cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health Reform: The Problems

When teaching my introductory health policy class at Duke University, I begin the first day by describing two “laws” that I believe govern all health care systems: Everyone dies Before that, the healthy subsidize the sick The first point is a fact. The second implies a choice (or many choices). The essence of health policy is working out how the healthy will subsidize the sick.
Development of perception and perceptual learning for multi-timescale filtered speech.

The perception of temporally changing auditory signals has a gradual developmental trajectory. Speech is a time-varying signal, and slow changes in speech (filtered at 0–4 Hz) are preferentially processed by the right hemisphere, while the left extracts faster changes (filtered at 22–40 Hz). This work examined the ability of 8- to 19-year-olds to both perceive and learn to perceive filtered speech presented diotically for each filter type (low vs high) and dichotically for preferred or non-preferred laterality. Across conditions, performance improved with increasing age, indicating that the ability to perceive filtered speech continues to develop into adolescence. Across age, performance was best when both bands were presented dichotically, but with no benefit for presentation to the preferred hemisphere. Listeners thus integrated slow and fast transitions between the two ears, benefitting from more signal information, but not in a hemisphere-specific manner. After accounting for potential ceiling effects, learning was greatest when both bands were presented dichotically. These results do not support the idea that cochlear implants could be improved by providing differentially filtered information to each ear. Listeners who started with poorer performance learned more, a factor which could contribute to the positive cochlear implant outcomes typically seen in younger children.
Effect of level of energy intake and influence of breed and sex on the chemical composition of cattle.

Chemical composition of the empty body was determined in 159 animals slaughtered at weights ranging from 121 to 706 kilograms. Holstein and Angus bulls, steers and heifers were fed at two energy levels: ad libitum and 65 to 70% ad libitum. The allometric equation, Y = aXb, was used to determine the effect of energy intake and the influence of breed and sex on the accretion rates of the chemical components relative to the growth of the empty body or fat-free empty body. Group comparisons for chemical composition were made after adjustment by regression to a common empty body weight. The expression of the sex influence on the accretion rates of water, protein and ash relative to the empty body depended on the breed and the energy intake level considered. The accretion rate of chemical fat was not influenced by sex. Genetic differences in the accretion rate relative to the empty body were detected only among animals in the high energy intake group. Regardless of sex, the accretion rates of protein and ash were more rapid (P < .05) in Holsteins than in Angus. However, a breed influence on the accretion rate of chemical fat was detected only among bulls, where Angus had a more rapid accretion rate. Feeding animals at two energy levels resulted in different accretion rates relative to the empty body. In the Angus breed, regardless of sex, the accretion rates of water, protein and ash were more rapid (P < .05) in the low intake group, whereas the accretion rate of chemical fat was slower (P < .05). Among Holsteins, the low energy intake level had a less definite effect; for bulls, the accretion rates of water and chemical fat were more rapid (P < .05) and slower (P < .05), respectively; for steers, and accretion rate of protein was more rapid (P < .05), and for heifers, none of the accretion rates was altered.
Comparative Effectiveness of Inpatient Rehabilitation Interventions for Traumatic Brain Injury: Introduction.

Abstract The Comparative Effectiveness of Inpatient Rehabilitation Interventions for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI-CER) project used causal inference methods as an alternative to randomized controlled trials to evaluate rehabilitation practices. The TBI practice-based evidence dataset afforded the opportunity to compare the outcomes of different rehabilitation approaches while controlling for a large set of potential confounders using propensity score methods (PSMs). PSMs rely on 4 assumptions: positivity, exchangeability, consistency, and correct specification of the propensity score model. When these assumptions are met, PSMs provide a transparent means for evaluating potential causal relations between interventions and outcomes using observational data. In combination, the series of studies resulting from the TBI-CER project suggested that the content and approach used in treatment have a stronger effect on outcomes than the amount of time spent in treatment. Further, engagement of the patient and family in treatment is key to optimizing outcomes up to 9 months postdischarge from rehabilitation.
Measures of Agility and Single-Legged Balance as Clinical Assessments in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Healthy Individuals

Context Current clinical assessments used for patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) may not enable clinicians to properly identify functional deficits that have been found ...
Total Hip Arthroplasty in Adolescents and Young Adults

Similar to hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis, the goal for total hip arthroplasty in the adolescent and young adult is to restore function and relieve pain. However, total hip arthroplasty in the young patient poses unique challenges given the anatomical deformities, higher physical demands, and increased likelihood for revision over the lifespan of these patients. Extensive preoperative planning must be undertaken to ensure proper surgical approach and implant selection. Outcomes are overall favorable with the use of modern implants and total hip arthroplasty should be regarded as a viable primary treatment option and not solely a salvage procedure.
A four-channel paper microfluidic device with gold nanoparticles and aptamers for seized drugs

