cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The social process of drug resistance in a relational context

The purpose of this study is to review and extend previous models of adolescent drug resistance communication strategies. While previous studies have focused on mainly European‐American and Mexican‐American samples, this study examines the offers and refusals of African‐American and European‐American youth and extends the previous models by examining relational implications of drug resistance. Eighty‐three urban adolescents participated in face‐to‐face interviews that asked them to describe in detail drug offer‐resistance episodes. Ethnic differences in the drug resistance process are examined along with perceived effects of the drug offer‐resistance episode on the interactants' relationship.
Specific ganglioside binding to receptor sites on T lymphocytes that couple to ganglioside-induced decrease of CD4 expression

Abstract The binding of different gangliosides to rat T-helper lymphocytes was characterized under conditions that decrease CD4 expression on different mammalian T-helper lymphocytes. Saturation binding by monosialylated [ 3 H]-GM 1 to rat T-lymphocytes was time- and temperature-dependent, had a dissociation constant (K D ) of 2.2 ± 1.4 μ M and a binding capacity near 2 fmoles/cell. Competitive inhibition of [ 3 H]-GM 1 binding demonstrated a structural-activity related to the number of unconstrained sialic acid moieties on GM 1 -congeneric gangliosides. A comparison between the results of these binding studies and ganglioside-induced decrease of CD4 expression demonstrated that every aspect of [ 3 H]-GM 1 binding concurs with gangliosides modulation of CD4 expression. It is concluded that the specific decrease of CD4 expression induced by pretreatment with gangliosides involves the initial process of ganglioside binding to specific sites on CD4 -+ T-helper lymphocytes.
Hepatic Expression of a Targeting Subunit of Protein Phosphatase-1 in Streptozotocin-diabetic Rats Reverses Hyperglycemia and Hyperphagia Despite Depressed Glucokinase Expression

Glycogen-targeting subunits of protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) are scaffolding proteins that facilitate the regulation of key enzymes of glycogen metabolism by PP-1. In the current study, we have tested the effects of hepatic expression of GMDeltaC, a truncated version of the muscle-targeting subunit isoform, in rats rendered insulin-deficient via injection of a single moderate dose of streptozotocin (STZ). Three key findings emerged. First, GMDeltaC expression in liver was sufficient to fully normalize blood glucose levels (from 335 +/- 31 mg/dl prior to viral injection to 109 +/- 28 mg/dl 6 days after injection) and liver glycogen content in STZ-injected rats. Second, this normalization occurred despite very low levels of liver glucokinase expression in the insulin-deficient STZ-injected rats. Finally, the hyperphagia induced by STZ injection was completely reversed by GMDeltaC expression in liver. In contrast to these findings with GMDeltaC, overexpression of another targeting subunit, GL, in STZ-injected rats caused a large increase in liver glycogen stores but only a transient decrease in food intake and blood glucose levels. The surprising demonstration of a glucose-lowering effect of GMDeltaC in the background of depressed hepatic glucokinase expression suggests that controlled stimulation of liver glycogen storage may be an effective mechanism for improving glucose homeostasis, even when normal pathways of glucose disposal are impaired.
Mass Market Potential for Home Terminals

Possible applications for a data processing terminal in the home are identified and discussed. Consideration is given to the likely start-up mechanisms for commercial services which will support these terminals. The 1977-78 status quo services which are likely to evolve into mass market consumer services are also identified and discussed.
A steroid-triggered transcriptional hierarchy controls salivary gland cell death during Drosophila metamorphosis.

Summary sues, including neurons, mammary glands, testes, the prostate, ovaries, and the uterus (Kiess and Gallaher, The steroid hormone ecdysone signals the stage-spe- 1998). The best studied vertebrate model for hormonecific programmed cell death of the larval salivary regulated programmed cell death is the apoptosis of glands during Drosophila metamorphosis. This re- immature thymocytes and mature T cells in response sponse is preceded by an ecdysone-triggered switch to glucocorticoids. This response is dependent on the in gene expression in which the diap2 death inhibitor steroid, the glucocorticoid receptor, and de novo tranis repressed and the reaper (rpr) and head involution scription, suggesting that the hormone is triggering a defective (hid) death activators are induced. Here we death-specific genetic program (Evans-Storms and Cidshow that rpr is induced directly by the ecdysone‐ lowski, 1995). The genes that direct this death response,
Relapse determinants reported by men treated for alcohol addiction The prominence of depressed mood

Men treated for alcohol addiction who relapsed after residential treatment were surveyed to identify high-risk events, which had functioned as relapse determinants. The investigation was guided by G. Alan Marlatt's relapse prevention model. Participants endorsed one of nine relapse determinants listed on the study's relapse questionnaire most directly related to their first use of alcohol or drugs after treatment. The relapse determinants most consistently endorsed were intrapersonal in nature. The relapse determinant most frequently endorsed was depressed mood, consistent with the study's hypothesis. A rationale was presented for future research to isolate risk factors for relapse episodes organized on the basis of relapse determinants.
Modulation of P2X4/P2X7/Pannexin-1 sensitivity to extracellular ATP via Ivermectin induces a non-apoptotic and inflammatory form of cancer cell death.

