cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Body-Methylated Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana Are Functionally Important and Evolve Slowly

DNA methylation of coding regions, known as gene body methylation, is conserved across eukaryotic lineages. The function of body methylation is not known, but it may either prevent aberrant expression from intragenic promoters or enhance the accuracy of splicing. Given these putative functions, we hypothesized that body-methylated genes would be both longer and more functionally important than unmethylated genes. To test these hypotheses, we reanalyzed single-base resolution bisulfite sequence data from Arabidopsis thaliana to differentiate body-methylated genes from unmethylated genes using a probabilistic approach. Contrasting genic characteristics between the two groups, we found that body-methylated genes tend to be longer and to be more functionally important, as measured by phenotypic effects of insertional mutants and by gene expression, than unmethylated genes. We also found that methylated genes evolve more slowly than unmethylated genes, despite the potential for increased mutation rates in methylated CpG dinucleotides. We propose that slower rates in body-methylated genes are a function of higher selective constraint, lower nucleosome occupancy, and a lower proportion of CpG dinucleotides.
Fathers' and Mothers' Involvement with Their Adolescents

We explored mothers’ and fathers’ time spent with their adolescents and found that mothers reported spending more time with their adolescents than did fathers. Developmental patterns were found for some aspects of time involvement, with both mothers and fathers reporting higher involvement with younger adolescents. Ratings of time-spent were not associated with adolescents’ self-reported emotional/behavioral problems. Both mothers and fathers agreed that mothers had more responsibility for adolescents’ discipline, daily care, and recreational activities. Mothers and fathers reported comparable levels of satisfaction with this arrangement. Mothers, and to a lesser extent fathers, reported greater satisfaction with the division of labor when fathers showed higher levels of responsibility for adolescents’ activities. Satisfaction with the division of labor was inversely related to interparental conflict. Few differences were found based on adolescent gender for any of these variables. Results are discussed within the context of mother–child and father–child relationships and family functioning.
Detection of high-impedance faults in power distribution systems

When overhead power lines in solid or low-impedance grounded systems lose supports and fall on poorly conductive surfaces, they generate high-impedance faults (HIFs). These faults are a great public safety concern because the fault currents are generally too small for detection by conventional overcurrent relays. This concern has generated great interest in the detection of downed conductor-related HIFs at the substation level. In this paper, we present an HIF detection algorithm that uses traditional relay logic. The algorithm is easier to understand and simpler to implement than many black-box detection methods such as neural networks. We discuss such key aspects of algorithm design as input quantity selection, generation of a reliable reference, adaptation to feeder ambient load noises, and decision logic based on trending and memories. We use real-world data collected from staged HIF tests and noisy substation loads to validate detection results.
Effect of Liquid Flavor Supplementation of the Diet on Dairy Cows in the Transition Period

Abstract A 9-wk trial was conducted to study the performance of 24 Holstein cows during the transition period (3wk prepartum to 6wk postpartum). Cows were assigned to either a control or liquid-flavored (0.52mL/kg of feed) total mixed ration in a randomized complete block design. The diets contained corn silage, alfalfa haylage, cottonseed, and a grain mix based on ground corn and soybean meal. Cows were fed to ensure 10% orts, and the diet provided (on a dry matter basis) 13% crude protein, 32% acid detergent fiber, 44% neutral detergent fiber, and 1.54Mcal/kg of NE L prepartum and 17.5% crude protein, 30% acid detergent fiber, 40% neutral detergent fiber, and 1.57Mcal/kg of NE L postpartum. An additional 2.3kg of alfalfa hay was fed during the first 5 d postpartum. Weekly means of dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk protein, milk fat, SNF, somatic cell counts, and body weight (BW) were analyzed using a repeated measures procedure. There was no effect of treatment on these variables, and least squares means were 16.9 and 15.7kg/d for DMI, 38 and 35.3kg/d for milk yield, 3.10 and 3.11% for milk protein, 3.69 and 3.74% for milk fat, 8.37 and 8.16% for SNF, 1.99×10 5 and 4.33×10 5 for somatic cell count, and 631 and 651kg for BW for cows fed control and flavored diets, respectively. Individual cow daily DMI data were fitted to an exponential model describing pre- and postpartum feed consumption [DMI = a−b×e (−c×t) , where DMI was measured in kg, a=asymptotic DMI, b=potential fractional increase in DMI, c=fractional rate of increase in DMI, and t=days prior to calving or days in milk]. Fractional rates of increase in DMI were similar: 0.139 and 0.123/d for control and flavored diets, respectively. Data for both groups were separately analyzed using multiple regression with 3.5% fat-corrected milk as the dependent variable and BW and DMI as independent variables. More BW was mobilized per unit increase in 3.5% fat-corrected milk in cows fed the control than in cows fed the flavored diet. Cows fed the control diet tended to be in more negative energy balance during early lactation than cows fed the flavored diet. It was concluded that feeding flavor improved energy balance of cows in early lactation and may reduce the risk of health or reproductive problems.
Heat and mass transfer transients in cylinder drying: Part I. Unfelted cyclinders

