cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Residual p73 DNA Methylation Predicts for Shorter Disease Free and Overall Survival in Patients (pts) with Philadelphia (Ph) Chromosome Negative Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in Remission.

Abstract Aberrant DNA methylation of multiple promoter CpG islands is a common feature of ALL. Specific DNA methylation patterns involving a triad of hierarchical clustered cell cycle controlling genes including p73, p15 and p57KIP2 predict for poor prognosis in Ph negative ALL (Garcia-Manero, Blood, 2003). Of importance, this aberrant DNA methylation patterns are stable at the time of relapse in a majority of patients. This indicates that aberrant DNA methylation is a fundamental molecular feature of the ALL blast cell (Garcia-Manero, Clinical Cancer Research, 2002). Based on this, we hypothesized that the detection of residual DNA methylation in patients with standard risk (Ph negative) ALL could predict for shorter disease free survival, and worse overall survival (OS) in this patient population. To test this hypothesis, we have analyzed the frequency of p73, p15 and p57KIP2 DNA methylation at the time of initial documentation of complete remission (CR) (days 14 to 21) in 199 patients in CR with Ph negative ALL. All patients had been treated with hyperCVAD-based chemotherapy at our institution. To perform this analysis, we have developed a sensitive and specific novel real-time methylation specific PCR assay to detect DNA methylation. This method requires bisulfite DNA conversion. It uses the interferon-gamma gene as a DNA loading control and can be performed in less than 24 hours. The characteristics of the 199 patients evaluated are: median age 38 years (range 15–83), cytogenetics: 32% diploid, 5% hyper or hypodiploid, 20% insufficient metaphases and 3% MLL+, the rest others. 16% were of T cell phenotype. Using this assay, p73 methylation was detected in 18 (10%) patients, p15 in 33 (16%) and p57KIP2 in 7 (3.5%). Methylation of at least 1 gene of this triad was observed in 48 (24%) patients. The median OS of the whole group was 209 weeks (95% CI 158–514) and the disease free survival (DFS) 146 weeks (95% CI 110–335). These were representative of the overall experience with hyperCVAD at MDACC. By multivariate analysis, the presence of residual p73 methylation on days 14 to 21 in patients with Ph negative ALL was associated with a shorter DFS (hazard ratio 2.68, p=0.003) and a worse OS (hazard ratio 2.69, p=0.002). This was independent of any other patient characteristic. Other characteristic included in these models included age and platelet count for OS, and age, b2-microglobulin, LDH and platelets for DFS. The presence of p15, p57KIP2 methylation or the combination of multiple genes was not associated with shorter OS or DFS. In summary, the detection of residual p73 methylation allows the identification of a subset of patients with ALL in remission and worse prognosis. This data may allow the development of specific therapeutic interventions, such as the use of hypomethylating agents, or early allogeneic stem cell transplantation for this at-risk patient population, and suggest that inactivation of p73 is a key event in ALL.
The relationship between premorbid IQ and neurocognitive functioning in individuals with cocaine use disorders.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether premorbid IQ mediates performance on neurocognitive tests in individuals diagnosed with cocaine use disorder (CUD). METHOD Recently abstinent cocaine users (N = 113) completed measures sensitive to the effects of cocaine on cognition: Conners' Continuous Performance Task-II (CPT-II), n-back working memory test, and Hopkins Verbal Learning Task-Revised (HVLT-R). Premorbid IQ was calculated using the Oklahoma Premorbid Intelligence Estimate, which integrates scores from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III and demographic variables. Participants were grouped according to their premorbid IQ using commonly accepted classifications of ability level (above average [>110], average [90-109], and below average [<90]) and comparisons in neurocognitive performance were performed using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS Significant differences were detected between groups on the HVLT-R including Trial 1 (p = .002), total word recall across the 3 list-learning trials (p < .001), and recall following a delay (p < .001). Significant differences were also detected on the N-back, including auditory and visual accuracy (p = .022 and p < .001, respectively) and mean and maximum block length (p < .001). Although significant differences were observed between the above average and average groups (mean effect size = .418 [Cohen's d]), the magnitude of group differences was greatest between the average and below average groups (mean effect size = .716). CONCLUSIONS These results raise questions as to whether the neurocognitive impairment observed in individuals diagnosed with CUD predated the onset of cocaine use or whether the impairments were caused by cocaine use. Because these impairments are potential risk factors for poor treatment outcomes, it is important to consider the need to modify treatment programs to account for lower premorbid IQ. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Athlete as Trickster

This study invokes hegemony theory to analyze the role and uses of sport as a means to resist dominant group pressures and the adaptation of sporting practices to subordinate groups9 needs. The study draws upon literary and anthropological works that support the role of the trickster as a resistive, even manipulative figure, who fulfills both instructive and psychological needs for particular subordinate groups.
Biochemical and Functional Evaluation of the Intramolecular Disulfide Bonds in the Zinc-Chelating Antimicrobial Protein Human S100A7 (Psoriasin)

