cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stomal and peristomal complications: prioritizing management approaches in adults.

Purpose The objectives of this study were to establish additional content validation data for proposed stomal and peristomal complications interventions and to identify optimal interventions for the specified complications based on experts' clinical judgment. Subjects and setting Following pilot testing of the researcher-designed instrument, the survey was mailed to 1000 systematically randomly selected expert WOC nurses via a national mailing to a representative sample of participants who identified in their WOCN Society description as having ostomy certification and/or clinical expertise. Two hundred eighty-one nurses returned the survey, comprising a response rate of 28%. Methods A cross-sectional, quantitative descriptive design with qualitative components was used for this study. Respondents were asked to quantify degree of validity (relevance or appropriateness) of the survey's stated stomal and peristomal complications interventions. They were asked to rank interventions for each stomal and peristomal complication for being first-line (most preferred), second-line, and third-line treatment. Hand-written qualitative comments of the participants were transcribed and analyzed, and themes were derived. Results On a scale of 1 to 4, the mean score for all interventions was 3.47 ± 0.29 (relevant/very relevant, mean ± SD). The overall survey's Content Validity Index was 0.84 out of 1.00. Some items had lower mean scores and content validity index scores, especially peristomal interventions. Ranking of most preferred treatments revealed clearly preferred approaches in some clinical situations and some less so. Qualitative analysis of participants' comments about each stomal and peristomal complication intervention and about the whole instrument and research process was conducted generating positive and negative themes. Conclusion The proposed stomal and peristomal interventions were rated as generally valid substantiating results of our earlier study. The ranking of most preferred treatments for stomal and peristomal complications provides, to the authors' knowledge, the world's first research support for prioritized approaches and evidence-based practice in ostomy care.
An evaluation of benthic macroinvertebrate biomass methodology

This study shows that biological assessments of water quality status using biomass estimates of wet, dry, and ash-free dry weights and counts of individual organisms from a small, headwater stream in southwestern Ohio provide essentially similar results concerning the impact of a sewage treatment plant discharge. Of the indices of biotic status for the stream segment employed for data evaluation; Diversity Index (D), Community Diversity Index (d), Trophic Condition Index (TCI), and Empirical Biotic Index (EBI), the latter two provided evaluations most consistent with benchmark water chemistry and physics information concerning the trophic status of the stream. In addition, the percent composition of macro-invertebrate taxa by pollutional category; ‘clean water’, ‘facultative’, and ‘pollution tolerant’, as ascribed using TCI and EBI ranges for individual taxa collected in combination of Ekman grab, rock-filled basket sampler and drift net samples, proves adequate for interpretation of biotic status.
Aqueous colloidal acene nanoparticles: a new platform for studying singlet fission.

Singlet fission is a process that occurs in select molecular systems wherein a singlet excited state divides its energy to form two triplet excitations on neighboring chromophores. While singlet fission has been largely studied in molecular crystals, colloidal nanoparticles offer the ability to investigate fission using liquid suspensions, allowing questions regarding the importance of molecular arrangement and charge transfer to be assessed. Herein, we report the synthesis of aqueous colloidal nanoparticles of 5,12-diphenyltetracene (DPT), a material recently demonstrated to undergo singlet fission in disordered films. Upon synthesis, nanoparticles display absorption features that lie between those of monomeric DPT and disordered DPT films. These features evolve over a few days in a manner that suggests an increase in the degree of association between neighboring molecules within the nanoparticles. Transient absorption and time-resolved emission experiments indicate that photoexcited DPT nanoparticles un...
Accuracy of Point-of-care Lung Ultrasonography for Diagnosis of Acute Chest Syndrome in Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease and Fever

Objectives The objective was to determine the test performance characteristics for point-of-care lung ultrasonography (LUS) performed by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians compared with radiographic diagnosis of acute chest syndrome (ACS) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and fever. Methods This was a prospective study of patients up to 21 years with SCD and fever requiring chest X-ray (CXR) evaluation for ACS. Before obtaining CXR, a blinded PEM physician performed LUS using a standardized scanning protocol. Positive LUS for ACS was defined as lung consolidation. All patients received CXR and follow-up. The criterion standard for ACS was consolidation on CXR as determined by a blinded radiologist. LUS clips were reviewed by a blinded expert PEM sonologist. Results A total of 116 febrile events from 91 patients with a median age of 5.7 years were enrolled by 15 PEM sonologists. CXR was positive for ACS in 15 (13%) patients, and LUS was positive for ACS in 19 (16%) patients. Positive LUS had a sensitivity of 87% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 62% to 96%), specificity of 94% (95% CI = 88% to 97%), positive likelihood ratio of 14.6 (95% CI = 6.5 to 32.5), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.14 (95% CI = 0.04 to 0.52) for ACS. The interobserver agreement (kappa) was 0.77. There were two missed cases of ACS on LUS. Conclusions LUS may be sensitive and specific for diagnosis of ACS in pediatric patients with SCD and fever. LUS may reduce the need for routine CXR and associated ionizing radiation exposure in this population.
Comparison of Immunologic Responses Following Intranasal and Oral Administration of a USDA-Approved, Live-Attenuated Streptococcus equi Vaccine

