cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3492: γ-secretase inhibitor PF-03084014 diminishes the tumor-initiating cells and demonstrates synergy with docetaxel in breast cancer xenograft models

Notch signaling is known to be a survival pathway for tumor-initiating cells. In this report, we demonstrate that the γ-secretase inhibitor PF-03084014 significantly enhances the antitumor activity of docetaxel in multiple xenograft models of triple-negative breast cancer. Mechanistic evaluation revealed that PF-03084014 perturbs the Notch signaling pathway and suppresses the function of tumor initiating cells (TIC). In MDA-MB-231Luc model, treatment of docetaxel led to a significant increase of CD133+/CD44+ and ALDH+ subpopulations by FACS analysis. In combination with PF-03084014, these two unique cell subpopulations were significantly diminished. Correspondingly, the functional analyses by tumor re-implant and mammosphere-forming efficiency assays revealed that docetaxel-therapy promoted the tumor initiating capability of the remaining cells, in which an increased stem cell property and Notch pathway activation were observed through gene signature changes. In contrast, PF-03084014 co-treatment with docetaxel substantially hampered the self-renewal ability of these cells. Notch target gene analysis demonstrated the biological relevance of PF-03084014-induced activity. To characterize the function of CD133+/CD44+ subpopulation, MDA-MB-231Luc tumors were de-bulked by the treatment with docetaxel. Subsequently, the CD133+/CD44+ and CD133-/CD44- subpopulatons were isolated and re-implanted in SCID-bg mice using a limiting dilution approach. The results showed that CD133+/CD44+ cells gave rise to tumors with a 100 % take rate (10/10), whereas CD133-/CD44- cells were not tumorgenic (0/10). In addition, CD133+/CD44+ cells exhibited much higher tumorigenicity compared with the respective adherent parental cell line. PF-03084014 treatment caused a significant delay of CD133+/CD44+ tumor growth. The ability of PF-03084014 to suppress TICs was also observed in other breast cancer xenografts, including patient derived models. This data suggests that anti-TIC is one of the contributing mechanisms for the synergistic activities of PF-03084014 in combination with docetaxel. Our work provides potential therapeutic opportunities for PF-03084014 to improve conventional cytotoxic therapy by inhibiting Notch signaling in tumor-initiating cells and other bulk tumor cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3492. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3492
Patients with severe psoriasis are at increased risk of cardiovascular mortality: cohort study using the General Practice Research Database

Aims Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory T-helper cell-1/17 mediated skin disease. Recent studies suggest that psoriasis, particularly if severe, may be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. We conducted a cohort study using the General Practice Research Database to determine if severe psoriasis patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Methods and results Severe psoriasis was defined as patients who received a psoriasis diagnosis and systemic therapy consistent with severe psoriasis ( n = 3603). Up to four unexposed patients without psoriasis were selected from the same practices and start dates for each psoriasis patient ( n = 14 330). For every death, the cause was determined by review of the electronic medical record. Severe psoriasis was an independent risk factor for CV mortality (HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.26, 1.96) when adjusting for age, sex, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidaemia. Overall, severe psoriasis patients experienced one extra CV death per 283 patients per year, even when adjusting for major CV risk factors. The relative risk of CV mortality was modified by age. For example, the RR of CV death for a 40-year-old and 60-year-old with severe psoriasis was 2.69 (1.45, 4.99) and 1.92 (1.41, 2.62), respectively. The findings were robust to multiple sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Patients with severe psoriasis have an increased risk of CV mortality that is independent of traditional CV risk factors. Additional studies are needed to determine the mechanism of this association and the impact that control of psoriasis has on CV risk.
Thanks for the memory: Cooperative autonomous agent search in uncertain environments

The effects of cooperation between autonomous electronic or physical agents are widely studied in computational science literature. We concentrate on a homogenous population of agents in a multi-agent system (MAS) to explore the effects of useful memory on goal achievement. We use simulations to consider two-dimensional planar surfaces upon which N targets are randomly scattered. N agents exist each with a maximal interest in one specific target. Agents may observe the positions of ''uninteresting'' targets in the environment and communicate this information to other agents encountered within the environment. The benefits of cooperation can be approximated by pure probabilistic analysis for theoretical search success, but the introduction of real-world cost factors (e.g. fuel, energy, transmission time) associated with movement within the environment renders these predictions unusable. In pure probabilistic terms, higher numbers of cooperative agents can greatly increase search effectiveness. In systems where positive costs are associated with search, internal agent memory factors can allow agent density to approximate pure probabilistic effectiveness. Practical applications for this research include real-time electronic document search, problems in robotic multi-agent systems (e.g. ''foraging'' or ''consumption'' problems), and network coverage for wireless communication devices.
Development of a defected ground structure wide bandwidth balun on multilayer organic substrate