An investigation has been made of transient heat transfer and water removal on an unfelted cylinder dryer. This investigation has included the development of a theory for describing conduction of heat in the drying material and an experimental testing of the adequacy of the theory. The theory describes the heat transfer and evaporation of water in terms of a second-order partial-differential equation and appropriate boundary conditions. Numerical solutions obtained on a digital computer are presented. The experimental work, performed on a specially constructed laboratory dryer, included measurements of temperatures at internal points in a drying sheet and also measurements of water removed during drying. Good agreement was found between theory and experiment, and the usefulness of the theory is demonstrated in the analysis of water removal in some drying experiments. Although the work was primarily concerned with a description of the paper drying process, the methods should apply equally well to the drying of other materials on heated cylinders.
Ecological correlates of abundance in the Tana mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus)

I investigated the ecological correlates of abundance in the Tana mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus), one of the world's most endangered primates, with the goal of recommending management strategies. I systematically selected 31 forest fragments throughout the mangabey's 60-km distribution along the lower Tana River in southeastern Kenya. Within the 31 fragments, I measured vegetation structure, food abundance, and human forest product use in 107 belt transects, and conducted 370 mangabey surveys. I used a weighted multiple regression analysis to determine whether there was a dependence between the selected forest attributes and the mean number of mangabey groups per fragment. Fragment area and density of trees ≥10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were the only variables that significantly correlated with the variation in mangabey abundance. No additional variables were significant when the analysis was limited to forest fragments inside the Tana River Primate National Reserve (TRPNR) or to fragments outside the TRPNR. When I estimated the resources available before recent human forest product use by adding nonharvested and harvested variables, the total basal area of the top 15 food species became significant. This was only within the TRPNR, however. Management, therefore, should focus on increasing forest area, density of trees ≥10 cm DBH, and coverage of food trees throughout the mangabey's distribution. Solutions must be found for the problem of forest clearing, and forest product use must be better managed to protect the habitat of this critically endangered primate. The significance of food abundance only within the TRPNR suggests a need to collect dietary data from mangabey groups in fragments toward the southern limit of the mangabey's distribution, where plant species composition differs from that in fragments in which dietary data have been previously collected. Am. J. Primatol. 63:125–138, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Second Tylosin Resistance Determinant, Erm B, in Arcanobacterium pyogenes

Arcanobacterium pyogenes, a common inhabitant of the mucosal surfaces of livestock, is also a pathogen associated with a variety of infections. In livestock, A. pyogenes is exposed to antimicrobial agents used for prophylaxis and therapy, notably tylosin, a macrolide used extensively for the prevention of liver abscessation in feedlot cattle in the United States. Many, but not all, tylosin-resistant A. pyogenes isolates carry erm(X), suggesting the presence of other determinants of tylosin resistance. Oligonucleotide primers designed for conserved regions of erm(B), erm(C), and erm(T) were used to amplify a 404-bp fragment from a tylosin-resistant A. pyogenes isolate, OX-7. DNA sequencing revealed that the PCR product was 100% identical to erm(B) genes, and the erm(B) gene region was cloned in Escherichia coli. The A. pyogenes Erm B determinant had the most DNA identity with an Erm B determinant carried by the Clostridium perfringens plasmid pIP402. However, the A. pyogenes determinant lacked direct repeat DR1 and contained a deletion in DR2. Flanking the A. pyogenes erm(B) gene were partial and entire genes similar to those found on the Enterococcus faecalis multiresistance plasmid pRE25. This novel architecture suggests that the erm(B) element may have arisen by recombination of two distinct genetic elements. Ten of 32 tylosin-resistant isolates carried erm(B), as determined by DNA hybridization, and all 10 isolates carried a similar element. Insertion of the element was site specific, as PCR and Southern blotting analysis revealed that the erm(B) element was inserted into orfY, a gene of unknown function. However, in three strains, this insertion resulted in a partial duplication of orfY.
Economic Incentives and International Cooperation: Technology Transfer to the People's Republic of China, 1978-86

Long-term, economic incentive programs are a more pervasive feature of international relations than is generally appreciated. This article examines a recent incentive program - US technology transfer to the People's Republic of China - to determine its role in fostering bilateral cooperation (policy adjustment by one state to facilitate the goals of another) and in contributing to international peace and stability. The initial findings suggest that economic incentives can be a qualified success in achieving cooperation between the sender and target state largely through conditioning the environment in a manner that improves the possibility of goal attainment for both parties. In the broader international context, economic incentives are neither per se stabilizing nor destabilizing. As with any exercise of power, economic incentives or rewards carry the possibility of improving chances for peace or the possibility of destabilizing international relations, depending upon the situation in which they are introduced and the manner in which they are executed.
The Accuracy of Forecasts: A Market Equilibrium Analysis

