cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract IA12: SWI/SNF (BAF) complex mutations in cancer

Data emerging over the last several years implicate the SWI/SNF (BAF) chromatin remodeling complex as a major tumor suppressor as frequent inactivating mutations in at least eight SWI/SNF subunits have been identified in a variety of cancers. These include inactivating mutations of the gene encoding the ARID1A (BAF250a) subunit in ovarian, endometrioid, bladder, stomach, colorectal and pancreatic cancers; of the PBRM1 (BAF180) subunit in renal carcinomas; of the ARID2 subunit in hepatocellular, lung, and pancreas carcinomas as well as melanomas; of the BRD7 subunit in breast cancers; and of the BRG1 (SMARCA4) subunit in non-small cell lung cancers, medulloblastomas and ovarian small cell carcinomas. The SWI/SNF complex includes both core and lineage-specific subunits and utilizes the energy of ATP to modulate chromatin structure and regulate transcription. My laboratory began studying the SWI/SNF complex when the SNF5 (SMARCB1/INI1/BAF47) subunit was first identified as a tumor suppressor over a decade ago when it was found to be recurrently and specifically inactivated in a highly aggressive type of pediatric cancer called malignant rhabdoid tumor. We now study the complex using mouse models, cell lines and primary human tumor samples. Our goals are to elucidate the normal function of the complex, identify the mechanisms by which subunit mutations drive cancer formation, and utilize this insight to identify and develop novel therapeutic approaches. Insights into the normal function of SWI/SNF complexes, the mechanisms by which mutation of the complexes drive cancer formation, and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities created by mutation of the complex will be presented. Citation Format: Charles W. M. Roberts. SWI/SNF (BAF) complex mutations in cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research: From Mechanisms and Models to Treatment and Survivorship; 2015 Nov 9-12; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(5 Suppl):Abstract nr IA12.
Effects of Environment on Brain and Behavior in Animals

Since 1960 it has become increasingly clear from animal research that environment and experience affect not only behavior but also the nervous system. It is tempting to try to use some of the findings of this animal research as models for child development and its deviations, and even to suggest treatments by extrapolating from experimental results. Such attempts may be fruitful, but they are also hazardous because each species has its own peculiarities, and results obtained with one species cannot safely be transferred to another. Such results should be used only as a source of ideas for research with other species. The dangers of uncontrolled extrapolations are particularly great when specialists from different fields or backgrounds attempt to communicate with each other, because one may not understand the preconceptions and limitations of the results of the other.
Ethical Issues in Pediatric Resuscitation

An estimated 25,745 children died in the United States in 2000. The leading causes of death were unintentional injury, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, drowning, poisoning, choking, asthma, and pneumonia. Many of these children present to the emergency department (ED) in cardiopulmonary arrest. The American Heart Association recommends attempting resuscitation unless there is a valid Do Not Attempt Resuscitation order or signs of irreversible death, such as dependent lividity, decapitation, or rigor mortis. It is difficult to predict which individual patients will have favorable outcomes, but there are several prognostic factors predictive of survival to hospital discharge. These include: a palpable pulse on presentation, a short interval between arrest and hospital arrival, fewer doses of epinephrine, and short duration of resuscitation in the ED. Without return of spontaneous circulation after 30 minutes of ACLS, the chance of survival is exceedingly small.
Unexpected fees and the prediction of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting

We investigate whether prior year unexpected audit fees help predict new material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting reported under Section 404 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX). Predicting material weaknesses may be useful to investors and other financial statement users because these disclosures have adverse economic impacts on disclosing firms. Unexpected fees are significantly associated with material weaknesses reported under Section 404, even after controlling for Section 302 disclosures and other factors associated with internal control weaknesses. Unexpected fees are associated with company-level weaknesses but are not significantly associated with account-specific weaknesses, consistent with differences in the nature and severity of the two types of material weaknesses. Our results are consistent with unexpected audit fees containing information on unobserved audit costs and client control risks, which help predict future internal control weaknesses.
Microbial community responses to soil tillage and crop rotation in a corn/soybean agroecosystem

The acreage planted in corn and soybean crops is vast, and these crops contribute substantially to the world economy. The agricultural practices employed for farming these crops have major effects on ecosystem health at a worldwide scale. The microbial communities living in agricultural soils significantly contribute to nutrient uptake and cycling and can have both positive and negative impacts on the crops growing with them. In this study, we examined the impact of the crop planted and soil tillage on nutrient levels, microbial communities, and the biochemical pathways present in the soil. We found that farming practice, that is conventional tillage versus no-till, had a much greater impact on nearly everything measured compared to the crop planted. No-till fields tended to have higher nutrient levels and distinct microbial communities. Moreover, no-till fields had more DNA sequences associated with key nitrogen cycle processes, suggesting that the microbial communities were more active in cycling nitrogen. Our results indicate that tilling of agricultural soil may magnify the degree of nutrient waste and runoff by altering nutrient cycles through changes to microbial communities. Currently, a minority of acreage is maintained without tillage despite clear benefits to soil nutrient levels, and a decrease in nutrient runoff-both of which have ecosystem-level effects and both direct and indirect effects on humans and other organisms.
Pathogen dynamics during invasion and establishment of white-nose syndrome explain mechanisms of host persistence