Abstract Although there is a commercially available vaccine for Streptococcus equi subspecies equi licensed for the intranasal (IN) route of administration, some equine practitioners are administering this vaccine orally despite a lack of evidence for its efficacy by this route of administration. The purpose of this study was to compare systemic and local immune responses following IN or oral administration of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-approved, live-attenuated S. equi subspecies equi vaccine (Pinnacle IN; Zoetis, Florham Park, NJ). Eight healthy horses with low S. equi M protein (SeM) titers ( Streptococcus equi M protein–specific serum immunoglobulins G (IgG) and A (IgA) and nasal secretion IgA were assessed using a commercially available ELISA (SeM ELISA, Equine Diagnostics Solutions, LLC, Lexington, KY) and a novel magnetic microsphere assay utilizing fluorescence. A general linear mixed models approach was used for statistical data analysis. As expected, IN vaccinates showed substantial increases in both serum SeM-specific IgG and IgA levels postvaccination ( P = .0006 and P = .007, respectively). Oral vaccinates showed an increase in serum SeM-specific IgG postvaccination ( P = .0150), though only one third the magnitude of IN vaccinates. Oral vaccinates showed no evidence of change in SeM-specific IgA postvaccination ( P = .15). Results indicate that IN or oral vaccine administration resulted in increased serum SeM-specific IgG, though the magnitude of response differed, where there was a 10-fold increase for IN vaccinates and only a threefold increase for oral vaccinates.
Mesoionic pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones: Discovery of triflumezopyrim as a potent hopper insecticide1

A novel class of mesoionic pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones has been discovered with exceptional insecticidal activity controlling a number of insect species. In this communication, we report the part of the optimization program which led to the discovery of triflumezopyrim as a highly potent insecticide controlling various hopper species. Our efforts in discovery, synthesis, structure-activity relationship elucidation, and biological activity evaluation are also presented.
Current status of the hobby-eberly telescope wide field upgrade and VIRUS

The Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) is an innovative large telescope of 9.2 meter aperture, located in West Texas at the McDonald Observatory. The HET operates with a fixed segmented primary and has a tracker which moves the fourmirror corrector and prime focus instrument package to track the sidereal and non-sidereal motions of objects. A major upgrade of the HET is in progress that will substantially increase the field of view by replacing the corrector, tracker and prime focus instrument package. In addition to supporting the existing suite of instruments, this wide field upgrade will feed a revolutionary new integral field spectrograph called VIRUS, in support of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX). This paper discusses the current status of this upgrade.
Mapping the Location of Autoinhibitory B-Domain Motifs within Factor V: New Insights Into How Factor V Activation Unfolds

Abstract Abstract 495 Blood coagulation factor V (FV) circulates as a procofactor with little or no procoagulant activity. Proteolytic removal of a large central B-domain converts FV (domain organization of A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2) to an active cofactor for membrane-bound FXa to form prothrombinase. Recently we found that discrete, evolutionarily conserved sequences within the B-domain serve an autoinhibitory function and are necessary to maintain FV as an inactive procofactor. The autoinhibitory region within the B-domain (termed the procofactor regulatory region or PRR) is sequence specific and remarkably short (∼100 amino acids out of 836 from B-domain) consisting of basic (963–1008; basic region or BR) and acidic (1493–1537; acidic region or AR) sequences. Dismantling this region appears to be the driving force to unveil a high affinity binding site(s) for FXa and thus underpins the procofactor to cofactor transition. While the BR and AR seem to work together to provide “on-site” repression of cofactor activity, there is no structural information about the FV B-domain that could provide clues into how this critical region functions. Here we use B-domain fragments tethered to an artificial protease in order to map the position of the PRR relative to the rest of the FV molecule. A BR peptide with an introduced free Cys at position 990 was stoichiometrically modified with FeBABE (Fe-p-bromoacetamidobenzyl-EDTA). FeBABE is a protein cutting reagent with a sulfhydryl-reactive moiety for attachment to Cys and an EDTA-chelated iron atom which, when triggered with ascorbic acid and peroxide, generates hydroxyl radicals that cut peptide bonds in a sequence-independent fashion. When a protein labeled with FeBABE binds its target, the Fe-BABE moiety facilitates cutting if it is orientated correctly and near ( Disclosures: Camire: Pfizer: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding.
Against the Drug Cure Model: Addiction, Identity, and Pharmaceuticals

