cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Red Imported Fire Ant Impacts on Upland Arthropods in Southern Mississippi

Abstract Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) have negative impacts on a broad array of invertebrate species. We investigated the impacts of fire ants on the upland arthropod community on 20∼40 ha study sites in southern Mississippi. Study sites were sampled from 1997–2000 before, during, and after fire ant bait treatments to reduce fire ant populations. Fire ant abundance was assessed with bait transects on all sites, and fire ant population indices were estimated on a subset of study sites. Species richness and diversity of other ant species was also assessed from bait transects. Insect biomass and diversity was determined from light trap samples. Following treatments, fire ant abundance and population indices were significantly reduced, and ant species diversity and richness were greater on treated sites. Arthropod biomass, species diversity and species richness estimated from light trap samples were negatively correlated with fire ant abundance, but there were no observable treatment effects. S...
Vaccines and the future of human immunology

In this issue of Immunity, a collection of detailed reviews summarizes needs, opportunities, and roadblocks to the development of new vaccines, all in the context of our current knowledge and understanding of key aspects of immune function and microbial interactions with the host. This Perspective is designed to provide a broad overview that discusses our present limitations in designing effective novel vaccines for diseases that do not typically induce robust resistance in infected individuals and how the addition of a systems-level, multiplexed approach to the analysis of the human immune system can complement traditional highly focused research efforts to accelerate our progress toward this goal and the improvement of human health.
Combining satellite imagery with forest inventory data to assess damage severity following a major blowdown event in northern Minnesota, USA

Effects of a catastrophic blowdown event in northern Minnesota, USA were assessed using field inventory data, aerial sketch maps and satellite image data processed through the North American Forest Dynamics programme. Estimates were produced for forest area and net volume per unit area of live trees pre- and post-disturbance, and for changes in volume per unit area and total volume resulting from disturbance. Satellite image-based estimates of blowdown area were similar to estimates derived from inventory plots and aerial sketch maps. Overall accuracy of the image-based damage classification was over 90%. Compared to field inventory estimates, image-based estimates of post-blowdown mean volume per unit area were similar, but estimates of total volume loss were substantially larger, although inaccessibility of the most severely damaged inventory plots may have depressed the inventory-based estimate. This represents the first application of state model differencing to storm damage assessment. The image-based procedure can be applied to historical archives of satellite imagery and does not require pre-disturbance field inventory data.
Modern Correlation Theories for Extended, Periodic Systems

Recent progress on correlated methods for extended, periodic systems is briefly summarized. Special difficulties compared to finite systems such as convergence with infinite summations over lattices and integrations over reciprocal vectors are addressed. We also consider the comparative advantages of Bloch orbitals and Wannier orbitals. The applications of MBPT(2) to polymers for determining their equilibrium structures, vibrational frequences, XPS and UPS spectra, and band gaps are examined. It is shown that MBPT(2) corrections have significant contributions to all of the above quantities and make significant improvements to the HF results, especially for the XPS and UPS spectra.
New audiovisual equipment, technology, and operations.

(1970). New Audiovisual Equipment, Technology, and Operations. School Health Review: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 7-12.
Robust Statistical Geolocation of Internet Hosts

Measurement-based approaches to geolocation of Internet hosts typically employ active probes sent from a predetermined set of landmarks to the target with unknown location. A significant improvement of such approaches can be made by constructing kernel density estimators using measurement data of end-to-end delays among all landmarks within the set. However, obtaining the data for this statistical approach to geolocation can be time-consuming, whereas the measurements are not all of high quality due to the time-varying characteristics of the network. To overcome these drawbacks, an ordinal optimization scheme is proposed to determine a subset of the landmarks that will yield improved geolocation accuracy with substantially less overhead. Given a set of kernel density estimates obtained by the landmarks, an optimization-based approach, with differential evolution as the search engine, is developed to find the location of the target. Numerical results demonstrate the efficiency, accuracy, and robustness of the proposed geolocation scheme.
Teacher training enhances the teaching-learning-based optimisation metaheuristic when used to solve multiple-choice multidimensional knapsack problems

A new metaheuristic, the teaching-learning-based optimisation TLBO metaheuristic, based on the relationship between teachers and learners has recently been proposed by Rao, Savsani and Vakharia 2011 for solving continuous nonlinear optimisation problems. It is of particular interest because it is a population-based metaheuristic that can be easily adapted to solve combinatorial optimisation problems and requires no parameter fine-tuning other than determining the size of the population and convergence criteria. In this paper, we enhance the performance of the TLBO method by introducing 'teacher training' before the teaching phase of TLBO. That is, before the teaching phase of TLBO, we perform a local neighbourhood search on the best solution the teacher in the current population. The effectiveness of teacher training TT in terms of both solution quality and convergence rate will be demonstrated by using this approach TT-TLBO to solve a large 393 number of problem instances from the literature for the important NP-Hard multiple-choice multidimensional knapsack problem MMKP. Furthermore, we will demonstrate that TLBO outperforms the best published solution approaches for the MMKP.
Evaluating the Utility of Differential Privacy: A Use Case Study of a Behavioral Science Dataset