Some features of the theory 86. — Expected profits of the firm, 88. — Optimal accuracy of forecasts, 91. — Market equilibrium, 92. — Comparative statics, 92. — Conclusion, 96.
INTERACTION AND INTERSECTION: THE CONSTELLATION OF EMOTIONAL STABILITY AND EXTRAVERSION IN PREDICTING PERFORMANCE

This study investigated the constellation of 2 Big 5 traits—Emotional Stability and Extraversion—in predicting job performance. Two forms of the constellation, one indirect (a statistical interaction) and the other direct (a measure of the intersection between the traits from the Big 5 circumplex), were used to predict job performance. Data were collected from employees and their supervisors at a regional health and fitness center. Results indicated that both measures predicted performance, even when controlling for the “main effects” of Emotional Stability and Extraversion, as well as 2 other relevant Big 5 traits (Agreeableness and Conscientiousness). These results suggest that the combination of Emotional Stability and Extraversion—reflecting a “happy” or “buoyant” personality—may be more important to performance than either trait in isolation. In the past 15 years, the scientific currency of dispositional explanations of organizationally relevant behavior has undergone a radical transformation. Although 40 years ago Guion and Gottier (1965) expressed pessimism regarding the validity of personality measures in personnel selection decisions, in contemporary research this review is usually cited as an example of how far research has advanced. J. Hogan and Holland (2003) summarized, “Since 1990, meta-analytic reviews have shown that personality measures are useful predictors of job performance” (p. 100). Barrick and Mount (2005, p. 359) conclude, “Research, based on a constructoriented approach primarily using the ‘Big Five’ traits, has consistently shown that personality predicts job performance across a wide variety of outcomes.”
Calibration of a micromanipulation system

Calibration is indispensable for automatic micromanipulation. In this paper, using the height difference between different focus planes detected from the microscope and the coordinates of the probe measured from encoders, systematic methods to calibrate the relative position and orientation between the tools and the microscope are developed. Using the least square error (LSE) method to process the data measured, the influence of various positioning errors can be reduced. Experiments are performed to calibrate a micromanipulation system using the proposed methods. The calibration results are validated by cross verification through further experiments.
RNA binding and thiolytic stability of a quinoline-containing helix-threading peptide

Helix-threading peptides (HTPs) bind selectively to sites predisposed to intercalation in folded RNA molecules placing peptide functional groups into the dissimilar grooves of the duplex. Here we report the design and synthesis of new HTPs with quinoline as the intercalation domain. A quinoline-containing HTP is shown to bind selectively to duplex RNA binding sites. Furthermore, the affinity cleavage pattern generated using an EDTA·Fe modified derivative is consistent with minor groove localization of its N-terminus. This compound binds base-pair steps flanked by single nucleotide bulges on the 3′ side on both strands, whereas bulges on the 5′ side of the intercalation site do not support binding. Furthermore, unlike acridine HTPs, the quinoline compound is resistant to thiolytic degradation that leads to loss of RNA-binding activity. The RNA-binding selectivity and stability observed for quinoline-containing HTPs make them excellent candidates for further development as regulators of intracellular RNA function.
Modeling A Patient Headache Care Education System (PHCES) Using Software Reuse Model And An Alternative Approach For Patients Education

The research goal in our study of instructional medical information systems tools is to improve the performance of patient decision making by integrating medical professional information with computer augmented information. In part, this goal may be reached by cost-effective software development with validated reusable PCESs object design models, object oriented approach for product line (family of products) and with the help of a valid PHCES derived from these models.
ANALYSIS OF BATCH DRYING DATA USING SAS

Abstract An analysis technique is described which uses the nonlinear curve fitting capabilities of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to analyze batch drying data. The technique does not require any apriori assumptions about whether a constant rate period exists. Rather, the only assumptions necessary are the possible forms of the equations which can be used to describe the drying phenomenon. The program will then determine, based upon statistical techniques, where each equation should be used during the drying process in order to best describe the overall drying process. Two examples are given; the first analyzes the drying of. sand, a material having a constant rate period; the second analyzes the data describing the drying of French fried potato pieces.
A Money and Banking Simulation Game for High School Upperclassmen and College Level Non-Majors

The paper presents a simulation game that sheds light on why banks exist, and why a central bank exists. The role of banks as information specialists (Diamond's "Delegated Monitor" and Fama's specialist in "inside" information) is highlighted, as is the potential conflict inherent in banks in their roles as guardians of the money supply, and as profit making firms. Three cases are presented; one in which no banks exist, one in which banks exist, and the third in which a central bank exists.
Effects of Various Feeding and Exercise Regimens on Rat Growth and Survival

