cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AB1150 IMPLICATIONS OF CORONARY ARTERY CALCIUM AND ITS PROGRESSION AS MARKERS OF PLAQUE VULNERABILITY AND PATIENT RISK IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background Atherosclerotic plaque calcification represents a stabilizing physiologic process; calcified coronary plaques (CP) are less prone to rupture and yield lower risk of cardiovascular events (CVE) compared to non-calcified (NCP) or mixed- partially calcified- plaques (MP). Interestingly, higher coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and its progression associate with higher event risk in general patients. We, likewise, reported that CACS predicted cardiac events in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients independently of risk factors or cardiac risk scores. Objectives To address this paradox, we evaluated the contribution of vulnerable MP burden to CACS as well the influence of change in MP burden on CACS progression in RA patients who underwent coronary anatomy evaluation with computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Methods One hundred-one patients underwent a repeat CCTA within 83±3.6 months from baseline. Total number of segments with plaque (segment involvement score-SIS) and cumulative stenosis severity rendered by plaque over all evaluable segments (segment stenosis score-SSS) were computed for all participants. Coronary lesions were defined as non-calcified (NCP), mixed (MP) or calcified (CP). Generalized Linear Models predicted the contribution of MP and CP plaque burden to the baseline and follow-up CACS as well as the influence of change in the burden of the respective lesions on CACS progression. Results Mixed and CP burden (SSS-MP and SSS-CP respectively) strongly correlated with CACS at both baseline (rmp= 0.75 and rcp= 0.77, p Conclusion The vulnerable MP and the more stable CP burden and their change significantly and collectively contributed to CACS at any time as well as its progression respectively in RA. Therefore, the MP burden and its change embody the vulnerability components within the higher baseline and progressing CACS scores explaining the higher CVE risk observed. Model 1: unadjusted, Model 2: age and gender adjusted, RW: Relative Weight Disclosure of Interests George Karpouzas Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Consultant for: Sanofi-Genzyme-Regeneron, Janssen, Roche-Genentech, Pfizer, Speakers bureau: BMS, Sanofi-Genzyme-Regeneron, Janssen, Roche-Genentech, Sarah Ormseth: None declared, Elizabeth Hernandez: None declared, Matthew Budoff: None declared
Frequency of Input: An Analysis at the Macro and Micro-levels of Learning Italian

The present paper examines the effect of input at the macro- and micro-levels on beginning level language learners of Italian. At the macro-level, learners are exposed to Structured Input activities targeting Italian accusative clitics to determine their effect on learners' default processing strategies. At the microlevel, the effect of the number of target item tokens in the input is measured and subsequently compared: 40 and 80 tokens. This study included pre-test, immediate post-test and delayed post-test measures on interpretation and production to examine the effect of Structured Input activities. Findings reveal that Structured Input activities at varying token frequencies may affect learners' processing related to this target form as evidenced by their gains in interpretation, as well as their adoption of a 'second noun strategy' in which they overextend their altered processing strategy. As such, we discuss the theoretical and pedagogical ramifications of these findings.
Expanded Criteria Donor Kidneys With Kidney Donor Profile Index ≤ 85%: Are We Doing Enough to Counsel Our Patients?

Abstract Background Kidneys at higher risk for allograft failure are defined by the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) > 85% in the current kidney allocation system (KAS), replacing the historical concept of expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys in the previous KAS. Discrepancies exist in the classification of “high-risk kidneys” between the 2 KAS. In the current KAS, only recipients of KDPI > 85% kidneys are counseled about the high risk of allograft failure and are required to sign a consent. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes and allocation of kidneys with discordant classification. Methods Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, kidneys transplanted between 01/2002 and 09/2016 were classified according to the old (standard criteria donor [SCD]/ECD) and current (KDPI) KAS. We then grouped them as concordant (KDPI ≤ 85% + SCD or KDPI > 85% + ECD) and discordant (KDPI ≤ 85% + ECD or KDPI > 85% + SCD) kidneys. Results Approximately 11% of transplanted kidneys were discordant in classification. Among kidneys with KDPI ≤ 85%, ECD status conferred a 64% (95% CI: 56%-73%) higher risk of allograft failure compared to SCD status. However, SCD/ECD status was not associated with differential outcomes in KDPI > 85% kidneys. These ECD kidneys have KDPIs > 50% and have been transplanted across all estimated post-transplant survival (EPTS) deciles. Conclusion Adequate counseling about the risk and benefit of accepting ECD kidneys with KDPI ≤ 85% versus waiting on dialysis should be explored with the patients, especially those with lower EPTS.
Interim results of phase II trial of the cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor PD-0332991 in refractory retinoblastoma protein positive germ cell tumors.

