cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancing multiple‐point geostatistical modeling: 1. Graph theory and pattern adjustment

In recent years, higher-order geostatistical methods have been used for modeling of a wide variety of large-scale porous media, such as groundwater aquifers and oil reservoirs. Their popularity stems from their ability to account for qualitative data and the great flexibility that they offer for conditioning the models to hard (quantitative) data, which endow them with the capability for generating realistic realizations of porous formations with very complex channels, as well as features that are mainly a barrier to fluid flow. One group of such models consists of pattern-based methods that use a set of data points for generating stochastic realizations by which the large-scale structure and highly-connected features are reproduced accurately. The cross correlation-based simulation (CCSIM) algorithm, proposed previously by the authors, is a member of this group that has been shown to be capable of simulating multimillion cell models in a matter of a few CPU seconds. The method is, however, sensitive to pattern's specifications, such as boundaries and the number of replicates. In this paper the original CCSIM algorithm is reconsidered and two significant improvements are proposed for accurately reproducing large-scale patterns of heterogeneities in porous media. First, an effective boundary-correction method based on the graph theory is presented by which one identifies the optimal cutting path/surface for removing the patchiness and discontinuities in the realization of a porous medium. Next, a new pattern adjustment method is proposed that automatically transfers the features in a pattern to one that seamlessly matches the surrounding patterns. The original CCSIM algorithm is then combined with the two methods and is tested using various complex two- and three-dimensional examples. It should, however, be emphasized that the methods that we propose in this paper are applicable to other pattern-based geostatistical simulation methods.
Targeting the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers

Despite significant advances in early detection and treatment, breast cancer still remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality for women. Our understanding of the molecular heterogeneity of the disease has significantly expanded over the past decade and the role of cell cycle signaling in both breast cancer oncogenesis and anti-estrogen resistance has gained increasing attention. The mammalian cell cycle is driven by a complex interplay between cyclins and their associated cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) partners, and dysregulation of this process is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Despite this, initial results with broadly acting CDK inhibitors were largely disappointing. However, recent preclinical and phase I/II clinical studies using a novel, oral, reversible CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib (PD-0332991), have validated the role of CDK4/6 as a potential target in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers. This review highlights our current understanding of CDK signaling in both normal and malignant breast tissues, with special attention placed on recent clinical advances in inhibition of CDK4/6 in ER+ disease.
Nail dystrophy as the initial sign of multiple myeloma‐associated systemic amyloidosis

Keywords: dermal amyloid deposits; multiple myeloma; systemic amyloidosis; twenty nail dystrophy
Sampling Within Stochastic Linear Programming

We are faced with the task of solving two stage stochastic linear programs with recourse (SLP), such as those discussed in Chapter 1. As noted in Theorem 1.1, this class of problems are convex programs and in principle, any of a number of convex programming algorithms (e.g. subgradient methods, cutting plane methods, Lagrangian based methods etc..) can be used to solve SLPs. From the discussions in Chapter 1, it is clear that in most cases, the stochastic nature of the problem precludes the precise determination of subgradients and objective function values. When the presence of random variables prevents the precise determination of such quantities, it is natural to use random samples in the development of statistical estimates of these quantities. Until recently, only subgradient methods were incorporated within a sampling framework, and the resulting methods became known as stochastic quasi-gradient (SQG) methods (see Er-moliev [1988] for a survey). While SQG methods are applicable to very general stochastic convex programs, they suffer from many of the drawbacks of deterministic subgradient methods. In particular, the choice of effective steplengths is often problem dependent. In addition, the incorporation of optimality criteria within these algorithms remains elusive. Nevertheless, because of the incorporation of sampling within the algorithm, SQG methods are able to address SLPs with a large number of outcomes, as well as problems with continous random variables. In developing the Stochastic Decomposition (SD) method, our goal is to bestow these advantages on cutting plane algorithms, which have remained the mainstay for SLPs for several decades (Van Slyke and Wets [1969], Ruszczynski [1986], Birge and Louveaux [1988], Gassmann [1990] etc). The randomization of cutting plane methods has provided the capability of solving truly large scale stochastic programs such as SSN and STORM presented in Chapter 1.
Toward a Capacity Framework for Useful Student Learning Outcomes Assessment in College Foreign Language Programs.

