cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
10 MHz catheter-based annular array for thermal strain guided intramural cardiac ablations

A yearly global population of well over 100,000 ventricular tachycardia patients could benefit from guided cardiac ablation of otherwise untreatable intramural arrhythmogenic substrates. A guided catheter-based HIFU device used epicardially with a subxiphoid approach is proposed which is placed with electroanatomical mapping. After the HIFU device is positioned, the thermal strain feedback at low intensities can confirm myocardial contact and establish a projected power titration guideline for full HIFU ablation. This PZT based spherical array design is an early adjunct prototype of a fully beam steerable CMUT array design in development at Stanford.
Integrated On-chip Planar Solenoid Inductors with Patterned Permalloy Cores for High Frequency Applications

The on-chip magnetic inductors with patterned permalloy (Ni80Fe20) cores are fabricated on Si-substrates with different resistivities and thicknesses as well as on thin membranes. With the patterned permalloy cores, the on-chip magnetic inductors achieve high self-resonant frequencies over 25GHz in thin membranes. To distinguish the influence from the permalloy core patterns and substrate losses on the inductance and quality factor, multiple solenoids in series and parallel are designed to investigate the resistive, capacitive, and magnetic coupling losses.
Generalized axisymmetric elastodynamic analysis by boundary element method

The boundary element formulation for three-dimensional problems of steady state (periodic) dynamic analysis has been cast into the generalized axisymmetric form by expressing the boundary tractions and displacements in terms of a Fourier series expansion. The resulting formulation has been developed for the dynamic analysis of axisymmetric geometries subjected to non-axisymmetric loading. The analysis has been implemented in a large general purpose analysis capable of analysing both finite as well as semi-infinite domains and a series of examples has been shown to demonstrate the versatility of the implementation.
KUTE-BASE

Motivation: The BioArray Software Environment (BASE) is a very popular MIAME-compliant, web-based microarray data repository. However in BASE, like in most other microarray data repositories, the experiment annotation and raw data uploading can be very timeconsuming, especially for large microarray experiments. Results: We developed KUTE (Karmanos Universal daTabase for microarray Experiments), as a plug-in for BASE 2.0 that addresses these issues. KUTE provides an automatic experiment annotation feature and a completely redesigned data work-flow that dramatically reduce the human–computer interaction time. For instance, in BASE 2.0 a typical Affymetrix experiment involving 100 arrays required 4 h 30 min of user interaction time forexperiment annotation, and 45 min for data upload/download. In contrast, for the same experiment, KUTE required only 28 min of user interaction time for experiment annotation, and 3.3 min for data upload/download. Availability: http://vortex.cs.wayne.edu/kute/index.html Contact: sod@cs.wayne.edu
Population Dynamics of Empoasca fabae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Central Iowa Alfalfa Fields.

Adults and nymphs of Empoasca fabae Harris (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and adults of predatory species in the families Coccinellidae, Anthocoridae, Nabidae, Chrysopidae, and Hemerobiidae were sampled in Iowa alfalfa fields from June to September in 1999 and 2000. The relationship between each predatory taxa and E. fabae was examined using regression analysis. In 2000, all predators were found to be positively correlated with the presence of E. fabae during all periods sampled and most likely contributed to mortality. Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthoridae) was the most numerous insect predatory species; population numbers ranged from 0 to 1 and 0.1 to 3.7 adults per 0.25 m2 in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Partial life tables were constructed for E. fabae nymphs for two alfalfa-growing periods. Nymphs were grouped into three age intervals: first and second, third and fourth, and fifth instars. For the first alfalfa growing period examined, E. fabae nymphal mortality was 70% in 1999 and 49% in 2000. During the last growing period of each season (August–September), total nymphal mortality was relatively low (<25%). Adult E. fabae density ranged from 5.4 to 25.6 and 1.4–9.2 per 0.25 m2 in 1999 and 2000, respectively. E. fabae population peaks were similar for each age interval in all growing periods. This study provides further information on the population dynamics of E. fabae and its relationship with select predatory species in Iowa alfalfa fields.
Connectedness and Its Discontents: The Difficulties of Federalism and Criminal Law