Overexpression of P2X7 receptors correlates with tumor growth and metastasis. Yet, release of ATP is associated with immunogenic cancer cell death as well as inflammatory responses caused by necrotic cell death at sites of trauma or ischemia-reperfusion injury. Using an FDA-approved anti-parasitic agent Ivermectin as a prototype agent to allosterically modulate P2X4 receptors, we can switch the balance between the dual pro-survival and cytotoxic functions of purinergic signaling in breast cancer cells. This is mediated through augmented opening of the P2X4/P2X7-gated Pannexin-1 channels that drives a mixed apoptotic and necrotic mode of cell death associated with activation of caspase-1 and is consistent with pyroptosis. We show that cancer cell death is dependent on ATP release and death signals downstream of P2X7 receptors that can be reversed by inhibition of NADPH oxidases-generated ROS, Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) or mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). Ivermectin induces autophagy and release of ATP and HMGB1, key mediators of inflammation. Potentiated P2X4/P2X7 signaling can be further linked to the ATP rich tumor microenvironment providing a mechanistic explanation for the tumor selectivity of purinergic receptors modulation and its potential to be used as a platform for integrated cancer immunotherapy.
The Pipeline Embolization Device: What Have We Learned?

he Pipeline embolization device (PED) (ev3, Irvine, California, USA) is a revolutionary tool for intracranial T aneurysms that has generated great enthusiasm in the neurovascular community and received considerable attention in the recent literature. In contrast to conventional endovascular techniques, the PED provides a more physiologic approach in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms through a combination of flow diversion and endoluminal vessel reconstruction (from neointimal growth along the vessel). Treatment with the PED was initially reserved for large, giant, and otherwise untreatable aneurysms of the internal carotid artery. More recently, the PED has become a routine first-line treatment at an increasing number of institutions for several types of aneurysms in various intracranial locations.
Performance Modeling of 802.11 Ad Hoc Networks with Time-Varying Carrier Sense Range and Physical Capture Capability

In a slow fading environment, the carrier sense range is not constant, so there is not a constant set of hidden terminals for a mobile station. The probability of capture with a set of interferers is not a fixed value either, and it fundamentally affects the loss rate and throughput of the whole network. We estimate the expectation of the capture probability in a single hop ad hoc network and incorporate it with our previously proposed model for 802.11 DCF that considers the time-varying nature of carrier sensing. The system throughput is then derived from an individual station's point of view. The model is verified against simulations, and extensive numerical experiments are performed to demonstrate its application.
Review and Synthesis of Considerations in Architecting Heterogeneous Teams of Humans and Robots for Optimal Space Exploration

Human-robot systems will play a critical role in space exploration, should NASA embark on missions to the Moon and Mars. A unified framework to optimally leverage the capabilities of humans and robots in space exploration will be an invaluable tool for mission planning. Although there is a growing body of literature on human-robot interactions, there is not yet a framework that lends itself both to a formal representation of heterogeneous teams of humans and robots, and to an evaluation of such teams across a series of common, task-based metrics. In this paper, we review the literature, and synthesize multiple considerations for architecting heterogeneous teams of humans and robots. We discuss considerations related to formally specifying tasks and representing human--robot systems, enumerating task allocations, and evaluating human--robot systems against common, task-based metrics. Our objective is to lay the foundations of a unified framework for architecting human--robot systems for optimal task performance given a set metrics.
When cloud computing meets with Semantic Web: A new design for e‐portfolio systems in the social media era

The need, use, benefit and potential of e-portfolios have been analysed and discussed by a substantial body of researchers in the education community. However, the development and implementation approaches of e-portfolios to date have faced with various challenges and limitations.This paper presents a new approach of an e-portfolio system design based on Private‐Public (PrPl) data index system, which integrates cloud computing applications and storages with Semantic Web architecture, making semantic web-based visualisation and advanced intelligent search possible. It also discusses how thedistinctiveattributesof thePrPl-baseddigitalassetmanagementsystemcanserveas a large-scale robust e-portfolio system that can address issues with scalability, sustainability,adoptabilityandinteroperability.Withsuchanewdistinctivedesign,alarge-scale deployment at a state or national level becomes possible at a very cost-effective manner and also such large-scale deployment with intelligent digital asset management and search features create numerous opportunities in education.
CHARACTERIZATION OF WOODY SPECIES DISTRIBUTION IN RIPARIAN FORESTS OF LOWER MICHIGAN, USA USING MAP-BASED MODELS