Human S100A7 (psoriasin) is a metal-chelating protein expressed by epithelial cells. It is a 22-kDa homodimer with two EF-hand domains per subunit and two transition-metal-binding His3Asp sites at the dimer interface. Each subunit contains two cysteine residues that can exist as free thiols (S100A7red) or as an intramolecular disulfide bond (S100A7ox). Herein, we examine the disulfide bond redox behavior, the Zn(II) binding properties, and the antibacterial activity of S100A7, as well as the effect of Ca(II) ions on these properties. In agreement with prior work [Hein, K. Z., et al. (2013) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 112, 13039–13044], we show that apo S100A7ox is a substrate for the mammalian thioredoxin system; however, negligible reduction of the disulfide bond is observed for Ca(II)- and Zn(II)-bound S100A7ox. Furthermore, metal binding depresses the midpoint potential of the disulfide bond. S100A7ox and S100A7red each coordinate 2 equiv of Zn(II) with subnanomolar affinity in the absence and pres...
Give it to us straight (most of the time): Top managers’ use of concrete language and its effect on investor reactions

Research Summary Building on the communications and linguistics literatures, we explore the language attributes managers use in interactions with investors and the subsequent reactions of investors. Specifically, we hypothesize that top managers’ use of concrete language attributes in communication with investors broadly associates with positive investor reactions. We further posit that this relationship will be moderated by the level of firm risk. Our results support our hypotheses and, thus, offer important insights to the impression management literature. First, subtle elements of managerial communication can have significant impression management consequences. More specifically, language concreteness is a key language attribute that generally induces positive investor responses. Finally, the effectiveness of language concreteness is conditional on the informational environment of the firm. Managerial summary How can managers communicate in a way that presents the firm more positively or reduces the negativity associated with perceived firm risks? Our findings indicate that choosing appropriate persuasive language features in interactions with investors can help a firm manage its impressions. Specifically, we find that top managers’ use of concrete language that provides details and specific information in communication with investors, in general, garners positive investor reactions. Further, the effectiveness of top managers’ use of concrete language depends on investor concerns. More specifically, we find that when a firm is seen as having a riskier profile, using concrete language helps induce a more positive investor response; while when a firm is seen as low risk, using abstract language may be more beneficial.
Left Atrial Enlargement an Early Predictor for Development of Systolic Dysfunction – Results of a Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Georgia

Background and Aims: Left ventricular systolic dysfunction, even asymptomatic, is associated with the development of heart failure (HF) and all-cause mortality. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the most commonly used marker of left ventricular systolic function. It is well established that early detection and treatment of reduced LVEF, as well as the aggressive management of predisposing conditions, delays the manifestation of HF. Our study aimed to measure the association between LVEF and other echocardiographic variables in a population with LVEF within the normal range and without symptoms of HF. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2008-2009. Results: We analyzed echocardiographic and clinical data of 146 patients: 66.4% were women; mean age was 55 (40 –69 years). LVEF significantly correlated only with left atrium (LA) size (Beta -0.266, p < 0.05). The correlation was inverse and remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, diabetes, arterial hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary systolic pressure, mitral regurgitation, and diastolic dysfunction. Conclusions: We found that the earliest structural change associated with LVEF tendency to decrease was LA size. Further research is needed to assess the LA enlargement as an early predictor of systolic dysfunction development.
Evolutionary Pathway Determines the Stoichiometric Response of Escherichia coli Adapted to High Temperature

Microorganisms exhibit shifts in elemental stoichiometry in response to short-term temperature increases due to varying growth rate, biochemical reactions, and protein degradation. Yet, it is unknown how an organism’s elemental stoichiometry will respond to temperature change on evolutionary timescales. Here we ask how cellular elemental stoichiometry and physiology change in Escherichia coli that have adapted to high temperature over 2,000 generations compared to their low temperature adapted ancestor. Cell lines evolved to a temperature of 42.2°C via two, negatively epistatic adaptive pathways leading to mutations in either the RNA polymerase complex or the termination factor rho. Compared to the ancestor, high temperature adapted cell lines overall had 14% higher N:P ratios, but did not differ significantly in C:N or C:P. However, cell lines with mutations in the rho gene had 13% lower C:N and 34% higher N:P. Furthermore, the two adaptive strategies of the rho and RNA polymerase mutations varied significantly from one another, cell lines with the rho mutation had lower C:N, higher N:P and higher protein content compared to cell lines with the RNA polymerase mutation. Thus, specific adaptive pathways modulate the effect of temperature on the cellular elemental stoichiometry and may explain why the elemental composition of specific lineages is differentially affected by temperature changes.
Immunotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma—overcoming barriers to response

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Despite multiple advances in targeted and immune therapies, the 5-year survival in advanced PAC remains poor. In this review, we discuss some of the unique aspects of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in PAC that may contribute to its resistance to immune therapies, as well as opportunities to potentially overcome some of these inherent barriers. Furthermore, we discuss strategies to enable immune therapies in PAC such as cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy, cancer vaccines, cytokine based therapy, oncolytic viruses, and adoptive T-cell therapy. Finally, we address a variety of targeted therapies as a strategy to further amplify immune responses in PAC.
Further characterization of ATP-initiated calcification by matrix vesicles isolated from rachitic rat cartilage. Membrane perturbation by detergents and deposition of calcium pyrophosphate by rachitic matrix vesicles.