In this note we describe a four-channel paper microfluidic device (μPAD) that utilizes gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as colorimetric sensors and specifically tailored aptamers to capture a set of targeted drugs, including cocaine, codeine and methamphetamine. The design utilizes salt-induced aggregation of AuNPs to produce a color change that indicates the presence of target analytes. In the absence of the targets, the aptamers bind to AuNPs, preventing aggregation. This μPAD was developed by optimizing the concentrations of aggregating agents, AuNPs and aptamers. The resultant device is sensitive and specific, producing a positive result upon detection of the target analyte.
Primary tumor location impacts survival in colorectal cancer patients after resection of liver metastases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Right-sided colon cancers (R-CC) are associated with worse outcomes compared to left-sided colon cancers (L-CC). We hypothesize that R-CC with synchronous liver metastases who undergo resection of primary and metastatic sites have worse survival and that survival will vary significantly among R-CC, L-CC, and rectal cancer (ReC). METHODS The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2016 was used to identify colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases who underwent surgical resection of both primary and metastatic disease. Survival was analyzed by multivariate Cox regression. RESULTS A total of 2275 patients were included; 38% R-CC, 46% L-CC, and 16% ReC. R-CC primary tumors tended to be larger than 5 cm, higher grade, and mucinous (all P < .001). Compared to patients with R-CC, both L-CC and ReC had improved overall (HR 0.72; P < .001; HR 0.75, P = .006) and disease-specific (HR 0.71, P < .001; HR 0.73, P = .008) survival. There was no difference in survival between L-CC and ReC. CONCLUSIONS Patients with R-CC have significantly worse survival than L-CC or ReC. This provides additional evidence that R-CC tumors are fundamentally different from L-CC and ReC tumors. Future studies should determine factors responsible for this disparity, and identify targeted treatment based on primary tumor location.
On the Rademacher Complexity of Linear Hypothesis Sets.

Linear predictors form a rich class of hypotheses used in a variety of learning algorithms. We present a tight analysis of the empirical Rademacher complexity of the family of linear hypothesis classes with weight vectors bounded in $\ell_p$-norm for any $p \geq 1$. This provides a tight analysis of generalization using these hypothesis sets and helps derive sharp data-dependent learning guarantees. We give both upper and lower bounds on the Rademacher complexity of these families and show that our bounds improve upon or match existing bounds, which are known only for $1 \leq p \leq 2$.
Adult ovine connective tissue cells resemble mesenchymal stromal cells in their propensity for extensive ex vivo expansion.

Purpose/Aim: Expanded, human connective tissue cells can adopt mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) properties that are favorable for applications in regenerative medicine. Sheep are used as a large anim...
A study of Babylonian records of planetary stations

Late Babylonian astronomical texts contain records of the stationary points of the outer planets using three different notational formats: Type S where the position is given relative to a Normal Star and whether it is an eastern or western station is noted, Type I which is similar to Type S except that the Normal Star is replaced by a reference to a zodiacal sign, and Type Z the position is given by reference to a zodiacal sign, but no indication of whether the station is an eastern or western station is included. In these records, the date of the station is sometimes preceded by the terms in and/or EN. We have created a database of station records in order to determine whether there was any pattern in the use of these notation types over time or an association with any bias in the station date or the type of text the station was recorded in. Predictive texts, which include Almanacs and Normal Star Almanacs, almost always use Type Z notation, while the Diaries, compilations, and Goal-Year Texts use all three types. Type Z records almost never include in or EN, while other types seem to include these interchangeably. When compared with modern computed station dates, the records show bias toward earlier dates, suggesting that the Babylonians were observing dates when the planets appeared to stop moving rather than the true station. Overlapping reports, where a station on the same date was recorded in two or more texts, suggest that predicted station dates were used to guide observations, and that the planet’s position on the predicted stationary date was the true point of the observation rather than the specific date of the stationary point.
Accounting and Finance: Capital and Cost in Economics

This paper discusses the implications of considering capital in financial or market value terms rather than as a collection of productive assets. We emphasize potential areas of research from this conception of capital.
Daily Variation in Sleep Quality is Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life in People With Spinal Cord Injury.

Abstract Objective Although sleep difficulties are common after spinal cord injury (SCI), little is known about how day-to-day fluctuations in sleep quality affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among these individuals. We examined the effect of sleep quality on same-day HRQOL using ecological momentary assessment methods over a 7-day period. Design Repeated-measures study involving 7 days of home monitoring; participants completed HRQOL measures each night and ecological momentary assessment ratings 3 times throughout the day; multilevel models were used to analyze data. Setting Two academic medical centers. Participants A total of 170 individuals with SCI (N=170). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Daily sleep quality was rated on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best) each morning. Participants completed end-of-day diaries each night that included several HRQOL measures (Sleep Disturbance, Sleep-related Impairment, Fatigue, Cognitive Abilities, Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities, Depression, Anxiety) and ecological momentary assessment ratings of HRQOL (pain, fatigue, subjective thinking) 3 times throughout each day. Results Multilevel models indicated that fluctuations in sleep quality (as determined by end-of-day ratings) were significantly related to next-day ratings of HRQOL; sleep quality was related to other reports of sleep (Sleep Disturbance; Sleep-related Impairment; Fatigue) but not to other aspects of HRQOL. For ecological momentary assessment ratings, nights of poor sleep were related to worse pain, fatigue, and thinking. Generally, sleep quality showed consistent associations with fatigue and thinking across the day, but the association between sleep quality and these ecological momentary assessment ratings weakened over the course of the day. Conclusions Findings highlight the important association between sleep and HRQOL for people with SCI. Future work targeting sleep quality improvement may have positive downstream effects for improving HRQOL in people with SCI.
Political Concepts and Political Theories