We present the design and development of a compact wide bandwidth balun on a multilayer organic substrate. A defected ground plane is designed into a multi-layered Marchand balun to achieve wide bandwidth. Our experimental results demonstrate that the balun achieves an average measured insertion loss of 0.5 dB from 1.9 GHz to 18 GHz and ∼1dB from 18 GHz to 20 GHz and a return loss better than 10 dB from 1.9 GHz to 21.5GHz. The measured amplitude imbalance is less than ±1.4 dB from 1 GHz to 21.5 GHz. The measured phase imbalance is less than ±5° from 1 GHz to 19 GHz. To the best of our knowledge, this planar balun has the largest bandwidth ratio reported to date.
Effect of fasting and phenobarbital on hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid formation in the rat.

Abstract Fasting causes a rise in the serum unconjugated bilirubin concentration in various animals and man. Prior administration of phenobarbital prevents this effect in patients with Gilbert's syndrome. The effect of fasting and phenobarbital on bilirubin glucuronidation was studied by measuring hepatic activity of bilirubin UDPG-T and UDPG-D and the hepatic content of UDPG and UDPGA in fed, fasted, phenobarbital-treated, and fasted and phenobarbital-treated rats. Fasting for 72 hr resulted in 44% and 59% decreases in the specific and absolute UDPG-D activities, respectively, and a 43% decrease in the UDPGA concentration (p 0.4). The specific activities of UDPG-T and UDPG-D were increased 61% (p 0.1), respectively, and the UDPGA concentration was increased 84% (p
A growth cost of experimentally induced conspicuous coloration in first-year collared lizard males

I used painted first-year collared lizard males in the field to test the hypothesis that conspicuous coloration imposes a growth cost, either because it makes lizards less cryptic to their prey or because conspicuous color attracts predators forcing increased refuging by lizards. To make males more conspicuous, I painted them green and yellow to match hues of older territorial males, made another group inconspicuous by painting males brown like females, and painted a control group with water. I then compared rates of travel, the frequency, and the percentage of strikes on prey that were successful. I recaptured males periodically to record cloacal and substrate temperatures, to measure growth rate, and to retouch paint. Time spent refuging, travel rate, and both cloacal and substrate temperatures were similar in the 3 groups. Males painted conspicuously had slower growth than males in the other treatment groups. Inconspicuous males initiated strikes on prey more than 4 times more frequently than conspicuous males, and the number of strikes that resulted in prey capture was higher in inconspicuous males, suggesting that conspicuous coloration reduces foraging opportunities because it makes first-year males more visible to their prey. Rapid growth during the first season is necessary for collared lizard males to become large enough to compete for breeding territories as 2 year olds. Therefore, conspicuous coloration may develop gradually in first-year collared lizard males to maintain crypsis, which promotes food intake sufficient for rapid growth to large size that has important consequences for future reproductive success.
OUTCOME-BASED SYSTEMS EVALUATION TO ASSESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPACT USING ARIMA METHODS

A new method of system evaluation that focuses on the impact the system has on a data series that served as the rationale for systems implementation was designed and modeled by the authors. Called outcome-based evaluation, this method is founded on the concept of intervention analysis and employs interrupted time series designs to determine the impact of an information system on specific organizational goals. Based on a review of the literature on the evolution of systems evaluation methods from focusing on user goals to user satisfaction and system usage, we conclude that user satisfaction and system usage are necessary but not sufficient criteria to establish system effectiveness or success. Thus, we establish a need for the proposed new method of system evaluation. Three business case studies are presented in this article that demonstrate and validate an evaluation method using ARIMA models for the analysis. The value of this tool for managers is its means of assessing IT effectiveness and payoff contextually, thereby enabling businesses to clarify both their IT needs and their outcome expectations a priori.
Comparisons of borehole temperature—depth profiles and surface air temperatures in the northern plains of the USA

SUMMARY Temperature‐depth profiles measured in boreholes contain a record of temperature changes at the Earth’s surface. The degree to which these profiles and surface air temperature records track each other is quantitatively assessed for the northern plains of the USA. Surface air temperature records are used as a forcing function to generate synthetic transient temperature profiles which are compared with transient temperatures derived from borehole temperature‐depth data. These comparisons indicate that surface air and ground temperatures are correlated. Furthermore, these comparisons yield a long-term mean temperature tied to the meteorological record which provides a context for interpreting contemporary warming trends. Our results indicate that warming recorded in surface air temperature time series represents a positive departure above baseline temperature estimates.
A Phase I trial of h‐ras antisense oligonucleotide ISIS 2503 administered as a continuous intravenous infusion in patients with advanced carcinoma

