cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal cardiovascular dynamics. 3. Labor and delivery under local and caudal analgesia.

Maternal hemodynamic changes were evaluated in 23 normal patients who underwent induction of labor at term. Ten patients received paracervical and pudendal block analgesia during labor and delivery. Thirteen patients were given caudal analgesia. The latter modified some of the cardiovascular responses by preventing an accumulative increase in cardiac output during labor and limiting the absolute increase in cardiac output at delivery. The type of analgesia, however, did not modify the hemodynamic effects of uterine contractions or maternal posture. The magnitude of the maternal cardiovascular response was similar to changes in posture from supine to side, to uterine contractions, and to delivery, suggesting that the redistribution of blood volume was the common etiologic factor.
The Technological Shell Game

“The Technological Shell Game” examines the industry’s persistent use of the “clean coal” trope to resist environmental regulation. The chapter interprets “clean coal” as a case of strategic ambiguity in which the industry invokes different definitions of “clean coal” to play a “technological shell game” with audiences, offering the promise of clean coal while hiding what exactly is meant by clean coal. This rhetorical strategy can unite disparate audiences in support of “clean coal,” but it obfuscates the coal industry’s resistance to regulation by appearing to work voluntarily and proactively toward technological solutions to environmental problems. The shell game enables the industry to finesse contradictions between its neoliberal calls for smaller government and deregulation, and its demand that the federal government subsidize carbon capture and sequestration technologies.
Thyroid Status in Chronic Renal Failure Patients – A Non-Thyroidal Illness Syndrome

Publisher Summary In chronic renal failure patients, the most frequently observed deviation from normal is a reduction of serum tri-iodothyronine (T3), both total and free tri-iodothyronine (TT3 and FT3) concentrations are reduced. Serum total thyroxine (TT4) is also reduced but in a more minor magnitude and with a lesser frequency. Serum-free T4 index (FT4I) is likewise reduced. Serum free T4 ranged from subnormal to elevated levels depending on the assay method. Thyroxine-binding globulin is generally normal or only mildly depressed. Serum total reverse T3 (rT3), which is never measured in clinical settings but assessed in research studies, is either normal or elevated. Serum free rT3 is high. Serum thyrotropin or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is not elevated, but it is uniformly normal. The low T3 is unequivocally a result of reduced production; the T4 to T3 conversion rate is markedly impaired at extrathyroidal sites. However, its metabolic clearance and degradation rates are actually reduced. The pathogenesis of the low T4 is more complex. Both T4 degradation and production rates, the latter equal to thyroidal T4 secretion rate, are normal. The major contributing factor is a defect in T4 binding to circulating protein carriers. A concomitant defect in central hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone secretion cannot be excluded, especially in those patients whose both T4 and serum thyrotropin concentrations are severely reduced.
Dirty environment for adult life: The bad, the good, the unknown

We know the bad things of dirty environment which is associated with infectious diseases. In this Research Watch, we discuss the good and the unknown of dirty environment, based on a recent Nature paper. We emphasize the role of environment (microbiota) in the development of the human immune system in health and diseases.
MO-B-BRC-04: MRI-Based Prostate HDR

Brachytherapy has proven to be an effective treatment option for prostate cancer. Initially, prostate brachytherapy was delivered through permanently implanted low dose rate (LDR) radioactive sources; however, high dose rate (HDR) temporary brachytherapy for prostate cancer is gaining popularity. Needle insertion during prostate brachytherapy is most commonly performed under ultrasound (U/S) guidance; however, treatment planning may be performed utilizing several imaging modalities either in an intra- or post-operative setting. During intra-operative prostate HDR, the needles are imaged during implantation, and planning may be performed in real time. At present, the most common imaging modality utilized for intra-operative prostate HDR is U/S. Alternatively, in the post-operative setting, following needle implantation, patients may be simulated with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each imaging modality and workflow provides its share of benefits and limitations. Prostate HDR has been adopted in a number of cancer centers across the nation. In this educational session, we will explore the role of U/S, CT, and MRI in HDR prostate brachytherapy. Example workflows and operational details will be shared, and we will discuss how to establish a prostate HDR program in a clinical setting. Learning Objectives: 1. Review prostate HDR techniques based on the imaging modality 2. Discuss the challenges and pitfalls introduced by the three imagebased options for prostate HDR brachytherapy 3. Review the QA process and learn about the development of clinical workflows for these imaging options at different institutions
Repeated Mechanical Thrombectomy in Recurrent Large Vessel Occlusion Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Endovascular therapy has been proven effective for the treatment of large vessel occlusion strokes (LVOS). However, the feasibility and potential bene
Augmented Th17-type immune responses in preterm neonates exposed to histologic chorioamnionitis.

Histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a placental inflammatory disorder that frequently precedes preterm delivery. HCA increases risk for long-standing inflammatory injury and may influence immune programming, particularly in preterm (PT) neonates. We hypothesized that HCA exposure is associated with an increased circulating frequency of proinflammatory, Th17-type responses. Placental cord blood was collected from HCA-exposed or control neonates (23–41 wk gestation). Frequencies of Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells and assessments of Th17-type features in CD4 and Treg cells were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Cord blood samples from 31 PT and 17 term neonates were analyzed by flow cytometry. A diagnosis of HCA in extremely PT (EPT, GA ≤ 30 wk) gestations was associated with the highest cord blood frequencies of progenitor (pTh17, CD4+CD161+) and mature (mTh17, CD4+CD161+CCR6+) Th17 cells. Preterm neonates exposed to HCA also exhibited elevated cord blood frequencies of IL-17+ Treg cells, as well as T cells with effector memory phenotype (TEM) that coexpressed Th17-type surface antigens. Th17-type responses are amplified in preterm neonates exposed to HCA. We speculate that a Th17 bias may potentiate the inflammatory responses and related morbidity observed in preterm neonates whose immune systems have been “primed” by HCA exposure.
Testing the leadership and organizational change for implementation (LOCI) intervention in substance abuse treatment: a cluster randomized trial study protocol

Evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation represents a strategic change in organizations that requires effective leadership and alignment of leadership and organizational support across organizational levels. As such, there is a need for combining leadership development with organizational strategies to support organizational climate conducive to EBP implementation. The leadership and organizational change for implementation (LOCI) intervention includes leadership training for workgroup leaders, ongoing implementation leadership coaching, 360° assessment, and strategic planning with top and middle management regarding how they can support workgroup leaders in developing a positive EBP implementation climate. This test of the LOCI intervention will take place in conjunction with the implementation of motivational interviewing (MI) in 60 substance use disorder treatment programs in California, USA. Participants will include agency executives, 60 program leaders, and approximately 360 treatment staff. LOCI will be tested using a multiple cohort, cluster randomized trial that randomizes workgroups (i.e., programs) within agency to either LOCI or a webinar leadership training control condition in three consecutive cohorts. The LOCI intervention is 12 months, and the webinar control intervention takes place in months 1, 5, and 8, for each cohort. Web-based surveys of staff and supervisors will be used to collect data on leadership, implementation climate, provider attitudes, and citizenship. Audio recordings of counseling sessions will be coded for MI fidelity. The unit of analysis will be the workgroup, randomized by site within agency and with care taken that co-located workgroups are assigned to the same condition to avoid contamination. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) will be used to analyze the data to account for the nested data structure. LOCI has been developed to be a feasible and effective approach for organizations to create a positive climate and fertile context for EBP implementation. The approach seeks to cultivate and sustain both effective general and implementation leadership as well as organizational strategies and support that will remain after the study has ended. Development of a positive implementation climate for MI should result in more positive service provider attitudes and behaviors related to the use of MI and, ultimately, higher fidelity in the use of MI. This study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT03042832 ), 2 February 2017, retrospectively registered.
Irreversible electroporation of small renal masses: suboptimal oncologic efficacy in an early series.

To report on the first short-term oncologic outcomes of percutaneous irreversible electroporation for small renal masses. Patients with cT1a renal masses treated with irreversible electroporation from April 2013 through December 2016 were reviewed. Small, low complexity tumors were generally selected for irreversible electroporation using the NanoKnife® System (Angiodynamics, Latham, NY, USA). Surveillance imaging was performed post-operatively, and survival analysis was completed using the Kaplan–Meier method. A total of 42 tumors in 41 patients underwent irreversible electroporation. Mean tumor size was 2.0 cm with a median R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score of 5. Twenty-nine patients (71%) were discharged the same day of the procedure and no major (Clavien grade II or higher) intraoperative or post-operative complications occurred. Initial treatment success rate was 93%; our three failures (7%) underwent salvage radiofrequency ablation. With a mean follow-up of 22 months, 2-year local recurrence-free survival was 83% for patients with biopsy confirmed renal cell carcinoma, 87% with biopsy confirmed or a history of renal cell carcinoma, and 92% for the intent-to-treat cohort. Although with low morbidity, in comparison to extirpation and conventional thermal ablation technologies, irreversible electroporation has suboptimal short-term local disease control results in this series of small, low complexity tumors. Larger series and longer follow-up will determine the durability of this modality.
From Accident to Activity: An Ethnographic Study of Community Engagement — From Symbolic Violence to Heroic Discourse

The present study conceptualizes engagement by following Marifran Mattson’s story— from tragic motorcycle accident to community engagement. The authors advance a five- part conceptualization of engagement and test its usefulness by exploring it in relation to a stage model approach and by contrasting it to Bourdieu’s theory of timidity and habitus in relation to symbolic violence. The community engagement begins with a motorcycle safety campaign and expands to include the development of support groups and public policy regarding health insurance fairness for amputees (a.k.a. prosthetic parity). The analysis draws on critical ethnography and the interpretation draws on alternative perspectives and reflexivity. The findings suggest that the stage model is less useful than Bourdieu’s theory in explaining discursive practices, the role of professional discourses, and the emergence of heroic activism and heroic discourse in community engagement. Overall, the study paints a picture of what Boyer (1996) called the “scholarship of engagement.”
The U.S. Online News Coverage of Mammography Based on a Google News Search.