4596 Background: Deregulation of the retinoblastoma pathway in germ cell tumors (GCT) has been well documented. We previously reported that PD-0332991, a selective oral inhibitor of cyclin-dependen...
Sensing of ATP via the Purinergic Receptor P2RX7 Promotes CD8+ Trm Cell Generation by Enhancing Their Sensitivity to the Cytokine TGF-β

Summary Tissue-resident memory (Trm) CD8+ T cells mediate protective immunity in barrier tissues, but the cues promoting Trm cell generation are poorly understood. Sensing of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) by the purinergic receptor P2RX7 is needed for recirculating CD8+ T cell memory, but its role for Trm cells is unclear. Here we showed that P2RX7 supported Trm cell generation by enhancing CD8+ T cell sensing of TGF-β, which was necessary for tissue residency. P2RX7-deficient Trm cells progressively decayed in non-lymphoid tissues and expressed dysregulated Trm-specific markers. P2RX7 was required for efficient re-expression of the receptor TGF-βRII through calcineurin signaling. Forced Tgfbr2 expression rescued P2RX7-deficient Trm cell generation, and TGF-β sensitivity was dictated by P2RX7 agonists and antagonists. Forced Tgfbr2 also rescued P2RX7-deficient Trm cell mitochondrial function. Sustained P2RX7 signaling was required for long-term Trm cell maintenance, indicating that P2RX7 signaling drives induction and CD8+ T cell durability in barrier sites.
Patterns and predictors of opioid prescribing and use after rib fractures.

Abstract Background Rib fractures are painful injuries that are treated with aggressive analgesia, which can include opioids. We sought to evaluate the patterns and predictors of opioid prescription and sustained use for rib fracture patients to identify opportunities for opiate reduction. Methods We used TRICARE claims data (2006–2014) to identify adult (18–64 years) patients presenting to the emergency department with rib fracture(s) and isolated chest trauma. We used logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards model to identify factors associated with opioid prescription and duration of use. Results We identified 29,943 patients meeting inclusion criteria, and 2,542 (9%) patients were prescribed opioids. When prescribed, the median duration opioid use was 16 days (interquartile range 6–31) for opioid naive patients, compared with 36 days (interquartile range 15–134) for those with prior opioid exposure. Increased number of ribs fractured (6+ fractures) (odds ratio 2.96 [95% confidence interval 2.23–3.94], P Conclusion Prior opioid exposure was the strongest predictor of sustained opioid use after rib fractures, while the severity of injury did not predict the duration of use.
The Potential Impact of Hospital Cafeterias on Dietary Habits: A Case Study of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics.

BACKGROUND Recent research indicates that hospitals are serving an increased role in retail food markets. This article examines the potential effects of pricing strategies on consumer behavior at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. METHODS Biweekly point-of-sales data from 2015-2017 were collected for the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics' largest retail cafeteria. T tests were used to identify differences in consumer behavior in response to price changes for bottled water, cheeseburgers, and the salad bar and potential impacts for alternatives. RESULTS Purchases of bottled water and salad increased after price decreases were implemented; cheeseburger purchases decreased following the price increase. DISCUSSION Foodservice pricing strategies can drive significant change in consumer behavior. However, consumer sensitivity to price changes may affect the financial viability of price-centric approaches.
Small RNA Extraction and Quantification of Isolated Fungal Cells from Plant Tissue by the Sequential Protoplastation

Small RNA (sRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) is critical for regulating both host immunity and pathogen virulence. Recent studies have revealed that RNA-silencing signals travel between different organisms and trigger gene silencing in trans, termed cross-kingdom RNAi. To investigate cross-kingdom RNAi, it is necessary to purify the fungal cells of interest from infected plants. Here, we present a method for small RNA extraction and quantification of isolated Botrytis cinerea cells from infected Arabidopsis leaves, by utilizing the differences between plant and fungal cell wall components (sequential protoplastation method). The isolated fungal cells are free of contaminants from the host plants, and remain viable, providing high-quality RNA for library construction. This method can be modified to isolate the infection structures of many other plant pathogens from plant tissue.
SiC/SiC mini-composites with yttrium disilicate fiber coatings: Oxidation in steam

Abstract Solutions of YPO4 were used to precipitate YPO4 on pre-oxidized Hi-Nicalon-S SiC fibers. Tows of the coated fibers were then infiltrated with a preceramic polymer loaded with SiC particles to form mini-composites. During pyrolysis of the matrix, SiO2 and YPO4 on the fibers reacted and formed a Y2Si2O7 fiber matrix interphase. Mini-composites were exposed to steam at 1000 °C for 10, 50, and 100 h, tensile tested, and the effect of oxidation in steam on the functionality of the Y2Si2O7 fiber coating was investigated. The minicomposites oxidized at 1000 °C for 10 h retained 100 % of their unoxidized strength, and those oxidized for 50 and 100 h retained 92 % and 90 % of unoxidized strength, respectively. Strength retention and fiber pullout in both unoxidized and oxidized minicomposites suggests that the Y2Si2O7 interphase was effective in maintaining a weak fiber-matrix interface.
Aid allocation and poverty reduction

