cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Editorial Commentary: Changing Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile and Emergence of New Virulent Strains

designated NAP1 by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing), emerged in North America in 2000 and in Europe a few years later [3–5]. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis has shown that BI/027 strains compose 2 distinct lineages that emerged in North America in the early to mid-1990s shortly after acquisition of a fluoroquinolone resistance–conferring mutation and a related conjugative transposon [6]. Hospital and institutional outbreaks due to fluoroquinolone-resistant BI/027 strains were notable for unprecedented incidence and severity of the associated CDI cases. In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Lim et al have documented a new outbreak strain in a multihospital setting in Melbourne, Australia, that, although not associated with a large number of cases, was associated with increased severity and higher mortality among those infected compared with other circulating strains in these hospitals [7]. This strain was initially thought to be the BI/027 strain based on results of the Xpert C. difficile PCR assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California) used as a diagnostic test on submitted stool specimens by the clinical laboratory. The Xpert C. difficile assay identifies presumptive 027 strains based on detection of the genes for toxin B (tcdB), binary toxin CDT (cdt), and a single base-pair (bp) deletion at position 117 in the gene coding for the anti-sigma factor TcdC (tcdC )[ 8]. When these stool specimens were cultured, and the recovered C. difficile isolates subjected to formal ribotype analysis, they turned out to be ribotype 244, not 027. Wholegenome sequencing analysis of strain 244 showed >10 000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms between this strain and a 027 strain, but placed 244 in the same clade as 027 and in agreement with results obtained earlier by microarray analysis [9]. Although the Xpert C. difficile PCR
Acetaldehyde accumulation in rat mammary tissue after an acute treatment with alcohol

Fil: Castro, Gerardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Gp.citefa - Centro de Investigaciones Toxicologicas (i); Argentina
Interaction of γ-COP with a transport motif in the D1 receptor C-terminus

Summary Truncations at the carboxyl termini of G protein-coupled receptors result in defective receptor biogenesis and comprise a number of inherited disorders. In order to evaluate the structural role of the C-terminus in G protein-coupled receptor biogenesis, we generated a series of deletion and substitution mutations in the dopamine D1 receptor and visualized receptor subcellular localization by fusion to a green fluorescent protein. Alanine substitutions of several hydrophobic residues within the proximal C-terminus resulted in receptor transport arrest in the ER. Agonist binding and coupling to adenylyl cyclase was also abolished. In contrast, substitutions conserving C-terminal hydrophobicity produced normal cell surface receptor expression, binding, and stimulatory function. A mechanism for the role of the C-terminus in D1 receptor transport was investigated by searching for candidate protein interactions. The D1 receptor was found to co-precipitate and associate in vitro directly with the γ-subunit of the COPI coatomer complex. In vitro pull-down assays confirmed that only the D1 C-terminus is required for COPI association, and that identical mutations causing disruption of receptor transport to the cell surface also disrupted binding to COPI. Furthermore, conservative mutations in the D1 C-terminus restored COPI association just as they restored cell surface transport. These results suggest that association between the coatomer complex and hydrophobic residues within the proximal C-terminus of the D1 receptor may serve an important role in receptor transport.
Interactions between the dorsal and the ventral pathways in mental rotation: An fMRI study

In this fMRI study, we examined the relationship between activations in the inferotemporal region (ventral pathway) and the parietal region (dorsal pathway), as well as in the prefrontal cortex (associated with working memory), in a modified mental rotation task. We manipulated figural complexity (simple vs. complex) to affect the figure recognition process (associated with the ventral pathway) and the amount of rotation (0° vs. 90°), typically associated with the dorsal pathway. The pattern of activation not only showed that both streams are affected by both manipulations, but also showed an overadditive interaction. The effect of figural complexity was greater for 90° rotation than for 0° in multiple regions, including the ventral, dorsal, and prefrontal regions. In addition, functional connectivity analyses on the correlations across the time courses of activation between regions of interest showed increased synchronization among multiple brain areas as task demand increased. The results indicate that both the dorsal and the ventral pathways show interactive effects of object and spatial processing, and they suggest that multiple regions interact to perform mental rotation.
A two-stage mixture model for pseudo feedback

Pseudo feedback is a commonly used technique to improve information retrieval performance. It assumes a few top-ranked documents to be relevant, and learns from them to improve the retrieval accuracy. A serious problem is that the performance is often very sensitive to the number of pseudo feedback documents. In this poster, we address this problem in a language modeling framework. We propose a novel two-stage mixture model, which is less sensitive to the number of pseudo feedback documents than an effective existing feedback model. The new model can tolerate a more flexible setting of the number of pseudo feedback documents without the danger of losing much retrieval accuracy.
Real-time electrochemical detection of ATP and H2O2 release in freshly isolated kidneys

