotypes. Specifically, we submitted female and male orexin-deficient mice to a paradigm of intermittent access (once weekly for 24 h) to a Western diet (WD) to induce binge-like eating. Additionally, we measured their anxiety-like behavior and plasma corticosterone levels. All mice showed binge-like eating in response to the intermittent WD access, but females did so to a greater extent than males. While orexin deficiency did not affect binge-like eating in this paradigm, we found that female orexin-deficient mice generally weighed more, and they expressed increased hypophagia and stress levels compared to wild-type mice following binge-like eating episodes. These detrimental effects of orexin deficiency were marginal or absent in males. Moreover, male wild-type mice expressed post-binge anxiety, but orexin-deficient mice did not. In conclusion, these results extend our knowledge of orexin's role in dysregulated eating and associated negative affective states, and contribute to the growing body of evidence indicating a sexual dimorphism of the orexin system. Considering that many human disorders, and especially eating disorders, have a strong sex bias, our findings further emphasize the importance of testing both female and male subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct and alterations in impulsiveness are often associated with psychiatric diseases, including drug addiction and binge eating disorder. Impulse control involves several brain regions. The present study assessed the role of the orexigenic, appetite stimulating neuropeptide orexin (OX) and the anorexigenic, appetite reducing neuropeptide cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) within the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) in impulse control in rats. The animals were ranked for their trait impulsivity based on a screening in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). The rats' performances were analysed after bilateral infusions of the OX 1-receptor antagonist SB-334867 (SB) and CART-antibodies (CART-ABs) into the NAcSh. After SB infusions, there was no change in premature responses observed on average. Further analysis revealed a negative linear correlation between the effect of intra-NAcSh SB infusions on premature responses and trait impulsivity. The effect of SB ranged from an increase, no change to a decrease in premature responses in the individual animals with increasing trait impulsivity. Infusions of CART-ABs led to consistently enhanced impulse control with fewer irrelevant actions, independent of trait impulsivity. These data suggest that both OX, especially OX A, and CART in the NAcSh, can be considered endogenous regulators of impulsive action, dependent on underlying impulsivity in the case of OX and independent from trait impulsivity in the case of CART. • Blocking accumbal shell OX1Rs reduces impulsive action dependent on trait impulsivity. • Blocking accumbal shell CART enhances impulse control independent from trait impulsivity. • OX and CART in the NAcSh are endogenous regulators of impulsive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles published in the journal on the subject of U.S. presidential decision making concerning the use of force, particularly political and partisan aspects of such decisions.

I ask whether variations in electoral systems affect the conflict behavior of democratic leaders, specifically the timing of that conflict. Building from theories of political accountability and agency loss, I argue that the degree of agency loss coupled with variations in the principals that hold leaders accountable affects the timing of conflict in democratic systems. The results confirm the expectation that leaders in candidate-centered systems are more likely to 'gamble for resurrection' as the next election approaches than are party-centered executives given the differences in the ability of their principals to select, sanction, and monitor them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

War heightens public interest in politics, especially when human lives are lost. We examine whether, and how, combat casualties affect the decision to vote in established democracies. Drawing from social psychology research on mortality salience, we expect increasing casualties to increase the salience of death, information that moves people to defend their worldview, especially nationalistic and ideological values. By heightening the importance of values, we propose that combat casualties increase the benefits of voting. In particular, we expect the effect of combat casualties to be pronounced among the least politically engaged. Using both cross-national data of elections in 23 democracies over a 50-year period and survey data from the United States and United Kingdom during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, we found that mounting casualties increase turnout. Furthermore, as expected, we found the effect of casualties to be most pronounced among those least interested in politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azulene (Az) is a non-alternating, aromatic hydrocarbon composed of a five-membered, electron-rich and a seven-membered, electron-poor ring; an electron distribution that provides intrinsic redox activity. By varying the attachment points of the two electrode-bridging substituents to the Az center, the influence of the redox functionality on charge transport is evaluated. The conductance of the 1,3 Az derivative is at least one order of magnitude lower than those of the 2,6 Az and 4,7 Az derivatives, in agreement with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, only 1,3 Az exhibits pronounced nonlinear current-voltage characteristics