cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining genetic susceptibility in acute exacerbations of COPD.

Acute exacerbations (AE) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality, and account for a substantial proportion of the direct costs associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).1 Although AE frequency generally increases with worsening spirometric airflow obstruction on the population level, considerable variation in the number of exacerbations experienced by individuals exists. Epidemiological studies support the existence of an ‘intrinsic susceptibility’ towards AE which is independent of the degree of impairment in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) on spirometry.2 This has fuelled the search for genetic variants which may contribute to differential susceptibility towards AEs. An overview of studies investigating associations between genetic sequence variants and AE risk in COPD is shown in table 1. The vast majority of studies published to date have used the ‘candidate gene’ approach, whereby a limited number of variants in genes felt to be plausible contributors to exacerbation susceptibility are examined. Unfortunately, the body of knowledge arising from these investigations is often inconsistent. Non-replication or conflicting reports of association between studies are common, even when identical variants are interrogated (as exemplified by studies on the adrenoreceptor beta 2 gene, ARDB2) . This is likely due, at least in part, to chance findings, limited power from small study sizes and inadequate statistical rigour. Recent advances in genotyping, computing power and statistical methodologies have facilitated the widespread application of ‘hypothesis-free’ genomics-based studies of complex diseases and traits, yet studies of AE risk in COPD using this approach have been conspicuously absent from the literature. View this table: Table 1 Genetic variants investigated for association with AE of COPD A major limitation of hypothesis-free approaches, which …
Practice patterns and outcomes of chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for older patients with nasopharyngeal cancer.

Older patients are at increased risk of toxicities from aggressive oncologic therapy and of nononcologic death. A meta-analysis of non-nasopharyngeal head and neck cancers showed no statistical benefit in adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy (RT) in older patients; another meta-analysis of RT versus chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in NPC found advantages to CRT, but vastly under-represented patients ≥70 years old. This is the largest study to date evaluating outcomes of CRT versus RT alone in this population. The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was queried for primary nasopharyngeal cancer cases (2004-2013) in patients ≥70 years old receiving RT alone or CRT. Patients with unknown RT/chemotherapy and T1N0 or M1 disease were excluded. Logistic regression analysis ascertained factors associated with CRT delivery. Kaplan-Meier analysis evaluated overall survival (OS) between both cohorts. Cox proportional hazards modeling determined variables associated with OS. In total, 930 patients were analyzed (n = 713 (77%) CRT, n = 217 (23%) RT). Groups were relatively balanced; CRT was less frequently delivered in patients with advancing age, lower nodal burden, and females (P < 0.05 for all). Median OS in the CRT and RT groups were 35.3 versus 20.0 months, respectively (P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of OS included age, comorbidities, income and insurance status, tumor grade, and stage (P < 0.05 for all). Notably, receipt of chemotherapy independently predicted for improved OS (P = 0.036). CRT, compared to RT alone, was independently associated with improved survival in NPC patients ≥70 years old. CRT appears to be a promising approach in this population, but treatment-related toxicity risks should continue to be weighed against potential oncologic benefits.
Human Capital in a Climate-Changed World

At the center of the crisis of climate change is an amazingly efficient but inert fossil fuel-centered energy industry. What makes the energy industry so inert is its massive stock of capital: the facilities, structures, networks, and other physical assets required to extract, process, distribute, and combust fossil fuels. This capital stock is predicated on fossil fuel exploitation, and does not adapt well to alternative methods of meeting energy needs. Fossil fuel subsidies have bloated capital investments in the energy sector, producing low prices and in turn, economic development. It has thus been widely assumed that this is the most reliable model for economic development. Two things have become increasingly clear: (i) that fossil fuel subsidies and low energy prices are not a condition precedent to economic development, and (ii) human capital development, primarily through broad provision of education, is a condition precedent to economic development. The climate crisis highlights the environmental harms of fossil fuel combustion, but it also shines a spotlight on the faulty economic reasoning behind a fossil fuel-centered model of economic growth. This chapter suggests that as a minimum, two no-regrets policies be linked: the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, and the robust financing of broader access to education. The climate crisis introduces a new set of inequalities, those in which some countries have benefited disproportionately from the combustion of fossil fuels, and a mostly different set of countries will suffer disproportionately from the harms of climate change. Effecting a direct transfer of fossil fuel subsidies to educational objectives simultaneously reduces the inert capital in fossil fuel industries, increases more productive capital in the form of human capital, and provides a compensatory mechanism for those disproportionately harmed by climate change. Ultimately, the most beneficial and lasting aid that can be provided for developing countries most vulnerable to climate change is one that increases human capital through broad educational initiatives.
ROADWAY-2: A Model for Pollutant Dispersion near Highways