The goal of this study was to identify and characterize the range of variation in riparian forests across Lower Michigan, USA as a basis for assessing the utility of map-based information in the characterization of riparian environments. We obtained a regional sample of riparian forests and valley-bottom physiography from 94 locations throughout Lower Michigan and distinguished seven major riparian forest types using hierarchical clustering and NMDS ordination. NMDS ordination distances accounted for more than 70% of the distances in species space and achieved excellent discrimination among riparian types. We then evaluated a set of map-based variables indicative of regional climate, catchment hydrology, and valley character relative to ordination axes and interpretations of the autecology of principal tree species from each forest group. Map-based predictors accounted for 83% of the variation in sample scores along NMDS Axis 1 and explained 42% of the variation in Axis 2. Species and riparian types varied along two principal gradients, one associated with climate and geology along a north-south gradient, the second associated with flood duration and power. Map-based interpretations of regional climate and hydroperiod dynamics agreed closely with species-based interpretations of riparian character, although in certain cases, a similar biotic response arose from apparently distinct hydrogeomorphic contexts. Such dynamic patterns underscore the need for better and more explicit linkages between the controls of riparian hydrology and more proximal physical cues on biotic communities in order to understand the drivers of spatial variation in riparian ecosystem structure and composition.
Coupled Fast-Thermal Power Breeder

Coupling a fast and thermal assembly in a power breeder reactor affords the possibility of obtaining the relatively long neutron lifetime characteristic of a thermal assembly and the high breeding ...
Abstract 31: Functional Impact of Inflammatory Cell-Originating HDL-miR-223 Communication in vivo

Atherosclerosis is associated with endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) play critical roles in both. HDL transport a wide-variety of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules, which likely confer many of HDL’s alternative functions, including its anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. Using in vitro studies, we demonstrated that macrophages export miR-223 to HDL and subsequently, HDL delivers functional miR-223 to human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC). Moreover, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), a miR-223 target, was found to be down-regulated by HDL-miR-223 at a specific target site within ICAM-1’s 3’ untranslated region. These in vitro findings support the potential of a HDL-miRNA communication pathway that may contribute to atherogenesis. To validate HDL-miRNA communication in vivo, bone-marrow transplant (BMT) studies were completed with Mir223-/- and C57B/6J (WT) mice. To demonstrate that functional HDL-miR-223 is delivered to recipient cells/tissues in vivo, BM from WT mice was transplanted into irradiated Mir223-/- mice. Strikingly, we found that HDL-miR-223 communication was restored after BMT, as evidenced by significantly increased miR-223 levels on HDL and in the liver, white adipose, aortic endothelium, and skeletal muscle. Conversely, HDL-miR-223 intercellular communication was depleted by transplanting BM from Mir223-/- into WT mice, and resulted in significant loss of miR-223 on HDL and in many tissues. In both BMT studies, miR-223 changes led to altered expression of many target genes in multiple tissues. Most importantly, these studies identified a novel miR-223 target gene which we experimentally validated, vesicle transport through interaction with t-SNAREs homolog 1A (VTI1A), which was decreased and increased in the aortic endothelium from each BMT study, respectively. VTI1A has been previously characterized as a SNARE protein that contributes to cytokine secretion and membrane lipid dynamics. As such, HDL likely mediates an inflammatory cell-originating miR-223 communication pathway that suppresses inflammation and cytokine secretion in the aortic endothelium, thus antagonizing atherosclerosis.
Hop off the Bandwagon! It's a Mass Movement, Not a Parade

Thomas W. Zeiler's essay emerges from a long history of debates among U.S. foreign rela tions historians over the current state and future prospects of their field. In recent years, much of the discussion has grappled with feelings of marginalization within a discipline dominated by social and cultural approaches. Michael Hogan's 2004 essay, "The 'Next Big Thing': The Future of Diplomatic History in a Global Age," is an important product of this debate. This article, derived from Hogan's address as the outgoing president of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (shafr), starts with the good news: shafr members need not feel so isolated within the profession, for "other historians are turning our way." But then comes the bad: rather than following the lead of diplomatic historians, their colleagues from other fields are breaking their own paths into inter national relations history "One can make the case that U.S. diplomatic historians are literally losing control of their field to specialists in other disciplines," Hogan claims.1 He went on to admonish shafr members not to be left behind, to hitch themselves to the rising stars of transnational, postcolonial, borderlands, and world history. This was not a triumphalist essay but a plan to stanch the losses, to prevent colonization by the outside forces that were intruding into home territory. Zeiler's account, in contrast, puts U.S. foreign relations historians "in the driver's seat when it comes to the study of America and the world." They are steering the profession in new directions without losing sight of their old loyalties. Whereas Hogan urged foreign relations historians to grapple with the international relationships "outside the nation and beyond the state," Zeiler insists that the state should remain central in foreign relations history, if not all history. In Zeiler's essay, it is not foreign relations history that is in need of restructuring, but the rest of the profession, which has, at great cost, neglected this crit ical locus of power. Whereas Hogan spoke of the possibility that diplomatic history would be "the next big thing," Zeiler the booster has boldly pronounced its arrival.2 The gulf between these essays suggests that foreign relations history has changed in the years since Hogan's address, in many ways consistent with his vision. The field is welcom ing new approaches, topics, and archival bases, and the transnational turn is making U.S.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BASELINE LIPOPROTEIN SUBFRACTIONS AND OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH HIGH TRIGLYCERIDE AND LOW HDL-CHOLESTEROL LEVELS: A POST HOC SUBGROUP ANALYSIS OF THE AIM-HIGH TRIAL