This essay raises questions about the appropriate way for states to construe the criminal history of offenders migrating across states. In a recent article, Professor Wayne Logan asked two important questions that have been given spare and insufficient attention. The first focuses on how states construct the criminal histories of the offenders who are now in their midst. The second asks what tradeoffs are implicated as states make their choices regarding how to interpret the pasts of these itinerant offenders as they relate to registration requirements or sentence enhancements for recidivism. Answering the first question, Logan observes the existence of two archetypal approaches a state might adopt when assessing an offender's prior record: an internal one and an external one. Under the internal approach, the use of out-of-state convictions, and any punishment resulting from those convictions, [must] satisfy the eligibility requirements of the forum state's registration or recidivist enhancement law. On this view, for example, a state would not apply a recidivist sentencing enhancement to an offender on the basis of a conviction in another state for conduct that would not be illegal in the forum state. By contrast, under the external approach, a forum state faithfully implements the consequences of the legal judgments of its fellow sovereign states, rather than re-examining those determinations to see if the underlying circumstances (or length of sentence) would have initiated the same legal consequences in the forum state. Consequently, with the external approach, an offender's former actions potentially trigger a marked trail effect in the new forum state. Of course, jurisdictions need not be consistent between recidivism and registration requirements: some states might adopt, for instance, an internal approach with respect to recidivist sentencing enhancements but an external approach to sex offender registration laws. With respect to the second question, Logan capably shows how the competing internal and external approaches raise difficult theoretical and practical policy questions. Indeed, simply by ventilating the various issues as he does, Logan helpfully foregrounds many otherwise easily obscured value trade-offs, and thus makes a profound contribution to the study of federalism and American criminal law. This essay registers no real quarrel with Logan's analysis of the scope and nature of criminal justice connectedness. My focus instead is on the normative argument in Logan's apparent preference for the internal approach. I choose this focus not because I am convinced that the external approach is the obviously superior one. Rather, I think Logan overestimates its deficiencies. The goal here, then, is simply to adumbrate a few of the rejoinders available in defense of the external approach against Logan's criticisms. To the extent these responsive arguments are persuasive, then state courts and/or legislatures will be in a better-informed position to select an approach more consonant with their particular concerns and objectives.
Africa’s Science and Technology Strategy in the Thought of Kwame Nkrumah

This paper explores the African Union’s (“AU”) science and technology plan and strategy for Africa within the construct of Kwame Nkrumah’s socio-political thought. Nkrumah was one of Africa’s most important political and intellectual agitators of the 20th century. He was Ghana’s first prime minister and president, and a founding member of the African Union’s forerunner, the Organization of African Unity. An Africa, unified, modernized and developedwith science and technology for the benefit of all Africans, was the vision he strived for. The paper argues that while the AU is working towardsto achieve Nkrumah’s vision and quotes him prominently, their approach to the plan betrays an ideological conception for Africa’s development that is in contradiction with Nkrumah’s vision by, a) the S&T plan’s ahistorical vision statement, b) exclusion of the African majority from the process, c) baring primarily the interests of the African elites and global corporation by its reliance on foreign aid and capital, and c) Planning and policy omissions in the continent’s fastest growing area of technology adoption. Nkrumah’s worldview and development thinking used to examine the African Union’s strategy is explained with both classical and contemporary sociological theories and philosophy.
Behaving like a Man: Performed Masculinities in Gl'ingannati

This essay focuses specifically on masculine performance in the Gl 'ingannati (1532) and views the comedy's sexual play as imbued with a political discourse. The tension and disorder so precious to comedy are, in Gl 'ingannati, borne precisely from the political and sexual anxieties of the recently invaded Italy in the sack of 1527. The social disorder caused by the sack is paralleled by the sexual ‘disorder’ of the raped and sodomized protagonists. Their return to civic positions of husband, patrician or wife also marks a return to sexual normalcy. This essay further argues that Gl 'ingannati eschews a traditional gender binary to show a much more complex potentiality whereby the disempowered and previously ‘penetrated’ may threaten their own penetrating potential. The standard wedding conclusion does not resolve gender confusion, but instead institutionalizes the survival of a troublesome gender outsider, the transvestite Fabio. Gl 'ingannati teaches us that it is through the cunning use of narrative an...
Abstract 2481: Exploiting BRAF mutation for therapy of childhood low-grade astrocytoma

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Activating mutations of BRAF (predominantly V600E) are common in low-grade astrocytomas (∼23%), and xanthoastrocytomas (60%), with or without loss of the CDKN2A locus. Surgically inoperable astrocytoma has a poor prognosis with greater than half of these patients dying from disease. We have developed two models of low-grade astrocytoma (BT-35, BT-40) by direct heterografting patient tumor into immune-deficient mice. Both tumor lines have multiple copies of BRAF, but only BT-40 has an activating mutation (V600E), and is exquisitely sensitive to the MEK inhibitor AZD6244, whereas BT-35 is intrinsically resistant (Kolb et al. Ped Blood Cancer, 2010). Biochemical characterization showed that MEK1/2 were equally inhibited by AZD6244 treatment in both BT-35 and BT-40 xenografts, as demonstrated by the level and duration of inhibition of phospho-ERK1/2. However, inhibition of MEK1/2 had no effect on TORC1 signaling in BT-35 (insensitive) tumors whereas in BT-40 xenografts TORC1 signaling was completely inhibited by AZD6244. The pathway through which mutant BRAF controls TORC1 signaling is currently under evaluation. However, control of TORC1 by mutant BRAF potentially exposes these cells to therapeutic exploitation. We have shown previously that the TOR kinase inhibitor AZD8055 potently suppresses FANCD2, a protein involved in interstrand cross-link (ICL) repair of DNA damage. Similar to the effect of AZD8055, within 4 days treatment of mice with AZD6244, FANCD2 levels are dramatically reduced and were no longer detected in BT-40 xenografts. Preliminary results show that inhibition of TOR signaling by AZD8055 is synergistic with daily radiation in rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts. We hypothesize that because MEK inhibition leads to suppression of TORC1 signaling and FANCD2 in BT-40 astrocytoma xenografts, that combination of AZD6244 with ionizing radiation or drugs that induce ICL will be selectively synergistic in the context of BRAF mutation. Experiments to test the hypothesis are ongoing. Supported by a Peletonia grant from the Ohio State University. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2481. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2481
Performance of Agricultural Residue Media in Laboratory Denitrifying Bioreactors at Low Temperatures

