cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PD04-01 RENAL CELL CARCINOMA WITH ISOLATED LYMPH NODE INVOLVEMENT: NATURAL HISTORY AND PREDICTORS OF ONCOLOGIC OUTCOMES

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Isolated lymph node (LN) involvement in the absence of systemic disease has historically been associated with a poor prognosis among patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, a subset of patients may have long-term survival. We examined the natural history of isolated pN1 disease and identified predictors of favorable oncologic outcomes. METHODS: Of 3830 patients with M0 RCC treated with partial or radical nephrectomy from 1980 to 2010 at Mayo Clinic, we identified 138 with isolated pN1 disease. All pathology was reviewed by one genitourinary pathologist. Metastasis-free (MFS), cancer-specific (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Associations of clinicopathologic features with oncologic outcomes were evaluated using Cox regression models. RESULTS: Median number of positive LNs was 2 (IQR 1-3), while 57 (46%) patients had only one positive LN. Overall, 125 (91%) of patients had symptoms at presentation, 60 (43%) had preoperative radiographic lymphadenopathy (cN1), and 106 (77%) had pT3/T4 disease. Median follow-up among survivors was 8.5 years (IQR 5.6-10.9), during which time 108 patients developed distant metastases and 117 died, including 99 from RCC. MFS, CSS, and OS rates at 5/10 years were 16%/15%, 26%/21%, and 25%/15% (Figure). Median time to development of metastases was 4.2 months (IQR 2.1-11.7 months). On multivariable analysis, symptomatic presentation (HR 2.51; p1⁄40.02), radiographic IVC involvement (HR 2.03; p1⁄40.002), pT4 stage (HR 2.56; p1⁄40.006), adverse histologic subtype (HR 2.34; p1⁄40.005), and coagulative tumor necrosis (HR 2.59; p<0.001) were independently associated with development of metastases. Interestingly, the number of positive LNs was not associated with oncologic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated pN1 disease portends an ominous prognosis, with only 16% of patients free of distant metastases at 5years after surgery. Nevertheless, this subset does have long-term survival at 10-years. In those patients who progressed, the majority (77%) of metastases occurred within 1 year of surgery. Symptoms at presentation, radiographic IVC involvement, and pT4 stage were independently associated with development of distant metastases and may enhance patient risk stratification and counseling.
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) gene therapy of leukemia: Immune and anti- leukemic effects of IL-12-transduced hematopoietic progenitor cells

Recombinant interleukin-12 (rIL-12) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that has been shown to exert strong antitumoral and antimetastatic activity against several mouse tumors grown as solid lesions. The therapeutic efficacy of rIL-12 against hematological tumors and the transfer of IL-12 genes into hematopoietic progenitor cells to deliver IL-12 to the bone marrow (BM) to treat residual leukemia has not been studied adequately. We have investigated the retroviral-mediated transduction of hematopoietic progenitor cells with IL-12 genes and the in vivo anti-leukemic activity of transduced cells against the murine myeloid leukemia cell line 32Dp210. We were able to efficiently transduce the IL-3-dependent 32Dc13 myeloid progenitor cell line and primary hematopoietic progenitor cells using an MFG-based polycistronic retroviral vector containing the cDNAs of p35 and p40 murine IL-12 genes. 32Dc13 myeloid progenitor cells expressing IL-12 genes (32DIL-12 cells) have stably secreted biologically active murine IL-12 for >9 months. Mice transplanted with 32DIL-12 cells transiently express the transgene in the BM and spleen, which is associated with a rapid elevation of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the circulation and with secretion of IFN-γ by spleen cells in vitro. In addition, spleen and BM cells of mice injected with 32DIL-12 cells readily acquire the capacity to lyse natural killer cell-sensitive YAC-1 target cells and 32Dp210 myeloid leukemia cells. Furthermore, whereas mice challenged with leukemia cells suffered 100% mortality within 14 days, ∼40% of mice coinjected with 32Dp210 leukemia cells and 32DIL-12 progenitor cells exhibited long-term, leukemia-free survival (>60 days). This study demonstrates that IL-12 can be stably expressed in hematopoietic cells; in addition, when transplanted, transduced cells induce IFN-γ production and activation of natural killer cells, both of which may be involved in inhibiting the progression of leukemia in vivo.
In situ study of heavy ion irradiation response of immiscible Cu/Fe multilayers

Abstract Recent studies show that immiscible metallic multilayers with incoherent interfaces can effectively reduce defect density in ion irradiated metals by providing active defect sinks that capture and annihilate radiation induced defect clusters. Although it is anticipated that defect density within the layers should vary as a function of distance to the layer interface, there is, to date, little in situ TEM evidence to validate this hypothesis. In this study monolithic Cu films and Cu/Fe multilayers with individual layer thickness, h, of 100 and 5 nm were subjected to in situ Cu ion irradiation at room temperature to nominally 1 displacement-per-atom inside a transmission electron microscope. Rapid formation and propagation of defect clusters were observed in monolithic Cu, whereas fewer defects with smaller dimensions were generated in Cu/Fe multilayers with smaller h. Furthermore in situ video shows that the cumulative defect density in Cu/Fe 100 nm multilayers indeed varies, as a function of distance to the layer interfaces, supporting a long postulated hypothesis.
Student Perceptions of and Confidence in Self-Care Course Concepts Using Team-based Learning

