cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 376: Capture and release of circulating tumor cells by temperature-sensitive graphene oxide-polymer composite

Introduction and Objective: Recently, various microfluidics-based circulating tumor cells (CTC) isolation technologies have been developed to isolate, enumerate, and characterize CTCs, but there are few studies reporting CTC release after selective capture. Existing devices face impediments to the easy release of captured cells due to the conjugation of antibodies to permanent structures within the devices. Here we present a tunable microfluidic polymer graphene oxide (GO) Chip based on a temperature-sensitive graphene oxide-polymer composite for selective capture and efficient subsequent release of CTCs. Methods: A blend film of GO sheets and thermo-responsive polymers serves as a platform enabling cell capture and release in our microfluidic devices. The polymers with a tunable lower critical solution temperature (LCST) allow for stimulated release of the captured cells when the device temperature is below the LCST. The GO sheets serve as a carrier for phosophlipid-PEG-amine, which is used for the immobilization of an antibody against the epithelial-cell-adhesion-molecule (EpCAM). To investigate the capture efficiency, MCF-7 cells labeled with cell tracker dye were spiked into 1 mL of whole blood and flowed through the microfluidic device. After thoroughly washing the device with PBS at 25 °C to remove any non-specifically bound cells, we dissolved the thermo-responsive composite with 1 mL of PBS at 5 °C in a cold room and collected released cells from the device outlet. The released cells were cytospun and stained to identify CTCs as cytokeratin positive, DAPI positive, and CD45 negative cells. We also tested peripheral blood samples obtained from patients with metastatic breast cancer in a similar manner. Results: The graphene oxide-polymer based CTC-chip showed a capture efficiency of 95.21% at 95.21% and a release efficiency of 92.45% for MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This new GO Chip was also able to isolate viable CTCs from blood samples of metastatic breast cancer patients for further molecular characterizations. Conclusion: We present a sensitive and tunable microfluidic chip based on a GO-polymer composite to capture, release, identify, and characterize extremely rare CTCs. The CTCs released from the chip are viable, suggesting that this polymer based GO Chip offers great potential for clinical applications due to its high-affinity cell capture and the ability to enable various downstream analyses of captured CTCs. Citation Format: Hyeun Joong Yoon, Apoorv Shanker, Yang Wang, Molly Kozminsky, Shamileh Fouladdel, Monika L. Burness, Ebrahim Azizi, Max S. Wicha, Jinsang Kim, Sunitha Nagrath. Capture and release of circulating tumor cells by temperature-sensitive graphene oxide-polymer composite. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 376. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-376
Analog VLSI model of the leech heartbeat elemental oscillator

Although significant complexity has been demonstrated in software-based neural system models, it is very difficult to simulate these models near real time. Such real time operation is critical both in the extraction of the maximal information from the models and in the utilization of these models in the creation of artificial systems. Analog very large-scale integrated (aVLSI) circuits have been shown to be a useful medium for implementing real-time neural system models1. Additionally, aVLSI circuits are compact and dissipate little power, facilitating the engineering of artificial systems based on biological principles. Much research has been performed in the aVLSI modeling of early sensory (e.g., visual and auditory) processing 2,3,4. Little application has been made, however, in the modeling of biological motor systems, even though the technology has significant potential in this area.
Lipid Composition Influences the Insertion and Folding of pHLIP Peptides

The study of polypeptide insertion into biological membranes can inform our understanding of membrane protein stability and folding, and has potential practical applications. This has been hard to investigate, since peptides hydrophobic enough to form transmembrane helices are likely to be insoluble in aqueous buffers, and soluble peptides are unlikely to insert. pH-Low Insertion Peptides (pHLIPs) provide an opportunity to study insertion since they are soluble monomers that bind to bilayer surfaces at neutral pH, and can be triggered to form monomeric transmembrane helices in acidic conditions.This set of unusual properties allows the study of spontaneous insertion and exit of a transmembrane polypeptide by changing the pH of its microenvironment. Previous studies showed that pHLIP inserts into a POPC liposomes through rapid formation of an interfacial helix (∼ 0.1s), followed by a slow insertion pathway. The time-course of pHLIP insertion can be changed by varying the number of protonatable groups at the inserting end of the peptide, which need to be moved across the bilayer.We have employed various biophysical methods: fluorescence spectroscopy, anisotropy, CD, OCD, and stopped-flow fluorescence, to study the pHLIP insertion into bilayers composed of different monounsaturated lipids (diC(14:1)PC, diC(16:1)PC, diC(18:1)PC, diC(20:1)PC, and diC(22:1)PC). We found that pHLIP can form a TM helix in bilayers of different thickness. The kinetics of pHLIP insertion vary, and correlate with bilayer thickness and fluidity. Further, pHLIP association with bilayer surfaces also depends on the lipid composition. The activation energy of pHLIP insertion increases with the membrane thickness but the process of inserted helix formation does not significantly depend the membrane type. A model for membrane-associated insertion/folding is discussed. This work was supported by grants from National Institute of Health, GM073857, and CA133890.
Further Studies of Tarnished Plant Bug Injury to Celery

Sulphur dust, 300 mesh or better when used alone as a dust or when combined with hydrated lime either as a dust or as a spray have been most effective in reducing tarnished plant bug ( Lygus pratensis ) injury in both early and late celery. An average of five applications was found necessary for control. The cost of material in every case is well within reason.
Competitive behavior and perceived aggression.