* List of Figures * Preface Part I: Conceptual Analysis and Political Theories * 1. What Are Political Concepts? * 1.1 Socrates's Question * 1.2 Words, Definitions, and Things * 1.3 Wittgenstein's Later Analysis * 1.4 Wittgenstein and Conceptual Investigations * 1.5 Summary * Notes * 2. Conceptual Disputes * 2.1 Essentially Contested Concepts * 2.2 Political Ideologies * 2.3 Political Philosophy and Political Theories * 2.4 Summary * Notes * 3. Political Theories: Conceptual Structures and Enduring Types * 3.1 Liberalism, Socialism, and Conservatism * 3.2 Rationalism/Antirationalism * 3.3 Theories of Human Nature * 3.4 Individualism/Collectivism * 3.5 Summary * Notes Part II: Political Concepts * 4. Negative and Positive Liberty * 4.1 Negative Liberty: Some Ordinary Language Considerations * 4.2 Positive Freedom * 4.3 Two Concepts of Liberty * 4.3 Questioning the Positive/Negative Distinction * 4.4 Summary * Notes * 5. Liberty and Power * 5.1. Positive Freedom as Power to Act * 5.2 Power and Freedom * 5.3 Freedom, Power, and Property * 5.4 Freedom, Power, and the Law * 5.5 Summary * Notes * 6. Equality * 6.1 Equality and the Grounds for Equal Treatment * 6.2 Why Equality? External Arguments for the Importance of Equality * 6.3 Why Equality? Arguments from Fundamental Human Equality * 6.4 Equality of What? * 6.5 Summary * Notes * 7. Equality and Liberty in Political Theories * 7.1 Do Liberty and Equality Conflict? * 7.2 Classical Liberalism: Liberty and Basic Equality * 7.3 Revisionist Liberalisms * 7.4 A Socialist Reconciliation Proposal * 7.5 The Conservative Critique of Equality * 7.6 Summary * Notes * 8. Justice and Liberalism * 8.1 The Elements of Justice * 8.2 Classical Liberalism: Rules for Equally Free People * 8.3 Monistic Revisionist Liberalism: Social Justice and Contributions to the Common Good * 8.4 Pluralistic Revisionist Liberalism: A Revised Social Contract Among Free and Equal People * 8.5 Summary * Notes * 9. Justice, Society, and Community * 9.1 Marx on Societies and Their Justice * 9.2 Socialism and the Democratic Community * 9.3 Three Conservative Approaches to Justice * 9.4 Summary * Notes * 10. Political Authority * 10.1 Conservatism and Political Authority * 10.2 On Being "In Authority," * 10.3 Liberal Political Authority * 10.4 Democratic Authority and the Management of Collective Affairs * 10.5 Summary * Notes * Concluding Remarks: From Political Concepts to Political Theories * Index
Planning Local Problem Solving

Once the problem solver has identified a set of possible specific local goals, it should plan activities that not only achieve goals, but also resolve uncertainty about which goals to pursue. Some of these goals might represent alternative and conflicting solutions, and others, on further investigation, might prove to be incompatible with the problem information. By taking actions in pursuit of the goals, the problem solver can work toward acceptable solutions, and by ordering its actions appropriately, the problem solver may be able to more quickly recognize which goals are worthwhile.
Why Above-Cost Price Cuts to Drive Out Entrants Do Not Signal Predation or Even Market Power - And the Implications for Defining Costs

