cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of road grade on vehicle speed-acceleration distribution, emissions and dispersion modeling on freeways

Abstract This study explores how grade impacts vehicle operations, emissions, and pollutant exposures along freeways . Vehicle speed trajectories from freeways are classified by average speed, indicating the traffic conditions experienced by the vehicle involved. The study describes how the shape characteristics of the speed-acceleration joint distribution (SAJD) is changed in response to road grade. Under uncongested conditions, operations are sensitive to grade changes, with vehicles observed to operate more “gently” (lower acceleration rates) as grade increases. Given clear descriptions of grade impact on operations on freeways, the study explores the impact of integrating grade, as well as the grade-SAJD correlation on modeling of emissions. A case study of a 9.5-mile freeway corridor was conducted to explore the potential impacts on near-road PM2.5 dispersion modeling. For comparative purposes, emissions are estimated for scenarios that incorporate both grade and the correlated changes in operating conditions (observed conditions), ignoring grade but employing observed operating conditions, and including grade but ignoring changes in operating conditions resulting from grade. Comparison the dispersion results with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) indicates that the bias caused by ignoring road grade is non-negligible. In contrast, the bias caused by applying actual grade, but ignoring grade-SAJD correlation is much less significant. The study confirms the integrating road grade may be critical for transportation conformity and PM2.5 hotspot analysis. While ignoring grade-SAJD correlation did not seem to cause significant bias in near-road air quality modeling that would require serious attention, unless concentrations are close to a NAAQS limit.
Traumatic Carotid Artery Dissection in Teenagers After Football Injuries (P6.218)

Objective: NA Background: Traumatic carotid artery dissection (TCAD) is a rare condition associated with a high incidence of stroke. Prompt identification is key for avoiding catastrophic outcomes. We present two cases of TCAD in the setting of football trauma. Design/Methods: Case reports Results: A 14-year-old male sustained a hyperextension neck injury after a tackle. Patient endorsed transient right arm numbness, headache, and dizziness. The following morning, the patient woke up with dysarthria and right facial droop. In ER, brain CT and CTA head and neck were reported as normal, but the patient was sent to our hospital for evaluation. He presented with same symptoms, and also a left Horner’s. Reevaluation of images revealed a left ICA dissection and thrombus, and a left M2 thrombus. He was given aspirin and started on a heparin drip. Follow-up CTA showed improved diameter of the left ICA. MRI showed a left frontal ischemic stroke. He was successfully treated with heparin and coumadin. Second patient is a 16-year-old male who developed right hemiplegia and dysarthria immediately after a tackle. CTA revealed left ICA dissection with flow-limitation, terminus thrombus and left MCA occlusion. He was taken for an emergent angiogram with placement of 3 carotid stents, and TICI 3 recanalization was obtained after thrombectomy. Post-procedure MRI revealed left MCA ischemic infarction with petechial hemorrhage within the left basal ganglia. CTA and angiogram showed recanalization of left MCA M1 segment and patent left ICA. Right hemiplegia improved, and the patient was started on dual antiplatelet therapy. Conclusions: TCAD, although rare, is a leading cause of stroke in teenagers and young adults. Sports-related blunt trauma is a rare etiology of carotid injury. These cases demonstrate the importance of excluding TCAD in individuals with even mild head and neck trauma. Recognition of neurological signs, including Horner’s syndrome in athletes, is critical for diagnosis. Disclosure: Dr. Rodriguez-Linares has nothing to disclose. Dr Kaul has nothing to disclose. Dr Suarez-Cedeno has nothing to disclose. Dr. McCullough has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bowry has nothing to disclose.
Esophageal cancer in Hispanic patients: A demographic analysis of the National Cancer Database.

6561Background: Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority accounting for 18% of the US population. The National Cancer Institute estimated 17,290 new cases of esophageal cancer (EC) in the US in 2...
Occurrence of polypeptides in other organisms cross-reacting with antibodies against A. xylinum cellulose synthase

Antibodies (anti-83 and anti-93) against the cellulose synthase complex from A. xylinum ATCC 53582 have been employed to study the evolutionary conservation of this enzyme complex among various A. xylinum strains, selected species of other cellulose- producing bacteria, algae, and vascular plants. Of the 18 A. xylinum strains examined, the 83 Kd polypeptide clearly is detected only in 4 strains while the 93 Kd polypeptide is observed in all 18 strains. Assuming that the revised acsAB gene (Saxena et al., 1994) encoding the 83 and 93 Kd polypeptides as a single polypeptide holds true for all A. xylinum strains, it is proposed that the cellulose synthase is conserved in A. xylinum but with varying degrees of homology. An unknown regulatory mechanism causing the degradation of the 83 Kd polypeptide in response to agitated culturing conditions has been suggested to explain the absence of the 83 Kd polypeptide in most of the Acetobacter strains examined. A. xylinum cellulose synthase appears to be conserved in phylogenetically related Rhizobium and Agrobacterium species, but not in algae and plants.
Resistance to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells are a form of adoptive immunotherapy constituted of autologous T-cells engineered with a receptors that is able to target tumor antigens. Treatment with CAR19 cells leads to rapid response in a significant proportion of patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphomas. However, relapses post CAR-T cell therapy are common. In this chapter, we will discuss what is currently known about mechanisms of resistance to CAR-T cell therapy in B-cell lymphomas or leukemias.
Differential privacy in the 2020 US census: what will it do? Quantifying the accuracy/privacy tradeoff.