The formulations and evaluation of ROADWAY-2, a near-highway pollutant dispersion model, are described. This model incorporates vehicle wake parameterizations derived from canopy flow theory and wind tunnel measurements. The atmospheric velocity and turbulence fields are adjusted to account for velocity-deficit and turbulence production in vehicle wakes. A turbulent kinetic energy closure model of the atmospheric boundary layer is used to derive the mean velocity, temperature, and turbulence profiles from input meteorological data. ROADWAY-2 has been evaluated using SF6 tracer data from General Motors Sulfate Dispersion Experiment. The model evaluationresults are presented and discussed.
Wissenschaft und Symbolismus in der neuropsychologischen Rehabilitation

Dieses Buch zeigt die Notwendigkeit einer kontinuierlichen wissenschaftlichen Erforschung der Gehirn-Verhalten-Beziehung (d. h. Neuropsychologie) und die Bedeutung dieser Informationen fur die Rehabilitation auf. Daruber hinaus wurde dargelegt, welche Bedeutung das subjektive Erleben eines Patienten wahrend der neuropsychologischen Untersuchung oder des Rehabilitationsprogramms hat.
Effects of the Reduction of Dielectric Constant in Nanoscale Silicon

The reduction of the dielectric constant due to quantum confinement is studied. A modified Penn model to include quantum size effects has been employed to calculate the reduction. Effects on the exciton recombination and binding energies and donor binding energy are discussed. Our results show that nanoscale silicon of several nm is essentially intrinsic at room temperature.
Distributed Coordination of an Agent Society Based on Obligations and Commitments to Negotiated Agreements

This chapter discusses coordination from a commitment basis. Typically, commitments are established via a process of negotiation between the parties—the debtor and creditor—involved in the commitment. We define obligations to be those commitments, sometimes termed norms or social commitments, without a clearly identifiable creditor. The establishment of a commitment occurs in response to the adoption of a goal or the acceptance and performance of a task. Using a service-oriented computing (SOC) context, we describe an efficient negotiation process for establishing commitments. We then show how commitments and obligations can be used to monitor and control the aggregate behavior of a group of agents to yield coordinated progress towards the agents’ overall objective.
Sets of Linear Transformations

In this chapter we shall introduce some general concepts which are fundamental in the study of arbitrary sets of linear transformations. A deeper study of these notions belongs more properly to the so-called theory of representations of rings and is beyond the scope of the present volume. An introduction to these notions will serve to put into better perspective the results of the preceding chapter. We shall also be able to extend some of these results to sets of commutative linear transformations.
Abstract 23: p53 Mediates de novo Cardiomyocte Differentiation From c-kit Positive Cardiac Progenitor Cells

The heart is arguably the least regenerative organ. Nonetheless, cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) can readily be isolated from the adult heart. Moreover, we recently demonstrated that c-kit+ CPCs ar...
Quality of fathers’ spatial concept support during block building predicts their daughters’ early math skills – but not their sons’

Abstract The goal of this study was to examine fathers’ support of their children’s spatial learning during a joint block-building task at the beginning of first grade as a predictor of their children’s math achievement at the end of first grade. Observational measures of videotaped father–child interactions from the Boston site of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 105) were used to examine the effectiveness of spatial support during a block building task. Trained observers rated fathers’ spatial support by applying two approaches: (a) a qualitative rating scale assessing level of paternal spatial concept support involving encouragement of child spatial learning and enriched spatial explanations, and (b) a measure assessing quantitative paternal spatial location language support. A significant sex by quality of spatial concept support interaction showed that for girls (but not for boys), fathers’ qualitatively higher spatial concept support predicted superior math achievement scores by the end of first grade, even after controlling for a host of variables, including children’s math achievement at age 4.5 years, family income, child intelligence and ratings of fathers’ and mothers’ general cognitive support (e.g., support for a range of perceptual, cognitive, and linguistic development) across all parent–child activities during the first grade home visit. The quantitative measure of frequency of paternal spatial location language support was not predictive of math, but children’s independent accuracy on the block building task did predict math achievement. Though only correlational, findings suggest that fathers may have an important role to play in providing high-quality spatial concept support for their young daughters.
Application of an Intermittency Model for Laminar, Transitional, and Turbulent Internal Flows

A turbulent transition model has been applied to fluid flow problems that can be laminar, turbulent, transitional, or any combination. The model is based on a single additional transport equation for turbulence intermittency. While the original model was developed for external flows, a slight modification in model constants has enabled it to be used for internal flows. It has been successfully applied to such flows for Reynolds numbers that ranged from 100 to 100,000 in circular tubes, parallel plate channels, and circular tubes with an abrupt change in diameters. The model is shown to predict fully developed friction factors for the entire range of Reynolds numbers as well as velocity profiles for both laminar and turbulent regimes.
Quality of life improves with integrated behavioral health services in pediatric new-onset epilepsy.