Rationale and Objectives To characterize online news coverage relating to mammography, including articles' stance toward screening mammography. Materials and Methods Google News was used to search U.S. news sites over a 9-year period (2006–2015) based on the search terms “mammography” and “mammogram.” The top 100 search results were recorded. Identified articles were manually reviewed. Results The top 100 news articles were from the following sources: local news outlet (50%), national news outlet (24%), nonimaging medical source (13%), entertainment or culture news outlet (6%), business news outlet (4%), peer-reviewed journal (1%), and radiology news outlet (1%). Most common major themes were the screening mammography controversy (29%), description of a new breast imaging technology (23%), dense breasts (11%), and promotion of a public screening initiative (11%). For the most recent year, article stance toward screening mammography was 59%, favorable; 16%, unfavorable; and 25%, neutral. After 2010, there was an abrupt shift in articles' stances from neutral to both favorable and unfavorable. Conclusions A wide range of online news sources addressed a range of issues related to mammography. National, rather than local, news sites were more likely to focus on the screening controversy and more likely to take an unfavorable view. The controversial United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines may have influenced articles to take a stance on screening mammography. As such online news may impact public perception of the topic and thus potentially impact guideline adherence, radiologists are encouraged to maintain awareness of this online coverage and to support the online dissemination of reliable and accurate information.
Commissioning of the Active-Target Time Projection Chamber

Abstract The Active-Target Time Projection Chamber (AT-TPC) was recently built and commissioned at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. This gas-filled detector uses an active-target design where the gas acts as both the tracking medium and the reaction target. Operating inside a 2T solenoidal magnetic field, the AT-TPC records charged particle tracks that can be reconstructed to very good energy and angular resolutions. The near- 4 π solid angle coverage and thick target of the detector are well-suited to experiments with low secondary beam intensities. In this paper, the design and instrumentation of theAT-TPC are described along with the methods used to analyze the data it produces. A simulation of the detector’s performance and some results from its commissioning with a radioactive 46 Ar beam are also presented.
Commute mode diversity and income inequality: an inter-urban analysis of 148 midsize US cities

ABSTRACTLittle is known about the relationship between multi-modal transportation environments and aspects of sustainable urban development, such as reduced income inequality and affordable housing. This study, adapted from Molotch and Appelbaum's inter-city differential method, studied 148 semi-isolated mid-size cities. Using U.S. Census data from 2013, we found that increased diversity in commute modality is associated with less income inequality between white and African-American households, as well as between men and women. Commute mode diversity is also associated with higher earnings for white women and African-American men. Our study also shows that cities with more commuter mode diversity are associated with higher home property values and affordable rental markets compared to automobile dependent cities. These results undercut the notion that increasing automobile ownership is a reasonable policy response to urban poverty, and suggest that sustainable transportation policy can produce positive ec...
xMWAS: a data-driven integration and differential network analysis tool.

Summary Integrative omics is a central component of most systems biology studies. Computational methods are required for extracting meaningful relationships across different omics layers. Various tools have been developed to facilitate integration of paired heterogenous omics data; however most existing tools allow integration of only two omics datasets. Furthermore, existing data integration tools do not incorporate additional steps of identifying sub-networks or communities of highly connected entities and evaluating the topology of the integrative network under different conditions. Here we present xMWAS, a software for data integration, network visualization, clustering, and differential network analysis of data from biochemical and phenotypic assays, and two or more omics platforms. Availability and implementation https://kuppal.shinyapps.io/xmwas (Online) and https://github.com/kuppal2/xMWAS/ (R). Contact kuppal2@emory.edu. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Lithographic Printing Via Two-Photon Polymerization of Engineered Foams

Understanding deuterium-tritium mix in capsules is critical to achieving fusion within inertial confined fusion experiments. One method of understanding how the mix of hydrogen fuels can be control...
Sport: A Philosophic Inquiry. By Paul Weiss

(1969). Sport: A Philosophic Inquiry. By Paul Weiss. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 357-359.
MODULARITY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OUTSOURCING SUCCESS, AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