Background: The 2020 US Census will use a novel approach to disclosure avoidance to protect respondents' data, called TopDown. This TopDown algorithm was applied to the 2018 end-to-end (E2E) test of the decennial census. The computer code used for this test as well as accompanying exposition has recently been released publicly by the Census Bureau. Methods: We used the available code and data to better understand the error introduced by the E2E disclosure avoidance system when Census Bureau applied it to 1940 census data and we developed an empirical measure of privacy loss to compare the error and privacy of the new approach to that of a (non-differentially private) simple-random-sampling approach to protecting privacy. Results: We found that the empirical privacy loss of TopDown is substantially smaller than the theoretical guarantee for all privacy loss budgets we examined. When run on the 1940 census data, TopDown with a privacy budget of 1.0 was similar in error and privacy loss to that of a simple random sample of 50% of the US population. When run with a privacy budget of 4.0, it was similar in error and privacy loss of a 90% sample. Conclusions: This work fits into the beginning of a discussion on how to best balance privacy and accuracy in decennial census data collection, and there is a need for continued discussion.
A candidate gene study of intermediate histopathological phenotypes in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) describe a spectrum of neuropsychological impairment caused by HIV-1 infection. While the sequence of cellular and physiological events that lead to HAND remains obscure, it likely involves chronic neuroinflammation. Host genetic markers that increase the risk for HAND have been reported, but replication of such studies is lacking, possibly due to inconsistent application of a behavioral phenotype across studies. In the current study, we used histopathologic phenotypes in order to validate putative risk alleles for HAND. The National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium, a longitudinal study of the neurologic manifestations of HIV. Data and specimens were obtained from 175 HIV-infected adults. After determining several potential covariates of neurocognitive functioning, we quantified levels of six histopathological markers in the frontal lobe in association with neurocognitive functioning: SYP, MAP 2, HLA-DR, Iba1, GFAP, and β-amyloid. We then determined alleles of 15 candidate genes for their associations with neurocognitive functioning and histopathological markers. Finally, we identified the most plausible causal pathway based on our data using a multi-stage linear regression-based mediation analysis approach. None of the genetic markers were associated with neurocognitive functioning. Of the histopathological markers, only MAP 2 and SYP were associated with neurocognitive functioning; however, MAP 2 and SYP did not vary as a function of genotype. Mediation analysis suggests a causal pathway in which presynaptic degeneration (SYP) leads to somatodendritic degeneration (MAP 2) and ultimately neurocognitive impairment. This study did not support the role of host genotype in the histopathology underlying HAND. The findings lend further support for synaptodendritic degeneration as the proximal underlying neuropathological substrate of HAND.
Thermophysical properties of pharmaceutically compatible buffers at sub-zero temperatures: implications for freeze-drying.

Purpose. To evaluate crystallization behavior and collapse temperature (Tg') of buffers in the frozen state, in view of its importance in the development of lyophilized formulations. Methods. Sodium tartrate, sodium malate, potassium citrate, and sodium citrate buffers were prepared with a pH range within their individual buffering capacities. Crystallization and the Tg’ were detected during heating of the frozen solutions using standard DSC and modulated DSC. Results. Citrate and malate did not exhibit crystallization, while succinate and tartrate crystallized during heating of the frozen solutions. The citrate buffer had a higher Tg’ than malate and tartrate buffers at the same pH. Tg’ vs. pH graphs for citrate and malate buffers studied had a similar shape, with a maximum in Tg’ at pH ranging from 3 to 4. The Tg’ maximum was explained as a result of a competition between two opposing trends: an increase in the viscosity of the amorphous phase because of an increase in electrostatic interaction, and a decrease in the Tg’ because of an increase in a water concentration of the freeze-concentrated solution. Conclusion. Citrate buffer was identified as the preferred buffer for lyophilized pharmaceuticals because of its higher Tg’ and a lower crystallization tendency.
The Positioning of Codes of Ethics on International Corporations’ Websites: A Six-Year Longitudinal Study

This research examines the level of international website disclosures of corporate codes of ethics during period of July 2002 and July 2003, which surrounds the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in United States. We also gathered similar data from these corporations’ websites in April of 2006 through April of 2008 (i.e., three through five years after the effective date of SOX). In April of 2006 (2007 and 2008), 30 (34 and 36) of the 43 corporations listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) had readily-available codes. While not required to have their codes on their corporate websites, 14 (18 and 23) of the 49 corporations that were not listed on the NYSE also had readily-available codes. Our research also indicates that corporations headquartered in Europe were more likely to have readily-available codes of ethics than corporations headquartered in the Pacific region in 2006 and 2007 but not in 2008.
Sex Differences in the Coronavirus Disease 2019