Objective. To evaluate changes in student perceptions of and confidence in self-care concepts after completing a team-based learning (TBL) self-care course. Methods. Team-based learning was used at two universities in first professional year, semester-long self-care courses. Two instruments were created and administered before and after the semester. The instruments were designed to assess changes in student perceptions of self-care using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) domains and confidence in learning self-care concepts using Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to evaluate pre/post changes, and Mann Whitney U tests were used to evaluate university differences. Results. Fifty-three Cedarville University and 58 Manchester University students completed both instruments (100% and 92% response rates, respectively). Student self-care perceptions with TPB decreased significantly on nine of 13 items for Cedarville and decreased for one of 13 items for Manchester. Student confidence in self-care concepts improved significantly on all questions for both universities. Conclusion. Data indicate TBL self-care courses were effective in improving student confidence about self-care concepts. Establishing students' skill sets prior to entering the profession is beneficial because pharmacists will use self-directed learning to expand their knowledge and adapt to problem-solving situations.
Adipocyte-specific overexpression of retinol-binding protein 4 causes hepatic steatosis in mice

There is considerable evidence that both retinoids and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) contribute to the development of liver disease. To understand the basis for this, we generated and studied transgenic mice that express human RBP4 (hRBP4) specifically in adipocytes. When fed a chow diet, these mice show an elevation in adipose total RBP4 (mouse RBP4 + hRBP4) protein levels. However, no significant differences in plasma RBP4 or retinol levels or in hepatic or adipose retinoid (retinol, retinyl ester, and all-trans-retinoic acid) levels were observed. Strikingly, male adipocyte-specific hRBP4 mice fed a standard chow diet display significantly elevated hepatic triglyceride levels at 3-4 months of age compared to matched littermate controls. When mice were fed a high-fat diet, this hepatic phenotype, as well as other metabolic phenotypes (obesity and glucose intolerance), worsened. Because adipocyte-specific hRBP4 mice have increased tumor necrosis factor-α and leptin expression and crown-like structures in adipose tissue, our data are consistent with the notion that adipose tissue is experiencing RBP4-induced inflammation that stimulates increased lipolysis within adipocytes. Our data further establish that elevated hepatic triglyceride levels result from increased hepatic uptake of adipose-derived circulating free fatty acids. We obtained no evidence that elevated hepatic triglyceride levels arise from increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis, decreased hepatic free fatty acid oxidation, or decreased very-low-density lipoprotein secretion. Conclusion Our investigations establish that RBP4 expressed in adipocytes induces hepatic steatosis arising from primary effects occurring in adipose tissue. (Hepatology 2016;64:1534-1546).
Pseudo noun incorporation is M-Merger: evidence from Balinese

In this paper, I argue that adjacency alone can license a nominal by demonstrating that properties of Balinese PNI are incompatible with either (covert) Head Movement (Baker 2012) or with a bare NP analysis (Massam 2001). The Balinese data are compatible with a scenario in which the nominal head happens to be adjacent to the verb. In this configuration, head-head adjacency licenses the nominal via M(orphological)-Merger (Marantz 1984). Under the proposed analysis, Balinese PNI is a last resort strategy, which vacuously satisfies the Case Filter.
Development of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) assay for Mycoplasma iowae.

Abstract Mycoplasma iowae (MI) infection is an economically and commercially important disease of turkeys. There are no sequence typing assays available for MI strain identification, the only available molecular tools for this purpose, are DNA fingerprinting assays. In addition to their low reproducibility, fingerprinting assays require isolation of the microorganism in pure culture, which is difficult for avian mycoplasma. Therefore, we propose a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) assay as the first genotyping assay for identification of MI. Based on the two available MI genomes on GenBank, 26 loci of housekeeping genes were identified and studied in a diverse sample set. Finally, six genes were selected for the newly developed MLST assay. The final sequence analysis of the six loci (total of 5019 bp) (dppC, ulaA, valS, rpoC, leuS, kdpA) allowed the differentiation of 47 MI samples into 23 unique sequence types. Moreover, when only 4 loci were used to type the same set of samples, they resulted in 20 unique sequence types. Analysis of phylogenetic trees and clonal groups generated by MLST displayed a high degree of agreement with geographical and temporal information of the tested samples. MLST is a highly reproducible molecular epidemiology assay that can be used to identify positive clinical cases directly from DNA samples. Therefore, it provides a useful tool allowing for better identification, control and eradication efforts.
Importance of FLT3 Mutations and Other Genetic Abnormalities in Normal Karyotype AML.