with hysteresis, indicating a bias-dependent conductance switching. DFT identifies the LUMO to be nearest to the Fermi energy of the electrodes, but to be an active transport channel only in the case of the 2,6 and the 4,7 Az derivatives, whereas the 1,3 Az derivative uses the HOMO at low and the LUMO+1 at high bias. In return, the localized, weakly coupled LUMO of 1,3 Az creates a slow electron-hopping channel responsible for the voltage-induced switching due to the occupation of a single molecular orbital (MO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azulen (Az) ist ein nicht ‐ alternierender aromatischer Kohlenwasserstoff, der aus einem elektronenreichen Ring mit fünf und einem elektronenarmen Ring mit sieben Gliedern besteht. Diese Elektronenverteilung führt zu einer intrinsischen Redoxaktivitiät. Durch Variieren der Befestigungspunkte der beiden elektrodenverbindenden Substituenten am Az ‐ Zentrum wird der Einfluss der Redoxfunktionalität auf den Ladungstransport untersucht. Die Leitfähigkeit des 1,3 ‐ Az ‐ Derivats ist dabei mindestens eine Größenordnung geringer als die der 2,6 ‐ Az ‐ und 4,7 ‐ Az ‐ Derivate, in Übereinstimmung mit Resultaten der Dichtefunktionaltheorie (DFT). Außerdem weist nur 1,3 ‐ Az eine ausgeprägt nichtlineare Strom ‐ Spannungs ‐ Kennlinie mit Hysterese auf, was durch einen spannungsabhängigen Schaltvorgang ausgelöst wird. Die DFT ‐ Ergebnisse zeigen weiter, dass das LUMO einerseits am nächsten bei der Fermi ‐ Energie der Elektroden liegt, andererseits aber nur bei den 2,6 ‐ und 4,7 ‐ Az ‐ Derivaten den aktiven Ladungskanal darstellt, während das 1,3 ‐ Az ‐ Derivat bei niedriger Spannung das HOMO und bei hoher Spannung das LUMO+1 verwendet. Im Gegenzug schafft das lokalisierte, nur schwach gekoppelte LUMO des 1,3 ‐ Az einen zusätzlichen, langsamen Transportkanal für Elektronenhopping, das für den spannungsinduzierte Schaltvorgang aufgrund der Besetzung eines einzelnen Molekülorbitals (MO) verantwortlich ist. Durch Veränderung der Ansatzpunkte am Azulen ‐ Zentrum lässt sich der Einfluss der Redoxfunktionalität auf den Ladungstransport ermitteln. Von den drei Substituenten zeigte das 1,3 ‐ Az ‐ Derivat ein nichtlineares und hysteretisches Transportverhalten. DFT ‐ Rechnung ergeben, dass sein schwach gekoppeltes LUMO aufgeladen werden kann, was zu einem Transportmechanismus führt, an dem zusätzlich langsames Elektronen ‐ Hopping beteiligt ist, das für den Schaltvorgang auf Basis einer einfachen MO ‐ Besetzung verantwortlich ist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Determining the optimal treatment for biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is challenging. OBJECTIVE:We evaluated the ability of CCP score (a prognostic RNA expression signature) to discriminate between systemic disease and local recurrence in patients with BCR after RP. METHODS: Sixty patients with BCR after RP were selected for analysis based on: 1) metastatic disease, 2) non-response to salvage external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), and 3) durable response to salvage EBRT. CCP scores were generated from the RNA expression of 46 genes. Logistic regression assessed the association between CCP score and patient group. RESULTS: Passing CCP scores were generated for 47 patients with complete clinical and pathologic data. CCP score predicted clinical status when comparing patients with metastatic disease or non-responders to salvage therapy to patients with durable response (p = 0.006). CCP score remained significantly predictive of clinical status after accounting for time to BCR, PSA level at BCR, and Gleason score (p = 0.0031). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated CCP score was associated with increased risk of systemic disease, indicating that CCP score may be useful in identifying patients with BCR who are most likely to benefit from salvage radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rats developed BE-like feeding on fat independent of impulsivity trait. • Blocking NAcSh OX1Rs reduces normal fat intake in rats dependent on impulsivity trait. • Blocking NAcSh OX1Rs does not affect bingeing on fat. • Blocking NAcSh CART does not affect normal or BE-like feeding on fat in freely fed rats. • OX1R density within the NAcSh is reduced in low-impulsive Rats bingeing on fat. Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder in the adult population. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of uncontrollable overconsumption of palatable food (PF). BED is connected to several comorbidities such as obesity, major depression, and substance use disorder, and was linked to heightened levels of impulsivity. The neurobiological basis of BED is however still vaguely known. Binge eating (BE) occurs without homeostatic needs, and therefore, relates to hedonic consumption of PF. A major brain structure in the control of hedonic feeding, and part of the network regulating impulsive action, is the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh). The present study in rats assessed the influence of trait impulsivity on the development of BE-like feeding and the role of the orexigenic neuropeptide orexin (OX) and the anorexigenic neuropeptide cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) within the NAcSh in a BE-model. The rats were initially ranked for their trait impulsivity based on a screening in the 5-choice serial reaction time task. They were subsequently introduced into a limited access-model to establish BE-like feeding with pure vegetable fat to examine a correlation between trait impulsivity and the development of BE-like feeding. The effect of bilateral infusions of the OX 1-receptor (OX1R) antagonist SB-334867 (SB) and