cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Scansystem method for detection of bacterially contaminated platelets

BACKGROUND: Platelet (PLT) bacterial contamination occurs in approximately 1 in 2000 PLT units. The College of American Pathologists recommends and AABB requires procedures to detect PLT bacterial contamination. Although two methods, BacT/ALERT (bioMerieux) and Pall BDS (Pall Corporation), have FDA approval for quality control testing, additional methods are in development. One such method was evaluated, the Scansystem (Hemosystem), which has been developed for use on leukoreduced PLT components between 30 and 72 hours after collection. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Leukoreduced, single-donor apheresis PLT units (LR-SDPs) were inoculated with 10 bacterial species (low and high inocula) associated with PLT contamination. Bacterial detection was compared with the Scansystem and BacT/ALERT. Testing was initiated (10 replicates performed) when LR-SDPs were experimentally inoculated with bacteria. The Scansystem was evaluated 30 hours later, the shortest manufacturer recommended time after PLT collection. RESULTS: All replicates were positive with the Scansystem at 30 hours and with the BacT/ALERT, at 9.3 to 24.0 hours after inoculation. The Scansystem detected bacteria in 83 of 200 replicates (42%) at the time of inoculation indicating a potential for earlier application. CONCLUSIONS: The Scansystem, used to test LR-SDPs 30 hours after bacterial inoculation, detected all 20 replicates with a sensitivity equal to the BacT/ALERT system. Based on use of Scansystem with LR-SDPs 30 hours after collection and the BacT/ALERT being inoculated 24 hours after collection and incubated for an additional 24 hours before being determined to be negative, the Scansystem will potentially provide results at an earlier time point (32 hr) than provided by the BacT/ALERT system (48 hr).
Experimental Reproduction of Enterococcal Spondylitis in Male Broiler Breeder Chickens

Abstract There has been a recent emergence of epidemic spinal infections with necrosis causing lameness and mortality in male broilers and broiler breeders. Mortality in affected flocks may be as high as 15%. The disease has been called enterococcal spondylitis (ES), based on the frequent isolation of Enterococcus cecorum from the lesions and necrosis and inflammation observed in the free thoracic vertebrae (FTV) of affected birds. Male broiler breeders in an experimental setting were challenged with pure E. cecorum isolates obtained from ES-affected commercial flocks. Challenge routes included oral gavage (108), intravenous (IV; 103), and air sac (AS; 103). Half the study birds in each group were chemically immunosuppressed with dexamethasone. Spinal lesions were observed grossly in birds challenged intravenously (2.9%) and birds challenged orally (6.1%). Microscopic spinal lesions consistent with ES were more frequently identified compared with gross lesions in the orally challenged group (30.3%). Chemi...
Regional vulnerability of longitudinal cortical association connectivity: Associated with structural network topology alterations in preterm children with cerebral palsy

