cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Customer Service and Order Management

The management of customer service and the ability of the firm to respond quickly to customer requirements have become the foremost frontiers of competitive advantage for distributors in the 1990s. In fact, the customer-centric attitudes and focus on value and quality driving the marketplace today have become the dominant objectives pursued at all levels in the distribution channel. Historically, the strategies distributors have used to improve on customer service centered on expanding business capacities, gaining market share, penetrating new markets, and offering new products. Although critical, distributors in the 1990s have found that these objectives constitute the bare minimum of competitiveness. In addition, customer strategies focusing on continuous improvements in quality and value-added services have become the keynote drivers of “world-class” companies. These attributes not only enable firms to meet and exceed the expectations of their customers, they also lead to increased profits through market expansion and gains in market share. In this sense, there is a direct relationship between perceived quality and return on sales or investment.
Knowing the other/other ways of knowing: Indigenous feminism, testimonial, and anti-globalization street discourse:

In this article, I explore the relationship between anti-globalization counter hegemonic discourse and Indigenous feminist alternative knowledge production. Although seemingly unrelated, the autoet...
Case Report: Q Fever Endocarditis

Q fever endocarditis, which is seen most often in Great Britain and Australia, has been rarely observed in the United States. A patient with an eight month febrile illness who had signs and symptoms of endocarditis and serologic studies diagnostic of Q fever endocarditis is reported. A history of extensive travel makes it unclear where he originally contracted the disease. Q fever endocarditis is probably underdiagnosed and should be looked for in any case of culture negative endocarditis or chronic fever of unknown origin.
A POOLED SAFETY ANALYSIS OF OVER 6000 PATIENTS FROM DOUBLE-BLIND AND OPEN-LABEL EXTENSION STUDIES WITH EVOLOCUMAB

Evolocumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, markedly reduces LDL-C and is well tolerated in diverse patient populations. We report a pooled safety analysis for patients participating in evolocumab phase 2 or 3 randomized and placebo/comparator-controlled trials and in open-label
Low-temperature magnetoresistance in insulating a-Gd x Si 1-x alloys

We report on low-temperature magnetotransport measurements on the amorphous semiconductor $a\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Gd}}_{x}{\mathrm{Si}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$ with $x\ensuremath{\sim}0.13,$ on the insulating side of the $T=0$ metal-insulator transition for this material. The samples exhibit a negative magnetoresistance of more than five orders of magnitude at 1 K, which grows exponentially larger at lower temperatures. The temperature dependence of the conductivity displays an activated form indicative of variable range hopping in the presence of a Coulomb gap in all magnetic fields from 0 to 9 T, while the characteristic temperature ${T}_{0}$ of the hopping conductivity decreases from over 300 K in 0 T to 6 K in 8.5 T. This enormous magnetoresistance must arise from an exchange interaction between the conduction electrons and the local Gd moments which are randomly oriented in zero field and become (partially) aligned in 9 T, and its consequent influence on the electron-electron interaction. However, it remains to be determined whether the effect of this magnetic interaction is a relative shift of the Fermi energy relative to the mobility edge and a modification to the Coulomb gap or a change in the bandwidth and its consequent effect on the electronic density of states.
Abstract 1412: Progesterone and calcitriol attenuate inflammatory cytokines CXCL1 and -2 in endometrial and ovarian cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Chronic inflammation has been shown to play a critical role in growth of cancers. NF-κB is a transcriptional factor that regulates diverse biological processes, including cell proliferation, survival and inflammation. We have previously shown inhibition of endometrial and ovarian cancer cell growth with progesterone and calcitriol. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of progesterone and calcitriol on the expression of inflammatory genes. Using RT-PCR array of inflammatory cytokine and receptor genes, we found two inflammatory cytokines, CXCL1 and -2 (GRO-A and -B), downregulated by both treatments. PCR array results were validated by Western blotting. Knockdown of NF-kB resulted in a reduced expression of CXCL1 and -2 and the inhibitory effect of progesterone and calcitriol on the expression of cytokines was abrogated in NF-kB-silenced cancer cells. Silencing of IkBα increased the expression of CXCL1 and -2 in cancer cells, which can be attributed to the increased activation of NF-kB-p65, caused by the lack of its inhibitor. Progesterone and calcitriol-induced inhibition was abolished in IkBα-knockdown cells. Our results demonstrate that suppression of IkBα phosphorylation by progesterone and calcitriol contributes to the reduced expression of CXCL1 and -2. We investigated the effect of CXCL1 and -2 downregulation on metastasis-promoting genes and found a marked inhibition of CXCR4, COX2 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MPP-9). Overall, our results indicate that progesterone and calcitriol downregulate NF-kB in cancer cells, leading to the suppression of metastasis, thus providing the molecular basis for the treatment of endometrial and ovarian cancer patients with progesterone and calcitriol. 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 1412. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1412
Reason and Passion: Reid’s Reply to Hume