Abstract The current study compared differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between youth with new-onset epilepsy with and without elevated psychological symptoms at time of epilepsy diagnosis within an integrated behavioral health and epilepsy service. Patients received both behavioral health and epilepsy care during clinic visits. A retrospective chart review was conducted between July 2011 and December 2015. Caregivers completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2: Parent Rating Scale (BASC-2: PRS) to assess psychological symptoms at the diagnostic visit, along with completing the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™ 4.0) at the diagnostic visit and each subsequent epilepsy clinic visit during the first year of treatment. Latent growth curve modeling was used to identify HRQOL changes over the first year of treatment. Health-related quality of life was significantly lower for youth with elevated psychological symptoms at diagnosis and over the first year of treatment compared with those without psychological symptoms. For those with elevated internalizing, inattention, withdrawal, and atypical symptoms at diagnosis, greater HRQOL improvements were detected over the first year of treatment compared with those without elevated psychological symptoms at the diagnostic visit. Within integrated behavioral health and epilepsy routine care, targeted psychological interventions can improve HRQOL over the first year of treatment, particularly for those with premorbid psychological symptoms.
Terror Management Theory and Psychological Disorder: Ineffective Anxiety-Buffer Functioning as a Transdiagnostic Vulnerability Factor for Psychopathology

Abstract Thirty years of research has supported terror management theory (TMT) claims that people manage the potential for anxiety caused by human awareness of the inevitability of death with an anxiety-buffering system consisting of cultural worldviews, self-esteem, and close interpersonal relationships. Problems acquiring and maintaining an effective anxiety-buffer can leave people unprotected from such anxiety, and consequently may result in psychological dysfunction. Indeed, a wide array of mental health issues are connected to difficulties with anxiety-buffer mechanisms, including meaning and values, self-esteem and identity, as well as attachment and interpersonal relationships. We suggest that weak or disrupted anxiety-buffer functioning should be viewed as a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor for psychopathology. In this chapter, we briefly review research from developmental, personality, traumatic stress, and TMT literatures supporting connections between psychological dysfunction and ineffective anxiety-buffer components. We conclude with a discussion of future research directions.
Matching with time-dependent treatments: A review and look forward

Observational studies of treatment effects attempt to mimic a randomized experiment by balancing the covariate distribution in treated and control groups, thus removing biases related to measured confounders. Methods such as weighting, matching, and stratification, with or without a propensity score, are common in cross-sectional data. When treatments are initiated over longitudinal follow-up, a target pragmatic trial can be emulated using appropriate matching methods. The ideal experiment of interest is simple; patients would be enrolled sequentially, randomized to one or more treatments and followed subsequently. This tutorial defines a class of longitudinal matching methods that emulate this experiment and provides a review of existing variations, with guidance regarding study design, execution, and analysis. These principles are illustrated in application to the study of statins on cardiovascular outcomes in the Framingham Offspring cohort. We identify avenues for future research and highlight the relevance of this methodology to high-quality comparative effectiveness studies in the era of big data.
A computational framework for predicting the fracture toughness of metals as function of microstructure

Abstract We present a simplified computational framework based on the cohesive finite element method (CFEM) for predicting the macroscale fracture measures such as KIC and JIC of ductile metals as functions of microstructural attributes. Currently, no systematic approach exists to explicitly quantify the effects of grain and grain boundary behavior on the fracture measures of polycrystalline materials. Our computational approach involves embedding a microstructure region around the crack tip in a compact tension specimen subjected to mode-I loading and explicitly resolving fracture processes in the microstructure. To track how the interplay between intergranular and transgranular fracture mechanisms affect the fracture processes and consequently KIC and JIC, a grain boundary misorientation dependent interfacial separation model is used. The framework allows exploration of the effects of microstructure on the macroscopic fracture measures via the manifestation of different fracture mechanisms. Calculations carried out for Mo capture and delineate the competing effects between (a) intergranular and transgranular fracture and (b) constituent plasticity and fracture on the overall fracture toughness of the material. The use of statistically equivalent microstructure sample sets (SEMSS) allows the statistical distributions of KIC to be predicted for Mo with different grain sizes. The results indicate that, as the minimum grain boundary interfacial strength decreases and the grain yield strength increases, intergranular fracture becomes more pronounced over transgranular fracture. Consequently, the plastic dissipation primarily associated with transgranular fracture is suppressed, resulting in lower overall fracture toughness. Microstructures with intermediate levels of grain size exhibit the toughest material response via a combination of tortuous crack paths and plastic dissipation. Finally, the results are analytically quantified in a manner that takes into account the effects of grain boundary characteristics, constituent plasticity, and stochasticity via the use of the SEMSS. Although the calculations here are performed on Mo in a simplified setting, the approach can be extended and applied to other material systems.
Deep Reinforcement Learning based Dynamic Object Detection and Tracking from a Moving Platform

This article proposes Deep Reinforcement learning inspired image based visual servoing (DRL-IBVS) controller for aerial robots. The proposed DRL-IBVS controller uses monocular images to map target’s bounding box based errors to linear-velocity command to the robot for following the target. Deep learning based object detection algorithm YOLOv2 architecture is used to identify the target in the image. The noise in detection is filtered using multi-object Bayes filter, where the prediction model utilizes a correlation tracker for target prior estimation. Filtered bounding box output is fed to the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) for performing the visual servoing. DDPG agent is trained separately using the pinhole camera model and the kinematic relation between two drones (follower and target). Gazebo-based simulation environment is used to successfully validate the controller.
Utilization Barriers and Medical Outcomes Commensurate With the Use of Telehealth Among Older Adults: Systematic Review.