Preterm born children with spastic diplegia type of cerebral palsy and white matter injury or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), are known to have motor, visual and cognitive impairments. Most diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies performed in this group have demonstrated widespread abnormalities using averaged deterministic tractography and voxel-based DTI measurements. Little is known about structural network correlates of white matter topography and reorganization in preterm cerebral palsy, despite the availability of new therapies and the need for brain imaging biomarkers. Here, we combined novel post-processing methodology of probabilistic tractography data in this preterm cohort to improve spatial and regional delineation of longitudinal cortical association tract abnormalities using an along-tract approach, and compared these data to structural DTI cortical network topology analysis. DTI images were acquired on 16 preterm children with cerebral palsy (mean age 5.6 ± 4) and 75 healthy controls (mean age 5.7 ± 3.4). Despite mean tract analysis, Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) demonstrating diffusely reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) reduction in all white matter tracts, the along-tract analysis improved the detection of regional tract vulnerability. The along-tract map-structural network topology correlates revealed two associations: (1) reduced regional posterior–anterior gradient in FA of the longitudinal visual cortical association tracts (inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, optic radiation, posterior thalamic radiation) correlated with reduced posterior–anterior gradient of intra-regional (nodal efficiency) metrics with relative sparing of frontal and temporal regions; and (2) reduced regional FA within frontal–thalamic–striatal white matter pathways (anterior limb/anterior thalamic radiation, superior longitudinal fasciculus and cortical spinal tract) correlated with alteration in eigenvector centrality, clustering coefficient (inter-regional) and participation co-efficient (inter-modular) alterations of frontal–striatal and fronto-limbic nodes suggesting re-organization of these pathways. Both along tract and structural topology network measurements correlated strongly with motor and visual clinical outcome scores. This study shows the value of combining along-tract analysis and structural network topology in depicting not only selective parietal occipital regional vulnerability but also reorganization of frontal–striatal and frontal–limbic pathways in preterm children with cerebral palsy. These finding also support the concept that widespread, but selective posterior–anterior neural network connectivity alterations in preterm children with cerebral palsy likely contribute to the pathogenesis of neurosensory and cognitive impairment in this group.
Diagnostic Surgical Pathology in Lung Cancer: Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background This article provides evidence-based background and recommendations for the development of American College of Chest Physicians guidelines for the diagnosis and management of lung cancer. Specific population, intervention, comparison, and outcome questions were addressed to arrive at consensus recommendations. Methods A systematic search of the medical and scientific literature using MEDLINE and PubMed was performed for the years 1990 to 2011 and limited to literature on humans and articles written in English. Our approach to examining the evidence and formulating recommendations is described in the "Methodology for Lung Cancer Evidence Review and Guideline Development: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (2nd Edition)" and updated in "Methodology for Development of Guidelines for Lung Cancer: Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines." Results Pathologic examination results of lung cancers should be recorded in a synoptic form to include important prognostic features of histologic type, tumor size and location, involvement of visceral pleura, extension to regional and distant lymph nodes, and metastatic spread to visceral organs and bone to increase completeness of recording. It is important for the surgical pathologist to make distinctions between malignant mesothelioma and pleural adenocarcinomas, small cell and non-small cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, and primary and metastatic carcinomas of the lung. In challenging cases of pathologic differential diagnosis, additional studies may enable the separation of distinct tumor types. Conclusions Pathologic assessment of lung cancers is a crucial component for the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of lung cancer, making the pathologist a critical member of the clinical and management team. Selective diagnostic techniques, including limited designed immunohistochemical panels, and decision analysis will increase diagnostic accuracy.
Association between Dentinal Sclerosis and Pulpal Floor Thickness: Television Radiographic Evaluation

A relationship is found to exist between the depth of a carious lesion and the presence of dentinal sclerosis; calcification is produced when calcium hydroxide-methylcellulose is used as a base beneath restorative materials. Electronic instrumentation was used to measure changes of dimension in the pulpal floor.
Older Adults' Perspectives on HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies for Rural Kenya

HIV/AIDS is devastating sub-Saharan Africa with great impact in the rural communities. Though prevention is the mainstay of various responses to the epidemic, communication strategies used to influence risk perception and motivate behavior change are culturally inappropriate, hence the lack of success. The bulk of prevention efforts target the 15–49 age group, resulting in limited knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS in adults over age 50 who are considered at a lower or no risk of infection. This paper addresses older adults as a key segment of the population in HIV/AIDS prevention given the increasing number that is living with the disease or newly infected. Many older adults are also caregivers of those infected and affected by the disease. As cultural, social, political, and opinion leaders in rural Kenya, older adults are in a position to influence attitudes and behaviors of their community members, but they have not been involved in the current intervention strategies. Through application of a pa...
Early childhood stress is associated with elevated antibody levels to herpes simplex virus type 1

It is well known that children need solicitous parenting and a nurturing rearing environment to ensure their normal behavioral development. Early adversity often negatively impacts emotional and mental well-being, but it is less clearly established how much the maturation and regulation of physiological systems is also compromised. The following research investigated the effect of 2 different types of adverse childhood experiences, early deprivation through institutionalization and physical abuse, on a previously unexplored outcome: the containment of herpes simplex virus (HSV). The presence of HSV-specific antibody in salivary specimens was determined in 155 adolescents, including 41 postinstitutionalized, 34 physically-abused, and 80 demographically-similar control youth. Across 4 school and home days, HSV antibody was higher in both postinstitutionalized and physically-abused adolescents when compared with control participants. Because the prevalence of HSV infection was similar across the groups, the elevated antibody was likely indicative of viral recrudescence from latency. Total secretory Ig-A secretion was associated with HSV, but did not account for the group differences in HSV-specific antibody. These findings are likely caused by a failure of cellular immune processes to limit viral reactivation, indicating a persistent effect of early rearing on immune functioning. The fact that antibody profiles were still altered years after adoption into a more benevolent setting with supportive families suggests these results were not caused by contemporaneous factors, but rather reflect a lingering influence of earlier life experiences.
Green Cities: Urban Growth and the Environment

Ecological planning of cities is now assumed by many regulators to be a win-win proposition and numerous initiatives on the “greening of cities” are taking shape across the world. No longer are Cur...
Convergent-Beam Low Energy Electron Diffraction (CBLEED) and the Measurement of Surface Dipole Layers