Disease dynamics during pathogen invasion and establishment determine the impacts of disease on host populations and determine the mechanisms of host persistence. Temporal progression of prevalence and infection intensity illustrate whether tolerance, resistance, reduced transmission, or demographic compensation allow initially declining populations to persist. We measured infection dynamics of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans that causes white-nose syndrome in bats by estimating pathogen prevalence and load in seven bat species at 167 hibernacula over a decade as the pathogen invaded, became established, and some host populations stabilized. Fungal loads increased rapidly and prevalence rose to nearly 100% at most sites within 2 yr of invasion in six of seven species. Prevalence and loads did not decline over time despite huge reductions in colony sizes, likely due to an extensive environmental reservoir. However, there was substantial variation in fungal load among sites with persisting colonies, suggesting that both tolerance and resistance developed at different sites in the same species. In contrast, one species disappeared from hibernacula within 3 yr of pathogen invasion. Variable host responses to pathogen invasion require different management strategies to prevent disease-induced extinction and to facilitate evolution of tolerance or resistance in persisting populations.
Effects of mass airflow rate through an open-circuit gas quantification system when measuring carbon emissions.

Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) represent 11 and 81%, respectively, of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Agricultural CH4 emissions account for approximately 43% of all anthropogenic CH4 emissions. Most agricultural CH4 emissions are attributed to enteric fermentation within ruminant livestock; hence, the heightened interest in quantifying and mitigating this source. The automated, open-circuit gas quantification system (GQS; GreenFeed, C-Lock, Inc., Rapid City, SD) evaluated here can be placed in a pasture with grazing cattle and can measure their CH4 and CO2 emissions with spot sampling. However, improper management of the GQS can have an erroneous effect on emission estimates. One factor affecting the quality of emission estimates is the airflow rates through the GQS to ensure a complete capture of the breath cloud emitted by the animal. It is hypothesized that at lower airflow rates this cloud will be incompletely captured. To evaluate the effect of airflow rate through the GQS on emission estimates, a data set was evaluated with 758 CO2 and CH4 emission estimates with a range in airflows of 10.7 to 36.6 L/s. When airflow through the GQS was between 26.0 and 36.6 L/s, CO2 and CH4 emission estimates were not affected (P = 0.14 and 0.05, respectively). When airflow rates were less than 26.0 L/s, CO2 and CH4 emission estimates were lower and decreased as airflow rate decreased (P < 0.0001). We hypothesize that when airflow through the GQS decreases below 26 L/s, breath capture was incomplete and CO2 and CH4 emissions are underestimated. Maintaining mass airflow through a GQS at rates greater than 26 L/s is important for producing high quality CO2 and CH4 emission estimates.
Integrative Medicine in Preventive Medicine Education: Implementation Analysis

In September 2012, the Health Resources and Services Administration funded 12 preventive medicine residency programs to participate in a 2-year project aimed at incorporating integrative medicine (IM) into their residency training programs. The grantees were asked to incorporate competencies for IM into their respective preventive medicine residency curricula and to provide for faculty development in IM. The analysis conducted in 2014-2015 used the following evidence to assess residency programs' achievements and challenges in implementation: progress and performance measures reports, curriculum mapping of program activities to IM competencies, records of webinar participation, and post-project individual semi-structured phone interviews with the 12 grantee project leaders. Key findings are: (1) IM activities offered to residents increased by 50% during the 2 years; (2) Accessing IM resources already in existence at local grantee sites was the primary facilitator of moving the integration of IM into preventive medicine residencies forward; (3) Among all activities offered residents, rotations were perceived by grantees as by far the most valuable contributor to acquiring IM competencies; (4) Online training was considered a greater contributor to preventive medicine residents' medical knowledge in IM than faculty lectures or courses; (5) Faculty were offered a rich variety of opportunities for professional development in IM, but some programs lacked a system to ensure faculty participation; and (6) Perceived lack of evidence for IM was a barrier to full program implementation at some sites. Grantees expect implemented programs to continue post-funding, but with decreased intensity owing to perceived faculty and curriculum time constraints.
Post-9/11 sarcoidosis in WTC-exposed firefighters and emergency medical service workers.