Recently, European and U.S. officials have made surprising moves toward restricting firms from using above-cost price cuts to drive out entrants. This Article argues that these legal developments likely reflect the fact that scholarly critiques of cost-based tests of predatory pricing have never been satisfactorily addressed, and offers a better explanation about why restrictions on reactive above-cost price cuts are likely to be undesirable. It begins concluding that "costs" should be defined functionally as whichever cost measure assures that prices above costs cannot deter or drive out equally efficient rivals, and shows how applying that functional benchmark resolves numerous apparent anomalies in current predatory pricing law. It then shows that reactive above-cost price cuts do not necessarily indicate an undesirable protection of market power, but rather can be an efficient response to deviations from the output-maximizing price discrimination schedule in competitive markets, particularly in the airline industry that has been the greatest cause of concern. Even when an incumbent does have market power, restrictions on reactive above-cost price cuts have mainly undesirable effects. They fail to encourage entry but do raise post-entry prices in the bulk of cases, where the entrants are or will predictably become as efficient as the incumbent, or would have entered anyway despite relative inefficiency. They can only weakly encourage less efficient entry since the restrictions cannot protect less efficient entrants in the long run, and even in such cases they have mixed effects on post-entry prices since they give incumbents perverse incentives to raise post-entry prices to speed the day when the restriction expires. In all cases, they impose wasteful transition costs and losses in productive efficiency, and they lessen incentives to create more efficient incumbents and entrants. These adverse effects are worsened by implementation difficulties that cannot be avoided no matter how the rules are defined, including that possible definitions of the moment of entry or exit either make the restrictions ineffectual or make their adverse effects last far longer than any benefits from entry, that they will inefficiently increase or decrease innovation rates, and that any price floor or output ceiling will cause inefficiencies because of either great uncertainty or inflexibility in the fact of changing market conditions.
Progesterone interacts with P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant cells and in the endometrium of gravid uterus.

Abstract P-Glycoprotein (P-GP) plays a pivotal role in maintaining the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype. This membrane glycoprotein is overproduced in MDR cells and the endometrium of the mouse gravid uterus (Arceci, R.J., Croop, J.M., Horwitz, S.B., and Housman, D. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 4350-4354). This latter observation and an interest in endogenous substrates for P-GP led to a study of the interaction of steroids with P-GP found in the endometrium of the mouse gravid uterus and in MDR cells derived from the murine macrophage-like cell J774.2. [3H]Azidopine labeling of P-GP from these two sources was inhibited by various steroids, particularly progesterone. Progesterone also markedly inhibited [3H]vinblastine binding to membrane vesicles prepared from MDR cells, enhanced vinblastine accumulation in MDR cells, and increased the sensitivity of MDR cells to vinblastine. In addition, we have demonstrated that the hydrophobicity of a steroid is important in determining its effect on inhibition of drug binding to P-GP. It is concluded that progesterone, a relatively nontoxic endogenous steroid, interacts with P-GP and is capable of reversing drug resistance in MDR cells.
PROBABALISTIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF A TURBINE DISK

Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rotor design certification practices risk assessment using a probabilistic framework focused on only the life-limiting defect location of a component. This method generates conservative approximations of the operational risk. The first section of this article covers a discretization method, which allows for a transition from this relative risk to an absolute risk where the component is discretized into regions called zones. General guidelines were established for the zone-refinement process based on the stress gradient topology in order to reach risk convergence. The second section covers a risk assessment method for predicting the total fatigue life due to fatigue induced damage. The total fatigue life incorporates a dual mechanism approach including the crack initiation life and propagation life while simultaneously determining the associated initial flaw sizes. A microstructure-based model was employed to address uncertainties in material response and relate crack initiation life with crack size, while propagation life was characterized large crack growth laws. The two proposed methods were applied to a representative Inconel 718 turbine disk. The zone-based method reduces the conservative approaches, while showing effects of feature-based inspection on the risk assessment. In the fatigue damage assessment, the predicted initial crack distribution was found to be the most sensitive probabilistic parameter and can be used to establish an enhanced inspection planning.
Chapter 6.2 (2005) Six-membered ring systems: diazines and benzo derivatives (2005)

Publisher Summary The diazines pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, and their benzo derivatives cinnoline, phthalazine, quinazoline, quinoxaline, and phenazine have played a central role in many investigations. Progress has been made on the syntheses and reactions of these heterocycles and their use as intermediates toward broader goals. One review has covered the functionalizations and synthetic applications of pyridazin-3(2H), while another has covered the reactions of pyrimido[4,5-c]pyridazine-5,7(6H,8H)- diones with nitrogen nucleophiles highlighted their ability to undergo nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen. X-ray crystallography has continued to expand knowledge of the solid state structures of pyridazines. In an earlier study, pyridazines were developed as inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase, others as acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitors, and still others as GABA-α receptor ligands. Certain 3(2H)pyridazinones were prepared as fungicides and herbicides.
Stefan Albrecht Riesenfeld - 1908-1999

Stefan Albrecht Riesenfeld died on February 17, 1999, aged 90, active and engaged to the end. Hospitalized in December with a heart-valve infection, he had recovered and begun physical rehabilitation at home when his heart failed. The day before, he had finished grading his Hastings Bankruptcy Law examinations. His departure leaves a large gap in the lives of the large number of people his life has touched.
A study of the mechanism of resistance to Adriamycin® in vivo: Glutathione metabolism, P-glycoprotein expression, and drug transport