The authors derive a poverty-efficient allocation of aid and compare it with actual aid allocations. They build the poverty-efficient allocation in two stages. First they use new World Bank ratings of 20 different aspects of national policy to establish the current relationship between aid, policies, and growth. Onto that, they add a mapping from growth to poverty reduction, which reflects the level and distribution of income. They compare the effects of using headcount and poverty-gap measures of poverty. They find the actual allocation of aid to be radically different from the poverty-efficient allocation. In the efficient allocation, for a given of poverty, aid tapers in with policy reform. In the actual allocation, aid tapers out with reform. In the efficient allocation, aid is targeted disproportionately to countries with severe poverty and adequate polices-the type of country where 74 percent of the world's poor live. In the actual allocation, such countries receive a much smaller share of aid (56 percent) than their share of the world's poor. With the present allocation, aid is effective in sustainably lifting about 30 million people a year out of absolute poverty. With a poverty-efficient allocation, this would increase to about 80 million people. Even with political constraints introduced to keep allocations for India and China constant, poverty reduction would increase to about 60 million. Reallocating aid is politically difficult, but it may be considerably less difficult than quadrupling aid budgets, which is what the authors estimate would be necessary to achieve the same impact on poverty reduction with existing aid allocations.
Curiosity saves the researcher

Defining your own research questions and working with a clear direction in mind is key to a successful career in academia. Evangelia Spyrou explains how following her thirst for knowledge in her specific area of interest prepared her for when research opportunities arose.
Security Challenges in Smart Grid Implementation

The smart grid architecture amalgamates the physical power grid and a communication grid into a single monolithic network. It poses several security threats that are well known (Li et al. in IEEE Trans Smart Grid 3:1540–1551, 2012 [1], McDaniel and McLaughlin in IEEE Secur Priv 7:75, 77, 2009 [2], Bisoi and Dash 2011 [3]). However, it faces unknown threats from the cyber-physical interfaces whereby either cyber-threats can lead to actuation of physical devices or vice versa if physical devices could be manipulated to disrupt the communication infrastructure. The most prevalent threats to the operation and safety of the smart grid come from physical destruction of infrastructure, data poisoning, denial of services, malware, and intrusion. The most prevalent threat to the consumer is breach of privacy of the data and malicious control of personal devices and appliances. This chapter articulates the smart grid architecture and the cyber-physical threats to which the smart grid is vulnerable.
Association of tamoxifen use and ovarian function in patients with invasive or pre-invasive breast cancer

The impact of long-term tamoxifen therapy on ovarian function is not known. Understanding these effects will help reproductive-aged patients who desire future pregnancy make more informed decisions regarding their treatment. This is a retrospective cohort study in patients identified through the UCSF Cancer Registry and SPORE database. We enrolled women with a history of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or early stage invasive breast cancer who were premenopausal at diagnosis and did not receive chemotherapy. Menstrual histories were obtained through electronic and paper surveys. We compared the age of menopause onset and menstrual pattern changes between women who received tamoxifen (TAM) and those who did not receive tamoxifen (control). Neither group received chemotherapy. 250 subjects were included in this study (125 TAM, 125 control). Mean age of menopause onset was 51.0 for both the groups and was not associated with duration of tamoxifen use or the age at tamoxifen initiation. Menstrual pattern changes, including amenorrhea, were more frequent in the TAM group than control group (any change: 48 % TAM vs. 15 % control, p < 0.001; amenorrhea: 22 % TAM vs. 3 % control, p < 0.001). Older age was associated with an increased risk of developing amenorrhea within 6 months of starting tamoxifen (HR 1.32, p < 0.001). Menstrual pattern changes are common in premenopausal women taking tamoxifen. Tamoxifen use in the absence of chemotherapy is not associated with an earlier age onset of menopause in patients with DCIS or invasive breast cancer and is unlikely to significantly accelerate ovarian aging.
Abstract #1507: Development of an artificial zinc finger protein against human SNAIL protein

Development of DNA-binding proteins for the specific control of the functions of a transcription factor is one of the challenges for several research laboratories. The zinc finger proteins, which typically contain many fingers linked in a tandem fashion, are some of the most intensively studied DNA-binding proteins. The C2H2-type zinc finger is one of the most common DNA-binding motifs in eukaryotes. The SNAI family of transcriptional repressors is such a zinc-finger containing transcriptional repressors that are implicated in the metastatic transformation of human epithelial cancer cells. With the intent to develop a DNA-binding decoy polypeptide against one of SNAI family members, SNAIL, we selected the C-terminal zinc finger of this protein and created a heptamer of this finger. We chose this finger because it is unique among the other fingers and contains the nuclear localization signals. We designed this heptamer by the ligation of six complementary and antiparallel overlapping 5´-phosphorylated oligonucleotides followed by PCR amplifications of different polymers of the finger. We installed a Kozak ATG in front of the first finger and a stop codon at the end of the last finger by Gene SOEing. We cloned the gel-purified heptamer in pET100/D-TOPO and expressed this protein in Escherichia coliBL21 (DE3) cells. The purified recombinant protein is being characterized by EMSA for its affinity for binding to the promoters of several SNAIL-target genes in vitro. We also cloned the heptamer into p3XFLAG vector to express the FLAG-tagged protein in human breast cells. The in vivo expressed protein is being characterized for its ability to bind to SNAIL-target gene promoters by ChIP-DSL techniques as well as for its ability to alleviate repression of these genes by SNAIL. Our objective is to develop retroviral constructs with this artificial zinc finger protein to transfect rapidly growing pre-malignant breast and other cancer cells. This DNA-binding protein will bind specifically to the promoters of SNAIL-target genes e.g., E-cadherin, claudin 7, 15-PGDH etc. and block their repression by SNAIL, thus alleviating the metastatic transformation of these cells. Supported by the DOD-CDMRP IDEA Grant# W81XWH-06-1-0466 and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation grant# BCTR0707627 to GC. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 1507.
The saturation of the electron-cyclotron maser instability and the interpretation of solar millisecond spikes