Healthcare datasets may contain information that participants and data collectors have a vested interest in keeping private. Additionally, social scientists who collect large amounts of medical data value the privacy of their survey participants. As they follow participants through longitudinal studies, they develop unique profiles of these individuals. A growing challenge for these researchers is to maintain the privacy of their study participants, while sharing their data to facilitate research. This chapter evaluates the utility of a differentially private dataset. There has been extensive work, and heightened public and governmental focus on the privacy of medical datasets. However, additional efforts are needed to help researchers and practitioners better understand the fundamental notion of privacy with regards to more recent techniques, like differential privacy. The results of the study align with the theory of differential privacy, showing that dimensionality is a challenge, and that when the number of records in the database is sufficiently larger than the number of cells covered by a database query, the number of statistical tests with results close to those performed on original data, increases.
Active extension in Taiwan's precollision zone: A new model of plate bending in continental crust

Recent multichannel seismic reflection data acquired offshore southwest Taiwan identify active extension along a deep-seated normal fault in the precollision setting of the Taiwan arc-continent collision. While ubiquitous minor flexural faulting may be observed in the Taiwan foreland, these new data image a listric, rift basin–bounding normal fault that penetrates deep into the crust and forms a significant fault scarp with ∼850 m of relief near the continental shelf break southwest of the Taiwan collision zone. These observations, along with new geodynamic models of collision between a subduction zone and a young passive margin, indicate that the recent extension may be the expression of plate bending in continental crust as thin transitional crust subducts at the Manila Trench. A similar extensional episode prior to the onset of arc-continent collision ca. 6.7 Ma has been identified in rift basins of the southern Chinese margin near Taiwan, further suggesting that collision may be preceded by bending-related extension of the continental shelf. The Lishan fault, a major structural and morphologic boundary in the Taiwan orogen, may have been a similar rift basin–bounding fault before being reactivated during the Taiwan arc-continent collision. In this scenario, the Lishan fault divides Taiwan into a western domain representing collision of the thick crust of the continental shelf and an eastern domain representing subduction and collision of thin transitional crust along the continental slope with the Manila Trench.
Kinetics-Driven Superconducting Gap in Underdoped Cuprate Superconductors Within the Strong-Coupling Limit

For underdoped cuprate superconductors, the standard Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory for conventional superconductors apparently breaks down. The origin of their superconducting gaps has been a long-standing puzzle. Two theorists from the Brookhaven National Lab put forward an intriguing new theory to explain the puzzle.
Faxing feminism: The global women’s movement and the 1995 controversy over Huairou

In 1995, the global feminist movement launched a dramatic protest against the Chinese government’s attempt to move the NGO Forum for the Beijing Women’s Conference to the remote location of Huairou. The first international feminist protest to rely on digital technology, this unprecedented mass action by women throughout the world exposed both the promise and the pitfalls of using faxes, email, and the internet to rally a social movement around a common cause. Over the course of the protest, the same technology that linked feminists across national boundaries and enabled them to conduct an effective campaign had the potential to exacerbate power differentials between them.
Association between alcohol drinking behaviour and cognitive function: results from a nationwide longitudinal study of South Korea.

Objectives This research intends to determine how drinking behaviour, such as episodic heavy drinking, is related to cognitive performance in middle-aged and old-aged people in South Korea. Methods A cohort data of 5157 adults, age 45 years or older, with normal cognitive function (the Korean version of the Mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) ≥24) at baseline (2006), was derived from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Alcohol drinking behaviour was assessed using the CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) questionnaire. The relationships between baseline drinking behaviour (in 2006) to the extent of cognitive decline (between 2006 and 2012) and development of cognitive impairment (in 2012) were assessed. Results Individuals with problematic drinking behaviour at baseline experienced a faster decline in cognitive function than those with non-problematic drinking (p Conclusions Our results suggest that those with problematic alcohol drinking behaviour could be at an increased risk of cognitive impairment/decline. While further research will provide stronger evidence, intervention targeting alcohol abuse may play a role in prevention of cognitive impairment.
On Value Tendency of Sports Culture in College