Abstract Introduction The World Trade Center (WTC) disaster released a huge quantity and variety of toxicants into the environment. To-date, studies from each of the three major cohorts of WTC-exposed workers have suggested “greater than expected” numbers of post-9/11 cases in some workers. We undertook this study to estimate the incidence of post-9/11 sarcoidosis in ∼13,000 male firefighters and EMS workers enrolled in The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) WTC Health Program; to compare FDNY incidence to rates from unexposed, demographically similar men in the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP); and, to examine rates by level of WTC exposure. Methods We calculated incidence of sarcoidosis diagnosed from 9/12/2001 to 9/11/2015, and generated expected sex- and age-specific rates based on REP rates. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) based on REP rates, and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. Two sensitivity analyses limited cases to those with intra-thoracic symptoms or biopsy confirmation. Results We identified 68 post-9/11 cases in the FDNY cohort. Overall, FDNY rates were significantly higher than expected rates (SIR = 2.8; 95% CI = 2.2, 3.6). Including only symptomatic cases, the SIR decreased (SIR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.5, 3.0), but remained significantly elevated. SIRs ranged from 2.7 (95% CI = 2.0, 3.5) in the lower WTC exposure group to 4.2 (95% CI = 1.9, 8.0) in the most highly exposed. Conclusions We found excess incident post-9/11 sarcoidosis in WTC-exposed workers. Continued surveillance, particularly of those most highly exposed, is necessary to identify those with sarcoidosis and to follow them for possible adverse effects including functional impairments and organ damage.
Multimodality Noninvasive Imaging in the Monitoring of Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Orthotopic heart transplantation is a well-established and effective therapeutic option for children with end-stage heart failure. Multiple modalities, including noninvasive cardiac imaging, cardiac catheterization, angiography, and endomyocardial biopsy, are helpful to monitor these patients for graft dysfunction, rejection, and vasculopathy. Because of morbidities associated with invasive monitoring, noninvasive imaging plays a key role in the surveillance and evaluation of symptoms in pediatric transplant recipients. Echocardiography with or without stress augmentation may provide serial data on systolic and diastolic function, ventricular deformation, and tissue characteristics in children after transplantation. Although not perfectly sensitive or specific, advanced two- and three-dimensional echocardiographic detection of functional changes in cardiac grafts may allow early recognition of allograft rejection. Magnetic resonance imaging has shown promise for characterization of edema and scar and myocardial perfusion reserve, as well as potential application for the detection of microvasculopathic changes in the transplanted heart. Cardiac computed tomography is particularly well suited for the demonstration of coronary artery dimensions and anatomic residual lesions. In combination, these noninvasive imaging techniques help the transplantation cardiologist screen for graft dysfunction, detect critical graft events, and identify situations that require invasive testing of the transplanted heart. Advanced multimodality imaging techniques are likely to increasingly shape the monitoring practices for children following heart transplantation.
An Overview of Chemical Reaction Analysis

This chapter is a survey of chemical reaction engineering basics: chemical species, reaction rates, representations of chemical reactions, chemical stoichiometry, thermodynamics, energy regularity for biotransformations, multiple reactions, conversion, yield, selectivity and yield factor, mass and energy balances, ideal chemical reactors, and economics of reaction engineering. Basic concepts are introduced, for example, elementary reaction, approximate reaction, coupled reaction, concentrations, specific reaction rate, Roels formula, transitional state, activation energy, chemical equilibrium, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy. Also, included are how reaction rates are related between different substrates, different products; why there is only one independent variable in every reaction; what yield factors are, and how all are linked through stoichiometry. You should understand why A → B or S → P is used commonly in a reaction engineering text, instead of more realistic or real-life examples after reading this chapter. The understanding of how chemical reactions are approximated and represented, for example, is the key in understanding the representation of metabolic pathways in microbiology.
An inverse newsvendor model to set the optimal number of customers in a capacitated environment

Abstract The inverse newsvendor problem is a variant of the traditional newsvendor problem where the decision of interest is to select the number of customers that could be served in the available capacity, measured in units of time. In essence, the traditional newsvendor problem maps demand into capacity, whereas with the inverse newsvendor problem capacity is mapped into demand. First, we provide an analysis of the problem under the assumptions of normally and exponentially distributed service times. We also numerically show that approximations of the lognormal and the gamma distributions to the normal distribution are relevant and valid. For normally distributed service times, we take into accounts both identical and nonidentical distributions. We propose three heuristics to decide who to be served rather than the number of customers when service times are nonidentically and normally distributed. We conduct extensive numerical studies to show the efficacy of the heuristics.
P Value Problems

To the Editor: Since its invention 90 years ago, the p value has become the standard by which most quantitative research is judged; however, it was never intended for this purpose.[1][1] Indeed, a 2016 joint statement by the American Statistical Association argued, “By itself, a p value does not
Use of clinical MRI maximum intensity projections for improved breast lesion classification with deep convolutional neural networks.