Cytogenetic findings at diagnosis are currently considered the most important prognostic factor in AML. By far, the most common cytogenetic finding, found in approximately 40–50% of patients, is a normal karyotype (defined as detection of only normal chromosomes in 20 or more marrow cells). Recent molecular analyses of leukemic blasts in cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML) have revealed a striking heterogeneity with regard to the presence of acquired gene mutations and changes in gene expression. Multiple submicroscopic genetic alterations with prognostic significance have been discovered, including mutations of the FLT3 gene, both internal tandem duplications (ITDs) and point mutations (TKDs), partial tandem duplication (PTD) of the MLL gene, mutations in the NPM1 , CEBPA, and WT1 genes, and high expression of the BAALC, ERG, and MN1 genes. Most of these abnormalities, except for mutations in NPM1 and CEBPA , have been associated with an adverse prognosis. CN-AML patients with FLT3 ITD, NPM1 wild type, or both have worse outcome in the range of 30% long-term survival, unless they also harbor CEBPA mutations. A high expression of the FLT3 ITD allele compared to the FLT3 wild type allele confers an especially poor prognosis. In contrast, CN-AML patients without a FLT3 ITD and with NPM1 mutations have a particularly good outcome in the range of 60% long-term survival, unless they present with high ERG expression. The prognostic significance of FLT3 TKD mutations is controversial, and, recently, the outcome of patients with the MLL PTD has improved when treated with induction therapy, including etoposide and post induction therapy with autologous transplantation. As a result, the 2008 World Health Organization classification of AML recommends evaluation of FLT3 , NPM1, and CEBPA mutations in CN-AML. Application of gene expression profiling has also identified signatures that appear to separate CN-AML patients into prognostic subgroups, and, more recently, a microRNA expression signature was found to be associated with outcome in molecular high-risk CN-AML patients (i.e., those with FLT3 ITD, NPM1 wild type, or both). These and similar future findings are likely to have a major impact on the clinical management of CN-AML not only in prognostication, but also in selection of appropriate treatment, since many of the identified genetic alterations already constitute (e.g., FLT3 mutations for tyrosine kinase inhibitors) or will potentially become targets for specific therapeutic interventions.
Oral Anticoagulants in Severe Renal Dysfunction

When choosing an anticoagulant for a patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD), consider that patients with CKD were excluded from landmark direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) trials if their creatinine clearance (CrCl) was <25–30 mL/min, but use of these agents has been approved in patients with a CrCl as low as 15 mL/min based on extrapolated data. Limited data suggests that warfarin is beneficial and relatively safe in patients with CKD and atrial fibrillation.
Violent Women in Cultural and Artistic Theatres

In this chapter Taylor Porter examines how violence has been historically and contemporarily gendered. Because of the threat violent women pose to not only male dominance but also our survival, they are typically stereotyped, demonized, or sexualized into monsters, psychotics, or babes. But a psychological and sociological examination of women’s violence reveals its incidence is much more widespread than is publicly acknowledged and its occurrence more “normal” than typically assumed. Gender norms can have the impact of debilitating women’s prosocial uses of force, which can put their own lives or their children’s lives in danger. Not surprisingly, women are victimized by violence in drama but are rarely the wielders of weapons or initiators of aggression. If based on accurate research, theatre can be a powerful forum for examining women’s use of force. Taylor Porter discusses dramaturgy and theatrical style as she develops a feminist aesthetic for plays about violent women. After discussing issues surrounding audience reception and outlining her rubric for evaluating the plays and productions in the rest of the study, Taylor Porter analyzes the practice of stage combat.
Design and prototype implementation of an 8-beam 2.4 GHz array receiver for digital beamforming

This paper describes the design and implementation of a 2.4 GHz array receiver for FFT based digital beamforming applications. An 8-element rectangular microstrip patch antenna array has been designed and fabricated. It is followed by designing I (in-phase) and Q (quadrature phase) RF receiver chain for each element. The digital processing-end comprises of a ROACH-2 FPGA platform which is used to implement the required digital design. The array is placed in an anechoic chamber to verify the digital beamforming using a radix-2 Cooley-Tukey FFT algorithm. Beam measurements are carried out using the digital architecture developed for the 8-point FFT, and are compared with the simulated measurements.
Towards Supporting Mobile Device Users Facing Severely Constraining Situational Impairments

A subset of "Situationally Induced Impairments and Disabilities" (SIID), termed "Severely Constraining Situational Impairments" (SCSI), was explored at the user task and motivational level, to better understand the challenges faced by users attempting to perform tasks using a mobile device. Through structured interviews, participants were found to deploy workarounds in attempting to complete mobile I/O transactions, even if that workaround might place them in considerable danger. The motivations underlying user decisions were also explored resulting in a set of rich scenarios which will be used in the final participatory design stage of the study to discover ways that technology can be designed to overcome SCSIs.
Cervical cancer sociodemographic and diagnostic disparities in Florida: a population-based study (1981-2013) by stage at presentation