Although membrane associated enzymes such as ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, and NTP pyrophosphohydrolase in matrix vesicles (MVs) may underlie the mechanisms of ATP-promoted calcification, prior to the current investigation, the role of the MV membrane in calcification had not been addressed. In this study, various perturbations were introduced to the MV membrane in in vitro calcification systems to determine ideal conditions for ATP-initiated calcification by MVs isolated from rachitic rat epiphyseal cartilage. Membrane integrity appears to be required, since the rupture of the vesicular membrane by vigorously mixing with 10% butanol abolished calcification. In contrast, a mild treatment of MVs with low concentrations (e.g., 0.01%, which is much below the critical concentration for micelle formation) of either neutral Triton X-100 or anionic deoxycholate stimulated calcification by >2-fold, without inducing obvious changes in vesicular appearance. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies were done to identify the mineral phase formed in these experiments. For the first time, rachitic MVs were shown to induce the formation of a calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate-like phase after their exposure to calcifying medium with 1 mM ATP. The integration of spectral areas indicated that calcification was enhanced by Triton X-100. The detergent effect was reversible and appeared to be not mediated through activation of ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, or ATP pyrophosphohydrolase. In contrast to neutral Triton X-100 and anionic deoxycholate, cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide inhibited both ATPase activity (I50=10 microM) and ATP-initiated calcification. These observations suggest that membrane perturbations can affect calcification and that the presence of NTP-pyrophosphohydrolase in MVs may play a role in the deposition of CaPPi in rachitic cartilage.
A Climatology of Extreme South American Andean Cold Surges

AbstractCold surges represent one of several phenomena by which midlatitude features can modulate the atmosphere, both dynamically and thermodynamically, deep into the tropics. This study involves ...
Determining the region of origin of blood spatter patterns considering fluid dynamics and statistical uncertainties

Trajectory reconstruction in bloodstain pattern analysis is currently performed by assuming that blood drop trajectories are straight along directions inferred from stain inspection. Recently, several attempts have been made at reconstructing ballistic trajectories backwards, considering the effects of gravity and drag forces. Here, we propose a method to reconstruct the region of origin of impact blood spatter patterns that considers fluid dynamics and statistical uncertainties. The fluid dynamics relies on defining for each stain a range of physically possible trajectories, based on known physics of how drops deform, both in flight and upon slanted impact. Statistical uncertainties are estimated and propagated along the calculations, and a probabilistic approach is used to determine the region of origin as a volume most compatible with the backward trajectories. A publicly available data set of impact spatter patterns on a vertical wall with various impactor velocities and distances to target is used to test the model and evaluate its robustness, precision, and accuracy. Results show that the proposed method allows reconstruction of bloodletting events with distances between the wall and blood source larger than ∼1 m. The uncertainty of the method is determined, and its dependency on the distance between the blood source and the wall is characterized. Causes of error and uncertainty are discussed. The proposed method allows the consideration of stains indicating impact velocities that point downwards, which are typically not used for determining the height of the origin. Based on the proposed method, two practical recommendations on crime scene documentation are drawn.
The proposed international criminal court: Its establishment and its relationship with the united nations

Board of Governors Professor, Rutgers University School of Law, Camden, New Jersey, United States; B.A., LL.B., 1964; LL.M., 1967; LL.D., 1997, Victoria University of WeUington; LL.M., 1968; J.S.D., 1972, Columbia University. The author represents the Government of Samoa at meetings of the Preparatory Committee on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court. Any views expressed here should not be attributed to that government. The research assistance ofJeanette Bamard, Hays Buder, and Richard Gallucci is gratefully acknowledged. This is a revised version of a paper delivered at the Society for the Reform of Criminal Law Tenth Anniversary International Conference, "Law and Justice: Where Now?", London, England, July 27-August 1, 1997.
Benefit to Burden Ratio in Treating Cancer Pain

When assessing and treating patients with cancer-related pain, it is important to consider the benefit to burden ratio whenever medical interventions or medications are offered. This will help ensure that every effort made to reduce pain is in line with the goals of care for each patient. As the patient’s disease progresses, goals of care may also change, and the perceived benefit to burden ratio may significantly evolve over time. The prevalence of pain nearly doubles from the early to late stages of cancer, and efforts to eliminate pain and suffering at later stages may not seem compatible with the traditionally perceived principles of medical care or acceptable norms. In these situations, pain physicians should discuss the intended positive outcomes and foreseeable negative outcomes with patients and/or their families to provide a pain management plan that is aligned with the patient’s goals of care.
E-131 Increased success of single pass large vessel recanalization using a combined stentriever and aspiration technique: a single institution study