While it is fair to say that Hume does not take this point with full seriousness, the same cannot be said of his immediate successors. In particular, Thomas Reid devotes a great deal of attention to precisely this point, and it is a shame that the similarities between Reid's criticisms of Hume's theory of the passions and those of contemporary philosophers is generally unnoticed. All Maclntyre is able to say about Reid is:
Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain Production Planning

In this paper, we propose a deterministic mixed-integer programming model to schedule weekly production quantities for semiconductor manufacturing in order to meet forecasted demand over a six-month planning horizon. The model considers facility capacities, facility qualifying, limits on the number of facilities to use, and unit-level minimum inventory requirements. Model validity is demonstrated with a simple test case based on an industry dataset. A case study is then presented using actual industry data. Minimum inventory requirement levels are varied and compared to results obtained from traditional safety stock policies.
Surface Oxygen Exchange Properties of Sr Doped La2NiO4+δ as SOFC Cathode: Thin-Film Electrical Conductivity Relaxation Investigation

La2-xSrxNiO4+δ dense films are prepared by a novel spray-modified pressing method. The surface reaction kinetics is investigated via electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR). The layer thickness, 5~10 μm, is much less than the characteristic length of lanthanum nickelates, resulting in surface-controlled situation and allowing more accurate fitting than the traditional pellets ECR on the surface exchange coefficient (k). k for LNO is 1.6×10-5 cm/s in 0.2 atm at 700°C. Sr doping impairs the exchange kinetics, and k of Sr40 is about one order of magnitude smaller than undoped one. Interstitial oxygen and Ni oxidation state are suggested the predominant roles in determining surface kinetics. In conclusion, given the properties of the thin-film herein developed by spray-modified pressing is closer to those in practical porous electrode compared to pulsed laser deposited film in terms of preferential orientation and strain, it warrants the use of such a method in a variety of pertinent investigations.
System-level approach needed to evaluate the transition to more sustainable agriculture

We disagree with Leifeld fundamentally on the purpose of our agricultural system—our goal should be to produce nutritious, affordable and accessible food in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner and not just ‘keeping prices low’. So-called low-cost food produced by industrialized,
The effects of injection of human factor VIII antibody into rabbits.

Rabbits were injected with an immunoglobulin fraction of human serum containing a factor VIII antibody. Factor VIII levels fell abruptly, persisted below 10% of a rabbit plasma standard for 12 hr, and returned to normal by 120-168 hr. The factor VIII antigen-antibody reaction did not result in Intravascular clotting as evaluated by kinetic studies with 125I-fibrinogen. However, small falls in factor V and factor VII levels were observed over a 6-hr period after the injection. Platelets fell to about one-half of initial values within 15 min, rose to 80% of initial levels over 2 hr, and subsequently declined to 65%-70% of initial levels. WBC levels fell to below 20% of initial values 2 hr after the injection but returned to about 75% of initial values by 6 hr. Total hemolytic complement activity was unaffected. Animals made granulocytopenic with nitrogen mustard and animals with hereditary C'6 deficiency behaved similarly to normal animals. One may conclude that the injection of human factor VIII antibody into rabbits produces a rabbit model with impaired intrinsic coagulation suitable for studies of the mechanism of endotoxin-induced intravascular clotting.
Comments on Professor Page's Discussion of Matsushita : Plaintiff's Perspective

For the past sixty years or so, courts have struggled to articulate what constitutes illegal concerted behavior under the Sherman Act based on the Supreme Court’s formulation that such conduct requires only “a unity of purpose or a common design and understanding, or a meeting of the minds.”1 In many instances, the courts’ analysis centers on the issue of whether and when rivals’ parallel conduct is, in fact, a product of illegal price fixing. That challenge did not end with the Supreme Court’s statement of the standard for surviving summary judgment in an antitrust case, first articulated in Monsanto Co. v. Spray-Rite Service Corp.,2 that a plaintiff must present evidence “that tends to exclude the possibility” that alleged conspirators acted independently.3 And since the time Matsushita cited that standard and added the gloss that plaintiffs “must show that the inference of conspiracy is reasonable in light of the competing inferences of independent action or collusive action that could not have harmed respondents,”4 courts and commentators have formulated a variety of analyses that attempt to explain the kind and amount of evidence necessary to meet the Matsushita standard. Professor Page’s recent article addressing the problem is one in a long line of commentaries that suggest analyses designed to provide courts with a more concrete framework within which to view the voluminous evidence typical in antitrust cases. However, in my view, his central conclusion, that courts should include in the definition of
Vulnerability, Stress, and Support in the Disease Trajectory from Prodrome to Diagnosed Schizophrenia: Diathesis–Stress–Support Model