We propose the formation of LEED patterns using a highly convergent beam forming a probe of nanometer dimensions. A reflection rocking curve may then be recorded in many diffraction orders simultaneously. Multiple scattering calculations show that the intensity variations within these rocking curves is as sensitive to the parameters describing the surface dipole layer as conventional I/V scans. However the data may be collected from areas sufficiently small to avoid defects and surface steps, radiation damage controlled by use of low voltages, and the information depth selected by choice of the (constant) voltage. We briefly discuss also the application of this method to oxides and the formation of atomic-resolution scanning images in an idealized instrument in which coherent diffracted LEED orders overlap.
Managing conflict in software testing

Conflict between software testers and developers is inevitable, but mindful managers minimize its effect on development projects through communication, mutual respect, even social interaction.
Insulin Resistance: Metabolic Mechanisms and Consequences in the Heart

Insulin resistance is a characteristic feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus and impacts the heart in various ways. Impaired insulin-mediated glucose uptake is a uniformly observed characteristic of the heart in these states, although changes in upstream kinase signaling are variable and dependent on the severity and duration of the associated obesity or diabetes mellitus. The understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological role of insulin resistance in the heart is evolving. To maintain its high energy demands, the heart is capable of using many metabolic substrates. Although insulin signaling may directly regulate cardiac metabolism, its main role is likely the regulation of substrate delivery from the periphery to the heart. In addition to promoting glucose uptake, insulin regulates long-chain fatty acid uptake, protein synthesis, and vascular function in the normal cardiovascular system. Recent advances in understanding the role of metabolic, signaling, and inflammatory pathways in obesity have provided opportunities to better understand the pathophysiology of insulin resistance in the heart. This review will summarize our current understanding of metabolic mechanisms for and consequences of insulin resistance in the heart and will discuss potential new areas for investigating novel mechanisms that contribute to insulin resistance in the heart.
Dim star fringe stabilization demonstration using pathlength feed-forward on the SIM testbed 3 (STB3)

Future space-based optical interferometers such as the Space Interferometer Mission require fringe stabilization to the level of nanometers in order to produce astrometric data at the micro-arc-second level. Even the best attitude control system available to date will not be able to stabilize the attitude of a several thousand pound spacecraft to a few milli-arc-seconds. Active pathlength control is usually implemented to compensate for attitude drift of the spacecraft. This issue has been addressed in previous experiments while tracking bright stars. In the case of dim stars, as the sensor bandwidth falls below one hertz, feedback control will not provide sufficient rejection. However, stabilization of the fringes from a dim-star down to the nanometer level can be done open loop using information from additional interferometers looking at bright guide stars. The STB3 testbed developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory features three optical interferometers sharing a common baseline, dynamically representative to the SIM interferometer. An artificial star feeding the interferometers is installed on a separate optics bench. Voice coils are used to simulate the attitude motion of the spacecraft by moving the entire bench. Data measured on STB3 show that fringe motion of a dim star due to spacecraft attitude changes can be attenuated by 80 dB at 0.1Hz without feedback control, using only information from two guide stars. This paper describes the STB3 setup, the pathlength feed-forward architecture, implementation issues and data collected with the system.
The Effects of Fading on Antijam Performance Requirements

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of fading on the performance of both conventional and spread spectrum systems. The analyses presented herein take into account the effects of fading on the jamming signal as well as fading of the communications signal. It is assumed that the envelopes of both the desired signal and the jamming signal fade with a Rice distribution. The distribution of the signal-to-jammer ratio ( S/J ) is thus the result of squaring the ratio of two independent Rice random variables. An expression for the distribution of the ratio of two Rice random variables is obtained and this expression is used to evaluate the effects of fading on performance. Two cases are considered. In the first case, the fading is assumed to be slow compared to the duration of a message. In this case, the system performance is described by the probability that the message is successfully transmitted, averaged over all possible values of the S/J . This performance measure is often referred to as the availability of the system. In the second case, the fading is assumed to be slow compared to the symbol duration but fast compared to the message duration. In this case, the performance is best described by averaging the bit error rate over all possible values of the S/J . A number of numerical examples is presented. In general, these results show that, for the case of very slow fading (case 1), the communicators suffer a performance loss of up to 10 dB compared to the nonfading case, depending on the required availability and the fading parameters. In case 2, fading appears to have little impact on the jammer but a major impact on the communicators, so that losses of up to 20 dB compared to the nonfading case are observed. In case 2, the performance for the situation in which both the signal and the jammer fade is approximately the same as the performance in the situation where only the signal fades. It is shown that, as in the standard fading model in which only the signal fades, error correction coding with interleaving can be effective in reducing the losses caused by fading.
Mentoring women faculty: an instrumental case study of strategic collaboration