The educational impacts of mandated assessment in U.S. colleges is part of a growing research agenda focused on how methodologies of program evaluation best enable educators to improve teaching and learning. Accordingly, research has tried to identify the key aspects of evaluation/assessment 'capacity' in college language departments (i.e., environmental conditions and personnel factors) that seem most associated with meaningful reform and evaluation use. This article reports on a provisional framework of evaluation/assessment capacity for university foreign language (FL) programs. Factor analysis was performed on questionnaire data from 204 university language educators reporting on their program assessment activities. Results suggested a set of program-level and institutional capacity elements grouped into 7 categories: (a) institutional support (funding, training, expertise, etc.), (b) institutional governance and leadership, (c) facilitative infrastructures (e.g., curricular maps, assessment plans), (d) program-level support (financial, personnel resources), (e) a prevailing program ethos conducive to educational innovation, (f) pro-assessment attitudes, and (g) high-quality assessment activities and abilities (i.e., dimensions of assessment practice at advanced levels of skill and experience). The framework delineates a provisional set of theory-based, empirically supported program factors linked to assessment usefulness in postsecondary FL education and provides educators a set of guidelines to develop their assessment capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Contributions to membrane-embedded-protein diffusion beyond hydrodynamic theories.

The diffusion coefficients of proteins embedded in a lipid membrane are traditionally described by the hydrodynamic Saffman-Delbr\"uck theory, which predicts a weak dependence of the diffusion coefficient on protein radius, $D\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{ln}R$. Recent experiments have observed a stronger dependence, $D\ensuremath{\sim}1/R$. This has led to speculation that the primary sources of drag on the protein are not hydrodynamic, but originate in coupling to other fields, such as lipid chain stretching or tilt. We discuss a generic model of a protein coupled to a nonconserved scalar order parameter (e.g., chain stretching), and show that earlier results may not be as universal as previously believed. In particular, we note that the drag depends on the way the protein-order parameter coupling is imposed. In this model, $D\ensuremath{\sim}1/R$ can be obtained if the protein is much larger than the order parameter correlation length. However, if we modify the model to include advection of the order parameter, which is a more appropriate assumption for a fluid membrane, we find that the entrainment of the order parameter by the protein's motion significantly changes the scaling of the diffusion coefficient. For parameters appropriate to protein diffusion, the Saffman-Delbr\"uck-like scaling is restored, but with an effective radius for the protein that depends on the order parameter's correlation length. This qualitative difference suggests that hydrodynamic effects cannot be neglected in the computation of drag on a protein interacting with the membrane.
Live Attenuated Varicella Vaccine: Protection in Healthy Adults Compared with Leukemic Children

Protection against varicella infection was assessed in leukemic children and healthy young adults who were immunized with live attenuated varicella vaccine. Attack rates of breakthrough infection following household exposure to varicella in 102 children and 26 adults were similar whether one or two doses of vaccine had been given. The mild breakthrough illness was also similar after one or more doses. Specific antibody titers were similar 1 year after immunization whether individuals had received one or two doses. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was lower in these vaccinees than in persons who had experienced natural varicella infection. Protection after natural infection in adult family members exposed to varicella was superior to that in vaccinees; none developed varicella infection. These observations suggest that immunization induces less protection than does natural disease in leukemic children and young adults. This may be partly due to the nature of the vaccine virus, but because responses of adults were similar to those of leukemic children, it suggests also that both of these groups have impaired immune responses to VZV. Boosting of humoral immunity after exposure to VZV was common and was observed in healthy adults with past natural infection and in vaccinated adults and leukemic children.
Political Culture Residual Category or General Theory

Political culture as a concept for empirical political analysis has been so promiscuously employed within the political sciences as to render it meaningless. In an effort to locate some basic struc...
Abstract 4271: Combination of VEGF Trap (Aflibercept) with docetaxel, but not with gemcitabine, is efficacious in tumors resistant to anti-VEGF therapy

Increased anti-tumor efficacy is often observed when VEGF blockade is combined with certain chemotherapy agents. However, the mechanism by which combination treatment with certain agents, but not others, results in enhanced anti-tumor effects is poorly understood. In this study, we compared the anti-tumor effects of VEGF Trap in combination with either docetaxel or gemcitabine on HT1080, a human fibrosarcoma tumor line that is resistant to anti-VEGF treatment. Immunodeficient SCID mice bearing subcutaneous HT1080 tumors (size ∼150 mm3) were treated with either control protein plus vehicle, VEGF Trap, chemotherapy agent (docetaxel or gemcitabine), or the combination. Following three treatments administered every 3-4 days, tumors were harvested either one day after the final dose or allowed to grow and harvested when the average size of the treatment group reached ∼500mm3. We found that combination treatment with VEGF Trap plus docetaxel was significantly more effective compared to single agents, while there was no added benefit of combining VEGF Trap with gemcitabine. Although treatment with chemotherapy agents alone and in combination with VEGF Trap both initially regressed tumor size, only the combination with docetaxel was effective at delaying long-term tumor re-growth. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumors showed that both combination regimens produced a dramatic decrease in the number of proliferating tumor cells. However, only VEGF Trap and docetaxel combination treatment resulted in pruned tumor vessels with less branching, whereas VEGF Trap plus gemcitabine had minimal effect on tumor vessel morphology. Furthermore, VEGF trap plus docetaxel produced an increase in TUNEL-positive cells associated with the tumor vasculature and a marked decrease in tumor pericytes. These results suggest that in tumors resistant to VEGF blockade, taxanes (docetaxel) can sensitize the vasculature to anti-VEGF treatment (aflibercept), thus resulting in enhanced effects on the tumor vessels and improved anti-tumor efficacy. Further understanding of the mechanistic basis of different combination regimens may allow improvement of current strategies to treat tumors resistant to antiangiogenic therapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4271. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4271
Accidental Isolation of Trichophyton Mentagrophytes from the Floor of a Schoolhouse