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder seen across the world. The goal of current research is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of prodrome, the initial period before the disease manifests as schizophrenia. Unfortunately, there is little information to comprehensively understand the indicators that later lead to schizophrenia. This has resulted in a lack of scientific knowledge to aid in early identification and intervention by psychiatric nurses or school nurses. Such information could inform nursing assessment and care plan development. The purpose of this paper is to construct a conceptual model for describing the important factors relating to the schizophrenia prodrome process in human developmental manner by critically synthesizing empirical evidence and reviewing the strengths and limitations of current conceptual models.
Mathematical Analysis of the Generation of Force and Motion in Contracting Muscle

The forces involved in muscle contraction result from the contractile proteins, myosin and actin. Myosin captures the free energy available from the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and via interaction with actin, generates the force and motion necessary for the survival of higher organisms. How this protein-mediated conversion of chemical energy into mechanical energy occurs remains a fundamental, unresolved question in physiology and biophysics. As a problem in thermodynamics, mathematical modeling of this chemomechanical free energy transduction has played an important role in helping to organize the experimental database into a coherent framework. In this chapter, I will discuss basic models that have been used to analyze this really quite remarkable process – the generation of force and motion from a protein-protein interaction involving the ancillary biochemical reaction of nucleotide hydrolysis.
Using Epidemiological Data to Value the Positive Externality of Vaccination

Introduction: Although it is well-known that many vaccines against infectious diseases confer a positive economic externality via indirect protection (herd immunity), this fact has not influenced the analysis of vaccination programs in a very sophisticated way. Policy analysts have typically ignored possible herd immunity effects or at best made overly-simplistic ad hoc assumptions (often without an epidemiological basis). They often then cite the existence of a (generic) herd immunity effect to justify the universal provision of vaccines without user charges, even though public health budgets are severely limited in many poor countries and private demand may be substantial. Recent research in spatial epidemiology and economics has the potential to allow for more nuanced policy analysis. Objectives: The first objective of the paper is to review the microeconomics of vaccines' positive externalities, pointing out several policy implications of herd immunity effects not commonly observed in the literature. The second objective is to develop and demonstrate an approach for combining economic and epidemiological data to better inform policy advice for vaccines. Methods: We approach this second objective by deconstructing it into three separate tasks. The first task, an economic one, is to estimate the shape of the marginal private benefit curve, typically using stated preference data (contingent valuation or choice experiment). The second task, an epidemiological one, is to calculate the probability of protection as a function of the vaccine's coverage. The final task is to calculate the economic value of this increased protection to the unvaccinated in order to construct the marginal social benefits curve. We demonstrate this approach using recently-published epidemiological work on the indirect effects of cholera vaccination in Matlab, Bangladesh (Ali et al, 2005 Lancet 366: 44-49). We then use synthetic data on private demand for cholera vaccines to illustrate how policy advice changes as herd immunity effects are accounted for. Conclusions: It is becoming possible for the analysis of vaccines' positive externalities to move beyond generic diagrams in health economics textbooks. Increased collaboration between economists and epidemiologists could pay large dividends in better informing the use of scarce public health resources, especially as the infusion of donor funding into global public health research increases the number of vaccines competing for government support.
A Fluorinated Alkoxyaluminate Electrolyte for Magnesium-Ion Batteries

The lack of electrolytes that simultaneously possess high Coulombic efficiency, conductivity, and voltage stability has hindered the deployment of rechargeable magnesium-ion batteries. With few exceptions, the tenacious oxide layer on magnesium metal has limited the scope of research to halide ion-based electrolytes, which help activate the electrode surface but also limit the working voltage window considerably. Herein, we demonstrate a new class of magnesium electrolytes based on fluoroalkoxyaluminate anions synthesized via a facile and scalable method and its incorporation in a full battery cell. Mixtures of magnesium and aluminum fluoroalkoxides in ethereal solvents result in solutions that can reversibly deposit magnesium metal with near unit efficiency in addition to achieving suitable oxidative stabilities (>3.5 V vs Mg/Mg2+ on glassy carbon and gold) and conductivities (>6 mS cm–1).
The Gordon Growth Model: A Teaching Case

This case illustrates how the Gordon Growth Model is employed to estimate the value of a firm’s stock. The model determines the value of stock based on dividends, growth rate, and the cost of capital. The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is employed to calculate the cost of capital. Both economic analysis and ratio analysis are used to examine the impact of external and internal factors on share worth. The case discusses why the market share price may vary from an estimation of its worth. This case study can be used in an Introduction to Investments course, an Advanced Investments course, or a first level MBA graduate course.
Message From the CEFC Editor-in-Chief

The 17th Biennial IEEE Conference on Electromagnetic Field Computation (IEEE-CEFC) was held in Miami, Florida, USA, from November 13 to 16, 2016. The conference’s technical program attracted 916 digests from 35 countries. Once again, the large number of high-quality scientific contributions confirms that CEFC remains among the foremost conferences for the computational electromagnetics community.
Combination Therapy for the Nonsurgical Treatment of Skin Cancers: Latest Research at Mount Sinai