There are profound sex differences in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes, with higher morbidity and mortality in males compared to females. The possible mechanisms implicated in this sex bias include the direct effects of sex hormones on the innate and adaptive immune systems, as well as the differential activity of immune-related genes in sex chromosomes. These male-female differences in COVID-19 outcomes highlight the need for sex-disaggregated data to elaborate effective public health policies and the importance of including biological sex as a key variable in future therapeutic and vaccine trials.
Life versus Capital: The COVID-19 pandemic and the politics of life

Like all ostensibly “natural” disasters, the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic unceasingly reveals the depths of social inequality and political myopia or governmental recklessness that predictably exacerbate the effects of a more strictly natural calamity The pandemic thereby exposes the grotesque disparities in how illness, death, and suffering are unevenly distributed As the COVID-19 public health crisis has summarily provoked a global economic crisis, furthermore, it is simply unthinkable to comprehend the real ramifications of the pandemic outside of the sociopolitical relations of labor and capital, more generally Furthermore, the global public health crisis commands that we reflect anew on the relations between human life and state power Both for those who have historically and enduringly been subjected to expulsion from gainful employment, as for those whose labor-power is a commodity of choice for capital, exceedingly selected for hyper-exploitation, the coronavirus pandemic is a toxic matter of both class and race These dire and increasingly desperate circumstances, however, reveal not only what is most barbaric about capitalist social relations but also the opportunity latent within this crisis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Cultural Dynamics is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Characterization of the rabbit conjunctiva: Effects of sulfur mustard.

Sulfur mustard (SM; bis (2-chloroethyl) sulfide) is a potent vesicant which causes irritation of the conjunctiva and damage to the cornea. In the present studies, we characterized the ocular effects of SM in New Zealand white rabbits. Within one day of exposure to SM, edema and hazing of the cornea were observed, followed by neovascularization which persisted for at least 28 days. This was associated with upper and lower eyelid edema and conjunctival inflammation. The conjunctiva is composed of a proliferating epithelium largely consisting of stratified columnar epithelial cells overlying a well-defined dermis. Superficial layers of the conjunctival epithelium were found to express keratin 1, a marker of differentiating squamous epithelium, while in cells overlying the basement membrane expressed keratin 17, a marker of stratified squamous epithelium. SM exposure upregulated keratin 17 expression. Mucin 5 ac producing goblet cells were interspersed within the conjunctiva. These cells generated both acidic and neutral mucins. Increased numbers of goblet cells producing neutral mucins were evident after SM exposure; upregulation of expression of membrane-associated mucin 1 and mucin 4 in the superficial layers of the conjunctival epithelium were also noted. These data demonstrate that ocular exposure of rabbits to SM causes significant damage not only to the cornea, but to the eyelid and conjunctiva, suggesting multiple targets within the eye that should be assessed when evaluating the efficacy of potential countermeasures.
PTSD Following Suicide Attempts in Adolescents: a Case Series

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) does not specifically identify one’s own suicide attempt as a potential source of trauma for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD following a near death experience in an adolescent may occur in both the adolescent and the parent. However, suicide-attempt-related PTSD (SA-PTSD) is scarce in the literature, particularly in the pediatric population. The authors review three cases of adolescent patients or their parents in an outpatient clinical practice who displayed varying severity of SA-PTSD symptoms. Information was obtained via self-report by adolescent, parent, or both. Screening for SA-PTSD symptoms was not explicitly sought; rather patients or parents volunteered such information de novo during clinical encounters which was then explored further. One adolescent had only brief PTSD-like experiences that faded with time and did not require intervention. A second adolescent reported long-term memory loss around the circumstances of their suicide attempt that may be related to medical morbidity; their parent had significant PTSD symptoms throughout treatment, and the parent was referred to their own therapy. A third adolescent was referred for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of pervasive PTSD symptoms from a previous suicide attempt, with symptoms improving after treatment. A qualititative analysis suggests that more severe SA-PTSD symptoms are associated with 1) multiple prior suicide attempts; 2) more severe/higher morbidity suicide attempt; and 2) previous diagnosis of PTSD in patient or parent. Assessment for SA-PTSD is important to ensure that affected patients and their families are referred for appropriate resources and treatment. Of the very small sample of three cases, two required specific referral to treat PTSD symptoms in either the adolescent or the parent. The literature about SA-PTSD is extremely scarce. Only two studies systematically examined PTSD following suicide attempt, and none of these studies were in pediatric patients, making more robust quantitative or qualitative analysis limited at this time. Therefore, more research regarding epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment is needed.
Understanding the link between the oral microbiome and the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