In groups of 39 male and 39 female undergraduates played a reaction-time game in which descriptions of a player's shock settings were constant or consistently below or above another player's; wins ...
State transition matrix, motion constants, and ergodicity of the Euler–Poinsot problem

This paper complements some of the classic presentations of Euler–Poinsot motion in three ways. First, the state transition matrix for the attitude relative to an arbitrary inertial frame is presented. The state transition matrix elements are shown to be functions of common elliptic, circular, or hyperbolic functions of time depending on the motion state. Second, a complete set of global, time-independent integrals, here referred to as motion constants, are presented. The motion constants are functions involving the system’s momentum and attitude states, and they are valid for any set of attitude coordinates. Third, conditions for the ergodic or periodic nature of the motion are derived. These conditions correspond to one of the motion constants being nonisolating.
Id2 Mediates Differentiation of Labyrinthine Placental Progenitor Cell Line, SM10

The placenta is an organ that is formed transiently during pregnancy, and appropriate placental development is necessary for fetal survival and growth. Proper differentiation of the labyrinthine layer of the placenta is especially crucial, as it establishes the fetal-maternal interface that is involved in physiological exchange processes. Although previous studies have indicated the importance of inhibitor of differentiation/inhibitor of DNA binding-2 (Id2) helix-loop-helix transcriptional regulator in mediating cell differentiation, the ability of Id2 to regulate differentiation toward the labyrinthine (transport) lineage of the placenta has yet to be determined. In the current study, we have generated labyrinthine trophoblast progenitor cells with increased (SM10-Id2) or decreased (SM10-Id2-shRNA) Id2 expression and determined the effect on TGF-β-induced differentiation. Our Id2 overexpression and knockdown analyses indicate that Id2 mediates TGF-β-induced morphological differentiation of labyrinthine trophoblast cells, as Id2 overexpression prevents differentiation and Id2 knockdown results in differentiation. Thus, our data indicate that Id2 is an important molecular mediator of labyrinthine trophoblast differentiation. An understanding of the regulators of trophoblast progenitor differentiation toward the labyrinthine lineage may offer insights into events governing pregnancy-associated disorders, such as placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia.
Earth's vanishing medicine cabinet: rain forest destruction and its impact on the pharmaceutical industry.

Todos tem direito ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado. Everyone has the right to an ecologically balanced environment. In 1988, the Brazilian Constitutional Assembly incorporated this imperative into the Brazilian Constitution as part of a chapter on environmental protection. After hundreds of years of environmental ignorance, our planet's inhabitants have experienced a growth of environmental awareness. One global environmental tragedy garnering substantial recent attention is the depletion of the planet's tropical rain forests. In addition to eternally altering the human environment, rain forest destruction poses a serious threat to both the pharmaceutical industry and individuals in need of medical care. A substantial portion of existing pharmaceuticals are plant-based and animal-based, and the pharmaceutical industry continues to explore additional species for medicinal potential, particularly in tropical regions. As mass deforestation of these areas forces countless species into extinction, specimens yet to be analyzed for their pharmaceutical potential will be eternally lost. As one noted conservationist explained, “Even severe pollution is reversible, but species extinction is irreversible.”
Computer Graphic Tools for Automotive Paint Engineering

Recent developments in computer graphics software and hardware have made it possible to write computer graphics programs that can be used to solve automotive paint engineering problems. New surface reflection models have been created for simulating the appearance of automotive paint, and the hardware available today on graphics cards allows these reflection models to be evaluated in real-time. Three interactive computer graphic programs have been written that demonstrate the potential of using the new software and hardware to find answers to engineering problems involving automotive surface coatings. The first program allows the color appearance of new metallic and pearlescent automotive paints to be designed, the second application demonstrates how video projectors can be used to make an object appear as if it has been covered with automotive paint, and the third program is a virtual reality simulation of spraying automotive paint onto a surface.
MYC Mediates mRNA Cap Methylation of Canonical Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Transcripts By Recruiting CDK7 and RNA Methyltransferase.