Background An extensive body of evidence supports mechanical thrombectomy using stentrievers (SR) for acute large vessel occlusion (LVO). Aspiration is also utilized as a first pass technique (ADAPT) and as an adjunct technique during clot removal with a stentriever. Here we report technical results from mechanical thrombectomy cases using SR alone, aspiration alone (ADAPT), or a combination of SR plus aspiration (SA) as a first pass technique for mechanical thrombectomy for acute LVO. Methods An institutional stroke database was reviewed for patients presenting to a single academic hospital with acute LVO and who were treated with mechanical thrombectomy from 2011 to 2017. Patients managed with stentrievers using Solitaire and Trevo (SR) alone, aspiration alone (ADAPT), or a combination of these two techniques (SA) were identified. The rate of successful recanalization, defined as TICI score 2b or greater, following the first pass thrombectomy attempt was compared between the three groups. Results Two hundred thirty-three patients were analyzed in the study, including 135 in SR, 37 in ADAPT, and 61 in SA groups. Mean age of patients were 71±17 years for SR, 70±16 years for ADAPT, and 72±15 years for SA groups. Admission NIHSS were 17±8 for SR, 16±8 for ADAPT, and 15±6 for SA. There was no significant difference for age and admission NIHSS between the groups. Anterior circulation was involved in 207 cases (89%) and posterior circulation in 26 (11%). ADAT was utilized significantly more in posterior circulation LVO compared to the other techniques (35% in ADAPT group versus 6% and 8% in SR and SA groups respectively, p=0.000). Successful recanalization rates after first pass were 35% in SR group, 43% in ADAPT, and 61% in SA, with a statistically significant higher rate of first pass success in the SA group (p=0.003). Conclusion The combination of stentriever and catheter aspiration can increase the rate of successful single pass recanalization compared to these techniques individually. Disclosures G. Colby: 2; C; Stryker Neurovascular, Medtronic. H. Baharvahdat: None. R. Jahan: None. S. Tateshima: None. V. Szeder: None. M. Nour: None. F. Vinuela: None. G. Duckwiler: 2; C; Neurvana Medical, Microvention.
Heat and Cold Roses of U.S. Cities: a New Tool for Optimizing Urban Climate

Abstract Thermal comfort in cities is influenced not only by air temperature but also by the shortwave and longwave radiation environment, and wind velocity. Increasing ventilation has been demonstrated to improve thermal comfort during hot weather conditions in cities. However, during cold conditions increased ventilation lowers thermal comfort. In the context of urban design for climate adaptation, it is desirable to know from which directions hot and cold weather conditions approach the city. For this purpose we present a simple extension to the conventional “wind rose” concept. This tool, which we refer to as ‘heat and cold roses’, visualizes the wind direction statistics in combination with hot and cold weather conditions. We demonstrate that for a multitude of cities in the U.S. the main directions of hot and cold weather conditions do not overlap. In analyzing the heat and cold weather roses from the 50 largest U.S. cities, two distinct typologies of heat and cold roses are identified. The implications and potential for using these typologies for developing improved building configuration designs is demonstrated by microscale bioclimatic simulations. The studied, hypothetical building design configuration improved thermal comfort for both hot and cold conditions.
Medical Malpractice in Bariatric Surgery: The ASMBS Journey to a Closed Claims Registry

Improvements in bariatric patient safety and quality of care have been dependent upon review of indemnity-paid, closed liability claims, made possible by the joint interest and cooperation of major liability insurer stakeholders. From the “lessons learned” in the ASMBS-supported NOVUS Insurance Company experience and the later publication online of summarized, de-identified closed claims, a format for understanding of important aspects of patient care has been developed. In 2016, the first report of the ASMBS Closed Claims Registry, together with another in the same year derived from a public legal database, has proved insightful. Team communication deficiencies, delays/failure to treat, informed consent, and patient/surgeon rapport issues are the major factors in those liability claims. Several published asmbs.org invited discussions illustrate these quality care deficiencies and the outcomes that prompt bariatric claims.
Some Issues on the Law of Direct Damages (US and UK)