The AIM-HIGH trial was terminated early because of a lack of efficacy for extended-release niacin (ERN). A post hoc analysis suggested that ERN added to simvastatin reduced cardiovascular (CV) events in the high-risk subgroup with baseline triglycerides (TG) >200 mg/dL and HDL-C < 32 mg/dL. However
Valence Excited States in Large Molecules via Local Multireference Singles and Doubles Configuration Interaction

We demonstrate that valence excited states in large molecules can be treated using local multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction (LMRSDCI). The interior eigenvalues corresponding to the excited states of interest are transformed and shifted to the extrema of the spectrum by way of oblique projections and a matrix shift within a modified Davidson diagonalization scheme. In this way, the approximate wave function associated with the excited state of interest can be isolated independently of the lower lying roots, and residual minimization is used for final convergence to the target eigenstate. We find that vertical excitation energies calculated using LMRSDCI are mostly within 0.2 eV of nonlocal MRSDCI values.
Intravascular Life Span of the Duck Red Blood Cell as Determined by Radioactive Selenium

SummaryUse has been made of the ability of selenium to be fixed in red blood cells to estimate the intravascular life span of the duck erythrocyte. Donor ducks were injected with sodium selenate containing radio-selenium. These ducks were then bled and the red blood cells injected into 10 young ducks. Two each of the recipient ducks were bled at various time intervals up to 10 days. It was noted that there was a linear disappearance of selenium-tagged red blood cells from the circulation of the ducks. The value of 11.7 days was found to be the intravascular life span of the duck erythrocytes under the experimental conditions described here. In correlating the relationship between the disappearance of fixed erythrocyte selenium and the destruction of the red cell certain assumptions have been made which are discussed.
Study on two approaches of transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Objectiv To compare the distribution and differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUCMSCs)after the transplantation via the jugular vein and via the intraperitioneal injection,and investigate the effect of hUCMSCs transplantation on the recovery of neurological functions after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD). Methods The models of 7-day-old neonate rats with HIBD brain were established,and randomly assigned to:HIBD group(n=10),the intravenous injection group(n=15),the intraperitioneal injection group(n=15)and control group(n=10),the HIBD group and control group were not transplanted.The same amount hUCMSCs(1×106,0.2mL)were transplanted into the intravenous injection group and the intraperitioneal injection group after 72 hours.Finally,brain tissues of rats were removed after 4% paraformaldehyde was perfused in cardiac to fix brain and successive sections were made using a cryomicrotome.Immunofluorescence staining was performed to examine the distribution of Dil-labeled hUCMSCs and expression of DCX. Results The transplantation descendants of hUCMSCs could migrate to the brain tissue,and could differentiate into neuronal precursor cells,and the intravenous injection group showed more Dil-labeled hUCMSCs in brain tissue. Conclusions Transplanted hUCMSCs can survive and differentiate in the HIBD rats' brain.The HUCMSCs can effectively accelerate the recovery of neurological functions after HIBD.And the experiment proved intravenous injection is better than intraperitioneal injection in repairing rats' brain function.
Battered bottom lines: the impact of eroding pharmaceutical discounts on health-care institutions.

For several years, the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) has voiced concern about the impact of federally mandated changes on the pharmaceutical products marketplace. Since this marketplace is relatively inelastic, manipulating one segment in the interest of cost efficiencies is likely to result in price increases in other segments. That manipulation could come through such decisions as a "one-price" policy for pharmaceuticals, mandatory rebates for certain segments of the marketplace, or the elimination of discounts. The issue of cost-effective purchasing of prescription drugs and related supplies has recently come under increased scrutiny from the U.S. Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, the General Accounting Office, and the Federal Trade Commission. In light of these and future activities, ASHP determined that there was a need to collect credible data on the potential impact of the termination of the Robinson-Patman Act's nonprofit institutional exemption, other discounts, or both on pharmaceutical expenditures in institutional health-care settings. The authors of this paper report the results and analysis of a 1990 mail survey conducted by ASHP and Concepts in Healthcare, Inc., to collect information on pharmaceutical purchasing and discounting procedures in community hospitals and selected nonhospital settings in the United States. Survey respondents reported that they would expect substantial increases in pharmaceutical expenditures if volume and nonprofit discounts were eliminated. Nonprofit hospitals expected a 24.4% increase in pharmaceutical expenditures in the wake of discount elimination, while for-profit institutions projected an 11.9% increase. Pharmaceutical expenditures of the study hospitals averaged $1.69 million per year; respondents estimated that this sum would increase by $390,000 (23.1%) if volume and nonprofit discounts were eliminated.
Tissue Factor-Bearing Microparticles Derived from Tumor Cells: Impact on Coagulation Activation.