In recent years, the human oral microbiome has emerged as a significant target of interest and research focus because of the role microbiota in oral cavity may play in the progression, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Home to an abundant and distinct network of microorganisms that include viruses, fungi, protozoa, and over 700 species of bacteria, only the human gastrointestinal tract harbors more microbiota than the oral microbiome. Although recent advances in genomic sequencing technologies have made it possible to study the involvement between oral bacterial communities and cancer, the role of the oral microbiome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma remains poorly defined and understood. This review will highlight what is known to date about the connections between the oral microbiome and head and neck cancer.
Covert Communication via Non-Causal Cribbing from a Cooperative Jammer

We consider the problem of covert communication in the presence of a cooperative jammer. Covert communication refers to communication that is undetectable by an adversary, i.e., a scenario in which, despite ongoing communication, the output distribution observed by an adversary called the “warden” is indistinguishable from the distribution that would have been induced by an innocent channel-input symbol. It is known that in general, a transmitter and a receiver can communicate only $O(\sqrt{n})$ covert bits over $n$ channel uses, i.e., zero rate. This paper shows that a cooperative jammer can facilitate the communication of positive covert rates, subject to the transmitter having non-causal access to the jammer signal. An achievable rate region is calculated that highlights the relation between the covert communication rate, jammer's randomness (expressed as a rate), and rate of a secret key shared between transmitter and receiver.
Human milk oligosaccharides reduce murine group B Streptococcus vaginal colonization with minimal impact on the vaginal microbiota

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonizes the vaginal mucosa of a significant percentage of healthy women and is a leading cause of neonatal bacterial infections. Currently, pregnant women are screened in the last month of pregnancy and GBS-positive women are given antibiotics during parturition to prevent bacterial transmission to the neonate. Recently, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) isolated from breastmilk were found to inhibit GBS growth and biofilm formation in vitro, and women that make certain HMOs are less likely to be vaginally colonized with GBS. Using in vitro human vaginal epithelial cells and a murine vaginal colonization model, we tested the impact of HMO treatment on GBS burdens and the composition of the endogenous microbiota by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. HMO treatment reduced GBS vaginal burdens in vivo with minimal alterations to the vaginal microbiota. HMOs displayed potent inhibitory activity against GBS in vitro, but HMO pretreatment did not alter adherence of GBS or the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus to human vaginal epithelial cells. Additionally, disruption of a putative GBS glycosyltransferase ({Delta}san_0913) rendered the bacterium largely resistant to HMO inhibition in vitro and in vivo but did not compromise its adherence, colonization, or biofilm formation in the absence of HMOs. We conclude that HMOs are a promising therapeutic bioactive to limit GBS vaginal colonization with minimal impacts on the vaginal microenvironment. IMPORTANCEDuring pregnancy, GBS ascension into the uterus can cause fetal infection or preterm birth. Additionally, GBS exposure during labor creates a risk of serious disease in the vulnerable newborn and mother postpartum. Current recommended prophylaxis consists of administering broad-spectrum antibiotics to GBS-positive mothers during labor. Although antibiotics have significantly reduced GBS neonatal disease, there are several unintended consequences including altered neonatal gut bacteria and increased risk for other types of infection. Innovative preventions displaying more targeted antimicrobial activity, while leaving the maternal microbiota intact, are thus appealing. Using a mouse model, we found that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) reduce GBS burdens without perturbing the vaginal microbiota. We conclude that HMOs are a promising alternative to antibiotics to reduce GBS neonatal disease.
Imagery and Visual—Spatial Representations

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the properties of visual-spatial representations and the mechanisms by which they mediate memory performance. The difference between visual-spatial representations from semantic or verbal representations in memory is that visual-spatial representations correspond in nonarbitrary ways to the external objects and events that they represent. There is some degree of isomorphism or structural correspondence between an object in the world and its visual-spatial mental representation. The chapter divides the visual-spatial representations in memory into three sections: imagery, recognition of objects, and representation of information about spatial layouts or cognitive maps. Imagery can be distinguished from visual-spatial representation more generally in two primary ways. First, visual images have a phenomenal distinctiveness and concreteness that more abstract, schematic spatial representations often seem to lack. Second, and more important, are differences between the conditions required to evoke and to use images and other visual-spatial representations for a variety of cognitive functions.
Testing Human Machine Interface (HMI) Rich Designs using Model-Based Design