In this paper,the author analyzes the characteristics of college sports culture,and the relationship between college sports culture and main trend culture.The author thinks that the college sports culture must have some same characteristics in content and form on the background of our main trend culture.
Variation in survival among patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Survival of 873 acute lymphocytic leukemia patients has been reviewed in relation to a number of patient and disease characteristics at first hospital admission. Study of survival by individual years of age at diagnosis led to the selection of five age intervals: 1-3, 4-10, 11-19, 20-49, and 50 years and over. For each sex the survival after age 10 was considerably poorer than for the younger ages. The best survival for any age-sex group was that for girls 4-10, who had a median survival time of 14.0 months compared with an overall median survival time of 7.8 months for patients of both sexes over 1 year of age. We attempted to determine whether a favorable distribution of other factors related to survival might work to the advantage of girls in the 4-10 year age group. However, in studying factors such as symptoms and hematological characteristics it was the pattern, rather than the exception, to find within most levels of a characteristic under study, that girls 4-10 had the best survival. It would be interesting and potentially valuable to see whether the findings in this study are confirmed in other series. If a specific age-sex group tends to maintain a superior survival pattern, additional exploration of prognostic factors may uncover important leads concerning the biology of the disease.
The Influence of Wait Time on Patient Satisfaction in the Orthopedic Clinic

Introduction:Patient satisfaction is of increasing importance in the delivery of quality healthcare and may influence provider reimbursement. The purpose of this study is to examine how patient wait time relates to their level of satisfaction and likelihood to recommend an orthopedic clinic to others.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on standardized new patient survey data collected at a single orthopedic clinic from June 2011 through October 2014.Results:A total of 3125 and 3151 responses were collected for satisfaction and likelihood to recommend the practice. The mean wait time was 27.3 ± 11.3 minutes. The likelihood of obtaining an “excellent” (odds ratio [OR]: 0.86, P = .01081) or “excellent/very good” (OR: 0.82, P = .0199) satisfaction demonstrated significant correlation with wait time in 15-minute intervals. The likelihood of obtaining an “agree” (OR: 0.9, P = .10575) and “strongly agree/agree” (OR: 0.85, P = .139) response to recommend the practice demonstrated no correlation during ...
Measuring Software Complexity: The Syntactic Dimension

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the notion of measuring the “psychological complexity” of computer programs by measuring the syntactic program complexity, and to propose a framework for such measurement. The goal is to predict certain effects of psychological complexity (quality features such as the number of error occurrences) rather than to actually measure psychological complexity. One of the problems is how to select syntactic features of programs which are determinants of the quality feature of interest. Another problem is that things other than the syntactic features of the program have an effect on the quality features we wish to predict. Complexity of an object such as a program is somehow associated with the following observables: number of its components or elements, kind or type of elements, and the structure of the relationship between elements. We characterize several syntactic complexity measures with regard to the above concept. Proposed is a novel approach, based on an information theoretic notion of entropy, which facilitates investigation of the importance of accounting for certain syntactic aspects of a program in the prediction of quality features.
Attachment as Related to Mother-Infant Interaction

Publisher Summary Infant-mother attachment is conceived as an affectional tie that a baby forms to his mother figure, binding them together in space and enduring over time; such bonding is not present at birth, but develops during the first year of life. This chapter provides an overview of individual differences in attachment and attachment behavior as they are related to differences in maternal behavior in interaction with the infant. Although, the infant through his own idiosyncratic patterns of behavior, contributes to the interaction with his mother; however, the extent to which his mother goes along with, disregards, or opposes the implications of the baby's behavioral cues makes a great deal of difference to the quality of the interaction. To the extent that it is the mother's contribution that emerges as the more important, it can be expected that information, advice, training, and or intervention might assist mothers to adopt practices likely to facilitate normal infant development. The chapter acknowledges that changes in the behavior of one partner may at some particular stage of the infant development and in regard to some specific aspect of mother-infant interaction trigger changes in the behavior of the other.
Influence of Glenosphere Design on Outcomes and Complications of Reverse Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Background Different implant designs are utilized in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the results of reverse shoulder arthroplasty using a traditional (Grammont) prosthesis and a lateralized prosthesis for the treatment of cuff tear arthropathy and massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.
Student perception of pressure in faculty-led research

Abstract Ethical obligations state that informed consent should be given without coercion or undue influence. However, students can be vulnerable to perceived pressure when being recruited to participate in faculty-led research. The current study surveyed 276 undergraduate students regarding their perception of being pressured into participating in research and demographic factors. Students generally reported some pressure to participate in research and younger students, students of color, and international students reported higher perceptions of pressure to participate in research. However, there were no significant differences based on gender or year in school. Some scenarios resulted in higher ratings of pressure to participate. Results suggest special protections to avoid students being pressured to participate in research, especially those in populations that are more vulnerable.
Production of electrospun chitosan for biomedical applications

Abstract Electrospun chitosan fibers are of great interest for various biomedical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery, implant coatings, and wound dressings. Chitosan, a naturally occurring positively charged polysaccharide, is advantageous for biomedical applications due to several material characteristics including biodegradability, biocompatibility, and bacteriostatic properties. Electrospinning techniques have been widely used to create nanofibers from this natural polymer. Due to high porosity, which results in large surface area, these nanofibers have novel applications in biomedical fields. This chapter will emphasize the challenges and success in the production of electrospun chitosan nanofibers, its processing parameters, and its potential applications in clinical and industrial fields.
Rectal Prolapse: What Is the Best Approach for Repair?