Nonmelanoma skin cancers have reached epidemic proportions. Not only is the incidence rising in younger patients and patients with darker skin types, there is also an increase of more aggressive forms of skin cancers. These advanced basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are being treated by Mohs surgery. However, some cases are so advanced that they are not amenable to surgery and must be treated medically or with surgery plus adjuvant therapies. This chapter covers new treatments for aggressive nonmelanoma carcinomas, as well as new approaches for treating early skin cancers, field cancerization, and preventing recurrences after Mohs surgery.
Predicates and Programming

We turn to some applications of predicate logic in computing: the formal specification of imperative programs (i.e. ones that use assignment statements) and the proof and development of sequences of assignments. Skill with predicate logic can be used to reformulate English specifications, with all their vagueness and ambiguities, as formal specifications. Also, parts of assignments can be calculated instead of guessed. Finally, we discuss the conditional statement and conditional expression.
Admission calcium levels and risk of acute kidney injury in hospitalised patients.

Background The risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) development among hospitalised patients with elevated calcium levels on admission remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of AKI in hospitalised patients stratified by various admission serum calcium levels. Methods This is a single-centre retrospective study conducted at a tertiary referral hospital. All hospitalised adult patients who had admission calcium levels available between 2009 and 2013 were enrolled. Admission calcium was categorised based on its distribution into six groups (≤7.9, 8.0-8.4, 8.5-8.9, 9.0-9.4, 9.5-9.9, and ≥10.0 mg/dL). The primary outcome was hospital-acquired AKI. Logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain the odds ratio of AKI for various admission calcium strata using calcium levels of 8.0-8.4 mg/dL (lowest incidence of AKI) as the reference group. Results A total of 12 784 patients were studied. Hospital-acquired AKI occurred in 1779 (13.9%) patients. The incidence of AKI among patients with admission calcium ≤7.9, 8.0-8.4, 8.5-8.9, 9.0-9.4, 9.5-9.9 and ≥10 mg/dL was 14.7%, 11.7%, 11.8%, 14.6%, 15.8% and 17.3%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, admission calcium levels ≤7.9, 9.0-9.4, 9.5-9.9 and ≥10 mg/dL were associated with increased risk of AKI with odds ratios of 1.36 (95%CI 1.08-1.72), 1.29 (95%CI 1.08-1.56), 1.38 (95%CI 1.14-1.68) and 1.51 (95%CI 1.19-1.91), respectively. Conclusion Admission hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia are associated with an increased risk for hospital acquired AKI. Patients with admission hypercalcaemia (≥10 mg/dL) carry a 1.51-fold risk for AKI development during hospitalisation.
Androgens, Irregular Menses, and Risk of Diabetes and Coronary Artery Calcification in the Diabetes Prevention Program.

Context It is unclear whether relative elevations in androgens or irregular menses (IM) are associated with greater cardiometabolic risk among women who are already overweight and glucose intolerant. Research design and methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS). Participants included women with sex hormone measurements who did not use exogenous estrogen (n = 1422). We examined whether free androgen index (FAI) or IM was associated with diabetes risk during the DPP/DPPOS or with coronary artery calcification (CAC) at DPPOS year 10. Models were adjusted for menopausal status, age, race or ethnicity, randomization arm, body mass index (BMI), and hemoglobin A1c. Results Women had an average age of 48.2 ± 9.9 years. Elevations in FAI and IM were associated with greater BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure and lower adiponectin. FAI was not associated with diabetes risk during the DPP/DPPOS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.93 to 1.02] or increased odds of CAC [odds ratio (OR) 1.06; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.23]. IM was also not associated with diabetes risk during the DPP/DPPOS (HR 1.07; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.31) or increased odds of CAC (OR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.53 to 1.49). Women who had both relative elevations in FAI and IM had similar diabetes risk and odds of CAC as women without these conditions. Differences by treatment arm and menopausal status were not observed. Conclusions Among midlife women who were already glucose intolerant and overweight, androgen concentrations and IM did not additionally contribute to increased risk for diabetes or CAC.
Interdisciplinary team-based care for patients with chronic pain on long-term opioid treatment in primary care (PPACT) – Protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized trial