Recent advances in brain imaging methods as well as increased sophistication in neuroscientific modeling of the brain’s reward systems have facilitated the study of neural mechanisms associated with addiction such as processes associated with motivation, decision-making, pleasure seeking, and inhibitory control. These scientific activities have increased optimism that the neurological underpinnings of addiction will be delineated, and that pharmaceuticals that target and change these mechanisms will by themselves facilitate early intervention and even full recovery. In this paper, we argue that it is misguided to construe addiction as just or primarily a brain chemistry problem, which can be adequately treated by pharmaceutical interventions alone.
Have We Gone Too Far

T HE question of whether we have gone too far in mathematical and statistical training for agricultural economists has been the object of much controversy and comment. Let us sample some of the comments. Paarlberg at the 1963 AFEA meeting said, "We have become so preoccupied with quantification that we quantify things which could better be handled qualitatively and we omit important factors from consideration just because they can't be quantified.... We forget that no method can produce rational results from erroneous data and that a system of data processing can answer only the questions that we are intelligent enough to ask of it."'
Adjustment to Widowhood and Loneliness Among Older Men: The Influence of Military Service.

Background and Objectives Men are at higher risk of experiencing poorer adjustment to widowhood compared to women, a transition that is associated with increased loneliness. Military service may play an important role in how men process widowhood, particularly among current cohorts of older men. The present study explores whether military experiences relate to better adjustment to widowhood, that is, reduction of loneliness associated with widowhood for men. We examine (a) whether military experience, especially exposure to death, shapes changes in loneliness following widowhood relative to those without military experience, and (b) if any observed benefits of military experience are explained by greater social engagement. Research Design and Methods We use the Health and Retirement Study and linked Veterans Mail Survey to address respondents while they are continuously married (T1) and at widowhood four years later (T2) using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. To address our hypotheses, we examine whether military experience without exposure to death, and/or military experience with exposure to death moderates the overall negative effect of widowhood for loneliness relative to civilians. Results There is a significantly lower level of loneliness among veterans with exposure to death relative to civilians who become widowed; however, veterans without exposure to death remain similar to civilian widowers. Social engagement does not explain the benefits associated with military exposures for widowers. Discussion and Implications Although exposure to death early in life is traumatic, our research suggests that such adversity within the specific context of the military may help enhance resilience during the transition to widowhood.
AssureMR: Verifiable SQL Execution on MapReduce

We design AssureMR, a system that supports efficient verification of SQL Selection-GroupBy-Aggregation (SGA) query evaluation on an untrusted MapReduce system. AssureMR does not rely on a centralized trusted party to construct the authentication data structure (ADS). Instead, AssureMR allows the untrusted mappers/reducers to construct ADS. AssureMR provides the following verification functionality: (1) correctness verification of ADS; (2) correctness verification of intermediate query results by individual mapper; and (3) correctness verification of final query results by reducers. Our experimental results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of AssureMR.
Impact of Accountable Care Organizations on Diagnostic Testing for Prostate Cancer.

Objective To determine if Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have the potential to accelerate the impact of prostate cancer screening recommendations. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using Medicare data evaluating the rates of PSA testing and prostate biopsy among men without prostate cancer between 2011 and 2014. We assessed PSA testing and biopsy rates before and after policy implementation among patients of ACO and non–ACO-aligned physicians. To control for secular trends, difference-in-differences methods were used to determine the effects of ACO implementation. Results We identified 1.1 million eligible men without prostate cancer. From 2011 to 2014, the rates of PSA testing and biopsy declined by 22.3% and 7.0%, respectively. PSA testing declined similarly regardless of ACO participation—from 618 to 530 tests per 1000 beneficiaries among ACO-aligned physicians and from 607 to 516 tests per 1000 beneficiaries among non–ACO-aligned physicians (difference-in-differences P = .11). Whereas rates of prostate biopsy remained constant for patients of non–ACO-aligned physicians at 12 biopsies per 1000 beneficiaries, these rates increased from 11.6 to 12.5 biopsies per 1000 beneficiaries of patients of ACO-aligned physicians (difference-in-differences P = .03). Conclusion PSA testing and prostate biopsy rates decreased significantly between 2011 and 2014. The rate of PSA testing was not differentially affected by ACO participation. Conversely, there was an increase in the rate of prostate biopsy among patients of ACO-aligned physicians. ACOs did not accelerate deimplementation of PSA testing for eligible Medicare beneficiaries without prostate cancer.
Open Access Digital Repository: Sharing Student Research with the World

University libraries use open access digital repositories to preserve and distribute the intellectual scholarly communications of their institution. How can global accessibility of quality student work be harnessed to benefit researchers, practitioners, and educators? To address this question, we study the impact of content factors and search engine optimization factors on download rates of capstone papers. We examined all 290 MPA capstone papers at Texas State University which have been made available through an online digital repository for public consumption. Results show strong support for the impact of search engine factors on download rates. The implications of high download rates of MPA capstone papers on public administration research, practice, and education are discussed in this paper.
An artificial bee colony algorithm approach for routing in VLSI