When a contract is breached both US and UK law provide that the non-breaching party should be made whole. I propose a general principle that should guide implementation—the contract is an asset and the problem is one of determining the change in value of that asset at the time of the breach. In the simplest case, the breach of a contract for the sale of a commodity in a thick market, the change in the value of the asset is simply the contract-market differential; the contract-as-asset notion doesn’t add much. It becomes more useful as we move away from that extreme—imperfect substitutes, future deliveries, or long-term contracts. Thus, for example, it makes little sense to talk of the contract-market differential if the buyer repudiated a 20-year take-or-pay contract in the third year. The damage rule should be viewed as the price of the option to terminate. Parties might choose to make that price explicit, perhaps with liquidated damages. In the absence of an explicit exit price, the make-whole rule becomes the default option price. The paper considers the implications of this framing for a number of questions in US and UK contract law: (1) the relation between cover and market damages in the US; (2) the English analog: the concept of the available market; (3) the measurement date following an anticipatory repudiation; (4) the relevance of post-repudiation facts (The Golden Victory problem).
Novel Technique for Developing Linearized Convex System Models from Experimentally Derived Data

This paper presents a novel technique for generating a convex system model from an experimentally derived data set which features variance among repeated measurements. The convex system model developed as a test case characterizes the dynamic system losses of a vanadium redox flow battery as a function of the active power output and the battery state of charge. The technique hinges on a pre-cleaning via clustering procedure which precedes the formation of a planar convex hull comprised of triangular simplices. The clustering procedure efficiently reduces the experimental data set while mitigating variance among repeated measurements and removes outliers. Ultimately, the lower evelope of the planar convex hull serves as the desired convex system model. The proposed technique reduces systematic model error which is otherwise present when directly developing a planar convex hull model based on an unreduced data set.
Abstract WP419: Effect of Race-Ethnicity and Ct Angiography on Acute Kidney Injury During Blood Pressure Treatment for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background: Lowering blood pressure intensively in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). Blacks have a higher incidence of ICH as well as kidney disease...
A History of the Republic of Biafra: Law, Crime, and the Nigerian Civil War

The Republic of Biafra lasted for less than three years, but the war over its secession would contort Nigeria for decades to come. Samuel Fury Childs Daly examines the history of the Nigerian Civil War and its aftermath from an uncommon vantage point – the courtroom. Wartime Biafra was glutted with firearms, wracked by famine, and administered by a government that buckled under the weight of the conflict. In these dangerous conditions, many people survived by engaging in fraud, extortion, and armed violence. When the fighting ended in 1970, these survival tactics endured, even though Biafra itself disappeared from the map. Based on research using an original archive of legal records and oral histories, Daly catalogues how people navigated conditions of extreme hardship on the war front, and shows how the conditions of the Nigerian Civil War paved the way for the country's long experience of crime that was to follow.
SNAPS: A toolkit for studying cell surface shedding of diverse transmembrane receptors

Summary Proteolysis of transmembrane receptors is a critical cellular communication mechanism dysregulated in many diseases, yet decoding proteolytic regulation mechanisms of the estimated 400 receptors shed from the cell surface has been hindered by difficulties in controlling stimuli and unknown fates of cleavage products. Notch proteolytic regulation is a notable exception, where decades of study have revealed that intercellular forces drive exposure of a cryptic protease site within a juxtamembrane “proteolytic switch” domain to activate transcriptional programs inside the cell. Thus, we created a Synthetic Notch Assay for Proteolytic Switches (SNAPS) that exploits the modularity and unequivocal input/response of Notch proteolysis to screen surface receptors for other putative proteolytic switches. Here, we identify several new proteolytic switches among receptors with structural homology to Notch. We demonstrate that SNAPS can detect shedding in chimeras of diverse cell surface receptors, leading to new, testable hypotheses. Finally, we establish that the assay can be used to measure modulation of proteolysis by potential therapeutics.
The impact of game censorship and regulations on foreign game consoles in China

Strict censorship and digital game localization made the Chinese government implement a 15-year ban on foreign or domestic manufacturers and sales of game consoles back in 2000. However, the ban was only applicable to mainland China, so large grey import markets are visible in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan. In 2014, China lifted the game console ban, opening up a hugely lucrative market for gaming giants such as Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. However, there is a twist, foreign companies have to partner with the domestic game manufacturer, and the products would still be subject to a list of inspection criteria (e.g., violent games that would influence the mental health of young people). So, the giant companies face an uphill battle to establish their dominance in this 23-million-dollar market. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the structure of the game consoles industry in China into three stages: pre-censorship stage, censorship stage, and post-censorship stage. It investigates of the complexity of the censorship system of the game consoles industry. Several examples illustrate how the above stages affect the success of foreign game console manufacturers in the Chinese market.
“Crystal Is Creepy, but Cool”: Mapping Folk Theories and Responses to Automated Personality Recognition Algorithms:

This article examines Crystal Knows, a company that generates automated personality profiles through an algorithm and sells access to their database. These algorithms are the result of a long line ...
Delivery strategies for cancer vaccines and immunoadjuvants