A self-consistent numeric two-dimensional code of the kinetic wave-particle equations developed to investigate the maser dynamics in the solar context is applied to solar millisecond-spike observations in order to improve the diagnostic capabilities of the theory of the electron-cyclotron maser instablitity. Attention is given to the inhomogeneity of the magnetic field selecting magneto-ionic modes with relatively short saturation lengths and suppressing mechanisms such as collisional deflection, free-free absorption, and gyroresonance absorption. The time scales of maser saturation in respect to time scales of global particle changes in a magnetic loop are covered, relevant observations of solar millisecond spikes are described, and the interpretation in terms of physical parameters deduced from the quasi-linear maser simulations are presented. It is demonstrated that the quasi-linear simulations make it possible to constrain the physical parameters from the observed time scale and frequency.
Resistance to Penicillin in Mutants of a Penicillinase-Negative Organism, Staphylococcus aureus H

Penicillin-resistant mutants of Staphylococcus aureus H were similar to the parent in their response to penicillin though proportionately more penicillin was required for a given effect. The mutants did not inactivate penicillin. Most of the penicillin-binding sites (presumed to be murein transpeptidase molecules) bound penicillin rapidly when exposed to a very low concentration of penicillin (0.1 mug/ml), and yet the mutants retained some functional murein transpeptidase even in the presence of 500 mug of penicillin per ml. An hypothesis based on (i) functional versus nonfunctional transpeptidase molecules and (ii) variations in accessibility to penicillin can explain these findings.
Bacillary Necrosis, a Disease of Larval and Juvenile Bivalve Mollusks I. Etiology and Epizootiology

Tubiash, Haskell S. (U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Milford, Conn.), Paul E. Chanley, and Einar Leifson. Bacillary necrosis, a disease of larval and juvenile bivalve mollusks. I. Etiology and epizootiology. J. Bacteriol. 90:1036-1044. 1965.-Lethal bacterial infections of a variety of hatchery-spawned bivalve mollusk larvae and juveniles have been studied. The symptoms of the disease and the course of the infection are described. Four biotypes and five antigenic types of bacteria, pathogenic for the larvae of five species of bivalve mollusks, were isolated and described in some detail. All are gram-negative motile rods. Comparative studies were made of a fairly large number of similar bacteria isolated from presumably normal marine fauna. None of these was pathogenic for the bivalve larvae nor did they have antigens in common with the pathogenic group. The four biotypes had a number of characteristics in common that rarely were present in other cultures from marine fauna. Several antibiotic preparations proved to be of value in the treatment and control of the infection.
Hybrid baseform builder for phonetic languages

We present a novel technique of automatically building baseforms from the spelling for languages that are phonetic. For such languages, although rule-based techniques give fairly accurate baseforms, they have some ambiguities depending upon the language. To handle these, we apply a statistical method to improve the correctness of phonetic spelling builders. The rule-based baseforms are used as a training corpus for improving the system. We also present an alternative method of building decision trees over the phone context to modify the rule-based baseforms. The novel framework of generating the baseforms using both, spelling-to-sound rules and statistics, one after the other, requires very small amount of training data. Correction results and recognition results are presented by using the Hindi language baseform builder and by using the baseforms generated in a Hindi speech recognition task.
Social interactions and androgen levels in birds. II. Social factors associated with a decline in plasma androgen levels in male ring doves (Streptopelia risoria).