Thromboembolic disease is a frequent complication in cancer. Tissue factor (TF), shown to be involved in tumor growth and metastasis, is also considered to play a central role in the pathogenesis of cancer-associated thrombosis. Circulating TF-bearing microparticles (TF+ MPs) have been found in the plasma of patients with different malignancies and are thought to contribute to their hypercoagulable state. Although numerous studies have focused on TF+ MPs derived from blood cells, there is no information available on the pathological relevance of MPs originating from tumor cells. We conducted a study to detect, enumerate and characterize the procoagulant activity (PCA) of MPs released specifically from tumor cells. MPs from high (MDA-231) and low (MCF-7) TF-expressing human breast carcinoma cells were generated ex vivo in whole blood or in buffer under stirring conditions for 45 minutes. The numbers (MPs/ml) of total and TF-expressing tumor-derived particles (TMPs) in cell-free plasmas were measured by flow cytometry using FITC-labeled annexin V and a PE-labeled monoclonal anti-TF antibody respectively. The PCA of TMPs was measured by a one stage clotting assay and a highly sensitive fluorogenic thrombin generation assay. In order to evaluate the PCA of circulating TMPs, we injected 2x10 6 TF+ MPs derived from MDA-231 cells into mice via the tail vein. Human TF antigen and activity were measured in cell-free mouse plasmas at various intervals (5–420 min) after injections by ELISA and clotting assay, respectively. MPs less than 1μm in diameter were released from tumor cells in both buffer and whole blood by stirring. TMPs positive for TF consisted of approximately 40% of the annexin V+ MPs, and such particles derived from as low as 1x10 5 MDA-231 cells could be enumerated reliably (2.5x10 4 MPs/10 5 cells). By ultracentrifugation of cell-free plasmas, we confirmed that TF antigen was associated entirely with the MP fraction. TMPs derived from as few as 450 MDA-231 cells shortened plasma recalcification times from 525 ± 114 to 265 ± 148 (P in vivo . In contrast, when TMPs were incubated in human whole blood ex vivo for various intervals, TF activity remained unchanged in cell-free plasmas for at least 5 hrs and TF antigen was not detected by flow cytometry on any blood corpuscles, including platelets, at all intervals. However, when whole blood containing TMPs was clotted by recalcification, no TF activity could be detected in the serum, indicating the incorporation of TMPs in formed clots. In summary, MPs bearing active TF are released readily from tumor cells and can significantly activate coagulation even at very low concentrations. These results provide new insights towards the potential contribution of TMPs to the pathogenesis of cancer-associated thrombosis.
Management of Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity After Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) is a dysautonomic syndrome characterized by episodic increases in sympathetic and motor activity. PSH occurs after acquired brain injury of diverse etiology [most often traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, or anoxic brain injury], and core clinical features include tachycardia, hypertension, tachypnea, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, and increased motor activity. PSH occurs in 8–33% of the moderate-severe TBI population and is associated with negative neurologic, cardiopulmonary, and psychiatric outcomes. Two major theories exist to explain PSH: the disconnection theory and the excitatory:inhibitory ratio model. Evidence from case studies and cohort studies currently guides pharmacological management. Common classes of medications used to treat PSH include opiate agonists, GABA agonists, dopamine agonists, beta-blockers, and alpha-2 agonists. One ongoing trial, DASH After TBI, is investigating the impact of combined adrenergic blockade on autonomic parameters, as well as short- and long-term neurologic and functional outcomes.
Self-Reported Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Revision Carpal Tunnel Surgery With or Without Hypothenar Fat Pad Transposition.

Background: Carpal tunnel surgery is the most common surgical procedure performed on the hand. Although complications are rare, recurrent or persistent carpal tunnel syndrome can be a significant p...
How do faculty partner while teaching interdisciplinary CS+X courses: models and experiences

As Computer science (CS) plays an increasingly significant role in many other disciplines, it is crucial for us as CS educators to create authentic interdisciplinary learning experiences for students. To better inform the design of such learning experiences, we sought to catalogue how faculty from both CS and other disciplines are currently collaborating to create such experiences. Specifically, this paper describes knowledge-seeking activities carried out through designing and implementing a workshop program that brought together twenty-four faculty with experience in partnered teaching of CS+X courses. The goal is to take the initial steps towards preparing and supporting CS faculty to create interdisciplinary CS+X courses through partnerships with faculty in other disciplines, in order to spur interdisciplinary thinking in students.
Discrimination of Academic Curricula by the Runner Studies of Attitude Patterns--College Form.