Abstract Background Chronic pain is one of the most common, disabling, and expensive public health problems in the United States. Interdisciplinary pain management treatments that employ behavioral approaches have been successful in helping patients with chronic pain reduce symptoms and regain functioning. However, most patients lack access to such treatments. We are conducting a pragmatic clinical trial to test the hypothesis that patients who receive an interdisciplinary biopsychosocial intervention, the Pain Program for Active Coping and Training (PPACT), at their primary care clinic will have a greater reduction in pain impact in the year following than patients receiving usual care. Methods/design This is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid pragmatic clinical trial in which we randomize clusters of primary care providers and their patients with chronic pain who are on long-term opioid therapy to 1) receive an interdisciplinary behavioral intervention in conjunction with their current health care or 2) continue with current health care services. Our primary outcome is pain impact (a composite of pain intensity and pain-related interference) measured using the PEG, a validated three-item assessment. Secondary outcomes include pain-related disability, patient satisfaction, opioids dispensed and health care utilization. An economic evaluation assesses the resources and costs necessary to deliver the intervention and its cost-effectiveness compared with usual care. A formative evaluation employs mixed methods to understand the context for implementation in the participating health care systems. Discussion This trial will inform the feasibility of implementing interdisciplinary behavioral approaches to pain management in the primary care setting, potentially providing a more effective, safer, and more satisfactory alternative to opioid-based chronic pain treatment. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT02113592
Hormone-Receptor Interactions with the Genome of Eucaryotic Target Cells

Progesterone induces de novo synthesis of the specific protein avidin in estrogen-primed chick oviducts. The specificity and kinetics of induction of this protein has been the subject of a series of past publications from our laboratory (1–6). We have previously shown that progesterone causes major quantitative and qualitative alterations in oviduct gene transcription. Induction of avidin was blocked by actinomycin D. Changes in rapidly-labeled nuclear RNA and nuclear RNA polymerase activities supported a transcriptional effect of the hormone (4–7).
Patient Selection and Optimal Extent of Surgery for Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis presents a challenge to both the patient as well as the physician. It has a significant negative impact on quality of life, causing impairments in social and occupational activities. A 2004 survey of 150,000 households in the United States revealed focal hyperhidrosis to be present in 2.9% of the general population. Of these patients, the axilla was affected in 51%, palms in 25%, and the face in 20%. Only 38% of these patients had sought medical help at the time of the survey.1 Once non-surgical modalities have been exhausted, surgical intervention is the next step. Even though the success of surgical treatment is well documented for eliminating hyperhidrosis from the primary site, the side effect of compensatory sweating (CS) remains a significant problem after surgery.
Complex Dynamics in the Kidney Microcirculation

Maintaining the volume and composition of the body fluids within narrow bounds is one of the chief functions the kidneys perform. The successful achievement of this goal provides other tissues and organs the stable environment needed for their own particular functions. One of these other organs is the heart, whose action leads to perfusion with blood of organs like the kidney. The proper function of the kidneys depends on adequate blood perfusion, and the kidneys play an especially important role in blood pressure regulation by maintaining the volume of the extracellular fluid, and therefore of the blood. Normal blood volume is important for the heart to achieve stable blood pressure. The relationships between renal function and blood pressure regulation form an essential duality that is crucial to normal function, and that fails in a number of disease states. The interaction between kidney function and blood pressure regulation occurs at a number of points, and analysis of the dynamics invariably provides an informative point of departure.
Fire in the Tropical Rain Forest of the Amazon Basin

Fire has long played an important role in the formation of vegetation types in Amazonia. During the Pleistocene, a large part of Amazonia was covered by grassland, with forest confined to small refugia (the number, size, and evolutionary importance of which are the subject of controversy) (Prance 1982). This period coincided with the arrival of the first humans in the area. Fires started by precolumbian human groups would have slowed the progress of recolonization of the grasslands by forest (e.g., Budowski 1956). Human-initiated burning of grasslands could be expected to affect both the 165,000 km2 of humid savannas of present-day Amazonia (such as those in Roraima in the Humaita area of the state of Amazonas) and the limit between the forest and the cerrado or central Brazilian scrubland. Charcoal in the soil of the lavrados (“natural” grasslands) of Roraima indicate large-scale burning about 1000 years B.P. (Sternberg 1968).
Selective differentiation during the colonization and establishment of a newly invasive species.

The potential for rapid evolution in invasive species makes them useful for studying adaptive responses of populations to novel environments. However, phenotypic divergence during invasion is not necessarily due to selection, but may be a product of neutral processes resulting from population bottlenecks during colonization and range expansion. We investigated phenotypic adaptation during the establishment and range expansion of the invasive bunchgrass, slender false brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum; Poaceae). Utilizing a novel approach, we made robust comparisons of functional traits using genetic similarity based on unique alleles to determine the genetic probability of contribution from native source regions and integrated these probabilities into our QST -FST comparisons for 12 physiological and anatomical traits associated with drought stress in the introduced range. Our results indicate phenotypic divergence greater than neutral expectations in five traits between native and invasive populations, indicating selective divergence occurred during invasive species establishment. The results indicate that the majority of divergence in B. sylvaticum occurred after introduction to the novel environment, but prior to invasive range expansion. This study provides evidence for adaptive genetic differentiation during the establishment of an invasive species, while also describing a robust method for the detection of selective processes after species introduction to a novel environment.
Phase 1 study of selinexor plus mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine in acute myeloid leukemia.