This paper presents an approach that applies the Artificial Bee Colony algorithm to the Two-Terminals-Net-Routing(TTNR) problem in VLSI physical design and compares its performance with the maze algorithm variant known as the state-of-the-art global routing algorithm. An effectively encoding method is described in this paper to solve the TTNR problem. In order to improve the convergence speed of the algorithm, some guiding solutions are employed as the initial solutions. The experimental results demonstrate that Artificial Bee Colony algorithm can find the less cost routing paths for TTNR problems than the maze algorithm.
Pathology of Radiation Effects on Healthy Tissues in the Pelvis

This chapter will review short- and long-term effects of radiation exposure to normal tissue on an organ-specific basis. Knowledge in this area has developed from findings in animal models and human tissues.
Probabilistic Image Reconstruction Using Experimental Ultrasonic Data

Ultrasonic pulse-echo measurements at a center frequency of 2.25 MHz have been made of a multiwire target in water (consisting of 3 thin parallel wires separated by 0.8 mm), and a prolate spheroidal void in titanium, whose major axes were 800 x 1600 microns. The data consisted of digitized r.f. waveforms corresponding to 4 incident directions, obtained using a transducer array. Calibration of the acoustical system response functions for the two experiments discussed above were based on similar measurements of a thin single wire, and of a spherical void in titanium, respectively.
Mechanism governing surface stress generation

Microcantilever based sensors can be used for detection of specific target molecules in a solution. In conventional mode of sensing, receptor molecules are immobilized on the cantilever surface and the chemical interaction between receptors and ligand molecules causes surface stress change resulting in cantilever deformation; however, in the competition mode of sensing, the cantilever surface is covered with complex molecules and after immerging cantilever in the solution of target molecules, ligand molecules diffuse away from the cantilever surface and causes cantilever deflection. In this method, the rate of ligand dissociation can be measured as a sensing tool. In this report, both mode of sensing is considered and theoretical models are developed to understand the mechanism of cantilever tip deflection in conventional mode of sensing and ligand dissociation rate in competition mode of sensing. For the conventional mode of sensing, it is shown that, the molecular interaction model, which is based on interaction energy between double strand DNAs, can predict the cantilever deflection better than entropy model. Also, it is proved that the competition mode of sensing can be a good method of sensing and its advantages and limitations are shown.
Timing of Prophylactic Anticoagulation and Its Effect on Thromboembolic Events After Surgery for Metastatic Tumors of the Spine

Study Design.Retrospective cohort study.Objective.To investigate the effect of timing of initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation (AC) on the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after surgery for metastatic tumors of the spine.Summary of Background Data.VTE is a known complication in patient
Using a Robotic Neck Brace for Movement Training of the Head–Neck

Coordinated head–neck movement is a challenge for patients with neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neck collars are commonly used to stabilize the head–neck in these patients. These collars are mostly rigid and uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time. We have developed a robotic neck brace to assist head–neck motion. In this letter, we focus on using the robotic neck brace for training of the head-neck motion using forces applied on the head. A force controller is implemented to deliver a moment to correct the head motion in an ‘assist-as-needed’ fashion. A human study was designed to assess the performance of the robotic neck brace with the force controller. Ten young healthy adults participated in the experiment. They were asked to perform a lateral bending motion in the coronal plane of the head-neck with and without the assistance of the brace. The motions were conducted under two conditions: i) with visual feedback, ii) with visual and force feedback. We found that the rotational movement errors were significantly reduced ( $p ) during training with the force field when compared to visual feedback alone. As expected, this change was not retained during post-training. We conclude that the force controller is able to provide the desirable force assistance to help coordinate the head motion.
Reminiscence and Recompense: Reuse and the Garage Sale

Among the mix of motivations that inspire people to sell and shop at garage sales is the desire to prevent the disposal of still usable goods. Sales can be so effective for redistributing consumer goods and reducing waste that numerous municipalities, such as Sunnyvale, California and Sydney, Australia, promote their sales through a community-wide staging. Lengthy corridor sales in the U.S., like that held annually on Route 127 (the “World’s Longest Yard Sale”), serve the same function, drawing positive media attention and promoting civic pride. But unlike the mundane act of recycling used papers and cans at the curb, making goods available for reuse at garage sales is an action loaded with personal sentiment. Second-hand purchases are often imbued with “sticky” emotional orientations (Ahmed 2010) and reminiscences. This article therefore examines the garage sale as a site for redistributing goods with emotions and histories attached. Participants derive some small recompense in the form of money made, the acquisition of inexpensive goods, and the self-satisfaction associated with reducing waste, but shoppers and sellers are also allied in a tug of war against the landfill to claim the future of goods, especially the storied items adopted by shoppers. Beneath their goal of cleaning out the garage, garnering some extra cash, or obtaining a bargain, participants assert that the reuse of and care for still serviceable goods is meritorious and morally praiseworthy. In the process of reuse, they enhance their moral selves and perform a good deed, however minor, by preserving both the stories of these objects and the embattled earth.
A conceptual model for integrating community health in managing remediation of West Virginia and central Appalachia’s abandoned coal mines