MYC is a pleiotropic transcription factor that activates and represses a wide range of target genes and is frequently deregulated in human tumors. While much is known about the role of MYC in transcriptional activation and repression, MYC can also regulate mRNA cap methylation through a mechanism that has remained poorly understood. Here, it is reported that MYC enhances mRNA cap methylation of transcripts globally, specifically increasing mRNA cap methylation of genes involved in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Elevated mRNA cap methylation of Wnt signaling transcripts in response to MYC leads to augmented translational capacity, elevated protein levels, and enhanced Wnt signaling activity. Mechanistic evidence indicates that MYC promotes recruitment of RNA methyltransferase (RNMT) to Wnt signaling gene promoters by enhancing phosphorylation of serine 5 on the RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal domain, mediated in part through an interaction between the TIP60 acetyltransferase complex and TFIIH. Implications: MYC enhances mRNA cap methylation above and beyond transcriptional induction. Mol Cancer Res; 15(2); 213–24. ©2016 AACR .
Combine harvester header height control via robust feedback linearization

Studies have shown that feedback linearization can provide an effective controller for many types of nonlinear systems. It is known, however, that these controllers are not robust, in particular to model uncertainties. Recent work on sensitivity theory has shown that it can provide the least conservative design for robust feedback linearization. This is achieved by adjusting the control input to minimize the sensitivity. This work in this article develops the robust feedback linearization (RFL) methodology further by extending it to a new class of non-linear systems. The RFL methodology is applied to the combine harvester header height example and derivation of the controller is shown. It is tested over a variety of simulated conditions and is compared to the current industry standard, the PID controller. The results show that the RFL controller greatly improves header height tracking with less input power and is robust to uncertainties the bulk modulus.
The (Now Urgent) Case for State-Level Monitoring of Local Government Finances (or, One Way to Protect Localities from Trump's 'Potemkin Villages of Nothing')

The financial crisis of 2008 demonstrated that local governments often do not have the expertise to use debt wisely, much less the expertise to reform their use of pensions or to design tax systems that can raise more money with less economic distortion. Yet local governments must do all of these things and more, as they are squeezed by pension obligations and the need to reinvest in infrastructure. The expected Trump infrastructure plan would make billions of dollars in funding available to local governments, but would also require them to negotiate extremely complicated public-private partnerships (P3). There is not a convincing policy reason for structuring a public infrastructure plan so as to profit private parties in this way, which is why Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers aptly described the plan as a “Potemkin Village of nothing.” The Trump plan would therefore create a greater likelihood that local governments will get swindled without any discernible benefit. We are worried that ordinary citizens might run into trouble when engaging in complex financial transactions. We have therefore erected many consumer protections for individuals (though, admittedly, many of those protections are also at risk from the Trump Administration). Yet when those same individuals are asked to make much more complicated decisions when they sit on local government boards, they receive much less protection. This is a mistake and state governments have all the power they need to protect their local governments from getting fleeced. Furthermore, we do not want local governments merely to make non-disastrous financial decisions; we want them to make good decisions. There is useful expertise available, and the question is how do we aggregate this knowledge and make it available to local decisionmakers in a manner consistent with the norms and goals, both political and economic, of local democracy. For this, we need new institutions. There are examples of such institutions, such as North Carolina’s Local Government Commission, but their role – and the reasons for their success – have not yet been adequately theorized. That is the task of this Article. In short, I will argue that a new state-level institution can succeed in improving local government financing in a manner consistent with preserving local autonomy if its expertise is used in the first instance to design default rules that are both simple and (mostly) correct. Beyond the default rules there should be expert review to allow for exceptions, but in most cases the default rules should provide a workable options or set of options with which a local government can achieve its goals.
Impact of Land Use Activities in the Maumee River Watershed on Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

One of the focal events motivating the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 was the decline of water quality in Lake Erie, which was originally linked to insufficient treatment of wastewater in some of the biggest adjacent urban centers. The passing of the CWA and the adoption of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in the early 1970s contributed to the quick improvement of water quality in the two ensuing decades, but the 1990s saw the return of water quality problems, indicated by the return of algal blooms to Western Lake Erie. Algal blooms typically occur when excess nutrients are produced by mixture of agricultural and urban practices, and they may threaten ecological stability and public health for millions dependent on the lake for drinking water, tourism, and fisheries. In this case study, we explore the relationship between human behavior and water quality impairments that lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB), and in particular, the Maumee River Watershed. The case is designed to be taught in eight class meetings to an audience of upper-level undergraduate students, and has been tested in the classroom in consecutive semesters starting in the fall of 2015.
The Potential of Clinical Phenotyping of Heart Failure With Imaging Biomarkers for Guiding Therapies: A Focused Update.