Deep learning methods have been shown to improve breast cancer diagnostic and prognostic decisions based on selected slices of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). However, incorporation of volumetric and temporal components into DCE-MRIs has not been well studied. We propose maximum intensity projection (MIP) images of subtraction MRI as a way to simultaneously include four-dimensional (4-D) images into lesion classification using convolutional neural networks (CNN). The study was performed on a dataset of 690 cases. Regions of interest were selected around each lesion on three MRI presentations: (i) the MIP image generated on the second postcontrast subtraction MRI, (ii) the central slice of the second postcontrast MRI, and (iii) the central slice of the second postcontrast subtraction MRI. CNN features were extracted from the ROIs using pretrained VGGNet. The features were utilized in the training of three support vector machine classifiers to characterize lesions as malignant or benign. Classifier performances were evaluated with fivefold cross-validation and compared based on area under the ROC curve (AUC). The approach using MIPs [AUC=0.88(se=0.01)] outperformed that using central-slices of either second postcontrast MRIs [0.80(se=0.02)] or second postcontrast subtraction MRIs [AUC=0.84(se=0.02)], at statistically significant levels.
Backscattered electron simulations to evaluate sensitivity against electron dosage of buried semiconductor features

In fabrication, overlay measurements of semiconductor device patterns have conventionally been performed using optical methods. Beginning with image-based techniques using box-in-box to the more recent diffraction-based overlay (DBO). Alternatively, use of SEM overlay is under consideration for in-device overlay. Two main application spaces are measurement features from multiple mask levels on the same surface and buried features. Modern CD-SEMs are adept at measuring overlay for cases where all features are on the surface. In order to measure overlay of buried features, HV-SEM is needed. Gate-to-fin and BEOL overlay are important use cases for this technique. A JMONSEL simulation exercise was performed for these two cases using 10 nm line/space gratings of graduated increase in depth of burial. Backscattered energy loss results of these simulations were used to calculate the sensitivity measurements of buried features versus electron dosage for an array of electron beam voltages.
Data Envelopment Analysis

The outcomes from the previous chapters provide useful information from the literature of operations research and economics on measuring the performance of a set of homogenous firms with multiple input factors and multiple output factors as well as ranking and benchmarking firms. If firms are not homogenous, the situation is the same as when each factor has a different unit of measurement from one firm to another, and therefore, no meaningful discrimination can be expressed, unless the simple conditions of discrimination, which are represented in Sect. 2.3, are satisfied. In this chapter, the concepts introduced in the previous chapters are adapted with the literature and the philosophical background is discussed.
Effect of Urine Compounds on the Electrochemical Oxidation of Urea Using a Nickel Cobaltite Catalyst: An Electroanalytical and Spectroscopic Investigation

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were used to investigate the effect of major urine compounds on the electro-oxidation activity of urea using a nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4 ) catalyst. As a substrate, carbon paper exhibited better benchmark potential and current values compared with stainless steel and fluorine-doped tin oxide glass, which was attributed to its greater active surface area per electrode geometric area. CV analysis of synthetic urine showed that phosphate, creatinine, and gelatin (i.e., proteins) had the greatest negative effect on the electro-oxidation activity of urea, with decreases in peak current up to 80% compared to that of a urea-only solution. Further investigation of the binding mechanisms of the deleterious compounds using in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed that urea and phosphate weakly bind to NiCo2O4 through hydrogen bonding or long-range forces, whereas creatinine interacts strongly, forming d...
Information Technology Strategy Incorporating Dynamic Pricing in the Business Model of the Future

With the continuous development of Information Technology towards the Consumer Electronic area, consumers are provided with invaluable and powerful information for consumption purposes. This has imposed strangle-hold competitive pressures on businesses, especially retailers. The proposed Dynamic Pricing Model discussed in this research will provide the supply chain business partners of industry a strategic weapon to counter-balance the increased consumer competitive power. The main thrust of the model is predicated on the use of Information Technology to massively collect consumer data (Big Data) and apply pertinent Business Analytics to develop appropriate Consumer Utility-Value in the form of an index. This complex index can give businesses, especially retailers the ability to price their products/services according to the utility value it can generate based on the real-time desires/necessities of the consumers. By such practice, it is perceivable that additional revenues can be obtained without increase in costs, with the exception of the Information Technology and Business Analytics efforts.
Mixed Conformable and Iterated Fractional Quantitative Approximation by Choquet Integrals