Denitrifying bioreactors can be effective for removing nitrate from agricultural tile drainage; however, questions about cold springtime performance persist. The objective of this study was to improve the nitrate removal rate (NRR) of denitrifying bioreactors at warm and cold temperatures using agriculturally derived media rather than wood chips (WC). Corn (Zea mays L.) cobs (CC), corn stover (CS), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw (BS), WC, and CC followed by a compartment of WC (CC+WC) were tested in laboratory columns for 5 mo at a 12-h hydraulic residence time in separate experiments at 15.5 and 1.5°C. Nitrate-N removal rates ranged from 35 to 1.4 at 15.5°C and from 7.4 to 1.6 g N m⁻³ d⁻¹ at 1.5°C, respectively; NRRs were ranked CC > CC+WC > BS = CS > WC and CC ≥ CC+WC = CS ≥ BS > WC for 15.5 and 1.5°C, respectively. Although NRRs for CC were increased relative to WC, CC released greater amounts of carbon. Greater abundance of nitrous oxide (N₂O) reductase gene (nosZ) was supported by crop residues than WC at 15.5°C, and CS and BS supported greater abundance than WC at 1.5°C. Production of N₂O relative to nitrate removal (rN₂O) was consistently greater at 1.5°C (7.5% of nitrate removed) than at 15.5°C (1.9%). The rN₂O was lowest in CC (1.1%) and CC-WC (0.9%) and greatest in WC (9.7%). Using a compartment of agricultural residue media in series before wood chips has the potential to improve denitrifying bioreactor nitrate removal rates, but field-scale verification is needed.
Review: Aspirin for CVD primary prevention increases gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke

Source Citation Whitlock EP, Burda BU, Williams SB, Guirguis-Blake JM, Evans CV. Bleeding risks with aspirin use for primary prevention in adults: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Servic...
Development of a Limiting Dilution Assay and MHC-Matched Transplantation Model to Detect Hematopoietic Stem Cell Activity in Zebrafish

Abstract The zebrafish is a powerful model for the discovery of novel genetic mechanisms through large scale forward and reverse screening methodologies, and has been used prominently for the study of hematopoiesis. Methodologies capable of assessing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity, however, are largely undeveloped. Here, we created a long-term limit dilution hematopoietic reconstitution assay in adult zebrafish, defined zebrafish haplotypes at the proposed core Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) locus, and tested their functional significance by performing the first matched and unmatched transplants. We identified a sublethal radiation dose of 25Gy which was optimal for hematopoietic reconstitution while minimizing mortality presumably due to radiation damage of other organs. Our method detects multi-lineage repopulation in primary and secondary recipients. Using Poisson statistics, our limit dilution analyses suggest that at least 1 in 65,000 nucleated marrow cells in zebrafish contain repopulating activity, consistent with mammalian marrow HSC frequency. Finally, we characterized the genes in the proposed MHC core locus on chromosome 19 for one family used for sibling marrow transplantations. We were able to identify the four parental MHC haplotypes by sequencing PCR products amplified for specific MHC Class I genes: mhc1uea, mhc1ufa, mhc1uda, mhc1uba, mhc1uca, loc751750, and mhc1uxa2. F1 generation siblings were subsequently typed, and we demonstrated that matching the donor and recipient MHC haplotypes at this chromosome 19 locus dramatically increases engraftment and percentage of donor chimerism in recipients compared to MHC-mismatched donors and recipients. At 15 weeks post-transplant, MHC-matched recipients showed engraftment in 4 of 5 surviving fish with mean donor chimerism of 59.15% +/− 25.1% for myeloid cells and 8.26% +/− 6.2% for lymphoid cells. Those animals receiving MHC-mismatched donor marrow had only 3.92% +/− 2.1% myeloid donor chimerism and 0.97% +/− 0.5% lymphoid donor chimerism. These data represent the first assay allowing long term HSCs to be distinguished from other hematopoietic progenitor fates and provides the first functional test of MHC genes between zebrafish haplotypes. This method opens the door to MHC-matched long-term transplantation experiments in zebrafish that have previously not been possible, including competitive transplantation experiments with zebrafish mutants already identified in prior genetic screens, and long-term tumor transplantation assays. By harnessing the unique genetic and screening advantages of the zebrafish model, such experiments may provide critical insight into mammalian transplantation biology.
A Comparison of Macroinvertebrate Communities and Their Freshwater Habitats in the Cayman Islands