Abstract Cancer vaccines have contributed significantly to immune-based treatment for this devastating disease. As the field has evolved, these therapies need enhanced delivery to better elicit protective immunity and overcome the suppressive tumor environment. In this chapter, we discuss current and new formulation approaches for cancer antigens and adjuvants that have been evaluated at the clinical and preclinical level. These vaccine platforms can be based on lipids, polymers, and inorganic materials, with a variety of constructs from particles to scaffolds to microneedles. The vaccine platforms reviewed show great promise in clinical and preclinical models and often rely on codelivery with checkpoint inhibitors to have the greatest effect. Furthermore, the inclusion of multiple antigens in combination with an adjuvant or GM-CSF has led to great advances. Overall, the reviewed platforms illustrate great progress in the field of cancer vaccines and provide hope for development of robust immune-based therapies.
Residential energy use

Abstract The Energy Information Administration recently published data they collected from the National Interim Energy Consumption Survey (NIECS). NIECS includes detailed information on 4081 individual households: demographic characteristics, energy-related features of the structure, heating equipment and appliances therein, recent conservation actions taken by the household, and fuel consumption and costs for the April 1978–March 1979 one-year period. This data set provides a new and valuable resource for analysis. We summarized and analysed the NIECS data on household energy consumption — total energy use, electricity use, and use of the primary space heating fuel. The regression equations constructed explain roughly half the variation in energy use among households. These equations contain 10 or fewer independent variables, the most important of which are fuel price, year house was built, floor area, and heating degree days.
A Generative Shape Regularization Model for Robust Face Alignment

In this paper, we present a robust face alignment system that is capable of dealing with exaggerating expressions, large occlusions, and a wide variety of image noises. The robustness comes from our shape regularization model, which incorporates constrained nonlinear shape prior, geometric transformation, and likelihood of multiple candidate landmarks in a three-layered generative model. The inference algorithm iteratively examines the best candidate positions and updates face shape and pose. This model can effectively recover sufficient shape details from very noisy observations. We demonstrate the performance of this approach on two public domain databases and a large collection of real-world face photographs.
Tutorial - reliability enhancement for high-performance circuits in deep sub-micron era

Scaling of the device dimensions has introduced various "analog" effects on-chip that are causing signal integrity and delay problems. Moreover, technology scaling is moving high-performance ICs toward higher power dissipation. Thermal conditions of the chip directly influence reliability as many of the basic mechanisms responsible for the life-time of a chip are strong functions of temperature. This tutorial discusses the fundamental mechanisms associated with integrated circuit interconnect reliability and will discuss approaches for the interconnect reliability enhancement through layout changes.
Are “Other Spaces” Necessary? Associative Power at the Dumpster

Much geographic research on resistance lamentably continues to position its subject outside and against dominant groups that appear to hold power. In the wake of Foucault’s influential but problematic 1966 essay on heterotopia, this subject animates not only geographic research but also critical theory and anti-capitalist propaganda. This article interrogates its appearance in de Certeau’s work on tactics and in certain texts distributed by a contemporary anarchist collective, CrimethInc. The first half of the article argues that, although these writings continue to inspire much activism and scholarship, geographers must be critical of their structuralistheterotopological treatment of power and spatial differentiation. The second half of offers a corrective through reexamination of a practice celebrated by CrimethInc – dumpster diving (gleaning food from supermarket trash bins). My analysis throws doubt on accounts of such practices as oppositional or separatist resistance. I show that dumpster divers are not and cannot be isolated from even those arrangements they expressly reject, and I recast dumpster diving as an expression of associative power. The article suggests that precisely because dumpster divers are entangled in power relations, and because their practices of freedom are immanent to practices of maintaining order, they may come to effect change, not simply evade or oppose domination.
REPLICATION OF RNA VIRUSES. II. THE RNA PRODUCT OF A REACTION CATALYZED BY A VIRAL RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE.

In the reaction catalyzed by a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, synthesis of RNA is directed by the RNA added to the reaction. The added RNA appears to act as template in a synthetic mechanism based on hydrogen-bonded base pairing, because the base composition of RNA synthesized in vitro is complementary to that of the RNA used to direct the reaction. When Escherichia coli W S-RNA is used as template, the RNA product of the reaction serves as a methyl group acceptor in a reaction catalyzed by methylating enzymes specific for S-RNA. The RNA product of the viral RNA polymerase reaction is partially resistant to RNase. As indicated by changes in RNase sensitivity during thermal denaturation and renaturation, the RNA product possesses a high degree of secondary structure. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of replication of RNA viruses.
Activating the genome during development and exit from mitosis