Here we study the quantitative mixed conformable and iterated fractional approximation of positive sublinear operators to the unit operator. These are given a precise Choquet integral interpretation. Initially we start with the research of the mixed conformable and iterated fractional rate of the convergence of the well-known Bernstein-Kantorovich–Choquet and Bernstein–Durrweyer–Choquet polynomial Choquet-integral operators.
Big Brother 1994: Marketing Data and the IRS:

Marketers need to be alert to the threat to important facets of their information gathering and processing activities that will arise from the increasing perception of the need to exercise enhanced...
“When the sun goes down”: Time, space, and genre in Cane and Crossing the River

Jean Toomer’s Cane (1923) and Caryl Phillips’s Crossing the River (1993) both negotiate community and individuality in the Black diaspora, utilizing multi-generic techniques. The lack of significan...
Genome and Ontogenetic-Based Transcriptomic Analyses of the Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga bullata.

The flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata, is a widely-used model for examining the physiology of insect diapause, development, stress tolerance, neurobiology, and host-parasitoid interactions. Flies in this taxon are implicated in myiasis (larval infection of vertebrates) and feed on carrion, aspects that are important in forensic studies. Here we present the genome of S. bullata, along with developmental- and reproduction-based RNA-Seq analyses. We predict 15,768 protein coding genes, identify orthology in relation to closely related flies, and establish sex and developmental-specific gene sets based on our RNA-Seq analyses. Genomic sequences, predicted genes, and sequencing data sets have been deposited at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Our results provide groundwork for genomic studies that will expand the flesh fly’s utility as a model system.
Enviroment Knowledge Implementation to Senior High School and Collage Students Activities

Abstract - Al Qur’an is the word of Allah SWT as the rules and guidance to get harmony and success life in here and after. The explanation and ways how to implement command of Al Qur’an are found in Al Hadist Muhammad SAW. Al Qur’an teaches may aspect of life and one of them is how using and managing the natural resources and conserve of environment, using the source of energy, water, health and sanitation. In the other hand the people of the world included Indonesia facing environment problem. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from United nation are collected of 17 global goal or agenda 2030 for transforming our world 2030 and containing strategy to solve environment problem. Base on the fact, the problem is how awareness the senior high school and higher education (university) students specially Islamic students to contribute conserve the environment?. The goals of the research were to know how environment awareness and action performance of students from senior high school and university. Methodology of the research was survey and observation concerning in 320 student from 4 senior high schools and in 1 university. The result of the research showed 41,5% of natural and 40.35% social science students from Islamic values senior high schools (SMAI IPA and IPS) showed the awareness action to environment. In SMAN IPA students showed their awareness 51.1% and SMAN IPS 20.6% Based on observation students from university with Islamic values showed low awareness of environment. Keyword - Al Qur’an, Awareness, Environment, Hadist, Students
Immune therapeutic strategies using optimal controls with L1 and L2 type objectives.

Abstract Therapeutic strategies to correct an excessive immune response to pathogenic infection is investigated as an optimal control problem. The control problem is formulated around a four dimensional mathematical model describing the inflammatory response to a pathogenic insult with two therapeutic control inputs which have either a direct pro- or anti-inflammatory effect in the given system. We use Pontryagin’s maximum principle and discuss necessary optimality conditions. We consider both an L1 type objective functional as well as an L2 type objective. For the former, the presence of singular control will be addressed. For each case, numerical simulations using a nonlinear programming optimization solver to acquire different drug treatment strategies are presented and discussed. The results provide insight for possible treatment strategies and the methods could be a relevant tool for future practice to assist in better prediction of clinical outcomes and subsequently better treatment for patients.
Investigating the Use of Lime Residuals as an Alternative in Portland Limestone Cement

This article presents the use of lime residuals from water treatment plants and their incorporation into concrete. Through a lime-softening process, hydrated lime is added at the water treatment plant to lower water hardness from which lime residuals form. Lime residuals are mainly calcium carbonate, which make them a good addition in cement manufacturing. Specimens were cast with lime residuals at 3 and 15 % replacement dosages to determine their potential for use in manufacturing a standard cement or creating portland limestone cement. Tests were performed on three lime residual samples and available limestone products. The results showed minimal performance differences between each of the mixtures. Fresh properties (slump, air content, and unit weight) and hardened properties along with hydration microstructure (x-ray diffraction and isothermal calorimetry) were evaluated. Results showed that the use of lime residuals could be an effective alternative for powdered limestone in portland limestone cement production. In addition, long-term external sulfate attack testing was performed. Sulfate resistance decreased with increasing lime residual content.
Economic and Health Care Burdens of Hepatitis Delta: A Study of Commercially Insured Adults in the United States