Background: Rising telehealth capabilities and improving access to older adults can aid in improving health outcomes and quality of life indicators. Telehealth is not being used ubiquitously at present. Objective: This review aimed to identify the barriers that prevent ubiquitous use of telehealth and the ways in which telehealth improves health outcomes and quality of life indicators for older adults. Methods: This systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the Kruse protocol and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Reviewers queried the following four research databases: Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, and Embase (Science Direct). Reviewers analyzed 57 articles, performed a narrative analysis to identify themes, and identified barriers and reports of health outcomes and quality of life indicators found in the literature. Results: Reviewers analyzed 57 studies across the following five interventions of telehealth: eHealth, mobile health (mHealth), telemonitoring, telecare (phone), and telehealth video calls, with a Cohen κ of 0.75. Reviewers identified 14 themes for barriers. The most common of which were technical literacy (25/144 occurrences, 17%), lack of desire (19/144 occurrences, 13%), and cost (11/144 occurrences, 8%). Reviewers identified 13 medical outcomes associated with telehealth interventions. The most common of which were decrease in psychological stress (21/118 occurrences, 18%), increase in autonomy (18/118 occurrences, 15%), and increase in cognitive ability (11/118 occurrences, 9%). Some articles did not report medical outcomes (18/57, 32%) and some did not report barriers (19/57, 33%). Conclusions: The literature suggests that the elimination of barriers could increase the prevalence of telehealth use by older adults. By increasing use of telehealth, proximity to care is no longer an issue for access, and thereby care can reach populations with chronic conditions and mobility restrictions. Future research should be conducted on methods for personalizing telehealth in older adults before implementation. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020182162; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020182162.
The Substellar Mass Function: A Bayesian Approach

We report our efforts to constrain the form of the low-mass star and brown dwarf mass function via Bayesian inference. Recent surveys of M, L, and T dwarfs in the local solar neighborhood are an essential component of our study. Uncertainties in the age distribution of local field stars make reliable inference complicated. We adopt a wide range of plausible assumptions about the rate of galactic star formation and show that their deviations from a uniform rate produce little effect on the resulting luminosity function for a given mass function. We use a Bayesian statistical formalism to evaluate the probability of commonly used mass functions in light of recent discoveries. We consider three functional forms of the mass function, include a two-segment power law, a single power law with a low-mass cutoff, and a log-normal distribution. Our results show that, at a 60% confidence level, the power-law index, $\alpha$, for the low-mass arm of a two-segment power law has a value between -0.5 and 0.5 for objects with masses between $0.04 M_{\odot}$ and $0.10 M_{\odot}$. The best-fit index is $\alpha = 0.3\pm0.6$ at the 60% confidence level for a single-segment mass function. Current data require this function extend to at least $0.05 M_{\odot}$ with no restrictions placed on a lower mass cutoff. Inferences of the parameter values for a log-normal mass function are virtually unaffected by recent estimates of the local space density of L and T dwarfs. We find no preference among these three forms using this method. We discuss current and future capabilities that may eventually discriminate between mass-function models and refine estimates of their associated parameter values.
Interpretable Artificial Neural Networks incorporating Bayesian Alphabet Models for Genome-wide Prediction and Association Studies

ABSTRACT In conventional linear models for whole-genome prediction and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), it is usually assumed that the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes is linear. Bayesian neural networks have been used to account for non-linearity such as complex genetic architectures. Here, we introduce a method named NN-Bayes, where “NN” stands for neural networks, and “Bayes” stands for Bayesian Alphabet models, including a collection of Bayesian regression models such as BayesA, BayesB, BayesC, Bayesian LASSO, and BayesR. NN-Bayes incorporates Bayesian Alphabet models into non-linear neural networks via hidden layers between SNPs and observed traits. Thus, NN-Bayes attempts to improve the performance of genome-wide prediction and GWAS by accommodating non-linear relationships between the hidden nodes and the observed trait, while maintaining genomic interpretability through the Bayesian regression models that connect the SNPs to the hidden nodes. For genomic interpretability, the posterior distribution of marker effects in NN-Bayes is inferred by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approaches and used for inference of association through posterior inclusion probabilities (PIPs) and window posterior probability of association (WPPA). In simulation studies with dominance and epistatic effects, performance of NN-Bayes was significantly better than conventional linear models for both GWAS and whole-genome prediction, and the differences on prediction accuracy were substantial in magnitude. In real data analyses, for the soy dataset, NN-Bayes achieved significantly higher prediction accuracies than conventional linear models, and results from other four different species showed that NN-Bayes had similar prediction performance to linear models, which is potentially due to the small sample size. Our NN-Bayes is optimized for high-dimensional genomic data and implemented in an open-source package called “JWAS”. NN-Bayes can lead to greater use of Bayesian neural networks to account for non-linear relationships due to its interpretability and computational performance.
Equivalent design representations and transformations for interactive scheduling