A spontaneously originated murine mammary adenocarcinoma (16C), selected for its sensitivity to agents active against breast cancer in women, and one of the very few experimental solid tumor models responsive to Adriamycin (ADR) was used to study the mechanism of induced ADR resistance in vivo. A resistant variant of the tumor was obtained from the explant of a regrown tumor following a dose of ADR (12 mg/kg) that caused complete tumor repression but not cure. Progressive refractoriness to ADR was observed following up to six repeated cycles of treatment, regression and regrowth. However, beyond the sixth treatment, no further degree of resistance could be obtained. The cell line so established, designated 16C/ADRR, has a glutathione (GSH) content 1.67 times greater than the parent 16C line. Depletion of GSH by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) enhanced the cytoxicity of ADR in both cell lines. The sensitization effect appeared to be dependent on the degree of GSH depletion, requiring a threshold level of depletion to approximately 30% of control. The resistance of 16C/ADRR, however, appeared not to be directly related to the increased absolute GSH level per se since reduction of the GSH content of the 16C/ADRR line to levels similar to that of the parent 16C line did not restore the original sensitivity to ADR. However, the activities of two important elements in the GSH detoxification system, GSH peroxidase and S-transferase, were found to be elevated in resistant cells by factors of 2.4 and 4.7-5.6 respectively. In vivo studies with a diverse spectrum of antineoplastic drugs revealed a pattern of cross-resistance consistent with the idea that elevated GSH S-transferase and peroxidase activities may be responsible for the decreased (2.8- to 5.3-fold) sensitivity to ADR. 16C/ADRR exhibited cross-resistance with melphalan (MEL), but none with vincristine (VCR), vinblastine (VBL) or etoposide (VP-16). These results clearly demonstrate non-adherence by the 16C/ADRR tumors to the well characterized multidrug resistance (mdr) phenotype. Further affirmation of this conclusion was obtained by immunochemical and pharmacological studies. When a monoclonal antibody prepared against the mdr associated, 170 kD P-glycoprotein (170 P-gp), was used, the presence of the 170 kD P-gp in both the sensitive and resistant 16C lines could not be detected, although the presence of a lower molecular weight form of P-gp could not be ruled out entirely. High performance liquid chromatographic measurement of ADR accumulation and elimination also failed to reveal any significant differences between the sensitive and resistant variants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Tubular Adenoma in the Indiana Pouch of a Patient With a History of Bladder Exstrophy

An increased risk of neoplasm has been noted when bowel segments are used for urinary diversion. Particularly true for ureterosigmoidostomy, colonic adenocarcinoma has rarely been reported following Indiana Pouch diversion. This report describes a 42-year-old woman with a history of bladder exstrophy who developed a polyp in her Indiana Pouch 24 years after its creation. The polyp, found incidentally, was a tubular adenoma with high-grade dysplasia. Due to its malignant potential, the polyp was resected with preservation of the Indiana Pouch. This case highlights the need for lifetime surveillance in urinary reservoir patients who received diversions at a young age.
A review of: “Introduction to groundwater modeling”

Abstract Herbert F. Wang and Mary P. Anderson, W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, 1982, viii + 237 pp., $30.95
Aspects of the comparison of stratospheric trace species measurements with photochemical models

Observation and measurement of ‘reservoir’ species, including H2 02, Cl0N02, HN04, H0Cl, N2 05 and others, can potentially test some portions of photochemical models of the stratosphere, leading to improvements and increased confidence in model predictions. But abundance measurements of a single reservoir species without accompanying values for other species do not serve, in most cases, to constrain the related model mechanism and parameters within the recognized uncertainties. This follows from the sensitivity of abundance of a species to fluctuations in its long-lived precursors from transport processes. A better test of theory would be provided by correlation studies in which precursor concentrations and photolytic fluxes are measured simultaneously and in the same air volume as the reservoir species. Three recent reported differing observations or upper limits for H202 give an example of the difficulties. All three reported values could be nearly consistent with the current LLNL one-dimensional stratospheric photochemical model, depending on the values of 03, NOx and H20 appropriate to each measurement. The important precursors in each case can be identified by consideration of the appropriate kinetics and observed precursor variability.
Lymph Node Staging by Positron Emission Tomography in Patients With Carcinoma of the Cervix