Objective: Florida has one of the highest cervical cancer mortality rates and socioeconomically diverse populations in the United States. We used statewide population-based cancer registry data to ...
Recent Advances in Oxygen Measurements Using Phosphorescence Quenching

Oxygen dependent quenching of phosphorescence quenching is an optical method for measuring oxygen pressure which was first reported in several years ago (see Vanderkooi and Wilson, 1986; Wilson and Vanderkooi, 1987). In the intervening years the method has steadily continued to improve both in the range of application and the precision of the measurements. The goal of the present communication is to review developments which have occurred within the past two years and which should be of significant value to investigators interested in measuring oxygen in vitro and in vivo. There are five major areas in which significant improvements and/or extensions of the method have occurred: 1. Algorithms have been developed which permit deconvolution of phosphorescence decay curves from probes in the vascular system of tissue into the distribution of decay constants (distribution of oxygen pressures) in the tissue; 2. New phosphorescent probes have been identified which are suitable for measuring oxygen and have both absorption and emission in the near infra-red part of the spectrum (absorptions greater than 620 nm with emission at less than 1,200 nm); 3. Measurements have been made from progressively smaller amounts of tissue, and measurements from areas less than 50 μm in diameter achieved in studies of the microcirculation (see Shonat et al, this procedings). 4. Timing circuits have been developed to allow phosphorescence measurements to be synchronized with rhythmic movements, such as the beating of the heart. This makes it possible, for example, to obtain digital maps of the oxygen distribution in the heart in vivo (see Rumsey et al, this proceedings). 5. A new needle type phosphorimeter has been designed with a light guide which can be inserted into tissue for measurements of phosphorescence at defined depths in the tissue. 6. The first images of phosphorescence have been made using confocal techniques (Plant and Burns, 1993) and this technique would be expected to provide high spatial resolution maps of oxygen pressure.
CHAPTER 14 – INFINITE SERIES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the infinite series. It presents an expression of the form a1 + a2+ a3 +… + an +… where the an are real numbers. It describes sequences informally as a string of numbers. The most interesting sequences are those in which there is some pattern to this string of numbers. A sequence A is a real-valued function that assigns to each non-negative integer some real number. It may or may not be defined for zero. The value of A at n is usually written An instead of A(n), and the sequence itself is commonly represented by {An}.
2979 Laparoscopic Removal of Parasitic Leiomyomas

Video Objective The objective of this video is to describe the presentation, diagnosis and surgical approach to parasitic leiomyoma. We describe a case report of a postmenopausal patient who presented with incidental adnexal masses, underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy and was ultimately diagnosed with parasitic leiomyoma. We discuss the differential diagnosis, symptomatology, origin and epidemiology of this rare diagnosis. Setting A university tertiary care hospital. Interventions This is a case report of a patient with an incidentally diagnosed adnexal mass that was found to have parasitic leiomyoma. Conclusion Parasitic leiomyoma is an unusual variant of fibroid presentation. There are several hypotheses regarding their development, most importantly following morcellation after laparoscopic myomectomy. Others include the possibility of pedunculated fibroids that detach from the uterus and latch onto nearby viscera. This case illustrates the incidental finding of a parasitic leiomyoma, appropriate workup and differential diagnosis. We also elaborate on the surgical technique for removal of parasitic leiomyomas. We conclude that parasitic leiomyoma should be on the differential diagnosis for adnexal masses.
"Did You Suspect the Post Would be Removed?": Understanding User Reactions to Content Removals on Reddit

Thousands of users post on Reddit every day, but a fifth of all posts are removed. How do users react to these removals? We conducted a survey of 907 Reddit users, asking them to reflect on their post removal a few hours after it happened. Examining the qualitative and quantitative responses from this survey, we present users' perceptions of the platform's moderation processes. We find that although roughly a fifth (18%) of the participants accepted that their post removal was appropriate, a majority of the participants did not --- over a third (37%) of the participants did not understand why their post was removed, and further, 29% of the participants expressed some level of frustration about the removal. We focus on factors that shape users' attitudes aboutfairness in moderation andposting again in the community. Our results indicate that users who read community guidelines or receive explanations for removal are more likely to perceive the removal as fair and post again in the future. We discuss implications for moderation practices and policies. Our findings suggest that the extra effort required to establish community guidelines and educate users with helpful feedback is worthwhile, leading to better user attitudes about fairness and propensity to post again.
The Van Hove Singularity and High-Tc Superconductivity: The Role of (Nanoscopic) Disorder

In any two-dimensional band structure, there must be a saddle-point at which the bands intersect the Brillouin zone boundary and the conduction crosses over from hole-like to electron-like. At this van-Hove singularity (vHs), the density-of-states (dos) has a logarithmic singularity. It has often been suggested that this enhanced dos is responsible for high-T c superconductivity. Theories of the CuO2plane vHs can be separated into two groups: in the earlier theories1-3 the vHs is assumed to occur exactly at half-filling of the band (square Fermi surface); in this case, there is direct competition with the Mott (or charge transfer insulator) transition, and the optimum T c occurs away from the vHs. In the other group of theories4-8 the vHs is assumed to occur away from half-filling, as found in band-structure calculations, and hence well separated from the Mott transition. The optimum T c occurs exactly at the hole filling appropriate to the vHs. Extensive reviews of these vHs models have recently appeared3,8. It is the latter category of vHs models which is the topic of this paper.
Applications of CRISPR for musculoskeletal research.