The present study was undertaken to obtain additional information on the effects of various feeding and exercise regimens on rat growth and survival. In three experiments, groups of rats, maintained on cycles of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark, were trained to various combinations of feeding and voluntary exercise regimens. Rat weights and the amounts of exercise were monitored throughout the experimental periods. At the end of two of the experiments, rats were killed at differ ent times of day, and the weights of several organs were taken. In addition, the activ ities of several liver enzymes such as tyrosine aminotransferase and ornithine decar- boxylase were determined. Data concerning the effects of various combinations of dietary regimens and voluntary exercise indicated that a critical age and period of pretraining on a restricted feeding schedule must be reached to insure that rats will survive repetitive 40-hour fasts after 8-hour feeding periods along with vigorous volun tary exercise. The liver enzyme data indicated that, in surviving rats, the activities of several liver enzymes underwent changes in response to feeding. Some differences be tween the metabolic states of exercised and nonexercised rats may exist. J. Nutr. 104: 273-286, 1974.
Refining Traffic Information for Analysis Using Evidence Theory

Anonymous communication is important and desirable in a wide range of networking systems to guarantee secure and private communications. This feature is especially important in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) where the communication channel is publicly open and the sessions are vulnerable to passive attacks. The fact that MANETs are mostly used in crucial environments such as military usage and disaster rescue emphasizes this importance. In our previous work [1], [2], a theoretic approach and its evaluation methods were developed to model the anonymity performance. The corresponding methods for handling localization errors and scalability issues were also proposed. However, an effective approach to handle the fuzzy information acquired from the network needs to be further developed. To this end, we develop a comprehensive evidence based method to handle the information that a monitoring system can acquire in realistic model and the corresponding analysis approach to process the various evidences from multiple sources. The purpose of this work is to evaluate how much information regarding the anonymous communication is leaked into the wireless channel. The evaluation of the proposed method shows a satisfactory performance in terms of accuracy in reconstructing the anonymous communication patterns in real-world scenarios.
Occupy Pennsylvania Avenue: How Politicians Caused the Financial Crisis and Why their Reforms Failed

This summary policy analysis provides a simple diagnosis of the sub-prime lending debacle and consequent systemic financial crisis: The Fed fueled an asset bubble, housing policy steered it to housing, and the extreme leverage required to fund political housing policy magnified losses instead of profits. The financial sector bailout, housing market and homeowner bailout, and fiscal and monetary stimulus were all more of the same. A financial sector meltdown was avoided, but at the expense of greater systemic risk prospectively. The Great Recession ended, but the recovery remains weak with economic costs in the aftermath many multiples those during the lending bubble and prospective economic risks are worse still.The only relevant economic precept is the original – incentives matter. Understanding the financial crisis requires no more than an explanation of how politicians perverted them.The simple prescription to avoid future systemic financial crises is to limit discretionary monetary policy, separate subsidy from finance, impose appropriate capital requirements, improve political oversight and re-introduce market discipline, the opposite of the Dodd-Frank legislation.
The Origin of Oxygenic Photosynthesis and Its Impact on the Atmosphere

The evolutionary history of photosynthesis is complicated by the existence of several pathways and two major types: anoxygenic and oxygenic. The former is thought to have preceded the latter by a highly uncertain time interval. Evidence for photosynthesis is found in both the fossil record (in the form of stomatolites) and in the isotope record (in the form of carbon isotope variations). Stromatolites indicate the presence of bacterial mats capable of photosynthesis as early as 3.5 BYBP, whether anoxygenic or oxygenic has not been (cannot be?) determined. Carbon isotope signatures indicate an antiquity perhaps 200-300 million years greater. Oxygenic photosynthesis very likely began by 2.7-2.8 BYBP based in molecular fossils thought to indicate the presence of cyanobacteria. Sulfur isotopes indicate the general oxidation of Earth’s atmosphere at about 2.3-2.4 BYBP, some few hundred million years after the advent of oxygenic photosynthesis. Given that the probable source of atmospheric oxygen is from cyanobacteria presents a problem in this long delay in oxidizing the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.
Epidemiological characteristics of hand foot and mouth disease in Jinjiang city in 2010-2012

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand foot and mouth disease(HFMD)in Jinjiang City in2010-2012,and to provide scientific evidence for formulating the more efficient prevention and control tactics.Methods The data of HFMD were from China Information System for Disease Prevention and Control were analyzed;the etiological materials were collected from the data of our central lab and the feedback data of the experimental results from Quanzhou Center for Disease Prevention and Control;while the demographic data were from Jinjiang Statistical Yearbook.Information about the onset time,area and population distribution of HFMD in Jinjiang city from January 1st,2010 to December 31st,2012 were collected and were analyzed statistically with Excel2007 and SPSS16.0.Clustering cases were determined according to the definition of such disease given in Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Hand foot and Mouth Disease(2009).Throat swab samples of HFMD cases diagnosed in clinic were collected according to the guidelines and nucleic acid testing was conducted through real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(FQ-PCR).Results A total of 13 173 HFMD cases were reported in Jinjaing city in2010-2012.The average incidence rate of HFMD of each year was 230.46/105,156.21/105,323.22/105.The number of severe and death cases declined gradually in 2010-2012.The peak incidence occurred during the period from May to June.The top three towns with large number of cases are Chendai town(1 653 cases),Anhai town(1 545 cases),Chidian town(1 306 cases).Of 13 173HFMD cases,the children of 0-3 years old accounted for 82.14%(10 820/13 173),The number of male cases(8 714) was larger than that of the female(4 459),the ratio was 1.95:1.Scattered children accounted for,respectively,76.49%,80.47%,72.95% in 2010-2012.Among the 92 severe cases,91 cases were caused by enterovirus 71(EV71).Of 66 cases of epidemic aggregation of HFMD reported in 2010-2012,simple family aggregation accounted for 50.00%.Conclusion The incidence rate HFMD in 2010-2012 went rising in Jinjiang and the results of etiological testing show that enterovirus 71 predominated.There are differences in sex,age-specific,district and season.
Neo High-Density Lipoprotein Produced by the Streptococcal Serum Opacity Factor Activity against Human High-Density Lipoproteins Is Hepatically Removed via Dual Mechanisms.