The decline of the coal industry and the associated ongoing bankruptcies of large coal companies create a serious concern that surface coal mining states may inherit large-scale liabilities for unremediated coal mines. These states may also have limited funding to remediate all abandoned mines at once, requiring prioritization of the cleanup of coal mines. In West Virginia and central Appalachia, these coal mines are often located in areas ranked as having poor public health outcomes, poor health factors, and extremely low-socioeconomic status. Epidemiological research has associated poor health outcomes for residents located near coal mining. Coal mine remediation presents an opportunity to improve the environment of the coalfields and perhaps improve health in communities surrounded by coal mines, as well as those downstream of polluted mining water discharges. By examining factors uniquely associated with the central Appalachia and West Virginia coalfields, a conceptual model that demonstrates how community health can be considered as a factor for prioritization of resources in remediation of abandoned coal mines was developed. The model utilizes health concerns specific to West Virginia and central Appalachia, relies on data already collected by the state, and identifies areas of the state with vulnerable health populations. Because this conceptual model is tailored to specific state concerns and existing state data, this model would be cost-effective as an off-the-shelf model for state agencies, and it could also be prospectively used when permitting new pollutant sources, such as new coal mines or natural gas drill sites and pipelines.
Sensitizing Burkitt lymphoma to EBV-CTLs.

In this issue of Blood, Dalton et al show that epigenetic therapy with decitabine can upregulate immunogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens on Burkitt lymphoma (BL) that normally only express the less immunogenic antigen EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1), rendering them sensitive to EBV-specific cells. The authors hypothesized that inducing expression of the more immunogenic latent viral antigens expressed in EBV type II and III latency tumors, such as posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), on EBV I latency tumors like BL, could improve the activity of virus-directed immunotherapies against these tumors.
Analysis of monitoring results of iodine deficiency disorders in Cangzhou city, Hebei province, from 2007 to 2009

Objective To understand the situation of iodine deficiency disorders of Cangzhou city, Hebei province, in order to provide the scientific basis for prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders. Methods From 2007 to 2009, dynamic monitoring of iodine deficiency disorders was carried out in low iodized salt coverage places Hejian city and Xian county. Nine towns were randomly chosen in each county, 4 administrative villages were randomly selected in each town, 8 household salts were tested in each village. Every year, 1 - 3 copies of residents water samples were collected for determination of iodine; more than 100 students age 8 - 10 years old were checked the situation of goiter and urinary iodine, more than 40 students selected were measured iodine content of salt from their home; more than 50 women of childbearing age 18 - 40 years were tested of urinary iodine. Thyroid was examined with palpation; water iodine and urine iodine concentration were measured with arsenic-Ce catalytic spectrophotometry; salt iodine was detected by direct titration. Results From 2007 to 2009,median household salt iodine were 4.3,15.9,3.6,18.4,4.6,11.7 mg/kg in Hejian city and Xian county, respectively,iodized salt accounted for 34.03% (98/288), 78.82% (227/288), 29.86% (86/288), 84.72% (244/288), 37.15%(107/288),49.31% (142/288), respectively, the consuming rate of iodized salt were 27.08% (78/288),36.46%( 105/288 ), 28.13% (81/288 ), 49.31% ( 142/288 ), 37.15 % ( 107/288 ), 30.90% ( 89/288 ), respectively. Ten samples of drinking water were tested, water iodine were 5.5 - 34.4 μg/L. From 2007 to 2009, the goiter rate of students aged 8 - 10 years old was below 5%, the median of urinary iodine were 138.1,176.6,112.0 μg/L, ＜ 100 μg/L ratio were 31.6% ( 65/206 ), 25.0% ( 52/208 ) and 44.4% (91/205 ). The median of urinary iodine of child-bearing age women were 167.3,164.2,78.1 μg/L, ＜ 100 μg/L ratio were 28.7%(29/101 ), 19.2%(20/104) and 60.0%(60/100).Conclusions In areas with low coverage of iodized salt, iodine nutrition level are affected, the child-bearing age Key words: Iodine; Deficiency diseases; Thyroid gland; Salts; Urine
Abstract 6641: In situ immunization with the TLR9-agonist CMP-001 enhances anti-PD1 therapy in head and neck tumors