Rectal prolapse can be repaired through an abdominal or perineal approach. Choosing between these approaches has traditionally focused on patient age and comorbidities; younger, healthier patients undergo an abdominal procedure while elderly patients often receive a perineal procedure [1, 2]. In North America, abdominal repair is frequently carried out with laparoscopic posterior rectopexy, with or without resection, while perineal repair is performed with an Altemeier procedure. Meanwhile, in Europe, and laparoscopic ventral rectopexy takes precedence as the preferred abdominal repair and the Delorme procedure is utilized more frequently [2].
Green’s Identities and Pendent Liquid Drops, I

It is proved that the “bubble solutions” of the capillary equation, whose existence was shown in an earlier paper with Concus, converge, as the vertex height tends to negative infinity, to a solution of the equation which is a graph over the entire base plane with an isolated singularity. This partly settles our previous conjecture, and also provides a new and conceptually preferable proof for existence of such a singular solution. The discussion is based on a form of Green’s Identity that has an independent interest.
HPV-associated disease of the anal canal: A pathology primer

Abstract Anal cancer is a rare disease. Screening for it in high-risk populations is based on the model borrowed from cervical cancer screening with cytology and high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsy. Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus is associated with oncogenic HPVs, particularly type 16. Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) are graded on both anal cytology and histology using 2 tiers. Low-grade SIL is reflective of a productive HPV infection; high-grade SIL is the potential precancer. High-risk HPV testing may not be an efficient screening or triage tool given the high prevalence of the virus in populations targeted for anal cancer screening. However, genotyping for HPV 16 may prove useful. On biopsy, p16 immunostaining is used to adjudicate equivocal diagnoses on routine HE a positive p16 immunostain supports a diagnosis of high-grade SIL.
Early vs. late-presenting urethroplasty complications after hypospadias repair: A retrospective analysis of patient follow-up.

Summary Introduction Complications after primary hypospadias repair often present late, that is, more than 1 year postoperatively. This has important implications for clinical practice and prospective research protocols. Follow-up regimen—or lack thereof—may contribute to delayed diagnosis of complications. Objective To characterize and compare the follow-up regimens of patients with early and late-presenting urethroplasty complications after primary hypospadias repair, specifically noting the length of time between encounters during which complications emerged. Patients and methods Boys who underwent repair of urethroplasty complications after hypospadias surgery were identified, and retrospective chart reviews were performed. Late complications were defined by presentation more than 1 year after primary repair; all others were designated as early. We recorded the encounter at which each patient was first noted to have a complication, as well as the last encounter prior to this. Follow-up intervals during which complications emerged were determined. Comparisons of the type of primary repairs, complications, and follow-up regimens (prescribed as well as actual) were performed between patients with early and late complications. Results A total of 51 patients underwent repair of 57 hypospadias complications. Eighteen patients (35%) had complications that presented late. Complications after a midshaft/distal hypospadias repair were more likely to present late than complications following a one- or two-stage proximal repair (59% vs. 31% vs. 6%, respectively; p = 0.003). The median interval between encounters during which late complications emerged was 24 months (IQR 16–43), compared with 1.2 (0.7–2.2) months for early-presenting complications (p Figure ). Patients with late complications had a greater discrepancy between prescribed and actual follow-up intervals, averaging 11 months (p = 0.001). Conclusions Late presentation of urethroplasty complications after hypospadias repair is relatively common. There is typically a lengthy follow-up interval during which late complications emerge. Many patients who presented with late complications had not previously been examined beyond the early postoperative period. Adherence to a more structured follow-up regimen that includes a visit outside of the early postoperative period (e.g. routine encounters at 6 months postoperatively) may facilitate earlier detection and reduce late presentation of complications, especially among patients with midshaft or distal primary repairs. Earlier diagnosis would allow secondary procedures to be completed sooner. Download : Download high-res image (177KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure . Time to presentation of complications for each patient after primary hypospadias repair (closed circles), with the time of their last encounter prior to presentation of complications (open circles). The two data points for each patient (n = 51)—one open and one closed circle—are depicted in parallel to the horizontal axis.
Quality Control in Cardiac Surgery in the United States