Today’s vehicles are typically outfitted with passenger convenience features that require Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs). HMIs can be relatively simple – such as a remote key fob – or more sophisticated – such as a radio face plate. Traditional development of HMIs involves two typically independent processes – (1) Physical Component Design and (2) Functional Logic Design. The physical component design is developed by a team that usually includes both graphics and ergonomics designers to ensure that the HMI is intuitive and fits well with the interior styling of the vehicle. The functional logic design follows a more typical software development process. This process is based on functional requirements commonly written in terms of user requests and system responses as represented by the HMI. As the complexity of the system increases, it is essential for the intuitiveness and ease of use of the HMI to advance as well. For teams using traditional methods to design, prototype, and fully test an HMI, achieving this level of ease of use is becoming increasingly challenging. In an earlier paper, the authors demonstrated how to create a “soft” version of the HMI under development and then use this to generate and record test vectors [1]. These test vectors could then be used to exercise the design under test to determine if the HMI logic was completely tested and if the design met the specified requirements. In this paper, the authors will address two important workflow issues to support the logic design and verification of HMIs – (1) integration of the HMI graphics and HMI logic and (2) formal verification of the HMI logic.
Shape Optimization and Control of Separating Flow in Hydrodynamics

A model for computing flows with specified separation characteristics is presented. This is based on a shape optimization method for constructing a surface with a given tangential vorticity field.
Does radical nephrectomy increase the risk of erectile dysfunction compared with partial nephrectomy? A cohort analysis.

Study Type – Therapy (prospective cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a form of endothelial dysfunction that is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized that partial nephrectomy (PN) would limit development of ED compared with radical nephrectomy (RN), primarily due to renal function preservation, and found that patients undergoing RN had significantly higher de novo ED compared with a contemporary, well-matched cohort undergoing PN; in addition to RN, hypertension, CKD and diabetes mellitus were associated with developing ED. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating an increased risk of ED after RN compared with PN. OBJECTIVES • To evaluate prevalence and risk factors for development of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients who underwent radical nephrectomy (RN) and partial nephrectomy (PN). • ED is a form of endothelial dysfunction that is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). PN confers superior renal functional preservation compared with RN; however, the impact on ED is unclear. METHODS • This was a retrospective study of 432 patients (264 RN/168 PN, mean age 58 years, mean follow-up 5.8 years) who underwent surgery for renal tumours between January 1998 and December 2007. • The primary outcome was rate of de novo ED postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included development of CKD (estimated GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and response to phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. • Multivariate analysis was performed to determine risk factors for de novo ED postoperatively. RESULTS • RN and PN groups had similar demographics and comorbidities. • Tumour size (cm) was larger for RN (RN 7.0 vs PN 3.7, P < 0.001) and more preoperative ED existed in PN vs RN (P= 0.042). No differences were observed for preoperative CKD, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus. • Postoperatively, higher rates of de novo ED (29.5% vs 9.5%, P < 0.001) and CKD (33.0% vs 9.8%, P < 0.001) developed in RN vs PN cohorts, respectively. • Of men with ED, 63% responded to phosphodiesterase inhibitors, without significant difference between the two groups (P= 0.896). • Multivariate analysis demonstrated de novo ED to be associated with RN (odds ratio [OR] 3.56, P < 0.001), hypertension (OR 2.32, P= 0.014), preoperative (OR 8.77, P < 0.001) and postoperative (OR 2.64, P= 0.001) CKD, and postoperative diabetes mellitus (OR 2.93, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS • Patients undergoing RN had significantly higher de novo ED compared with a contemporary, well-matched cohort undergoing PN. In addition to RN, hypertension, CKD and diabetes mellitus were associated with developing ED. • Further investigation on effects of surgically induced nephron loss on ED is requisite.
Runtime support for irregular computation in MPI-based applications

In recent years more and more applications have been using irregular computation models in various domains such as bioinformatics and social network analysis. Traditional data movement approaches are not well suited for such applications because of the irregular communication patterns, sparse data structures, fast growth rate of data movement as system size or problem size rises, and so forth. Active Messages (AM) is an alternative programming paradigm that is more suitable for irregular computations. It allows small pieces of data to be dynamically moved to the remote process and certain computation to be triggered, and the remote process does not need to explicitly receive the data. In this paper, an outline of the first author's Ph.D. thesis, focusing on runtime support for irregular computation, is presented. In the first part, we combine the capability of AM with traditional MPI data movement patterns, and we propose a generalized MPI-interoperable AM framework (MPI-AM). In the second part, we extend the MPI-AM framework to provide a model of dynamic task parallelism for data-driven computation. In each part we describe critical issues, demonstrate the current status of the work and performance gain, and discuss remaining challenges to be solved.
Treatment responsive GABA(B)-receptor limbic encephalitis presenting as new onset super-refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) in a Deployed U.S. Soldier (P4.233)