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The paucity of data regarding the extent of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) associated health care burden in the United States is an important obstacle to assessing the cost-effectiveness of potential intervention strategies. In this study, we characterized the health care use and cost burdens of HDV in the United States using real-world claims data. APPROACH AND RESULTS We conducted a case-control study using the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims databases from 2011-2014. A total of 2,727 HDV cases were matched 1:1 by sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) controls using propensity scores. The HDV group had significantly higher prevalence of substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, decompensated cirrhosis, cirrhosis, and hepatitis C virus compared to patients with chronic HBV. First HDV diagnosis was associated with significant increases in the total number of health care claims (25.61 vs. 28.99; P < 0.0001) and total annual health care costs ($19,476 vs. $23,605; P < 0.0001) compared with pre-HDV baseline. The case-control analysis similarly indicated higher total claims (28.99 vs. 25.19; P < 0.0001) and health care costs ($23,605 vs. $18,228; P < 0.0001) in HDV compared with HBV alone. Compared with HBV controls, HDV cases had an adjusted incident rate ratio of 1.16 (95% confidence interval: 1.10, 1.22) times the total number of annual claims and an adjusted incident rate ratio 1.32 (95% confidence interval 1.17, 1.48) times the total annual health care cost. CONCLUSIONS HDV is associated with higher health care use and cost burden than HBV alone, underscoring the need for improved screening and treatment.
Novel In Situ Open Reduction and Fixation of a Displaced Type II Odontoid Fracture.

Background Surgical intervention for type II odontoid fractures is a common treatment strategy when conservative management is not appropriate, such as in significantly displaced fractures. However, displaced fractures may not be easily reduced with instrumentation alone. We present a novel technique, using a “bucket-handle” construct to manually reduce a dorsally displaced type II odontoid fracture, in a patient with failure of previously placed dorsal instrumentation. Methods A 63-year-old woman underwent posterior sublaminar wiring and fixation of a type II odontoid fracture at an outside institution. Several weeks later, she presented with graft dislodgement and increased dorsal displacement and angulation of her fractured dens. After removal of her prior instrumentation and placement of segmental instrumentation, a novel construct was created using components from the instrumentation system and was attached to her cervical 2 (C2) screws. Results Dorsal traction on the C2 pars interarticularis screws allowed for manual reduction of her fracture via a 3-point bending moment. This reduction was secured with an occiput to C6 fixation and fusion. She is clinically and radiographically stable at 3-months follow-up. Conclusions This novel “bucket-handle” construct, used in conjunction with occipitocervical fusion, allowed safe and durable manual reduction of a dorsally displaced and angulated type II odontoid fracture.
Relating N–H Bond Strengths to the Overpotential for Catalytic Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen (N2) fixation to produce bio-available ammonia (NH3) is essential to all life but is a challenging transformation to catalyse owing to the chemical inertness of N2. Transition metals can, however, bind N2 and activate it for functionalization. Significant opportunities remain in developing robust and efficient transition metal catalysts for the N2 reduction reaction (N2RR). One opportunity to target in catalyst design concerns the stabilization of transition metal diazenido species (M-NNH) that result from the first N2 functionalization step. Well-characterized M-NNH species remain very rare, likely a consequence of their low N-H bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs). In this essay, we discuss the relationship between the BDFEN-H of a given M-NNH species to the observed overpotential and selectivity for N2RR catalysis with that catalyst system. We note that developing strategies to either increase the N-H BDFEs of M-NNH species, or to avoid M-NNH intermediates altogether, are potential routes to improved N2RR efficiency.
Microglia phagocytose myelin sheaths to modify developmental myelination

During development, oligodendrocytes contact and wrap neuronal axons with myelin. Similarly to neurons and synapses, excess myelin sheaths are produced and selectively eliminated, but how elimination occurs is unknown. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, engulf surplus neurons and synapses. To determine whether microglia also prune myelin sheaths, we used zebrafish to visualize and manipulate interactions between microglia, oligodendrocytes, and neurons during development. We found that microglia closely associate with oligodendrocytes and specifically phagocytose myelin sheaths. By using a combination of optical, genetic, chemogenetic, and behavioral approaches, we reveal that neuronal activity bidirectionally balances microglial association with neuronal cell bodies and myelin phagocytosis in the optic tectum. Furthermore, multiple strategies to deplete microglia resulted in oligodendrocytes maintaining excessive and ectopic myelin. Our work reveals a neuronal activity-regulated role for microglia in modifying developmental myelin targeting by oligodendrocytes. Microglia refine the developing CNS by engulfing excess neurons and synapses. Hughes and Appel here show that microglia also prune myelin sheaths in a neuronal activity-regulated manner to sculpt developmental myelination.
Exodontia associated bacteremia in horses characterized by next generation sequencing