A proven case of cryptococcosis was seen in the Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Hospital, and attempts were made to trace the possible source of infection. At the onset of his illness, the patient was working as a janitor in the Foster School of Ypsilanti, Michigan. This is a rambling, one-story schoolhouse built during the Second World War. In view of the recent reports of the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans in nature (1, 4, 5), samples of soil and floor dust from the schoolhouse were obtained: Sample 1 and Sample 2 were soils from under drains, Sample 3 was from the sweepings gathered in the bag of a vacuum cleaner used to clean the floors, and Sample 4 was from dirt accumulated on a motor-driven rotary floor brush. Each sample was suspended in physiological saline solution in a 100 ml graduate with vigorous agitation and left to settle at room temperature. After 3 hours, portions of the top layers of the suspensions were inoculated on duplicate Sabouraud's-dextrose-agar slants, both with and without penicillin and streptomycin. One set of the cultures was left at room temperature and the duplicate set, at incubator temperature. These were examined periodically for growth and discarded after six weeks. For animal inoculation, one ml of the supernatant layer of each suspension was injected intraperitoneally into mice. Each suspension was used to inoculate five mice. Pieces of the livers, spleens and lungs of animals that died were planted on Sabouraud's dextrose agar slants. The remaining animals were sacrified after three weeks and the organs similarly planted. The cultures directly planted with the samples did not show any growth of pathogenic fungi, and most eventually became overgrown with contaminants. However, Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated from the livers or spleens of two animals inoculated with portions of Sample 3, composed of vacuum cleaner sweepings. The macroscopic and microscopic features of these isolates were characteristic (FIGS. 1,
Death analysis of main disease in Dongling district Shenyang city in 2006 to 2010

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristic of death of the main disease in Dongling district in the year of 2006-2010 to provide some theoretical basis for disease preventing.Methods By the means of describing epidemiology,rank as mortality statistics,standard mortality rate and death from cis-position,and analyze the death case of the main disease.Results The top five reasons due to death are cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,cardiopathy,cancer,respiratory system disease,injure and toxicosis,male mortality is higher than female except for cardiopathy.Conclusion Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and cancer are the biggest killer for the resident in Dongling district.Aging of population,changing of environment as well as the way of living are the dangerous factors that lead to these disease,and the factors also highlight the way to prevent and cure for the chronic disease for us.
A LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION OF SENSITIVITY TRAINING WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL MILIEU

The present research investigated the efficacy of sensitivity training in developing attitudes and skills which can further effective communication on the college campus. Two sensitivity training laboratories were conducted a year apart for Baylor University students. A pretestposttest quasi-experimental design was used in which the posttest was administered either immediately following or approximately three months after the laboratory. Changes attributable to the laboratories were measured by objective personality and attitude tests and sentence completion tests.It was concluded that sensitivity training was instrumental in producing attitudinal and personality changes in the participants. These changes appeared to be relatively enduring and in some cases were greater three months after the laboratory than immediately afterwards. Students who attended the laboratory returned to the campus with attitudes and personality responses that were similar to those of college seniors. The participants increased in their tolerance of others, acceptance of others, and capacity for mature criticism of institutionalized authority.
The Relationship of Size to Marketing Problems in Microcomputer Software Firms

This study explored the relationship between the size of microcomputer software firms and the problems they reported in marketing their products. It was hypothesized that large firms, in terms of sales, would have a different set of problems than smaller ones.
Drawing Meaningful Conclusions from Education Experiments

The ultimate goal of a chemistry education research project is that the scholarly work resulting from the research will have an impact on our understanding of teaching and learning, and will result in more effective and meaningful learning in the chemistry classroom. To do this the researcher must draw meaningful conclusions from the data, situate them within the context of previous work, and discuss their implications. It is particularly important that the researcher be aware of the kinds of errors that can creep into educational research, and this chapter describes a number of common problems often found in research reports in chemistry education. These include mistaking cause and effect, overgeneralization, using anecdotal evidence, not controlling for differences in student population, mistaking self-reported learning for actual improvements in student learning, and disturbing the test population by the act of investigation. Examples of exemplary reports using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method research designs are provided to show how these problems can be avoided.
Evaluation of Two Commercially Available Cannabidiol Formulations for Use in Electronic Cigarettes