Objective: Report the clinical presentation and treatment response for a patient presenting with new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) and auto-antibodies to the GABA(B) receptor. Background: New onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is a rare condition that often carries a grave prognosis and in which a clear etiology is rarely discovered. GABA(B) receptor auto-antibodies are associated with limbic encephalitis and seizures. Design/Methods: We reviewed clinical, radiographic, pathologic and treatment response characteristics for a case of anti-GABA(B)-receptor limbic encephalitis presenting as NORSE. Results: A 23-year-old previously healthy deployed U.S. Soldier presented with bilateral temporal lobe seizures recalcitrant to multiple anti-epileptic drugs and anti-seizure anesthetic agents. MRI Brain revealed T2 hyperintense signal in the left more than right hippocampus concerning for limbic encephalitis. CSF revealed mild pleocytosis with lymphocytic predominance. CT Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis, PET scan, and testicular ultrasound were negative. He received methylprednisolone, IVIG, plasma exchange and rituximab for presumed autoimmune encephalitis before achieving seizure freedom. 6 weeks after presentation, the etiology of his refractory seizures was found to be due to auto-antibodies targeting the anti-GABA(B)-receptor. He was weened from anesthesia after 3 months of pharmacologically-induced coma. He showed gradual neurologic improvement over the next year and is now independent in all ADLs. Conclusions: This is the first reported case of GABA(B)-receptor autoantibody limbic encephalitis presenting as NORSE. This case emphasizes that anti-GABA(B) encephalitis patients presenting with NORSE can have a good prognosis if recognized and treated early with aggressive multi-modal immune suppression. It also suggests that there may be benefit in more widespread testing of CSF and serum for autoantibodies targeting the GABA receptor in patients who present with refractory seizures. Disclosure: Dr. Hainsworth has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shishido has nothing to disclose. Dr. Carroll has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fasano has nothing to disclose. Dr. Theeler has nothing to disclose.
Fred Hoyle and the Anglo-Australian Telescope

The 150-inch telescope on Siding Spring mountain in New South Wales, Australia, stands as a reminder of Fred Hoyle's genius in aspects of astronomy that surprise those who know him only as a theoretician, as one who did not himself use the telescopes that produced the all-important data for his theoretical work. This article shows another side of Fred's abilities – that he could immerse himself in the techniques of telescope building, from mount to mirror, and overcome the many hurdles that had to be faced.
Asynchronous assessment: using electronic portfolios to document and assess student learning outcomes

Summary form only given. Portfolios are not a new concept in the assessment of educational outcomes. They have been widely used in US elementary and secondary schools for over a decade. The current interest in the use of portfolios to document student outcomes in engineering education has been driven by the adoption of revised engineering accreditation criteria, Engineering Criteria 2000. This paper discusses the experience of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the selection and development of an electronic portfolio (RosE-Portfolio) system designed to document, assess and evaluate student outcomes. A brief demonstration of how students, faculty and raters will use the RosE-Portfolio is given. Lessons learned during the development process and the identification of the elements to consider when designing an electronic portfolio process are also discussed. The implications for the use of industry and alumni "raters" in the assessment of the portfolio submissions in an "asynchronous" environment are highlighted.
Tailored therapies based upon tumor subtype biology

Breast cancer is a spectrum of diseases comprised of different tumor subtypes, each with a distinct biology and clinical behavior. To capture this diversify, we characterized the variation in gene expression across human breast tumors using DNA microarrays and identified at least five distinct tumor subtypes that are statistically significant predictors of patient overall survival [1]. Recently, we further validated these findings using a training set of 102 tumors, which was used to derive a new 'intrinsic gene set'. This gene set was then validated using a true test set of 311 tumors compiled from three different microarray studies. Our analyses demonstrate that common patterns of gene expression can be identified across different microarray platforms, that the breast tumor 'intrinsic' subtypes are reproducible across different datasets, and that this classification was a significant predictor of outcomes after correcting for standard clinical parameters such as estrogen receptor (ER), grade and node status [2]. The biology of the 'intrinsic' subtypes is rich and extensive, and many of these expression features suggest distinct therapies. The 'intrinsic' subtypes include at least two types of ER-negative tumors (Basal-like and HER2+/ER-) and at least two types of ER-positive tumors (Luminal A and Luminal B). Basal-like tumors typically show low expression of HER2 and ER, and these tumors exhibit high expression of genes characteristic of the basal epithelial cell layer, including expression of keratin 5, keratin 6, keratin 17 and four Kallikrein genes (KLK5-KLK8). The Basal-like tumors pose a challenge from the treatment perspective because they lack ER and HER2. However, we have recently shown that most are HER1-positive and/or c-KIT-positive [3], and we have initiated a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of HER1-inhibitors in preselected Basal-like tumor patients. HER2-positive (i.e. gene amplified) tumors fall into at least two distinct expression groups: those that are ER-negative and typically cluster near the Basal-like tumors (HER2+/ER-), and those that are ER-positive and cluster with tumors of luminal cell origin. These findings suggest that both types of HER2+ patients should receive transtuzumab, but that the ER+/HER2+ may gain a benefit from hormone therapy. Finally, the Luminal subtype A and Luminal subtype B tumors express ER, GATA3, and genes regulated by both ER and GATA3. Compared with Luminal B tumors, Luminal A tumors express higher levels of ER, BCL2 and GATA3, and they show more favorable patient outcomes. Luminal B tumors more often express HER1, HER2 and/or cyclin E1, and they show worse outcomes. Our data, when coupled with data from others [4], suggests that Luminal A patients are likely to benefit from hormone therapy and are not likely to benefit from chemotherapy, while the opposite may be true of Luminal B patients. Experiments to answer these questions in Luminal patients are underway and will be discussed.
El género Sisymbrium en Sudamérica, y sinopsis de los géneros Chilocardamum, Mostacillastrum, Neuontobotrys y Polypsecadium (Brassicaceae)