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the results of computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) for lymph node staging in patients with carcinoma of the cervix and to evaluate the relationship of the imaging findings to prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively compared the results of CT lymph node staging and whole-body FDG-PET in 101 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the cervix. Patients were treated with standard irradiation and chemotherapy (as clinically indicated) and observed at 3-month intervals for a median of 15.4 months (range, 2.5 to 30 months). Progression-free survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: CT demonstrated abnormally enlarged pelvic lymph nodes in 20 (20%) and para-aortic lymph nodes in seven (7%) of the 101 patients. PET demonstrated abnormal FDG uptake in pelvic lymph nodes in 67 (67%), in para-aortic lymph nodes in 21 (21%), and in supraclavicular lymph node in eight (8%). Th...
Abstract 1719: Down-regulation of IGFBP2 is associated with resistance to IGF1R therapy in rhabdomyosarcoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Agents targeting the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) are in clinical development, but, despite some initial success of single agents in sarcoma, response rates are low with brief durations. Thus, it is important to identify markers predictive of response, to understand mechanisms of resistance, and to explore combination therapies. In this study, we found that, while associated with PAX3-FKHR translocation, increased IGF1R level is an independent prognostic marker for worse overall survival, particularly in patients with PAX3-FKHR-positive rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). IGF1R antibody-resistant RMS cells were generated using an in vivo model. Expression analysis indicated that IGFBP2 is both the most affected gene in the IGF signaling pathway and the most significantly down-regulated gene in the resistant lines, indicating that there is a strong selection to repress IGFBP2 expression in tumor cells resistant to IGF1R antibody. IGFBP2 is inhibitory to IGF1R phosphorylation and its signaling. Similar to antibodies to IGF1/2 or IGF2, the addition of exogenous IGFBP2 potentiates the activity of IGF1R antibody against the RMS cells, and it reverses the resistance to IGF1R antibody. In contrast to IGF1R, lower expression of IGFBP2 is associated with poorer overall survival, consistent with its inhibitory activity found in this study. Finally, blocking downstream AKT activation with PI3K- or mTOR-specific inhibitors significantly sensitized the resistant cells to the IGF1R antibody. These findings show that constitutive IGFBP2 down-regulation may represent a novel mechanism for acquired resistance to IGF1R therapeutic antibody in vivo and suggest various drug combinations to enhance antibody activity and to overcome resistance. Citation Format: Zhigang Kang, Yunkai Yu, Yuelin J. Zhu, Lee Helman, Paul Meltzer, Liang Cao. Down-regulation of IGFBP2 is associated with resistance to IGF1R therapy in rhabdomyosarcoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1719. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1719
Moisture dynamic measurements of transformer board using a three-wavelength dielectrometry sensor

The spatial distribution of dielectric permittivity and conductivity of an insulating medium affects the quasistatic distribution of the electric field. Multiple wavelength interdigital sensors using the imposed frequency-wavenumber (/spl omega/-k) dielectrometry technique can measure complex permittivity distributions in dielectrics. Measurements of oil-free and oil-impregnated pressboard transformer insulation using a three-wavelength sensor with changes in ambient moisture concentration are presented. With a calibrated mapping relating conductivity and permittivity to moisture concentration in oil-impregnated pressboard, the spatial distribution of moisture can be measured.
Opting Out: Examining Teacher's Beliefs When Faced With Core Reading Programs

This qualitative study focused on how teachers in a small, urban elementary school in Pennsylvania negotiate their beliefs and instructional delivery the classroom. In the area of literacy instruction, there has been an increased reliance on Core-reading programs in elementary school. Classroom teachers, caught in the middle, are charged with the responsibility to raise test scores, plan curriculum, motivate students, and provide a welcoming learning environment for all students. In this article, teachers’ beliefs about meeting the needs of urban students amidst NCLB were explored, in relation to curriculum planning. A case study approach guided this research, using interviews, observations, and document analysis. Data from participant statements and researcher observations, illuminate the reasons why teachers “opted-out” of having a sense of fidelity towards the mandated curriculum. According to the researcher opting-out was a means to equalize the discord between meeting student academic needs while adhering to the mandated curriculum and pacing guide.
Response of alveolar macrophages to amiodarone and desethylamiodarone, in vitro

Administration of the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone to humans or animals may result in lung damage. Amiodarone is metabolized to desethylamiodarone and other minor metabolites. Because amiodarone and the metabolites accumulate in the lungs, it is not possible to ascertain the role of each of these compounds in the induction of toxicity. In the present study, we utilized primary cell cultures of rat alveolar macrophages to study the actions of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone individually and in combination. Neither drug species was metabolized by the cells over 42 h in culture thereby permitting assessment of the actions of each. Both drugs induced the formation of lamellar inclusions, indicative of the development of cellular phospholipidosis. Desethylamiodarone appeared to induce formation of the structures in a shorter period of time than did amiodarone, although given adequate exposure, the two drugs produced similar responses. At shorter times of exposure and lower concentrations, desethylamiodarone was more cytotoxic than amiodarone as assessed by the release of lactate dehydrogenase. The two in combination resulted in cytotoxicity that was more than additive. The results of this study indicate that in vitro cultures of alveolar macrophages may be quite useful in studying the role these cells play in the pulmonary toxicity associated with amiodarone therapy. Additionally, this study supports the idea that a significant portion of the toxicity may result from the actions of desethylamiodarone.
CONDYLAR GROWTH AND GLENOID FOSSA DISPLACEMENT DURING CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE

This study evaluated age and gender differences in the growth of the mandibular condyle anddisplacement of the glenoid fossa. The results pertain to longitudinal samples of untreated French Canadians, including 118 children and 155 adolescents. Childhood and adolescent growth were described for girls aged between 6 and 10 years, and 9 and 13 years, respectively, and for boys aged between 8 and 12 years and 11 and 15 years, respectively. Four-year growth changes of the cephalometric landmarks condylion and articulare were evaluated. Mandibular and cranial/cranial base structural superimpositions were used to assess condylar growth and fossa displacement, respectively. The results showed that the condyle grew between 0.8 and 1.3 mm posteriorly and between 9.0 and 10.7 mm superiorly over the 4-year periods; the articulare landmark showed significantly more posterior and less superior growth than the condylion landmark. Relative to the cranial base reference structures, the fossa was displaced between 1.8 and 2.1 mm posteriorly and between 1.0 and 1.8 mm inferiorly. The articulare showed significantly more inferior movement than the condylion. Boys showed significantly greater superior condylar growth during adolescence than during childhood. The glenoid fossa demonstrated greater posterior and inferior displacement during adolescence than during childhood.
Abstract PL06-02: Inflammation, DNA mismatch repair, and colon cancer.