Numerous studies of college and university faculty have shown that women have fewer mentors and face greater professional isolation, slower rates of promotion, and increased likelihood of leaving an institution before gaining tenure than do their male counterparts. Comparable problems confront women in both national and international corporations as they seek career advancement. To address these problems, many organizations have created formal mentoring programs, which have achieved varying degrees of success. This article presents an instrumental case study of the implementation of a new mentoring model in a university context. The model, strategic collaboration, builds on recent research describing mentoring as a network activity. The collaborative, peer‐oriented structure of the approach, which removes many of the problems inherent in traditional mentoring programs while also retaining their benefits, suggests that it can be particularly beneficial for women seeking further career advancement.
Newer concepts of first branchial cleft defects

Duplication embryological anomalies of the first branchial cleft are reported. Six cases are presented which were treated since 1963. A classification of these cases is suggested wherein there are Type I and Type II lesions. Type I is of ectodermal origin and is considered a duplication of the membranous external auditory canal. Initial infection and subsequent infection often necessitate repeated incision and drainage. Only one of the five cases of Type I did not show infection. Characteristically, these lesions occur medial to the concha and frequently extend to the postauricular crease. They pass anterior and deep to the ear lobe, superior to the facial nerve, parallel to normal external auditory canal and finally end in a cul-de-sac on a bony plate at the level of the mesotympanum. Microscopically, these lesions are cystic, have a squamous epithelium lining, form keratin and may or may not show accessory skin structures. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. The surgery must be performed during remission from infection and consists mainly of parotid gland and facial nerve dissections. After the lesion is excised, the normal membranous external auditory canal is incised lengthwise, and an iodoform pack is placed in the area of the excised anomaly and brought out externally through the recently incised membranous external auditory canal and the meatus. During the first few days postoperatively, the pack is gradually removed and the bed of the wound repacked if necessary. Such a technique enhances wound healing. Type II are duplication anomalies of the membranous external auditory canal and pinna; they contain skin (ectoderm )and cartilage (mesoderm). These anomalies likewise are usually diagnosed after infection has taken place and after incision and drainage of an abscess at a point below the angle of the mandible. The upward extension of this lesion passes over the angle or horizontal ramus of the mandible. It continues upward passing either lateral or medial to the facial nerve and in rare instances may split its main trunk. It may end inferior to the membranous external auditory canal or form a sinus in that location. The middle ear is normal. Only one case with such anomaly is reported here, but in 1963, Work and Proctor reported five of six cases as Type II anomalies. Wide surgical excision is curative. The facial nerve must be preserved intact. Types I and II anomalies are not associated with pretragal cysts or sinuses.
Women: The Gatekeepers Of Urban Neighborhoods

: This paper is based on an ethnographic study of strategies of neighborhood defense in a working class ethnic community in Green point, Brooklyn. The author explores women's efforts to resist racial change. White non-Hispanic women in Green point are the guardians of the neighborhood, acting as local observers of street life and serving as informal brokers in the local real estate market. The position of these women at the center of informational exchange is an important source of informal power for them and has long-term consequences for the neighborhood.
Running scared: therapists' excessive concerns about following rules

Mental health professionals sometimes excessively follow rules and regulations to the point of neglecting or even injuring their clients. Five vignettes are presented that illustrate how this problem might occur in clinical or administrative decisions. The vignettes involve confidentiality, informed consent, reporting of sexual abuse, and other issues. Several specific recommendations are made that emphasize common sense and clinical reasoning, rather than relying merely on legal reasoning.
Simultaneous fecal microbial and metabolite profiling enables accurate classification of pediatric irritable bowel syndrome

We previously showed that stool samples of pre-adolescent and adolescent US children diagnosed with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) had different compositions of microbiota and metabolites compared to healthy age-matched controls. Here we explored whether observed fecal microbiota and metabolite differences between these two adolescent populations can be used to discriminate between IBS and health. We constructed individual microbiota- and metabolite-based sample classification models based on the partial least squares multivariate analysis and then applied a Bayesian approach to integrate individual models into a single classifier. The resulting combined classification achieved 84 % accuracy of correct sample group assignment and 86 % prediction for IBS-D in cross-validation tests. The performance of the cumulative classification model was further validated by the de novo analysis of stool samples from a small independent IBS-D cohort. High-throughput microbial and metabolite profiling of subject stool samples can be used to facilitate IBS diagnosis.
FDA and Product Names