Extracellular nucleotides such as adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species are essential local signaling molecules in the kidney. However, measurements of changes in the intersti...
Design Under Uncertainty Using Monte Carlo Simulation and Probabilistic Sufficiency Factor

Monte Carlo simulation is commonly employed to evaluate system probability of failure for problems with multiple failure modes in design under uncertainty. The probability calculated from Monte Carlo simulation has random errors due to limited sample size, which create numerical noise in the dependence of the probability on design variables. This in turn may lead the design to spurious optimum. A probabilistic sufficiency factor (PSF) approach is proposed that combines safety factor and probability of failure. The PSF represents a factor of safety relative to a target probability of failure, and it can be calculated from the results of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) with little extra computation. The paper presents the use of PSF with a design response surface (DRS), which fits it as function of design variables, filtering out the noise in the results of MCS. It is shown that the DRS for the PSF is more accurate than DRS for probability of failure or for safety index. The PSF also provides more information than probability of failure or safety index for the optimization procedure in regions of low probability of failure. Therefore, the convergence of reliability-based optimization is accelerated. The PSF gives a measure of safety that can be used more readily than probability of failure or safety index by designers to estimate the required weight increase to reach a target safety level. To reduce the computational cost of reliability-based design optimization, a variable -fidelity technique and deterministic optimization were combined with probabilistic sufficiency factor approach. Example problems were studied here to demonstrate the methodology.
Simian virus 40 is present in human lymphomas and normal blood.

Many independent studies have demonstrated Simian virus 40 (SV40) in normal and neoplastic human tissues. Clonal integration of virus in the DNA of several thyroid and bone tumors suggests a direct role for SV40 in some cancers. However, in most cases the role of SV40 remains unclear. This study determined the presence of SV40, by amplification followed by hybridization, in 266 normal and neoplastic blood and lymphoid samples. Amplification detected SV40 in 14% of non-auto immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) lymphomas, 28% of AIDS related lymphoma and 16% of peripheral blood lymphocytes from non-cancerous patients. No SV40 was detected in leukemia samples. Direct Southern blotting of SV40+ samples detected no virus, consistent with less than one viral genome in ten cells. Sequence analysis of SV40 in blood and lymphoid samples found sequences distinct from laboratory strains of SV40. The presence of limited quantities of SV40 in a small proportion of both normal and neoplastic tissues is suggestive an adventitious presence with no apparent direct role in blood and lymphoid cancers.
The cost of retrievals in what-if databases

Multiple scenarios are critical to what-if analysis. Alternate versions of a database are required. Each version is manipulated and updated as if it were the real database; however, only differences between the version and the real database are stored. Extensions to relational databases to support alternate versions include hypothetical relations and derived relations with exceptions. This paper introduces independently-updated views (IUVs) for creating multiple scenarios and analyzes the overhead for supporting different types of views and queries. The overhead is minimum for creating what-if scenarios based on aggregate views and on views which are small subsets of the database. In case of views which require retrieval of entire or large portions of base tables, the overhead can be high. >
On-die droop detector for analog sensing of power supply noise

Understanding the supply fluctuations of various frequency harmonics is essential to maximizing microprocessor performance. Conventional methods used for analog validation of the power delivery system fall short in one or more of the following areas. 1) Measurement accuracy in both frequency and time domains, especially for very high-frequency noise caused by large di/dt events. The multigigahertz power supply noise attenuates very quickly away from the die. Conventional approaches of measuring the noise at the pins of the package or at the die using capacitive probes are not accurate for multigigahertz clocks. For this reason, the observability of high-frequency on-die noise has been very tricky. 2) Implementation (e.g., delivery) of analog references to multiple areas across a "noisy" die, compactness/modularity of the measurement units, restraining assumptions inherent in the measurement circuit such as periodicity of the supply noise event. 3) Automation to enable a timely volume of measurements. The efficiency of the measurements is key to correlating a particular speed path to poser supply noise. To address these issues, this paper presents an on-die droop detector (ODDD), a scalable IC solution implemented and validated on a 90-nm process, for analog sensing of differential high-bandwidth supply noise.
Walter lifton's pioneering contributions to group work

Abstract Walter Lifton is an influential figure in group work. Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) leader, author, creator of films, and film strips—his accomplishments are many. He reviews his 50-year career in group work, his accomplishments, views, and development, and what he learned from the interview process
Design and implementation of a multi-channel multi-interface network

The use of multiple wireless channels has been advocated as one approach for enhancing network capacity. In many scenarios, hosts will be equipped with fewer radio interfaces than available channels. Under these scenarios, several protocols, which require interfaces to switch frequently, have been proposed. However, implementing protocols which require frequent interface switching in existing operating systems is non-trivial. In this paper, we identify the features needed in the operating system kernel for supporting frequent interface switching. We present a new channel abstraction module to support frequent interface switching. We identify modifications to interface device driver to reduce switching delay. The channel abstraction module, and an example multi-channel protocol that uses the module, have been implemented in a multi-channel multi-interface testbed. We also present results to quantify the overheads of frequent switching.
An experimental study on the use of unstable electrohydraulic valves for control