Abstract The need for noninvasive assessment of cardiac volumes and ejection fraction (EF) ushered in the use of cardiac imaging techniques in heart failure (HF) trials that investigated the roles of pharmacological and device-based therapies. However, in contrast to HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), modern HF pharmacotherapy has not improved outcomes in HF with preserved EF (HFpEF), largely attributed to patient heterogeneity and incomplete understanding of pathophysiological insights underlying the clinical presentations of HFpEF. Modern cardiac imaging methods offer insights into many sets of changes in cardiac tissue structure and function that can precisely link cause with cardiac remodeling at organ and tissue levels to clinical presentations in HF. This has inspired investigators to seek a more comprehensive understanding of HF presentations using imaging techniques. This article summarizes the available evidence regarding the role of cardiac imaging in HF. Furthermore, we discuss the value of cardiac imaging techniques in identifying HF patient subtypes who share similar causes and mechanistic pathways that can be targeted using specific HF therapies.
Gathering at the AOSIS: perceived cooperation among Pacific Small Island States

The Association of Small Island States occupies a unique role at the United Nations (UN) whereby it advocates on behalf of islands states (and those with similar geographies) on issues from climate change to development to economic initiatives and trade. As part of a larger research endeavor, interviews were conducted with the AOSIS representative (or a knowledgeable delegate) from over a dozen Pacific Small Island States (PSIS) with regard to climate change planning and preparation. This research is unique in that approximately three-quarters of the sought-after island states agreed to give anonymous, non-attributable interviews about diplomatic and sensitive topics. This particular subset of the research question focused upon how PSIS self-perceive their participation and membership in the only island-based organization at the UN level speaking on behalf of islands and whether their understandings and assessment of AOSIS merged with theoretical frameworks describing productive and fruitful multijurisdictional cooperation. The findings from the research illustrate that PSIS overwhelmingly identify AOSIS as an organization that provides a stable and cooperatively balanced organizational structure that promotes collaboration and solidarity across the Pacific. With the research questions focused on climate change in particular, respondents’ answers indicate an organization seen as successfully and effectively following many of the theoretical tenets of a collaborative- and cooperative-based type of governance, often only seen in hypothetical, literature-based examples.
The Computation of Steady Solutions to the Euler Equations: A Perspective

It is generally believed that the Navier-Stokes equations are necessary and sufficient for the description of laminar and turbulent flows. In the field of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), therefore, a major effort is made to develop accurate, robust and efficient computer codes for the numerical integration of these equations. The stimulus to this development comes in particular from the aerospace sciences, where the interest lies predominantly in predicting steady or almost steady flows. Most codes, therefore, do not aim at any temporal accuracy, thus making room for an extra computational effort to improve the spatial accuracy. This is no luxury, since the high-Reynolds-number flows studied with those codes exhibit very thin transition layers - boundary layers, vortex sheets and shock waves - separating the smoother regions. If these layers are not properly resolved on the adopted computational grid, numerical noise and even instabilities may arise, leading to losses of accuracy and efficiency. Finding the location of those layers is a problem of pattern recognition, the solution of which requires a fair share of the computational budget.
Soil and soil solution property effects on root growth of aluminium tolerant and intolerant wheat cultivars

Plant roots are known to exhibit varying degrees of response to the chemical constraints often found in acid soils. Reliable test methods are lacking to assess the extent to which chemical constraints of acid soils limit root growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of soil and soil solution properties in 55 surface and subsurface horizons of 14 major hill land soils of the Appalachian Region on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling root growth of Al tolerant (cv. Yecorra Rojo), and intolerant (cv. Wampum) cultivars. The average longest root length (ALRL) of both cultivars was limited in B horizons relative to A and E horizons, suggesting that subsoil rooting in these soils would be restricted. The ALRL of both cultivars was negatively correlated with soil and soil solution Al parameters and was positively related to pH and Ca parameters. Stepwise regression equations were useful in predicting ALRL of wheat seedlings from the soil and soil solution chemical properties of different horizons. Aluminium tolerant and intolerant cultivars used in the study responded differently to the various chemical constraints of acid soils, indicating the existence of intraspecific genetic diversity in wheat cultivars. The root bioassay technique adapted here has great potential for assessing chemical constraints to root growth in diverse acid soils.
Effects of Peer Pressure on Disruptive Behavior of Behaviorally Disordered Classmates.

The effect of a peer confrontation procedure on the disruptive classroom behavior of three behaviorally disordered classmates was evaluated. Immediately following each episode of disruptive behavio...
The Physics of Solid State Chemistry

Between the extremes of a chemist's empirical observation of chemical trends and a physicist's a priori calculations of energy bands lies the possibility of simple approximate model calculations of solid-state properties. Those which relate the bonding properties to the underlying electronic structure of specific systems are a part of solid-state chemistry. Such theories are less accurate than empirical interpolation where sufficient data exist, but provide intuitive understanding and allow calculations beyond the range of existing experiments. They are also less precise than a priori calculations, which however only move with difficulty beyond calculations of the energy bands themselves.
A Fast Parallel Algorithm for Convolutional Sparse Coding