Many doctors might be surprised to learn that FDA must approve a drug’s proprietary or brand name before the drug is allowed on the market. The requirement for pre-market approval of the brand name is primarily to avoid confusion and errors because of drugs having names which are very similar. Medication errors are actually very common and estimated to lead to death in an estimated 7,000 people annually. Obviously, having similarly named drugs on the market can cause medication errors, and FDA data suggests that nearly 13 % of medication errors are related to confusion over medication names. Studies show that more than 30 % of all handwritten prescriptions contained a mistake of some type that required deciphering and correcting by a pharmacist. (Even though FDA has programs to prevent the marketing of drug names which might be confused with another drug, many, for example Adderal and Inderal or Noroxin and Neurontin, are nevertheless on the market. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices List of Confused Drug Names has several hundred examples!!)
Ab initio kinetics studies of hydrogen atom abstraction from methyl propanoate

The kinetics of hydrogen abstraction by five radicals (H, CH3, O(3P), OH, and HO2) from a biodiesel surrogate, methyl propanoate (MP), is theoretically investigated. We employ high-level ab initio quantum chemistry methods, coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples correction (CCSD(T)) and multi-reference singles and doubles configuration interaction (MRSDCI) with the Davidson-Silver (DS) correction, and obtain chemically accurate reaction energetics. Overall, MRSDCI + DS predicts comparable energetics to CCSD(T) for MP + H/CH3/O/OH. The rate constants are computed using transition state theory (TST-Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory) in conjunction with the separable-hindered-rotor approximation, variable reaction coordinate TST, and the multi-structure all-structure (MS-AS) approach. A simplified method, semi-multi-structure, is also employed for MP + OH/HO2, and the rate coefficients with this less expensive method are in good agreement with the results obtained with the MS-AS method. The fitted modified Arrhenius expressions are provided over a temperature range of 250 to 2000 K. The predicted rate coefficients for MP + OH agree remarkably well with experimental data over a wide temperature range. Branching ratio analysis of all the studied reactions shows that abstractions of the secondary H atoms within MP are expected to dominate the consumption of fuel at low temperatures, and the contributions of abstractions from the two methyl groups increase with temperature for all abstracting radicals.
A Survey of Occupational Therapy Practice in Beijing, China.

There is an increasing demand for rehabilitation services in China as a result of the growing number of people with physical and mental challenges, as well as the growing population of older adults. The purpose of this study was to explore the current occupational therapy (OT) resources available in Beijing, China, to serve as the first step in planning the response to increasing demand for OT services from the people of China. Specifically, using the snowball sampling survey method, we explored the work practice, including years of working experience, work setting, weekly work hours, annual income and factors related to job satisfaction among occupational therapists in Beijing, China. A total of 44 occupational therapists currently working in the Beijing area responded to our survey. The results demonstrated that most of the therapists working in Beijing area were young and inexperienced. Despite the fact that the participants had an average age of 31 years old and an average of 8 years' working experience, 61.4% of therapists were under 30 years old and more than half of therapists had less than 5 years of OT experiences. Among those included in the study sample, 50% had earned degrees in OT, and the rest of the OT personnel received OT-related on-the-job training in various forms and lengths of time. A majority of the participants worked in hospital settings with adults or children with physical disabilities and used therapeutic activities and therapeutic exercises. Being an occupational therapist is not a high-paying job. Education satisfaction, work experience and annual income are the factors related to job satisfaction for the participants. The majority of occupational therapists expressed the need to receive more support for clinical-related trainings. We plan to expand this pilot study nationwide to gain an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the OT workforce in China. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical Implications of Brushite Calculi

AbstractThe clinical history of 30 patients with a total of 46 proved brushite urinary calculi was reviewed. The patients were active metabolically with 87% having a history of multiple calculi. Of the brushite stones 61% appeared hyperdense on x-ray but they had no consistent shape. Of the patients who were metabolically evaluated 82% had treatable abnormalities. Treatment with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy or ureteroscopy and ureteral lithotripsy was 92% successful in rendering the patient stone-free, whereas, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy monotherapy resulted in a stonefree rate of only 11%. Brushite stone patients require aggressive treatment, full metabolic evaluation and close clinical followup.
The study of anxiety and signing as social science

(1995). The study of anxiety and signing as social science. Journal of Applied Communication Research: Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 163-166.
Prostate Cancer Metastases to Inguinal Lymph Nodes Detected by Attenuation-Corrected 11C-Acetate PET/CT

The inguinal lymph nodes are an unusual site of metastases for prostate adenocarcinoma. We present a case in which a 61-y-old man with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer underwent attenuation-corrected (11)C-acetate PET/CT, which demonstrated multiple foci of increased activity in the left inguinal, left iliac chain, and right inguinal regions. The attenuation-corrected CT portion of the scan also showed anterior wall thickening of the rectum. The imaging findings were suggestive of metastatic involvement of the rectum below the dentate line with subsequent spread to the inguinal lymph nodes.
A Germinal Center- Derived B Cell Lymphoma Model