Quality control in cardiac surgery has gained widespread importance in recent years in the United States. There are several pathways in which quality control is executed in today’s hospital environment. The internal review process is geared to what’s identifying quality issues and implementing performance improvement protocols. The internal review process is mostly based on peer review. It may affect individual cases in the peer review of individual patient’s course; it may also involve the creation of benchmarks and performance improvement plans for either individual practitioners or for whole departments and service lines.
Qualitative perspectives on a family group intervention program for improving physical wellness

Healthy Balance is an obesity-prevention group intervention program that promotes physical wellness for family systems by motivating them to make healthy lifestyle changes to their eating and activ...
From Social Irresponsibility to Social Responsiveness: The Chrysler/Kenosha Plant Closing

In 1987, Chrysler bought American Motors which included a plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a city of 72 000. Employing 6 500 workers, most of whom were members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Chrysler became the city's largest employer. For decades, the UAW had a strong influence on city politics. However, in the 1980s young professionals in Kenosha began challenging this status quo.
Aldose Reductase and Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. Studies by others and ourselves have implicated aldose reductase (AR) as a key player in mediating diabetic cardiovascular complications. Findings by us and others demonstrate that increased flux via AR in diabetics perpetuates increased injury after myocardial infarction, accelerates atherosclerotic lesion formation, and promotes restenosis via multiple mechanisms. Taken together, these findings place AR in the center of biochemical and molecular stresses that characterize the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Blockade of AR-dependent signaling may hold the key to interrupting cycles of cellular perturbation and tissue damage in diabetic cardiovascular disease.
Autonomic control of skeletal muscle vasodilation during exercise.

Buckwalter, John B., Patrick J. Mueller, and Philip S. Clifford. Autonomic control of skeletal muscle vasodilation during exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(6): 2037–2042, 1997.—Despite extensive inves...
Abstract 30: Is NR2 Peptide Promising Biomarker for Acute Cerebrovascular Events?

Introduction: Feasibility studies of NR2 peptide, a cleavage product of NMDA neuroreceptors that released into the bloodstream due to cerebral ischemia were conducted at 8 clinical sites. The follo...
The Judicial Check on Classification: How the Freedom of Information Act Can Limit Government Secrets

Recent disclosure of classified materials demonstrate that government is conducting programs that impact our civil liberties in secret or sometimes withholding innocuous info that is embarrassing to government. At the same time, the mountain of government secrecy through classification is growing exponentially, with no real solution from the Executive Branch or Congress in sight. To counter the growth of classification, Courts must assert authority Congress gave them 40 years ago to check Executive Branch and hopefully shed increasing light on these important issues and others we have let to learn about through review of classification claims under FOIA.
Alan M. Turing's Contributions to Co-operation Between the UK and the US

Alan Turing’s visit to the US Navy Cryptanalytic Section (Op-20-G) and the US Army’s Signal Security Agency during the winter of 1942–1943 was a significant milestone in the collaboration between the British Government Code and Cypher School (GC & CS) and its US counterparts. As technical expert for the GC & CS, Turing viewed the progress of Op-20-G as it designed and developed its own Bombe and other machine aids for defeating German Enigma ciphers. Some of these machines were requested by Turing and John Tiltman for use at Bletchley Park. Not merely an observer, Turing consulted with and advised Op-20-G on Enigma-related matters before and during his visit. Obtaining clearance for Turing to view the X-system, a voice scrambler being developed at Bell Telephone Labs, required the intercession of Field Marshal Sir John Dill and a personal appeal to General George C. Marshall. It may have inadvertently contributed to the later signing of the British-United States Agreement (BRUSA) signed in May 1943. Turing’s report on the X-system was key to its acceptance and installation in London. His activities in the United States reveal him to have been an expert in all aspects of machine-based cryptanalysis who influenced the development of the US Navy’s Bombe program and possibly speech encipherment at Bell Labs.
The Storage Proteins of Rice and Oat

Rice and oat are unique among the cultivated plants in that their seed reserve tissues contain significant amounts of globulins and prolamins, the two classes of storage proteins that are present in plants. Unlike other cereals which accumulate prolamins as their primary nitrogen reserve, the major class of storage proteins in rice and oat are the glutelins and 12S globulins, respectively. These proteins are highly homologous at the primary sequence level to the leguminous US globulins. This similarity in protein structure extends to the molecular level with regard to the organization and complexity of the multigene families that code for these proteins, and the biochemical and cellular events that lead to the synthesis, transport, packaging and assembly of these proteins into protein bodies. In contrast, the rice and oat prolamins share little sequence homology and only some of the cellular events that lead to their deposition into protein bodies. Rice packages prolamin and glutelin in separate protein bodies, a process that may be initiated by the active sorting of their mRNAs to specific domains of the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas the avenins and globulins of oat are deposited within the same protein inclusion body, although as separate protein aggregates. The expression of the rice and oat storage proteins is regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. This is conspicuously evident in oat where globulin mRNAs are translated at a much higher rate than avenin mRNAs. In this review, we discuss the latest developments on the organization and expresssion of the rice and oat storage protein genes and the cellular pathways that result in the assembly and deposition of coded proteins into protein bodies, as well as recent genetic efforts to modify the protein quality of these cereals.
Holes and Integrals