Single stage valves have their main spools stroked directly by solenoid actuators. They are cheaper and more reliable. Their use, however, is restricted to low bandwidth and low flow rate applications due to the limitation of the solenoid actuators. In a previous paper, a way proposed to alleviate the need for large solenoids in single stage valves by inducing spool instability using the transient flow forces, hence, improve the spool agility. In this paper, we study the underlying premise that the transient flow forces can be controlled by the "damping length". Models for both steady and transient flow forces that include viscous effects are developed. Various models are analyzed, compared using CFD analysis and correlated to experiments. It was found that the model for the spool dynamics using the various flow force models are consistent with experimental results as long as viscous effects are taken into account. Both magnitude studies and experiments show that "damping lengths" and transient flow forces significantly affect spool agility. CFD studies also indicate that viscosity is an important factor to consider while modeling fluid flow forces.
Axenic Culture of Myxamoebae of the Myxomycete Physarum polycephalum

Myxamoebae of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum have been cultured axenically in a soluble medium. The growth medium contains bovine serum albumin, embryo extracts, liver infusion broth, peptone, and glucose. Cell densities ranging from 3 × 106 to 5 × 106 cells/ml have been obtained with this medium. To date, myxamoebae have been serially transferred more than 100 times without deleterious effect.
A “Rag Quilt”: Social Relationships Among Students in a Special High School:

The experience of being a gifted student at a public residential high school was studied from the student perspective using ethnographic and phenomenological inquiry. The social system that emerged...
Adenosine deaminase-deficient mice: models for the study of lymphocyte development and adenosine signaling.

PEG-ADA treatment of ADA-deficient mice will serve as a useful in vivo system to biochemically manipulate adenosine levels and signaling. The fact that correction of adenosine levels corresponds with relief of the pulmonary distress, but not immune dysfunction, in ADA-deficient mice suggests that hyperactive adenosine signaling influences the eosinophilia, elevated IgE levels, alveolar defects, and severe inflammation and damage seen in the lungs of the mice. 26
Urinary level of CA19-9 as a tumor marker in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Purpose: To diagnose the urothelial carcinoma of the bladder by measuring CA19-9 level in the urine. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 47 patients with histopathologically confirmed urothelial cancer and 50 control subjects. The urinary level of CA19-9 was measured in both groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after concentration of urine with Bio-Gel dry beads. Urine cytology was also done in both controls and patients. Results: The mean urinary level of CA19-9 was 194.59 ± 110.56 u/mL in patients and 11.67 ± 8.42 u/mL in controls ( P = .0001). The mean urinary level of CA19-9 in patients with low-grade and high-grade bladder cancer was 206.56 ± 114.56 u/mL and 174.80 ± 94.06 u/mL, respectively ( P = .56). Urine cytology by Papanicolaou stain was mostly negative. Conclusion: It can be concluded that CA19-9 may be a useful non-invasive test to diagnose the urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
Micromagnetic Investigation of Periodic Cross-Tie/Vortex Wall Geometry

A systematic series of micromagnetic simulations on periodic cross-tie/vortex wall structures in an ideal soft film at various widths, thicknesses, and period lengths is performed. For each width and thickness a natural period length is found which has minimal energy density for walls of this type. For each width, a critical thickness is determined below which the natural period length is infinite; for films thinner than this, the pure Neel wall has lower energy than any cross-tie/vortex wall. Details of the origin of the energy reduction in cross-tie/vortex walls as compared to Neel walls are also examined, and canting inside cross-tie and vortex structures in films thicker than 1 is explained.
Sex- and age-related differences in the prognostic value of C-reactive protein in patients with angiographic coronary artery disease.

Purpose To determine whether sex and age affect serum C-reactive protein level and its prognostic value in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods In a consecutive series of 2254 patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease, baseline C-reactive protein and predictive value for incident death or nonfatal myocardial infarction by sex and age ( Results Overall, women had higher geometric mean C-reactive protein levels than did men (1.47 vs. 1.30 mg/dL, P P = 0.002). High C-reactive protein levels were associated with increased mortality or myocardial infarction among men (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5 to 2.3) but not among women (HR = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.4). Among patients aged Conclusion We found that the prognostic value of C-reactive protein in coronary artery disease patients varied by sex and age. This sex-age interaction may have important implications for C-reactive protein–based secondary risk assessment and requires further investigation.
New interferometric observations of Ar i in the photographic region

