cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radical Cystectomy in the Treatment of Invasive Bladder Cancer: Long-Term Results in 1,054 Patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate our long-term experience with patients treated uniformly with radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection for invasive bladder cancer and to describe the association of the primary bladder tumor stage and regional lymph node status with clinical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing radical cystectomy with bilateral pelvic iliac lymphadenectomy, with the intent to cure, for transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder between July 1971 and December 1997, with or without adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy, were evaluated. The clinical course, pathologic characteristics, and long-term clinical outcomes were evaluated in this group of patients. RESULTS: A total of 1,054 patients (843 men [80%] and 211 women) with a median age of 66 years (range, 22 to 93 years) were uniformly treated. Median follow-up was 10.2 years (range, 0 to 28 years). There were 27 (2.5%) perioperative deaths, with a total of 292 (28%) early complications. Overall recurrence-free survival at ...
Adaptive Behavior, Social Adjustment, and Academic Achievement of Regular and Special Education Children

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to compare the adaptive behavior, social adjustment and academic achievement of educable mentally retarded, learning disabled, behavior disordered, and regular class children. A sample of 120 children, aged 7 through 9 years, was selected from class rolls on the basis of group membership, race and sex. Significant differences were found in adaptive behavior, social adjustment, and academic achievement among the four groups; none of the instruments, however, was able to differentiate among all four categories of children. Adaptive behavior and academic achievement differentiated EMR and regular class children from the other two groups, while social adjustment appeared to be the most effective variable in differentiating BD children from the other three categories. Findings of this study support the notion that measures of these abilities provide information of use to teachers, psychologists, and placement committees in their attempts to provide the most appropr...
Structure! Conductivity Relationship for Peptoid-Based PEO! Mimetic Polymer Electrolytes

Polymer electrolytes offer great potential for application in lithium batteries. In order to systematically optimize the performance of these materials, atomic level synthetic control over the polymer chemical structure is desired. In this study, we designed a series of chemically defined, monodisperse peptoid polymers to explore the impact of side-chain structure on the thermal and electrical properties. A series of comblike peptoid homopolymers with ethylene oxide (EO)n side chains of varying length were synthesized by a rapid solid phase synthetic method. The electrical properties of these materials with dissolved lithium salt were characterized by ac impedance. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity of the polypeptoid electrolytes is consistent with the Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher equation. The optimum ionic conductivity of 2.6 × 10–4 S/cm achieved for oligo-N-2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethylglycine–Li salt complex at 100 °C, is approximately 10-fold lower than the analogous PEO–salt complex....
The impact of microscopic extrathyroid extension on outcome in patients with clinical T1 and T2 well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Objective To report the impact of microscopic extrathyroid extension (ETE) on outcome in patients with cT1/cT2 well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC), and to determine the effect of extent of surgery and adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment on outcome in patients with microscopic ETE. Patients and Methods From an institutional database, we identified 984 patients (54%) who underwent surgery for cT1/T2N0 disease. Of these, 869 patients were pT1/T2 and 115 were upstaged to pT3 based on the finding of microscopic ETE. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed for each group using the Kaplan–Meier method. In the pT3 group, factors predictive of outcome were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results There was no difference in the 10-year DSS (99% vs 100%; P = .733) or RFS (98% vs 95%; P = .188) on comparison of the pT1/pT2 and pT3 cohorts. Extent of surgery and administration of postoperative RAI were not significant for recurrence on univariate or multivariate analysis in the pT3 cohort. Conclusion Outcomes in patients with cT1T2N0 WDTC are excellent and not affected by microscopic ETE. The extent of resection and administration of postoperative RAI in patients with microscopic ETE does not impact survival or recurrence.
The Application of Finite Element Analysis to Body Wave Propagation Problems

Summary The finite element method is shown to be a powerful tool for the numerical modelling of seismic body wave propagation problems. Applications extend to both problems on a scale of interest to engineers and also to large-scale seismological problems. Solutions are sought in the time domain. Efficient programs have been written to accomplish this. The scope of numerical solutions has been greatly enhanced by the use of a previously reported scheme for exactly cancelling reflections at the boundaries of the model. The finite difference results of Boore and the analytical results of Trifunac for the amplification due to a mountain and an alluvial valley respectively are compared with new finite element results. The new results agree well, although there are some difficulties with resonance in the alluvial valley problem. Boore's SH results have been extended to vertical P and SV incidence. A deep earthquake zone has been modelled realistically in two dimensions and earthquakes simulated at depth. It is suggested that the variation in observed amplitude across the top of the zone, due to refraction away from the slab, may be used to provide an estimate of the thickness of the slab from long-period observations of local earthquakes.
Gender matters: An examination of differential effects of the college experience on degree attainment in STEM