Abstract Abstract 2008 Most human B-cell lymphomas represent mature phenotypes of germinal center (GC) or post-GC origin and are frequently associated with chromosomal translocations, often involving the rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) loci to various cellular oncogenes, leading to oncogenic activation. The mechanisms underlying these processes, however, are not well understood. Several studies suggest that these genetic lesions arise from errors of physiologic DNA rearrangements in GC B cells, namely class switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM). Here we report the generation of a mouse model in which DNA breaks are physiologically instituted in mature B cells, yet inefficiently repaired via specific deletion of DNA repair gene XRCC4 in GC B cells, thus effectively creating an in vivo environment for errors in DNA rearrangements. These activated B cells exhibit significant increased chromosomal IgH locus breaks and reduced CSR. In p53-deficient background, these mice develop B-cell lymphoma from 5.5 to 16 months. These clonally developed tumors characteristically harbor chromosomal translocations and phenotypically resemble mature phenotypes. Many of these tumors bear mutated V genes, suggesting that those cells have transited through GC. Thus, this mouse model mimics human B-cell lymphoma and might be useful for the development of therapeutic interventions in B-cell lymphoma. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Dopamine reward prediction errors reflect hidden-state inference across time

Midbrain dopamine neurons signal reward prediction error (RPE), or actual minus expected reward. The temporal difference (TD) learning model has been a cornerstone in understanding how dopamine RPEs could drive associative learning. Classically, TD learning imparts value to features that serially track elapsed time relative to observable stimuli. In the real world, however, sensory stimuli provide ambiguous information about the hidden state of the environment, leading to the proposal that TD learning might instead compute a value signal based on an inferred distribution of hidden states (a 'belief state'). Here we asked whether dopaminergic signaling supports a TD learning framework that operates over hidden states. We found that dopamine signaling showed a notable difference between two tasks that differed only with respect to whether reward was delivered in a deterministic manner. Our results favor an associative learning rule that combines cached values with hidden-state inference.
Monitoring neonates for ototoxicity.

OBJECTIVES Neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at greater risk of permanent hearing loss compared to infants in well mother and baby units. Several factors have been associated with this increased prevalence of hearing loss, including congenital infections (e.g. cytomegalovirus or syphilis), ototoxic drugs (such as aminoglycoside or glycopeptide antibiotics), low birth weight, hypoxia and length of stay. The aetiology of this increased prevalence of hearing loss remains poorly understood. DESIGN Here we review current practice and discuss the feasibility of designing improved ototoxicity screening and monitoring protocols to better identify acquired, drug-induced hearing loss in NICU neonates. STUDY SAMPLE A review of published literature. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that current audiological screening or monitoring protocols for neonates are not designed to adequately detect early onset of ototoxicity. This paper offers a detailed review of evidence-based research, and offers recommendations for developing and implementing an ototoxicity monitoring protocol for young infants, before and after discharge from the hospital.
A Radon-Based Mass Balance Model for Assessing Groundwater Inflows to Lakes

Radon (Rn) in lake waters can be derived from the following sources: production by decay of dissolved Ra-226 (parent of Rn-222); diffusion from ­sediments; inflow from streams or rivers (especially if these surface inputs are groundwater derived); and direct groundwater inputs. Losses of radon from lakes include radioactive decay; evasion to the atmosphere; and outflows of lake water either by surface flow or recharge to underlying aquifers. We have examined the radon budget of a small lake in Florida and observed that inputs appear to be dominated by groundwater and losses via atmospheric evasion. This prompted us to develop a simple mass balance model to allow for rapid estimations of groundwater flow into lakes.
Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Aesthetic Surgeon

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autogenously harvested blood plasma containing concentrated levels of platelets and growth factors. PRP has been identified as a promising treatment for enhancing wound healing and has been used for decades in multiple medical specialties including cardiac surgery, oral surgery, ophthalmology, and orthopedic surgery. Growing evidence for multiple aesthetic surgery applications has recently been developed, particularly for hair restoration and skin rejuvenation. The goal of this article is to review the current medical literature on PRP and identify promising applications that may be integrated into a modern aesthetic surgery practice. The evidence for the use of PRP technology is rapidly expanding as a powerful therapy for select cosmetic surgery patients.
Analysis of Alerting System Failures in Commercial Aviation Accidents