Sobre una amplia base de datos moleculares y morfologicos, todas las especies nativas de Sudamerica previamente incluidas en Sisymbrium (tribu Sisymbrieae), se reasignan a los generos Chilocardamum, Mostacillastrum, Neuontobotrys y Polypsecadium , de la tribu Schizopetaleae (Brassicaceae). Se presenta una clave para diferenciar estos cuatro generos, y para cada uno de ellos se incluye una sinopsis actualizada, una descripcion ampliada, una clave para las especies y una enumeracion de todos sus taxones. Se describe Polypsecadium zoellneri , una nueva especie del norte de Chile, y se discuten sus caracteres distintivos frente a P. gilliesii , la especie mas proxima. Se proponen 36 nuevas combinaciones: Chilocardamum castellanosii, C. longistylum, C. onuridifolium, Mostacillastrum andinum, M. carolinense, M. commune, M. dianthoides, M. ferreyrae, M. gracile, M. leptocarpum, M. morrisonii, M. oleraceum, M. orbignyanum, M. pectinifolium, M. sagittatum, M. subscandens, M. ventanense, M. weberbaueri, Neuontobotrys choiquense, N. frutescens, N. grayana, N. lanata, N. mendocina, N. polyphylla, N. tarapacana, Polypsecadium adscendens, P. arnottianum, P. brasiliense, P. effusum, P. gilliesii, P. litorale, P. llatasii, P. magellanicum, P. rusbyi, P. solidagineum y P. tarapacanum.
Comment on Amendment-Metrics: The Good, the Bad and the Frequently Amended Constitution

This comment assesses Xenophon Contiades and Alkmene Fotiadou’s critique of arguments that long, frequently amended constitutions tend to be bad constitutions. It also criticizes their analysis of the purposes of amendment, arguing that most amendments, in some way, aim to respond to imperfections or correct flaws in existing constitutions. Furthermore (drawing on the analysis of John Marshall), the comment sketches some general criteria for a good constitution: that it should be a “great outline,” not a detailed legal code; that it should be difficult to amend; and that it should not be amended frequently. Finally (building on the analysis of Jack Balkin), it maintains that a good constitution would be capable of serving as “basic law,” “higher law,” and “our law.”
THE VAN NES TIBIAL ROTATIONPLASTY : A FUNCTIONALLY VIABLE RECONSTRUCTIVE PROCEDURE IN CHILDREN WHO HAVE A TUMOR OF THE DISTAL END OF THE FEMUR

Twelve patients who had a malignant tumor of the distal end of the femur were treated with a Van Nes tibial rotationplasty. The survival rates were comparable with those for above-the-knee amputees and patients who had an endoprosthetic replacement. The results of functional testing showed that these patients performed as well as those who had endoprosthetic replacement and better than those who had above-the-knee amputation. Rotationplasty is therefore a favorable alternative to amputation or endoprosthetic replacement, either as a primary or as a salvage procedure.
God, Commitment, and Other Faiths: Pluralism vs Relativism

Crises in religion historically precipitate revolutions in religious thought. Today, the impressive piety and evident rationality of the belief systems of other religious traditions, inescapably confront Christians with a crisis — and a potential revolution. How should Christians respond responsibly to the conflicting claims of other faiths? More pointedly, should Christians abjure traditional claims to the one truth and the one way to salvation? As even Descartes (rather quaintly) observes in his Discourse on Method, I further recognised in the course of my travels that all those whose sentiments are very contrary to ours are yet not necessarily barbarians or savages, but may be possessed of reason in as great or even a greater degree than ourselves. I also considered how very different the self-same man, identical in mind and spirit, may become, according as he is brought up from childhood amongst the French or Germans, or has passed his whole life amongst Chinese or cannibals.1
Methylene Blue Reduces Aβ Levels and Rescues Early Cognitive Deficit by Increasing Proteasome Activity

Promising results have emerged from a phase II clinical trial testing methylene blue (MB) as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer disease (AD), where improvements in cognitive functions of AD patients after 6 months of MB administration have been reported. Despite these reports, no preclinical testing of MB in mammals has been published, and thus its mechanism of action in relation to AD pathology remains unknown. In order to elucidate the effects of MB on AD pathology and to determine its mechanism of action, we used a mouse model (3xTg-AD) that develops age-dependent accumulation of Aβ and tau and cognitive decline. Here, we report that chronic dietary MB treatment reduces Aβ levels and improves learning and memory deficits in the 3xTg-AD mice. The mechanisms underlying the effects of MB on Aβ pathology appears to be mediated by an increase in Aβ clearance as we show that MB increases the chymotrypsin- and trypsin-like activities of the proteasome in the brain. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that MB increases proteasome function and ameliorates AD-like pathology in vivo. Overall, the data presented here support the use of MB for the treatment of AD and offer a possible mechanism of action.
Hot and deep: Rock record of subduction initiation and exhumation of high-temperature, high-pressure metamorphic rocks, Feather River ultramafic belt, California