This chapter summarizes the results from a study that examined differential effects of the college experience on degree completion in STEM by gender. The finding that some experiences are more or less influential for women in the study has important implications for institutional research.
Sampling frequency of the electrocardiogram for spectral analysis of the heart rate variability

A model is developed under nonrestrictive assumptions to describe the error made in the measurement of the R-R intervals from digitized ECGs. The first- and second-order statistics of the error are given in closed form as functions of the ECG sampling frequency only. The error contribution to the spectrum of the heart-rate variability (HRV) is found to be additive and mostly at high frequency. The relative spectral balance between HRV and error is important for correctly interpreting the results of any kind of HRV analysis and can be expressed in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio. A test is proposed to identify possibly dangerous situations. The test is simple and computationally efficient since it requires only the HRV variance. >
Regional and seasonal variability of chlorophyll-a in Chesapeake Bay as observed by SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua

article Concentrations of the phytoplankton pigment chlorophyll-a (Ca) provide indicators of nutrient over- enrichment that has negatively affected Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A. Ca time-series from the National Aeronautics andSpaceAdministration(NASA)Sea-viewingWideField-of-viewSensor(SeaWiFS)andModerateResolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard the Aqua spacecraft (MODIS-Aqua) provide observations on temporal and spatial scales that far exceed current field and aircraft sampling strategies. These sensors provide consistent, frequent, and high density data to potentially complement ongoing Bay monitoring activities. We used the in situ Water Quality Monitoring Data set of the Chesapeake Bay Program to evaluate decade-long time-series of SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua Ca retrievals in the Bay. The accuracy of the retrievals generally degraded with increasing latitude as the optical complexity increases northward. Ca derived using empirical ("band ratio") algorithms overestimated in situ measurements by 10-50 and 40-100% for SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua, respectively, but with limited variability. Ca derived using spectral-matching algorithms showed less bias for both sensors, but with significant variability and sensitivity to radiometric errors. Regionally-tuned empirical algorithms performed best throughout the Bay, offering a combination of reasonable accuracyand high spatial coverage. The radiometric spectral resolution used as input tothe algorithms strongly influenced the quality of Ca retrievals from both sensors. These results establish a baseline quantification of algorithm and sensor performance in a variable and stressed ecosystem against which novel approaches might be compared.
Association between school- and nonschool-based activity programs and physical activity in adolescent girls.

Background: Some researchers have questioned if activity programs would be more effective if based outside school (eg, community leagues) rather than within schools. This study compared participation in activity programs based within and outside of school, and estimated the associations between participation and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescent girls. Methods: Within the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls, independent samples of 1559 6th-grade girls (age 11 to 12) and 3282 8th-grade girls (age 13 to 14) reported program participation using questionnaires. MVPA was measured using accelerometers. Linear mixed models accounted for school and site clustering. Results: Sixth-grade girls reported 5 times as many programs outside school as within school (4.1 vs. 0.8); daily MVPA was 0.29 minutes higher (1.2% of the mean) for each additional program outside school. Compared with 6th-grade girls, 8th-grade girls participated in 1.3 fewer programs outside school, while programs’ assoc...
“Smart” mobile affinity matrix for microfluidic immunoassays

There is a current need for simple methods for immobilizing biomolecules within microfluidic channels. Here, a technique is reported for reversibly immobilizing immunoassay components in a channel zone that can be simply controlled by integrated heating elements. Latex beads were modified with the temperature-responsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and co-modified with biotinylated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). PNIPAAm undergoes a hydrophilic-to-hydrophobic transition when the temperature is raised above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) (∼28 °C in the solutions used here). This reversible transition drives the aggregation and dis-aggregation of the modified beads in heated zones within poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) microchannels. Biotinylated monoclonal antibodies for the drug digoxin were bound via streptavidin to the biotin-PEG-coated beads. These antibody-functionalized beads were then reversibly immobilized by aggregation and hydrophobic adhesion to the surface of PET microfluidic channels in response to a thermal stimulus. The antibodies on the beads immobilized in the channel were shown to bind digoxin and a competitor fluorescent ligand from a flow stream in a quantitative competitive assay format that reported the digoxin concentration. The antibodies could be replenished for each immunoassay trial, using the reversible, temperature-controlled immobilization process. This technique allows reagent immobilization immediately prior to an analytical procedure, following the removal of previously utilized beads, guaranteeing fresh and active immobilized biomolecules. Furthermore, it provides a simple approach to multiplexing through the simultaneous or sequential injection of different antibody-coated bead species, potentially at multiple sites in the integrated device channels.
Computer software for structural engineering education: FATPAK II-student edition