CART-antibodies (CART-ABs) into the NAcSh was examined in relation to trait impulsivity. Further, accumbal OX1R density was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in rats with normal and BE-like feeding behavior. We found that all animals developed stable BE-like PF intake, independent of trait impulsivity and without differences in the dynamics. The blockade of accumbal OX1Rs effectively reduced PF intake only in the control group that had daily access to PF, with impulsivity trait as a decisive factor, pointing towards alterations in orexinergic transmission in the NAcSh of rats bingeing on pure fat. This was corroborated by a lower density of OX1Rs in the NAcSh of rats with BE-like feeding behavior, precisely, in low-impulsive bingeing rats. Regardless of impulsivity trait, antagonizing CART in the NAcSh did not affect PF intake of control or bingeing animals. This suggests that endogenous accumbal CART does not influence consummatory behavior in ad libitum-fed rats with access to fat, under both normal and BE-like feeding patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impairments in spatial and temporal integration of brain network activity are a core feature of schizophrenia. Neural network oscillatory activity is considered to be fundamentally important in coordinating neural activity throughout the brain. Hence, exploration of brain oscillations has become an indispensible tool to study the neural basis of mental illnesses. However, most of the studies in schizophrenia include medicated patients. This implicates the question to what extent are changes in the electrophysiological parameters genuine illness effects, genuine drug effects or a mixture of both. We here provide a short overview of the neuropharmacology of brain oscillations with respect to schizophrenia. The core assumption of the so-called “pharmaco-EEG” approach is that drug effects on mental and cognitive functions are reflected in changes in quantitative EEG parameters. Hence, clinical efficacy of drugs might be predicted on the basis of the neuropharmacology of electrophysiological measures, such as brain oscillations. Vice versa, knowledge of drug effects on brain oscillations can be of essence in understanding schizophrenia. However, the current literature lacks systematic findings, because of at least two problems. First, the pharmacology of most antipsychotic drugs is complex including interactions with several transmitter receptors. Second, the neuropathology of schizophrenia still has no pathognomonic signature. Even though it is presently not possible to clearly dissociate drug- and illness effects in neural oscillations, this review emphasizes future studies to foster the understanding of this relationship in schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleanable fabric filters such as bag filters are widely used in industrial processes to remove large quantities of solid particles from gas streams. Intrinsically, such a filtration process is as non-uniform as it is semi-continuous; that is, filter cake build-up processes are successively followed by a short-duration cleaning step. Moreover, heterogeneous flow conditions and, thus, concentrations of particles entering the filter housing and flowing toward the filter contribute to rather non-uniform filter conditions. Since cleaning is not necessarily performed in a homogeneous manner, and patches of cake might remain on the filter fabric, the subsequent filtration is also non-uniform. Finally, the filter medium itself is largely heterogeneous certainly on micro-, but often also on a macro-scale. The influence of a heterogeneous dust concentration as a common filter non-uniformity is investigated on filter performance, i.e., pressure drop increase as a measure for filter cycle cleaning frequency being a precursor for filter life-time, dust emissions and operating costs. Laboratory tests were performed whereby the pressure increase curves are recorded at basically constant gas flow. As a baseline the entire filter area was exposed to a homogeneous dust concentration. Comparatively the filtration area was split into two zones where cake formation occurred under a high and a low particle concentration mimicking a distinctive heterogeneous dust concentration situation. The transient pressure increase profiles of both, the homogeneous and heterogeneous cake formation situation, were compared with each other. The apparent filter cake resistance was slightly higher under homogeneous dust concentration conditions, i.e., the pressure drop increased faster compared with the situation of a heterogeneous dust concentration. These results suggest that, in practical terms, a filter exposed to non-uniform dust concentrations exhibits a better overall performance. Consequently aiming for a most uniform dust concentration is to no avail, though often intended in industrial operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the reliability of food safety studies carried out in rodents with genetically modified (GM) crops, a Food Safety Study Reliability Tool (FSSRTool) was adapted from the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods' (ECVAM) ToxRTool. Reliability was defined as the inherent quality of the study with regard to use of standardized testing methodology, full documentation of experimental procedures and results, and the plausibility of the findings. Codex guidelines for GM crop safety evaluations indicate toxicology studies are not needed when comparability of the GM crop to its conventional counterpart has been demonstrated. This guidance notwithstanding, animal feeding studies have routinely been conducted with GM crops, but their conclusions on safety are