A survey of macroinvertebrates inhabiting freshwater habitats of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman was conducted between 1997 and 2008. Freshwater habitats in these islands include natural ponds, ornamental ponds, temporary pools, and natural wells. A total of 72 species was collected from the three islands with most of these being reported for the first time from the Caymans. Generally, the freshwater macroinvertebrate fauna in the Cayman Islands is sparse, most likely due to their oceanic origin, their small sizes, limited freshwater habitats, natural and human disturbances, and challenges colonizing such habitats. Key words: Freshwater invertebrates, Cayman Islands, West Indies.
An Aprotinin Containing Fibrin Sealant Does Not Reduce Blood Loss in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Fibrin sealants are topical agents used to reduce perioperative blood loss; however, their efficacy in total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine if a fibrin sealant containing aprotinin as an antifibrinolytic agent, TISSEEL (Baxter, Deerfield, IL), reduces postoperative blood loss and transfusion during THA when compared with intravenous (IV) tranexamic acid (TXA) and control groups. Methods Three retrospective uniform cohorts of primary THA procedures were identified, from a prospectively maintained database: 1 group who received TISSEEL, 1 group who received 1 g IV TXA, and 1 group who received neither (control). There were 80 patients in each group. Outcome measures included the lowest measured hemoglobin during postoperative hospitalization, greatest decrease in hemoglobin from preoperative to postoperative values, and blood transfusion rates. Results The minimum postoperative hemoglobin level was significantly lower for TISSEEL patients compared with that of IV TXA patients ( P = .021) and no different when compared with that of control patients ( P = .134). Patients receiving fibrin sealant had a greater hemoglobin level decrease compared with that of IV TXA ( P = .029) and control ( P = .036). Postoperative transfusion rates were no different for the group receiving TISSEEL compared with those of control ( P = .375) and were statistically greater when compared with those of IV TXA ( P = .002). Conclusion TISSEEL fibrin sealant does not reduce postoperative blood loss or transfusions; however, IV TXA reduced postoperative transfusions compared with TISSEEL and control. Therefore, TXA is recommended to reduce perioperative blood loss, while, utilization of a fibrin sealant requires further refinements before being adopted for routine use in THA.
The safer and scalable mechanochemical synthesis of edge-chlorinated and fluorinated few-layer graphenes

Halogen functionalization of the edges of the graphene sheets can improve processability, add new properties, and enhance its interactions with other materials. Through functionalization, improved materials can be realized. Typically, halogenated graphenes are produced from pure or reactive halogen sources. Current approaches present significant safety challenges. By generating reactive dichlorine monoxide (Cl2O) in situ, a chlorinated graphene with the nominal composition C17Cl2OH can be realized safely and scalably. Chlorinated graphene can be used as a precursor for an array of functionalized materials by mechanically driven solid-state metathesis reactions. For example, nearly 75% of the chlorine in chlorinated graphene can be exchanged with fluorine by using the safer fluorine-containing compound ammonium fluoride (NH4F) as a reagent. A material with the composition C34Cl3F(OH)2 is realized. Preliminary work shows that F–graphene has oxygen reduction properties and Cl–graphene can improve existing zinc–air fuel cells. A scalable production of chlorinated and fluorinated graphenes and graphites will accelerate their adoption in fuel cells, batteries, polymer composites, and catalysts.
Using games to introduce middle school girls to computer science

Females make up a disproportionate population of the computer science field. Outreach and curricula are needed to attract and retain females in computing. This paper describes three hands-on activities that were used to introduce middle school girls to computer science. The results indicate an increased perception of computer science and high ratings of each of the activities.
Approximate SRAM for Energy-Efficient, Privacy-Preserving Convolutional Neural Networks

Convolutional neural networks (ConvNets) achieve remarkable accuracy in a variety of classification domains. Unfortunately, deployment of these algorithms in embedded systems and mobile devices is limited by the high memory power consumption caused by network storage requirements and memory access intensity. Our work studies the tradeoff between energy (required memory supply voltage), accuracy (classification error rate), and privacy (noise injection mechanisms) in hardware implementation of ConvNets. Our implementation and experiments based on measurements from a 28nm SRAM test chip demonstrate supply voltage reduction of 300mV at 99% of floating-point classification accuracy, under a modest (9, 10-5)-differential privacy budget. This corresponds to 5.0x leakage power reduction and 2.8x memory access power savings, with minimal hardware overhead.
Safety profile of uncrossmatched, cold-stored, low-titer, group O+ whole blood in civilian trauma patients.