FATPAK II-Student Edition is a general purpose computer package for the linear elastic analysis of two- and three-dimensional frames and trusses. It will run on an IBM PC or compatible system. It was developed for student use in structural analysis and design courses. The primary purpose for its development was to permit students to investigate the response of structural systems under a variety of conditions. The results of the analysis can be expressed in both printed and graphical form.
Speaking with a mirror: engagement of mirror neurons via choral speech and its derivatives induces stuttering inhibition

'Choral speech', 'unison speech', or 'imitation speech' has long been known to immediately induce reflexive, spontaneous, and natural sounding fluency, even the most severe cases of stuttering. Unlike typical post-therapeutic speech, a hallmark characteristic of choral speech is the sense of 'invulnerability' to stuttering, regardless of phonetic context, situational environment, or audience size. We suggest that choral speech immediately inhibits stuttering by engaging mirror systems of neurons, innate primitive neuronal substrates that dominate the initial phases of language development due to their predisposition to reflexively imitate gestural action sequences in a fluent manner. Since mirror systems are primordial in nature, they take precedence over the much later developing stuttering pathology. We suggest that stuttering may best be ameliorated by reengaging mirror neurons via choral speech or one of its derivatives (using digital signal processing technology) to provide gestural mirrors, that are nature's way of immediately overriding the central stuttering block.
The Effects of Prompting Appropriate Behavior on the Off-Task Behavior of Two Middle School Students.

Prompting is a simple strategy that has been demonstrated to increase appropriate (and decrease inappropriate) behavior when used (a) as a stand-alone strategy with preschool students and individua...
Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring with Hoffmann reflex during thoracic spine surgery

The aim of this study was examine the role of Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) monitoring in identifying intraoperative spinal cord injury and predicting postoperative neurological outcome in patients undergoing thoracic spine surgery. Despite the physiologic basis for the use of H-reflex to monitor spinal motor pathways, there are only a few reports highlighting its application as an intraoperative neuromonitoring tool. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 19 consecutive patients who underwent thoracic spine surgery for metastatic thoracic spinal tumors between 2011 and 2013 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. H-waves and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) were simultaneously monitored in our series consisting of four female and 15 male patients aged 10-71 years. In 10 of 19 patients, bilateral H-waves and SSEP were stable throughout the monitoring. Five of 19 patients had a <50% transient reduction in H-wave amplitude that later returned to baseline. SSEP were absent from baseline throughout surgery in two of 19 patients. In our series, neither general anesthesia nor low dose muscle relaxants interfered with the H-waves. At 3 and 6 month follow-ups, none of the patients exhibited new postoperative neurological deficits. Stable intraoperative H-waves are suggestive of preserved postoperative neurologic outcomes. Intraoperative H-reflex monitoring could be a reasonable alternative especially when motor evoked potentials are unattainable. Given its greater sensitivity to spinal cord ischemia, relatively low cost and ease of acquisition, H-reflex monitoring could be a useful adjunct in during thoracic spine surgeries.
The future of technical communication instruction

The author discusses advances being made in information technology that could drastically change the profession of technical communication and the role of the technical communicator in developing and managing information. The advances discussed are in the fields of desktop computing, telecommunications and networks, optical storage, and artificial intelligence. The issues that these technological advances raise for educational programs in preparing technical communicators for the future are also discussed. >
Course of the fiber pathways to pons from parasensory association areas in the rhesus monkey.

The course of the fiber pathways to pons from parasensory association areas in the rhesus monkey was investigated by injection of tritiated amino acids and the technique of autoradiography. Results confirm the projection to pons from parasensory association areas in the temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes and extend these observations to include the posterior parahippocampal gyrus. The findings reveal that the white matter of the posterior limb of the internal capsule above the midpoint of the lateral geniculate nucleus, and at the medical aspect of the lateral geniculate nucleus, comprise common regions through which these corticopontine fibers lead to the basis pontis. The fibers demonstrate a certain degree of topographic organization in the posterior limb of the capsule above the lateral geniculate nucleus and also in the cerebral peduncle. Taken together with previous observations concerning the termination patterns of these associative corticopontine projections, it would appear that the corticopontine system consists of segregated and partially overlapping pathways, which are to some extent distinguishable anatomically at each stage of their trajectory from origin to destination. Furthermore, the existence of a common area through which all parasensory associative input to pons is transmitted suggests that a precisely located lesion in this part of the corticopontocerebellar circuit may disrupt the cerebellar access to higher order information derived from the parasensory associative regions. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Post-scarcity Radicalism in the US

Book reviewed in this article: Doug Rossinow, The Politics of Authenticity: Liberalism, Christianity, and the New Left in America
Public Support for Sustainable Development: A Mile Wide, but How Deep?