It is pointed out that high-level synthesis (HLS) requires more designer interaction to better meet the needs of experienced designers. However, attempts to create a highly interactive synthesis process are hampered by incompatibility of various representations used during synthesis. To overcome this problem, equivalent representations are needed, as well as equivalence-preserving synthesis transformations. The structured finite state machine (SFSM) design model for scheduled behavior is presented, its equivalence to the control data flow graph (CDFG) model is shown, and primitive behavior-preserving transformations for scheduling are defined. This model and these transformations have been integrated into the BIF interactive environment to permit manual rescheduling of a design. >
Legionellae and Legionnaires' Disease

Legionellae are now associated with two forms of respiratory illness, collectively referred to as legionellosis. Inhalation of legionellae in aerosolized droplets is the primary means of transmission for legionellosis. The number and types of sites that should be tested to detect legionellae must be determined on an individual basis. Two primary sample types should be collected when sampling for legionellae: water samples and swabs of point-of-use devices or system surfaces. Examination of water samples is the most efficient microbiologic method for identifying sources of legionellae. Most investigations of epidemic legionellosis have used culture to detect legionellae in the environment. Practical information concerning treatment processes that effectively control legionellae is limited. Practices to control legionellae in amplifying reservoirs can be divided into two categories, routine maintenance and emergency decontamination procedures. Some control strategies are intended to prevent exposure of susceptible individuals to aerosols which may contain legionellae. Early investigations of Legionnaires’ disease associated with cooling towers resulted in a recommendation for relocation of cooling towers or air intake vents so that cooling tower exhaust would not be carried directly into the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems of buildings. Effective prevention strategies require more-effective decontamination techniques and approaches to prevent amplification of legionellae in reservoirs.
The Who and When of “Gender-Blind” Attitudes: Predictors of Gender-Role Egalitarianism in Two Different Domains

We compared gender-role egalitarianism in two domains: employment and social roles. We also investigated the influence of four variables—gender, ethnicity (Asian and non-Asian), scores on the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ), and the perceived importance of men's social privileges—on egalitarianism in each domain. Participants (205 male and female college students of varying ethnicity) were more egalitarian in the employment than in the social domain. Women were more egalitarian than men, but this gender difference was greater in the employment domain. Asian Americans were less egalitarian than non-Asians only in the social domain. Expressiveness score on the PAQ predicted higher egalitarianism, whereas the perceived importance of men's social privileges was negatively related to egalitarianism. Theoretical explanations are discussed.
tRNA splicing in yeast and wheat germ. A cyclic phosphodiesterase implicated in the metabolism of ADP-ribose 1",2"-cyclic phosphate.

Abstract Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose 1",2"-cyclic phosphate (Appr > p) is produced as a result of transfer RNA (tRNA) splicing in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and probably in other eukaryotes. Endonucleolytic cleavage and ligation result in a mature length tRNA with a 2'-phosphate at the splice junction. This 2'-phosphate is transferred to NAD to produce Appr > p. Metabolism of Appr > p requires hydrolysis of the 1",2"-cyclic phosphate linkage. We show here that yeast has a unique cyclic phosphodiesterase that can hydrolyze Appr > p, ribose 1,2-cyclic phosphate, and ribose 1,3-cyclic phosphate to the corresponding ribose 1-phosphate derivatives. The cyclic phosphodiesterase is highly specific for Appr > p; there is 20-fold less activity on ribose 1,3-cyclic phosphate and no detectable activity on nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic phosphates. A similar cyclic phosphodiesterase is present in wheat germ. The wheat germ cyclic phosphodiesterase activity co-chromatographs with a 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase that was previously identified and purified. The purified wheat germ enzyme has a distinct preference for Appr > p and ribose cyclic phosphate compared to guanosine 2',3'-cyclic phosphate and shares other biochemical characteristics with the yeast enzyme.
The Bmi-1 oncogene induces telomerase activity and immortalizes human mammary epithelial cells