With 24 states and the District of Columbia with laws legalizing marijuana in some form, suppliers of legal marijuana have developed Cannabis sativa products for use in electronic cigarettes. Personal battery powered vaporizers or electronic cigarettes were developed to deliver a nicotine vapor such that smokers could simulate smoking tobacco without the inherent pathology of inhaled tobacco smoke. The liquid formulations used in these devices are comprised of an active ingredient such as nicotine mixed with glycerin and/or propylene glycol and flavorings. A significant active ingredient of Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol, has been purported to have anti-convulsant, anti-nociceptive, and anti-psychotic properties. These properties have potential medical therapies such as intervention of addictive behaviors, treatments for epilepsy, management of pain for cancer patients, and treatments for schizophrenia. However, cannabidiol extracted from Cannabis sativa remains a DEA Schedule I drug since it has not been approved by the FDA for medical purposes. Two commercially available e-cigarette liquid formulations reported to contain 3.3 mg/mL of cannabidiol as the active ingredient were evaluated. These products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in manufacturing or in labeling of the products and were found to contain 6.5 mg/mL and 7.6 mg/mL of cannabidiol in propylene glycol with a variety of flavoring agents. Presently, while labeled as to content, the quality control of manufacturers and the relative safety of these products is uncertain.
Tätigkeit und Arbeitsprozess

Die technische Weiterentwicklung von Verkehrsflugzeugen, sichtbar insbesondere im Cockpit als der Schnittstelle zwischen Mensch und Technik, bringt deutlich veranderte Arbeitsbedingungen fur die Piloten mit sich[…]. Die Triebfeder dieser Entwicklungen lasst sich auf die Absicht zuruckfuhren, die Sicherheit im Luftverkehr zu erhohen. Technische Errungenschaften der letzten Dekaden fuhrten einen deutlichen Ruckgang der maschinell bedingten Flugunfalle herbei.
Acoustic Cloaking with Plasmonic Shells

This chapter presents an overview of the scattering cancellation approach applied to acoustic waves, inspired by the use of plasmonic cloaks for electromagnetic waves. Using an analogous analytical approach, we show here that isotropic and homogeneous acoustic metamaterial covers may provide strong scattering reduction over moderately broad bandwidths of operation in a variety of acoustic scenarios of interest. This chapter outlines the basic physics of this approach, along with numerical examples for moderately sized elastic and fluid objects, thereby providing insights into the anomalous suppression of acoustic scattering produced by this cloaking technique.
The Effect of the CXCR4 Inhibitors, AMD3100 and AMD3465, in Multiple Myeloma Cell Homing and Its Interaction with the Bone Marrow Microenvironment.

Abstract Abstract 1826 Poster Board I-852 Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) typically present with the disease spread diffusely throughout the bone marrow (BM). This fact points to the role MM cell trafficking plays in disease progression. Like normal plasma cells, MM cell trafficking is directed by the cytokine, SDF-1 and its receptor, CXCR4. Using the small bicyclam molecule, AMD3100, to block the SDF-1/CXCR4 interaction, and in vivo flow cytometry to measure circulation time of MM cells in a xenograft model, we have previously shown that homing of injected AMD3100-treated MM cells to the bone marrow is perturbed. Soon after injection fewer AMD3100-treated than untreated MM cells are detected in mouse skull BM using in vivo fluorescence confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the combined treatment of established tumors with AMD3100 and bortezomib enhanced survival. Here we present data that the 2nd generation SDF-1/CXCR4 small monomacrocyclic inhibitor, AMD3465 behaves like its predecessor in blocking antibody binding to CXCR4 on MM cells, migration of MM cells toward SDF-1, and in vivo homing, but at concentrations 10-50 fold lower than AMD3100. Incubation with either 1uM AMD3465 or 50uM AMD3100 reduced antibody binding to CXCR4 on MM cells to isotype control levels. Likewise, treatment with AMD3465 reduced MM1S migration to 15% of that of untreated cells in a transwell migration assay. These in vitro effects translated in vivo into longer circulation times for AMD3465-treated MM cells than control cells. In vivo flow cytometry revealed that 40-50% of AMD3465-pre-treated cells remained in the circulation one hr after injection whereas untreated cells depleted to 20% of their original circulating cell count by that time. Future experiments will further describe the effect of AMD 3465 on MM cells in the BM microenvironment to answer whether AMD3465 can be used to mobilize MM cells from the BM environment or enhance survival when used in conjunction with therapeutic drugs. Disclosures Ghobrial: Millennium: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau.
From Service Analysis to Staff Development: A Reference Desk Gap Analysis at a Community College

ABSTRACTTwo research questions guided this study: (1) Is there a gap in customer service quality perception between librarians (service providers) and patrons (service beneficiaries)?; and (2) How do patrons perceive the relational service qualities of librarians who staff the reference desk? Quantitative results based on a Likert scale survey showed no statistically significant difference in service perception between librarians and patrons. Both groups rate the overall reference desk service and service qualities of librarians highly. Qualitative results demonstrate how patrons view reference service within the context of their service and study needs. These findings were used to facilitate a librarian development workshop and led to the creation of a reference policy manual.
The Benefits and Limitations of Targeted Training in Flexible Transnasal Laryngoscopy Diagnosis.