BACKGROUND Abnormal expression of Ras proteins frequently is found with oncogenic transformation making ras a promising therapeutic target. ISIS 2503 is a 20-base antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotide that specifically downregulates H-ras expression and inhibits tumor cell growth in preclinical studies. Here, the authors report an initial clinical study of the safety and tolerability of an intravenous infusion of ISIS 2503 in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS A continuous intravenous infusion of ISIS 2503 was administered for 14 days every 3 weeks to 23 patients with a variety of solid tumors refractory to standard therapy. The dose of ISIS 2503 was increased in sequential cohorts of patients, as toxicity allowed, until a final dose of 10.0 mg/kg/day of body weight was reached. Toxicity was scored by the National Cancer Institute's Common Toxicity Criteria, and tumor response was monitored after every two treatment cycles. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed in some of the patients up to, and including, the final dose of 10 mg/kg/day/day of body weight. Levels of H-ras mRNA expression also were determined in the circulating lymphocytes of some patients by quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS A total of 23 patients received 63 cycles of ISIS 2503 at escalating doses to 10.0 mg/kg/day without dose-limiting toxicity and only minimal side effects. Four patients had stabilization of their disease for 6–10 cycles. No consistent decreases in H-ras mRNA levels were observed in peripheral blood lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS ISIS 2503, an antisense oligonucleotide against H-ras, was well tolerated as a single agent at doses up to 10.0 mg/kg/day by 14-day continuous intravenous infusion. Several patients had stabilization of disease, suggesting that ISIS 2503 had some tumor growth inhibitory effects and future trials of ISIS 2503 in combination with chemotherapy should be considered. Cancer 2001;92:1265–71. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Using cache mapping to improve memory performance handheld devices

Processors such as the Intel StrongARM SA-1110 and the Intel XScale provide flexible control over the cache management to achieve better cache utilization. Programs can specify the cache mapping policy for each virtual page, i.e. mapping it to the main cache, the mini-cache, or neither. For the latter case, the page is marked as non-cacheable. In this paper, we use memory profiling to guide such page-based cache mapping. We model the cache mapping problem and prove that finding the optimal cache mapping is NP-hard. We then present a heuristic to select the mapping. Execution time measurement shows that our heuristics can improve the performance from 1% to 21% for a set of test programs. As a byproduct of performance enhancement, we also save the energy by 4% to 28%.
Compost-Induced Suppression of Pythium Damping-Off Is Mediated by Fatty-Acid-Metabolizing Seed-Colonizing Microbial Communities

Leaf composts were studied for their suppressive effects on Pythium ultimum sporangium germination, cottonseed colonization, and the severity of Pythium damping-off of cotton. A focus of the work was to assess the role of fatty-acid-metabolizing microbial communities in disease suppression. Suppressiveness was expressed within the first few hours of seed germination as revealed by reduced P. ultimum sporangium germination, reduced seed colonization, and reduced damping-off in transplant experiments. These reductions were not observed when cottonseeds were sown in a conducive leaf compost. Microbial consortia recovered from the surface of cottonseeds during the first few hours of germination in suppressive compost (suppressive consortia) induced significant levels of damping-off suppression, whereas no suppression was induced by microbial consortia recovered from cottonseeds germinated in conducive compost (conducive consortia). Suppressive consortia rapidly metabolized linoleic acid, whereas conducive consortia did not. Furthermore, populations of fatty-acid-metabolizing bacteria and actinobacteria were higher in suppressive consortia than in conducive consortia. Individual bacterial isolates varied in their ability to metabolize linoleic acid and protect seedlings from damping-off. Results indicate that communities of compost-inhabiting microorganisms colonizing cottonseeds within the first few hours after sowing in a Pythium-suppressive compost play a major role in the suppression of P. ultimum sporangium germination, seed colonization, and damping-off. Results further indicate that fatty acid metabolism by these seed-colonizing bacterial consortia can explain the Pythium suppression observed.
Design and Implementation of Low-Power and Mid-Range Magnetic-Induction-Based Wireless Underground Sensor Networks

Low-power wireless communication in underground settings and confined areas is considered one of last frontiers in communications. First, there is the energy challenge: because the nodes are embedded in some kind of medium, such as soil, concrete, or debris of a disaster event, many of the traditional energy solutions for communication devices are ruled out. Second, typical radio-wave-based solutions are significantly impacted in underground settings due to the high signal attenuation in lossy medium, such as wet soil. To address such challenges, wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) have been proposed. However, the lack of real-world deployments is an indication that some WUSN aspects still need to be addressed. In this paper, a soil path attenuation model for a magnetic induction (MI)-based WUSN is developed and the best operating frequency range is identified. Next, a strategic frequency and coil adaptation scheme is added to the design resulting in an efficient system in terms of energy and application bandwidth (BW), which can operate under typical variations of the electrical properties of soils, for example, due to a rain or dryout event. The model and design guidelines are validated by preliminary experiments in outdoors, and more recently, an indoor MI-based testbed is carefully developed. We concluded that this submegahertz MI-based communication testbed can also be perceived as an accurate noncontact sensor for dielectric spectroscopy. Such findings have the potential of not only helping in the proliferation of WUSNs but also providing the foundation for novel instrumentation possibilities in many fields of science.
Reinventing clinical trials: a review of innovative biomarker trial designs in cancer therapies