This article argues that public recognition of problems related to sustainable development and public support for domestic and international actions to address these problems is a major challenge for policies that aim to balance the needs of billions of people with the needs of the planet. The article reviews opinion polls on various topics related to global sustainable development, as well as research on the relationship between attitudes, behaviors, and collective actions. It also reflects on future prospects for changing the public support for sustainable development from “a mile wide and an inch deep” to “a mile wide and deep.” Author’s Note Ion Bogdan Vasi is an Assistant Professor in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. His research is at the intersection of energy and environment; he has published articles in top sociology journals and a book (Winds of Change) with Oxford University Press.
Spectral methods of automorphic forms

Introduction Harmonic analysis on the Euclidean plane Harmonic analysis on the hyperbolic plane Fuchsian groups Automorphic forms The spectral theorem. Discrete part The automorphic Green function Analytic continuation of the Eisenstein series The spectral theorem. Continuous part Estimates for the Fourier coefficients of Maass forms Spectral theory of Kloosterman sums The trace formula The distribution of eigenvalues Hyperbolic lattice-point problems Spectral bounds for cusp forms Classical analysis Special functions References Subject index Notation index.
Raman Spectroscopy of Polymers

Recent introduction of laser sources has brought about renewed interest in Raman spectroscopy to study molecular vibrations. New sampling techniques have been developed, and existing methods of dispersing and detecting Raman spectra have either been improved or replaced by newly developed methods. As a result, Raman spectroscopy is expected to rival in importance the other commonly used form of vibrational spectroscopy, infrared absorption. This paper will discuss the unique capabilities of Raman spectroscopy and present results from research on the Raman scattering of polymers.
Influence of Parathyroid Extract on Citric Acid of the Serum

SummaryThe subcutaneous injection of parathyroid extract into normal and thyroparathyroidectomized rats results in definite increases in the serum citric acid level. Doseresponse data indicate that the rise in serum citrate varies with the dose of the extract, the route of the injection and the period of observation. The level of serum citrate of thyroparathyroidectomized rats was found to be significantly lower than that of normal animals. Increased sensitivity and greater uniformity of response to the injected dose was observed in the operated animals as compared to normal animals.
Ca and Ouabain Interaction on Vascular Smooth Muscle.

SummaryThe contracture produced by ouabain in isolated rabbit aortic strips is Ca dependent and associated with an increase in Ca45 uptake, no change in Ca content and thus presumably, an increase in Ca exchange. Ca and ouabain are also antagonistic in that the sensitivity of the tissue to ouabain can be markedly increased by placing the aortas in Ca-free Ringer's solution for a brief period. It is suggested that species sensitivity to the cardiac glycosides may be related to the level of intracellular Ca and/or the strength of Ca binding.
Biocompatible Clay Nanotube Formulations for Controlled Delivery of Drugs

Halloysite clay is a naturally occurring clay nanomaterial which with length of approximately 1000 nm, a diameter of 50nm and a lumen of 15nm. Traditionally, halloysite is used for ceramics and as an inorganic reinforcing material for polymers. The 15 nm lumen can be loaded with bioactive molecules such as antibiotics and proteins. By doping loaded halloysite into polymers one can achieve a controlled sustained release of the desired molecule into the matrix. The differing chemistries inside and outside the lumen present avenues to modulate the loading and release patterns and attributing smart properties to halloysite-polymer composites. Typically, the addition of 5-8 % wt. halloysite synergistically increases polymer strength by 30-70 %, enhances composite adhesiveness and adds new functions due to release of the bioactive molecules. Halloysites are regarded as environmentally safe and biocompatible as demonstrated by experiments with cell cultures, microworms and small animals. This enables the application of halloysites as slow and sustained release vehicles of antibiotics for bone implants and dental composites. Bioactive molecules like dexamethasone, furosemide and resveratrol were released from the halloysite lumen over 20 -- 30 hours.
Methadone and Buprenorphine: The Place of Opiate Replacement Therapies

Pharmacotherapy is the mainstay and standard of care for treatment of opioid use disorder with behavioral interventions serving as essential adjunctive treatment. Managing patients with opioid use disorder without medications typically fails with 80–90 % relapse rates described (Ball and Ross. The effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment: clients, programs, services, and outcome. New York: Springer; 1991; Weiss et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(12):1238–46). Methadone, a full μ-opioid agonist, and buprenorphine, a μ-opioid partial agonist and κ-opioid antagonist, are two FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder. In this chapter, we will discuss the role of these medications in the treatment of opioid use disorder while describing what data exist on the role of these medications in treatment of patients with co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use disorder.
Correlation Study between Urine Epidermal Growth Factor,Urine Microalbumin,β_2-Microglobulin and Early Renal Injury in Children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