Let U be an open set in the plane, and let A = ℝ2 \ U. We know that for a fixed closed chain γ in an open set U, the function P↦W(γ, P) is constant on connected components of ℝ2 \ Supp(γ). It is therefore constant on connected components of A, since each connected component of A is contained in some connected component of ℝ2 \ Supp(γ). If A is a connected component of ℝ2 \ U, we write W(γ, A) for the value of W(γ, P) for all P in A, and call it the winding number of γ around A. Note that the connected components of a closed set such as ℝ2 \ U are closed, but they need not be path-connected (see Exercise 9.5).
Abstract 4091: Knockout of genes in the DNA mismatch repair pathway to model colorectal cancer hypermutation

Human colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by a high burden of somatic mutations, particularly in tumors harboring defects in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway. However, genetically-engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of cancer to date harbor a very low burden of mutations. Importantly, recent clinical trials have shown that MMR deficient tumors respond favorably to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade, and it is thought that PD-1 suppression reinvigorates existing T cell clones against neo-antigens associated with hypermutation in these tumors. In order to develop a more clinically relevant GEMM of CRC in which to study the immune response, MMR genes will be knocked out via CRISPR-Cas9 to induce hypermutation. To identify optimal Cas9 single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) against the MMR genes Msh2, Msh3, Msh6, and Mlh1, sgRNAs were designed using the Broad Institute algorithm and knockout efficiency assessed in a reporter cell line by Western blot. In order to induce colon tumors in vivo, colonoscopy-guided submucosal injection was employed to deliver lentivirus encoding sgRNAs against a MMR gene and Apc into mice carrying a constitutive Cas9 allele. Apc is inactivated in over 80% of human CRC, and is an initiating event in CRC in humans and mice. Using a sgMsh2-sgApc dual targeting lentivirus, we were able to efficiently generate colon tumors harboring complete knockout of Apc and near complete knockout of Msh2. Deep sequencing of the targeted loci revealed predominantly loss-of-function frameshift mutations at Apc and Msh2, but also a high degree of polyclonality. Lower titer injections of virus will be explored to induce more clonal tumors. Mlh1, Msh3, and Msh6 will also be targeted in vivo, and the mutational effects of MMR gene loss will be assessed by whole-exome sequencing of tumors. This rapid and flexible GEMM of hypermutant CRC may facilitate a more clinically relevant assessment of the role of the immune system in CRC development, as well as provide improved platforms for testing immunotherapies. Citation Format: Abbey Y. Jin, Peter Westcott, Olivia Smith, Amanda Cruz, Mary Clare Beytagh, Tyler Jacks. Knockout of genes in the DNA mismatch repair pathway to model colorectal cancer hypermutation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4091.
Research progress on high temperature materials for 700°C ultra-supercritical coal-fired units

Nowadays, material research worldwide for 700°C ultra-supercritical firepower generator units (USC-FPGUs) is focus on the evolution of microstructures and mechanical properties as well as the research progress of high-temperature materials, which are used for fabricating water-cooled wall, superheater/reheater tube, main steam pipe and high-temperature steam header. HCM12 steel and Inconel 617 alloy are suited for high-temperature segment of water-cooled wall. Inconel 740H alloy developed from Inconel 740 alloy after modification is the preferred material for superheater/reheater, main steam pipe and high-temperature steam header due to its excellent persistent creep strength and welding performance. In future research, it is necessary to further verify the high-temperature persistent strength and creep strength of the aforementioned materials through practice. Meanwhile, the optimum hot working process should be exploited to improve the hot-workability and welding performance as well as reduce the cost of materials.
Materials in the Aircraft Industry