Introduction Recently, new clinical trial designs involving biomarkers have been studied and proposed in cancer clinical research, in the hope of incorporating the rapid growing basic research into clinical practices. Sources of data Journal articles related to various biomarkers and their role in cancer clinical trial, articles and books about statistical issues in trial design, and regulatory website, documents, and guidance for submission of targeted cancer therapies. Areas of agreement The drug development process involves four phases. The confirmatory Phase III is essential in regulatory approval of a special treatment. Areas of controversy Regulatory agency has restrictions on confirmatory trials 'using adaptive designs'. No rule of thumb to pick the most appropriate design for biomarker-related trials. Growing points Statistical issues to solve in new designs. Regulatory acceptance of the 'newly proposed trial designs'. Areas timely for developing research Biomarker-related trial designs that can resolve the statistical issues and satisfy the regulatory requirement.
Advanced control using virtual processing for threading a hot metal strip mill

In our previous work we have examined the usage of the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) technique for control of a fully threaded tandem hot metal strip mill. In this paper we describe a control for threading the mill using our previously developed SDRE method, as enhanced by a virtual processing technique, to produce a new method of control. Simulations performed using this new method have been quite successful for the control of threading, with a strong likelihood for extension of this technique to the control of other processes.
Quantum speed limits--primer, perspectives, and potential future directions

Fundamental physical limits on the speed of state evolution in quantum systems exist in the form of the Mandelstam---Tamm and the Margolus---Levitin inequalities. We give an expository review of the development of these quantum speed limit (QSL) inequalities, including extensions to different energy statistics and generalizations to mixed system states and open and multipartite systems. The QSLs expressed by these various inequalities have implications for quantum computation, quantum metrology, and control of quantum systems. These connections are surveyed, and some important open questions are noted.
Phonetic Transcription Training Improves Adults’ Explicit Phonemic Awareness: Evidence From Undergraduate Students:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of phonetic transcription training on the explicit phonemic awareness of adults. Fifty undergraduate students enrolled in a phonetic transcript...
Stability of ciprofloxacin and vancomycin hydrochloride in AutoDose Infusion System bags

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of ciprofloxacin 400 mg/100 mL and vancomycin as the hydrochloride 1 g/100 mL each admixed in 0.9% sodium chloride in...
Brain-Enhanced Delivery of Anti-Dementia Drugs

Senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (SDAT) is a slowly progressive neurological disorder which is characterized by severe and debilitating memory loss. This insidious and pernicious malady is expected to strike 20% of all individuals over the age of eighty (Bartus et al., 1982), an important and growing demographic block. At present the etiological basis of SDAT is unknown and work has been aimed at palliative treatments to increase the quality of life of those individuals stricken with the disease. In SDAT, numerous biochemical/physiological observations have suggested that a cholinergic deficit is in some way related to the disease (Becker and Giacobini, 1988 and references cited therein). Such evidence includes selective degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain, decreased activity and concentration of acetyl choline (ACh), choline acetyltransferase, the enzyme responsible for synthesizing ACh and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme responsible for ACh degradation (Sims et al., 1983). Given this biochemical basis for dementia, therapeutic approach have concentrated on bolstering the impaired cholinergic system either by agonist administration (Corkin, 1981) or by developments of AChE inhibitors. Compounds resulting from the latter scheme have offered the most potential in SDAT and include physostigmine, aminopyridines and 9amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA).
Dream sweet dreams: a new framework for sleep tracking and body change prediction

This paper addresses a real-world issue, sleep insufficiency, and its health consequences, as an innovative vehicle to improve elementary education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Partnering with the Catalina Foothills School District, researchers at the University of Arizona developed, implemented, and evaluated a new STEM education program that includes a database, a set of prediction and simulation models, and a set of sleep science lessons (developed in collaboration with Biological Sciences Curriculum Study). The new "MySleep" program allows for tracking of sleep patterns in the students' natural environment, and provides real-time feedback, options for communications with teachers and parents, and data analysis capabilities.
Exploring critical thinking skills among undergraduate agriculture education and studies students