Objective To explore the correlation between urine epidermal growth factor (EGF),urine microalbumin(MA) and β2-microglobulin(β2-MG)and Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP)in children and explore sensitive laboratory indications of early renal damage for treatment of HSP.Methods Children involved in the experiments were divided into 3 groups,including HSP group:HSP were divided into pure purpura group,mixed pattern group and HSP nephritis(HSPN) group;normal control group;pretreatment and post-treatment group.EGF was detected by using double-antibody sandwich ABC-ELISA,MA and β2-MG detected by using radioimmunoassay.Results 1.HSP comparison of clinical classification found that the urine EGF[(173.90±112.53) μg/L vs (89.22±40.21) μg/L,(132.96±56.41) μg/L],MA[(46.34±18.49) mg/L vs (12.30±6.73) mg/L,(24.31±12.66) mg/L] and β2-MG[(0.52±0.39) mg/L vs (0.26±0.18) mg/L,(0.35±0.25) mg/L] level in HSPN group was higher than those in other groups(Pa0.05).2.The 3 indexes of post-treatment group were lower than pretreatment group and control group[EGF:(122.16±63.71) μg/L vs (59.13±11.60) μg/L,(24.74±8.75) μg/L;MA:(43.09±10.46) mg/L vs (12.94±5.73) mg/L,(6.12±3.91) mg/L;β2-MG:(0.45±0.25) mg/L vs (0.29±0.16) mg/L,(0.19±0.12) mg/L](Pa0.05);post-treatment group were higher than control group(P0.05),show statistical significance.3.Comparison of abnormity ratio in early period of 73 HSP children,serum BUN/Cr 13 cases (17.81%),urine routine test 22 cases(30.14%),BUN/Cr plus urine routine test 35 cases(47.95%),urine β2-MG 49 cases(67.12%);MA 53 cases(72.60%);EGF 67 cases(91.78%),EGF,MA,β2-MG respectively compared with BUN/Cr,urine routine test,BUN/Cr plus urine routine test show statistical significance(Pa0.05).4.The correlation coefficients among EGF,MA and β2-MG were respectively(r=0.444,0.426 Pa0.05).Conclusion EGF may involve in the development of HSP,urine EGF,MA and β2-MG are sensitive markers of renal damage in early stage of HSP patients.
DNA Fragment Sizing and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy in Nanofabricated Channels.

A device is fabricated by our sacrificial layer technique [1]. It is used to show how this method provides a way to measure fluorescence from single molecules with a good signal to noise ratio [2]. The size of single DNA molecules is measured by using fluorescence bursts. The channel with submicron dimension allows to probe all the solution that flows through the channel and to have all the molecules in focus on the detector.
Evaluation of Methods Used to Detect Antibiotic Residues in Milk1

Over nine replicate trials, five methods for detecting antibiotic residues were evaluated for sensitivity to various levels of penicillin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol in milk. The methods included (a) the Charm test, (b) Delvotest P, (c) disc assay with Bacillus subtilis on whey agar, (d) B. subtilis on Antibiotic Medium #1 and (e) Difco disc assay method using Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis on PMI agar. Specific to penicillin only, the Charm test detected the antibiotic 100% of the time down to and including 0.01 unit/ml, dropping to 56% detectability at 0.0025 unit/ml. Delvotest P detected penicillin 100% of the time at 0.025 unit/ml, but at varying degrees of sensitivity through 0.0025 unit/ml, and with evidence of showing false-positive results. Methods (c), (d) and (e) detected penicillin at 0.05 unit/ml 78, 89 and 100% of the time, respectively. Methods (d) and (e) were generally more sensitive to erythromycin and chloramphenicol than either (b) or (c).
Diffusion-compensated tofts model suggests contrast leakage through aneurysm wall.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the diffusional transport of contrast agent and its effects on kinetic modeling of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) images. Methods We performed simulations of our diffusion-compensated model and compared these results to human intracranial aneurysms (IAs). We derive an easy-to-use parameterization of diffusional effects that can provide an accurate estimate of diffusion corrected contrast agent leakage rates (ktrans). Finally, we performed re-ansalysis of an existing data set to determine whether diffusion-corrected kinetic parameters improve the identification of high-risk IAs, thereby providing a new MRI-based imaging metric of IA stability based on wall integrity. Results Probability distributions of simulated versus measured data show contrast leakage away from the aneurysm wall. Parameterization of diffusional effects on ktrans showed high correlation with long-chain methods in both surrounding tissue and near the aneurysm wall (r2 = 0.91 and r2 = 0.90, respectively). Finally, size, ktrans, and ( ktrans−kDCtrans) showed significant univariate relationships with rupture risk (P < 0.05). Conclusions We report the first evidence of diffusion-compensated permeability modeling in intracranial aneurysms and propose a parameterization of diffusional effects on ktrans. Furthermore, a comparison of measured versus simulated data suggests that contrast leakage occurs across the aneurysm wall. Magn Reson Med 78:2388–2398, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
PET displacement sensitivity: Predicting binding potential change for PET tracers based on kinetic characteristics