Colorectal neoplasia is driven by at least two pathogenic pathways for cancer development. Chromosomal instability, observed in ~80% of sporadic colorectal cancers, is named due to the rearrangement of chromosomes, resulting in aneuploid nuclei. The etiology for CIN is not known. A common finding is allelic mutation of a tumor suppressor gene, followed by loss of the remaining normal allele (termed loss of heterozygosity, LOH). Microsatellite instability (MSI), observed in up to 20% of sporadic colorectal cancers, is named for frameshifts (or instability) that occur at DNA microsatellite sequences. Cells remain diploid. The etiology for MSI is inactivation of DNA mismatch repair (MMR), an enzyme system functioning in the nucleus to repair interstrand nucleotide mispairs and loops of DNA that are formed on one strand at microsatellites. The specificity of mismatch recognition is directed by hMutSa and hMutSb; hMutSa (hMSH2-hMSH6 heterodimer) binds to single mispairs and single insertion-deletion loops, whereas hMutSb (hMSH2-hMSH3 heterodimer) binds larger insertion-deletion loops. MSI sporadic cancers are caused by hypermethylation of the MMR gene hMLH1's promoter, preventing its transcription and translation. With loss of hMLH1, MMR completely fails and mutations accumulate in the genome due to non-repair of DNA polymerase errors. Clinically, MSI tumors contain surrounding and intratumoral mononuclear inflammatory cells which are thought responsible in containing the tumor in place, leading to improved survival over same staged patients with non-MSI tumors. Although the types of inflammatory cells within MSI tumors have not been characterized, it is believed that neo-peptides from frameshifted proteins as a result of MMR failure are generated to attract mononuclear cells into the tumor, producing a protective immune response. Elevated microsatellite instability at selected tetranucleotide repeats (EMAST) is a genetic signature observed in 60% of sporadic colon cancers. Unlike MSI colorectal cancers in which hypermethylation of hMLH1 drives multiple target gene mutations, the cause of EMAST has been recently associated with reduced expression of hMSH3, which we have also observed in hamartomatous polyps and during the adenoma-to-carcinoma progression, and is hypothesized to be triggered as a consequence of inflammation with subsequent relaxation of MMR function. EMAST-positive human colorectal cancers are strongly associated with inflammation, particularly within tumor nests, but unlike MSI tumors, this inflammation is associated with advance staged colorectal cancer, implying reduced survival. Citation Format: John M. Carethers. Inflammation, DNA mismatch repair, and colon cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr PL06-02.
Molecular Cloning and Tissue Expression of a Novel Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor from Rat Lung

G protein-coupled receptors transduce the signal of a wide variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, and other molecules across the cell membrane to elicit the corresponding response inside the target cells. We describe in this paper the molecular cloning and tissue distribution of a novel rat G protein-coupled receptor, GPR41, with highest homology to the human orphan G protein-coupled receptor DRY12. A lower degree of homology was seen with the receptors for bradykinin, angiotensin, and IL8. The expression of GPR41 appears to be the highest in brain and lung tissues, with lesser expression in heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney, as assayed by northern blotting. No GPR41 message was seen in spleen, liver, or testes. GPR41 failed to bind any of the ligands tested.
Coding Medium and Word Recall by Deaf and Hearing Subjects

Forty deaf subjects were compared with 40 fifth graders with normal hearing on the learning of 16 English words. Eight of the words had sign equivalents; eight did not. The task consisted of eight ...
Psychosocial Identity and Career Control in College Student-Athletes

Abstract This study explored relations between career decision-making self-efficacy, career locus of control, identity foreclosure, and athletic identity among 189 collegiate student-athletes. Student-athletes were also surveyed regarding the amount of time spent weekly participating in their sport and their expectations for professional sport careers. Results indicated that hours of sport participation, identity foreclosure, and career locus of control inversely related to career decision-making self-efficacy. These findings suggest that extensive hours in sport participation, failure to explore alternative roles, and the belief that one's career outcomes are unaffected by one's actions are associated with lower self-efficacy for career decision-making tasks. In addition, student-athletes reported spending anywhere from 20 to 30 or more hours per week participating in their sport, yet few expressed an expectation to advance to the professional rank.
P05.23. Emotional awareness through mindful body awareness training contributes to maintained abstinence among women in substance use disorder recovery