Bacteremia resulting from dental surgery is increasingly recognized as a health risk, especially in older and immunocompromised patients. Dentistry-associated bacteremia can lead to remote infections, as exemplified by valvular endocarditis. Emerging evidence points to a novel role played by oral cavity commensals in the pathogenesis of diabetes, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Whether dental extraction, a commonly undertaken procedure in old horses, causes bacteremia has not been reported extensively. In a prospective clinical study using next generation sequencing (based on bacterial 16S rRNA), the circulating blood microbiome was characterized before and at 1 h following extraction of incisor, canine or cheek teeth from 29 adult horses with dental disease. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results from the blood microbiome were compared with those from gingival swab samples obtained prior to extraction at the location of the diseased tooth. Bacteremia associated with translocated gingival commensals was demonstrated in horses undergoing exodontia and was, in some cases, still evident one hour post-operatively.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Review of Diagnosis and Management.

Stevens–Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are rare diseases that are characterized by widespread epidermal necrosis and sloughing of skin. They are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and early diagnosis and treatment is critical in achieving favorable outcomes for patients. In this scoping review, Excerpta Medica dataBASE and PubMed were searched for publications that addressed recent advances in the diagnosis and management of the disease. Multiple proteins (galectin 7 and RIP3) were identified that are promising potential biomarkers for SJS/TEN, although both are still in early phases of research. Regarding treatment, cyclosporine is the most effective therapy for the treatment of SJS, and a combination of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and corticosteroids is most effective for SJS/TEN overlap and TEN. Due to the rare nature of the disease, there is a lack of prospective, randomized controlled trials and conducting these in the future would provide valuable insights into the management of this disease.
Early identification of patients at risk for delayed recovery of ambulation after elective abdominal surgery.

Recovery of preoperative ambulation levels 1 month after surgery represents an important patient-centered outcome. The objective of this study is to identify clinical factors associated with the inability to regain baseline preoperative ambulation levels 28 days postoperatively. This is a prospective cohort study enrolling patients scheduled for elective inpatient abdominal operations. Daily ambulation (steps/day) was measured with a wristband accelerometer. Preoperative steps were recorded for at least 3 full calendar days before surgery. Postoperatively, daily steps were recorded for at least 28 days. The primary outcome was delayed recovery of ambulation, defined as inability to achieve 50% of preoperative baseline steps at 28 days postoperatively. A total of 108 patients were included. Delayed recovery (< 50% of baseline preoperative steps/day) occurred in 32 (30%) patients. Clinical factors associated with delayed recovery after multivariable logistic regression included longer operative time (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.05–1.79), open operative approach (OR 4.87, 95% CI 1.64–14.48) and percent recovery on POD3 (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.96). In addition, patients with delayed ambulation recovery had increased rates of postoperative complications (16% vs 1%, p < 0.01) and readmission (28% vs 5%, p < 0.01). After elective inpatient abdominal operations, nearly one in three patients do not recover 50% of their baseline preoperative steps 28 days postoperatively. Factors that can be used to identify these patients include longer operations, open operations and low ambulation levels on postoperative day #3. These data can be used to target rehabilitation efforts aimed at patients at greatest risk for poor ambulatory recovery.
Energy Consumed in Deformation

Slow deformation of a rock body involves three distinct kinds of energy quantities: 1. The energy required to drive the deformation— that is, the work done by external forces on the rock body. 2. The energy stored by upward movement in the gravity field, by elastic strains, or by micro-structural changes. 3. The energy dissipated as heat.
NF-κB mediated ERK inhibition in radiation-induced radioresistance

4419 Transcription factors NF-κB and ERK are co-activated in acute response to many stress conditions. Their relationship in signaling the resistance of heterogeneous tumor cells to therapeutic radiation remains to be elucidated. The present study presents the evidence indicating an opposite regulation of NF-κB and ERK pathways in radioresistant breast cancer population (MCF+FIR) derived from fractionated doses of radiation. MCF+FIR cells displayed a heterogenic but temporary advantage of clonogenic survival with an increased NF-κB transcriptional activity and p65 and p50 (NF-κB subunits) expression. Unlike in single dose response, the level of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) was remarkably inhibited in all MCF+FIR cell lines with enhanced NF-κB activity. Phosphorylated MEK (pMEK) that activate ERK was inhibited in MCF+FIR cells but demonstrated a substantial level in MCF-7 cells. Both pMEK and pERK were inhibited with enhanced radioresistance by further irradiation with fractionated doses to MCF+FIR and control MCF-7 cells. Thus, MEK/ERK pathway is significantly down-regulated in radiation derived radioresistant cells. NF-κB subunit p65 interacts with MEK in MCF+FIR cells, suggesting an inhibitory role in MEK/ERK pathway via NF-κB. To identify the elements of up-stream of NF-κB, we observed an in vivo association of ATM and NF-κB in MCF+FIR cells but not in wild-type MCF-7 cells, indicating that ATM is involved in NF-kB activation. Direct protein interaction between p65 and ERK1 or ERK2 was further visualized in living cells by bimolecular fluorescence complementation using fusion proteins. p65/ERK interaction and nuclear translocation was significantly decreased in MCF+FIR cells and pMEK/pERK inhibitor PD98059 reduced p65/ERK interaction. In summary, these results demonstrate a novel communication between NF-κB and pMEK/pERK pathway in long-term radiation derived radioresistant populations.
Introduction: Three Stories About Courts