The role of an alerting system is to make the system operator (e.g., pilot) aware of an impending hazard or unsafe state so the hazard can be avoided or managed successfully. A review of 46 commercial aviation accidents (between 1998 and 2014) revealed that, in the vast majority of events, either the hazard was not alerted or relevant hazard alerting occurred but failed to aid the flight crew sufficiently. For this set of events, alerting system failures were placed in one of five phases: Detection, Understanding, Action Selection, Prioritization, and Execution. This study also reviewed the evolution of alerting system schemes in commercial aviation, which revealed naive assumptions about pilot reliability in monitoring flight path parameters; specifically, pilot monitoring was assumed to be more effective than it actually is. Examples are provided of the types of alerting system failures that have occurred, and recommendations are provided for alerting system improvements.
The Effect of Being Found with Stroke Symptoms on Predictors of Hospital Arrival.

Background Studies examining predictors of delay in hospital arrival after stroke symptom onset have not accounted for patients who are found with their symptoms and cannot seek help independently. Our objective is to show that inclusion of patients who are “found down” in studies of prehospital delay biases the estimated association of sociodemographic and clinical variables with time of hospital arrival. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with acute ischemic stroke presenting to a tertiary care hospital in the Bronx, New York. Results Compared with all other patients with acute ischemic stroke (N = 1784), patients who were found down (N = 120) were more likely to be older (75 ± 13 years versus 68 ± 14 years, P Conclusions Being found with stroke symptoms confounds the association of sociodemographic and clinical variables with time of hospital arrival. Studies of predictors of prehospital delay should therefore exclude patients who are found down.
Changes with Age in Problem Solving

Reasoning is among the most cherished of man’s abilities. It is, however, an aspect of cognitive performance which has proved more difficult to study than several others such as intelligence, memory, and learning. As a result, the reasoning literature is more meager and less systematic than the literature in other areas; and, not surprisingly, that picture is reflected in the area of reasoning and aging as well.
Must There Be a Balance of Nature

The balance of nature concept is an old idea that manifests itself in anumber of forms in population and community ecology. This paper focuseson population ecology, where controversy surrounding the balance ofnature takes the form of perennial debates over the significance ofdensity dependence, population regulation, and species interactions suchas competition. One of the most striking features of these debates, overthe course of the previous century in ecology, is the tendency to arguethe case on largely conceptual grounds. This paper explores twoquestions. Why this tendency to settle on conceptual grounds what is soobviously an empirical issue? Are there any good conceptual arguments tobe had in this area?
When doctors disagree.

A summary of the communication techniques that can be used to discuss the benefits of hospice care with terminally ill patients. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
General Fractional Opial Type Inequalities

A large variety of Lp(p 0) form very general Opial type inequalities arepresented engaging different order generalized fractional derivatives of a function. These arebased on a generalization of Taylor’s formula for generalized fractional derivatives. In the finalresults of this work, a monotonicity property of the involved function/highest-order generalizedfractional derivative is used.
Dissolution Rates of Surfactants

Information on dissolution rates of surfactants is reviewed and discussed. One or more viscous liquidcrystalline phases form during dissolution in water of pure liquid nonionic surfactants of the linear alcoholethoxylate type, as expected from known equilibrium phase diagrams. Dissolution rates are controlled bydiffusion at temperatures below a critical solution point T C,where the aqueous micellar solution begins to separate into dilute and concentrated phases. Analysis oflinear penetration and drop dissolution experiments yields values of effective diffusion coefficients foreach phase. Once the temperature exceeds T C,solubility of surfactant in the aqueous phase falls rapidly to very low values and complete dissolutiondoes not occur. Particularly striking is formation by a swelling process at temperatures somewhatabove T C of filaments of the lamellar liquid crystallinephase known as myelinic figures. Phospholipids and other rather lipophilic surfactants also form myelinicfigures when contacted with water. A model of their growth is described and applied to the pure anionicsurfactant Aerosol OT. Using data from linear penetration experiments, one can calculate effectivediffusivities in the liquid crystalline phases (other than the myelins) and the composition of the myelins.Preferential dissolution of more hydrophilic species occurs during dissolution of drops of surfactant mixtures,causing dissolution rates to decrease as the drops become less soluble. Moreover, drop compositions canreach states where new phases form, leading to intriguing behavior such as spontaneous emulsification, anisotropicswelling, and formation of jets.
A Practical Approach to the Chemical Analysis of Historical Materials