1407 Objectives: There is great interest in PET as a non-invasive assay of fluctuations in neurotransmitter levels, but questions remain regarding the optimal choice of tracer for such a task. A mathematical method is proposed for predicting the utility of any PET tracer as a detector of changes in the concentration of an endogenous competitor via displacement (i.e., its “vulnerability” to competition). The method is based on theoretical work by Endres and Carson (1998) and by the authors (Yoder 2004). Endres and Carson showed that change in binding potential (ΔBP) is a complicated weighted average of the density of available receptors in the tissue at each moment in time. We subsequently termed the weighting function Effective Weighted Availability (EWA) and demonstrated that experimental variability that caused unintended variation in EWA could lead to misinterpretation of ΔBP measurements (Yoder 2004). In this work, we focus on the slope of the relationship between ΔBP and EWA, which is a measure of sensitivity of ΔBP to changes in receptor availability (e.g., due to transient changes in endogenous ligand concentration.). Methods: A tracer-specific predictor, the PET Displacement Sensitivity (PDS), is calculated from compartmental model simulations of the uptake and retention of dopaminergic radiotracers in the presence of transient elevations of dopamine. The PDS predicts the ΔBP for a given change in receptor occupancy due to binding by the endogenous ligand. Simulations were performed using estimates of tracer kinetic parameters derived from the literature. Results: For D2/D3 tracers, the calculated PDS indices suggest a rank order for sensitivity to displacement by dopamine as follows: raclopride (highest sensitivity), fallypride, FESP, FLB, NMSP, and epidepride (lowest). Although the PDS takes into account the affinity constant for the tracer at the binding site, its predictive value cannot be matched by either a single equilibrium constant, or by any one rate constant of the model. Values for ΔBP have been derived from published studies that employed comparable displacement paradigms with amphetamine and a D2/D3 tracer. The values are in good agreement with the PDS-predicted rank order of sensitivity to displacement. Conclusions: The PET Displacement Sensitivity (PDS) index is a new method of predicting the usefulness of PET tracers to assay changes in endogenous species via competitive binding. The PDS of a tracer can be calculated from a properly determined set of kinetic parameters. Research Support (if any): Whitaker Foundation RG02 0126,TF04 0034
Being “Here” and “There”

Although high school is an everyday, familiar place for most American teenagers, for immigrant students, school is more than an academic institution – it is where the Americanization process takes place. For most Americans, schools present the most commonly shared experience. They are essential to the Americanization process for immigrant children (Miller & Tanners, 1995). For most immigrants, American schools are where they first come into contact with the dominant culture.
Fluorescence lifetime imaging of endogenous molecules in live mouse cancer models (Conference Presentation)

NADH and FAD are important endogenous fluorescent coenzymes participating in key enzymatic reactions of cellular metabolism. While fluorescence intensities of NADH and FAD have been used to determine the redox state of cells and tissues, this simple approach breaks down in the case of deep-tissue intravital imaging due to depth- and wavelength-dependent light absorption and scattering. To circumvent this limitation, our research focuses on fluorescence lifetimes of two-photon excited NADH and FAD emission to study the metabolic state of live tissues. In our custom-built scanning microscope we combine tunable femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser (operating at 740 nm for NADH excitation and 890 nm for FAD excitation), two GaAsP hybrid detectors for registering individual fluorescence photons and two Becker and Hickl time correlator boards for high precision lifetime measurements. Together with our rigorous FLIM analysis approach (including image segmentation, multi-exponential decay fitting and detailed statistical analysis) we are able to detect metabolic changes in cancer xenografts (human pancreatic cancer MPanc96 cells injected subcutaneously into the ear of an immunodeficient nude mouse), relative to surrounding healthy tissue. Advantageously, with the same instrumentation we can also take high-resolution and high-contrast images of second harmonic signal (SHG) originating from collagen fibers of both the healthy skin and the growing tumor. The combination of metabolic measurements (NADH and FAD lifetime) and morphological information (collagen SHG) allows us to follow the tumor growth in live mouse model and the changes in tumor microenvironment.
St. Louis and Empire: 250 Years of Imperial Quest and Urban Crisis

Review of: St. Louis and Empire: 250 Years of Imperial Quest and Urban Crisis, by Henry W. Berger
Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Large Electron Beam Builds

Abstract A finite element modeling strategy is developed to allow for the prediction of distortion accumulation in additive manufacturing large parts (on the order of meters). A 3D thermo-elasto-plastic analysis is performed using a hybrid quiet inactive element activation strategy combined with adaptive coarsening. At the beginning for the simulation, before material deposition commences, elements corresponding to deposition material are removed from the analysis, then elements are introduced in the model layer by layer in a quiet state with material properties rendering them irrelevant. As the moving energy source is applied on the part, elements are switched to active by restoring the actual material properties when the energy source is applied on them. A layer by layer coarsening strategy merging elements in lower layers of the build is also implemented such that while elements are added on the top of build, elements are merged below maintaining a low number of degrees of freedom in the model for the entire simulation. The effectiveness of the modeling strategy is demonstrated and experimentally validated on a large electron beam deposited Ti-6Al-4V part consisting of 107 deposition layers. The simulation and experiment show good agreement with a maximum error of 29%.
Prescribing cascade in a geropsychiatric patient: A slippery slope