7048Background: Patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have limited treatment options. Selinexor (SEL), an oral inhibitor of the nuclear transport protein XPO...
Interaction of TBC1D9B with Mammalian ATG8 Homologues Regulates Autophagic Flux

Autophagosomes are double-membraned vesicles with cytosolic components. Their destination is to fuse with the lysosome to degrade the enclosed cargo. However, autophagosomes may be fused with other membrane compartments and possibly misguided by the RAB molecules from these compartments. The mechanisms ensuring the proper trafficking are not well understood. Yeast ATG8 and its mammalian homologues are critically involved in the autophagosome formation and expansion. We hypothesized that they could be also involved in the regulation of autophagosome trafficking. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we found that TBC1D9B, a GTPase activating protein for RAB11A, interacted with LC3B. TBC1D9B could also interact with other mammalian ATG8 homologues. This interaction was confirmed with purified proteins in vitro, and by co-immunoprecipitation in vivo. The interacting domain of TBC1D9B with LC3 was further determined, which is unique and different from the known LC3-interacting region previously defined in other LC3-interacting molecules. Functionally, TBC1D9B could be co-localized with LC3B on the autophagosome membranes. Inhibition of TBC1D9B suppressed the turnover of membrane-bound LC3B and the autophagic degradation of long-lived proteins. TBC1D9B can thus positively regulate autophagic flux, possibly through its GTPase activity to inactivate RAB11A, facilitating the proper destination of the autophagosomes to the degradation.
ECHO-Chicago Geriatrics: using telementoring to "geriatricize" the primary care workforce.

The primary care workforce is under-prepared to care for the growing older adult population. Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) is a continuing education intervention that connects ...
Nonbeneficial Intensive Care: Misalignments Between Provider Assessments of Benefit and Use of Invasive Treatments.

Background:The purpose of this study was to examine how frequently invasive intensive care unit (ICU) treatments are delivered to critically ill patients despite clinicians’ impressions that ICU ca...
Small bowel obstruction in a virgin abdomen.

Abstract Introduction Surgical exploration is still considered mandatory in the setting of small bowel obstruction (SBO) and a virgin abdomen by some large centers. The aim of this study is to determine the etiology of SBO in patients without prior abdominal operation. Methods Retrospective review of the patients treated for SBO and virgin abdomen at the Mayo Clinic between 2006 and 2016 was performed. Follow up data, operative and pathologic findings were examined to determine the etiology of SBO. Results Sixty patients met inclusion criteria; abdominal exploration was performed in 50 patients (83%) and 10 patients (17%) were managed non-operatively. Exploration was therapeutic in 29 (58%), negative in 20 (40%) and non-therapeutic in one patient (2%). Overall, 8 patients (13%) were diagnosed with a malignancy: right-sided colon cancer (n = 3), small bowel (SB) neuroendocrine tumor (n = 2), SB lymphoma (n = 2) and carcinomatosis peritonei (n = 1); Upon retrospective review, both SB neuroendocrine tumors and one SB lymphoma were visible on the initial imaging. Leukocytosis (p = .03) and no recent weight loss (p = .04) were associated with negative exploration. Conclusion Patients with SBO and virgin abdomen frequently have a benign etiology. Careful imaging review directed at subtle signs of an underlying malignancy is warranted. If non-operative management is chosen, close follow up is essential and it should include a careful personal and family history as well as updated colonoscopy.
Penfluridol overcomes paclitaxel resistance in metastatic breast cancer

Paclitaxel is a first line chemotherapeutic agent for the patients with metastatic breast cancer. But inherited or acquired resistance to paclitaxel leads to poor response rates in a majority of these patients. To identify mechanisms of paclitaxel resistance, we developed paclitaxel resistant breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and 4T1 by continuous exposure to paclitaxel for several months. Western blot analysis showed increased expression of HER2 and β-catenin pathway in resistant cell lines as compared to parent cells. Hence, we hypothesized that HER2/β-catenin mediates paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer and suppression of HER2/β-catenin signaling could overcome paclitaxel resistance. Our data showed that penfluridol (PFL) treatment significantly reduced the survival of paclitaxel-resistant cells. Western blot analysis revealed that PFL treatment suppressed HER2, as well as, β-catenin pathway. In vivo data confirmed that PFL significantly potentiated tumor growth suppressive effects of paclitaxel in an orthotropic breast cancer model. In addition, tumors from paclitaxel and PFL-treated mice showed reduced HER2 and β-catenin expression, along with increased apoptosis. Taken together our results demonstrate a novel role of HER2/β-catenin in paclitaxel resistance and open up new avenues for application of PFL as a therapeutic option for overcoming paclitaxel resistance.
Molecular conjugation using non-covalent click chemistry.