Immunotherapy involving immune checkpoint inhibitors (i.e. anti-PD1) has shown promise for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, only a small subset of HNSCC patients respond to these therapies. Therefore, the identification of alternative immunotherapeutic strategies is necessary to improve HNSCC patient outcomes. CMP-001 is a novel toll-like receptor-9 agonist that consists of an unmethylated CpG motif-rich G10 oligonucleotide encapsulated in virus-like particles. In situ vaccination of CMP-001 is believed to activate tumor-associated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) leading to tumor antigen presentation to T cells and anti-tumor T cell responses. This study is designed to investigate if CMP-001 would enhance HNSCC tumor response to anti-PD1 therapy in a human papilloma virus-positive (HPV+) tumor mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously inoculated with murine HPV+ mEERL HNSCC cells on both left and right flanks of each mouse. CMP-001 (100 µg/mouse) was administered intratumorally (i.t.) 3 times over the course of 1 week into the left tumor as a single agent and in combination with anti-PD1 (50 µg/mouse, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) 3 times per week for 2 weeks. Succinate buffer i.t. in combination with human IgG i.p. was administered as controls. The role of anti-tumor immune response due to CMP-001+anti-PD1 treatment was investigated by the depletion of NK cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Tumor growth, survival and immune cell recruitment was monitored and analyzed in response to drug treatment. Results showed that in situ vaccination of CMP-001 alone and in combination with anti-PD1 therapy induced tumor regression in the injected tumors and the regression of CMP-001+anti-PD1-injected tumors was durable. Additionally, CMP-001+anti-PD1 induced tumor regression at the distant sites which was not observed in the other treatment groups. CMP-001+anti-PD1 also significantly prolonged mouse survival compared with other groups. The anti-tumor effect of CMP-001+anti-PD1 was accompanied by increased DCs, macrophages, IFNγ+ CD4+/CD8+ T cells, HPV+ CD8+ T cells and activated NK cells in tumors and lymph nodes near the injected site compared with control. The therapeutic and abscopal effect of CMP-001+anti-PD1 therapy was partially abrogated by NK cell depletion and completely abrogated by CD8+ T cell depletion. These results demonstrate the synergistic anti-tumor efficacy of CMP-001 combined with α-PD1 therapy and warrants further study of this combination as a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of HNSCC. Citation Format: Yinwen Cheng, Caitlin D. Lemke-Miltner, Carlos H. Chan, Aliasger Salem, George Weiner, Andrean Simons. In situ immunization with the TLR9-agonist CMP-001 enhances anti-PD1 therapy in head and neck tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 6641.
171. Does conflict of interest affect the reported fusion rates with bone graft extenders

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Bone graft extenders are being used more in spine surgery as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft, but potential conflict of interest could impact how the fusion rates are reported. PURPOSE To evaluate if the reported fusion rates are significantly greater in studies where there are potential conflicts of interest versus studies where there are no conflicts of interest. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Meta-analysis PATIENT SAMPLE Comparison between studies where there were no reported conflicts of interest versus studies where there were reported conflicts of interest. OUTCOME MEASURES Reported fusion rates in the studies. METHODS PubMed was searched for studies evaluating fusion rates when bone graft extenders including demineralized bone matrix and hydroxyapatite and tricalcium sulfate are used as bone graft extenders with laminectomy bone. Studies were screened for one- or two-level fusions and for degenerative spinal conditions. RESULTS A total of 1,928 studies were evaluated with 86 studies included in the study. The fusion rates varied from 4% to 100%. There were 24 studies where there was a potential conflict of interest and 62 studies where there was no conflict of interest. There were 1,308 total patients in the studies where there was a potential conflict of interest and 3,696 patients in studies without conflict of interest. The fusion rates of all the studies combined was 84.63%. The fusion rates of those studies where there was a conflict of interest was 80.93% versus 86.06% when there was no conflict of interest, this was not statistically significant (p>0.07). The fusion rates with CT was 79.79% vs 87.94% when there was no CT. The fusion rates when there was an independent reviewer was 82.61% vs 85.63% when there was no independent reviewer. CONCLUSIONS There is a great variability in the reported fusion rates of bone graft extenders. The reported fusion rates were actually lower in the studies where there was a potential conflict of interest. This is counter to what would be expected. The use of CT scans and an independent reviewer seem to account for the lower reported fusion rates. The use of CT scans and independent reviewers may be a means of negating the potential conflicts of interest in fusion studies. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Photoaffinity Labeling and Quantitative Chemical Proteomics Identify LXRβ as the Functional Target of Enhancers of Astrocytic apoE

Summary Utilizing a phenotypic screen, we identified chemical matter that increased astrocytic apoE secretion in vitro. We designed a clickable photoaffinity probe based on a pyrrolidine lead compound and carried out probe-based quantitative chemical proteomics in human astrocytoma CCF-STTG1 cells to identify liver x receptor β (LXRβ) as the target. Binding of the small molecule ligand stabilized LXRβ, as shown by cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). In addition, we identified a probe-modified peptide by mass spectrometry and proposed a model where the photoaffinity probe is bound in the ligand-binding pocket of LXRβ. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that the lead chemical matter bound directly to LXRβ, and our results highlight the power of chemical proteomic approaches to identify the target of a phenotypic screening hit. Additionally, the LXR photoaffinity probe and lead compound described herein may serve as valuable tools to further evaluate the LXR pathway.
Dynamic transcriptional reprogramming leads to immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities in myeloma