Importance Targeted laryngoscopy training can be used successfully in de novo learners. Objective To determine the value of targeted laryngoscopy education in interns. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective study of fiberoptic laryngoscopy interpretations enrolled 13 participants in an academic hospital setting from August 1 to December 31, 2015. Participants included 10 postgraduate year 1 emergency and otolaryngology interns and 3 board-certified otolaryngology attending physicians. Interventions Participants viewed 25 selected and digitally recorded fiberoptic laryngoscopies and were asked to rate 13 items relating to abnormalities in the pharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and subglottis; the level of concern; and confidence with the diagnosis. A laryngoscopy teaching video was then administered to the interns before rating a second set of 25 videos. Improvement in diagnosis and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for each question and compared between the first and second administration. Main Outcomes and Measures Improvement in correct diagnosis of abnormalities in recorded laryngoscopies. Results All 13 participants completed the interventions. The ICCs for all questions were generally low for the intern groups and higher for the attending group. For vocal cord mobility, a preintervention ICC of 0.25 (95% CI, 0.16-0.37) improved to 0.47 (95% CI, 0.36-0.59) among interns after the intervention. The ICCs for vocal cord mobility were higher among attendings for the preintervention (0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.93) and postintervention (0.89; 95% CI, 0.83-0.93) assessments. Minimal improvement was observed in intern scores for base of tongue abnormalities, subglottic stenosis, vocal cord abnormalities, level of comfort, level of concern, pharyngeal abnormalities, or laryngeal, pharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal masses. Conclusions and Relevance Learning of flexible laryngoscopy can be improved with the use of a teaching video; however, additional interventions are needed to attain competence in accurately diagnosing upper airway lesions. Clinicians who seek to perform flexible laryngoscopy require robust training.
Comparing test-retest reliability of dynamic functional connectivity methods

Due to the dynamic, condition-dependent nature of brain activity, interest in estimating rapid functional connectivity (FC) changes that occur during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has recently soared. However, studying dynamic FC is methodologically challenging, due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal in fMRI and the massive number of data points generated during the analysis. Thus, it is important to establish methods and summary measures that maximize reliability and the utility of dynamic FC to provide insight into brain function. In this study, we investigated the reliability of dynamic FC summary measures derived using three commonly used estimation methods - sliding window (SW), tapered sliding window (TSW), and dynamic conditional correlations (DCC) methods. We applied each of these techniques to two publicly available rs-fMRI test-retest data sets - the Multi-Modal MRI Reproducibility Resource (Kirby Data) and the Human Connectome Project (HCP Data). The reliability of two categories of dynamic FC summary measures were assessed, specifically basic summary statistics of the dynamic correlations and summary measures derived from recurring whole-brain patterns of FC ("brain states"). The results provide evidence that dynamic correlations are reliably detected in both test-retest data sets, and the DCC method outperforms SW methods in terms of the reliability of summary statistics. However, across all estimation methods, reliability of the brain state-derived measures was low. Notably, the results also show that the DCC-derived dynamic correlation variances are significantly more reliable than those derived using the non-parametric estimation methods. This is important, as the fluctuations of dynamic FC (i.e., its variance) has a strong potential to provide summary measures that can be used to find meaningful individual differences in dynamic FC. We therefore conclude that utilizing the variance of the dynamic connectivity is an important component in any dynamic FC-derived summary measure.
Philadelphia Telemedicine Glaucoma Detection and Follow-up Study: Methods and Screening Results.