Molecular conjugation refers to methods used in biomedicine, advanced materials and nanotechnology to link two partners — from small molecules to large and sometimes functionally complex biopolymers. The methods ideally have a broad structural scope, proceed under very mild conditions (including in H2O), occur at a rapid rate and in quantitative yield with no by-products, enable bioorthogonal reactivity and have zero toxicity. Over the past two decades, the field of click chemistry has emerged to afford us new and efficient methods of molecular conjugation. These methods are based on chemical reactions that produce permanently linked conjugates, and we refer to this field here as covalent click chemistry. Alternatively, if molecular conjugation is undertaken using a pair of complementary molecular recognition partners that associate strongly and selectively to form a thermodynamically stable non-covalent complex, then we refer to this strategy as non-covalent click chemistry. This Perspective is concerned with this latter approach and highlights two distinct applications of non-covalent click chemistry in molecular conjugation: the pre-assembly of molecular conjugates or surface-coated nanoparticles and the in situ capture of tagged biomolecular targets for imaging or analysis. The selective conjugation of two or more molecules is readily achieved using covalent click chemistry or non-covalent click chemistry. The latter approach makes use of complementary molecular recognition partners, and its speed and reversibility are advantageous for many biological applications.
American Hegemony and International Theory at the Council on Foreign Relations, 1953–1954

This paper tells the story of a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) study group on the theory of international relations held in 1953–1954. The study group took place at a time of intense struggle o...
Mindfulness Meditation Effects on Poststroke Spasticity: A Feasibility Study:

This study examined the feasibility of an adapted 2-week mindfulness meditation protocol for chronic stroke survivors. In addition, preliminary effects of this adapted intervention on spasticity and quality of life in individuals after stroke were explored. Ten chronic stroke survivors with spasticity listened to 2 weeks of short mindfulness meditation recordings, adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, in a pre/post repeated measures design. Measures of spasticity, quality of life, mindfulness, and anxiety, along with qualitative data from participants' daily journals, were assessed. On average, participants reported meditating 12.5 days of the full 15 days (mean 12.5 days, SD 0.94, range 8-15 days). Seven of the 10 participants wrote comments in their journals. In addition, there were no adverse effects due to the intervention. Exploratory preliminary analyses also showed statistically significant improvements in spasticity in both the elbow (P = .032) and wrist (P = .023) after 2 weeks of meditation, along with improvements in quality of life measures for Energy (P = .013), Personality (P = .026), and Work/Productivity (P = .032). This feasibility study suggests that individuals with spasticity following stroke are able to adhere to a 2-week home-based mindfulness meditation program. In addition, preliminary results also suggest that this adapted, short mindfulness meditation program might be a promising approach for individuals with spasticity following stroke. Future research should expand on these preliminary findings with a larger sample size and control group.
Abstract 1863: Identification of anticancer agent from antiallergic treatment regimens of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic system that has been widely used in the treatment of allergy, and several specific herbal formulations have been used as treatment agents. One such compound, berberine, is a plant alkaloid isolated from Phellodendri chinensis. Berberine has been widely used in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and has antimicrobial and antiprotozoal properties. Additional pharmacologic actions reported include anticancer activity as well as anti-inflammatory effects, specifically suppression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Berberine has been shown to inhibit IgE production in myeloma cell line U266 without cytotoxicity. In U266 berberine inhibits nuclear translocation of NFκB by dampening phosphorylated IκB expression, subsequently decreasing activation of the e-germline transcript promoter and suppressing IgE synthesis. Since this pathway plays a crucial role in many aspects of tumorigenesis, we hypothesized that this could have anticancer activity in solid tumors, specifically melanoma and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Melanoma and thyroid cancer are diagnosed with a high incidence, increasing over the last few decades. Newer therapies being evaluated in melanoma and thyroid cancer include checkpoint inhibitors. These therapeutic modalities, like others, have off target effects and high relapse rates due to acquired resistance. To identify safer alternative therapeutic strategies we characterized berberine for its anticancer properties through an in vitro proliferation assay with XTT on three melanoma cell lines (SKMEL28, SKMEL37, and SKMEL103), four ATC cell lines (T238, SW1736, HTh74, and 8505C), and three papillary thyroid cancer cell lines (TPC1, BCPAP, and K1). These cell lines were treated with 2μM berberine for 24 hrs. Berberine inhibited cellular proliferation in a dose and time dependent manner in all of these tumor types. ATC cell lines showed more sensitivity towards the drug compared to the other morphotypes. This is specifically significant since therapeutic options for ATC are extremely limited. Both ATC and melanoma have a high nuclear NFκB level, potentially contributing towards their aggressive phenotype. Cells were treated with 2μM berberine and expression of cyclinD1, CDK2, Bcl2, TRAF1, TRAF2 and IAP were evaluated by western blot. Berberine showed a differential regulation of these molecules in melanoma and thyroid cancer. This study opens up a new avenue for the adjuvant treatment of these malignancies using naturally occurring compounds. Citation Format: Tara Jarboe, Michelle Carnazza, Sanjukta Chakraborty, Nan Yang, Kamal Srivastava, Jan Geliebter, Raj K. Tiwari, Xiu-Min Li. Identification of anticancer agent from antiallergic treatment regimens of traditional Chinese medicine [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1863.
Modeling of Grid-Forming Inverters for Transient Stability Simulations of an all Inverter-based Distribution System