The region 3173–11 672 A of Ar i, originating in a microwave-excited electrodeless source, has been reinvestigated by means of a temperature-controlled Fabry–Perot interferometer in vacuum. There were a total of 307 lines compared with the primary standard, the 6057 A line of 86Kr. The standard source was a microwave-excited electrodeless tube operated at the triple point of nitrogen. Spacers of 6, 30, 50, and 80 mm were used. The results are listed along with those of previous investigations in chronological order up to and including the most-recent publication of Norlen. In general, our wavelength values are lower than Norlen’s. Most of the observed lines are suitable for use as standards; we identify those that are not suitable because they show doublet structure. Calculated wavelengths based on presently determined level values are also given along with the experimental wavelength values. Particularly for wavelengths greater than 7000 A, the line sharpness is such that spacers longer than 100 mm may be used in future investigations.
Temporal patterns (TRAPs) in ASR of noisy speech

We study a new approach to processing temporal information for automatic speech recognition (ASR). Specifically, we study the use of rather long-time temporal patterns (TRAPs) of spectral energies in place of the conventional spectral patterns for ASR. The proposed neural TRAPs are found to yield significant amount of complementary information to that of the conventional spectral feature based ASR system. A combination of these two ASR systems is shown to result in improved robustness to several types of additive and convolutive environmental degradations.
Symanzik’s local effective Lagrangian for SLAC lattice QCD

We consider, in the context of SLAC lattice QCD, the concept of the local effective Lagrangian introduced by Symanzik in his improvement program for lattice quantum field theory. We reemphasize that the respective local effective Lagrangian adds effective large-distance interactions to the local continuum QCD Lagrangian. Some applications of these interactions are discussed.
Complementary and alternative medicine in predoctoral dental curricula: an exploratory survey of U.S. dental schools.

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) education in U.S. dental schools. A survey was administered via e-mail to each U.S. dental school’s academic dean, and data were collected from respondents in a fillable PDF form submitted electronically to the study investigators. The survey asked respondents whether CAM was taught at the institution; if the response was yes, information was requested regarding the CAM therapies included, credentials of the instructor, number of hours taught, reason for teaching CAM, and format in which CAM was taught. Of the sixty dental schools contacted, twenty-two responded to the survey (37 percent response rate). Of these respondents, ten (45.5 percent) reported offering instruction in CAM as part of their predoctoral curricula. Herb/drug interactions were found to be taught with more frequency than any other CAM topic (in six out of the ten institutions). Limitations of the study are discussed, and suggestions for future studies are made.
Educating the Vulnerable: Exploring the Achievement Gaps of Out-of-School Children in Tanzania

The United Nations’ Education for All (EFA) initiative (WCEFA, 1990) has been influencing national policy efforts around the globe to enroll all children in primary school for over two decades. Given this policy discourse, development initiatives have focused on increasing student enrollment at the primary and secondary school levels, which aligns with Tanzania’s pledged international education targets under the Dakar Framework for Action of Education for All goal of universal primary education. Yet, despite significant efforts to expand access to education, student literacy and numeracy outcomes remain significantly deficient (Uwezo, 2012). Although more children are enrolled in school, they are not learning the core skills and competencies expected at their age and grade level. Furthermore, for quality education to become a reality, students not only need to become enrolled in school, but they also need to be supported to stay in school. Out-of-school children who never enroll in school or who drop out are the focus of this study. This paper will present findings from a secondary data analysis of the 2011 Uwezo national assessment in Tanzania, where the following research question was asked: What are the achievement gaps between the children in school and the children not in school?
Safety Analysis of the Advanced Airspace Concept using Monte Carlo Simulation

Safe separation of aircraft is a primary objective of all air traffic control systems. A probabilistic risk analysis of a next-generation air traffic control operational concept was conducted using Monte Carlo simulation. Results indicate that this safety-critical system would have a mean time between mid-air collisions of about 281 years in enroute airspace, which is around the desired target for an automated separation assurance function. Among the simulation trials that ended with mid-air collision, most involved failure to locate and track aircraft through radar or satellite positioning systems with the remainder due to conflict detection failure.
Implications of Harvest on the Boundaries of Protected Areas for Large Carnivore Viewing Opportunities

The desire to see free ranging large carnivores in their natural habitat is a driver of tourism in protected areas around the globe. However, large carnivores are wide-ranging and subject to human-caused mortality outside protected area boundaries. The impact of harvest (trapping or hunting) on wildlife viewing opportunities has been the subject of intense debate and speculation, but quantitative analyses have been lacking. We examined the effect of legal harvest of wolves (Canis lupus) along the boundaries of two North American National Parks, Denali (DNPP) and Yellowstone (YNP), on wolf viewing opportunities within the parks during peak tourist season. We used data on wolf sightings, pack sizes, den site locations, and harvest adjacent to DNPP from 1997-2013 and YNP from 2008-2013 to evaluate the relationship between harvest and wolf viewing opportunities. Although sightings were largely driven by wolf population size and proximity of den sites to roads, sightings in both parks were significantly reduced by harvest. Sightings in YNP increased by 45% following years with no harvest of a wolf from a pack, and sightings in DNPP were more than twice as likely during a period with a harvest buffer zone than in years without the buffer. These findings show that harvest of wolves adjacent to protected areas can reduce sightings within those areas despite minimal impacts on the size of protected wolf populations. Consumptive use of carnivores adjacent to protected areas may therefore reduce their potential for non-consumptive use, and these tradeoffs should be considered when developing regional wildlife management policies.
BRG1 in the Nucleus Accumbens Regulates Cocaine-Seeking Behavior.