Abstract Studies of a 10 to 300-m-thick unit of high-grade metamorphic rock (“external schists”) that crops out along the western border of the Feather River ultramafic belt (FRB), northern California, yield new insights into subduction initiation and ophiolite emplacement processes. The high-temperature (T) foliation of the external schists dip moderately to steeply eastward beneath the ultramafic rocks of the FRB, a 150-km-long slab of suboceanic upper mantle and the high-T fabric shows a tops-to-the-west (FRB-side-up) sense of shear. The structurally highest external schists record peak metamorphic conditions of 650–760 °C at 1.3–2.2 GPa. In contrast, sheeted dikes of the Devil's Gate ophiolite that overlie the ultramafic rocks yield metamorphic conditions of 710–730 °C at about 0.3–0.7 GPa. A km-scale lens of amphibolite within ultramafic rocks yields somewhat lower pressures than the structurally highest external schist, as do the structurally lower rocks within the external schists. Significant exhumation of the external schists relative to the structurally overlying ophiolitic rocks occurred along at least two major zones and the most significant exhumation was accommodated at least 1.5 km structurally above the ultramafic-external schist contact. Based on available geochronology, intraoceanic subduction may have initiated at approximately 240 Ma, and exposure of the external schist occurred prior to the deposition of rocks in the structurally highest part of the Calaveras Complex (minimum 177 Ma), a subduction complex that structurally underlies the external schists. High-T metamorphism of the Devil's Gate ophiolite may have resulted from partial (failed) ridge subduction.
Molecular aspects of persistent woodchuck hepatitis virus and hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma

It seems evident that the development of fully malignant HCC is a multistage process with many variables. One possible mechanism by which many of these variables may interact is as follows. During chronic active hepatitis, viral DNA integration occurs randomly and at a low frequency in hepatocytes. Integration may be stimulated by the increased rate of hepatocyte cell division resulting from liver necrosis and regeneration during chronic disease. The presence of viral integrations in the cellular genome provides focal points for the generation of chromosomal aberrations. One pathway by which these aberrations may be generated involves rearrangement of integrated viral and cellular sequences following viral DNA integration. The rearrangements which occur may include deletion, translocation, transposition or amplification of specific viral and cellular DNA sequences. We and others have directly demonstrated that all of these events are associated with different HBV integrations. The presence of viral integrations in chromosomes may also, by some unknown mechanism, destabilize those chromosomes such that whole chromosomes fail to segregate and are lost from particular cells. Preliminary studies we have conducted using restriction fragment length polymorphisms have revealed the loss of Chromosome 11 alleles in several HCC, indicating that chromosome loss may be a common occurrence in HCC. Our studies with restriction fragment length polymorphisms support such a mechanism involving Chromosome 11 in HCC. Specific chromosomal aberrations associated with all HCCs have not yet been identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
“You Don't Look Mexican!” My Life in Ethnic Ambiguity and What It Says About the Construction of Race in America

One sunny early spring afternoon, I was driving home from Millersville University, where I am an assistant professor of Anthropology, when I made a routine stop at a Turkey Hill convenience store t...
Relation of Global Modeling to Development Planning

sary of the publication of that dramatic global study, The Limits to Growth (Meadows et al.), there remains a deep seated concern over the long-term survival of the industrialized societies in a world where unrelieved poverty is ever present. Development planning has tended to focus attention on the opposite end of the time spectrum, placing primary emphasis on short-term adjustments while giving much less attention to the long run. The thrust of this paper is an appeal to economists to consider the benefits that might flow from model designs which give fuller consideration to the interdependencies among economies and intersectoral relationships in the modern world. There are different perceptions of global modeling. To some the very idea is absurd-things will work out on their own. For others, global modeling is a good idea but excessively costly. Global models reported to date are regarded as irrelevant by some economists, failing to identify whose choices are involved, employing improper techniques, and attempting to model the unknown and unknowable. Finally, there are those who believe global modeling is useful and even necessary. The latter group sees many economic models to be too narrow, too shallow, and too shortsighted. Sometimes cited is the fact that a dollar's worth of food in the year 2000 is worth roughly 20 today, using the typical present value calculation with a 10% discount rate; at a 20% discount rate, it is worth less than a nickel. The result of a year-long series of seminars shared with demographers, environmental specialists, energy experts, and political scientists was a greater appreciation in the group for the importance of comprehensive modeling of world food, population, and health issues and a recognition of the central role that economists must play in the conduct of such studies.