The purpose of this dissertation was to describe the current critical thinking abilities of undergraduate agriculture education and studies students, and to explore how entry pathway and enrollment in a capstone course affect these abilities. Objectives were to: (1) establish a departmental benchmark for the critical thinking abilities of seniorlevel agricultural education and studies students; (2) determine if entry pathway, direct from high school admittance versus transfer from community college admittance, has an effect on critical thinking abilities; and (3) examine the impact a semester-long capstone farm management course has on the development of critical thinking abilities. For objectives one and two, 75 senior-level undergraduates in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies at Iowa State University were randomly selected to complete a critical thinking assessment test during spring 2013 semester. T-tests and a step-wise regression model analyzing predictors of critical thinking ability were used to analyze data. For objective three, paired sample t-tests were used to determine differences in 25 students’ preand post-test scores in a capstone farm management course. Overall, students performed greatest in their abilities to evaluate and interpret information, but were unable to master critical thinking abilities founded in creative thinking and effective communications. Step-wise regression for total critical thinking scores revealed the ACT score as the only significant predictor of overall critical thinking ability. Students’ overall critical thinking abilities were not significantly influenced by entry pathway or enrollment in the semester-long capstone farm management course. However, enrollment in the capstone course positively influenced students’ abilities to summarize patterns of results in a graph.
Can dogs use vocal intonation as a social referencing cue in an object choice task

Evidence from the literature indicates that dogs’ choices can be influenced by human-delivered social cues, such as pointing, and pointing combined with facial expression, intonation (i.e., rising and falling voice pitch), and/or words. The present study used an object choice task to investigate whether intonation conveys unique information in the absence of other salient cues. We removed facial expression cues and speech information by delivering cues with the experimenter’s back to the dog and by using nonword vocalizations. During each trial, the dog was presented with pairs of the following three vocal cues: Positive (happy-sounding), Negative (sad-sounding), and Breath (neutral control). In Experiment 1, where dogs received only these vocal cue pairings, dogs preferred the Positive intonation, and there was no difference in choice behavior between Negative or Breath. In Experiment 2, we included a point cue with one of the two vocal cues in each pairing. Here, dogs preferred containers receiving pointing cues as well as Negative intonation, and preference was greatest when both of these cues were presented together. Taken together, these findings indicate that dogs can indeed extract information from vocal intonation alone, and may use intonation as a social referencing cue. However, the effect of intonation on behavior appears to be strongly influenced by the presence of pointing, which is known to be a highly salient visual cue for dogs. It is possible that in the presence of a point cue, intonation may shift from informative to instructive.
A Digital Synthetic Focus Acoustic Imaging System

A new real time synthetic focus digital acoustic imaging system has been developed. It operates by exciting, with an impulse, one element of a transducer array, digitizing the return echo and storing it in a Random Access Memory. This process is repeated for all the array elements and using the focus information which has been loaded from the mini computer, the system generates a series of swept-focus lines perpendicular to the array face. In comparison to earlier computer based systems, our processor handles data at rates sufficient to generate real time images.
Cultural and Ethnic Perspectives on Enhancing Resilience in Aging

This chapter shows that comprehensive research on resilience and aging would benefit from an examination and inclusion of cultural and ethnic perspectives relevant to older people. It shows the heterogeneity in resilience of older people as well as the cultural and ethnic perspectives in what older people will need addressed to be resilient in their lives. It also reveals that the older individual within a cultural or ethnic group is not a common stereotype, but still much their own person. Health and human service providers who interact with an older person must adjust their responses to that individual by taking into consideration the person’s level of resilience, culture, and ethnicity. More research in cultural and ethno-gerontology is required in order to better understand the diverse aging population and their current resilience and future needs. Forthcoming research on resilience and aging would benefit from a comprehensive and systematic approach by navigating the multi- dimensional perspectives of resilience at the individual, community, and cultural levels for intervention.
Transnational Violence Against Asylum-Seeking Women and Children: Honduras and the United States-Mexico Border

Corrupt political institutions, lack of resources, and gang violence in Central America fuel the influx of asylum-seeking women and children to the United States (US). Yet, immigrant women and children are still at risk for poor health and violence in the US due to the lack of protection and support. Through a case study of a teenage girl from Honduras living in the US who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend who followed her to the US, we elucidate ways in which the US and Honduras have violated the rights of women and children. As background, we describe the context of US foreign policy towards immigration and the market for illicit drugs; and, in Honduras, the lack of appropriate healthcare, education, and legal protections. We identify human rights–based solutions to protect the rights of women and children and provide recommendations for improvement for the US government and organizations in Honduras.
The Increasing Burden of Standardized Testing: Going Overboard.