When the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, some saw the decision as a textbook example of neutral judicial decision making, noting that a Republican Chief Justice joined the Court’s Democratic appointees to uphold most provisions of the ACA. Others characterized the decision as the latest example of partisan justice and cited the actions of a bloc of the Court’s Republican appointees, who voted to strike down the statute in its entirety. Still others argued that the ACA’s fate ultimately hinged not on the Court but on the outcome of the 2012 election. These interpretations reflect larger stories about judicial politics that have emerged in polarized America. Are judges neutral legal umpires, unaccountable partisan activists, or political actors whose decisions conform to — rather than challenge — the democratic will?Drawing on a sweeping survey of litigation on abortion, affirmative action, gay rights, and gun rights across the Clinton, Bush, and Obama eras, this book argues that, while each of these stories captures part of the significance of judicial politics in polarized times, each is also misleading. Despite judges’ claims, actual legal decisions are not the politically neutral products of disembodied legal texts. But neither are judges “tyrants in robes,” undermining democratic values by imposing their own preferences. Just as often, judges and the public seem to be pushing in the same direction. As for the argument that the courts are powerless institutions, this book shows that their decisions have profound political effects. And, while advocates on both the left and right engage constantly in litigation to achieve their ends, neither side has consistently won. Ultimately, the book concludes, judges respond not simply as umpires, activists, or political actors, but in light of distinctive judicial values and practices.
Disabling Dreams of Parenthood: The Fertility Industry, Anti-Discrimination and Parents with Disabilities

Recognizing the complicated relationship between potential patients and fertility doctors, this Article seeks to provide some clarity and guidance to those facing the daunting task of accepting or rejecting patients on the basis of their disability status. Part I describes the various ways that physicians providing fertility services decide to accept or reject patients, and highlights how certain characteristics, such as disability, can lead to discrimination. Part II explains why it is appropriate to evaluate discrimination in the fertility context as impacting an interest in procreation, rather than an interest in parenting one’s biological children or in seeking to adopt children. Part III evaluates the potential difficulties that a disabled person might face when attempting to prove unlawful discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Using the examples of an HIV-positive woman and a quadriplegic woman, the Section hypothesizes how such litigants would prove the applicability of the statute and explains why the ADA should be interpreted in a way that protects people with these substantial disabilities from being denied access to treatment by fertility doctors. Finally, Part IV mines the theoretical complications of risks that could warrant denying access to fertility care to women living with HIV or quadriplegia. This Section describes the difference between direct and indirect risks to the patient or the fetus and argues that indirect risk, summarized as the risk of bad parenting, is most often too amorphous to satisfy the ADA inquiry or ethical standards.
"Almost," "More Than," or "Truly" Human?: Examining Sci-Fi TV through the Lenses of Digital and Theological Anthropologies

Metaphors are powerful aspects of modern social imaginaries. In this paper I examine how old metaphors interact with new metaphors in contemporary sci-fi shows through the lens of digital and theological anthropologies. The human computer interactions imagined in these shows reveal Western social concerns with human security and human nature itself.
Docetaxel for the post-surgery treatment of patients with node-positive breast cancer

Adjuvant chemotherapy reduces risk of relapse and cancer-related mortality in early stage breast cancer. Over the last decade, taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) have been incorporated into various adjuvant trials and have demonstrated a significant benefit in the management of early stage breast cancer. Clinical trials using combinations of taxanes with targeted therapy have also shown considerable activity in breast cancer. This article reviews the pharmacology of docetaxel, a semi-synthetic taxane, and the clinical trials supporting its use in patients with node-positive breast cancer.
How to Measure Public Opinion in the Networked Age: Working in a Googleocracy or a Googlearchy?

The rise of the internet has transformed information acquisition from a top-down process originating from media elites to a process of self-selection and searching. This raises a fundamental question about the relationship between information acquisition and opinion formation: do the processes occur in parallel or as part of a self-directed feedback loop? That is, do we look for information to make opinions, do we look for information to support our opinions, or do we do both simultaneously? Analysis using Google search results and polling information from the 2008 US presidential election suggests that public information queries are reflective of polling data and election outcomes. The sheer quantity of search data on political terms also suggests that public information desires may surpass standard assumptions of public political sophistication.