The ability to edit DNA at the nucleotide level using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) systems is a relatively new investigative tool that is revolutionizing the a...
Image-Guided Biopsy/Liquid Biopsy

Direct tissue sampling is a critical element of cancer care, essential for confirming diagnosis, tumor histology, and staging. Image-guided percutaneous biopsy is the most commonly used technique to procure tumor tissue. Advances in needle design, tissue sampling techniques, and imaging technology have improved the safety and yield of image-guided biopsies. In the era of precision medicine, tumor biopsies are yielding insight into specific molecular targets that can guide therapy. Moreover, techniques to characterize tumors noninvasively, known as “liquid biopsy,” often complement longitudinal tumor biopsies by providing an opportunity to dynamically investigate treatment responses and mechanisms of resistance. In this chapter, we review the indications and contraindications for image-guided biopsy, the state of the art in imaging and tissue sampling techniques, and future directions in the field of liquid biopsies.
Optimal Choice of Ultrasound-Based Measurements for the Diagnosis of Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow: A Meta-Analysis of 1961 Examinations

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal ultrasound (US) measurement technique and cutoff value for the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A systematic literature search was conducted of the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of US of patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow before April 2019. Random-effects modeling was performed to compare the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of different US measurements, including diameter and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the nerve at the medial epicondyle or proximal and distal levels, maximal diameter, maximal CSA, and nerve ratios. Sensitivity and metaregression analyses were performed to assess the impact of clinical and imaging-based variables on the DOR of US. RESULTS. Among 820 retrieved studies, 19 studies (1961 examinations) were included. Measuring the CSA of the ulnar nerve at the medial epicondyle with a cutoff value greater than 10-10.5 mm2 had higher sensitivity (80.4%, 95% CI, 75.4-84.7%) than other techniques. Nerve ratios had higher specificity (89.1%, 95% CI, 85.8-91.8%) than other measurements; however, the definition of ratios and cutoff values varied across studies. ROC analysis showed higher diagnostic performance for measuring CSA at the medial epicondyle (AUC, 0.931). The mean CSA value was a significant predictor of the DOR of US (β coefficient, 0.307 ± 0.074; p < 0.001). Every 1-mm2 larger CSA was associated with a 36% increase in DOR. The diagnostic performance of US was the same in any degree of elbow flexion. CONCLUSION. Measuring CSA of the ulnar nerve at the medial epicondyle has sensitivity and diagnostic performance superior to those of other techniques for the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.
The effect of economic downturns on state budgets: a counterfactual analysis of the great recession

I propose a novel method to estimate the effect of recessions on government finances. Using the Great Recession and state budgets as an empirical example, I find large and prolonged budget cuts, bu...
Motor and sensory features successfully decode autism spectrum disorder and combine with the original RDoC framework to boost diagnostic classification.

Sensory processing and motor coordination atypicalities are not commonly identified as primary characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), nor are they well captured in the NIMH’s original Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. Here, motor and sensory features performed similarly to RDoC features in support vector classification of 30 ASD youth against 33 typically developing controls. Combining sensory with RDoC features boosted classification performance, achieving a Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.949 and balanced accuracy (BAcc) of 0.971 (p = 0.00020, calculated against a permuted null distribution). Sensory features alone successfully classified ASD (MCC = 0.565, BAcc = 0.773, p = 0.0222) against a clinically relevant control group of 26 youth with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and were in fact required to decode against DCD above chance. These findings highlight the importance of sensory and motor features to the ASD phenotype and their relevance to the RDoC framework.
Managing the Laboratory Animal Facility

Praise for the Previous Editions "The author brings in management wisdom from the world outside laboratory animal medicine and veterinary medicine. As a result, there is a rich mixture of the experience of a seasoned professional and the theoretical framework used by schools of management …. I recommend this book to managers and laboratory animal specialists at any stage of their careers." —Franklin M. Loew, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, JAVMA, Vol. 222, No. 6, 2003 "… This book is a good informational resource for any new manager to the field of laboratory management. The information is presented in a way that will keep your interest and stimulate you to think how it can benefit you and the facility in which you work." —Susan K. Cutter, BS, RVT, RLATG, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, LAMA Review Written in Jerry Silverman’s trademark style, Managing the Laboratory Animal Facility, Third Edition provides the reader with sound management theory and associated management practices that are easy to read, easy to understand, easy to implement, and pertinent to the daily management and leadership of laboratory animal facilities. Maintaining the practical focus of previous editions, this greatly expanded volume presents the critical knowledge needed to help you make efficient and effective use of the key resources that are used every day by vivarium managers – people, time, money, and information. New to the Third Edition Incorporating the latest developments in management theory and application, the edition contains approximately 100 pages of new and expanded material. This more detailed coverage: Discusses lean management concepts and practices and their application to laboratory animal science Adds information on many essential topics, especially in human resources management in its treatment of negotiations, influence, and performance reviews Provides a large number of revisions and updates to Appendix 2 in its presentation of Per diem calculations Includes an extensive list of references for further study of specialized topics
Infographics and Communicating Complex Information