Abstract In male ring doves, androgen levels rise within hours of exposure to a female mate, but decline to baseline values by Day 1 of incubation (7–9 days after pairing). These experiments examined the role of social stimuli in the maintenance and decline of plasma androgens. In Experiment 1, males were exposed for 9 consecutive days to either a novel female or the same female and androgen levels were compared on the ninth day. There are no significant differences in androgen levels between these groups (3.0 ± 0.7 vs 1.8 ± 0.3 ng/ml, X ± SEM ), indicating that the presence of a novel female is not sufficient to maintain elevated androgen levels in male doves. In Experiment 2, males were paired with females and (1) were allowed to proceed uninterrupted to incubation, (2) had their nest destroyed daily, or (3) were given no nest material. All males were bled on Day 8 after pairing. Males given nest material and left undisturbed exhibited low androgen levels (1.3 ± 0.3 ng/ml) characteristic of the incubation phase. In contrast, males whose nests were destroyed daily or those given no nest material had significantly higher androgen levels than undisturbed males (3.3 ± 0.3 and 3.6 ± 1.0 ng/ml, respectively). It appears that interference with nest construction (and presumably incubation activity) prevents a decline in circulating androgens, and this suggests that the beginning of incubation rather than time since pairing regulates the decline in male androgens. In Experiment 3, androgen levels were compared in males taken from courtship with one female and exposed to either an incubating female or to another courting female. Courting males exposed to incubating females exhibited low androgen levels typical of incubation (2.0 ± 0.6 ng/ml), while courting males exposed to other courting females exhibited high androgen levels typical of courtship (4.7 ± 0.7 ng/ml). We conclude that the decline in male circulating androgens is strongly influenced by the behavior and stimuli presented by the female partner.
Striatal tyrosine hydroxylase: comparison of the activation produced by depolarization and dibutyryl-cAMP.

Incubation of striatal slices in high potassium media or in media containing 1 mM dibutyryl-cAMP results in an increase in the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase. Both treatments require a period of time before maximal activation is attained, and once activated, the activated tyrosine hydroxylase has a similar time course of inactivation The activation of tyrosine hydroxylase produced by potassium depolarization is calcium dependent while the activation produced by dibutyryl-cAMP is independent of the presence of calcium in the medium. The activation produced by depolarization is additive with the activation produced by dibutyryl-cAMP. The pH optima for the tyrosine hydroxylase isolated from the striatal slices exposed to high potassium differs substantially from the tyrosine hydroxylase obtained from slices incubated with dibutyryl-cAMP. This difference is not due to changes in the amount of dopamine present in the striatal extracts. These observations suggest that the activation of tyrosine hydroxylase produced by depolarization and that produced by cAMP probably occur by different processes.
Gastric emptying and sieving of solid food and pancreatic and biliary secretion after solid meals in patients with truncal vagotomy and antrectomy.

This study was undertaken to answer two questions: (a) does antrectomy disturb sieving or grinding of solid food, or both, and (b) how abnormal are jejunal flows and concentrations of pancreatic enzymes and bile salts after a meal of solid food. Six normal subjects and 9 subjects with truncal vagotomy plus antrectomy were intubated with a triple-lumen tube attached to a bubble trap sited in the jejunum, 60 cm from the stomach. All subjects ate a meal of 100 ml of H2O, 60 g of beefsteak, and 30 g of 99mTc-liver diced into 10-mm cubes. By previously validated techniques, the tube-bubble trap system allowed comparison of the rate of passage of 99mTc-liver particles smaller than 1 mm through the jejunum with the rate of entry of all sizes of eaten 99mTc-liver into the intestine described by gamma camera. The tube system also measured concentrations and rates of passage of enzymes and bile salts. 99mTc-liver emptied very rapidly from the stomach in the first 50 min in most subjects with truncal vagotomy plus antrectomy and thereafter emptied slowly, while in the normal subjects there was a 30 min lag before a steady, slow rate of emptying. Nearly 30% of the 99mTc-liver that emptied into the intestine in the subjects with truncal vagotomy plus antrectomy was larger than 1 mm, but in the normal subjects less than 3% of the liver entered the intestines as larger particles. In this study with a solid meal, jejunal flows in the subjects with truncal vagotomy plus antrectomy were lower than normal, and concentrations of bile salts and pancreatic enzymes were close to normal.
Measuring Vulnerability to U.S. Foreign Economic Sanctions

This study concentrates on the Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) to demonstrate a way to improve the consensus forecasts of interest rates. It promotes the notion that, in improving the survey forecast accuracy of a variable, one should investigate the usefulness of the predictive information contained in the survey forecasts of other theoretically relevant variables. This idea has been applied to the SPF forecasts of the 3-month Treasury-bill rate, which are shown to be one-sided for 2001.1-2003.4. We improve the accuracy of these forecasts by exploiting the predictive information contained in the SPF forecasts of inflation and output growth. We thus recommend that the possible improvement should be investigated before such interest rate forecasts are utilized for decision-making.
Duration of Protection After Infant Hepatitis B Vaccination Series

BACKGROUND: Little is known about duration of protection after the infant primary series of hepatitis B (HB) vaccine in settings of low HB endemicity. This study sought to determine the proportion of adolescents immunized as infants who had protective titers of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) before and after a challenge dose of vaccine. METHODS: US-born 16- through 19-year-olds who received a recombinant HB vaccine 3-dose series initiated within 7 days of birth (group 1) or at ≥4 weeks of age (group 2) and completed by 12 months of age were enrolled. Participants had serologic testing before and 2 weeks after randomization to receive a challenge dose of 10 µg or 20 µg of Engerix-B. Baseline and postchallenge levels of anti-HBs were compared by group, challenge dosage, and demographic and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS: At baseline, 24% had protective anti-HBs levels of ≥10 IU/mL; 92% achieved protective levels after challenge dose. Although group 1 had a lower proportion of seroprotection at baseline, group and challenge dosage were not associated with postchallenge proportion of seroprotection. Being in group 2, higher test dosage, higher baseline geometric mean titer, and nonwhite race were associated with significantly higher geometric mean titer after challenge dose. CONCLUSIONS: More than 90% of study participants immunized against HB as infants exhibited a seroprotective response to a challenge dose of vaccine. Duration of protection from the primary infant HB vaccine series extended through the adolescent years in the setting of low HB endemicity.
The Formation of Lysine Tyrosylquinone (LTQ) Is a Self-Processing Reaction. Expression and Characterization of a Drosophila Lysyl Oxidase†