I am a third-year general cardiology fellow beginning my final year of training. As I plan my year, a constant stress of multiple board certification examinations looms in the distance. Although board certification is not technically mandatory, it is often used by hospitals, insurance companies, and
Statistical Analysis of Reactor Pressure Vessel Fluence Calculation Benchmark Data Using Multiple Regression Techniques

The calculated >1-MeV pressure vessel fluence is used to determine the fracture toughness and integrity of the reactor pressure vessel. It is therefore of the utmost importance to ensure that the fluence prediction is accurate and unbiased. In practice, this assurance is provided by comparing the predictions of the calculational methodology with an extensive set of accurate benchmarks. A benchmarking database is used to provide an estimate of the overall average measurement-to-calculation (M/C) bias in the calculations ( ). This average is used as an ad-hoc multiplicative adjustment to the calculations to correct for the observed calculational bias. However, this average only provides a well-defined and valid adjustment of the fluence if the M/C data are homogeneous; i.e., the data are statistically independent and there is no correlation between subsets of M/C data.Typically, the identification of correlations between the errors in the database M/C values is difficult because the correlation is of the same magnitude as the random errors in the M/C data and varies substantially over the database. In this paper, an evaluation of a reactor dosimetry benchmark database is performed to determine the statistical validity of the adjustment to the calculated pressure vessel fluence. Physical mechanisms thatmore » could potentially introduce a correlation between the subsets of M/C ratios are identified and included in a multiple regression analysis of the M/C data. Rigorous statistical criteria are used to evaluate the homogeneity of the M/C data and determine the validity of the adjustment.For the database evaluated, the M/C data are found to be strongly correlated with dosimeter response threshold energy and dosimeter location (e.g., cavity versus in-vessel). It is shown that because of the inhomogeneity in the M/C data, for this database, the benchmark data do not provide a valid basis for adjusting the pressure vessel fluence.The statistical criteria and methods employed in this analysis are generic and may be applied in benchmarking applications where the M/C comparisons are used to determine an adjustment of the calculations.« less
Improving oral health-related quality of life for a traumatic brain injury patient: A case report.

Aims A preliminary aim was to determine if a patient who had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) could tolerate removal of his remaining teeth and replacement with partially implant-supported prosthetic replacements. The primary aim was to determine if the patient and also his main caregiver could assess a potential change in his oral health-related quality of life. Methods and results Procedures for the patient were conservative dental restorations, removal of nonrestorable teeth, placement of implants, and fabrication of new dentures. The patient and his primary caregiver, independently, completed the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) before and after placement of the implants and Locators. The scores were then compared. The results were that both successfully completed the OHIP-14 and scores showed improvement at 3 and 6 months. Conclusion This is the first report of both, a TBI patient and his primary caregiver independently self-assessing improvement in his quality of life using the OHIP-14 after fabrication of an implant-supported overdenture.
Boron removal by electrocoagulation: Removal mechanism, adsorption models and factors influencing removal

Abstract Boron (B), normally present in ground water and sea water, is a vital micronutrient for plants, but is also toxic in excessive amounts. Under typical conditions, aqueous boron is present as boric acid (H3BO3), which is uncharged, making B particularly challenging to remove by mechanisms commonly applicable to removal of trace constituents. Adsorption of B onto aluminum hydroxide solids (Al(OH)3(s)) generated using aluminum-based electrocoagulation (EC) is a promising strategy for B removal. Infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated complexation of B(OH)3 with aluminum hydroxide solids via surface hydroxyl groups, while X-ray and infrared spectroscopy results indicated that the structure of the Al(OH)3(s) was influenced both by EC operating conditions and by water quality. A linear adsorption model predicted B removal well when initial concentrations were lower than 50 mg/L, but fit the experimental data poorly at higher initial B concentrations. The Langmuir adsorption model provided a good fit for a broader range of initial B concentrations (5–1000 mg/L). Factors affecting B adsorption during the EC process, including current intensity, Al dissolution rate, boron concentration, pH, and total dissolved solid (TDS), were investigated. Increasing current intensity initially led to a higher Al dissolution rate, and therefore higher B adsorption, but there was a limit, as further increases in current intensity caused rapid formation of Al(OH)3(s) having a large particle size and a low capacity to complex B. Boron removal decreased as its concentration increased. The best removal of B occurred at pH 8, corresponding to a slightly positive zeta potential for aluminum hydroxide and a small but significant fraction of negatively charged B species. Higher TDS concentrations facilitated the use of higher current intensities, i.e., the limit on the effective Al dissolution rate increased with increasing TDS. Two real water samples (river water and oilfield produced water) spiked with B were treated using EC, resulting in up to 50% B removal from river water (C0 = 10 mg/L, current = 0.2 A) in 2 h, and 80% B removal from produced water (C0 = 50 mg/L, current = 1.0 A) in 2 h.
IMPACT OF TRANSCATHETER PULMONARY ARTERY INTERVENTION FOLLOWING SUPERIOR CAVOPULMONARY CONNECTION ON DOWNSTREAM PULMONARY ARTERY GROWTH