Existing models of grid-forming inverters are typically three-phase electromagnetic models and positive sequence electromechanical models. Neither of them is suitable for dynamic simulations of large-scale three-phase unbalanced distribution systems. In order to investigate grid-forming inverters' impact on the transient stability of large-scale three-phase unbalanced distribution systems, a dynamic model of a grid-forming inverter is developed and implemented in an open-source GridLAB-D simulation environment. The advantage of this method is that it can be extended to full-size three-phase unbalanced distribution systems. Simulation results of an all grid-forming, inverter-based, modified version of the IEEE 123-node distribution system verify the capability of grid-forming inverters to maintain the transient stability of a resilient distribution system.
Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism in a Patient with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome Despite Adequate Anticoagulation with Warfarin.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare genetic condition defined by capillary malformation, venous malformation, and soft tissue and bony overgrowth. Due to venous malformations, individuals are predisposed to intravascular coagulopathy leading to thrombosis and thromboembolism. However, anticoagulating these patients long-term remains a challenge because of the presence of capillary malformations that increase bleeding risk. We present a rare case of a 30-year-old Caucasian male with KTS and history of gastrointestinal bleeding who has been on anticoagulation since the age of 7 and has had three different inferior vena cava filters placed during his lifetime. At presentation, he had dyspnea with stable vital signs. His prothrombin time/international normalized ratio was 37.3 and 3.2, respectively and chest computed tomography showed bilateral segmental pulmonary embolism (PE). He was treated with heparin drip and his home anticoagulation was switched from warfarin to apixaban at the time of discharge for better anticoagulation optimization. KTS is a condition associated with venous thromboembolic complications that can be difficult to manage. PE should remain on the top of the list of differential diagnoses in patients with KTS presenting with dyspnea even if laboratory findings suggest an alternate diagnosis.
Atypical Cardiac Tamponade Manifesting as Left Ventricular Diastolic Collapse: A Case Report.

Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency, the diagnosis of which is predominantly clinical with supportive echocardiographic findings. Echocardiographic findings highly suggestive of cardiac tamponade include chamber collapse, inferior vena cava (IVC) plethora, and respiratory volume/flow variations. The right-sided cardiac chambers are a low-pressure system and are the first to show signs of collapse with high specificity for tamponade. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman who demonstrated left ventricular (LV) diastolic collapse on echocardiogram following a tricuspid valve replacement. Although left-sided chamber collapse with tamponade has been reported with localized pericardial effusions postoperatively, our patient had a large circumferential pericardial effusion. Selective chamber compression can be a presenting sign of postoperative tamponade after cardiac surgery. Our case highlights the importance of recognizing atypical forms of cardiac tamponade to help in early identification and emergent management in such patients.
Material and Immaterial Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance: Evidence from IPOs

Initial public offering (IPO) firms confront a puzzle on how to balance the need for short-term performance against the long-term performance benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This...
Bumble bees in landscapes with abundant floral resources have lower pathogen loads

The pollination services provided by bees are essential for supporting natural and agricultural ecosystems. However, bee population declines have been documented across the world. Many of the factors known to undermine bee health (e.g., poor nutrition) can decrease immunocompetence and, thereby, increase bees’ susceptibility to diseases. Given the myriad of stressors that can exacerbate disease in wild bee populations, assessments of the relative impact of landscape habitat conditions on bee pathogen prevalence are needed to effectively conserve pollinator populations. Herein, we assess how landscape-level conditions, including various metrics of floral/nesting resources, insecticides, weather, and honey bee (Apis mellifera) abundance, drive variation in wild bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) pathogen loads. Specifically, we screened 890 bumble bee workers from varied habitats in Pennsylvania, USA for three pathogens (deformed wing virus, black queen cell virus, and Vairimorpha (= Nosema) bombi), Defensin expression, and body size. Bumble bees collected within low-quality landscapes exhibited the highest pathogen loads, with spring floral resources and nesting habitat availability serving as the main drivers. We also found higher loads of pathogens where honey bee apiaries are more abundant, a positive relationship between Vairimorpha loads and rainfall, and differences in pathogens by geographic region. Collectively, our results highlight the need to support high-quality landscapes (i.e., those with abundant floral/nesting resources) to maintain healthy wild bee populations.