Recent work in our laboratory has established methods for the expression and purification of a recombinant form of Drosophila lysyl oxdidase (rDMLOXL-1) [Molnar, J., Ujfaludi, Z., Fong, S. F. T., Bollinger, J. A., Waro, G., Fogelgren, B., Dooley, D. M., Mink, M., and Csiszar, K. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 22977−22985]. Previous investigations on the expression and purification of recombinant forms of lysyl oxidase [Kagan, H. M., Reddy, V. B., Panchenko, M. V., Nagan, N., Boak, A. M., Gacheru, S. N., and Thomas, K. (1995) J. Cell. Biochem. 59, 329−338] and lysyl oxidase-like proteins [Jung, S. T., Kim, M. S., Seo, J. Y., Kim, H. C., and Kim, Y. (2003) Protein Expression Purif. 31, 240−246] [Molnar, J., Fong, K. S. K., He, Q. P., Hayashi, K., Kim, Y., Fong, S. F. T., Fogelgren, B., Szauter, K. M., Mink, M., and Csiszar, K. (2003) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1647, 220−224] have been reported in the literature. However, this is the first time that an expression system has been developed yielding sufficient amounts...
The imprint of climate within Northern Hemisphere trees

Abstract Here we show how the seasonality and strength of climate signals recorded by tree-ring widths changes across the Northern Hemisphere, and outline major regional differences in the climate ‘window’ sensed by trees that both constrain and augment our ability to interpret these records as paleoclimatic proxies. After surveying nearly 2200 ring-width records, we find the spatial structure of tree–climate relations across the hemisphere matches behavior predicted several decades ago very closely, confirming the principles that guide dendroclimatology are robust despite the complexity of interactions between climate, ecology and tree biology. We also show that climate filtering conducted by individual trees creates major regional differences in information that may be recovered from the hemispheric network. This behavior can introduce geographic biases to dendroclimatic reconstructions, but it also may be useful to evaluate the success of reconstruction techniques that explicitly represent the physical processes linking climate to tree growth.
Hero or hypocrite? United States and international media portrayals of Carl Lewis amid revelations of a positive drug test.

This article examines press coverage of track and field athlete Carl Lewis amid reports in April 2003 that he tested positive for three banned stimulants prior to United States Olympic Trials in 19...
From One Bioscientist to Another: Guidelines for Researching and Writing About Bisexuality for the Lab and Biosciences

Bisexuality is studied within the biological sciences, in fields like neuroscience, biopsychology, evolution and biomedicine, yet these fields typically do not train researchers to consider the social locations of their participants. However, bisexuality is a marginalized sexuality, and minorities and researchers have increasingly called for scientific research to attend to issues around power and social identity. This article provides a set of guidelines written by a bioscientist for bioscientists, to help delineate and address potential issues when studying bisexuality.
SU-E-T-502: Biometrically Accepted Patient Records

Purpose: To implement a clinically useful palm vein pattern recognition biometric system to treat the correct treatment plan to the correct patient each and every time and to check-in the patient into the department to access the correct medical record. Methods: A commercially available hand vein scanning system was paired to Aria and utilized an ADT interface from the hospital electronic health system. Integration at two points in Aria, version 11 MR2, first at the appointment tracker screen for the front desk medical record access and second at the queue screen on the 4D treatment console took place for patient daily time-out. A test patient was utilized to check accuracy of identification as well as to check that no unintended interactions take place between the 4D treatment console and the hand vein scanning system. This system has been in clinical use since December 2013. Results: Since implementation, 445 patients have been enrolled into our biometric system. 95% of patients learn the correct methodology of hand placement on the scanner in the first try. We have had two instances of patient not found because of a bad initial scan. We simply erased the scanned metric and the patient enrolled again in those cases. The accuracy of the match is 100% for each patient, we have not had one patient misidentified. We can state this because we still use patient photo and date of birth as identifiers. A QA test patient is run monthly to check the integrity of the system. Conclusion: By utilizing palm vein scans along with the date of birth and patient photo, another means of patient identification now exits. This work indicates the successful implementation of technology in the area of patient safety by closing the gap of treating the wrong plan to a patient in radiation oncology. FOJP Service Corporation covered some of the costs of the hardware and software of the palm vein pattern recognition biometric system.
Low stable isotope ratios of tropical cyclone rains