While there is extensive evidence for genetic variation as a basis for treatment resistance, other sources of variation result from cellular plasticity. Using multiple myeloma as an example of an incurable lymphoid malignancy, we show how cancer cells modulate lineage restriction, adapt their enhancer usage and employ cell-intrinsic diversity for survival and treatment escape. By using single-cell transcriptome and chromatin accessibility profiling, we show that distinct transcriptional states co-exist in individual cancer cells and that differential transcriptional regulon usage and enhancer rewiring underlie these alternative transcriptional states. We demonstrate that exposure to standard treatment further promotes transcriptional reprogramming and differential enhancer recruitment while simultaneously reducing developmental potential. Importantly, treatment generates a distinct complement of actionable immunotherapy targets, such as CXCR4, which can be exploited to overcome treatment resistance. Our studies therefore delineate how to transform the cellular plasticity that underlies drug resistance into immuno-oncologic therapeutic opportunities.
Provider insights on shared decision-making with families affected by CHD.

Background and objectives Little data exist on provider perspectives about counselling and shared decision-making for complex CHD, ways to support and improve the process, and barriers to effective communication. The goal of this qualitative study was to determine providers' perspectives regarding factors that are integral to shared decision-making with parents faced with complex CHD in their fetus or newborn; and barriers and facilitators to engaging in effective shared decision-making. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with providers from different areas of practice who care for fetuses and/or children with CHD. Providers were recruited from four geographically diverse centres. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed for key themes using an open coding process with a grounded theory approach. Results Interviews were conducted with 31 providers; paediatric cardiologists (n = 7) were the largest group represented, followed by nurses (n = 6) and palliative care providers (n = 5). Key barriers to communication with parents that providers identified included variability among providers themselves, factors that influenced parental comprehension or understanding, discrepant expectations, circumstantial barriers, and trust/relationship with providers. When discussing informational needs of parents, providers focused on comprehensive short- and long-term outcomes, quality of life, and breadth and depth that aligned with parental goals and needs. In discussing resources to support shared decision-making, providers emphasised the need for comprehensive, up-to-date information that was accessible to parents of varying situations and backgrounds. Conclusions Provider perspectives on decision-making with families with CHD highlighted key communication issues, informational priorities, and components of decision support that can enhance shared decision-making.
Assessment of Microphone Phased Array for Measuring Launch Vehicle Lift-Off Acoustics

The specific purpose of the present work was to demonstrate the suitability of a microphone phased array for launch acoustics applications via participation in selected firings of the Ares I Scale Model Acoustics Test. The Ares I Scale Model Acoustics Test is a part of the discontinued Constellation Program Ares I Project, but the basic understanding gained from this test is expected to help development of the Space Launch System vehicles. Correct identification of sources not only improves the predictive ability, but provides guidance for a quieter design of the launch pad and optimization of the water suppression system. This document contains the results of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center assessment.
Focus on Multilingualism: More Dots to Connect

Across the four selected papers, Cenoz and Gorter present a research program entitled Focus on Multilingualism (FOM), which is underpinned by two questions: (1) how to understand multilingualism, perhaps from a humanistic perspective, and (2) how to implement it in education. In exploring these questions, the authors cite an intellectual and methodological lineage drawn from the fields of bilingualism and second language acquisition (SLA). I do not see inherent contradictions in invoking both bilingualism and SLA for the purpose. However, the thesis of this commentary is that the argumentation for these goals might benefit from a more explicit reflection of current understandings of SLA, from a macro view to a micro view, such that its own descriptive adequacy can be bolstered. Furthermore, I have concerns about how the implementation of such understanding will follow in education. First, I describe the scope and motivation of the FOM framework. Then, I suggest that more constructs from the field of SLA be invoked in FOM, namely from a Usage-based framework. I also suggest borrowing some of SLA’s methodological rigor. Last, I express broad concerns about the implementation of FOM for the purposes of education.
View Maintenance and Analytical Processing at Data Warehouses

In this paper, we describe techniques that can be used to incorporate updates at a data warehouse on-the-fly. An incremental view maintenance algorithm is described that incorporates updates from data-sources at a dynamic data warehouse. Similarly, partitioning and recursive decomposition techniques are described that allowe efficient querying and updating of summary data at the warehouse for analytical processing.
The Effects of the Food Stamp Program on Energy Balance and Obesity