Abstract Background Drug addiction is defined as a chronic disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and episodes of relapse despite prolonged periods of drug abstinence. Neurobiological adaptations, including transcriptional and epigenetic alterations in the nucleus accumbens, are thought to contribute to this life-long disease state. We previously demonstrated that the transcription factor SMAD3 is increased after 7 days of withdrawal from cocaine self-administration. However, it is still unknown which additional factors participate in the process of chromatin remodeling and facilitate the binding of SMAD3 to promoter regions of target genes. Here, we examined the possible interaction of BRG1 — also known as SMARCA4, an adenosine triphosphatase–containing chromatin remodeler — and SMAD3 in response to cocaine exposure. Methods The expression of BRG1, as well as its binding to SMAD3 and target gene promoter regions, was evaluated in the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum of rats using western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation following abstinence from cocaine self-administration. Rats were assessed for cocaine-seeking behaviors after either intra-accumbal injections of the BRG1 inhibitor PFI3 or viral-mediated overexpression of BRG1. Results After withdrawal from cocaine self-administration, BRG1 expression and complex formation with SMAD3 are increased in the nucleus accumbens, resulting in increased binding of BRG1 to the promoter regions of Ctnnb1 , Mef2d , and Dbn1 . Intra-accumbal infusion of PFI3 attenuated, whereas viral overexpression of Brg1 enhanced, cocaine-reinstatement behavior. Conclusions BRG1 is a key mediator of the SMAD3-dependent regulation of cellular and behavioral plasticity that mediates cocaine seeking after a period of withdrawal.
Early Postmenopausal Transdermal 17β-Estradiol Therapy and Amyloid-β Deposition.

Background: It remains controversial whether hormone therapy in recently postmenopausal women modifies the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective: To investigate the effects of hormone therapy on amyloid-β deposition in recently postmenopausal women. Methods: Participants within 5–36 months past menopause in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study, a randomized, double blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial, were randomized to: 1) 0.45 mg/day oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE); 2) 50μg/day transdermal 17β-estradiol; or 3) placebo pills and patch for four years. Oral progesterone (200 mg/day) was given to active treatment groups for 12 days each month. 11C Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET imaging was performed in 68 of the 118 participants at Mayo Clinic approximately seven years post randomization and three years after stopping randomized treatment. PiB Standard unit value ratio (SUVR) was calculated. Results: Women (age = 52–65) randomized to transdermal 17β-estradiol (n = 21) had lower PiB SUVR compared to placebo (n = 30) after adjusting for age [odds ratio (95% CI) = 0.31(0.11–0.83)]. In the APOE ɛ4 carriers, transdermal 17β-estradiol treated women (n = 10) had lower PiB SUVR compared to either placebo (n = 5) [odds ratio (95% CI) = 0.04(0.004–0.44)], or the oral CEE treated group (n = 3) [odds ratio (95% CI) = 0.01(0.0006–0.23)] after adjusting for age. Hormone therapy was not associated with PiB SUVR in the APOE ɛ4 non-carriers. Conclusion: In this pilot study, transdermal 17β-estradiol therapy in recently postmenopausal women was associated with a reduced amyloid-β deposition, particularly in APOE ɛ4 carriers. This finding may have important implications for the prevention of AD in postmenopausal women, and needs to be confirmed in a larger sample.
Model management systems for operations research: a prospectus

As modeling becomes more important in our business and decision-making activities, the need for versatile modeling systems becomes more intense. The prevailing paradigm of DSS views model management as one of the three main components of a DSS [20]. The notion of a model management system (MMS) to support this function has been around for 10 years or so [21], yet the development of MMS’s has occurred largely on an ad hoc basis. No MMS on a scale equivalent to existing database management systems (DBMS) currently exists.
Effects of Endurance-Focused Physical Activity Interventions on Brain Health A Systematic Review