A prescribing cascade is a situation, in which an adverse drug reaction is mistaken for a new medication condition, and a new medication is prescribed. We present a case, in which risperidone led to a prescribing cascade in a geriatric patient. We share this case to improve awareness and vigilance of prescribing cascades in the geropsychiatric population.
Psychogenic Etiology and Prognosis of Cancer—Current Status of Theory

During the last five or ten years, there has been much interest in regard to two speculations: first, that certain personality features tend to predispose people to cancer or that stress can induce or predispose to cancer; and second, that among those who already have the disease, personality or stress can affect its progress or indeed affect survival time. Scientists have been looking at these questions for a long time. Three answers have appeared for both human and animal studies. The first is, “Yes, this, that or the other stressful event or personality feature does affect the appearance or progress of cancer.” The second is “No, it doesn’t.” The third is, “We really don’t know because the studies that were done were poorly designed and we can’t draw secure conclusions from flawed studies, some badly flawed.” There is a large question mark in regard to the animal characteristics question, mostly because that issue was really not pursued to any degree. After all, who would ask about “personality” of mice in relation to cancer susceptibility?
Designing MPI Library with Dynamic Connected Transport DCT of InfiniBand: Early Experiences

The Dynamic Connected DC InfiniBand transport protocol has recently been introduced by Mellanox to address several shortcomings of the older Reliable Connection RC, eXtended Reliable Connection XRC, and Unreliable Datagram UD transport protocols. DC aims to support all of the features provided by RC -- such as RDMA, atomics, and hardware reliability -- while allowing processes to communicate with any remote process with just one DC queue pair QP, like UD. In this paper we present the salient features of the new DC protocol including its connection and communication models.We design new verbs-level collective benchmarks to study the behavior of the new DC transport and understand the performance / memory trade-offs it presents. We then use this knowledge to propose multiple designs for MPI over DC. We evaluate an implementation of our design in the MVAPICH2 MPI library using standard MPI benchmarks and applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such design of an MPI library over the new DC transport. Our experimental results at the microbenchmark level show that the DC-based design in MVAPICH2 is able to deliver 42% and 43% improvement in latency for large message All-to-one exchanges over XRC and RC respectively. DC-based designs are also able to give 20% and 8% improvement for small message One-to-all exchanges over RC and XRC respectively. For the All-to-all communication pattern, DC is able to deliver performance comparable to RC/XRC while outperforming in memory consumption. At the application level, for NAMD on 620 processes, the DC-based designs in MVAPICH2 outperform designs based on RC, XRC, and UD by 22%, 10%, and 13% respectively in execution time. With DL-POLY, DC outperforms RC and XRC by 75% and 30%, respectively, in total completion time while delivering performance similar to UD.
Management of Lobular Neoplasia

Lobular neoplasia (LN) is a well-established risk factor and non-obligate precursor for breast cancer. The clinical breast cancer risk assessment and management for these patients can be challenging. Numerous studies have confirmed that LN is a risk factor and non-obligate precursor for breast cancer. The molecular profile of LCIS is similar to invasive lobular carcinoma. Surgical excision is generally recommended after core biopsy, but there may be a subset of patients with LN who may be observed without surgery. The significant increase in breast cancer risk associated with this disease justifies close surveillance. Chemoprevention is beneficial but uptake remains a challenge. This paper is a review of the historical and contemporary studies on the clinicopathologic characteristics of LN, the associated risk of breast cancer development, and current management of patients with lobular neoplasia.
Abstract A67: Effects of the atypical PKC-ι inhibitor ICA-1 on ovarian cancer proliferation and survival

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer diagnosis. There is no efficient screening process for ovarian cancers and the average stage of diagnosis is stage III. Atypical PKCs (PKC-ζ and PKC-ι/λ) have been shown to be overexpressed in various malignant cells lines and to be linked to pathways for cellular proliferation and survival. Estrogen is also highly linked to carcinogenesis. In this investigation, ovarian cell lines (HEY, COV644, T80) were treated with the atypical PKC-ι inhibitor ICA-1 in two different systems, with and without estrogen, and assayed to determine the effects on proliferation and cellular survival. These assays included protein quantification, cell proliferation, and wound healing. Our preliminary data suggest that PKC-ι is a novel target in carcinogenesis and inhibition of this protein decreases the rate of proliferation. Our results also suggest that estrogen has a great effect on cell proliferation, even in estrogen receptor-negative cells. Citation Format: Tracess Smalley, Mildred Acevedo-Duncan. Effects of the atypical PKC-ι inhibitor ICA-1 on ovarian cancer proliferation and survival. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Conference: Addressing Critical Questions in Ovarian Cancer Research and Treatment; Oct 1-4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(15_Suppl):Abstract nr A67.
Postpartum hemorrhage: Blood product management and massive transfusion