Injection of streptococcal serum opacity factor (SOF) into mice reduces the plasma cholesterol level by ∼40%. In vitro, SOF converts high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) into multiple products, including a small HDL, neo HDL. In vitro, neo HDL accounts for ∼60% of the protein mass of the SOF reaction products; in vivo, the accumulated mass of neo HDL is <1% of that observed in vitro. To identify the underlying cause of this difference, we determined the fate of neo HDL in plasma in vitro and in vivo. Following incubation with HDL, neo HDL-PC rapidly transfers to HDL, giving a small remnant, which fuses with HDL. An increased level of SR-B1 expression in Huh7 hepatoma cells and a reduced level of LDLR expression in CHO cells had little effect on neo HDL-[3H]CE uptake. Thus, the dominant receptors for neo HDL uptake are not LDLR or SR-B1. The in vivo metabolic fates of neo HDL-[3H]CE and HDL-[3H]CE were different. Thirty minutes after the injection of neo HDL-[3H]CE and HDL-[3H]CE into mice, plasma [3H]CE count...
Big data analytics on heterogeneous accelerator architectures

In this paper, we present the implementation of big data analytics applications in a heterogeneous CPU+FPGA accelerator architecture. We develop the MapReduce implementation of K-means, K nearest neighbor, support vector machine and Naive Bayes in a Hadoop Streaming environment that allows developing mapper/reducer functions in a non-Java based language suited for interfacing with FPGA-based hardware accelerating environment. We present a full implementation of the HW+SW mappers on the Zynq FPGA platform. A promising speedup as well as energy-efficiency gains of upto 4.5X and 22X is achieved, respectively, in an end-to-end Hadoop implementation.
An Unusual Case of Resistant Secondary Glioblastoma with BRAF V600e Mutation (P3.279)

Objective: This is a report of a 27 year old male with relentlessly progressive glioblastoma, found to have BRAF V600e mutation by molecular profiling and his response to treatment. Background: Glioblastoma is a devastating disease and treatment is challenging, especially when standard treatment fails. Molecular profiling occasionally reveals specific targets, such as BRAF V600e mutation. This mutation stimulates the activation of MEK/ERK signaling, promoting tumorigenesis. Methods:: A 27 year old male presented in March, 2011, with right temporal anaplastic astrocytoma. He was treated with surgery, 6000 cGy of radiotherapy alone, and 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide. The tumor recurred in April, 2012. It was again resected, and he went on to a trial of veliparib plus temozolomide with recurrence after 2 cycles. Another resection occurred and he went on to receive cis-retinoic acid and lomustine, two cycles. Progression was again noted. Another resection occurred in February, 2013. Molecular profiling of the tumor revealed the presence of BRAF V600e mutation, wild-type IDH-1 and EGFR, methylated MGMT. He went on to receive Vemurafinib from March, 2013, to June, 2014, 18 cycles. Progression was then noted and Everolimus was added for 4 cycles. Recurrence and resection in November, 2014, revealed glioblastoma with sarcomatoid features, intraventricular tumor and leptomeningeal disease. He went on to receive Dabrafinib and Pazopanib with progression in May, 2015. A 6th craniotomy occurred. He is now receiving a boost of radiotherapy and bevacizumab. Results: The patient’s longest and most durable response was to BRAF V600e inhibition, 15 months, as predicted by molecular profiling. This is an unusual mutation in glioblastoma (5[percnt]), most of which are primary. The patient’s current KPS is 70[percnt], survival 4.5 years. />Conclusions: Molecular profiling is an important tool for patients who do not respond to standard therapy. Obtaining the appropriate treatments may also be challenging. Disclosure: Dr. New has received research support from CellDex, Northwest Biotherapeutics and NovoCure.
Cost Effectiveness of Screening Colonoscopy Depends on Adequate Bowel Preparation Rates - A Modeling Study.