With the growing use of infographics to communicate complex information, we must specifically look at how people read and understand them. Complex information depends on helping people build relationships and connect the information to the current situation. Infographics are not art displays, but are tools to communicate information. Unless we understand how people comprehend information and how those mental transformations occur when they read the content, we cannot effectively design an infographic for complex information. People come to an infographic for a purpose and with a goal, both of which require the infographics to communication complex information. A good infographic must maintain the complexity of the information while lowering the barriers to its comprehension.
The Social Environment and Its Relationship to Cognitive-Intellectual Development

In contrast to research on the relationship of animate, interpersonal, or mother-child interaction variables upon early cognitive development, there has been relatively little evidence on the relationship of the physical, inanimate environment to early cognitive-intellectual development.1 In part, this paucity of data on the inanimate environment may be due to the contention by certain authors (Provence & Lipton, 1962; Clarke-Stewart, 1973) that the physical environment can have little effect upon development unless mediated by social variables. However, both correlational data (L. J. Yarrow et al., 1975) and experimental evidence (Brossard & Decarie, 1971) clearly do not support this contention. Similarly White (1975) has contended that only after the first year of life, when children can locomote and process language, do the stimulus characteristics of the home become critical for development. However, in contrast, Schaffer and Emerson (1968) have argued that it is the very young infant, lacking self-stimulation capacities, who is most dependent upon physical stimulation.
Can psychiatrists distinguish a computer simulation of paranoia from the real thing? The limitations of Turing-like test as measures of the adequacy of simulations.

Abstract Five physicians with psychiatric training and experience reached five correct and five incorrect conclusions in deciding whether they were interviewing, by teletype, a paranoid patient or a computer simulation of paranoia. This is the strongest indistinguishability test yet satisfied by a computer program, but weaknesses of the test limit its value in developing computer models of psychopathology.
19 Familial Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency

Isolated GH deficiency has been observed in a number of instances, but its occurrence as a recessively inherited defect has been previously documented only in adult members of two families. The present study concerns a family of 9 in which the father and 4 siblings had growth retardation, truncal obesity, facial infantilism and impaired glucose tolerance. Plasma GH responsiveness to insulin-induced hypoglycemia and to bacterial pyrogen administration was absent in those whose growth was retarded, but indirect studies of thyrotropin and adrenocorticotropin demonstrated the presence of these pituitary factors in all members of the family. Human GH administration to the 18-year-old, dwarfed, sexually infantile, female sibling resulted in objective changes in sexual maturation, alterations in fat distribution and greatly accelerated growth. The similarly treated 9-year-old male sibling experienced marked increase in the rate of statural growth, but remained sexually infantile. No discernable change in urinary corticoid responsiveness to adrenocorticotropin and no measurable change in gonadotropin excretion occurred during the therapeutic period. Studies of glucose tolerance and plasma insulin responsiveness in 4 of the dwarfs revealed an increase in peripheral resistance to insulin during GH administration. It is concluded that this form of familial dwarfism is related to GH deficiency and that the defect is monotropic. The patients described clearly illustrate the natural course of the condition, wherein delayed adolescence is the rule rather than the exception. Observations presented support the possibility that GH alters responsiveness of endocrine end-organ tissues. Serious doubts are raised regarding the validity of diagnoses which exclude hypopituitarism in patients with retarded growth on the basis of eventual sexual maturation. (APS)
Retinal Influences on Sclera Underlie Visual Deprivation Myopia

Visual deprivation of chicks rapidly induces an increased growth of the vitreous chamber which results in axial myopia, even after a day or so. This experimental myopia provides an opportunity to trace the causal path from altered visual experience to altered eye growth. With respect to the visual factors involved, the gross activity of the retinal neurons seems an important variable. The eyes of animals raised wearing translucent occluders do not become myopic or elongated if stroboscopic illumination is present. Conversely, the eyes do become myopic and elongated if deprived of all form vision, if reared in a featureless environment or if deprived in only part of the visual field. The deprivation must, however, be continuous if myopia is to result; even as little as two hours of normal vision per day almost completely eliminates the effect of 12 hours of deprivation. The control of eye growth by vision seems to take place in local regions of the eye. Deprivation of various parts of the visual field produces myopia and elongation in only the deprived part, even in animals in which the optic nerve has been cut. It seems that at the level of the sclera ocular elongation (and thus myopia) results from local growth, because we find increases in synthesis of DNA and protein as well as more new cells. The protein synthesis increase is also local, in the sense that the posterior sclera grows much more than other parts, explaining why deprivation causes ocular elongation and myopia, rather than simply larger eyes. These results suggest that some factor in part of the retina can influence the growth of the subjacent sclera.
Pneumocystis Infection Enhances Antibody-Mediated Resistance to a Subsequent Influenza Infection