The recently developed College Form of the Runner Studies of Attitude Patterns (RSAP) was completed by all freshmen entering a large urban university. Two years later, 628 of these students had att...
Design of Track-Based Climbing Robots Using Dry Adhesives

This poster focuses on the design of track-type climbing robots using dry adhesives to generate tractive forces between the robot and climbing surface to maintain equilibrium while in motion. When considering the design of these climbing robots, there are two primary elements of focus: the adhesive mechanisms at the track-surface interface and the distribution of these forces over the full contact surface (the tracks). This poster will demonstrates and shows the validation of models for two specific adhesives – unpatterned elastomeric dry adhesives and micro suction cup tape – and presents an approach to integrate these adhesion models and track suspension systems into a complete model that can be used to design general climbing robot systems.
What’s Behind the Rise in SNAP Participation?

In October 2011, 46.2 million Americans were participating in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP increases the purchasing power of eligible, low-income people by providing them with monthly benefits to purchase food at authorized foodstores. Just 10 years earlier, participation stood at 17.3 million. What accounts for the growth of the program over the past decade? There is little question that declining economic conditions are a major factor. The short 2001 recession was followed by a jobless recovery. Then, beginning in 2007, Americans experienced the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. In the second year of the 2007-09 recession, national unemployment averaged 9.3 percent, and 14.9 percent of Americans were living in poverty. In these times of weak economic growth and high unemployment, more individuals who were eligible for SNAP participated in the program. And, as funding for other public assistance has flattened, SNAP has increasingly become a mainstay for many low-income households. But economic factors alone do not fully explain the growth in SNAP participation. Changes in SNAP policies, some of them associated with the 2002 and 2008 Farm Acts, have made benefits easier to apply for, available to more people, and more generous. Parsing out the relative effects of policy changes and macroeconomic conditions in a dynamic economy is difficult. Yet recent research has begun to paint a clearer picture of how some policy factors impact the program. ■ In 2011, nearly one in seven Americans received support from USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Teaching Food Security to Low-Income Rural Families in the United States

In order to achieve the goals of ending poverty and hunger, as stated under the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, there needs to be a focus on low-income families who are most affected by these issues. Two ways to support low-income families in improving food security include providing access to affordable, fresh foods and education about food systems. Twenty-six percent of residents in Meadville, Pennsylvania live below the poverty line and 50% of students in the school district receive subsidized lunch. In 2014, the Community Wellness Initiative of Allegheny College established an affordable community and school garden in Meadville, Pennsylvania. There are monthly cooking and gardening workshops for community members. The garden-based curriculum is being integrated into middle- and high-school classes to teach students to think critically about the food system while learning basic growing and cooking skills. Students then bring lessons home to their families furthering the education of families in Meadville. This paper will describe how the garden is used to teach families and students of Meadville to grow, prepare, and purchase high-quality food in order to improve food security.
On Getting the Point: Distinguishing “Issues” from “Events,” An Aspect of Conversational Coherence

(1981). On Getting the Point: Distinguishing “Issues” from “Events,” An Aspect of Conversational Coherence. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 5, Communication Yearbook 5, pp. 279-301.
Select early type IA endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair will resolve without secondary intervention

Abstract Objective Although it is traditionally considered ominous, the natural history of early proximal attachment site endoleaks (IA) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is not well known. Our aim was to identify risk factors for persistent type IA endoleaks and to determine their effect on long-term outcomes after EVAR. Methods All patients who underwent infrarenal EVAR at a single institution between 1998 and 2015 were identified. Preoperative axial imaging and intraoperative arteriograms were reviewed, and those patients with a type IA endoleak were further studied. Aneurysm features were characterized by two reviewers and were studied for predictors of persistent endoleaks at the conclusion of the case. Patient records and the Social Security Death Index were used to record 1-year and overall survival. Results We identified 1484 EVARs, 122 (8%) of which were complicated by a type IA endoleak on arteriography after graft deployment, with a median follow-up of 4 years. The majority of patients underwent additional ballooning of the proximal site (52 [43%]) or placement of an aortic cuff (47 [39%]); 30 patients (25%) received a Palmaz stent, and four patients were treated with coils or anchors. At case end, only 43 (35%) of the type IA endoleaks remained; at 1 month, only 16 endoleaks persisted (13%), and only six persisted at 1 year (6%). In multivariable analysis, the only independent predictor of persistence of type IA endoleak at the conclusion of the case was the presence of extensive neck calcifications (odds ratio [OR], 9.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-67.9; P = .02). Thirteen patients (11%) underwent reintervention for type IA endoleaks, with a time frame ranging from 3 days postoperatively to 11 years. There were three patients (2.4%) who experienced aneurysm rupture. Postoperative type IA endoleak was associated with lower survival at 1 year (79% vs 91%; relative risk, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1-5.4; P = .02), but it did not affect long-term survival (log-rank, P = .45). Both an increase in aneurysm sac size and failure of the endoleak to resolve by case end were independent predictors of a need for reintervention (growth: OR, 8.3; 95% CI, 2.2-31.6; P P P = .28). Conclusions Aneurysm rupture secondary to persistent type IA endoleak is rare, and most will resolve within 1 year. Extensive neck calcification is the only independent predictor of persistent type IA endoleak, and an increase in sac size warrants reintervention. These data suggest that select early persistent type IA endoleaks can be safely observed.
Alumni Characteristics of Collegiate Recovery Programs: A National Survey

Collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) support students in or seeking recovery from substance use disorders or mental health disorders while enrolled in college. Collegiate recovery has been establish...
A Random Forests Quantile Classifier for Class Imbalanced Data

Extending previous work on quantile classifiers (q-classifiers) we propose the q*-classifier for the class imbalance problem. The classifier assigns a sample to the minority class if the minority class conditional probability exceeds 0 < q* < 1, where q* equals the unconditional probability of observing a minority class sample. The motivation for q*-classification stems from a density-based approach and leads to the useful property that the q*-classifier maximizes the sum of the true positive and true negative rates. Moreover, because the procedure can be equivalently expressed as a cost-weighted Bayes classifier, it also minimizes weighted risk. Because of this dual optimization, the q*-classifier can achieve near zero risk in imbalance problems, while simultaneously optimizing true positive and true negative rates. We use random forests to apply q*-classification. This new method which we call RFQ is shown to outperform or is competitive with existing techniques with respect to tt-mean performance and variable selection. Extensions to the multiclass imbalanced setting are also considered.
Empirical test of the native–nonnative distinction: Native and nonnative assemblages of Anolis lizards are similar in morphology and phylogeny

Nonnative (“invasive,” “exotic,” “naturalized”) species frequently are vilified. However, some philosophers and ecologists have questioned whether nonnative species and assemblages are objectively, ahistorically identifiable as different entities relative to native species and assemblages, once selection biases are taken into account. We used an unprecedented dataset of morphology, phylogeny and assemblage content for 336 species of Anolis lizard to compare morphological and phylogenetic characteristics of variability and central tendency between native assemblages and those that include nonnative species. Equivalence tests demonstrated significant similarity between native and nonnative assemblages in trait variability, phylogenetic dispersion and mean trait values except for body size; logistic and zero‐inflated regression failed to distinguish native and nonnative assemblages. For most traits, similarity was not due to assemblages being structured randomly but rather to both native and nonnative assemblages including similar species. Without historical information, a naive observer would be unable to identify Anolis assemblages as native or nonnative based on morphological assemblage structure or most mean assemblage trait values, but would have some success categorizing assemblages based on average body size of species in the assemblage. Significant phylogenetic and morphological clustering in native assemblages likely reflects source pools composed of close relatives that share traits, as well as some environmental filtering effects; the slightly less phylogenetically clustered but equally morphologically clustered nonnative assemblages are less constrained to proximal source pools but still probably subject to filtering. Differences between native and nonnative assemblages in mean body size likely reflect assemblage youth. The ontological status of nonnative species is discussed in the light of these results. A plain language summary is available for this article.
The information needs of health care professionals and consumers in developing countries

The health information needs of health care professionals and consumers in less-developed countries, although somewhat similar to those of their U.S. counterparts, have a number of unique differences. Health care professionals in developing countries are more diverse in their backgrounds, training, experience, and work settings. These differences, combined with cultural variables, a lack of resources and trained information professionals, contribute to the complexity of health information delivery. Consumers in developing countries, due to a lower literacy rate and a higher rate of commercial health information, face different problems when attempting to make health-related decisions.
Determinants of selective ion permeation in the epithelial Na+ channel

The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) is a key transporter mediating and controlling Na+ reabsorption in many tight epithelia. A very high selectivity for Na+ over other cations, including K+, is a hallmark of this channel. This selectivity greatly exceeds that of the closely related acid-sensing channels (ASICs). Here, we assess the roles of two regions of the ENaC transmembrane pore in the determination of cation selectivity. Mutations of conserved amino acids with acidic side chains near the cytoplasmic end of the pore diminish macroscopic currents but do not decrease the selectivity of the channel for Na+ versus K+ In the WT channel, voltage-dependent block of Na+ currents by K+ or guanidinium+, neither of which have detectable conductance, suggests that these ions permeate only ∼20% of the transmembrane electric field. According to markers of the electric field determined by Zn2+ block of cysteine residues, the site of K+ block appears to be nearer to the extracellular end of the pore, close to a putative selectivity filter identified using site-directed mutations. To test whether differences in this part of the channel account for selectivity differences between ENaC and ASIC, we substitute amino acids in the three ENaC subunits with those present in the ASIC homotrimer. In this construct, Li:Na selectivity is altered from that of WT ENaC, but the high Na:K selectivity is maintained. We conclude that a different part of the pore may constitute the selectivity filter in the highly selective ENaC than in the less-selective ASIC channel.
Guerra Social Extendida: ¿cómo la crueldad se adueña de todo?