Background Inadequate bowel preparation during screening colonoscopy necessitates repeating colonoscopy. Studies suggest inadequate bowel preparation rates of 20–60%. This increases the cost of colonoscopy for our society. Aim The aim of this study is to determine the impact of inadequate bowel preparation rate on the cost effectiveness of colonoscopy compared to other screening strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods A microsimulation model of CRC screening strategies for the general population at average risk for CRC. The strategies include fecal immunochemistry test (FIT) every year, colonoscopy every ten years, sigmoidoscopy every five years, or stool DNA test every 3 years. The screening could be performed at private practice offices, outpatient hospitals, and ambulatory surgical centers. Results At the current assumed inadequate bowel preparation rate of 25%, the cost of colonoscopy as a screening strategy is above society’s willingness to pay (<$50,000/QALY). Threshold analysis demonstrated that an inadequate bowel preparation rate of 13% or less is necessary before colonoscopy is considered more cost effective than FIT. At inadequate bowel preparation rates of 25%, colonoscopy is still more cost effective compared to sigmoidoscopy and stool DNA test. Sensitivity analysis of all inputs adjusted by ±10% showed incremental cost effectiveness ratio values were influenced most by the specificity, adherence, and sensitivity of FIT and colonoscopy. Conclusions Screening colonoscopy is not a cost effective strategy when compared with fecal immunochemical test, as long as the inadequate bowel preparation rate is greater than 13%.
Therapeutic Antibody Targeting of CD47 Synergizes with Rituximab to Completely Eradicate Human B-Cell Lymphoma Xenografts.

Abstract Abstract 2716 Poster Board II-692 The anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab, is standard therapy for many CD20 positive B-cell lymphomas, significantly improving long-term survival in combination with chemotherapy. However, rituximab alone is not curative in many non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients with observation of primary and acquired resistance, arguing for a need for additional targeted therapies. We identified the cell surface protein CD47 as a potential therapeutic antibody target in human NHL. A major function of CD47 is to inhibit phagocytosis through binding its receptor SIRPα, on phagocytes. We hypothesize that NHL cells over-express CD47 to evade immune phagocytosis and that blockade of CD47 signaling with a monoclonal antibody can eliminate NHL cells by enabling phagocytic engulfment. We have previously shown that an anti-CD47 antibody enables phagocytosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cells and eliminates AML in vivo. Here we investigate the therapeutic potential of an anti-CD47 antibody alone and in combination with rituximab for the treatment of NHL. We predict that the combination of anti-CD47 antibody and rituximab will result in synergistic elimination of NHL cells by both blocking an inhibitory signal and delivering a positive signal for phagocytosis. We found that CD47 protein is highly expressed on primary human B-cell NHL cells compared to normal peripheral blood B-cells. Higher CD47 gene expression independently predicted a worse clinical outcome in several cohorts of NHL patients including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blocking anti-CD47 antibodies preferentially enabled phagocytosis of NHL cells but not normal cell counterparts in vitro. Using isobologram analyses, the combination of anti-CD47 antibody and rituximab resulted in synergistic phagocytosis of NHL cells at higher levels compared to either anti-CD47 antibody or rituximab alone. In addition, anti-CD47 antibody and rituximab mediated their therapeutic effects through Fc-receptor-independent and Fc-receptor-dependent effector mechanisms, respectively. In vivo, anti-CD47 antibody treatment of NHL-engrafted mice reduced lymphoma burden and prolonged survival compared to IgG control. Furthermore, combination treatment with anti-CD47 antibody and rituximab led to elimination of lymphoma and cure of NHL-engrafted mice. These in vivo results were observed in both a disseminated and localized human NHL cell line mouse model as well as in primary human DLBCL mouse xenotransplants. Together, these data provide the rationale for utilizing an anti-CD47 antibody either alone or in combination with rituximab in treating human NHL. Disclosures: Weissman: U.S. Patent Application 11/528,890 entitled “Methods for Diagnosing and Evaluating Treatment of Blood Disorders.”: Patents & Royalties; Stem Cells Inc.: Cofounder and director; Cellerant Inc.: cofounder; Amgen: Equity Ownership.
FDA Drug Approval: Elotuzumab in Combination with Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

On November 30, 2015, the FDA approved elotuzumab (Empliciti; Bristol-Myers Squibb) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who received one to three prior therapies. FDA approval was based primarily on the results of a phase III, randomized, open-label, multicenter trial, CA204004, which evaluated elotuzumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (E-Ld) compared with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Ld) alone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Coprimary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR). The key secondary endpoint was overall survival, but these data were not mature at the time of clinical database cutoff. The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS, with an estimated HR of 0.70 for E-Ld over Ld [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.57-0.85; P = 0.0004). Estimated median PFS was 19.4 months in the E-Ld arm and 14.9 months in the Ld arm. ORR was 75.8% in the E-Ld arm compared with 65.5% in the Ld arm. Serious adverse reactions were reported in 65% of patients in the E-Ld arm compared with 57% in the Ld arm. The FDA approved elotuzumab with the following warnings and precautions: infusion reactions, infections, second primary malignancies, hepatotoxicity, and interference with the determination of complete response. Clin Cancer Res; 23(22); 6759-63. ©2017 AACR.
Learning to Plan for Visibility in Navigation of Unknown Environments