In contrast to the detrimental outcomes most often associated with the resolution of coinfections, the model presented here involving a localized Pneumocystis infection of the lung, followed 2 wk later by an influenza virus infection, results in a significant beneficial outcome for the host. In the week following the influenza infection, immunocompetent coinfected animals exhibited an accelerated rate of virus clearance, an accelerated appearance of higher influenza-specific neutralizing Ab titers in their serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in their BALF, and reduced levels of morbidity relative to animals infected only with influenza virus. The beneficial outcome observed in coinfected immunocompetent animals was dependent on the ongoing resolution of a viable Pneumocystis infection. No differences in viral clearance were detected between coinfected and influenza-only-infected μMT mice or likewise for SCID mice. The accelerated anti-influenza response did not appear to be associated with influenza-specific CD8 T cell-mediated responses or NK cell responses in the lung. Rather, the increased rate of viral clearance was due to the enhancement of the influenza-specific Ab response, which in turn was transiently dependent upon the resolution of the ongoing Pneumocystis infection.
A physical explanation for the development of redox microzones in hyporheic flow

Recent observations reveal a paradox of anaerobic respiration occurring in seemingly oxic-saturated sediments. Here we demonstrate a residence time-based explanation for this paradox. Specifically, we show how microzones favorable to anaerobic respiration processes (e.g., denitrification, metal reduction, and methanogenesis) can develop in the embedded less mobile porosity of bulk-oxic hyporheic zones. Anoxic microzones develop when transport time from the streambed to the pore center exceeds a characteristic uptake time of oxygen. A two-dimensional pore-network model was used to quantify how anoxic microzones develop across a range of hyporheic flow and oxygen uptake conditions. Two types of microzones develop: flow invariant and flow dependent. The former is stable across variable hydrologic conditions, whereas the formation and extent of the latter are sensitive to flow rate and orientation. Therefore, pore-scale residence time heterogeneity, which can now be evaluated in situ, offers a simple explanation for anaerobic signals occurring in oxic pore waters.
Lack of protein kinase C-delta (PKCδ) disrupts fertilization and embryonic development.

SUMMARY This study tested the function of protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) during fertilization and embryonic development using gene-knockout (Prkcd−/−) mice. Fertility analysis revealed that Prkcd−/− mating pairs produce significantly fewer pups per litter than wild-type pairs (P < 0.05), and exhibit a high incidence of embryonic loss post-implantation. Both Prkcd−/− male as well as Prkcd−/− female mice mated to Prkcd+/+ controls also showed reduced litter sizes, with a selective loss of Prkcd-null pups. Further analysis of the females demonstrated comparable in vitro fertilization outcomes between control and Prkcd−/− oocytes fertilized with wild-type sperm. Pregnant Prkcd−/− females, however, exhibited a reduced number of total implantations, suggesting a possible disruption in early embryo quality and/or implantation. In turn, male gamete analysis revealed that Prkcd−/− sperm demonstrated a decreased capacity to penetrate the zona pellucida (P < 0.05), necessary for successful fertilization. Moreover, we identified phosphorylated PKCδ as a component of the sperm acrosome, indicating a potential role for this kinase in acrosome exocytosis. Therefore, loss of PKCδ disrupts key reproductive functions in both males and females that limit fertility. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 797–808, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Delineation of a complexly dipping temperate glacier bed using short-pulse radar arrays

We have defined the complex bed topography for a section of a small temperate glacier using 50 MHz monostatic short-pulse radar data and a synthetic-aperture array-processing method. The data were collected on a 100 m by 340 m array grid in the upper stem of Gulkana Glacier, central Alaska, U.S.A. The array processing was based on a modified three-dimensional (3-D) Kirchhoff migration integral and implemented with a synthetic-aperture approach that uses sequences of overlapping sub-arrays to generate depth images in vertical planes. Typical sub-array beam patterns are generally <5° at the −6 dB level, giving a flashlight-like searching capability without distorting the wavelet shape. The bed topography was constructed using normal reflections picked from 3-D array depth images. In some instances reflections were imaged outside the data-cover-age area. The bed surface dips steeply, both parallel and transverse to the direction of ice flow. The maximum observed depth is roughly 140 m. The 3-D method resolved bed dips up to 45°. In regions of steepest dip, it improved depth accuracy by 36% compared with raw data, and by 15% compared with standard two-dimensional (2-D) migration. Over 12 dB of signal-to-noise improvement and improved spatial resolution was achieved compared to raw data and 2-D migration. False bottom layering seen in the raw data and in 2-D migrations is not observed in the 3-D array results. Furthermore, loss of bottom reflections is shown by the 3-D migration to be attributable to the dip and curvature of the reflector, and not scattering losses or signal clutter from englacial inclusions.
The Impact of School Mental Health on Student and School-Level Academic Outcomes: Current Status of the Research and Future Directions