BACKGROUND The use of cold-stored low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) for civilian trauma patients is gaining popularity. However, hemolysis might occur among non-group O recipients. This study evaluated the serologic safety of transfusing up to 4 units of LTOWB. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Hypotensive male and at least 50-year-old female trauma patients who received leukoreduced, uncrossmatched, group O+, low-titer (<50 anti-A and anti-B), platelet-replete whole blood during initial resuscitation were included in this prospective, observational study. Biochemical markers of hemolysis were measured on the day of LTOWB receipt (Day 0) and over the next 2 days. Blood product administration in the first 24 hours of admission and reported transfusion-associated adverse events were also reviewed. RESULTS There were 102 non-group O and 70 group O recipients of 1 to 4 LTOWB units analyzed. The non-group O recipients received a median volume of 600 mL (range, 300-4100 mL) of ABO-incompatible plasma, including the contribution from the LTOWB units. There were no significant differences in median haptoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, creatinine, or potassium levels at any time point between the non-group O and group O recipients. There were also no differences in these markers between the subset of 23 non-group O and 14 group O recipients who received 3 or 4 LTOWB units. No transfusion-associated adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS Administration of up to 4 units of LTOWB in civilian trauma resuscitation was not associated with clinical or biochemical evidence of hemolysis. Six units per trauma patient are now permitted at these institutions.
Pseudopregnant Bead-Induced Mouse Deciduoma Model

Chapter Summary This chapter outlines a protocol whereby blastocyst-sized Concanavalin A-coated Sepharose beads are used to induce decidualization in pseudopregnant mice (Pseudo-BID). The beads are transferred into the uterine lumen of day 2.5 pseudopregnant mice. This deciduogenic stimulus causes a focal increase in uterine vascular permeability that can easily be seen the morning of day 4.5 followed by decidualization, which is similar to what happens in pregnant mice during implantation. The novel aspect of this model is that the beads induce a “focal” decidualization unlike other commonly used deciduoma models (intraluminal oil injection, scratch) in which the deciduogenic stimuli induce decidualization along the entire length of the uterine horn. Therefore, the Pseudo-BID model has advantages that make it very useful in studying specific aspects of decidualization.
Nonhuman primate models of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the major pathologic process underlying cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Primates have proven invaluable for advancing understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of atherosclerosis and for investigating potential therapeutic interventions. Advantages of primate models include their resemblance to people in vascular anatomy, the pattern and location of atherosclerotic lesions, and the effects of age, sex, psychosocial factors, and diet on initiation and progression of lesions. They also exhibit the same comorbidities such as obesity and diabetes. Here we review major findings in the species used most prominently in atherosclerosis research – squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciurius ), the Callitrichidae, rhesus ( Macaca mulatta ), cynomolgus ( M. fascicularis ), and African green monkeys ( Chlorocebus aethiops ), and baboons ( Papio hamadryas ). The advantages and limitations for each species are also presented, along with a consideration of their unrealized potential for further advances in the study of atherosclerosis.
Abstract WP224: Hispanics are Transported With Slower and Less Capable Ambulances During Inter-Hospital Transfer: A Threat to Fairness in the Era of Thrombectomy

Background & Purpose: In the mechanical thrombectomy (MT) era, it is imperative to ensure that patients with stroke have a fair access to advanced ground ambulances (AGA) or the more rapid Helicopt...
Efficacy of Mobile Phone-Delivered Smoking Cessation Interventions for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Individuals: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Limited evidence supports mobile phone–delivered cessation interventions for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. Objective To assess the efficacy of mobile phone–delivered cessation interventions targeted to smokers at neighborhood sites serving racial/ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. Design, Setting, and Participants This group-randomized clinical trial with neighborhood site serving as the sampling unit compared smoking cessation interventions that included (1) nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), (2) NRT plus text messaging, and (3) NRT plus text messaging plus proactive counseling via mobile phone. Recruitment took place at churches, public housing complexes, and community centers located throughout the Houston, Texas, area. A total of 624 current cigarette smokers 18 years or older were enrolled at neighborhood sites from August 13, 2011, through December 12, 2014. Final follow-up was completed on June 12, 2015, and data were analyzed from August 17, 2017, through May 10, 2018, based on intention to treat. Interventions Nicotine replacement therapy consisted of transdermal nicotine patches; NRT plus text messages, transdermal nicotine patches and individually tailored mobile phone text messages; and NRT plus text plus call, transdermal patches, individually tailored mobile phone text messages, and proactive counseling via mobile phone. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was smoking abstinence at 6 months, defined as (1) biochemically verified smoking abstinence (calculated among a subgroup of 377 participants) as determined by saliva cotinine level; and (2) self-reported 30-day abstinence (calculated among all 624 participants). Results The study sample included 624 current cigarette smokers (50.6% female; mean [SD] age, 45.8 [12.8] years). Among the 377 participants eligible for biochemical verification, 127 self-reported 30-day abstinence and were asked to provide saliva samples. Of these, 98 samples were returned (participants who did not return samples were coded as smoking). Biochemically verified abstinence rates were 12.0% for NRT, 12.0% for NRT plus text, and 25.5% for NRT plus text plus call. Participants in the NRT plus text plus call group were 2.11 (95% CI, 1.00-4.48) times more likely to be biochemically verified as abstinent compared with the NRT group. No differences in biochemically verified abstinence between the NRT plus text group and the NRT group were observed. Similar associations were observed with the self-report cessation outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance Findings indicate that assignment to an intervention consisting of text messaging alone may not increase cessation rates for socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers. However, text messaging plus proactive counseling may be an efficacious option. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT00948129
AMPK-Mediated Regulation of Alpha-Arrestins and Protein Trafficking

The adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in the regulation of cellular metabolism. Recent studies reveal a novel role for AMPK in the regulation of glucose and other carbohydrates flux by controlling the endocytosis of transporters. The first step in glucose metabolism is glucose uptake, a process mediated by members of the GLUT/SLC2A (glucose transporters) or HXT (hexose transporters) family of twelve-transmembrane domain glucose transporters in mammals and yeast, respectively. These proteins are conserved from yeast to humans, and multiple transporters—each with distinct kinetic properties—compete for plasma membrane occupancy in order to enhance or limit the rate of glucose uptake. During growth in the presence of alternative carbon sources, glucose transporters are removed and replaced with the appropriate transporter to help support growth in response to this environment. New insights into the regulated protein trafficking of these transporters reveal the requirement for specific α-arrestins, a little-studied class of protein trafficking adaptor. A defining feature of the α-arrestins is that each contains PY-motifs, which can bind to the ubiquitin ligases from the NEDD4/Rsp5 (Neural precursor cell Expressed, Developmentally Down-regulated 4 and Reverses Spt- Phenotype 5, respectively) family. Specific association of α-arrestins with glucose and carbohydrate transporters is thought to bring the ubiquitin ligase in close proximity to its membrane substrate, and thereby allows the membrane cargo to become ubiquitinated. This ubiquitination in turn serves as a mark to stimulate endocytosis. Recent results show that AMPK phosphorylation of the α-arrestins impacts their abundance and/or ability to stimulate carbohydrate transporter endocytosis. Indeed, AMPK or glucose limitation also controls α-arrestin gene expression, adding an additional layer of complexity to this regulation. Here, we review the recent studies that have expanded the role of AMPK in cellular metabolism to include regulation of α-arrestin-mediated trafficking of transporters and show that this mechanism of regulation is conserved over the ~150 million years of evolution that separate yeast from man.
Pharmacokinetics (PK) and tolerability of DN-101, a new formulation of calcitriol, in patients with cancer

404 Calcitriol antineoplastic activity, seen in a broad range of tumor models, is dose-dependent and is most pronounced at supraphysiologic concentrations. Weekly dosing has allowed substantial dose escalation of calcitriol, however limited absorption above doses of 0.25 –0.5 mcg/kg and marked interpatient variability in absorption of the commercially available formulation precluded dose escalation to a maximum tolerated dose (MTD). DN-101 is a new high-dose oral formulation of calcitriol designed specifically for cancer therapy. We sought to determine the MTD of both a single dose of DN-101 and of repeat dosing of DN-101 administered weekly. MTD was defined as the highest dose at which no more than 1 patient experienced a dose limiting toxicity (DLT), defined as grade 2 (11.6 - 12.5 mg/dL) hypercalcemia or grade 3 or higher treatment-related toxicity that persisted and/or resulted in discontinuation of therapy. At least 3 patients were enrolled at each dose level. 38 patients with various advanced cancers, ECOG PS
Race Plays a Role in the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Women with Osteoporosis.

Using a concurrent mixed methods design, we investigated how knowledge, attitudes, values, and beliefs among women with osteoporosis can explain racial disparities in bone health. We recruited African American and White women ≥ 65 years of age with osteoporosis to participate in focus groups. We quantitatively compared scores of the “Osteoporosis & You” knowledge scale and each domain (internal, powerful others, and chance) of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale by race using t tests. We qualitatively explored potential racial differences in attitudes, values, and beliefs in the domains: (1) osteoporosis and bone health concerns, (2) knowledge about osteoporosis, (3) utilization of medical services for osteoporosis, (4) facilitators of osteoporosis prevention activities, and (5) barriers to osteoporosis prevention activities. A total of 48 women (White: 36; African American: 12) enrolled in the study. White women had a mean (SD) of 7.8 (0.92), whereas African American women score a 6.6 (2.6) (p = 0.044) out of 10 on the Osteoporosis & You Scale. The powerful others domain was significantly higher among African American for both general and bone health [General Health — African American: 26.7 (5.9) vs. White: 22.3 (3.8); p = 0.01]. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed differences by race in knowledge, types of physical activity, coping with comorbidities, physician trust, religion, and patient activation. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, our study identified racial differences in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in women with osteoporosis that could result in racial disparities in bone health, indicating the need to improve education and awareness about osteoporosis in African American women.
Implementing Multicultural-Social Justice Leadership Strategies When Advocating for the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning Persons