En el actual contexto colombiano parece que vivieramos un conflicto que aparentemente se cierra por uno de sus frentes mas activos, en este caso el proceso de paz con las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), pero a su vez se abren nuevas trincheras que tienen como victimas, entre otros, a los lideres y lideresas sociales que vienen siendo asesinados a lo ancho y largo de Colombia. Sin embargo, este conflicto de baja intensidad se enmarca en una crisis mucho mas profunda asociada con un bloqueo civilizatorio, o como lo llamaria Wallerstein (2015), una crisis estructural del sistema-mundo. Una crisis que no es solo economica, o politica, sino una crisis societal que nos agobia en los mas hondo de nuestra propia constitucion como seres que nos defi nimos desde el vinculo social.
50-P: THE SURVEY: UTILIZING LOW RESOLUTION TYPING TO PREDICT HIGH RESOLUTION TYPING – A VIRTUAL TOOL

Aim The “virtual crossmatch” is advanced as a predictor of HLA reactivity/compatibility between the recipient and the potential donor. HLA laboratories and transplant centers rely on this practice. Antibody detection however is limited by the makeup of the alleles in the test panel and the genetic makeup of the donor pool is endless. A laboratory with limited resources, specimen access or time may need to make an immediate “virtual” call about a donor/recipient pairing with low resolution molecular HLA typing paired with allelic level HLA Antibody information. Knowing that low resolution molecular HLA typing kits are geared towards identifying the most common alleles for each locus, we wanted to survey the actual frequency that these low resolution SSO kits identified the high resolution typing of these loci with a “single pass”. Methods We surveyed the last 7 ASHI high resolutions PT challenges. We compared our initial low resolution typing (and most likely implied high resolution typing) with the graded high resolution typing returned for each of these surveys. We then determined the percentage of matched results between the predicted high resolution typing with the actual high resolution typing at each of the following HLA loci: A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3,4,5 and DQB1. Results Percentage matched, Predicted High Resolution Vs. Actual High resolution typing A locus: 96% matched B locus: 96% matched Cw locus: 91% matched DRB1 locus: 81% matched DRB3, 4, 5 locus: 48% matched DQB1 locus: 89% matched. Conclusions Our survey has resolved that HLA typing based on low resolution SSO kits results in 90% matched HLA typing as ascertained by high resolution HLA-A, B and Cw typing; our study also demonstrates that HLA class II typing by low resolution, especially DRB3,4,5 typing, leaves much to be desired. The advantages and disadvantages unmasked by our study may be of value in informing clinical decisions and associated risks and benefits.
Contributing Factors of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease

ABSTRACT Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) affects at least 5.7 million Americans, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. At the onset, patients experience minor memory problems. Next, impairments in speech and motor function manifest as a limitation to well-being and independence. Slowing this pandemic rise is critical, since AD also bears a huge socioeconomical burden. Unfortunately, there is limited prevention and no effective cure has been found, as all clinical trials for promising AD drugs have failed thus far. The pathological hallmarks of AD include amyloid-β plaques (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), and neuroinflammation. Other factors include APOE4 and environmental stressors, such as metal dyshomeostasis, which contribute to AD pathogenesis. Herein, we review major contributing factors involved in AD pathophysiology. Deeper understanding of associated molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis is critical for developing novel AD theranostics.
Thrombin contributes to cancer immune evasion via proteolysis of platelet-bound GARP to activate LTGF-β

Cancer-associated thrombocytosis and high concentrations of circulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) are frequently observed in patients with progressive cancers. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we show a direct link between thrombin catalytic activity and release of mature TGF-β1 from platelets. We found that thrombin cleaves glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP), a cell surface docking receptor for latent TGF-β1 (LTGF-β1) on platelets, resulting in liberation of active TGF-β1 from the GARP-LTGF-β1 complex. Furthermore, systemic inhibition of thrombin obliterates TGF-β1 maturation in platelet releasate and rewires the tumor microenvironment toward favorable antitumor immunity, which translates into efficient cancer control either alone or in combination with programmed cell death 1-based immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Last, we demonstrate that soluble GARP and GARP-LTGF-β1 complex are present in the circulation of patients with cancer. Together, our data reveal a mechanism of cancer immune evasion that involves thrombin-mediated GARP cleavage and the subsequent TGF-β1 release from platelets. We propose that blockade of GARP cleavage is a valuable therapeutic strategy to overcome cancer's resistance to immunotherapy.