Modern-day, self-propelled, heavier-than-air flight traces its roots back to 1903 when the Wright brothers remained in air for 12 s in Kitty Hawk, NC. Just 30 years later, the Douglas Company introduced the 12-passenger twin-engine DC-1 and Boeing introduced the 247, a 10-passenger, all-metal twin-engine aircraft with a retractable landing gear; soon thereafter, the era of jet engines was ushered in. About 60 years later, in the 1990s, Boeing introduced the 777, the biggest twin-engine jet ever to fly and the first aircraft to be produced using computer-aided design and engineering! Now, aircrafts like the superjumbo Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 carry more than a billion passengers each year around the world. This dramatic advance in passenger flight is filled with inventions, innovative designs, new and novel materials and technology advancements, accidents, and lessons learned. Driven by societal needs, economy, government regulations, and more, materials and components design, process development, property assessment, and life prediction have all been central to these advances. In this chapter, we follow this fascinating thread by focusing on materials and technology development for aircraft fuselage and aircraft engine over time.
Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Outcomes in Patients with Dialysis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract Background Dialysis is associated with higher rate of aortic valve calcification and higher cardiovascular mortality. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established alternative for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with higher and intermediate co-morbidities including dialysis. Methods Two independent investigators systematically searched Medline, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The ROBINS-I tool was used to analyze and assess the bias from the selected studies. Results The search resulted in 4 observational studies with a total of 966 patients. TAVR in dialysis patients was associated with no significant difference in in-hospital mortality [8.1% vs 10.3%; OR (95% CI) 0.74 (0.35, 1.60), I2 = 50%, P = 0.45], risk-of-strokes at 30 days [2% vs 4.4%; OR (95% CI) 0.49 (0.22, 1.09), I2 = 0%, P = 0.08], vascular complications [12.7% vs 13.2%; OR (95% CI) 0.96 (0.55, 1.67), I2 = 0%, P = 0.89], need of blood transfusion [43.1% vs 66.4%; OR (95% CI) 0.27 (0.05, 1.39), I2 = 89%, P = 0.12], or bleeding risk [5.6% vs 6.8%; OR (95% CI) 0.91 (0.18, 4.64), I2 = 5%, P = 0.91] when compared to SAVR. TAVR was associated with significantly shorter length of stay [8.5 days vs 14.2 days; mean difference (95% CI) −5.89 (−9.13, −2.64), I2 = 76%, P Conclusion TAVR outcomes were comparable to SAVR but had a significantly shorter length of stay and a higher pacemaker implantation rate in dialysis patients.
Integrated STEM+C learning for K-2 aged children: CT competencies as a precursor to K-2 computer science education

As computer science education is incorporated into the United States educational system, it is imperative that children, educators, and caregivers understand the requisite competencies called "computational thinking" (CT). CT has advanced since first described by Wing in 2006 as an algorithmic problem-solving approach. For three years, the INSPIRE Research Institute for Pre-College Engineering (INSPIRE) has studied integrated science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computational thinking (STEM+C) learning for K-2 aged children, in both formal and informal settings. At the project's origin, the team focused on characterizing and operationalizing the CT competencies. Our studies then followed how children, instructors, and families engaged in the CT competencies within school and out-of-school. As the project evolved, our team created curricula to be used in K-2 classrooms, activities for out-of-school settings, a summer training for educators, a CT exhibit at a small Midwestern science center, and facilitated a field trip for elementary students. Our poster presents findings from all stages of our NSF-funded STEM+C project. For classroom settings, we report discoveries from integrated STEM+C curricula development and children's CT capabilities and engagement within the classroom and during homeschooling. For informal settings, we report children's abilities to engage in CT when engaging with a specially designed CT exhibit and an open-ended problem-solving task. We also discuss our data management for our project. Finally, we report the lessons and implications of CT for K-2 ask a viable skill for computer science education. For additional info ideas, handouts will be given during poster presentation.
Diameter Growth in Even- and Uneven-Aged Northern Hardwoods in New Hampshire Under Partial Cutting

One important concern in the conversion of even-aged stands to an uneven aged condition through individual-tree or small-group cutting is the growth response throughout the diameter-class distribution, especially of the understoty trees Increment-core sampling of an older, uneven-aged northern hardwood stand in New Hampshire under management for about 50 years established the baseline diameter-growth responses of the sapling, pole, and sawtimber strata. Growth responses of the poletimber and sawtimber in a 70-year-old even-aged stand were comparable to the uneven aged stand after an initial partial cutting treatment; growth of the understoty began approaching comparable rates after the second entry about 25 years after the first cut.
25 Historical Demography

The study of historical populations has long supported innovative demographic research, beginning with the work of Graunt in the seventeenth century, increasing rapidly in the 1950s, and continuing to the present. This chapter documents the methods and materials used by explorers of past populations, and the main findings of the field. The section on data and tools shows how researchers make use of information (such as parish registers) originally created for other purposes, in order to undertake demographic analyses, and describes the tools used. Historical demographic research has produced valuable results about family changes over decades and centuries, especially in the timing of marriage and number of children, and has documented unexpected continuities in family life. Researchers have also explored the increase in life expectancy and improvements in quality of life, with the most recent research using sophisticated methods to link life experiences, health, and family formation.
GPU-Assisted Generation of System Matrices for High-Resolution Imaging Systems