Purpose To describe methodology and screening results from the Philadelphia Telemedicine Glaucoma Detection and Follow-up Study. Design Screening program results for a prospective randomized clinical trial. Methods Individuals were recruited who were African-American, Hispanic/Latino, or Asian over age 40 years; white individuals over age 65 years; and any ethnicity over age 40 years with a family history of glaucoma or diabetes. Primary care offices and Federally Qualified Health Centers were used for telemedicine (Visit 1). Two posterior fundus photographs and 1 anterior segment photograph were captured per eye in each participant, using a nonmydriatic, autofocus, hand-held fundus camera (Volk Optical, Mentor, Ohio, USA). Medical and ocular history, family history of glaucoma, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure measurements using the ICare rebound tonometer (ICare, Helsinki, Finland) were obtained. Images were read remotely by a trained retina reader and a glaucoma specialist. Results From April 1, 2015, to February 6, 2017, 906 individuals consented and attended Visit 1. Of these, 553 participants were female (61.0%) and 550 were African-American (60.7%), with a mean age of 58.7 years. A total of 532 (58.7%) participants had diabetes, and 616 (68%) had a history of hypertension. During Visit 1, 356 (39.3%) participants were graded with a normal image. Using image data from the worse eye, 333 (36.8%) were abnormal and 155 (17.1%) were unreadable. A total of 258 (28.5%) had a suspicious nerve, 62 (6.8%) had ocular hypertension, 102 (11.3%) had diabetic retinopathy, and 68 (7.5%) had other retinal abnormalities. Conclusion An integrated telemedicine screening intervention in primary care offices and Federally Qualified Health Centers detected high rate of suspicious optic nerves, ocular hypertension, and retinal pathology.
Incorporating Cystatin C to Predict Methotrexate Elimination in Patients with CNS Lymphoma and Suspicious Renal Function

High-dose methotrexate (MTX; ≥1 g/m2) is a renally eliminated and nephrotoxic first-line therapy for central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. Creatinine-based estimation of renal function is the recommended approach to dosing MTX in these cases, but nonrenal determinants of creatinine production and elimination in cancer patients such as malnutrition and cachexia lead to overestimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by this method and a heightened risk for drug toxicity. Serum cystatin C is one of the first readily available, relatively inexpensive, endogenous biomarkers to emerge as a practical adjunct to creatinine for estimation of renal function for drug dosing. In this report, we describe two cases where cystatin C was used in conjunction with creatinine to inform MTX dosing for CNS lymphoma. In both cases, the estimated GFR was nearly 40% lower with the combination of the two biomarkers compared to creatinine-only estimates. Empiric MTX dose reductions as a product of these results likely spared the patients sustained exposure to toxic drug concentrations and facilitated earlier administration of supportive care interventions. Further prospective investigations with validated dosing regimens including cystatin C are warranted for high-dose MTX.
Estudios de género y migración: Una revisión desde la perspectiva del siglo XXI

En los ultimos treinta anos la investigacion sobre genero y migracion ha crecido de manera significativa, pero es necesario preguntarse donde se encuentra hoy, a comienzos del siglo veintiuno. Gran parte de la investigacion sobre inmigracion muestra una ceguera androcentrica continua hacia los asuntos feministas y de genero (Morakvasic, 1984; Pedraza, 1991), situacion que a pesar de no ser novedosa, sigue siendo real. Sin embargo, en este ensayo se presenta una historia diferente, ya que hoy si existen estudios dinamicos sobre genero y migracion. La indagacion academica sigue estando, de cierto modo, fragmentada y en este breve ensayo esbozo seis corrientes distintivas de investigacion de genero y migracion1.
Data-driven Upsampling of Point Clouds

Abstract High quality upsampling of sparse 3D point clouds is critically useful for a wide range of geometric operations such as reconstruction, rendering, meshing, and analysis. In this paper, we propose a data-driven algorithm that enables an upsampling of 3D point clouds without the need for hard-coded rules. Our approach uses a deep network with Chamfer distance as the loss function, capable of learning the latent features in point clouds belonging to different object categories. We evaluate our algorithm across different amplification factors, with upsampling learned and performed on objects belonging to the same category as well as different categories. We also explore the desirable characteristics of input point clouds as a function of the distribution of the point samples. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of our algorithm in single-category training versus multi-category training scenarios. The final proposed model is compared against a baseline, optimization-based upsampling method. The results indicate that our algorithm is capable of generating more accurate upsamplings with less Chamfer loss.
Depression and Withdrawal in Children

In orienting oneself to this chapter, it is important that the reader be aware of several potentially confusing issues. The first is that depression and social withdrawal, though highly correlated, are distinct entities and not synonymous in children. Second, depression and withdrawal are symptoms that are manifested across all diagnostic categories of childhood psychopathology. Third, a rigorous application of scientific methodology has been sporadically applied in child psychiatry/psychology and has greatly lagged behind when compared to the adult arena. Fourth, the clinical picture for disturbed children is incessantly blurred by developmental, familial, social, cultural, and cognitive factors. Fifth, physiological and biochemical correlates to childhood psychopathology are minimally reported. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, depression in children has been referred to in several contexts in the scientific literature as a symptom, a symptom complex, a syndrome, and a specific disease entity. An attempt will be made throughout this chapter to specify the particular usage when the term is being applied.
History and philosophy of sport and physical activity

Seasoned teachers of philosophy of sport or kinesiology will be familiar with the difficulties in finding a textbook that will do justice to the historical and political and cultural issues surroun...
The Impact of Dedicated Short Range Communication on Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control

This paper reports on aspects of the performance of three operational deployments of Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) equipment. Performance metrics considered include throughput, latency, and the characteristics of the packet loss process. A laboratory deployment is used to establish a performance baseline for operation under ideal network conditions. Vehicle to infrastructure and vehicle to vehicle deployments are then used to evaluate the effects of real world deployments. The impact of degraded performance upon a Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) application is evaluated.
MIS vs. Open Inguinal Hernia for Uncomplicated Unilateral Hernia

An inguinal hernia is one of the most commonly encountered general surgical pathologies in the world. Approximately 27% of males and 3% of females will develop one in their lifetime. The surgical treatment for inguinal hernias continues to evolve, with open herniorrhaphy with tension-free mesh repair (TFR) as the current gold standard across the world. With laparoscopy and now robotic surgery, minimally invasive methods have been accepted as suitable alternatives to the open repair. However, in the past, these minimally invasive methods were primarily reserved for recurrent hernias and bilateral hernias since they offered two unique benefits—working in previously unviolated anatomic planes and visualization of both inguinal areas in the same procedure. Unfortunately, more expensive equipment is needed for minimally invasive methods and may not be universally available. As a result, debate continues over the optimal repair method for uncomplicated unilateral inguinal hernias. In experienced hands, recurrence rates are similar in both open and laparoscopic repair (<2%) (McCormack et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1):CD001785, 2003). Therefore, the decision-making process has shifted toward consideration of other post-procedural outcomes such as postoperative pain, time to return to daily activities, and early and late complications. Previous studies have shown that inexperience with laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair was associated with higher rates of postoperative complications. We aim to evaluate these factors and provide recommendations for the practicing general surgeon based on current and practical data.
The Role of Heat Shock Proteins in Regulating Receptor Signal Transduction

Heat shock proteins (Hsp) are a class of stress-inducible proteins that mainly act as molecular protein chaperones. This chaperone activity is diverse, including assisting in nascent protein folding and regulating client protein location and translocation within the cell. The main proteins within the Hsp family, particularly Hsp70 and Hsp90, also have a highly diverse and numerous set of protein clients, which when combined with the high expression levels of Hsp proteins (2%-6% of total protein content) establishes these molecules as "central regulators" of cell protein physiology. Among the client proteins, Hsps regulate numerous signal-transduction and receptor-regulatory kinases, and indeed directly regulate some receptors themselves. This also makes the Hsps, particularly Hsp90, central regulators of signal-transduction machinery, with important impacts on endogenous and drug ligand responses. Among these roles, Hsp90 in particular acts to maintain mature signaling kinases in a metastable conformation permissive for signaling activation. In this review, we will focus on the roles of the Hsps, with a special focus on Hsp90, in regulating receptor signaling and subsequent physiologic responses. We will also explore potential means to manipulate Hsp function to improve receptor-targeted therapies. Overall, Hsps are important regulators of receptor signaling that are receiving increasing interest and exploration, particularly as Hsp90 inhibitors progress toward clinical approval for the treatment of cancer. Understanding the complex interplay of Hsp regulation of receptor signaling may provide important avenues to improve patient treatment.
SHP2 is Overexpressed in Breast Cancer Cells and in Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast, Implying its Involvement in Breast Cancer Development

LB-32 The Src phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (SHP2) mediates mitogenic and cell survival signaling downstream of the epidermal growth factor receptor family, particularly EGFR and HER2. In addition, SHP2 is required for cell transformation induced by the oncogenic forms of Src and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3. Most significantly, SHP2 is a requisite for the transformation phenotypes of breast cancer cells. While studying the importance of SHP2 in the HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells, we discovered that the amount of the SHP2 protein was significantly higher in these cells than the normal breast epithelial cell lines. Further analysis of more breast cancer cells with variable level of HER2, EGFR and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression showed that SHP2 is indeed elevated in all of the breast cancer cells tested. Based on these findings, we reasoned that SHP2 might also be overexpressed in breast tumors. Therefore, we analyzed human breast tumor specimens by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a specific anti-SHP2 polyclonal antibody. We focused on infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast, the most common and aggressive form of the disease for these studies. Based on a 3+ IHC staining score, SHP2 was overexpressed in ~73% HER2-positive and in ~53% of HER2-negative tumors. De-identified hospital records showed that all of the SHP2 overexpression-positive tumors in the HER2-negative group were positive for nuclear accumulation of ERα/progesterone receptor (PR), suggesting that disregulation of an upstream signaling event, be it HER2 or ERα/PR, entails a corresponding disregulation in SHP2 levels. In contrast to HER2 and ERα/PR, which are disregulated in younger and older women, respectively, disregulation of SHP2 was spread across all age groups. In addition, overexpression of SHP2 was significantly correlated to metastasis of tumor cells to regional lymph nodes. Therefore, SHP2 is a broadly overexpressed protein in IDC of the breast than HER2, ERα and PR. Given that SHP2 is an essential transducer of cell proliferation, survival, transformation and migration downstream of EGFR/HER2, Src, cytokine receptors and integrins, it is highly likely that SHP2 plays a pivotal role in breast oncogenesis.
A complex interaction between age and malnutrition status contributes to higher odds of 7-day unplanned readmission – A retrospective study using electronic medical records