For robots navigating in unknown environments, naively following the shortest path toward the goal often leads to poor visibility of free space, limiting navigation speed, or even preventing forward progress altogether. In this work, we train a guidance function to give the robot greater visibility into unknown parts of the environment. Unlike exploration techniques that aim to observe as much map as possible for its own sake, we reason about the value of future observations directly in terms of expected cost-to-goal. We show significant improvements in navigation speed and success rate for narrow field-of-view sensors such as popular RGBD cameras. However, contrary to our expectations, we show that our strategy makes little difference for sensors with fields-of-view greater than 80\(^{\circ }\), and we discuss why the naive strategy is hard to beat.
Consensus Outlier Detection Using Sum of Ranking Differences of Common and New Outlier Measures Without Tuning Parameter Selections

Sample outlier detection is imperative before calculating a multivariate calibration model. Outliers, especially in high-dimensional space, can be difficult to detect. The outlier measures Hotelling’s t-squared, Q-residuals, and Studentized residuals are standard in analytical chemistry with spectroscopic data. However, these and other merits are tuning parameter dependent and sensitive to the outlier themselves, i.e., the measures are susceptible to swamping and masking. Additionally, different samples are also often flagged as outliers depending on the outlier measure used. Sum of ranking differences (SRD) is a new generic fusion tool that can simultaneously evaluate multiple outlier measures across windows of tuning parameter values thereby simplifying outlier detection and providing improved detection. Presented in this paper is SRD to detect multiple outliers despite the effects of masking and swamping. Both spectral (x-outlier) and analyte (y-outlier) outliers can be detected separately or in tandem...
Reconstructing misaligned x-ray CT data

Misalignment errors for x-ray computed tomography (CT) systems can manifest as artifacts and a loss of spatial and contrast resolution. To mitigate artifacts, significant effort is taken to determine the system geometry and minimizing any residual error in the system alignment. This project improved our ability to post-correct data which was acquired on a misaligned CT system.
Ongoing narrative meaning-making within events and across the life span.

Individuals create meaning from the events in their lives, and the ways in which they do this has important implications for identity and well-being. We argue that this is a deeply developmental pr...
RADIOCARBON DATING OF TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSITIONS: THE LATE HOLOCENE SHIFT FROM ATLATL TO BOW IN NORTHWESTERN SUBARCTIC CANADA

Precolumbian archaeologists traditionally focus on periods of stability rather than change when constructing regional cultural chronologies. However, the advent of large databases of radiocarbon dates and the proliferation of open-source software environments such as R now allow archaeologists to understand technological transitions with greater chronological precision than has been historically possible. In this study, we employ Monte Carlo procedures, Bayes’ Theorem, the R package Bchron, and IntCal13 to address three chronological topics. We calculate the minimum number of dates required on atlatl and bow technologies to robustly date this late Holocene transition in Subarctic northwestern Canada, analyze previously published dates on organic projectile diagnostics to determine whether bows and atlatls overlapped for an observable amount of time, and estimate the years of calendric time that they overlapped. Results indicate that minimum sample sizes of 29 atlatl and 19 bow dates are required to characterize this particular transition in our study area. Actual radiocarbon dates show that bow and atlatl technologies temporally co-occurred within this region for 174 ± 135 (1σ) actual calendar years. Quantitative analyses such as these open the door to testing hypotheses that explain why and how technological transitions occur within and between (pre)historic groups.
Facial Weakness, Diplopia, and Fever in a 31-Year-Old: An Atypical Case of Tuberculous Meningitis

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is an infection of the central nervous system (CNS) meninges that carries high morbidity and mortality. It is important to recognize, as patients may present with atypical symptoms. We describe the case of a 31-year-old man with a history of diabetes who presented with a sub-acute onset of right-sided facial weakness and right gaze difficulty with diplopia. History revealed low-grade fever, right-sided headache, fatigue and moderate weight loss for the past several weeks. The patient did not report neck stiffness, rigidity, fever, chills or cough. The physical exam revealed sixth nerve palsy with a right Horner's syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed pachymeningeal enhancement. A spinal tap revealed elevated white blood cells (WBCs), glucose and protein; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture showed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient was diagnosed with TBM and treated with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and vitamin B6 for 12 months. The timely diagnosis of TBM can be challenging due to a nonspecific clinical presentation. In patients with a sub-acute onset of headache, fever and meningeal signs, TBM should be considered in the differential. If suspected, treatment should be initiated immediately to prevent further neurological impairment and death.
The MoCA-Memory Index Score: An Efficient Alternative to Paragraph Recall for the Detection of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objective To compare ability of 2 measures of delayed memory (word list, story paragraph) to discriminate Normal Control (NC) subjects from those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods Demographic, neuropsychological, and diagnostic data contributed by 34 Alzheimer's Disease Centers to the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center characterized 2717 individuals with a diagnosis of either NC (n=2205) or aMCI (n=512). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Memory Index Score (MoCA-MIS) assessed delayed word recall, and the Craft Story 21, delayed story recall. Logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic curves controlling for age, sex, and education assessed the ability of each test to differentiate NCs from subjects with aMCI. Results The MoCA-MIS had significantly better sensitivity and specificity (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve 0.83 vs. 0.80, P=0.004). At sensitivity 80%, the specificity of the MoCA-MIS was 69.1%, compared with 62.8% for the Craft Story. Conclusions These data suggest that the MoCA-MIS, a recall score from items within the MoCA, is better at discriminating NCs from subjects with aMCI than the Craft Story. Word recall may be an efficient alternative to paragraph recall for diagnostic screening within clinical practice and research settings.
Learning invariant feature hierarchies