The current leading algorithms for convolutional sparse coding are not inherently parallelizable, and therefore are not able to fully exploit modern multi-core architectures. We address this deficiency by developing a new algorithm that partitions the dictionary and the corresponding coefficient maps into groups, solving the main subproblems for all of the groups in parallel. Theoretical complexities and implementational details are discussed and validated with computational experiments, which indicate speed improvements by about a factor of 5, depending on the specific problem.
Chemical potential of an antiferromagnetic magnon gas

Understanding the statistics of quasiparticle excitations in magnetic systems is essential for exploring new magnetic phases and collective quantum phenomena. While the chemical potential of a ferromagnetic gas has been extensively investigated both theoretically and experimentally, its antiferromagnetic counterpart remains uncharted. Here, we derive the statistics of a two-component $U(1)$-symmetric Bose gas and apply our results to an axially symmetric antiferromagnetic insulator. We find that the two magnon eigenmodes of the system are described by an equal and opposite chemical potential, in analogy with a particle-antiparticle pair. Furthermore, we derive the thermomagnonic torques describing the interaction between the coherent and incoherent antiferromagnetic spin dynamics. Our results show that the magnitude and sign of the chemical potential can be tuned via an AC magnetic field driving resonantly one of the magnon modes. Finally, we propose NV-center relaxometry as a method to experimentally test our predictions.
Early Incorporation of Entrepreneurship Mindset in an Engineering Curriculum.

In the study herein aimed at incorporating the entrepreneurship mindset early on in the engineering curriculum of undergraduate students via a final project of an introductory programming course with MATLAB. Students were asked to find a need on campus, in the society, or in the market with a business potential and write a standalone application to solve that problem. Prior to the start of project, students were required to study an online module developed by KEEN on generating new ideas in which they learned the definitions and differences between an idea and an opportunity, and different methods of recognizing business opportunities, followed by online quizzes. The study found that students were interested in learning about entrepreneurship and using the technical skills learned in class to solve a real-world problem with potential business opportunities; they enjoyed the course material more and it reinforced their learning of previous topics; and more importantly, it attracted students’ attentions toward self-employment. Pre- and post-assessment of creative thinking using standard AACU rubrics also showed a significant increase in the levels of students’ creative thinking skills due to participation in this project
Inclusive practices for diverse student populations: Experimental Biology 2017.

As student populations become more diverse, it is essential for educators, administrators, and institutions to implement practices that ensure the success of all students. This is particularly true...
Mature Results of a Prospective Trial of Rituximab in Patients (Pt) with Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) Unresponsive or Ineligible for Reduced Immunosuppression (RIS).

Background: PTLDs are typically B-cell neoplasms occurring as uncommon but serious complications of reduced T-cell immune surveillance associated with organ transplantation. RIS benefits only a subset of PTLD patients and cytotoxic therapy may be poorly tolerated. Therefore, in October 1998 we initiated a prospective study of rituximab in patients who failed or were unable to receive RIS and now report mature results. Methods: Patients with CD20+ PTLD were eligible if they had failed to completely respond to RIS or RIS was contraindicated and had Karnofsky performance status >60, age 3–70 years (y), measurable disease, and no change in immunosuppression for at least 2 weeks and no cytotoxic therapy within 4 weeks. Rituximab was given as 375 mg/m2 weekly x 4 with disease evaluation at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Response data, survival curves, and the impact of clinical and pathological factors were evaluated. Results: 24 of 26 enrolled pt were eligible and evaluable. Median age was 42y with 5 Conclusions: Rituximab provided effective, durable treatment for ~40% of pt failing RIS in this series of mainly late PTLD and a majority of pt progressing after rituximab could be treated successfully. However, overall and failure-free survival reflect significant co-morbidity in this population.
Support for gun policies among young adults in the U.S., 2017-2019.

Abstract After the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018, there was an increase in gun violence prevention-related advocacy. While much of this recent political activity and engagement was led by young adults, little is known about support for specific gun policies within this age group. This study uses data from two nationally representative surveys fielded in 2017 and 2019 to compare public support for gun policies: (1) between young adults age 18–29 years and adults age 30 and older, and (2) between young adults in 2017 and young adults in 2019, before and after the Parkland shooting. Relative to adults age 30 and older, young adults had lower support for 16 of 20 gun violence prevention policies examined. Public support was largely unchanged between 2017 and 2019 among survey respondents ages 18–29; however, support for requiring a safety test for concealed carry decreased significantly among young adults between 2017 and 2019. Despite owning fewer guns and finding gun violence prevention important generally, young adults appear to have lower support for policies that regulate guns compared to older adults.
Microbial transformations of radioactive wastes and environmental restoration through bioremediation