We propose a model to explain success in large scale, complex outsourcing arrangements. The work is based on a field study of current outsourcing practice and review of literature. The model links outsourcing success to modularity and firm level performance. Data collected from a survey of Chief Information Officers and other senior managers supports our hypotheses. In particular, we observe the effect of outsourcing success on business performance. Modularity has a direct effect on business performance. In addition, outsourcing success mediates the effect of modularity on business performance. Novel conceptualization and operationalization of architectural modularity, is a contribution to empirics and theory. Outsourcing success is seen to be associated with firm level performance, within the boundary conditions of large, multifunction, multiyear IT outsourcing initiatives. The results show several characteristics of “transformational” outsourcing that goes beyond cost reduction, and addresses firm level performance.
Machiavellianism, Profit, and the Dimensions of Ethical Judgment: A Study of Impact

Research by Reidenbach and Robin (1990) provides a means to study the differential impact of three dimensions of attitude toward ethics: moral equity, relativism, and contractualism. It is hypothesized that moral equity will be the most significant predictor of ethical judgment and intent to act. It is also hypothesized that Machiavellianism and profit will affect relativism and contractualism dimensions, but not moral equity. Additionally, it is hypothesized that Machiavellianism will interact with profit to affect intent to act. Moral equity was found to be the only predictor of ethical judgment, and moral equity and contractualism were predictors of intent to act. Machiavellianism impacted contractualism, but not relativism. Corporate profit did not affect either ethical judgment or intent to act, and did not interact with Machiavellianism. Implications for business ethics education and training are discussed.
HYALURONAN IS THE ORGANIZATIONAL SCAFFOLD OF THE INTERPHOTORECEPTOR MATRIX OF THE RETINA

ABSTRACT We have established the distribution of hyaluronan (HA) in the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) of the retina, and demonstrated its interaction with novel molecules present in this compartment. HA localization was defined with biotinylated hyaluronan binding complex, (bHABC). SPACR, a sialoglycoprotein, and SPACRCAN, a proteoglycan, are novel molecules localized in the 1PM with polyclonal antibodies prepared against their human antigens. SPACR-HA and SPACRCAN-HA interactions were documented in precipitation experiments on BPM extracts using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) in conjunction with Streptomyces hyaluronidase digestion. In tissue sections of human retina, bHABC heavily decorates HA in the matrix surrounding rods, with lighter binding of the cone associated matrix. SPACR and SPACRCAN immunoreactivity is prominent surrounding rods and cones. HA, SPACR and SPACRCAN are isolated as an aqueous insoluble IPM complex. CPC co-precipitates SPACR, SPACRCAN and HA from an undigested extract of IPM, but neither SPACR nor SPACRCAN precipitate with CPC when the extract is first digested with Streptomyces hyaluronidase. The deduced AA-sequence of SPACR and SPACRCAN contain HA binding motifs of the RHAMM type. The precipitation studies suggest that these HA binding motifs are functional. The implication from these studies is that HA serves as the primary scaffold to which SPACR, SPACRCAN and other IPM molecules form associative interactions in the DPM.
Implications of excess weight on kidney donation: Long-term consequences of donor nephrectomy in obese donors.

Background An elevated body mass index (>30 kg/m2) has been a relative contraindication for living kidney donation; however, such donors have become more common. Given the association between obesity and development of diabetes, hypertension, and end-stage renal disease, there is concern about the long-term health of obese donors. Methods Donor and recipient demographics, intraoperative parameters, complications, and short- and long-term outcomes were compared between contemporaneous donors—obese donors (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) versus nonobese donors (body mass index Results Between the years 1975 and 2014, we performed 3,752 donor nephrectomies; 656 (17.5%) were obese donors. On univariate analysis, obese donors were more likely to be older (P 30 days) readmissions. Estimated glomerular filtration rate and rates of end-stage renal disease were not significantly different between donor groups >20 years after donation (P = .71). However, long-term development of diabetes mellitus (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.14; P Conclusion Obese donors develop diabetes mellitus and hypertension more frequently and earlier than nonobese donors after donation, raising concerns about increased rates of end-stage renal disease.
RF atomic magnetometer array with over 40 dB interference suppression using electron spin resonance.

Abstract An unshielded array of 87 Rb atomic magnetometers, operating close to 1 MHz, is used to attenuate interference by 42–48 dB. A sensitivity of 15 fT / Hz to a local source of signal is retained. In addition, a 2D spectroscopic technique, in which the magnetometers are repeatedly pumped and data acquired between pump times, enables a synchronously generated signal to be distinguished from an interfering signal very close in frequency; the timing and signal mimics what would be observed in a magnetic resonance echo train. Combining the interference rejection and the 2D spectroscopy techniques, a 100 fT local signal is differentiated from a 20 pT interference signal operating only 1 Hz away. A phase-encoded reference signal is used to calibrate the magnetometers in real time in the presence of interference. Key to the strong interference rejection is the accurate calibration of the reference signal across the array, obtained through electron spin resonance measurements. This calibration is found to be sensitive to atomic polarization, RF pulse duration, and direction of the excitation. The experimental parameters required for an accurate and robust calibration are discussed.
MicroRNA-mediated loss of PDEF protein expression results in progression to more invasive breast cancer