The vast majority of breast cancers are carcinomas that arise from mammary epithelial cells (MECs). One of the key early events in tumorigenic transformation is the ability of cells to overcome replicative senescence. However, the precise genetic changes that are responsible for this event in MECs is largely unknown. Here, we report that Bmi-1, originally identified as a c-Myc cooperating oncoprotein, can bypass senescence, extend the replicative life span, and immortalize MECs. Furthermore, Bmi-1 was overexpressed in immortal MECs and several breast cancer cell lines. Overexpression of Bmi-1 in MECs led to activation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) transcription and induction of telomerase activity. Telomerase induction by Bmi-1 was an early event in the extension of the replicative life span and immortalization. Bmi-1 was not overexpressed in hTERT-immortalized MECs, suggesting that Bmi-1 functions upstream of hTERT. Although, c-Myc has been reported to induce telomerase in MECs, Bmi-1 appeared to act independently of c-Myc binding sequences in the hTERT promoter. Deletion analysis of the Bmi-1 protein suggested that the RING finger, as well as a conserved helix-turn-helix-turn domain, were required for its ability to induce telomerase and immortalize MECs. These data suggest that Bmi-1 regulates telomerase expression in MECs and plays a role in the development of human breast cancer.
Morphologic detection and functional assessment of reconstituted normal alveolar macrophages in the lungs of SCID mice.

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) from immunocompetent animals were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage and labeled with the fluorescent marker 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI). These AMs were administered intratracheally into mechanically ventilated SCID mice. From 1 to 28 days later, the recipient mice underwent bronchoalveolar lavage to isolate their AMs. To determine whether reconstituted AMs were still immunocompetent, the recovered AMs were assayed for their ability to phagocytose fluorescein-labeled zymosan-coated beads. After incubation with the beads, samples were assayed using a fluorescent-activated cell sorter to identify DiI-labeled reconstituted AMs, unlabeled resident AMs, and the proportion of these two groups undergoing phagocytosis. DiI-labeled AMs accounted for ∼50% of all returned AMs. Additionally, the reconstituted AMs from normal BALB/c mice retained phagocytic activity compared with AMs from immunodeficient SCID mice. Reconstituted AMs demonstrated enhanced phagocytic activity compared with resident SCID AMs for up to 28 days following reconstitution. These results indicate that immunocompetent AMs can be successfully reconstituted into an immunodeficient host to partially restore alveolar host defense.
The Big Paper Network Supporting Doctoral Students to Degree Completion

Doctoral completion rates are a concern across disciplines. This paper describes the way in which Curriculum Leadership faculty redesigned their doctoral program from coursework through completion to include a strong support system, intellectually and emotionally. This culminated in the creation of the “Big Paper Network,” designed to support candidates from proposal writing through defense.
Excellent outcome using "impaired" standard criteria donors with elevated serum creatinine.

: Introduction: To maximize organ utilization, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) encourages use of Expanded Criteria Donors (ECD). However, Standard Criteria Donors (SCD) may also be under-utilized, some centers discarding kidneys with serum creatinine (S.Cr) >2.0 at nephrectomy. Our experience with the use of such ``impaired’’ kidneys was reviewed retrospectively. Results: From January 1, 2003 to October 1, 2006, of 130 DD kidneys transplanted at our center, 26 were ECD. Also, 22 kidneys were from Impaired SCD (ISCD), with mean S.Cr 3.2 (2.1–4.4) at nephrectomy; eight of these had S.Cr >4.0. For these 22 ISCD, mean age was 22 yrs (11–42), sex: 16 Males; race:12 Caucasians/10 African-Americans; All had evidence of rhabdomyolysis (Mean peak CPK 11,924 u/l). Thirty-seven percent came from outside OPOs. Recipient demographics: age 45 years; sex 50% male, 45% African-American. Mean HLA match was 1; dialysis was required in 28% within the first week. Mean length of stay was 10.7 days. Average discharge S.Cr was 4.2. All kidneys are currently functioning (S.Cr at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year 1.6, 1.7 and 1.7 respectively). Conclusion: An elevated creatinine should not be the only cause for discarding deceased donor kidneys.
Nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a comparative analysis of keratinizing and nonkeratinizing subtypes.

Background Nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (NPSCC) is uncommon in non-endemic regions. Two major histologic subtypes are recognized: keratinizing (K-NPSCC) and nonkeratinizing (NK-NPSCC). We hypothesize that significant differences exist between the 2 in terms of demographic, clinicopathologic, survival, and prognostic features. We aim to show that differentiating between the 2 subtypes is perhaps the most important first step at the time of diagnosis. Methods Using a retrospective cohort design, the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry was used to extract data on the 2 major subtypes of NPSCC. Frequency, incidence, and relative survival (RS) were analyzed comparatively. Regression analysis was conducted and hazard ratios (HRs) calculated. Results A total of 1624 cases were identified: 1234 (76.0%) cases of NK-NPSCC and 390 (24.0%) cases of K-NPSCC. Five-year RS was 60.6% for NK-NPSCC and 40.5% for K-NPSCC. Regression analysis revealed K-NPSCC to be a poor prognostic factor (HR 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.8–2.6; p < 0.0001). Other factors associated with a poor prognosis included female gender in K-NPSCC, age greater than 44 years in both groups, and advanced-stage disease at diagnosis. Favorable prognostic factors included Asian/Pacific Islander race, and treatment with radiation therapy. Higher histologic grade did not portend a worse prognosis for either group. Conclusion NPSCC remains an uncommon malignancy in the United States. K-NPSCC and NK-NPSCC represent 2 different histologic entities with important clinical differences. K-NPSCC carries a worse overall prognosis when compared to NK-NPSCC.
End-of-Life Care of Women with Gynecologic Malignancies - A Pilot Study