Fast visual recognition in the mammalian cortex seems to be a hierarchical process by which the representation of the visual world is transformed in multiple stages from low-level retinotopic features to high-level, global and invariant features, and to object categories. Every single step in this hierarchy seems to be subject to learning. How does the visual cortex learn such hierarchical representations by just looking at the world? How could computers learn such representations from data? Computer vision models that are weakly inspired by the visual cortex will be described. A number of unsupervised learning algorithms to train these models will be presented, which are based on the sparse auto-encoder concept. The effectiveness of these algorithms for learning invariant feature hierarchies will be demonstrated with a number of practical tasks such as scene parsing, pedestrian detection, and object classification.
Regression methods for microarray data

In the past decade, DNA and oligonucleotide microarray technology has been developed, allowing gene expression levels to be measured on a genome-wide scale. Use of this massive amount of molecular information appears to be promising for discovering genetic networks. Classification based on microarray experiments has been studied extensively. In comparison, microarray gene expression data has been analyzed less frequently in a regression set-up. From a statistical point of view, the challenge with analyzing microarray gene expression data is due to the very large number of genes, which far exceeds the sample size, i.e., the so-called “large p, small n” scenario. The lasso (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) method is a promising regression method that incorporates automatic variable selection by imposing an L1 penalty on the regression coefficients. However the lasso method has its limitations in the “large p, small n” scenario. When p > n, the lasso method can select up to n variables before it saturates. And the lasso method does not offer a “grouped selection” effect. Therefore we propose two new methods, based on lasso, that are particularly suitable for microarray data regression analysis. The methods can produce sparse, interpretable regression models that relate clusters of co-expressed genes to a quantitative phenotype. Our methods are tested on simulated data sets as well as real microarray data sets. Besides the proposal of novel regression methods, we also propose quantitative definitions for evaluating the strength of the “grouped variable” effect in fitted regression models. The new definitions allow us to compare regression models quantitatively. We then discuss a need for supervised clustering of genes, that is, the phenotype ought to have an influence on how genes are clustered. One potential approach is to re-define the distances between pairs of genes by incorporating the phenotype into the definition of the new distance metric.
The Overlooked Burden of Food Insecurity among Asian Americans: Results from the California Health Interview Survey

Objective: Food insecurity remains a major public health issue in the United States, though lack of research among Asian Americans continue to underreport the issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and burden of food insecurity among disaggregated Asian American populations. Methods: The California Health Interview Survey, the largest state health survey, was used to assess the prevalence of food insecurity among Asian American subgroups with primary exposure variable of interest being acculturation. Survey-weighted descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable robust Poisson regression analyses, were conducted and alpha less than 0.05 was used to denote significance. Results: The highest prevalence of food insecurity was found among Vietnamese (16.42%) and the lowest prevalence was among Japanese (2.28%). A significant relationship was noted between prevalence of food insecurity and low acculturation for Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese subgroups. Language spoken at home was significant associated with food insecurity. For example, among Chinese, being food insecure was associated with being bilingual (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.51) or speaking a non-English language at home (PR = 7.24), while among South Asians, it was associated with speaking a non-English language at home was also related to higher prevalence (PR = 3.62), as compared to English speakers only. Likewise, being foreign-born also related to being food insecure among Chinese (PR = 2.31), Filipino (PR = 1.75), South Asian (PR = 3.35), Japanese (PR = 2.11), and Vietnamese (PR = 3.70) subgroups, when compared to their US-born counterparts. Conclusion: There is an imperative need to address food insecurity burden among Asian Americans, especially those who have low acculturation.
It’s about Time: Adaptive Resource Management, Environmental Governance, and Science Studies:

This article examines adaptive resource management (ARM) as it has been applied to the US horseshoe crab fishery over the past decade. As a critical yet constructive exercise, I have three goals: t...
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Regioselective Codimerization of Enol Acylates with 2-Substituted-1,3-butadienes

We have found a new ruthenium-catalyzed cooligomerization reaction of vinyl acylates with 2-substituted-1,3-butadienes, where very high yields as well as high regioselectivities were attained.