During mitosis, the genome is silent. When cells exit mitosis and re-enter the cell cycle, how does the transcriptional program of a differentiated cell become reactivated faithfully and in a timely manner? We previously found that in undifferentiated progenitor cells in the early embryo, the competence to activate transcriptionally silent genes is established by pioneer transcription factors, such as FoxA proteins. Pioneer factors have the ability to bind their target DNA sequence in compacted chromatin and allow other factors to bind nearby. We discovered that the same pioneer transcription factors that function in early liver development remain bound to the genome during liver cell mitosis, when the genome compacts, most factors and RNA polymerase are excluded, and transcription is silent. Specifically, the pioneer transcription factor FoxA1 exhibits virtually complete mitotic chromosome binding, whereas other liver factors bind with a range of efficiencies and binding modalities. The evident hierarchy of specific binding, nonspecific binding, partial chromatin binding, failure to bind mitotic chromosomes, and mitotic instability reflects the factors’ developmental roles in gene activation, and suggest that re-activation of the genome following mitosis involves a replay of the network by which the cell type was established in development.
Chick, Harriette (1875–1977)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Chick, Harriette (pioneer work on rickets and B vitamins)
Retropharyngeal lymph node involvement in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives/Hypothesis The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)–associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) for the presence of retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLNs) prior to treatment using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), and to determine if the presence of RPLNs is of utility in predicting outcomes. Study Design Retrospective review of patient data from a single institution. Methods Two hundred thirty patients with a diagnosis of HPV-associated OPSCC were identified from 2002 to 2013. The presence of RPLNs was determined primarily from findings on PET/CT as reviewed in a standardized fashion by two neuroradiologists. Results Of the 230 patients, 165 had pretreatment PET/CT imaging available for review. There were a total of 16 patients (9.70%) with evidence of RPLNs. Among patients positive for RPLNs pretreatment, with an average follow-up of 2 years, there was a 5.2-times greater odds of having recurrence or death (31.3% vs. 8.1%, P = .004). When T and N stage were adjusted for with multiple regression, there was no significant association between RPLN status and recurrence free survival. Conclusions This is a unique investigation utilizing PET/CT to classify RPLN status in HPV-associated OPSCC. RPLNs were relatively common in our HPV-associated OPSCC cohort at 9.70%, at the low end of the quoted positivity of 10% to 27% in all OPSCC. A combination of PET/CT is useful in identifying RPLNs. Prospective investigation will be needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT in identifying RPLNs, and the precise impact of RPLNs on HPV-associated OPSCC treatment and outcomes. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 125:2503–2508, 2015
The Geochemistry of Mass Extinction

The boundaries between geologic periods often mark major turnovers in the types (species, genera, and families) of organisms that inhabit the planet, that is, mass extinctions. Geochemistry is used to investigate these events, to determine both the trigger for the event (asteroid/comet impact and volcanism) and its cause (abrupt warming, anoxia, trace-metal poisoning, loss of habitat by sea-level fall, etc.). Because they are fractionated by biogeochemical processes, the stable isotopes are important geochemical clues. Although the long-term Phanerozoic trends in stable isotope ratios reveal no consistent indication of progressively worsening conditions, detailed analysis of the geochemical and isotopic record of sedimentary successions spanning mass extinctions generally indicate some combination of a loss of biologic productivity, expansion of low-oxygen zones, and increased continental weathering. Anoxia (the loss of oxygen) and euxinia (the buildup of hydrogen sulfide) clearly played a role in the Late Devonian and end-Permian mass extinctions, as revealed by the various geochemical proxies of anoxia and the presence of biomarkers for anoxygenic sulfur phototrophs. Only the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction has conclusive evidence of asteroid impact; the other events seem to be events driven by endogenic processes in Earth system.
Raman Spectroscopy in Forensic Science

Though the Raman effect was discovered way back in 1928, Raman spectrometers have been extensively developed only over the last two decades, bringing them into a state of usefulness that had never been enjoyed before. This article describes the basic concepts of Raman spectroscopy compares to infrared (IR) spectroscopy in a manner similar to a vibrational molecular spectroscopic method of analysis and has differences that make the two methods complementary for obtaining chemical information from the same materials. The advantages and disadvantages of Raman compared with IR spectroscopy serve to make both methods to be considered when conducting chemical analysis of materials. The article describes how fibers, paints, drugs, explosives, etc. are being studied by Raman spectroscopy for forensic purposes. Keywords: evidence; forensic science; Raman; spectrograph; spectrometry; spectroscopy
Visualizing Forman's Discrete Vector Field

Morse theory has been considered to be a powerful tool in its applications to computational topology, computer graphics and geometric modeling. Forman introduced a discrete version of it, which is purely combinatorial. This opens Morse theory applications to a much larger scope.
Loop list scheduler for DSP algorithms under resource constraints

A new algorithm for resource-constrained scheduling for DSP applications is presented. New graph dependent constraints are defined. This directly results in the smallest iteration period for any data-flow graph. Previous synthesis systems have focused on simple DSP algorithms which contain no recursive loops or have single delays in the recursive loops. The MARS system is not restricted to such algorithms. This approach exploits inter-iteration precedence constraints, and incorporates implicit retiming and pipelining in generating optimal and near optimal schedules. >
A simple evaluation of cleaning procedures on fossil benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca

[1] Recent studies suggest that benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca may be useful in reconstructing deep water temperature changes during the Quaternary and on longer timescales [Rosenthal et al., 1997; Lear et al., 2000; Martin et al., 2002]. Because changes in deep water temperature may be small, sample preparation could play an important role in reconstructing accurate temperatures from shell Mg/Ca. A simple examination of changes in measured shell chemistry of benthic foraminifera from two intervals subjected to increasingly rigorous cleaning reveals that fossil benthic foraminiferal samples cleaned by oxidation yield lower Mg/Ca values than samples only rinsed and weak acid leached. Reductive cleaning further lowered the shell Mg/Ca of one of the two benthic species examined. Lower Mg/Ca values following oxidation and reduction appear to reflect removal of contaminant Mg associated with remnant organic matter and adsorbed phases.
The late Holocene history of prairie, brush-prairie, and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forest on outwash plains, north-central Minnesota, USA

Pollen diagrams from six sites on outwash plains of north-central Minnesota are interpreted as records of similar extralocal vegetation changes since c. 5000 BP. All of the study sites have undergone a shift from prairie to an aspen-oak community, followed by the jack pine-dominated vegetation that now occupies the sites. All of the species capable of directly invading prairie (aspen, bur oak, willow and some entomophilous shrubs) were probably established on the surrounding moraines prior to their invasion of the adjacent prairie-occupied outwash plains. Only short distances (<20 km) were involved in these local invasions, and the chronology of their establishment does not indicate a regional westward migration of these taxa in the late Holocene. Because climate varies little over the short distances separating the study sites, the asynchroneity of the dates for the establishment of aspen brush (Zone 3/Zone 4 boundary) and the following establishment of jack pine (Zone 2/Zone 3 boundary) indicates that locally varying conditions determined where and when these vegetational shifts occurred. Sloughs and wet swales are apparently prerequisite for aspen to invade prairie, and they probably appeared on the outwash plains at different times because locally varying hydrologic conditions determined the absolute increase in precipitation required for the water table to rise and flood depressions. The rate at which afforestation proceeded, culminating with the establishment of jack pine, appears to be related to local variability in the distribution of wet depressions as they serve as firebreaks. Where peat-filled channels and chains of lakes occur, afforestation occurred first and was relatively rapid. Where lakes and peatlands are scattered, afforestation occurred later and required more time. Where wet depressions are rare, some patches of prairie have persisted since the mid-Holocene.
First trimester ductus venosus doppler: An independent risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome

FOR ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOME CHIEN OH, CHRISTOPHER HARMAN, AHMET BASCHAT, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland OBJECTIVE: First trimester nuchal translucency (NT) is a potent tool to assess fetal risks of aneuploidy and other adverse outcome. When NT is increased, Doppler assessment of the ductus venosus (DV) enhances specificity for Down Syndrome. This study assesses DV Doppler as a predictor of adverse outcome independent of nuchal translucency. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study of 2505 consecutive cases undergoing NT screening at our certified first trimester screening program. First trimester DV Doppler was performed, atrial velocity was rated antegrade (normal) or absent/reversed (DV RAV, abnormal). Cases with normal NT (!3.0 mm) and DV RAV were matched for maternal age within 1 year, NT within 0.2 mm, crown rump length within 3 mm, and closest calculated aneuploidy risk, with 2 controls. Outcomes were compared using t-test and Chi square for paired variables. RESULTS: Forty-eight (1.8%) patients had normal NT and DV RAV. After exclusion of 4 cases with obvious first trimester anomalies and 2 with incomplete outcome data, 42 remained for analysis. Adverse outcome included cardiovascular defects (6), fetal growth restriction (3), renal anomaly (2), aneuploidy (3) and multiple defects (3), total in 11/42 cases (26.2%). Perinatal mortality among index cases was significantly increased (Table). CONCLUSION: Abnormal first trimester DV Doppler independently predicts adverse outcome even in fetuses with normal NT. These patients need detailed midtrimester assessment of fetal anatomy with formal echocardiography, and subsequent follow up.
Effect of fractions of horse and fetal bovine serum on neoplastic conversion of C3H mouse cells in tissue culture.

Cultures derived from C3H/He mouse embryos were grown in medium NCTC 135 supplemented with horse serum, fetal bovine serum, or various combinations of large and small molecule fractions of horse and fetal bovine serum. Cultures in medium NCTC 135 alone or in medium 135 supplemented with the small molecule fraction of either horse or fetal bovine serum did not grow as continuous long term lines. The best growth was obtained when the cultures were in medium containing the large molecule fraction of fetal bovine serum either alone or in combination with a small molecule fraction. Cells grown in the presence of the low molecular weight fraction of horse serum invariably produced tumors on injection into syngeneic animals. Cells in the small molecular weight fraction of fetal bovine serum combined with the large molecular weight fraction of horse serum produced tumors after a prolonged period in vitro. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A00S8010 00003