Balloon and stent angioplasty of the pulmonary arteries (PA) is often performed following superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC), not only to normalize the caliber of the affected PA but also in hopes of maximizing growth of the downstream pulmonary vascular tree. To our knowledge, this impact has
A Computationally Efficient U-Net Architecture for Lung Segmentation in Chest Radiographs

Lung segmentation plays a crucial role in computer-aided diagnosis using Chest Radiographs (CRs). We implement a U-Net architecture for lung segmentation in CRs across multiple publicly available datasets. We utilize a private dataset with 160 CRs provided by the Riverain Medical Group for training purposes. A publicly available dataset provided by the Japanese Radiological Scientific Technology (JRST) is used for testing. The active shape model-based results would serve as the ground truth for both these datasets. In addition, we also study the performance of our algorithm on a publicly available Shenzhen dataset which contains 566 CRs with manually segmented lungs (ground truth). Our overall performance in terms of pixel-based classification is about 98.3% and 95.6% for a set of 100 CRs in Shenzhen dataset and 140 CRs in JRST dataset. We also achieve an intersection over union value of 0.95 at a computation time of 8 seconds for the entire suite of Shenzhen testing cases.
Venlafaxine-induced encephalopathy in term newborn.

The use of venlafaxine, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, for the management of depression in women of childbearing age has been on the rise, and there have been multiple...
COVID-19 in Children: Looking Forward, Not Back.

* Abbreviations: COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 SARS-CoV-2 — : severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 In the fall of 2020, some of the fiercest debates waged in both academic and public arenas concern the relative ability of children to acquire and transmit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): rightfully so, because there are enormous implications for children, parents, and schools. To date, much of the data have come from studies of COVID-19 within household clusters early during the pandemic. In this issue of Pediatrics , Laws et al1 add to this body of literature with a secondary analysis of a previously reported household contact study.2 They describe infection rates, transmission dynamics, and symptom profiles in a cohort of US children with household SARS-CoV-2 exposure between March and May 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Salt Lake City, Utah.1 The authors found that secondary infection rates in household contacts were similar in children (19 of 68 contacts; 28%) and adults (36 of 120 contacts; 30%). Having an infected parent was associated with a marked increase in risk for secondary infection in a child. Possible child-to-adult or child-to-child transmission was observed in 2 of 10 and 1 of 6 households, respectively, with potential for such events. Infected children generally had mild symptoms and were less likely than adults to report lower respiratory tract symptoms or loss of taste or smell. With their findings, the researchers provide additional confirmation that the overwhelming majority of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection develop mild symptoms3,4 but question whether children are less susceptible to infection or less likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2. Limitations of the study include convenience sampling and a relatively small sample size because … Address correspondence to William V. Raszka Jr, MD, Department of Pediatrics, The Robert Larner, MD College of Medicine, The University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Ave, Given Courtyard N210, Burlington, VT 05405. E-mail: william.raszka{at}med.uvm.edu
Abdominal radiology involvement in image-guided procedures: a perspective from the society of abdominal radiology Cross-Sectional Interventional Radiology Emerging Technology Commission.

Abdominal radiology as a field has historically played an important role in the training, research, and performance of image-guided procedures. With the emphasis on increased subspecialization and the more formal and rigorous interventional radiology training programs, the question of the future of image-guided procedures within abdominal radiology is explored. A survey conducted by the Cross-Sectional Interventional Radiology Emerging Technology Commission on members of the Society of Abdominal Radiology showed that image-guided procedures are overwhelmingly being performed by abdominal radiology groups, and the vast majority of programs are training their fellows in this regard. We explore some of the challenges radiology and health care in general may face should abdominal radiologists no longer perform procedures and outline strategies departments can employ to meet the needs of both abdominal and interventional radiologists.
What does ride-hailing mean for parking? Associations between on-street parking occupancy and ride-hail trips in Seattle