Physical activity intervention studies that focus on improving cognitive function in older adults have increasingly used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures in addition to neurocognitive measures to assess effects on the brain. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the effects of endurance-focused physical activity randomized controlled trial (RCT) interventions on the brain as measured by MRI in community-dwelling middle-aged or older adults without cognitive impairment. Five electronic databases were searched. The final sample included six studies. None of the studies reported racial or ethnic characteristics of the participants. All studies included neurocognitive measures in addition to MRI. Five of the six interventions included laboratory-based treadmill or supervised bike exercise sessions, while one included community-based physical activity. Physical activity measures were limited to assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness and, in one study, pedometer. Due to the lack of adequate data reported, effect sizes were calculated for only one study for MRI measures and two studies for neurocognitive measures. Effect sizes ranged from d = .2 to .3 for MRI measures and .2 to .32 for neurocognitive measures. Findings of the individual studies suggest that MRI measures may be more sensitive to the effects of physical activity than neurocognitive measures. Future studies are needed that include diverse, community-based participants, direct measures of physical activity, and complete reporting of MRI and neurocognitive findings.
Phase II study of low-dose methotrexate to reduce the incidence of human anti-mouse antibodies in patients receiving I-131 tositumomab as first-line treatment for follicular lymphoma.

e19519 Background: I-131 tositumomab is a radiolabeled murine anti-CD20 antibody. In a frontline phase II follicular lymphoma (FL) trial, treatment with I-131 tositumomab produced a 95% ORR with 75% CR (NEJM 352:441, 2005). Median PFS was 6.1 yrs. However, 30% of patients (pts) developed high levels of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) and a serum sickness syndrome within 7 weeks of treatment (early onset HAMA). The 5-yr PFS for this group was 35% compared to 70% for the others (p = 0.003). Low-dose oral methotrexate (mtx) reduces the incidence of human anti-chimeric antibody (HACA) formation in rheumatoid arthritis pts receiving infliximab. We hypothesized that low-dose mtx would likewise reduce the incidence of early onset HAMA when given in combination with I-131 tositumomab. Methods: This is a single arm, phase II study in pts with FL, grade 1-2, stage III or IV disease without limits on marrow involvement, and ≥ 1 of the GELF criteria. Prior therapy, other than focal radiotherapy, is not allowed. Pt...
Exploration and Exploitation of Developers' Sentimental Variations in Software Engineering

Software development is highly dependent on human efforts and collaborations, which are immensely affected by emotions. This paper presents a quantitative empirical study of the emotional variations in different types of development activities e.g., bug-fixing tasks, development periods i.e., days and times and in projects of different sizes involving teams of variant sizes. The study also includes an in-depth investigation of emotions' impacts on software artifacts i.e., commit messages and exploration of scopes for exploiting emotional variations in software engineering activities. This work is based on careful analyses of emotions in more than 490 thousand commit comments across 50 open-source projects. The findings from this work add to our understanding of the role of emotions in software development, and expose scopes for exploitation of emotional awareness in improved task assignments and collaborations.
Recovery Blasts in the Peripheral Blood in AML Patients Who Obtain a Complete Remission Is a Favorable Prognostic Indicator

Abstract Introduction: Many patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) will transiently develop blasts in the peripheral blood upon recovery of induction chemotherapy, despite going on to obtain a complete remission. These are presumably non-leukemic marrow blasts. Recovery blasts can sometimes reach over 20% in the peripheral blood in remission patients. The significance of recovery blasts cells after induction chemotherapy in patients with AML is not clear. We sought to define the incidence of recovery blastocytosis (RB) and determine if the presence of RB has prognostic relevance. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 72 patients with newly diagnosed AML who underwent induction chemotherapy with 7+3 (cytarabine and daunorubicin) with or without etoposide between the years of 2006 and 2013 at our institution. Patients were included in the analysis as having RB only if their blasts resolved by day 14 of induction chemotherapy, blasts reappeared upon recovery after day 14, recovery blasts were > 5% in the peripheral blood of a duration of >5 days, and subsequently resolved by day 45 and remission was obtained. We recorded patient’s absolute and percentage peripheral blast counts on presentation, upon nadir and throughout recovery of induction chemotherapy. The incidence and level of RB in patients who achieved a remission was tabulated. This group (group 1) was compared to the patients who achieved a remission whom did not develop RB (group 2). Results: 45/77 AML patients obtained a CR after induction chemotherapy. Recovery blasts were seen in 9/45 (20%) remission patients (group 1), with a median RB of 9% for a median duration of 8 days. Of these 9 patients, 4 developed RB > 10%, and 2 developed RB >20 % Group 1 did not differ in respect to age, gender, cytogenetic profile, etoposide use, or whether the patient received 1 or 2 induction therapies from the 36/45 remission AML patients who did not develop RB (group 2). Median survival for group 1 was = 1,376 days, and 1,036 days for group 2 (p= .035). Conclusion: Recovery Blasts in the peripheral blood after induction chemotherapy is seen commonly in AML patients who obtain a complete remission. RB can be seen even as high as > 20% in remission patients. AML patients who develop RB on their way to remission after induction chemotherapy have a better overall survival then patients who do not develop RB. Download : Download high-res image (66KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 1 . Graph 1. Kaplan-Meier survival curves for AML patients with RB (group 1) and without RB (group 2). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A Importância da Brincadeira no Desenvolvimento Cognitivo Infantil