Objective There are limited data regarding the end-of-life care for women with gynecologic malignancies. We set out to generate pilot data describing the care that women with gynecologic malignancies received in the last 6 months of life. Patient demographics, patterns of care, and utilization of palliative medicine consultation services were evaluated. Methods One hundred patients who died of gynecologic malignancies were identified in our institutional database. Only patients who had received treatment with a gynecologic oncologist within 1 year of death were included. Medical records were reviewed for relevant information. Data were abstracted from the electronic medical record, and analyses were made using Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test with SPSS software. Results The mean age of patients was 60 years (range, 30–94 years). Racial/ethnic distribution was as follows: 38%, white; 34%, black; and 15%, Hispanic. Seventy-five percent of patients received chemotherapy within the last 6 months of life, and 30% received chemotherapy within the last 6 weeks of life. The median number of days hospitalized during the last 6 months of life was 24 (range, 0–183 days). During the last 6 months of life, 19% were admitted to the intensive care unit, 17% were intubated, 5% had terminal extubation, and 13% had cardiopulmonary resuscitative efforts. Sixty-four percent had a family meeting, 50% utilized hospice care, and 49% had palliative medicine consultations. There was a significant difference in hospice utilization when comparison was made between patients who had 14 days or more from consultation until death versus patients who had 14 days or less or no consultation, 21 (72%) versus 29 (41%), P = 0.004. Patients who were single were less likely to have a palliative medicine consultation, P = 0.005. Conclusions End-of-life care for patients with gynecologic malignancies often includes futile, aggressive treatments and invasive procedures. It is unknown whether these measures contribute to longevity or quality of life. These pilot data suggest that factors for implementation of timely hospice referral, family support, and legacy building should include specialists trained in palliative medicine.
Perceptions of water use

In a national online survey, 1,020 participants reported their perceptions of water use for household activities. When asked for the most effective strategy they could implement to conserve water in their lives, or what other Americans could do, most participants mentioned curtailment (e.g., taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing teeth) rather than efficiency improvements (e.g., replacing toilets, retrofitting washers). This contrasts with expert recommendations. Additionally, some participants are more likely to list curtailment actions for themselves, but list efficiency actions for other Americans. For a sample of 17 activities, participants underestimated water use by a factor of 2 on average, with large underestimates for high water-use activities. An additional ranking task showed poor discrimination of low vs. high embodied water content in food products. High numeracy scores, older age, and male sex were associated with more accurate perceptions of water use. Overall, perception of water use is more accurate than the perception of energy consumption and savings previously reported. Well-designed efforts to improve public understanding of household water use could pay large dividends for behavioral adaptation to temporary or long-term decreases in availability of fresh water.
Development of a novel bioerodible dexamethasone implant for uveitis and postoperative cataract inflammation.

Abstract Delivery of anti-inflammatory steroids concurrently to both anterior and posterior segments of the eye is a challenge. The anterior ocular structures limit topical delivery. Injection can be disproportionately and repeatedly invasive and selective for only one ocular hemisphere. We developed a novel implant that can compensate for the limited conveyance of topical medicine and reduce the repetitive invasiveness of injection from the capsular bag allowing dexamethasone (DXM) delivery to both the anterior and posterior chambers. To establish proof of concept, microparticles were prepared with PLGA [poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide), 50:50, MW. 7000–17000], hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and DXM by oil-in-water emulsion/solvent evaporation technique. Zeatsizer Nano and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) results showed microspheres in the range of 8 ± 1 µm. The target load of DXM in the microparticles was ~ 20.0% with a % recovery of 99.9% (w/w). Dose related pharmacokinetics with near zero order kinetics was observed for up to 6 weeks in rabbits with intracapsular bag implants. DXM flow was bidirectional from the endocapsular space and significant concentrations were found in the anterior and posterior chambers after up to 6 weeks. Whereas, with topical drops the exposure was minimal in all the ocular tissues with greater systemic exposure. Intraocular pressure was normal in all of the study groups; slit lamp biomicroscopy examinations revealed that no cells or fibrin formation in the anterior and posterior chamber with implants but flare, cells and fibrin was present in the topical drops group. Histological examination revealed normal tissues and no signs of inflammation in all the groups. The implant did not migrate to the center of the eye or obstruct the visual axis. We believe these findings demonstrate the feasibility of drug delivery from the capsular bag to the anterior and posterior segments effectively compared to topical alternatives.
Determination of arsenic and selenium in spinach and tomato leaves reference materials using flow injection and atomic absorption spectrometry.

Abstract A flow-injection atomic absorption spectrometric method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of arsenic and selenium in proposed spinach and tomato leaves standard reference materials (SRM 1570a and SRM 1573a). The samples were digested with HNO 3 , H 2 SO 4 and HClO 4 using reflux column. The experimental details for sample preparation and the flow injection hydride generation method are discussed. The effect of matrix and various acid concentrations on the extraction and absorbance was also studied. The method has detection limits of 0. 15 ng As/ml and 0.17 ng Se/ml. Standard Reference Materials (SRM 1571 and 1547) were analyzed and the results agreed well with the certified values.
The Moderating Effect of Parental Warmth on the Association between Spanking and Child Aggression: A Longitudinal Approach.

Using data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Study, this study analysed the stability of child aggressive behaviour beginning in infancy and tested whether spanking when the child was 36 months was associated with aggressive child behaviour among three ethnic groups and whether maternal warmth moderated the effect of spanking on aggressive behaviour in each ethnic group at 36 months, after controlling for earlier aggressive behaviour. Participants included 693 Hispanic parent–child dyads, 1013 African-American dyads and 1086 Caucasian dyads who met qualifications for participation in the Early Head Start programme. Findings suggest that infant temperament was associated with aggressive behaviour at 24 and 36 months and that child aggression remained stable. Among the three ethnic groups, spanking was only associated with aggressive behaviour for children who had Caucasian mothers and maternal warmth did not moderate the effect of spanking on aggressive behaviour. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Results of a 400-patient carcinoembryonic antigen second-look colorectal cancer study.

Four hundred patients with resectable colon and rectal cancers were operated on by 37 surgeons at 31 institutions. Patients were monitored with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level determinations and clinical examinations. One hundred thirty patients had recurrences, and 75 were reoperated on, with 43 reoperations CEA-directed and 32 clinically directed. Two of 75 died within 1 month after the second operation. Twenty-two second-look patients remain free of disease 5 years after their second operaton. The highest resectability of recurrent cancer occurred in patients with a CEA level below 11 ng/ml in whom the CEA level was determined at intervals of 1 to 2 months. Cancer 55:1284-1290, 1985.
Graphene photodetectors for high-speed optical communications

Although silicon has dominated solid-state electronics for more than four decades, a variety of other materials are used in photonic devices to expand the wavelength range of operation and improve performance. For example, gallium-nitride based materials enable light emission at blue and ultraviolet wavelengths1, and high index contrast silicon-on-insulator facilitates ultradense photonic devices2,3. Here, we report the first use of a photodetector based on graphene4,5, a two-dimensional carbon material, in a 10 Gbit s−1 optical data link. In this interdigitated metal–graphene–metal photodetector, an asymmetric metallization scheme is adopted to break the mirror symmetry of the internal electric-field profile in conventional graphene field-effect transistor channels6,7,8,9, allowing for efficient photodetection. A maximum external photoresponsivity of 6.1 mA W−1 is achieved at a wavelength of 1.55 µm. Owing to the unique band structure of graphene10,11 and extensive developments in graphene electronics12,13 and wafer-scale synthesis13, graphene-based integrated electronic–photonic circuits with an operational wavelength range spanning 300 nm to 6 µm (and possibly beyond) can be expected in the future. A graphene-based photodetector with unprecedented photoresponsivity and the ability to perform error-free detection of 10 Gbit s−1s data streams is demonstrated. The results suggest that graphene-based photonic devices have a bright future in telecommunications and other optical applications.
More Challenges Since Wikipedia: The Effects of Exposure to Internet Information About the Rorschach on Selected Comprehensive System Variables

To determine the effects of reading the Wikipedia article on the Rorschach on Comprehensive System variables, participants in this study (recruited from parent–teacher associations, online message boards, and graduate schools; N = 50) were provided with either a copy of the Wikipedia article on the Rorschach (from April 2010) or an irrelevant article, then administered the Rorschach and instructed to “fake good.” Monetary incentives were used to increase motivation to dissimulate. Initial results indicated that participants given the Wikipedia article produced a lower number of responses (R) and had higher scores on Populars, X+%, XA%, and WDA% as compared to controls. However, post-hoc analyses revealed that when the influence of Populars was controlled, significant differences for X+%, XA%, and WDA% disappeared. No significant differences were found for Form%, Zf, Blends, or PER, although post-hoc analyses controlling for differences in R revealed a significant difference between groups on Zf%. Limitati...