Chemical analysis is an underused tool in historical archaeological investigations, despite the fact that much valuable information can be obtained from a chemical study of historical artifacts. Such analyses usually focus on the identification of materials, with the aim of elucidating their origins and historical uses. In a chemical sense, this proceeds through a number of stages, starting with simple observations and often ending with sophisticated measurements. It is work that can employ many different wet-chemical and instrumental methodologies, their use depending on both the analyst’s insights and the availability of equipment in the laboratory. It is important to recognize which instruments cannot be done without in the analytical process and which may be too costly to warrant the investment. The diverse nature of the samples often leads to methodological challenges, underscoring the uncertainties inherent in the chemical analysis of historical artifacts.
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) maintains lymphocyte-stromal cell axis in peripheral lymph nodes

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a critical cytokine in the differentiation of Th2 cells, B-cells, and antibody isotype switching. Despite the myriad of functions known to be mediated by IL-4, its role in the spatial organization of lymph node compartments is not well understood. Our studies demonstrate that IL-4 is vital for proper positioning of B cell, T cell and CD11c+ dendritic cells in lymph nodes in steady state, and that the lack of IL-4 and IL-4 receptor (IL-4Rα) correlates with a diminished immune response to Schistosoma mansoni antigens. The absence of IL4 and IL-4R resulted in decreased germinal center (GC) formation, T follicular helper (Tfh) and plasma cells expansion in peripheral lymph nodes in response to this Th2 polarizing antigen, but not to Th1 polarizing Toxoplasma gondii antigens. Stromal cell populations are known to support lymphocyte organization and function within secondary lymphoid tissues. Importantly, we observed a marked disorganization of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), CD31+ lymphatic, and blood endothelial cells in mice lacking IL4R, suggesting that the lymphocyte-stromal cell axis is maintained by IL-4. Our study also shows that absence of IL-4Rα correlates with significant down-regulation of Lymphotoxin-beta (LTβ) and Lymphotoxin alpha (LTα) gene expression, which is vital for the development of specific stromal populations. Altogether, our results reveal a previously unexplored role of IL-4 in the maintenance of peripheral lymphoid organ microenvironments during an immune challenge as well as in homeostasis.
How Transparency Can Contribute to Development

Comprehensive, credible, and comparable accounting standards are essential to creating an enabling regulatory environment for scaling-up investment in developing countries to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Enhanced disclosure and transparency through quality accounting raises investor confidence and helps deepen capital markets, which makes the implementation of developmental policies more effective. In this context, accountants play a unique and strategic role in creating economic incentives for sustainable finance by encouraging a greater focus on long-term fundamentals.
Writing for Publication

This chapter addresses writing for publication from eight perspectives: (a) motivation to write, (b) types of publications, (c) International Committee on Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations, (d) study design and reporting conventions, (e) peer review, (f) words of wisdom, and (g) the craft of writing. Writing for professional publication is hard work that can improve with practice and feedback. Newcomers to professional writing are encouraged to seek advice from experienced colleagues and from many other published resources. The future of healthcare simulation research will depend, in part, on scholars and writers who advance this craft.
Combining eQTL and SNP Annotation Data to Identify Functional Noncoding SNPs in GWAS Trait-Associated Regions.

We describe a statistical method for prioritizing candidate causal noncoding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in regions of the genome that are detected as trait-associated in a population-based genome-wide association study (GWAS). Our method's key step is to combine, within a naive Bayes-like framework, three quantities for each SNP: (1) the p-value for the association test between the SNP's genotype and the trait; (2) the p-value for the SNP's cis-expression quantitative trait locus (cis-eQTL) association test; and (3) a model-based prediction score for the SNP's potential to be a regulatory SNP (rSNP). The method is flexible with respect to the source of the model-based rSNP prediction score; we demonstrate the method using scores obtained using the previously published machine-learning-based rSNP prediction method, CERENKOV2. Because it requires only the GWAS trait association test p-value for each SNP and not full genotype information, our method is applicable for GWAS secondary analysis in the common situation where only summary data (and not full genotype data) are readily available. We illustrate how the method works in step-by-step fashion.
Osteocyte Cellular Senescence

Senescent cells are now known to accumulate in multiple tissues with aging and through their inflammation (the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, SASP) contribute to aging and chronic diseases. Here, we review the roles of senescent osteocytes in the context of bone loss. Numerous studies have established that senescent osteocytes accumulate in the bone microenvironment with aging in mice and in humans. Moreover, at least in mice, elimination of senescent cells results in attenuation of age-related bone loss. Osteocyte senescence also occurs in response to other cellular stressors, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and metabolic dysfunction, where it appears to mediate skeletal deterioration. Osteocyte senescence is linked to bone loss associated with aging and other conditions. Senescent osteocytes are potential therapeutic targets to alleviate skeletal dysfunction. Additional studies better defining the underlying mechanisms as well as translating these exciting findings from mouse models to humans are needed.