Abstract Bioremediation stabilizes and reclaims radionuclides and toxic metals from contaminated materials, soils, sediments, or wastes. The mechanism of microbial transformations of the radionuclides and toxic metals commonly found in energy wastes are summarized, and two processes for treating such wastes are described. In one process, anaerobic bacteria are used to concentrate, contain and stabilize the toxic metals and radionuclides in the waste, with a concurrent reduction in its volume. In the second process, the radionuclides and toxic metals are extracted from the wastes with citric acid which is then subjected to biodegradation, followed by photodegradation to recover the metals.
City cents: Tracking the spatial imprint of urban public expenditures

Abstract Where is public money for place-based improvement spent? A common narrative is that public expenditure prioritizes business and development interests at the expense of disadvantaged areas that have the greatest need. This paper is a quantified look at this question—an analysis of spending patterns at the neighborhood level. The spatial analysis of public expenditure at the neighborhood level is surprisingly rare, in part because the data is not conducive to locational assessment at a detailed level. We posit three explanations for the pattern of expenditure: efficiency, pro-development, or equity/need. We find that place-based public expenditure in Chicago is unrelated to efficiency or equity/need, and mostly follows a pattern of spatial selectivity in which business and economic development are prioritized, primarily in and around the central business district and higher income residential areas. Our study augments earlier findings in that funding is considered in a spatially explicit manner at a highly disaggregated level of analysis.
MDS-254: SF3B1 Splicing Mutation in the Context of Therapy-Related MDS

Context: Acquired SF3B1 splicing mutation is the sole somatic mutation associated with favorable outcome in MDS and is described among 80% of patients with the ring sideroblasts subtype. Objective: Evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of SF3B1-mt in therapy-related MDS (t-MDS) Design: We identified all patients with MDS harboring the SF3B1 mutation at Moffitt Cancer Center and compared t-MDS to de novo MDS. Additionally, we evaluated those with t-MDS and further stratified them into wild-type SF3B1 (SF3B1-WT) and SF3B1-mut and compared these two groups. Results: In a large cohort of patients with MDS, we identified 320 patients with SF3B1 mutations. These were further stratified to de novo MDS (n=289) and those with therapy-related MDS (n=31). Baseline characteristics and concomitant mutations were similar among both groups, except for concomitant CBL in de novo MDS vs in t-MDS (1% vs 10%; p = 0.002). Transformation to AML between dn-MDS SF3B1-mut vs t-MDS SF3B1-mut was 12.5% vs 12.9%, respectively (p = 0.943). Median overall survival in those with de novo MDS SF3B1-mut vs t-MDS SF3B1-mut was 103 months vs 59 months, p = 0.001. During further investigation of all therapy-related MDS patients, were then stratified by wild-type SF3B1 (SF3B1-WT) and SF3B1-mut. Of the 272 t-MDS, 31 were SF3B1-mut (11%). Complex cytogenetics was seen in 37.4% vs 10.3% of patients with SF3B1-WT vs SF3B1-mut, p = 0.009. Concomitant TP53 mutations were seen in 36.1% SF3B1-WT vs 10% SF3B1-mut, p = 0.004. AML transformation was 34.4% in SF3B1-WT compared to 12.9% SF3B1-mut, p-value 0.016. Median overall survival was 17 months in SF3B1-WT vs 43 months in SF3B1-mut, p = 0.004. Conclusions: SF3B1 mutations are more commonly seen de novo than in therapy-related MDS. After comparison, baseline characteristics and concomitant mutations were similar; however, de novo MDS SF3B1-mut had better outcomes versus t-MDS SF3B1-mut, although incidence of transformation to AML was similar. In patients with therapy-related MDS, those with SF3B1-mut had better outcomes than those with SF3B1-WT. Additionally, complex cytogenetics, concomitant TP53 mutation, and transformation to AML occurred more with SF3B1-WT than with SF3B1-mut. Our data suggest that SF3B1-mut compared to SF3B1-WT in t-MDS may portend a better prognosis; however, further studies are warranted to confirm this finding.
The Consequences of Cannabis Use: A Review of Self-Reported Use and Experiences Among College Students.