Tropical cyclone rains have distinctly lower stable isotope ratios than rains in other tropical and summer precipitation systems, with a mean value slightly above that of water vapor near the sea surface. The isotope ratios also decrease radially inward to the eye wall, but appear to be anomalously low even near the periphery of the rain shield. These findings indicate that tropical cyclones are highly efficient precipitation systems and suggest the use of stable isotope ratios as dynamic tracers of a tropical cyclone's water and energy budgets.
Native riparian tree establishment along the regulated Dolores River, Colorado

This study investigated influences of flow regulation of the Dolores River, Colorado, by McPhee Dam on establishment of 3 native riparian tree species (Populus angustifolia, Populus deltoides subsp. wislizenii, and Acer negundo). Tree establishment was documented with dendrochronology at 2 reference sites, the unregulated Upper Dolores and San Miguel rivers, and at multiple reaches along the Lower Dolores River for a pre-dam, canal-diverted period (1961-1984) and a post-dam period (1985-2008). Tree establishment along the Lower Dolores River relative to unregulated reference rivers was negatively affected by river regulation for A. negundo, but not for P. angustifolia and P. deltoides. For P. angustifolia, similar establishment occurred at the Upper and Lower Dolores rivers; establishment was low from 1969-1988, with greater establishment occurring prior to and following this period. For P. deltoides, pulses of tree recruitment occurred along the Lower Dolores River after river damming during 1989-1993 and 2005-2008, and overall recruitment after river damming was significantly greater than that observed for unregulated rivers. Establish- ment of A. negundo was low at the Lower Dolores River during the last 8 years (2001-2008) of the study period. Our results suggest that flow releases from McPhee Dam into the Lower Dolores River between 1985 and 2008 provided appropriate conditions for Populus establishment, particularly at low topographic positions within the active channel in recent years, whereas A. negundo may require greater flows to bolster establishment at the higher topographic positions where it often occurs.
Project “For Colored Girls:” Breaking the shackles of role deprivation through prison theatre

Abstract A prison theatre workshop at Bayview Correctional Facility (BCF) in Manhattan combines improvisational techniques, play rehearsal, and performance. Ten women participate for eight weeks as cast and crew in a production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by African American playwright Ntozake Shange. The characters reflect different types of women in critical situations, breaking the long held silence marginalized women feel due to oppression. Written in poetic verse, scenes dramatize rites of passage, sisterhood and female sexuality, abandonment, poverty, abuse, rape, and unrequited love providing many archetypal roles that resonate with the actors and prison audience. This article is a descriptive account using both narrative and journal entries written contemporaneously during the production, focusing on the obstacles of mounting a theatrical production within a prison setting and on the challenges of working with female offenders. Archetypical roles from Robert Landy's extensive work in drama therapy are referenced to reflect the function and diversity of role types in the drama and to illustrate how the artistic work expands the diminished life roles of women in prison. Thoughts on Agusto Boal's theory regarding invitational theatre, within the setting of a prison, are discussed.
An infrared method for studying adsorption in situ at the liquid-solid interface

Abstract A new method is described for measuring infrared spectra of molecules adsorbed from solution onto a solid, the adsorbent being immersed in the solution while spectra are recorded. The apparatus consists of a solvent and solute purification and storage system, a circulation system, and matched infrared sample cells in which the adsorbent may be degassed at 10−5 torr at 800°C. The operation of the system is illustrated by spectra of the adsorption of aniline from CCl4 solution onto Cab-O-Sil silica.
Performance lies my professor told me: the case for teaching Software Performance Engineering to undergraduates

In this paper we report a survey examining the approach to performance and software engineering in courses at highly ranked computer science schools in the United States. An analysis of the survey shows serious shortcomings including inadequate or missing definitions of performance, reactive "fix it later" mentality, vague performance requirements, and a general lack of awareness of the practices developed by the Software Performance Engineering (SPE) community. The survey is followed by guidelines for teaching SPE to undergraduates based on a semester long course we have developed. It is our plan to incorporate these guidelines into the curriculum of our senior capstone software engineering course.
A room with a view: understanding users' stages in picking a hotel online

We describe how we built a model for user decision-making during local search tasks, specifically hotels. We differentiate between affective and functional needs and identify the following stages and related information needs: 0. Lay of the land; 1. Generating options; 2. Scanning for attractors and detractors; 3. Due diligence. We contrast this framework with existing consumer decision-making models. We close by describing how this model influenced the development of the recently launched experiment, Google Hotel Finder.
Trends in twentieth-century tree growth at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, USA

We analysed a multispecies tree-ring data base to assess the degree to which twentieth-century growth trends reflect tree growth of the last millennium. We examined ∼1000-yr chronologies for five species of high-elevation conifers at 13 sites in western North America. Using non-parametric ordination and cluster analysis, we decomposed the variability at annual to decadal timescales into two dimensions, both of which are significantly correlated to temperature and precipitation variation. Tree-ring sites map onto the ordination axes according to species and relative position on the landscape. A spectral analysis of the ordination axes indicates a secular trend and significant quasi-periodic variation on scales of years to decades. Further, we find that the pattern of high-elevation conifer growth rates during the last half of the twentieth century are different than any time in the past 1000 years, indicating a distinct biological signature of global climate change.
Imaging and local transport measurements of GaSb self-assembled quantum dots on GaAs