This article explores multicultural social justice leadership strategies in advocating with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) individuals. In the current sociopolitical climate, there is a great need for counselors and counselor educators to become more involved in LGBTQQ advocacy. In response to this need, the authors developed a collaborative content session that was presented at the Multicultural Social Justice Leadership Development Academy at the 2010 American Counseling Association Conference. The session was geared towards increasing the knowledge, awareness, and skills of multicultural social justice leaders who are advocating with LGBTQQ individuals and communities. In this article, the content of the session and the personal narratives of the presenters are reviewed, along with the recommendations and considerations that were discussed. Additionally, audience participation in the session is discussed along with the action strategies that were collaboratively developed as a part of the session.
Evaluation of etiologic genetic polymorphisms by whole exome sequencing (WES) in the Mayo Clinic AML epidemiology cohort (MCAEC).

7021Background: Case-control studies (CCS) have identified germline variants (GVs) & genes associated with AML risk and/or outcome. However, whether these genes also harbor somatic mutations (SMs) ...
Testing the Effects of Certain versus Hypothetical Language in Health Risk Messages.

ABSTRACTThis paper tests how certainty conveyed through language can be harnessed to enhance the effectiveness of health risk messages. We conducted experiments with low-income, adult smokers (n = ...
Structure of S. pombe telomerase protein Pof8 C-terminal domain is an xRRM conserved among LARP7 proteins

La related proteins group 7 (LARP7) are a class of RNA chaperones that bind the 3ends of RNA and are constitutively associated with their specific target RNAs. In metazoa, Larp7 binds to the long non-coding 7SK RNA as a core component of the 7SK RNP, a major regulator of eukaryotic transcription. In ciliates, a LARP7 protein (p65 in Tetrahymena) is a core component of telomerase, an essential ribonucleoprotein complex that maintains the DNA length at eukaryotic chromosome ends. p65 is important for the ordered assembly of telomerase RNA (TER) with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). Although a LARP7 as a telomerase holoenzyme component was initially thought to be specific to ciliate telomerases, Schizosaccharomyces pombe Pof8 was recently identified as a LARP7 protein and a core component of fission yeast telomerase essential for biogenesis. There is also evidence that human Larp7 associates with telomerase. LARP7 proteins have conserved N-terminal La motif and RRM1 (La module) and C-terminal RRM2 with specific RNA substrate recognition attributed to RRM2, first structurally characterized in p65 as an atypical RRM named xRRM. Here we present the X-ray crystal structure and NMR studies of S. pombe Pof8 RRM2. Sequence and structure comparison of Pof8 RRM2 to p65 and hLarp7 xRRMs reveals conserved features for RNA binding with the main variability in the length of the non-canonical helix 3. This study shows that Pof8 has conserved xRRM features, providing insight into TER recognition and the defining characteristics of the xRRM.nnHighlightsO_LIThe structure of the S. pombe LARP7 Pof8 C-terminal domain is an xRRM.nC_LIO_LICiliates, human, and fission yeast contain LARP7 proteins with xRRMs involved in telomerase biogenesis.nC_LIO_LIWith three examples of xRRM structures, we refine the definition of xRRM.nC_LI
Nicotinic Cholinergic Mechanisms in Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

Abstract Alcohol dependence is a chronic relapsing disorder which is characterized by a compulsion to consume alcohol and loss of control in limiting intake. The impact of alcohol dependence on morbidity and mortality is very high in the United States and other parts of the world. The underlying neurobiological mechanisms are still not well understood. Evidence from animal and human studies suggest that brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and cholinergic nicotinic mechanisms play important roles in alcohol use disorders (AUD), including alcohol dependence. Thus, there is a continued interest in developing new treatments for alcohol dependence by targeting brain nAChRs, especially in light of the high comorbidity of alcohol and nicotine co-abuse. This chapter focuses on the highlights of the findings from animal models involving nAChR ligands in regulating alcohol dependence and associated biological underpinnings. A number of medicinal agents in the form of partial agonists or antagonists of brain nAChRs have shown therapeutic potential in reducing AUD and/or its consequences. Overall, emerging pharmacological agents that target brain nAChRs and cholinergic mechanisms are discussed.
Trapezoidal Segmented Regression: A Novel Continuous-scale Real-time Annotation Approximation Algorithm