Purpose Results of a recent National Insitute of Drug Abusefunded pilot randomized controlled trial of Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) for women in substance use disorder treatment showed improved substance use outcomes for MABT compared to treatment as usual. In addition 80% of the MABT participants maintained a daily mindful body awareness practice at nine month follow-up. The purpose of this subsequent study was to explore the perceived role of MABT and mindful body awareness practice in the recovery process.
Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate/polyphosphate complexes form voltage-activated Ca2+ channels in the plasma membranes of Escherichia coli

The lipidic polymer, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), is found in the plasma membranes of Escherichia col complexed to calcium polyphosphate (CaPPi). The composition, location, and putative structure of the polymer salt complexes led Reusch and Sadoff (1988) to propose that the complexes function as Ca2+ channels. Here we use bilayer patch-clamp techniques to demonstrate that voltage-activated Ca2+ channels composed of PHB and CaPPi are in the plasma membranes of E. coli. Single channel calcium currents were observed in vesicles of plasma membranes incorporated into planar bilayers of synthetic 1-palmitoyl, 2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine. The channels were extracted from cells and incorporated into bilayers, where they displayed many of the signal characteristics of protein Ca2+ channels: voltage-activated selective for divalent over monovalent cations, permeant to Ca2+, manner by La3+, Co2+, Cd2+, and Mg2+, in that order. The channel-active extract, purified by size exclusion chromatography, was found to contain only PHB and CaPPi. This composition was confirmed by the observation of comparable single channel currents with complexes reconstituted from synthetic CaPPi and PHB, isolated from E. coli. This is the first report of a biological non-proteinaceous calcium channel. We suggest that poly-3-hydroxybutyrate/calcium polyphosphate complexes are evolutionary antecedents of protein Ca2+ channels.
The atomic structure of alloy surfaces: Ni3Al{001}

Abstract The atomic structure of the {001} surface of Ni3Al has been determined by LEED (low-energy electron diffraction) intensity analysis to correspond to simple truncation of the bulk structure with the Ni-Al mixed layer on top rather than the pure Ni layer. The first interlayer spacing is essentially equal to the bulk interlayer spacing between {001} planes. First-principles calculations of the cohesive energies of slabs terminating in the two types of layers also indicate that the mixed layer termination is more stable.
The role of viral population diversity in adaptation of bovine coronavirus to new host environments.

The high mutation rate of RNA viruses enables a diverse genetic population of viral genotypes to exist within a single infected host. In-host genetic diversity could better position the virus population to respond and adapt to a diverse array of selective pressures such as host-switching events. Multiple new coronaviruses, including SARS, have been identified in human samples just within the last ten years, demonstrating the potential of coronaviruses as emergent human pathogens. Deep sequencing was used to characterize genomic changes in coronavirus quasispecies during simulated host-switching. Three bovine nasal samples infected with bovine coronavirus were used to infect human and bovine macrophage and lung cell lines. The virus reproduced relatively well in macrophages, but the lung cell lines were not infected efficiently enough to allow passage of non lab-adapted samples. Approximately 12 kb of the genome was amplified before and after passage and sequenced at average coverages of nearly 950×(454 sequencing) and 38,000×(Illumina). The consensus sequence of many of the passaged samples had a 12 nucleotide insert in the consensus sequence of the spike gene, and multiple point mutations were associated with the presence of the insert. Deep sequencing revealed that the insert was present but very rare in the unpassaged samples and could quickly shift to dominate the population when placed in a different environment. The insert coded for three arginine residues, occurred in a region associated with fusion entry into host cells, and may allow infection of new cell types via heparin sulfate binding. Analysis of the deep sequencing data indicated that two distinct genotypes circulated at different frequency levels in each sample, and support the hypothesis that the mutations present in passaged strains were “selected” from a pre-existing pool rather than through de novo mutation and subsequent population fixation.
Global and microscale intermittence effects on wave propagation in random media (Invited Paper)

Using a path integral formulation, a general framework is developed to describe the statistical moments of a wave propagating in an intermittent random medium. Estimates for slow or fast large-scale fluctuations reveal general trends of the phenomena.
Growth of cubic boron nitride from vapor phase

Abstract Both physical and chemical vapor deposition (PVD and CVD) methods for the growth of cubic boron nitride ( c -BN) have been reported. These experiments, reviewed in this article, produced a mixture of phases with some evidence of cubic materials. These materials were of limited crystallite size and perfection, much too poor to be useful for electronic devices or for hard coating applications. Using a solid boron source, NaBH 4 , the preparation of c -BN by microwave plasma enhanced CVD has been investigated. When the deposition rate is low, the BN film deposited on an untreated single crystal silicon wafer, displayed a weak infrared absorption spectra for the turbostratic structure of BN. With submicron diamond powder scattered on the substrate, the BN films displayed strong infrared absorption attributable to c -BN. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that c -BN crystals, 50–100 nm in size, grew from the diamond submicron crystals. This suggests that c -BN preferentially nucleates on diamond.