1569 The purpose of this study is to elucidate possible mechanism(s) of PDEF protein loss during breast cancer progression. Cancer death is due in large part to metastases. One of the more interesting challenges is to understand the cellular changes that occur during progression towards more invasive cancer. PDEF is an Ets transcription factor with expression restricted to tissues with high epithelial content, including breast, prostate and colon. At the mRNA level PDEF overexpression has been proposed as a diagnostic marker of invasive cancer. However, PDEF protein is often reduced in invasive tissue and lost in invasive cancer cells. Indeed, re-expression of PDEF protein in invasive cells lines inhibits cell growth, migration and invasion. To date, the processes involved in the loss of PDEF protein during cancer progression have not been elucidated. The emerging field of microRNAs (miRNAs) has led to the functional discovery of their role in many types of cancer. However, the identification and validation of specific targets has been limited. miRNAs function post-transcriptionally by promoting either mRNA degradation or inhibiting mRNA translation. To explore the potential role for miRNAs in the post-transcriptional regulation of PDEF, a bioinformatics approach identified multiple miRNA recognition sequences within the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of PDEF. Two miRNAs, miRNA 204 (miR204) and 510 (miR510) were found to be elevated in breast cancer cell lines having high RNA and low PDEF protein levels. Two cell lines were selected as models to test the functional role of these miRNAs in regulation of PDEF protein expression: CAMA-1 (high mRNA, low protein) and MCF7 (high mRNA, high protein). Inhibition of miR204 or miR510 by antisense oligoribonucleotides in CAMA-1 results in an increase in PDEF protein levels without significant affects on PDEF mRNA. Reciprocal overexpression of either miR204 or miR510 in MCF7 cells results in a loss of PDEF protein, without significantly affecting the levels of PDEF mRNA. The functional consequences of miRNA-mediated loss of PDEF include an altered cellular morphology, increased cellular migration and invasion and a more transformed phenotype. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these cellular changes occur through the altered regulation of known PDEF transcriptional targets. In addition, we show for the first time that expression of miR-204 and miR-510 are elevated in human breast tumor samples compared to matched non-tumor samples. Collectively, this study provides for the first time a mechanism for the loss of PDEF protein expression and a unique oncogenic role for these miRNAs during metastatic breast cancer progression.
3D touch point detection on load sensitive surface based on continuous fluctuation of a user hand

We present a load sensitive surface which provides exact contact position in 3D and a force vector of user's touch from low cost load sensors without any prior knowledge about shape of objects. Load based approach is advantageous since they provide a force vector, however, there have been mathematical ambiguity of the touch position along the line of action. To address this problem, we develop algorithm based on pseudo-inverse matrix framework, utilizing the notion that user's hands are always fluctuating slightly and unconsciously during touch interaction. In this paper, we introduce the design space of the surface, outline of the algorithm and highlighted applications. This technique to localize the touch position in physical spaces enables us to design tangible interaction with inert everyday objects and analyze user's activities happening on the surfaces.
Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Trigger Contact-Dependent Tumor Promoting Genetic Alterations in Multiple Myeloma Cells

Abstract Introduction We identified an integral role of bone marrow (BM) plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis. Specifically, we found increased numbers pDCs in MM BM vs normal BM. pDCs protect tumor cells from therapy-induced cytotoxicity; promote tumor growth and survival, as well as suppress immune responses (Chauhan et al, Cancer Cell 2009, 16:309-323). Aberrant pDC function is evidenced in their interactions not only with MM cells, but also with immune effector T cells and NK cells in the MM BM milieu (Ray et al, Leukemia 2015, 29:1441-1444). Directly targeting pDC interactions with MM and immune effector cells in the MM BM milieu will be required to enhance both anti-tumor immunity and cytotoxicity. To further characterize the role of pDCs in MM pathogenesis, we utilized our pDC/MM co-culture model and analyzed genetic changes in MM cells after coculture with pDCs using next generation sequencing (NGS). NGS data was confirmed using flow cytometry analysis, and functionally validated in cocultures of pDC-MM-T cells, as well as cytotoxic T lymphocyte assays. Based on our NGS study, we have identified the metabolic ectoenzyme NT5E/CD73 as a promising novel therapeutic target in MM; primarily for its role in cancer metabolism and immunosuppression via nucleotide degradation pathway. Methods. Patient BM/PB pDC and MM cells were evaluated by flow cytometry following immunomagnetic separation (purity> 95%). pDCs were cocultured with autologous MM cells or allogeneic MM cell lines (pDC/MM; 1:5) for 48h, followed by separation of MM cells from pDCs using FACS. Total RNA from MM cells was subjected to RNAseq analysis using Illumina Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Raw sequence data were subjected to VIPER workflow generating differential expression (DEseq2) and KEGG pathway analyses. For RNAseq analysis, log2FC (fold change) values in coculture vs single control, with an FDR (False Discovery Rate) value of 95). Linear model for RNAseq analysis (Limma) and its GUI (Glimma) were used for the visualization of data. Results A total of 19,569 and 25,436 transcripts were analyzed through negative binomial (DEseq2) and linear (Limma) models, respectively. We found that 9200 (47.01%) and 9250 (36.36%) genes were differentially expressed (p Conclusions Collectively, our RNAseq NGS analysis of pDCs-induced gene changes in MM cells validates our previously published findings (Ray et al Leukemia 2014; 28(8): 1716-1724; Leukemia 2015; Leukemia 2017; 31:2652-2660; Leukemia 2018,32:843-846) that these accessory cells induce growth, survival and drug resistance in tumor cells. Importantly, these studies delineate novel genes and pathways mediating these sequelae which represent targets for future therapies. Disclosures Anderson: Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; C4 Therapeutics: Equity Ownership; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Takeda Millennium: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Oncopep: Equity Ownership.
Optimism and cardiovascular health among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study.