This manuscript summarizes areas of school mental health (SMH) research relevant to the interplay between students’ academic and social–emotional outcomes. After advancing a multidimensional conceptualization of academic success at the levels of individual students and schools, we summarize observational and intervention studies that connect students’ mental health to their academic achievement, with acknowledgment of the bidirectional relationship. Then, current and future directions of SMH research are discussed, including (a) the impact of SMH health initiatives and services on schools’ achievement, (b) the need to address the mental health of historically neglected subgroups of students, and (c) interdisciplinary collaborations necessary to support enhanced outcomes. Based on the findings from these literature integrations, we conclude with recommendations and implications for research and practice.
Acyclic N‐halamine‐based biocidal tubing: Preparation, characterization, and rechargeable biofilm‐controlling functions

In this study, the surfaces of polypropylene tubing were hydroxylated with potassium persulfate. The resultant tubing surfaces were grafted with methacrylamide (MAA) using ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate as an initiator. Upon chlorination treatment with diluted chlorine bleach, some of the amide groups in the grafted MAA side chains were transformed into stable acyclic N-halamines. The reactions were confirmed with attenuated total reflectance infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and iodimetric titration. The resultant tubing was challenged with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in a continuous flowing model. Bacteria culturing and scanning electron microscope studies showed that the chlorinated MAA-grafted tubing could provide potent and rechargeable biofilm-controlling functions against the test microorganisms.
Dissociation of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane behind reflected shock waves :shock tube/time-of-flight mass spectrometry experiments.

The dissociation of 1,1,1,-trifluoroethane, a potential non-RRKM reaction, has been studied at 600 and 1200 Torr and high temperatures (1500-1840 K) using a new shock tube/time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ST/TOF-MS). These data obtained by an independent method are in good agreement with the laser schlieren, LS, experiments of Kiefer et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 2443-2450] and extend the range of that experimental dataset. The data have been simulated by both standard RRKM calculations and the non-RRKM model reported by Kiefer et al. but with = 750 cm(-1). Both the RRKM and non-RRKM calculations provide equally good fits to the ST/TOF-MS data. Neither model simulates the combined ST/TOF-MS and LS datasets particularly well. However, the non-RRKM model predicts a pressure dependency closer to that observed in the experiments than the RRKM model.
Driving Forces for Interfacial Fatigue Crack Growth by Piezoelectric Actuator

A new experimental technique for accelerated fatigue testing has recently been developed (Du, T.B., Liu, M., Seghi, S., Hsia, K.J., Economy, J. and Shang, J.K. 2001. Piezoelectric Actuation of Crack Growth along Polymer-Metal Interfaces in Adhesive Bonds, Journal of Material Research, 16(10):2885-2892). Using a piezoelectric actuator, cyclic loading can be applied at frequencies up to 20 kHz, several orders of magnitude higher than that achieved by a conventional mechanical cyclic loading technique. Moreover, the new technique using piezoelectric actuators directly addresses the debonding problem in piezoelectric multilayered smart structures. However, the threshold energy release rate for interfacial crack propagation, evaluated based on plane strain and linear piezoelectricity assumptions in (Du, T.B. 2001. Durability of Polymer/Metal Interfaces under Cyclic Loading, PhD Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, May), seems to be almost an order of magnitude lower than that measured by the conventional mechanical cyclic loading. In this article, we investigate the origin of such discrepancies, and find that the driving force provided by piezoelectric actuator is intrinsically three-dimensional in nature. To account for this effect, we develop both a plane strain model and a modified plane strain analytical model that takes into account the effects in the third dimension to evaluate the energy release rate. The results show that the plane strain solution underestimates the driving force. We also study the effect of nonlinear piezoelectricity on crack driving forces by performing detailed finite element simulations. The results show that the nonlinear piezoelectric effect is another important factor that contributes to the discrepancy between the results from the piezoelectric loading and that from the conventional mechanical loading.
Ab initio study of the structure, vibrational spectra and binding energy of HClClO and Cl2ClO complexes

Abstract The structures, vibrational frequencies and binding energies of complexes are reported for HClClO and Cl 2 ClO. One minima structure is found for the HClClO and two for the Cl 2 ClO. The vibrational shifts relative to monomer species is also examined. The HClClO was found to have the largest shift of 44 cm −1 in the HCl stretch mode. The binding energies of the complexes were found to be 2.5 kcal mole −1 for the HClClO complex, and 1.8 and 1.2 kcal mole −1 for the Cl 2 ClO structures.