Abstract Individual GaSb self-assembled quantum dots in a GaAs matrix are imaged and probed using ballisitic electron emission microscopy (BEEM). The nanometer scale lateral resolution of BEEM enables one to inject carriers directly into a single dot and therefore perform local transport measurements without electrically contacting the individual dot. Comparison of BEEM spectra on and off of a dot yields a local conduction band offset between GaSb dots and GaAs of 0.08±.02 eV.
The service context of psychiatric education.

Abstract As the profession of psychiatry moves across a period of especially rapid enrichment of its activities, psychiatric education appears to have come upon a salutary opportunity. Placing education within a service medium in rapid, focused, tested change can equip a person for a corresponding process within his professional life. The effect on service is similar to the effect on education: (1) The setting creates the opportunity. (2) The interrelatedness of the several settings enhances the effect of each. (3) Engagement with underserviced risk groups enhances effectiveness with all risk groups. (4) The reception service is the place where resources come in contact with problems and become services. (5) The most effective strtegy for the control of symptoms is enhancement of adaptive capacity .
Effect of backscattering on the behavior of a dye ring laser

Abstract The effect of backscattering on the behavior of a dye ring laser is investigated by photoelectric counting measurements. It is found that there exist two laser regimes, a low backscattering regime in which the laser exhibits meta-bistability and random mode switching, and a high backscattering regime in which switching is suppressed. In the latter case the photon statistics are similar to those of a single-mode standing wave dye laser.
The role of physical activity in producing and maintaining weight loss

The majority of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) show only modest weight loss with exercise intervention alone, and slight increases in weight loss when exercise intervention is added to dietary restriction. In most RCTs, the energy deficit produced by the prescribed exercise is far smaller than that usually produced by dietary restriction. In prospective studies that prescribed high levels of exercise, enrolled individuals achieved substantially greater weight loss-comparable to that obtained after similar energy deficits were produced by caloric restriction. High levels of exercise might, however, be difficult for overweight or obese adults to achieve and sustain. RCTs examining exercise and its effect on weight-loss maintenance demonstrated mixed results; however, weight maintenance interventions were usually of limited duration and long-term adherence to exercise was problematic. Epidemiologic, cross-sectional, and prospective correlation studies suggest an essential role for physical activity in weight-loss maintenance, and post hoc analysis of prospective trials shows a clear dose-response relationship between physical activity and weight maintenance. This article reviews the role of physical activity in producing and maintaining weight loss. We focus on prospective, RCTs lasting at least 4 months; however, other prospective trials, meta-analyses and large systematic reviews are included. Limitations in the current body of literature are discussed.
A 40Gb/s 860μW single-phase 4:1 multiplexer in 45nm CMOS

An energy-efficient 4:1 multiplexer (MUX) operating at 40Gb/s using ETSPC logic is presented. For the first time, a single-phase clock digital-logic-based MUX operating with data rates above 20Gb/s is demonstrated. A new multifunctional 2:1 MUX cell with reduced number of transistors is proposed, and an efficiency of 21.5μW/Gb/s at 40Gb/s, gives the best power-efficiency reported. The MUX is designed in a 45nm SOI CMOS technology with 1V supply.
Inclusion Potential, Polymorphism, and Molecular Isomerism of Metal Dibenzoylmethanates Coordinated with 2-Methylpyridine†

In this study, new complexes of metal(II) (Ni, Zn, Cd) dibenzoylmethanates (DBMs) coordinated with 2-methylpyridine (2-MePy) were prepared and studied for host properties as a function of their str...
A modified command feedforward tracking control system applied to the PRRR-RR parallel mechanism

The development of a prototype two degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism for application to unmanned ground vehicle target tracking is presented. The mechanism is extremely simple, decoupling the two end-effector degrees-of- freedom (DOFs) with an easily fabricated and inexpensive connection of passive joints. A summary of the parallel mechanism's kinematic design and singularity analysis is provided. A 2-DOF tracking system using a digital camera with a large time delay is presented. A command feedforward controller is designed to extend the tracking bandwidth by approximately two octaves beyond that of the feedback controller without violating causality. Experimental data is presented that shows improvement in the tracking performance by a factor of 2.4 over the feedback system alone.
Development and Study of a Hybrid Tissue Scaffold Fabrication System for Neurotrophin Delivery

Drug delivery to a biological system within the body requires precise control. Hybrid tissue scaffolds, manufactured via electrospinning, may be used in effective treatment of peripheral nerve damage. This study describes the development of such a scaffold, its characterization, and in vitro effectiveness; including the creation of an electrospinning apparatus capable of creating the tissue scaffold via coaxial spinning of biomaterials, material selection and testing, as well as mathematical modeling of the drug delivery profile.