Background Healthy People 2020 has introduced a new initiative focused on adolescent health, ages 10-17, and young adults, ages 18-25, due to health and social problems starting or peaking during these years. The initiative focuses on decreasing such problems including substance use. Cannabis is one of the most popular illegal substances used among young adults for recreation in the United States. Multiple consequences of cannabis use are well documented in the literature including the development of medical problems, developmental delays, and social issues. Furthermore, academic success is linked to overall health outcomes. Objective The aim of this study was to explore cannabis use and knowledge of consequences among college students at a university in southwest Texas. Method Secondary analysis of survey results from students at a small, private university. The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, a self-report questionnaire, was utilized to measure alcohol and drug usage, attitudes, perceptions, and opinions regarding drug and alcohol usage. The survey was distributed to all 6,537 undergraduate students. The survey results were collected over a 3-month period and provided to the authors for interpretation. Results Eighty-two survey responses were received. Analysis indicated that 24.7% of the students used marijuana in the past year, and 16% had used cannabis within 30 days of the survey. Of the respondents surveyed, 13.3% reported they used cannabis occasionally and 38.7% reported they used cannabis regularly. Furthermore, survey results indicated that 12.7% of respondents reported some of the consequences from cannabis use experienced within the past year included public misconduct, such as fighting, arguing, and vandalism. In addition, 13.9% reported having experienced serious personal problems due to cannabis use at least once during the past year including injuries, suicidal thoughts, and sexual assault. Reported attitudes and perceptions of cannabis use include 13.3% perceived great risk associated with cannabis use. Moreover, 62.3% of respondents believe that their friends would disapprove of cannabis use. A negative correlation was identified between cannabis use within the previous 30 days and low grades. Conclusion The consequences of cannabis use are well documented in the literature, yet cannabis remains a popularly used illegal substance among college students. Despite experiencing known consequences of cannabis use, much of the sample reported regular use of the substance. Implications for practice Results of the study may be used to improve education and interventions aimed at reducing cannabis use among college students. In addition, providers may use the information to provide patient education at routine visits.
'Light-Guided Sectioning' for Precise Localization and 3D Visualization of In Situ Optical Implants

In the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in the use of implanted optical devices to control and monitor neuronal activity in vivo. However, post hoc examination of the implant location is commonly achieved via 2D histology, which often suffers from distortion and loss during tissue processing. To address this, we developed a 3D method that allows post hoc labeling and clearing of tissue that preserves the size of the tissue while leaving the optical implant unperturbed. By coupling the implant to a light-emitting diode, the implant itself can serve as a light guide for removal of redundant tissue (light-guided sectioning, LiGS). The residual tissue, including the tissue–implant interface, is then processed as a whole for further investigation. This enables the precise location of the optical implant to be determined as well as the identification of tissue changes at the implant site. LiGS can also be used for accurate cell registration of ex vivo histology with single-cell two-photon calcium images obtained through gradient-index (GRIN) lenses. We anticipate that LiGS will provide valuable additional information in any experiment that uses optical implants and will increase reproducibility through well-defined fiber-to-target localization.
Psychometric implications of failure on one performance validity test: a cross-validation study to inform criterion group definition.

Introduction: Research to date has supported the use of multiple performance validity tests (PVTs) for determining validity status in clinical settings. However, the implications of including versu...
Experimental Models of Virus-Induced Demyelination

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews two of the most widely studied animal models of virus-induced demyelinating disease. These are Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus and murine hepatitis virus. Both viruses produce acute inflammatory encephalitis that is followed by chronic central-nervous-system (CNS) demyelinating disease. The clinical and pathologic correlates of virus-induced demyelination are largely immune mediated. Furthermore, several pathologic mechanisms have been proposed to explain the development of myelin damage and neurologic deficits, and each of the proposed mechanisms may play a role in disease progression depending on the genetic constitution of the infected animal. The induction of demyelinating disease by virus may be directly relevant to human MS. Several viruses are known to cause demyelination in humans and viral infection is an epidemiologic factor that is consistently associated with clinical exacerbation of MS. It is suggested that viral infection may be a cause of MS, although no specific virus has been identified as a causative agent.
Green fluorescent protein as a marker for expression of a second gene in transgenic plants.

The use of transgenic crops has generated concerns about transgene movement to unintended hosts and the associated ecological consequences. Moreover, the in-field monitoring of transgene expression is of practical concern (e.g., the underexpression of an herbicide tolerance gene in crop plants that are due to be sprayed with herbicide). A solution to these potential problems is to monitor the presence and expression of an agronomically important gene by linking it to a marker gene, such as GFP. Here we show that GFP fluorescence can indicate expression of the Bacillus thuringiensus cry1Ac gene when co-introduced into tobacco and oilseed rape, as demonstrated by insect bioassays and western blot analysis. Furthermore we conducted two seasons of field experiments to characterize the performance of three different GFP genes in transgenic tobacco. The best gene tested was mGFP5er, a mutagenized GFP gene that is targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum. We also demonstrated that host plants synthesizing GFP in the field suffered no fitness costs.
The significance of a marginal excision after preoperative radiation therapy for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity.