In this study, we conducted a large sample retrospective regression analysis on the role of malnutrition in the modification of a patient’s risk for unplanned readmission in pediatrics. Data on inpatient admissions within a two-year period were collected and analyzed. Using best …
Hormonal contributions to perinatal obsessive–compulsive disorder

Abstract Obsessive–compulsive symptoms and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) are more common in the perinatal period, the period including pregnancy, and through 1 year after delivery, and hormonal changes are implicated. For some women elevated estrogen increases symptoms, while for others the drop at delivery and the postpartum period is a more vulnerable time for OCD. The interaction of estrogen with serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate systems may be crucial. Information on progesterone, allopregnanolone, and oxytocin is more sparse but there are also indications that they are important in developing perinatal OCD. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis studies have not been consistent and comorbidities and multiple factors complicate study. A translational approach with animal studies and larger clinical cohorts is needed to utilize hormone findings in concert with other markers such as neuroimaging, genetics, and gut microbial composition. Future research provides new directions for treatment of perinatal OCD, capitalizing on hormonal contributions to obsessive–compulsive symptoms and perinatal OCD.
The effect of lead during the Flint water crisis on mouse embryonic stem cells self-renewal and differentiation markers.

Abstract During the Flint water crisis, the residents of Flint, Michigan experienced a significant increase in blood lead levels. For some this resulted in an increase as high as 40 μg/dL from 5 μg/dL, which is considered to be safe by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the extent of the effect of the lead exposure in early embryonic development is not greatly investigated, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of lead exposure at concentrations present in Flint, MI during the Flint water crisis in the embryonic development. The expression of pluripotency and self-renewal markers (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and Zfp-42) coupled with morphological and alkaline phosphatase assays revealed that mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) pluripotency and self-renewal capabilities are perturbed following exposure in a lead acetate concentration dependent manner. Moreover, mouse embryoid bodies (mEB), which provide ideal models for testing toxicity in vitro, revealed that lead acetate exposure induces fewer but larger mEBs, whereas gene expression analysis of lineage specific transcription factors showed an increased mRNA level of endodermal (Gata 4, Gata 6, Sox 7) and mesodermal markers (Eomes, Hand 1, Slug 1) while the mRNA level of ectodermal markers (Otx 2, Noggin, Sox 1) decreased. Taken all together, these results indicate that lead acetate disturbs the pluripotency of mESC and differentiation potential of mEBs by inhibiting differentiation towards ectodermal lineages and inducing it towards endodermal and mesodermal lineages.
Lifting Scholars’ Voices: An Analysis of Scholars’ Reflections on Mentoring as Support in the Academy

This chapter summarizes student scholars, working scholars and preeminent scholars’ narratives regarding mentoring as a source of critical support for underrepresented scholars in the academy. Mentoring is lifted to support doctoral student success and to assist junior faculty in earning tenure and promotion. Mentor and protege voices highlight the need for mentoring, impediments to the process, as well as effective mentoring strategies.
CHAPTER II – PHYSIOLOGY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the physiological data regarding the law of initial value (LIV), which originated from the study of the autonomic nervous system. The deficiency of the concept of the sympathetic-parasympathetic nerves as the exclusive basis of the LIV is clearly demonstrated on the organs wthat have only sympathetic innervation like the nictitating membrane, pilo-motor muscles, and sweat-glands. The LIV applies not only to the stimulation of the peripheral autonomic nerves but also to the autonomic centers in the diencephalon. W. R. Hess proved that the localization of functions in that area is not sharp and it was always wondered whether it would become sharper if the IVs of the functions studied are taken into account. Still less sharp is the demarcation of ergotropic and trophotropic areas in the brain cortex. A special source of information on the role of the LIV in the protein metabolism is studies dealing with the specific-dynamic effect of a protein meal on basal metabolism.
Referencing Race = Racist? Examining Perceptions of References to a Target’s Race as Offensive:

We examined majority group members’ perceptions of racial slurs, compared to what we have labeled as combination terms. These combination terms possess the same semantic and pragmatic linguistic fu...