Abstract Little research has examined associations of positive psychosocial factors with the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7™ (LS7) among African Americans. This study examined the associations between positive optimistic orientation and LS7 among African Americans. Using exam 1 data (2000–2004) from the Jackson Heart Study, we examined cross-sectional associations of optimism (in tertiles) with LS7 components [smoking, physical activity, diet, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose] and a composite LS7 score (classified as poor, intermediate, ideal) among 4734 African Americans free of cardiovascular disease. Multivariable prevalence regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR, 95% confidence interval-CI) of intermediate and ideal (vs. poor) individual LS7 components and composite LS7 score by optimism levels, adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, and depressive symptoms. For LS7 components with low prevalence, we estimated odds ratios. A greater percentage of participants with high vs. low optimism were younger, female, high SES, and not depressed. After full covariate adjustment, the prevalence ratio of ideal (vs. poor) composite LS7 score was 1.24 for participants who reported high (vs. low) optimism (95% CI 1.09–1.42) at exam 1. Higher levels of optimism were also associated with greater prevalence of ideal (vs. poor) physical activity and smoking. Promoting positive optimistic orientation may be an important step toward increasing the likelihood of achieving optimal cardiovascular health among African Americans.
Detection of subclinical disease with baseline and surveillance imaging in high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas

Background There are limited studies on imaging for management of high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (HRCSSC). Objective To evaluate the impact of baseline (ie, at diagnosis) and surveillance (ie, subsequent time points after diagnosis) imaging on management of HRCSCCs. Methods All primary CSSCs treated at Brigham and Women's Hospital Mohs Surgery Clinic and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic from January 1, 2017 through June 1, 2019, were reviewed to identify tumors that underwent baseline or surveillance imaging. Tumors that underwent imaging were reviewed to determine the impact of imaging on management and ability of imaging to identify subclinical disease. Results Eighty-three patients underwent imaging for 87 primary HRCSCCs, of which 48 (58%) underwent surveillance imaging. A total of 146 (59%) abnormal results were obtained from 248 imaging studies. Management was altered by 42 (24%) studies. Imaging detected subclinical disease in 21% of cases studied. A majority (56%) of detections were not seen initially but rather during surveillance imaging in the 2 years after treatment. Limitations Single institution retrospective design. Conclusions Imaging identifies subclinical disease in HRCSCC. Prospective studies are needed to determine best practices for screening and surveillance in HRCSCC.
Wretched girls, wretched boys and the European Marriage Pattern in England (c. 1250–1350)

Following on from ‘Married and not: Weston's grown children in 1268–1269’, this article places the Lincolnshire village of Weston within a realm-wide context to demonstrate that, as the rural economy stumbled after c. 1250, many young women and men either delayed marriage or could not marry at all. The European Marriage Pattern (late marriage for some and no marriage for others) can be discerned in England long before the socio-economic adjustments that followed the Black Death, and it grew mainly from poverty, not prosperity.
Intersystem crossing in tunneling regime: T1 → S0 relaxation in thiophosgene.

The T1 excited state relaxation in thiophosgene has attracted much attention as a relatively simple model for the intersystem crossing (ISC) transitions in polyatomic molecules. The very short (20–40 ps) T1 lifetime predicted in several theoretical studies strongly disagrees with the experimental values (∼20 ns) indicating that the kinetics of T1 → S0 ISC is not well understood. We use the nonadiabatic transition state theory (NA-TST) with the Zhu–Nakamura transition probability and the multireference perturbation theory (CASPT2) to show that the T1 → S0 ISC occurs in the quantum tunneling regime. We also introduce a new zero-point vibrational energy correction scheme that improves the accuracy of the predicted ISC rate constants at low internal energies. The predicted lifetimes of the T1 vibrational states are between one and two orders of magnitude larger than the experimental values. This overestimation is attributed to the multidimensional nature of quantum tunneling that facilitates ISC transitions along the non-minimum energy path and is not accounted for in the one-dimensional NA-TST.
Re-Evaluating the Use of IFN-β and Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: Safety, Efficacy and Place in Therapy