Abstract Ride-hailing companies, including Uber and Lyft, upset the traditional nexus between driving and parking. As cities consider parking policy reforms amidst a wave of app-based transportation systems, including ride-hailing, the associations between parking occupancy and ride-hailing remain unclear. Examining this association is critical as it may help understand the connections between ride-hailing and the built environment and help cities plan for a future of new transportation technologies that may alter the role of or need for on-street parking. This article examines associations between ride-hail trips and on-street parking occupancy in Seattle, Washington. We use Uber and Lyft trip data combined with parking and built environment data to model projected parking occupancy in Seattle at both current and increased levels of ride-hailing. Results demonstrate that current rates of ride-hailing are associated with higher on-street parking occupancy; in other words, areas with high parking occupancy also have large numbers of ride-hail trips. The positive association may be due to several factors such as travelers using ride-hailing to avoid hunting for scarce on-street parking. While some travelers may substitute personal driving (and parking) for ride-hailing, results suggest that freed up parking is utilized by other travelers who switch from other times, modes, or make trips that they otherwise would not have. The association between on-street parking occupancy and ride-hail trips is, however, not linear. We predict that on-street parking occupancy will start to decline if or when ride-hail trips are about 2.24 times greater than the average number of trips taken in 2016. Flexible and adaptable parking policies that can more quickly respond (or better yet, be proactive) to changing ride-hail demand will better manage the changes that may affect on-street parking.
Distributed optimal power flow.

Objective The objectives of this paper are to 1) construct a new network model compatible with distributed computation, 2) construct the full optimal power flow (OPF) in a distributed fashion so that an effective, non-inferior solution can be found, and 3) develop a scalable algorithm that guarantees the convergence to a local minimum. Existing challenges Due to the nonconvexity of the problem, the search for a solution to OPF problems is not scalable, which makes the OPF highly limited for the system operation of large-scale real-world power grids—“the curse of dimensionality”. The recent attempts at distributed computation aim for a scalable and efficient algorithm by reducing the computational cost per iteration in exchange of increased communication costs. Motivation A new network model allows for efficient computation without increasing communication costs. With the network model, recent advancements in distributed computation make it possible to develop an efficient and scalable algorithm suitable for large-scale OPF optimizations. Methods We propose a new network model in which all nodes are directly connected to the center node to keep the communication costs manageable. Based on the network model, we suggest a nodal distributed algorithm and direct communication to all nodes through the center node. We demonstrate that the suggested algorithm converges to a local minimum rather than a point, satisfying the first optimality condition. Results The proposed algorithm identifies solutions to OPF problems in various IEEE model systems. The solutions are identical to those using a centrally optimized and heuristic approach. The computation time at each node does not depend on the system size, and Niter does not increase significantly with the system size. Conclusion Our proposed network model is a star network for maintaining the shortest node-to-node distances to allow a linear information exchange. The proposed algorithm guarantees the convergence to a local minimum rather than a maximum or a saddle point, and it maintains computational efficiency for a large-scale OPF, scalable algorithm.
A Two-Week Insulin Infusion in Intrauterine Growth Restricted Fetal Sheep at 75% Gestation Increases Skeletal Myoblast Replication but Did Not Restore Muscle Mass or Increase Fiber Number

Intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses are born with lower skeletal muscle mass, fewer proliferating myoblasts, and fewer myofibers compared to normally growing fetuses. Plasma concentrations of insulin, a myogenic growth factor, are lower in IUGR fetuses. We hypothesized that a two-week insulin infusion at 75% gestation would increase myoblast proliferation and fiber number in IUGR fetal sheep. Catheterized control fetuses received saline (CON-S, n=6), and the IUGR fetuses received either saline (IUGR-S, n=7) or insulin (IUGR-I, 0.014±0.001 units/kg/hr, n=11) for 14 days. Fetal arterial blood gases and plasma amino acid levels were measured. Fetal skeletal muscles (biceps femoris, BF; and flexor digitorum superficialis, FDS) and pancreases were collected at necropsy (126±2 dGA) for immunochemistry analysis, real-time qPCR, or flow cytometry. Insulin concentrations in IUGR-I and IUGR-S were lower vs. CON (P≤0.05, group). Fetal arterial PO2, O2 content, and glucose concentrations were lower in IUGR-I vs. CON (P≤0.01) throughout the infusion period. IGF-1 concentrations tended to be higher in IUGR-I vs. IUGR-S (P=0.06), but both were lower vs. CON (P≤0.0001, group). More myoblasts were in S/G2 cell cycle stage in IUGR-I vs. both IUGR-S and CON (145% and 113%, respectively, P≤0.01). IUGR-I FDS muscle weighed 40% less and had 40% lower fiber number vs. CON (P≤0.05) but were not different from IUGR-S. Myonuclear number per fiber and the mRNA expression levels of muscle regulatory factors were not different between groups. While the pancreatic β-cell mass was lower in both IUGR-I and IUGR-S compared to CON, the IUGR groups were not different from each other indicating that feedback inhibition by endogenous insulin did not reduce β-cell mass. A two-week insulin infusion at 75% gestation promoted myoblast proliferation in the IUGR fetus but did not increase fiber or myonuclear number. Myoblasts in the IUGR fetus retain the capacity to proliferate in response to mitogenic stimuli, but intrinsic defects in the fetal myoblast by 75% gestation may limit the capacity to restore fiber number.