The Food Stamp Program (FSP) administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the cornerstone of the U.S. federal income and food safety net policy. The FSP has subsidized the food budget for millions of American households for over forty years, spending more than $60 billion per year in recent times. Prior research has demonstrated that women who participate in the FSP are more likely to be overweight or obese than eligible non-participants. This finding raises the concern that the additional income provided by FSP benefits induces participants to eat significantly more calories and gain weight, contributing to the U.S. obesity epidemic. Previous studies of the FSP have yielded mixed results. In this study we develop new conceptual and empirical models linking FSP participation, calorie consumption, physical activity, and weight gain, while controlling for genetic variation, weight history, and other physiological characteristics of individuals. The models enable us to test whether participants gained more weight, ate more calories, or engaged less in physical activity; or if previously omitted variables and individual health characteristics explain the higher prevalence of obesity among female FSP participants. We find a positive relationship between FSP participation and weight gain for a small subset of women. We do not find convincing evidence for the hypothesis that FSP participation causes obesity by increasing caloric consumption, decreasing physical activity, or some combination of the two. Our findings suggest that a positive association between FSP and weight exists, but we find no evidence of a direct causal link from one to the other. The association between weight and FSP likely results from confounding factors that make individuals more likely both to gain weight and to participate in the FSP.
Isolation and Crystallization of Acyl Phosphatase from Rabbit Muscle

Abstract A crystalline acyl phosphatase has been obtained from rabbit muscle. The enzyme was homogeneous by ultracentrifugation (s20,w = 2.1) and disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel at pH 4.5. The crystals had a specific activity of 860 units per mg of protein which was a 390-fold purification over the initial acid extract of rabbit muscle.
Finding Life in Old Bones

The Ape in the Tree . An Intellectual and Natural History of Proconsul . By Alan Walker and Pat Shipman . Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2005. 285 pp. $26.95, £17.95, €24.90. ISBN 0-674-01675-0. The authors describe the fossils, discoveries, and interpretations of the best-known Miocene ape.
Association of Metabolic Syndrome With Kidney Function and Histology in Living Kidney Donors

The selection of living kidney donors is based on a formal evaluation of the state of health. However, this spectrum of health includes subtle metabolic derangements that can cluster as metabolic syndrome. We studied the association of metabolic syndrome with kidney function and histology in 410 donors from 2005 to 2012, of whom 178 donors were systematically followed after donation since 2009. Metabolic syndrome was defined as per the NCEP ATPIII criteria, but using a BMI > 25 kg/m(2) instead of waist circumference. Following donation, donors received counseling on lifestyle modification. Metabolic syndrome was present in 50 (12.2%) donors. Donors with metabolic syndrome were more likely to have chronic histological changes on implant biopsies than donors with no metabolic syndrome (29.0% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001). This finding was associated with impaired kidney function recovery following donation. At last follow-up, reversal of metabolic syndrome was observed in 57.1% of donors with predonation metabolic syndrome, while only 10.8% of donors developed de novo metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001). In conclusion, metabolic syndrome in donors is associated with chronic histological changes, and nephrectomy in these donors was associated with subsequent protracted recovery of kidney function. Importantly, weight loss led to improvement of most abnormalities that define metabolic syndrome.
Tree ring records capture long‐term memory in climate systems

Measuring tree rings is a mainstay technique for estimating ancient climatic conditions, with a tree's year-by-year growth reflecting changes in precipitation and temperature. In some cases, paleoclimatological records compiled from tree ring measurements can stretch for thousands of years. Based on recent research, climatologists have found that hydrological and other systems have long-term memory. Drawing on tree ring measurements compiled from across the continental United States, Bowers et al. sought to determine whether such long-term relationships are preserved in ring width measurements. The authors analyzed the Hurst parameter—a measure of long-term memory—of 697 different tree ring records that were collected from 10 tree species from locations across the United States. They found that though each tree species had a different mean value for its Hurst parameter, meaning that each species recorded long-term trends in the climate differently, they all fell within the range suggestive of their being able to properly represent long-term memory.
Probing Electric Fields at the Ionic Liquid-Electrode Interface Using Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry

The arrangement of ions at the platinum electrode in the room-temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate has been determined using sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the vibrational Stark effect. The results indicate that CO adsorbed on the Pt electrode has a Stark shift of 30−35 cm-1/V in the ionic liquid. The potential of zero charge (PZC) of the ionic liquid−Pt system is approximately −500 mV (vs Ag wire), with a capacitance of 0.12 F/m2. Further, polarization-dependent SFG experiments suggest the ions reorganize at the surface depending on the electrode charge. In combination, all these results indicate that the ions of a neat ionic liquid are organized in a Helmholtz layer at the electrified metal electrode interface.
Neutrino astrophysics with IMB: past, present, and future

A burst of eight neutrino interactions occurring over a six second interval has been observed with the IMB detector. The closeness in time of the burst to the optical discovery of Supernova 1987a suggests that the neutrinos originated from stellar collapse. The characteristics of the burst are reviewed together with a recently completed reevaluation of many aspects of the detector's response. Efforts underway to discover past and future supernovae are also briefly discussed.
Aminoimidazole Carboxamide Ribonucleotide Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

Purpose. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of an adenosine monophosphate (AMP) analog, aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU).