cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drosophila Rrp1 3′-Exonuclease: Demonstration of DNA Sequence Dependence and DNA Strand Specificity

Drosophila Rrp1 (recombination repair protein 1) is a DNA repair enzyme whose nuclease activities include AP-endonuclease, 3'-exonuclease, 3'-phosphodiesterase and 3'-phosphatase. This study investigates the sequence specificity of the dsDNA 3'-exonuclease activity of Rrp1. We demonstrate that the activity is more efficient in purine-rich regions of dsDNA than in pyrimidine-rich regions. Rrp1 exonuclease activity is examined at 3'-terminal homopurine or homopyrimidine tracts, at junctions between purine- and pyrimidine-rich sequences and upon encountering repeated dinucleotide runs. The data show that purine-purine and 3'-pyrimidine-5'-purine dinucleotide bonds are cleaved faster than 3'-purine-5'-pyrimidine or pyrimidine-pyrimidine bonds. Thus, the base occupying the penultimate position in the 3'-terminal dinucleotide may be important in determining the relative efficiency of bond cleavage by Rrp1. These findings may reflect upon specific DNA-protein interactions in the enzyme active site.
Success of Soluble 2-Amino-5-Nitrothiazole in the Treatment of Trichomoniasis in the Domestic Pigeon

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION THE person who manages pigeons in flocks sometimes needs a cure for canker (trichomoniasis due to T. gallinae) which can be administered through the food or drink. The therapeutic value of 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole (Enheptin—referred to here as ANT) was demonstrated by Stabler and Mellentin (1951 Stabler and Mellentin (1953). They gave it in gelatin capsules, pushed down the recipients’ throats. The soluble form of ANT (see below) was used with success by Fritzsche (1955) in Europe. He recommended a 0.125% solution for 6 days. The following experiments were carried out in order to secure further information on the therapy of canker via the drinking water. MATERIALS AND METHODS The trichomonads were the highly virulent Jones’ Barn strain of T. gallinae. The pigeons were homers (350 gm. av.) from the senior author’s Trichomonas-free loft. The drug was commercial Enheptin (ANT) soluble (45% 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole), manufactured by Lederle Laboratories Division, American Cyanamid Company. The birds . . .
Pharmacologic management of adult breakthrough cancer pain

The generally accepted current definition of breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) is as follows: “a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs either spontaneously, or in relation to a specific and predictable or unpredictable trigger, despite relatively stable and adequately controlled background pain
Managing Anemia in Pediatric Office Practice: Part 1

1. George B. Segel, MD* 2. Michael G. Hirsh, MD† 3. Stephen A. Feig, MD‡ 1. *Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Hematology/Oncology 2. †Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Strong Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 3. ‡Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Hematology/Oncology, Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Compare and contrast the pathogenesis of iron deficiency anemia in toddlers and older children. 2. Describe the genetic defects resulting in beta-thalassemia and hemoglobin E and differentiate between heterozygous and homozygous defects. 3. Outline the molecular basis for alpha-thalassemia syndromes, including silent carrier, alpha-thalassemia trait, hemoglobin H, and Bart’s hemoglobinopathy. 4. Describe the pathogenesis of spherocytes in herediatry spherocytosis and the reasons for the shortened red cell survival. 5. Characterize the risk of “aplastic crisis” in hereditary spherocytosis and the requisite monitoring and management. Children’s hematologic and oncologic problems often present initially to the pediatrician. This article provides direction for the diagnosis and office treatment of anemia and guidelines for follow-up and, where appropriate, referral to a subspecialist. Part 1 considers iron deficiency, beta- and alpha-thalassemia trait, and hereditary spherocytosis (Table 1⇓). Part 2 considers sickle cell syndromes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, and transient erythroblastopenia. These topics were proposed by practicing pediatricians in our communities as those of particular concern in their office practices. View this table: Table 1. Red Blood Cell (RBC) Disorders The traditional measurements of hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit may not be sufficient to determine the presence of anemia of childhood. The “normal values” cited in clinical pathology laboratory reports are unlikely to apply to children. Tables of normal values for children of different ages have been published (Table 2⇓). In general, the hemoglobin is high at birth and falls during the initial 6 to 8 weeks of life to a physiologic nadir before it gradually increases to childhood levels. Patients who suffer from cyanotic congenital heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have values that are considerably higher than children who do not have these problems. These children, therefore, may be anemic when their hemoglobin and hematocrit values are within the normal range …
"Spontaneous," delayed colon and rectal anastomotic complications associated with bevacizumab therapy

Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer, targets the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) molecule. It is hypothesized that bevacizumab works by both depriving tumors of the neovascularity they require to grow, and by improving local delivery of chemotherapy through alterations of tumor vasculature permeability and Starling forces. Complications of bevacizumab treatment include bowel ischemia and perforation, but to date, these complications have only rarely been described as occurring at the site of presumably healed anastomoses following surgery. We report two cases of delayed, "spontaneous" low anterior colorectal anastomotic dehiscence and one right colon anastomotic colocutaneous fistula associated with bevacizumab therapy. After seeing three patients with complications arising from apparently healed low anterior colorectal or right colon anastomoses following initiation of bevacizumab therapy for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, we reviewed the experience of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) with use of bevacizumab in approximately 50 patients between April 2004 and December 2006. The three index cases had been treated surgically at CINJ but received chemotherapy elsewhere. None of the 50 patients receiving bevacizumab at CINJ who had previous colon or rectal anastomoses were identified as having this complication. The medical records of the three index cases were reviewed and analyzed. Additionally, a Medline search was performed to identify other reports documenting similar cases. Two reports of related cases were found in the literature. In two of our index cases who underwent low anterior anastomoses, the patients had received preoperative pelvic irradiation before their initial low anterior resection. In one of the two cases, the initial resection was complicated by an anastomotic leak requiring proximal diversion and then subsequent stoma takedown. In both cases, the dehiscence occurred more than 1 year after anastomosis, and became evident 1-10 months following initiation of bevacizumab treatment. In the third index case, a colocutaneous fistula arising from the anastomotic site presented 5 months following right colon resection and 3 months after starting adjuvant systemic therapy with FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) and bevacizumab. Delayed colorectal anastomotic complications may occur in association with bevacizumab therapy. Contributing factors may include anastomotic leak at the time of the original operation and history of anastomotic irradiation. Clinicians treating patients who receive bevacizumab following colectomy for colorectal cancer should be aware of this possible life-threatening complication. These findings may also be relevant to the design of trials of the use of bevacizumab for the postoperative adjuvant treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.
Growth-Attenuation Therapy: Principles for Practice

Publication of an account of growth attenuation with high-dose estrogen in a child with profound physical and cognitive disability brought widespread attention to a common and complex issue faced by families caring for similarly affected children, namely, the potentially negative effect of the increasing size of a child on the ability of his or her family to provide independent care, which in turn makes it more difficult for parents to keep the child in the home and involved in family activities. In this article we explore the scientific rationale for, effectiveness and safety of, and ethical considerations bearing on growth-attenuation treatment of children with profound and permanent cognitive disability. Informed responses to key clinically relevant questions are proposed. Our analysis suggests that growth attenuation is an innovative and sufficiently safe therapy that offers the possibility of an improved quality of life for nonambulatory children with profound cognitive disability and their families. Pediatricians and other care providers should include discussion of these options as part of anticipatory guidance around the age of 3 years so that, if elected, potential clinically meaningful benefits of growth-attenuation therapy can be realized. Because of the publicity and debate surrounding the first reported case, ethics consultation is recommended.
Attitudes and motivations of Tennessee deer hunters toward quality deer management

Attitudes and motivations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hunters are important for state wildlife agencies to consider when they are trying to meet harvest goals for the species. In recent years, interest in quality deer management (QDM) has grown, but little is known about hunter support for QDM. We surveyed hunters on private hunting clubs and Wildlife Management Areas where QDM was practiced, as well as statewide sportsman license holders in Tennessee, USA, following the 2004-2005 deer- hunting season to identify characteristics, attitudes, and motivations of these hunter groups. Respondents in all 3 hunter groups identified QDM as a ''sensible management strategy for white-tailed deer'' and a majority (>76%) of the hunters preferred hunting areas managed under QDM guidelines. Hunter groups varied in their responses related to specific QDM guidelines and implementation. Nonetheless, all 3 hunter groups were primarily interested in herd health and buck quality, wanted a reduction in the buck bag limit, and supported harvest of antlerless deer. Motivations to hunt varied by hunter group, but respondents in all 3 groups indicated that experiencing nature was the number one reason for hunting. Our survey results suggest that though opinions may vary on how QDM might be implemented, the general deer-hunting public in Tennessee has moved away from the traditional deer-management philosophy that allowed buck harvest without age restrictions and restricted antlerless harvest. Using biological justification along with hunter opinion, we recommend that state wildlife agencies consider providing QDM opportunities where appro- priate and offer annual education programs to improve hunters' understanding of deer-management strategies. This should help ensure hunter satisfaction and will help state wildlife agencies meet deer- management objectives. 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Care coordination for cognitively impaired older adults and their caregivers.

SUMMARY Dementia and delirium, the most common causes of cognitive impairment (CI) among hospitalized older adults, are associated with higher mortality rates, increased morbidity and higher health care costs. A growing body of science suggests that these older adults and their caregivers are particularly vulnerable to systems of care that either do not recognize or meet their needs. The consequences can be devastating for these older adults and add to the burden of hospital staff and care-givers, especially during the transition from hospital to home. Unfortunately, little evidence exists to guide optimal care of this patient group. Available research findings suggest that hospitalized cognitively impaired elders may benefit from interventions aimed at improving care management of both CI and co-morbid conditions but the exact nature and intensity of interventions needed are not known. This article will explore the need for improved transitional care for this vulnerable population and their caregivers.
Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Molecular Evaluation of a Clonal Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection

San Francisco General Hospital (San Francisco, CA) experienced an overall increase in the recovery of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates that were shown by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to have a genotype (genotype A1) that was new to this institution. We performed a case-control study to identify risk factors for acquiring genotype A1 MRSA infection from 1 October 2001 to 19 July 2002. Patients with genotype A1 MRSA infection were compared with 2 control groups: MRSA-infected control patients (i.e., patients with infection due to non-genotype A1 MRSA) and non-MRSA infected control patients (i.e., hospitalized patients without MRSA infection). There were 41 case patients infected with genotype A1 MRSA, 99 control patients infected with MRSA, and 41 control patients without MRSA infection. Pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and line infections occurred more frequently among case patients. Intensive care unit exposure and invasive procedures conferred the greatest risk for genotype A1 MRSA infection in multivariate models. Case patients were not associated with increased mortality, after adjusting for age, comorbidities, and intensive care unit exposure. Genotype A1 MRSA caused a large nosocomial outbreak of infection that was associated with distinct risk factors and clinical manifestations.
Modeling interest rate volatility: an extended EGARCH approach

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a general, yet simple model to estimate interest rate volatility.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is based on an extended Exponential Generalized ARCH (EGARCH) model that incorporates both interest rate levels as well as past information shocks in the volatility function. More importantly, the model is log‐linear thus eliminating collinearity problems and it can be easily estimated using standard maximum likelihood techniques.Findings – The empirical evidence suggests that the elasticity of volatility to the level of interest rates, although statistically significant, is not as high numerically as previously thought. In fact innovations in the interest rate process are more significant than the level of interest rates. The most important feature of interest rates, however, is the high volatility persistence.Research limitations/implications – A limitation of the model is that it does not allow for structural shifts in its current form. Extending the model ...
Frequency locking in phase-conjugate ring oscillators

Frequency locking in a photorefractive phase-conjugate ring oscillator was studied by injecting a seed beam into the resonator. For a seed beam coherent with the pump, frequency locking of the oscillator was observed at large seed powers. At lower seed levels, the beat signal displayed multiple harmonics in its frequency behavior. No evidence of locking was found for a seed incoherent with respect to the pump.
Molecules with Very Weak Bonds: The Edge of Covalency

Because most chemical reactions, by definition, cannot avoid breaking of bonds, weakly bonded species exist fleetingly in almost every chemical change. Historically, chemical quantum mechanics was aimed at explaining the nature of strong bonds. The theory involved a number of approximations to the full solution of the Schrodinger equation. The study of non‐Kekule molecules provides an opportunity to test whether modern quantum chemical computations are competent to deal with the nature of molecules with very weak bonds.
Gender-specific differences in chronic rhinosinusitis patients electing endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background The objective of this study was to investigate gender-specific differences in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients electing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Methods This study was a retrospective review of CRS patients electing ESS (2011–2013) at a tertiary-care center. Results ESS was elected by 272 patients (mean age 54.6 years; 48.5% female). Mean Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) score was 10.9; total 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score was 41.8. Compared to men, women electing ESS had lower CT score (10.1 vs 11.7; p = 0.01) but higher total SNOT-22 score (44.9 vs 39; p = 0.02). Women reported significantly worse postnasal drainage (p < 0.0001) and embarrassment (p = 0.0021). SNOT-22 scores declined with advancing age (women, p = 0.003; men, p = 0.0005). Reduction in CT scores with age was seen only in males (p = 0.03). Stratifying by age, females aged 61 to 80 years had higher SNOT-22 scores compared to male counterparts (p = 0.04), whereas CT scores were similar. More women underwent surgery for CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) (54.9%) whereas more men underwent surgery for CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (57.4%), but this difference missed statistical significance (p = 0.052). Women with CRSwNP had higher SNOT-22 scores than men (p = 0.02) for similar CT scores. Men electing ESS for CRSsNP had higher CT scores than women (p = 0.02). Women with CRSsNP aged 18 to 40 years reported higher SNOT-22 scores than men (p = 0.003), even though CT scores were lower (p = 0.005). Conclusion Equivalent numbers of men and women underwent ESS for CRS. Overall, women electing ESS had higher total SNOT-22 scores and lower Lund-Mackay CT scores than men. Women reported more problems with postnasal drainage (CRS overall, CRSsNP, and CRSwNP), embarrassment (CRS overall and CRSwNP), and facial pain (CRSwNP). Gender differences in CRS are poorly understood and merit further study.
Administering and Detecting Protein Marks on Arthropods for Dispersal Research

Monitoring arthropod movement is often required to better understand associated population dynamics, dispersal patterns, host plant preferences, and other ecological interactions. Arthropods are usually tracked in nature by tagging them with a unique mark and then re-collecting them over time and space to determine their dispersal capabilities. In addition to actual physical tags, such as colored dust or paint, various types of proteins have proven very effective for marking arthropods for ecological research. Proteins can be administered internally and/or externally. The proteins can then be detected on recaptured arthropods with a protein-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Here we describe protocols for externally and internally tagging arthropods with protein. Two simple experimental examples are demonstrated: (1) an internal protein mark introduced to an insect by providing a protein-enriched diet and (2) an external protein mark topically applied to an insect using a medical nebulizer. We then relate a step-by-step guide of the sandwich and indirect ELISA methods used to detect protein marks on the insects. In this demonstration, various aspects of the acquisition and detection of protein markers on arthropods for mark-release-recapture, mark-capture, and self-mark-capture types of research are discussed, along with the various ways that the immunomarking procedure has been adapted to suit a wide variety of research objectives.
Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantification of skeletal muscle calpastatin

An indirect antibody ELISA was developed for rapid and sensitive quantification of skeletal muscle calpastatin. Polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits against recombinant calpastatin, corresponding to domains 2, 3, and 4 of bovine skeletal muscle calpastatin. Western blot analysis revealed that these antibodies specifically recognize an immunoreactive calpastatin protein of approximately 130 kDa in prerigor skeletal muscle extracts. The intensity of the immunoreactive bands corresponds qualitatively with assayable calpastatin activity. For ELISA development, optimum dilutions of sample, primary anti-calpastatin antibody, and peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody were determined by titration. A dilution optimum for coating of Immulon 4 (Dynatech) plates was observed when heated muscle extracts were diluted to 2 to 4 micrograms of protein/mL and incubated for 2 h at 37 degrees C. Optimum primary (30 micrograms IgG/mL) and secondary (Sigma A-6154; 1:1000 dilution) antibody incubations were for 1 h at 37 degrees C. Tetramethylbenzidine was used as substrate and A450 of the stopped reaction product was recorded in an automated plate reader. Calpastatin ELISA results were linearly related to calpastatin activity (calpain inhibitory activity) of heated longissimus muscle homogenates from prerigor lamb (r2 = .89; n = 40) and beef aged for 24 or 48 h (r2 = .90; n = 47). Intra-assay CV was < 5% (n = 8) and inter-assay CV was < 6% (n = 5). This assay offers advantages of speed, simplicity, and sensitivity over conventional methodology for calpastatin quantification.
Magnaporthiopsis, a new genus in Magnaporthaceae (Ascomycota)

The phylogenetic relationships among taxa in the Magnaporthaceae are investigated based on DNA sequences of multiple genes including SSU, ITS, LSU, MCM7, RPB1 and TEF1. The genera Magnaporthe and Gaeumannomyces are shown to be polyphyletic and their members are divided into four major groups based on the phylogenetic analyses. Considering morphological, biological and molecular data, we establish a new genus, Magnaporthiopsis. It is characterized by black and globose perithecia with a cylindrical neck, two-layered perithecial wall, clavate asci with a refractive apical ring, fusiform to fusoid and septate ascospores, simple hyphopodia, and Phialophora-like anamorph. Species in this genus are necrotrophic parasites infecting roots of grasses. Three new combinations, Magnaporthiopsis poae, M. rhizophila and M. incrustans, are proposed accordingly. Pyricularia is suggested as the generic name for the rice blast fungus over Magnaporthe, following Article 59.1 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants. A new combination, Nakataea oryzae, is proposed for the rice stem rot fungus.
The Effect of Neonatal Sex Hormone Manipulation on the Incidence of Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse is a model of Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes. It develops autoimmune pancreatic beta-cell lesions characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and beta-cell destruction. The incidences of diabetes for male and female NOD mice in our colony were 24% and 73%, respectively. In this study, we investigated the effect of neonatal manipulation of the sex hormone profile on the incidence of diabetes in male and female NOD mice. One day after birth, male mice were castrated and female mice were either ovariectomized, given testosterone, or ovariectomized and given testosterone. The mice were maintained for 140 days and blood samples were collected biweekly starting at 42 days old. Diabetes was determined by three consecutive blood glucose levels > 200 mg/dl. Neonatal gonadectomy increased the incidence of diabetes in males but decreased it in females. Females treated with testosterone also had a decreased incidence of diabetes, whereas ovariectomy plus testosterone increased the incidence to 100%. Castration decreased the body weight in males and increased body weight in females. Testosterone treatment with or without ovariectomy also increased body weight. From these studies, we concluded that neonatal hormonal imprinting has a significant influence on the incidence of diabetes in the NOD mouse.
Effect of Certain Organic Compounds on Germicidal Efficiency of Mercuric Chloride.

SummaryThe carbohydrates glucose, maltose, and sucrose produced no effect on the germicidal efficiency of mercuric chloride. The concentration required to kill Staphylococcus aureus was the same wh...
Immigrant speech, creoles, and the ‘basic variety’: a usage-based account of some traits in the Portuguese-based creoles

In order to account for some key structures in immigrant Spanish, 15 th -16 th -century African Portuguese, pidgin Portuguese, and the Portuguese-based creoles, we appeal to a model of Emergent Grammar in which linguistic structure emerges from frequency and perceptual saliency. We argue that key traits of the Portuguese-based creoles evolved from L2 varieties of Portuguese initially spoken by Africans in Portugal in the 15 th and 16 th centuries. First, we show how certain verb forms make their way into the speech of immigrants due to frequency of occurrence of verb forms based on their respective verb class. We also note that some forms become part of immigrant speech because of their more perceptually salient form (e.g. son over es, and sao over e). Second, we point out that the many traits that characterize Chinese immigrant Spanish also define African Portuguese, and are those that also have found their way into the Portuguese-based creoles. We claim that regardless of whether pidgin Portuguese had its beginnings in Portugal or emerged in the interaction between the Portuguese and Africans in Africa, the same relative frequency of occurrence of forms would apply, as would the same processes used in naturalistic L2 acquisition, including sensitivity on the part of the speakers/learners to perceptual saliency of items. Thus, this study contributes to the understanding of the role that naturalistic L2 acquisition played in the formation of the pidgin Portuguese and, subsequently, the Portuguese-based creoles.
“Say, What is Honor?”: Wordsworth and the Value of Honor

Jamison Kantor, “‘Say, What is Honor?’: Wordsworth and the Value of Honor” (pp. 1–36) Instead of reading the poetry of William Wordsworth’s “great decade” (1798–1808) as a struggle between nature and Milton, Rousseau and Burke, or history and the imagination, this essay suggests that it can also be characterized by an internal tension within a keyword of the romantic age: honor. Romantic honor could connote hierarchy and status—which, I argue, functioned in an emerging market for “dignified” literary productions. But it could also be a progressive value of egalitarianism and equity, one that allowed poetry to appeal to the “native and naked dignity” inherent in all people regardless of their economic status. Working off of recent scholarship that considers the role of honor in modernity, this essay explores how Wordsworth’s poetry used the virtue to stage a paradox that endures within liberal society: the conflict between market distinction and social equality. Focusing on honor as a sign for both qualities might thus reveal Wordsworth’s poetry as a register for the influence—and impasses—of liberal politics on European aesthetics.
Design Paradigm Utilizing Reversible Diels–Alder Reactions to Enhance the Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Materials

A design paradigm is demonstrated that enables new functional 3D printed materials made by fused filament fabrication (FFF) utilizing a thermally reversible dynamic covalent Diels–Alder reaction to dramatically improve both strength and toughness via self-healing mechanisms. To achieve this, we used as a mending agent a partially cross-linked terpolymer consisting of furan-maleimide Diels–Alder (fmDA) adducts that exhibit reversibility at temperatures typically used for FFF printing. When this mending agent is blended with commercially available polylactic acid (PLA) and printed, the resulting materials demonstrate an increase in the interfilament adhesion strength along the z-axis of up to 130%, with ultimate tensile strength increasing from 10 MPa in neat PLA to 24 MPa in fmDA-enhanced PLA. Toughness in the z-axis aligned prints increases by up to 460% from 0.05 MJ/m3 for unmodified PLA to 0.28 MJ/m3 for the remendable PLA. Importantly, it is demonstrated that a thermally reversible cross-linking paradi...
SU‐F‐I‐61: Assessment and Characterization of the Built‐in Internal Photometer of Primary Diagnostic Monitors

Purpose: The conformance of Primary Diagnostic Monitors (PDMs) to the DICOM GSDF is increasingly required by several state and city regulators. Our purpose was to quantitatively characterize the luminance performance of the internal, built in photometer of BARCO monitors against an externally calibrated luminance meter. Methods: Thirty one PDMs (BARCO) were included in our analysis. An externally calibrated photometer (RaySafe Solo Light) was used to measure the luminance and illuminance values. Measured monitors were located at various hospital sites, radiology physicians’ offices and radiology reading rooms. All measured PDMs were equipped with the manufacturer's built-in photometers and connected to Barco MediCal QA web service for manual and automatic quality control measurements. PDM combinations included 1, 2 and 4 monitors depending on the location. TG-18 and SMPTE test patterns were used to evaluate monitor performance. Results: All the PDMs exceeded the luminance ratio of 250:1, as required by NYC PDM guidelines. One PDM failed the NYC requirement for the minimal luminance level of 350 cd/m2. As compared to the external photometer, the difference in measurement of the maximum luminance with the built-in photometer was found to exceed 5% on 6 of the PDM measured, with a maximum deviation of 10%. The age of the monitors that failed was on average 5 years. All monitors passed the luminance uniformity test, which was 30% from the center of the monitor to the 4 corner locations. Four PDMs failed the Gray Scale Display Function (GSDF) calibration. Conclusion: For the consistent display of medical images and continued conformance with the DICOM GSDF standard, it is essential to compare the performance of the built-in photometer with an externally calibrated photometer for monitors that are older than 5 years.
New Trends for Design of Composite Materials

Development of materials with tailor-made variable level of physical-mechanical properties provides designers and technologists with potentialities of working out structures and parts, adequate to ambient conditions. So, for structure optimization in most cases there is no necessity of using materials having the same mechanical and other Characteristics through the whole volume. It is shown by practice that only part of the structure components operates under the same physical-mechanical conditions, while another part suffers, for example, compression and tensile stresses, experiences bending or torsion, heat action or corrosion attack.
Chapter 11 Predatory Conduct

To my knowledge, no economist or lawyer has ever explicitly defined the concept “predatory conduct.” However, both economists and lawyers have consistently defined “predatory conduct” in use to be a subspecies of the conduct prohibited by the Sherman Act. More specifically, the characterization of conduct as “predatory” has always implied that its perpetrator’s (perpetrators’) ex ante perception that was ex ante profitable was ceteris paribus critically inflated by its (their) belief that it would or might reduce the absolute attractiveness of the offers against which it (they) would have to compete by driving an established rival’s QV investment out, by inducing an established rival to sell out to the predator(s) at a distressed price, by deterring a potential competitor or established firm from making an additional QV investment in the predator’s (predators’) ARDEPPS, or (by extension) by inducing the owner of an extant QV investment or the prospective maker of a planned QV investment to change its QV investment’s location to a position further away in product-space from the QV investment(s) of the predator(s) where the phrase “ceteris paribus critically inflated” indicates that the effect in question would have rendered the relevant behavior ex ante profitable though ex ante economically inefficient in an otherwise-Pareto-perfect economy.
Changes in early and late steps of T cell activation by WT31 MoAb.

The induction of T cell activation is usually a consequence of interaction between specific T cell receptors and their ligands. The T cell antigen receptor (TcR) is present on almost all T cells as a heterodimer of α and β glycoprotein (reviewed in 1). The TcR heterodimer is non-covalently associated with CD3 glycoprotein forming a TcR/CD3 complex (1). The TcR is responsible for antigen recognition and the CD3 antigen for signal transduction (reviewed in 2). Recently a monoclonal antibody (MoAb), WT31, has been described that recognizes a framework determinant present on all mature T lymphocytes that express α/β TcR heterodimer (3). In this investigation we have examined the effect of WT31 MoAb on some of the early and late steps of T cell activation to determine whether the WT31 moAb will induce signal transduction and activate human T cells. We show that WT31 activates human T cells via a classical signal transduction pathway.
Is Routine Use of VTED Chemical Prophylaxis Ever Warranted in Foot and Ankle Surgery? Results of a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether some foot/ankle surgeries would benefit from routine use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as postoperative DVT prophylaxis. METHODS: We conducted a formal cost-effectiveness analysis using a decision analytic tree to represent the risk of complications under a scenario of no prophylaxis and a scenario of routine LMWH prophylaxis for 4 weeks. The two scenarios were compared for five procedures: 1) Achilles tendon repair (ATR), 2) total ankle replacement (TAR), 3) hallux valgus surgery (HVS), 4) hindfoot arthrodesis (HA), and 5) ankle fracture surgery (AFS). Outcomes assessed included short and long-term costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost per QALY gained. Costs were evaluated from the health care system perspective and expressed in US dollars at a 2015 price base. In the short-term, routine prophylaxis was always associated with greater costs compared to no prophylaxis. RESULTS: For ATR, TAR, ...
MRI Changes in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma During Treatment with Chemoradiation and Adjuvant Temozolomide (P4.254)

OBJECTIVE: Characterize anatomic and functional MRI changes in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (nGBM) to more accurately measure impact of treatment BACKGROUND: The standard of care for nGBM is maximal safe resection, six weeks of concurrent chemoradiation (CRT), followed by adjuvant monthly temozolomide. FLAIR and T1 post-contrast sequences are frequently used to assess treatment response but poorly reflect underlying tumor behavior with respect to tumor cellularity, vascular permeability, and perfusion. METHODS: Following IRB approval, patients with nGBM underwent MR imaging before treatment, during week 6 of CRT, four weeks post-CRT, and before cycle 2 of adjuvant temozolomide (“pre-cycle 2”). We measured FLAIR and contrast-enhancing (CE) volumes, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC; reflecting tumor cellularity), Ktrans (reflecting vascular permeability), and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and flow (rCBF; reflecting perfusion) on spin echo (SE) and gradient echo (GE) sequences (rCBVSE, rCBFSE, rCBVGE, rCBFGE, respectively). RESULTS: Eight patients were included. Percent changes during treatment were compared to pre-treatment values. Within the CE region of interest (ROI), the respective median percent changes during CRT, post-CRT, and pre-cycle 2 were: CE volume 14.68[percnt], 7.44[percnt], 102.67[percnt]; ADC 24.78[percnt], 38.11[percnt], 28.64[percnt]; Ktrans 24.05[percnt], 22.48[percnt], -11.33[percnt]; rCBVSE -14.24[percnt], -11.19[percnt], -5.70[percnt]; rCBFSE -14.39[percnt], -8.89[percnt], -32.64[percnt]; rCBVGE -2.98[percnt], -5.31[percnt], -18.83[percnt]; and rCBFGE -13.10[percnt], -3.48[percnt], -17.33[percnt]. Within the peri-tumoral FLAIR ROI, the respective median percent changes during CRT, post-CRT, and pre-cycle 2 were: FLAIR volume 26.56[percnt], 52.45[percnt], 92.69[percnt]; ADC 8.09[percnt], 15.22[percnt], 12.10[percnt]; Ktrans 15.49[percnt], -12.18[percnt], -6.77[percnt]; rCBVSE -16.75[percnt], -36.77[percnt], -16.97[percnt]; rCBFSE -4.99[percnt], -29.03[percnt], -18.09[percnt]; rCBVGE 5.52[percnt], -2.99[percnt], -31.46[percnt]; and rCBFGE 19.75[percnt], 3.71[percnt], -29.82[percnt]. CONCLUSIONS: Chemoradiation in nGBM results in increased edema and permeability early during treatment, likely related to tumoral and peri-tumoral inflammation; decreased tumor cellularity, reflected by increased ADC; and decreased perfusion in small vessels. ADC, Ktrans, and perfusion parameters are thus helpful in better characterizing tumor microenvironment during treatment. Disclosure: Dr. Ly has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ou has nothing to disclose. Dr. Da has nothing to disclose. Dr. Batchelor has received personal compensation for activities with Merck, Roche, Foundation Medicine, Proximagen/Upsher, Oxigene, Oakstone Publishing, Champtions Biotechnology as a presenter, consultant and lecturer. Dr. Batchelor has received personal Dr. Kalpathy-Cramer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gerstner has nothing to disclose.
Effect of heroin use on changes of brain functions as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging, a systematic review.

ABSTRACTIn this study the authors focus on reviewing imaging studies that used resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging for individuals with a history of heroin use. This review study compiled existing research addressing the effect of heroin use on decision making by reviewing available functional neuroimaging data. Systematic review of the literatures using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. Eligible articles were retrieved through a computer-based MEDLINE and PsycINFO search from 1960 to December 2015 using the major medical subject headings “heroin, fMRI” (all fields). Only English language was included. Thirty-seven articles were initially included in the review. Sixteen were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. The results of 21 articles that met all the inclusion criteria were presented. Based on the 21 studies included in the current review, there is evidence that heroin use may have a direct and damaging effect on cer...
AML1/ETO and PML/RAR α Can Immortalize Committed Myeloid Progenitor Cells In-Vitro but Not Expand Them In-Vivo.

Abstract For most leukemia the target cells of transforming mutations are still unknown. Here, we studied the developmental origin of t(8;21)-acute myeloid leukemia (AML), t(15;17)-acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and t(9;22)-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Purified mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and various committed myeloid progenitor cells were retrovirally transduced with AML1/ETO, PML/RARα, or p210 BCR/ABL and subjected to in-vitro serial replating assay and in-vivo transplantation. Myeloid progenitors were efficiently immortalized in-vitro by AML1/ETO or PML/RARα as assayed in serial replating assays. However, following transplantation into lethally irradiated mice, neither AML1/ETO- nor PML/RARα-transduced myeloid progenitors were expanded in-vivo, although cells carrying the fusion gene DNA persisted well beyond their non-transduced control progenitors. In addition, 10 months after the transplant with transduced myeloid progenitor cells, PML/RARα but not AML1/ETO mRNA expression was still detected in committed myeloid progenitors, although PML/RARα-expressing cells were still not expanded. This finding demonstrates the ability of PML/RARα to increase the lifespan of committed myeloid progenitor cells both in-vitro and in-vivo and suggest that t(15;17)-APL could possibly evolve from persisting progenitor-derived cells. In contrast, BCR/ABL-expressing myeloid progenitors disappeared within 3 months post transplantation. Analysis of mice transplanted with transduced-HSCs demonstrated that AML1/ETO induced the accumulation of the most immature subset of HSCs (Lin-/c-kit+/Sca-1+/Flk-2-), while in contrast PML/RARα induced HSCs disappearance in most (5 out of 6) cases. In addition, we demonstrate that p210 BCR/ABL could induce the development of a CML-like disease from transduced HSCs (6 out of 16 cases), which is compatible with previous report. Together, these results suggest the existence of novel pre-leukemic stem cells (pre-LSCs) entities. Slowly expanding pre-LSCs could be generated from HSCs transformed by the expression of AML1/ETO. Persisting pre-LSCs could be generated from myeloid progenitors transformed by the expression of PML/RARα. These pre-LSC populations could mediate the early phases of t(8;21)-AML and t(15;17)-APL pathogenesis and could represent novel key targets for anti-leukemia therapies.
Cyclic Nucleotides and Related Mechanisms in Immune Regulation : A Mini Review

Much of the study of immune regulation over the last twenty years has focused on the dissection of cellular function and interactions “in vitro”. While clearly “in vivo” studies have supported the models of regulation which have derived, this type of extrapolative approach tells only part of the story of immune regulation. The “in vitro” studies generally employ artificial media containing a drab of serum often from different species; they do not pretend to offer a dynamic fluid environment akin to that which exists “in vivo”. It is becoming abundantly clear that the immune system operates “in vivo” within a homeostatic milieu replete with neurologic, neuroendocrine, endocrine and microenvi-ronmental regulatory influences clearly as complex as those regulating the internal network of intercommunication among the cells of the system.
The Flipped Journal Club.

Introduction: Educators struggle to develop a journal club format that promotes active participation from all levels of trainees. The explosion of social media compels residencies to incorporate the evaluation and application of these resources into evidence-based practice. We sought to design an innovative “flipped journal club” to achieve greater effectiveness in meeting goals and objectives among residents and faculty. Methods: Each journal club is focused on a specific clinical question based on a landmark article, a background article, and a podcast or blog post. With the “flipped” model, residents are assigned to prepare an in-depth discussion of one of these works based on their level of training. At journal club, trainees break into small groups and discuss their assigned readings with faculty facilitation. Following the small-group discussions, all participants convene to summarize key points. In redesigning our journal club, we sought to achieve specific educational outcomes, and improve participant engagement and overall impressions. Results: Sixty-one residents at our emergency medicine program participated in the flipped journal club during the 2015-2016 academic year, with supervision by core faculty. Program evaluation for the flipped journal club was performed using an anonymous survey, with response rates of 70% and 56% for residents and faculty, respectively. Overall, 95% of resident respondents and 100% of faculty respondents preferred the flipped format.Conclusion: The “flipped journal club” hinges upon well-selected articles, incorporation of social media, and small-group discussions. This format engages all residents, holds learners accountable, and encourages greater participation among residents and faculty.
Toward Recovering Allele-specific Cancer Genome Graphs.

Integrated analysis of structural variants (SVs) and copy number alterations (CNAs) in aneuploid cancer genomes is key to understanding the tumor genome complexity. A recently developed new algorithm Weaver can estimate, for the first time, allele-specific copy number of SVs and their interconnectivity in aneuploid cancer genomes. However, one major limitation is that not all SVs identified by Weaver are phased. In this paper, we develop a general convex programming framework that predicts the interconnectivity of unphased SVs with possibly noisy allele-specific copy number estimations as input. We demonstrated through applications to both simulated data and the HeLa whole-genome sequencing data that our method is robust to the noise in the input copy numbers and can predict SV phasings with high specificity. We found that our method can make consistent predictions with Weaver even if a large proportion of the input variants are unphased. We also applied our method to TCGA ovarian cancer whole-genome sequencing samples to phase unphased SVs obtained by Weaver. Our work provides an important new algorithmic framework for recovering more complete allele-specific cancer genome graphs.
Discretization Considerations with Hypersingular Integral Formulas for Crack Problems

A hypersingular integral equation is derived to solve the cracklike problem of acoustic scattering from a thin rigid screen. Discretization considerations regarding modeling the problem and computing the integrals to a required precision, using the Boundary Element Method (BEM), are discussed. Numerical results are presented.
Neutrophil recruitment during Leishmania infection: The role of sand fly salivary proteins

Neutrophils are the first cells recruited to the site of an infected sand fly bite and interact with Leishmania parasites. It has been proposed that the recruitment of neutrophils to the site of the bite increases the ability of Leishmania to establish an infection. Here we investigate the effect of sand fly salivary proteins on neutrophil recruitment. We purified bone marrow neutrophils from C57BL/6 mice or from peripheral blood of healthy human donors. Chemotaxis driven by sand fly saliva of vectors of visceral ( Lutzomyia longipalpis ) or cutaneous ( Phlebotomus duboscqi ) disease was measured by modified Boyden chamber assay and by imaging with the EZ-TAXIScan assay. Neutrophils migrated towards saliva glands of the vectors P. duboscqi and L. longipalpis , in a dose-dependent manner. Proteinase K treatment of saliva completely abrogated neutrophil recruitment, suggesting a protein as the chemotactic factor. To unearth the identity of the chemotactic factor, we have generated plasmids coding for the 20 most abundant salivary proteins from P. duboscqi and injected them in the ears of C57BL/6 mice. Neutrophil recruitment was analyzed by flow cytometry staining. We have identified 3 different salivary protein-coding plasmids with neutrophil recruitment activity. Finally, we have produced these 3 recombinant proteins in the HEK293 cell line system and we observed that a family of 40kDa salivary proteins acts as chemokines for neutrophils. We plan to validate the role of the salivary chemotactic factor in vivo and test if its neutralization can alter Leishmania infection. We put forward the hypothesis that blockage of this protein will disrupt neutrophil migration early in the Leishmania infection possibly altering the disease outcome.
Precarious Entrepreneurship: Day Laborers in the U.S. Southwest:

With the advent of globalization, neoliberalism, and immigration policy reforms that enlarged the non-White workforce in the United States, precarious employment—work that is contingent, risky, and...
Abstract P424: Worksite Food Purchases Are Associated With Employees’ Overall Dietary Intake and Health

Introduction: Most Americans spend half their waking hours at work. We hypothesized that the healthfulness of worksite food purchases was associated with employees’ overall dietary intake and cardi...
Flexible and Interpretable Models for Survival Data.

As data sets continue to increase in size, there is growing interest in methods for prediction that are both flexible and interpretable. A flurry of recent work on this topic has focused on additiv...