The advent of interferon therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) was a massive advancement in the field and changed the course of the disease. While the exact mechanism of interferon therapy in MS is unknown, disease control is likely mediated by reducing Th1 and Th17 cells while increasing regulatory T cells and altering the cytokine profile. Interferon therapy not only gave physicians and patients an evidence-based treatment option to treat MS by decreasing relapses and the accrual of disability but it also provided valuable insight into disease pathophysiology that allowed for the development of further treatments. Currently, there are 18 disease-modifying therapies available for the treatment of MS with varying efficacies, routes of administration, and mechanisms. As treatment options in the field have evolved, interferon therapy is less commonly prescribed as first-line therapy, because the newer therapies are more effective and better tolerated. That being said, interferons still have a place in the field in both clinical practice and clinical trial research. In this review, we will summarize the safety and efficacy of interferon therapy and discuss its current place in MS care.
The extension of strategic management discourse into public education administration: A critical analysis:

Strategy has become ubiquitous in contemporary societies. Accordingly, the expansion of strategy discourse beyond corporate management and its colonization of various aspects of economic and organi...
Genome-Wide Association Study of Response to Selenium Supplementation and Circulating Selenium Concentrations in Adults of European Descent.

Background Selenium (Se) is a trace element that has been linked to many health conditions. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified variants for blood and toenail Se levels, but no GWAS has been conducted to date on responses to Se supplementation. Objectives A GWAS was performed to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with changes in Se concentrations after 1 year of supplementation. A GWAS of basal plasma Se concentrations at study entry was conducted to evaluate whether SNPs for Se responses overlap with SNPs for basal Se levels. Methods A total of 428 participants aged 40-80 years of European descent from the Selenium and Celecoxib Trial (Sel/Cel Trial) who received daily supplementation with 200 µg of selenized yeast were included for the GWAS of responses to supplementation. Plasma Se concentrations were measured from blood samples collected at the time of recruitment and after 1 year of supplementation. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between each SNP and changes in Se concentrations. We further examined whether the identified SNPs overlapped with those related to basal Se concentrations. Results No SNP was significantly associated with changes in Se concentration at a genome-wide significance level. However, rs56856693, located upstream of the NEK6, was nominally associated with changes in Se concentrations after supplementation (P = 4.41 × 10-7), as were 2 additional SNPs, rs11960388 and rs6887869, located in the dimethylglycine dehydrogenase (DMGDH)/betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) region (P = 0.01). Alleles of 2 SNPs in the DMGDH/BHMT region associated with greater increases in Se concentrations after supplementation were also strongly associated with higher basal Se concentrations (P = 8.67 × 10-8). Conclusions This first GWAS of responses to Se supplementation in participants of European descent from the Sel/Cel Trial suggests that SNPs in the NEK6 and DMGDH/BHMT regions influence responses to supplementation.
New Empirical Estimates of Rent Seeking: An Update of Sobel – Garrett [2002]

The SIC sectors identified for direct, indirect, and in kind rent seeking activity have been identified and verified empirically in Sobel & Garrett (2002) by comparing capital counties to non-capital counties. We convert these industries from SIC to NAICS codes and provide measures of direct, indirect, and in-kind rent seeking for the year 2005. In addition, we extend their work by switching from counties to Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas, which are defined as economically integrated counties. Our measures are consistent with theirs and provide a starting point for creating a time series of rent-seeking activity in the United States.
Extended seed rain period of Adenostoma fasciculatum impacts diverse seed predators.

Aims The principal chaparral species in California, Adenostoma fasciculatum, an evergreen, sclerophyllous shrub, is broadly distributed and provides habitat and food resources for a large and diverse animal community. The effects of climate change, including elevated temperatures, fire frequency and severity, along with increased urban encroachment, have placed pressure on chaparral habitats in California. Our goal is to investigate aspects of reproductive ecology as a measure of the potential resiliency of A. fasciculatum. We focus on seed rain (all seed falling into the seed traps regardless of origin) and seed banks in the context of plant-animal interactions and regeneration. Methods Stand recovery following disturbance is achieved through both resprouting and germination from established persistent soil seed banks. In this study we focus on seed ecology using a series of experiments to document the length and quantity of seed rain, seed predation, parsing the importance of the community of granivores, and evaluating the connection between stand age and germination rate from soil seed banks. Important findings Our research documented an 8-month seed rain duration with over 1 million seeds per m2, multiple seed predators including passerines (songbirds) and rodents, and points to the possibility of native ants playing a role in the seed dispersal process. This is important given the recent advancement of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepthema humile) into Californian chaparral. This research demonstrates a clear relationship between A. fasciculatum and both resident and migratory granivores in the chaparral. We documented that a 39-year-old stand had higher germination rates than those which were 16, 20, 41 and 71 years old and how seed banks play a major role in assuring resiliency following fire. These findings are important for wildland managers to assure the continued resiliency of A. fasciculatum.
Wind-bounded grasslands of North America