A brincadeira sempre esteve presente no cotidiano infantil. O brincar e inerente ao ser humano, assim como inumeras outras acoes. E atraves dela que a crianca desenvolve seu lado criativo, imaginativo e social. Esse ato que acreditamos ser uma condicao da infância, e considerado por muitos estudiosos imprescindivel ao ser. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar a importância da brincadeira para a constituicao do desenvolvimento intelectual das criancas e seu contexto pedagogico em instituicoes infantis. Embasados em Vigotsky e outros estudiosos, o trabalho justifica-se por entender que brincar e essencial para consolidar o pleno desenvolvimento infantil transformando e construindo novos significados.
THE THIOPROPIONYL DERIVATIVES OF CYTOCHROME C

s-Thiopropionyl derivatives of horse cytochrome c singly-modified at each of 19 different lysine e-amino groups have been prepared by a procedure involving the intermediate formation of a biotinylated compound which allows the bulk separation of the modified from the unmodified protein by binding to avidin-biotin-Agarose. Subsequent purification of individual mono-derivatives was achieved using high pressure liquid chromatography. The lysine modified on each mono- derivative was determined following reaction of the sulfhydryl with [3H] —iodoacetate, by digestion with Chymotrypsin, separation of the resulting peptides by HPLC, isolation of the radioactive peptide and its identification by amino acid composition analysis. Polarographic assays of the reaction of the s-thiopropionyl derivatives with the oxidase of beef heart mitochondrial particle preparations showed that, in the high affinity phase of the system, the order of decreasing activities was qualitatively similar to that observed earlier for other chemical modifications changing the charge of these lysines from positive to negative, specifically the carboxydinitrophenyl-derivatives [Brautigan et al.(1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 130-159] of horse cytochrome c. These s-thiopropionyl derivatives have the advantage over previous sets of derivatives of being very reactive with a variety of reagents such that an already purified mono-substituted derivative of cytochrome c can be further modified to yield a well characterized singly-substituted derivative of cytochrome c,with the second modifier at a known location, for use in fIuorescence, EPR, and other studies. The major limitation encountered is the instability of the s-thiopropionyl derivatives. However, this can be overcome by careful storage conditions and by reacting the derivatives with the secondary modifier as soon as the desired derivative is purified to homogeneity.
Metabolite profiling identifies anandamide as a biomarker of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

The discovery of metabolite-phenotype associations may highlight candidate biomarkers and metabolic pathways altered in disease states. We sought to identify novel metabolites associated with obesity and one of its major complications, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. In 997 individuals in Framingham Heart Study Generation 3 (FHS Gen 3), we identified an association between anandamide (AEA) and BMI. Further examination revealed that AEA was associated with radiographic hepatic steatosis. In a histologically defined NAFLD cohort, AEA was associated with NAFLD severity, the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and fibrosis. These data highlight AEA as a marker linking cardiometabolic disease and NAFLD severity.
Rh-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Aryl and Alkenyl Boronic Acids to α-Methylene-β-lactones: Stereoselective Synthesis of trans-3,4-Disubstituted β-Lactones

A one-step preparation of 3,4-disubstituted β-lactones through Rh-catalyzed conjugate addition of aryl or alkenyl boronic acids to α-methylene-β-lactones is described. The operationally simple, stereoselective transformation provides a broad range of β-lactones from individual α-methylene-β-lactone templates. This methodology allowed for a direct, final-step C-3 diversification of nocardiolactone, an antimicrobial natural product.
Advice to give advice

COMMENTARY ON: Matthew L. Stevens, Chung-Wei C. Lin, Flavia A. de Carvalho, Kevin Phan, Bart Koes, Chris G. Maher. Advice for acute low back pain: A comparison of what research supports and what guidelines recommend. The Spine Journal, In Press.
A dyadic Mbsr intervention for Parkinson’s disease patients/caregivers: Effects on distress, cortisol, and inflammation

As Parkinson’s disease (PD) progresses, stressors increase among PD patients and their caregivers, often impacting psychological and physical health. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs have been widely disseminated among clinical and healthy populations, demonstrating improvements in psychological and physical well-being. The present RCT examined pre-to-post changes in psychological and physiological outcomes of PD patients and their caregivers in an MBSR intervention compared to patients and caregivers in wait-list control. Repeated-measures ANOVA analyses comparing PD patients across conditions revealed an unexpected increase in psychological distress for PD patients in MBSR (p = 0.032), driven by a significant increase in intrusive thoughts (p = 0.015). However, as hypothesized, PD patients in MBSR demonstrated a significant decrease in nighttime cortisol (p = 0.021) and a significant decrease in IL-1β (p = 0.004), suggesting improvement in HPA functioning and inflammation stress markers, respectively. Repeated-measures ANOVA analyses comparing caregivers across conditions also revealed a significant decrease in diurnal cortisol slope (p = 0.044) for MBSR caregivers. Findings suggest that the effects of MBSR may increase psychological distress in the form of increased awareness of thoughts. However, MBSR appears to improve patients’ response to stress at the biological level – impacting both HPA functioning and inflammatory response. The effects of MBSR also demonstrated physiological benefit for PD caregivers in regard to their own internal stress response, suggesting clinical implications for the use of MBSR within the family system experiencing illness.
Flipping introductory programming classes using spinoza and agile pedagogy