BACKGROUND: Marginal excision of soft tissue sarcoma (STS), defined as resection through the tumor pseudocapsule or surrounding reactive tissue, increases the likelihood of local recurrence and necessitates re-excision or postoperative radiation. However, its impact after preoperative radiation therapy (RT) remains unclear. This study therefore investigated the significance of marginal margins in patients treated with preoperative RT for extremity STS, reporting long-term local control and limb preservation endpoints. METHODS: The records of 317 adults at the University of Florida with nonmetastatic extremity STS treated from 1980 to 2008 with preoperative RT as part of a limb conservation strategy were reviewed. The median follow-up was 4.7 years (8.3 years for living patients). The median tumor size was 10 cm (range, 2-36 cm), and 86% were high grade. The median RT dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 12.5-57.6 Gy). Margins were classified as wide/radical (n = 105), marginal (n = 179), contaminated (n = 15), positive (n = 17), or unknown (n = 1). Endpoints were local control (LC), amputation-free survival (AFS), cause-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Five-year CSS and OS rates were 62% and 59%, respectively. Five-year LC and AFS was 93% and 89%, respectively. AFS by margin status was 64%, 83%, 97%, and 92% for positive, contaminated, marginal, and wide/radical margins, respectively (P<.005). Marginal excision following preoperative RT resulted in equivalent LC and AFS compared with wide/radical margins. CONCLUSIONS: Marginal resection after preoperative RT does not compromise LC or AFS in extremity STS. This finding may be related to radiosterilization of tumor cells within the reactive zone following preoperative RT. Cancer 2012;118: 3199–207. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Rural-urban differences in acute myocardial infarction mortality: Evidence from Nebraska.

Aims: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a major cause of death and disability in the United States and worldwide. Despite the importance of surveillance and secondary prevention, the incidence of and mortality from AMI are not continuously monitored, and little is known about survival outcomes after 30 days of AMI hospitalization or associated risk factors, especially in the rural areas. The current study examines ruraleurban differences in both in- and out-hospital survival outcomes for AMI patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis using hospital discharge data in Nebraska for January 2005 to December 2009 and Nebraska death certificate records through October 2011. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the ruraleurban difference in 30-day mortality. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to predict out-of-hospital and overall survival rate. Results: In the 30-day mortality model, after controlling for age, comorbidities, and rehabilitation, patients in urban areas were less likely to die than patients in rural areas (odds ratio: 0.709, 95% confidence interval: 0.626e0.802). In the overall survival model, patients in urban areas had a lower hazard of AMI death (hazard ratio: 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.806e0.931) than patients in rural areas. Patients with a previous history of heart failure had a significantly higher likelihood of 30-day mortality, while atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease were associated with lower overall survival. Patients who attended at least 1 cardiac rehabilitation session had significantly lower 30-day and overall mortality (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: This study confirms previous findings on ruraleurban disparities in 30-day mortality following AMI hospitalization, and reports new findings on overall ruraleurban mortality disparity. The study also found an association between cardiac rehabilitation and reduced mortality, a finding never before reported at the population level. Further efforts are needed to develop systems in rural hospitals and communities to ensure that AMI patients receive recommended care.
Fetal Tissue Research and Prenatal Fetal Therapy Ethical Dilemmas

Fetal tissue research was a volatile political issue during the Reagan and Bush administrations. The recent lifting of the federal moratorium banning such research raises many ethical questions. Recent advances in fetal therapy make it possible to cure fetal disease in utero. Ethical issues of fetal tissue transplantation, maternal-fetal rights, and resource allocation are discussed.
Wetland networks for stormwater management in subtropical urban watersheds

Abstract A quantitative method suitable for planning wetland stormwater treatment at the regional, multibasin scale was developed based on simple zero order kinetics (uptake rates) and average nutrient loading conditions. The method was applied to urbanized watersheds south of Miami, FL and yielded a hierarchically organized network of wetlands for processing stormwaters. Coastal watersheds in Dade county, FL, varying in intensity of development from heavily urbanized to almost completely undeveloped and ranging in size from 38 600 ha to 700 ha were analyzed. Watersheds were divided into three spatial scales: basin (>1000 ha), sub-basin (1000–100 ha) and neighborhood (100–10 ha). The methods used to calculate wetland area were based on: (1) reducing nutrient and sediment concentrations to background levels of the receiving water body (Biscayne Bay); and (2) retaining storm runoff to attenuate pulses of freshwater discharge. At each spatial scale, the wetland area needed to treat nitrogen, phosphorus, suspended sediment, biological oxygen demand and the water quantity was calculated. The constituent requiring the largest treatment area determined the amount of wetland area necessary. Results indicated that at the neighborhood scale, phosphorus runoff, generated by a 5-year 24-h design storm, required the largest wetland treatment area, needing between 2.3 and 10.8% of total basin area. At the sub-basin scale, the loading of total suspended solids, derived from land use specific criteria, needed the largest treatment area, ranging from 0.2 to 4.5% of basin area. The basin scale treatment, based on retaining drainage canal discharge for at least 72 h, needed between 0.1 and 2.5% of basin area. This methodology is useful for feasibility analysis and leads to design principles for planning basin-scale, stormwater management systems in urbanized watersheds.