Accurate ground truth representations of human behavior and experiences are essential for furthering our understanding of the complex relationships between everyday events and interactions and their effects on people. Producing accurate ground truth signals for subjective or latent experiences is difficult because it requires human annotation and is subject to annotator bias, distraction artifacts, valuation errors, among others. We build on previous work aiming to produce highly accurate continuous-scale ground truth labels for human experiences which advocates using supplemental human observations to warp the continuous-scale annotations to correct these errors. We propose a new method, trapezoidal segmented regression, for optimally approximating fused human-produced continuous-scale annotations to simplify its segmentation into intervals of low and high confidence in valuation. We evaluate this algorithm as an alternative to the total variation denoising method used in prior work by comparing the ground truths that both methods produce in experiments where the true annotation target signal is known a priori. Results show that the proposed signal approximation technique performs on par with the prior method, producing ground truth signals in close alignment with the true target, but with the added advantages of being more easily tuned and intuitive. We conclude that the proposed algorithm enables accurate and more robust ground truth generation.
Molecular Mechanisms of Acquired Resistance to Kinase Inhibitors

ABSTRACT The discovery of mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene was been a turning point in clinical lung cancer care. We now know from multiple phase 3 randomized clinical trials that patients with advanced lung cancer should be screened for EGFR mutations at the time of diagnosis and that first-line genotype-specific therapy with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can improve progression-free survival and quality of life compared to standard chemotherapy. In the last few years we have seen other examples of successful genotype-directed therapy for lung cancers with ALK and ROS translocations. However, one significant obstacle that we face in the clinic today is the development of acquired resistance to therapy. In this lecture, we will review what is known about acquired resistance to TKI therapies and discuss possible strategies for treating and/or preventing acquired resistance. Disclosure L.V. Sequist: I have done paid consulting for Clovis Oncology and GSK. I have done pro-bono consulting for Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer-Ingelheim and Daiichi-Sankyo
Measuring the Impacts of Community Innovations: the Little Free Farmstand in Geneva, New York

Various community innovations can positively impact food insecurity and hunger, while also addressing food waste issues. This article focuses on a community innovation known as the Little Free Farmstand (LFF) of Geneva, New York. Little free approaches have appeared across the world to improve access to resources as well as promoting kindness in many communities. This case article undertakes an investigation of the impacts of two LFF’s regarding food security and food waste in the City of Geneva. An applied mixed method approach using photojournalism, formal and informal data solicitation from community members, note-taking, and team reflection were undertaken to analyze the impacts of the LFFs. Despite limitations with the study methods discussed in this article, the LFFs demonstrated positive impacts indirectly and directly regarding decreasing food waste and improving access to free, healthy food. While the results of the two LFFs’ impacts in the city are interesting, this study showcases accessible methods that other communities can use to measure the impacts of their own community innovations regarding food security and food waste. This study concludes by sharing the various challenges of the LFF project, especially regarding measuring community innovations’ impacts. These challenges are separated into economic, social and environmental categories.
Systematic use of fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and clinicopathological features in the screening of PDGFRB rearrangements of patients with myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms.

Aims Rearrangement of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor B (PDGFRB) gene defines a unique group of myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with frequent eosinophilia and high sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This genetic abnormality is also rarely reported in Philadelphia-like B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma (B-ALL). PDGFRB rearrangement was initially thought to only occur in cases with 5q31-33 rearrangement as determined with conventional cytogenetics; however, there are reported cases with cryptic rearrangements. We aim to develop a broader strategy for screening of PDGFRB rearrangements of patients with myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms. Methods and results We performed fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) for PDGFRB rearrangement in 197 patients, including 70 with B-ALL, 10 with myeloid neoplasms with 5q31-33 rearrangements, and 117 with eosinophilia (≥0.5 × 109 /l in peripheral blood or ≥5% in bone marrow), and identified PDGFRB rearrangement in four of 197 (2.0%) cases. In an attempt to identify clinicopathological and genetic features that may have a stronger association with PDGFRB rearrangement, we analysed 13 patients with confirmed PDGFRB rearrangements, including 10 with myeloid neoplasms and three with B-ALL. Among the 10 patients with myeloid neoplasms, eosinophilia was present in eight, monocytosis in two, 5q31-33 rearrangement in seven, and abnormal bone marrow morphology in all. All patients with myeloid neoplasms showed an excellent response to imatinib, including a patient in blast crisis. The three B-ALL patients presented de novo, showed no eosinophilia, had a complex karyotype including 5q31-33 rearrangement, and had clinically aggressive courses with ultimate patient demise. Conclusions These findings suggest that a higher yield for the identification of PDGFRB rearrangement may result from an index of suspicion in patients with eosinophilia, monocytosis, bone marrow features of a myeloid neoplasm, and 5q31-33 rearrangement, and patients with Philadelphia-like B-ALL.
Lifespans of Built Structures, Narrativity, and Conservation: A Critical Note

A critical note on Peter Lamarque and Nigel Walter’s ‘The Application of Narrative to the Conservation of Historic Buildings’ (Estetika, 1/2019).
The effects of reduced paste volume in Portland limestone cement concrete

In Portland cement concrete, a high content of cementitious materials can cause early cracking. This study investigated the effects of minimised paste volume in structural concrete made with Portla...