In this paper we present a new approach to flipping large introductory programming classes that we call the Solve-Then-Debug approach. This is a Computer Supported Agile Teaching methodology in which students solve problems using a web-based IDE we created, Spinoza, and then start reviewing failed attempts by their peers to classify the errors and comment on them. The classification and comment information is then made available as a hint to those students still trying to solve the problem when they encounter a similar error. Spinoza provides a wide variety of visualizations and dashboards that allow the instructor to closely monitor the progress of the students in this activity and to pivot to another phase of the activity at the appropriate time. It also has features that allow the instructor to easily detect and intervene with students who have failed to demonstrate mastery of the skills and concepts covered in that lesson. Spinoza builds on the ideas behind several other recent systems and this paper demonstrates that the Solve-Then-Debug approach can successfully keep all students actively engaged in learning coding skills even when there is a large range of skills in the class.
Homeostatic chemokines and the targeting of regional immunity.

Tissue-selective trafficking of memory and effector T and B lymphocytes is mediated by unique combinations of adhesion molecules and chemokines. The discovery of several related epithelial-expressed chemokines (TECK/CCL25 in small intestine, CTACK/CCL27 in skin, and MEC/CCL28 in diverse mucosal sites) now highlights an important role for epithelial cells in controlling homeostatic lymphocyte trafficking, including the localization of cutaneous and intestinal memory T cells, and of IgA plasma cells. Constitutively expressed epithelial chemokines may help determine the character of local immune responses and contribute to the systemic organization of the immune system.
Triaxial testing and discrete-element modelling of geogrid-stabilised rail ballast

Geogrids have been found to improve the performance of unbound aggregate layers in transportation applications by providing confinement and arresting movement through interlock between individual a...
Parallel Grid Adaptation

A unified parallel algorithm for grid adaptation by local refinement/coarsening is presented. It is designed to have two unique features: independence from type of the grid, as well as from any particular parallel architecture. This is achieved by employing a generic data template which is configured to capture the data structures for any computational grid regardless of structure and dimensionality. The unified parallel algorithm is employed for dynamic adaptation of 3-D, unstructured tetrahedral grids on a partitioned memory MIMD architecture. Performance results are presented for the iPSC/860.
Functional and Ecological Effects of Isoform Variation in Insect Flight Muscle

Nearly all of the known structural molecules in insect flight muscles exist as multiple isoforms. Both post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms are responsible for this variability. Among these mechanisms, alternative splicing is noteworthy for the ability to create a large number of combinatorial arrangements of alternative exons. For example there are over 1K possible distinct combinations of the characterized isoforms of troponin-T and projectin, which are just two of the many alternatively spliced proteins in insect muscle. The potential number of combinatorial possibilities for larger suites of insect muscle proteins is exponentially larger, i.e., numbers that far exceed the total number of coding genes in the insect genome. Thus, isoform variation is a potent source of variation in insect flight muscle and other tissue types, and the control of alternative splicing and other mechanisms that generate protein isoforms is a likely target of natural selection. Presently we know very little about the realized extent of this potential to generate protein variation, and no studies have yet examined constraints such as coordinate regulation of isoform expression of multiple protein species within insect flight muscles.
Biologically Inspired Approaches to Network Systems

This chapter describes two branches of biologically inspired approaches to networks: biologically inspired computer networks (i.e., the bio-networking architecture) and biologically inspired nanoscale biological networks (i.e., molecular communication). The first branch, biologically inspired computer networks, applies techniques and algorithms from biological systems to the design and development of computer networks. The second branch, biologically inspired nanoscale biological networks, applies techniques and algorithms from biological systems to the design and engineering of nanoscale biological networks.
Carrier-Mediated Transport

This chapter describes the concept and potential of carrier-mediated transport, in which a specific carrier species is added to the membrane phase to selectively bind specific solutes present in the bathing solutions. The carrier provides an additional mechanism of transport through the membrane and, in so doing, generally accelerates the transport of specific permeants. Several modes are discussed—accelerated diffusion, coupled transport, and exchange transport—to illustrate how carrier-mediated transport membranes can be operated to achieve very high separations and purifications. Important factors to be considered in membrane design, such as reaction kinetics and diffusion rates, are reviewed. The creation of asymmetric transport properties by means of imposed spatial variations in membrane structure is demonstrated. The chapter concludes with an overview of a number of approaches that couple external energy sources (electrical and light) to these membranes and thereby allow modulation of transport rates.