Blood product transfusion capabilities are crucial for appropriate response to postpartum hemorrhage. Novel treatments are continually being sought to improve maternal morbidity and mortality associated with massive hemorrhage.
Divided America in Elizabeth Strout’s the Burgess Boys

ABSTRACTElizabeth Strout’s 2013 novel The Burgess Boys explores class and geographic tensions within a family divided between New York City and Shirley Falls Maine, a depressed former center of tex...
Teaching an introduction to Computer Science: selecting appropriate languages for CS0 and CS1

The selection of an appropriate language (or languages) for CS0 and CS1-level courses are not consistent throughout the country and regions for Computer Science programs. In addition, the selection of a language (or languages) may be a contributing factor for student success in Computer Science programs. In this workshop, we will present an overview of the IEEE standards for CS0 and CS1 courses. Following this introduction, we will discuss the best approaches to teaching to these standards. In particular, we will discuss various languages that can be used for teaching our students and keeping them interested in the Computer Science curriculum.
Interactive Indoor Localization on Helmet

We present a human-sensor interaction approach for indoor navigation, where we incorporate inertial motion unit sensors, human knowledge and human-computer interaction into the navigation process. The algorithm uses semantic representations of navigational constraints such as walls, stairs, and elevators, to correct the trajectory. The objective is to reduce the IMU drifting errors. The navigation prototype is implemented on a helmet with a holographic screen that can mix the actual visible image with mapping and visualization information, voice command and tactile interface. The helmet is to assist first responders in emergency environments of fire, flood, shooting, cyberattack, and medical distress, where GSP, cellular and regular WiFi is not available. The results show that the interactive navigation reduces drifting errors and it is an affordable alternative to existing technologies such as ultrasound, RFID, UWB radios, WiFi signatures, and camera-based SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) algorithms where matching features are not sufficient, especially in a dark or smoking environment.
San Francisco Year Zero: Political upheaval, punk rock and a third-place baseball team, by Lincoln A. Mitchell: New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University Press, 2019

Lincoln Mitchell’s San Francisco Year Zero is an interesting and often candidly personal urban history of San Francisco in 1978, a singularly tumultuous year for the city on the Bay. This was the y...
Grandchild Caregiving and Cognitive Health Among Grandparents in Rural South Africa

Objectives: We investigate how caregiving for grandchildren is associated with cognitive function among rural South Africans, and whether the association differs by gender. We further investigate whether measures of physical activity or social engagement mediate this association. Methods: Data were from interviews with 3668 Black, South African grandparents in the "Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa" study, conducted between 2014 and 2015. Results: We find that caregiving grandparents have better cognitive function than non-caregiving grandparents, and this association does not differ by grandparent gender. Although grandchild caregiving is associated with physical activity and social engagement measures, and some of these measures are associated with cognitive function, we do not find conclusive evidence of mediation. Discussion: Providing care for grandchildren may stimulate cognitive function for both grandmothers and grandfathers. Neither physical activity nor social engagement explains the association between caregiving and cognitive function.
Multi-axis alignment of Rod-like cellulose nanocrystals in drying droplets.

Abstract Hypothesis Radial capillary flow in evaporating droplets carry suspended nanoparticles to its periphery where they are deposited and form a coffee-ring. Rod-like nanoparticles seeking to minimize their capillary energy will align with their long-axis parallel to the contact line. Particles exhibiting electrostatic repulsion, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), establish a competition between capillary flow-induced impingement against a growing coffee-ring and entropic minimization leading to enhanced particle mobility. Therefore, balancing these effects by manipulating the local particle concentration in drying droplets should result in deposition with a controlled orientation of CNCs. Experiments The dynamic local order in aqueous suspensions of CNCs in evaporating sessile droplets was investigated through time-resolved polarized light microscopy. The spatial distribution of alignment in deposited CNCs was explored as a function of nanoparticle concentration, droplet volume, initial degree of anisotropy, and substrate hydrophobicity. Computational analysis of the rotational Peclet number during evaporation was also investigated to evaluate any effects of shear-induced alignment. Findings Multiple modes of orientation were identified suggesting local control over CNC orientation and subsequent properties can be attained via droplet-based patterning methods. Specifically, high local particle concentrations led to tangential alignment and lower local particle concentrations resulted in new evidence for radial alignment near the center of dried droplets.