Abstract Climate may separate grasslands from surrounding forests and shrublands, but an alternative option is that grasslands are suitable for trees except in the presence of frequent fires, which are spread great distances by strong winds. To develop a ruleset that demarcated the central North American grasslands, I modeled grasslands using precipitation and its coefficient of variation, ratio of potential evapotranspiration to precipitation, climatic moisture index, July vapor pressure, and wind speed (i.e., a fire indicator) during 5000 (4900–5100) years before present, 1600–1699, 1800–1849, and 1850–1899. Wind speeds of 4.5 m s−1 at 10 m above ground height clearly bounded grasslands. For all time intervals, the random forests and extreme gradient boosting classifiers had accuracies of 0.96 to 0.97 in classification of reserved samples; wind speed was ranked as the most influential model variable (i.e., value of 100 out of 100 scale, with the next most influential variables at ≤ 25). The simulated wind patterns matched recent wind models from atmospheric reanalysis and the Global Wind Atlas downscaled from an atmospheric reanalysis. Wind boundaries were stable over time, shifting slightly northward during 11,000 years before present to recent decades. Although wind is related to precipitation, I directly mapped and modeled precipitation and derivatives. Therefore, I propose that wind is an index of fire spread in grassland biomes, where conditions are appropriate for both fire and woody vegetation. More research on wind models is required to confirm these results and determine how winds affect grassland formation and maintenance globally.
Evaluation of numerical simulation methods and ice material models for intermediate-velocity hail impact simulation

Abstract Hail impact on structures such as building envelopes and vehicles can cause huge economic loss every year. Numerical simulation of the hail impact process is crucial for the mitigation strategy development. However, very few research works are focused on the hail impact simulation with impact velocity that falls into the intermediate-velocity range (10 – 50 m/s), to which the static structure could be exposed during a hailstorm. This study is to investigate the effectiveness of three simulation methods (Lagrangian method, Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method (ALE) and Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics method (SPH)) and three built-in material models from LS-DYNA® (MAT10, MAT13 and MAT155) on modeling hail during an intermediate-velocity impact process. The performance of each combination of simulation method and material model is evaluated by comparing the contact force results with the documented experimental results. Statistical analysis was conducted to check the accuracy of the simulation model. It was shown that ALE method combined with MAT155 has the best performance on contact force profile prediction. The findings were further validated by case studies. Outcomes from this study provide insights on the effect of various failure material treatment methods of the solvers and the material models on the hail failure mode and their reflection on the contact force, which can assist the selection of simulation method and material model for hail modeling for an intermediate-velocity impact.
The Impact of Repeated Lidocaine Injections, Exercise, and Mindfulness on Fibromyalgia Symptoms in a Clinical Population: A Pilot Study

Fibromyalgia (FM) patients usually are resistant to conventional single mode therapy. Therefore, the efficacy of combined pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for the management of FM symptoms in a clinical population was assessed. Participants were injected with 4x5 mL 1% lidocaine HCl solution and given education materials and support on increasing their daily steps walked and to engage in mindfulness techniques to reduce their overall pain and accompanying symptoms of their condition. Participants self-reported pain intensity, unpleasantness, anxiety, fatigue, and depression three days prior to and after each injection. Overall ratings of pain intensity and unpleasantness showed statistically significant reductions of 34.7 and 47.2 percent respectively with the combined use of treatments. Additionally, fatigue levels had a significant decrease but depression and anxiety ratings were not significantly modified by this treatment modality. Patients who had a greater adherence to their protocol had an improved pain relief when compared to others. These results suggest that the use of a combination treatment method for FM in a clinical setting and when used in combination is effective. This pilot study can be used as a model for future randomized controlled studies on comprehensive treatments for FM.
Measuring AIS course outcomes: The relationship between knowledge/skills and interest/enjoyment.

Information technology (IT) has become increasingly important to accounting professionals. Education in relevant IT-related topics, however, appears to have lagged workplace demands. Most undergraduate accounting programs require an Accounting Information Systems (AIS) course to fulfill the major program requirements. Because this course is often the only one to address AIS topics, students may tend to view IT as being less important to their career paths. Such attitudes may reduce the quality of course outcomes. A survey of 103 undergraduate AIS students was conducted to assess attitudes along two dimensions: knowledge and skills and interest and enjoyment. Results showed that, for a number of factors, interest and enjoyment was positively associated with knowledge and skills. The level of the two dimensions, however, varied, and students displayed greater interest in traditional accounting than in technology-related courses. Most importantly, attitude towards IT affected success.