not always consistent. To accurately evaluate potential risks from GM crops, risk assessors need clearly interpretable results from reliable studies. The development of the FSSRTool, which provides the user with a means of assessing the reliability of a toxicology study to inform risk assessment, is discussed. Its application to the body of literature on GM crop food safety studies demonstrates that reliable studies report no toxicologically relevant differences between rodents fed GM crops or their non-GM comparators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why are some authoritarian regimes so quick to surrender amid lower numbers of casualties while others prove willing to incur significant casualty counts to continue their war efforts? In this study, we explore the propensity of different authoritarian regime types to sustain casualties in interstate conflicts. We argue that authoritarian leaders with smaller winning coalitions find it easier to distribute the costs of militarized conflicts outside of those coalitions. This diminishes their sensitivity to casualties. Applying a theoretical model based on an inverse divide-the-dollar game (with respect to the distribution of public "bads"), we find that personalist regimes tend to sustain the highest number of casualties in militarized interstate disputes when compared to other autocracies. Our findings suggest that along with the audience cost abilities of an autocratic adversary, target states should also consider an autocratic regime's casualty sensitivity in deciding whether to reciprocate with military action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid modernization in the East Sepik (ES) Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is resulting in a decrease in individuals knowledgeable in medicinal plant use. Here we report a synthesis and comparison of traditional medicinal plant use from four ethnically distinct locations in the ES Province and furthermore compare them to two other previous reports of traditional plant use from different provinces of PNG. Methods: This manuscript is based on an annotated combination of four Traditional Medicines (TM) survey reports generated by University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) trainees. The surveys utilized a questionnaire titled "Information sheet on traditional herbal preparations and medicinal plants of PNG", administered in the context of the TM survey project which is supported by WHO, US NIH and PNG governmental health care initiatives and funding. Regional and transregional comparison of medicinal plant utilization was facilitated by using existing plant databases: the UPNG TM Database and the PNG Plant Database (PNG Plants) using Bayesian statistical analysis. Results: Medicinal plant use between four distinct dialect study areas in the ES Province of PNG showed that only a small fraction of plants had shared use in each area, however usually utilizing different plant parts, being prepared differently and to treat different medical conditions. Several instances of previously unreported medicinal plants could be located. Medicinally under- and over-utilized plants were found both in the regional reports and in a transregional analysis, thus showing that these medicinal utilization frequencies differ between provinces. Conclusions: Documentation of consistent plant use argues for efficacy and is particularly important since established and effective herbal medicinal interventions are sorely needed in the rural areas of PNG, and unfortunately clinical validation for the same is often lacking. Despite the existence of a large corpus of medical annotation of plants for PNG, previously unknown medical uses of plants can be uncovered. Furthermore, comparisons of medicinal plant utilization is possible if databases are reformatted for consistencies that allow comparisons. A concerted effort in building easily comparable databases could dramatically facilitate ethnopharmacological analysis of the existing plant diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We studied a primary culture developed from a biopsy of a clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (O-CCC) by (a) assessing its capacity to retain in vitro pathological features of the tumor of origin; (b) characterizing the main cells released from the complex mass without forced purification of any particular cellular entity; and (c) investigating its long-term proliferative capacity. Methods: A primary cell culture was developed from a pelvic mass diagnosed as an O-CCC. The morphological analysis of the cell culture was carried out by phase contrast microscopy. Markers of epithelial, mesenchymal, and tumor initiating cells were evaluated by immunocytochemistry. Cell proliferation was studied by detection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporated into newly synthesized DNA. As a biomarker of O-CCC, we assessed the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) 1β. Results: We show that cells with epithelial morphological features express E-cadherin and expand with time in culture, a fact that the incorporation of BrdU confirms. Cells with mesenchymal-like characteristics that express the mesenchymal marker vimentin, however, allocate to the edges of the epithelial compartment. Moreover, we found that some cells with epithelial features also expressed vimentin. At the beginning of incubation, over 60 % of primary cells expressed the O-CCC marker HNF1β; such percentage declined upon passaging. We show that epithelial not mesenchymal cells undergo DNA replication, and that few cells in both epithelial and mesenchymal compartments express the stem-like tumor antigen CD133. Conclusions: We provide proof-of-principle that cells separated in bulk from a biopsy of an O-CCC can be maintained in culture for several months, and that two consistent cellular compartments--one epithelial that retains the O-CCC marker HNF1β, and another mesenchymal--persist, and seem to have a cooperative interaction leading to the multiplication of epithelial cells within a mesenchymal cellular environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic brain implants are accompanied by a tissue response that causes the loss of neurons in the vicinity of the implant and the formation of a glial scar that is also referred to as foreign body response. Despite immense progress in the field of brain-computer interface (BCI) research the biocompatibility of chronic brain implants remains a primary concern in device design. Excitotoxic overstimulation of NMDA-receptors by extrasynaptic glutamate plays a pivotal role in cell death in the acute phase of the tissue reaction. In this study, we examined the effect of the uncompetitive NMDA-receptor antagonist memantine locally applied during cannula implantation in the caudal forelimb area (CFA) of the motor cortex (M1) in Lister Hooded rats on their behavioural performance in a skilled reaching and a rung-ladder task as well as in the open field. Moreover, the distribution of neurons and glial cells in the vicinity of the implant were assessed. Memantine improved the performance in the behavioural paradigms compared to controls and increased the number of surviving neurons in the vicinity of the implant even above basal levels accompanied by a reduction in astrocytic scar formation directly around the implant with no effect on the microglia/macrophage activation two and six weeks after cannula implantation. These findings suggest that memantine is a potential therapeutic agent in the acute phase of chronic foreign body implantation in the motor cortex in terms of increasing the viability of neurons adjacent to the implant and of improving the behavioural outcome after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Deficits in impulse control are prevalent in several neuropsychiatric disorders that are based on impaired frontostriatal communication. The ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are key substrates of impulse control in rats. The NAc core and shell are considered to be differentially involved suggesting a functional distinction between the connections of the vmPFC and particular NAc subregions concerning impulse control. Objectives/methods: In the present study, simultaneous inactivation of the rats' vmPFC and NAc core or shell by contralateral microinfusion of the GABA receptor agonist muscimol was used to investigate their relevance for impulse control in the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). Results: Disconnection of the vmPFC and NAc shell produced specific impairments in inhibitory control, indicated by significantly increased premature responding and an enhanced number of time-out responses, closely resembling the effects of bilateral inactivation of either the vmPFC or NAc shell previously reported using the same task. In contrast, disconnection of the vmPFC and NAc core only slightly increased the rate of omissions and latency of reward collection indicating attentional and motivational deficits. Conclusions: Our results extend previous findings indicating the functional specialisation of frontostriatal networks and show a differential contribution of specific vmPFC-NAc connections to behavioural control depending on the NAc subregion. We conclude that the regulation of impulse control in rats requires an intact connection between the vmPFC and the NAc shell, while the vmPFC-NAc core projection seems to be of minor importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In solid liquid filtration, textiles represent a key element of the setup where it represents the barrier between disperse solid particles and the filtrate. Among other characteristic textile data, the specific flow at standard test conditions is relevant information of filter performance. Nevertheless filter media with comparable characteristic data may exhibit quite different filter performance in terms of filtration rate and filtrate clarity. For a better description of the interaction between filter media and suspension the determination of the permeability distribution (PD) is proposed. This characteristic function is derived from filtration tests where the filtrate is obtained cumulatively over time at constant pressure. Experimental data show that for the same suspension different filter media with different mean permeability show different permeability distributions but also result in different specific cake resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A racemic,prenylated polyketide dimer, oxazinin A (1), was isolatedfrom a novel filamentous fungus in the class Eurotiomycetes,and its structure was elucidated spectroscopically. The pentacyclicstructure of oxazinin A (1) is a unique combination ofbenzoxazine, isoquinoline, and a pyran ring. Oxazinin A (1) exhibited antimycobacterial activity and modestly antagonized transientreceptor potential (TRP) channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design of highly efficient phosphorescent emitters based on metal- and heavy atom-free boron compounds has been demonstrated by taking advantage of the singlet fission process. The combination of a suitable molecular scaffold and appropriate electronic nature of the substituents has been utilized to tailor the phosphorescence emission properties in solution, neat solid, and in doped PMMA thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]