Traditional methods of point spread function (PSF) modeling of pinhole SPECT systems, such as fitting the PSF with a 2D Gaussian, are generally sufficient in characterizing imaging systems in which the detector is the main source of PSF blur. However, when modeling the PSF of a high-resolution imaging system, these methods are too simplistic and fail to capture important PSF features, resulting in errors in later simulation studies. In this work, we present a method for parameterizing point spread functions that is then used to rapidly generate system matrices of gamma-ray imaging systems using high-resolution detectors with sub-millimeter spatial resolution. Our algorithm, which utilizes a GPU-based ray tracer to simulate a system’s true PSF, accounts for the PSF blur due to not only the detector’s depth of interaction, but also the penetration through the pinhole and the finite size of of the source. By considering all three blurring sources, we are able to better model the PSF, capturing features like the flat-top in the center and the tilt and drop-off towards the edges. Comparisons to the 2D Gaussian fitting model are examined and we report that as the ratio between the source size and pinhole radius increases, the two models converge to one another.
Educational Attainment and Exercise Frequency in American Women; Blacks' Diminished Returns.

Background: Minorities’ diminished returns (MDRs) refer to smaller protects health effects of socioeconomic status (SES) indicators for Blacks and other minority groups than Whites. Objectives: The current study aimed to explore Black-White differences in the association between educational attainment and exercise frequency among women in the US. Methods: For the current study, we used the National Survey of American Life’s (NSAL) data, which included 3175womenwhowere either White (n = 876) or Black (n = 2299). The independent variable was educational attainment. The dependent variable was exercise frequency. Age, region, household income, financial distress, marital status, unemployment, and depression were the covariates. Race was the focal moderator. Linear regression was applied for data analysis. Results: In the overall sample of women, high educational attainment was associated with higher exercise frequency (b = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.02 - 0.12). Race and educational attainment showed a significant interaction (b = -0.09, 95% CI = -0.19 - 0.00), suggestive of a smaller effect of education attainment on exercise frequency for Black women than White women. In race specific models, high educational attainment was associated with higher exercise frequency for White (b = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.04 - 0.20) but not Black (b = 0.03, 95% CI = -0.03-0.08) women. Conclusions: In line with the past research on MDRs, White women gain more health from their educational attainment than Black women. It is not race or class but race and class that shape the health behaviors of American women.
Poor concordance among drug compendia for proposed interactions between enzyme‐inducing antiepileptic drugs and direct oral anticoagulants

Purpose To assess concordance regarding proposed interactions between enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EI-AEDs) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in leading, international drug compendia. Methods We measured consistency of interaction reporting for each DOAC with a group of potent EI-AEDs among eight provider and consumer-focused drug compendia. Discrepant severity ranking systems were consolidated on a 0 to 4 scale. Percent agreement (PA) and Scott/Fleiss' Kappa (к) were used to quantify inter-compendia agreement on interaction listings, with linear weighting when consolidated severity rankings were taken into account (wPA and wк, respectively). Results For dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, poor inter-compendia concordance was observed for interaction listings with EI-AEDs, with and without accounting for severity rankings (wPA: 0.54-0.72/wк: -0.08-0.03, and PA 0.47-0.79/к: -0.09-0.09, respectively). Conversely, betrixaban was consistently listed as not interacting with EI-AEDs in almost all assessed compendia, despite overlap in P-glycoprotein-based transport with other DOACs. Only 6/20 (30%) EI-AED/DOAC interactions were listed in all eight databases, and even in these six cases, severity rankings were universally discordant. Extreme inconsistencies in interaction reporting (some compendia assigning the highest possible severity ranking, while others reported no interactions) were observed in half of the individually examined interactions (10/20). Conclusions Drug compendia are highly inconsistent in the inclusion and reported severity of interactions between EI-AEDs and DOACs. Generation of high-quality, real-world evidence from large-scale outcome studies is imperative to resolve discordance and provide clarity for clinical guidelines.
‘As syllable from sound’: the sonic dimensions of confinement at the State Hospital for the Insane at Worcester, Massachusetts:

As the first state hospital in the USA, the Worcester State Hospital for the Insane at Worcester, Massachusetts (est. 1833), set a precedent for asylum design and administration that would be replicated across the country. Because the senses were believed to provide a direct conduit into a person's mental state, the intended therapeutic force of the Worcester State Hospital resided in its particular command over sensory experience. In this paper, I examine how aurality was used as an instrument in the moral architecture of the asylum; how the sonic design of the asylum collided with the day-to-day logistics of institutional management; and the way that patients experienced and engaged with the resultant patterns of sound and silence.