cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Role of Digital Storytelling in Pediatric Oncology Patients’ Perspectives Regarding Diagnosis: A Literature Review

Story is a powerful tool in holistic nursing care. Narrative therapy, story circles, narrative-psychotherapy, and family therapy methodology have incorporated storytelling in a research setting. Childhood cancers isolate children from traditional childhood experiences. In recent years, survival rates for pediatric oncology patients have improved, opening up opportunities for research. The increase in life expectancy makes it necessary to investigate the psychosocial perspectives of children as they progress. This review focuses on the use of digital storytelling among pediatric cancer patients as a form of reflection. Furthermore, it addresses the possible therapeutic effects that may be realized by children who produce a digital story. Sixty-four references were identified via Pubmed and CINAHL databases using the following keywords: “digital storytelling,” “narrative therapy,” “pediatric oncology,” “childhood development,” and “interactive narrative.” Future research will focus on addressing the gap in the science, particularly in evaluating pediatric oncology patients’ perspectives about the role of digital story in the context of Erikson’s developmental stages.
Clues to mechanisms of herpesviral latent infection and potential cures

The herpesviruses are characterized by their ability to undergo a productive infection upon infection of the host organism and then spread to establish a latent infection where they persist in the host. Later, under conditions of stress or other environmental stimuli, they reactivate to undergo a productive infection and spread to new host organisms. Herpes simplex virus (HSV), in particular, undergoes a productive infection in the mucosal epithelium and spreads to sensory neurons where it undergoes a latent infection. Reactivation leads to virus shedding but can also lead to recurrent disease. Much of the herpetic disease occurs following reactivation from latent infection, and all of the available antivirals target lytic infection. Thus, an understanding of the mechanisms of establishment and reactivation of HSV from latent infection is important for devising approaches for controlling HSV establishment, maintenance, and reactivation from latent infection. In epithelial cells, the HSV genome is initially silenced by host epigenetic mechanisms, but the virion protein 16 (VP16) and immediate early (IE) infected cell protein 0 reverse the heterochromatin modifications and promote euchromatin modifications on viral chromatin to promote lytic gene transcription, allowing lytic infection to proceed (1). In sensory neurons, VP16 cannot localize to the nucleus and/or assemble into nuclear complexes to activate IE gene expression, so the lytic cascade of gene expression is not initiated. Instead, a neuron-specific promoter in the viral genome drives the expression of the latency-associated transcript (LAT), which is processed into a stable lariat intron and microRNAs (miRNAs) (2). LAT is reported to enhance neuronal survival in several ways: (i) down-regulating lytic gene expression (3) by LAT sequences acting as a long noncoding RNA and promoting epigenetic silencing of lytic genes (4, 5); (ii) serving as a precursor for viral miRNAs that inhibit lytic gene expression (6); (iii) inhibiting apoptosis (7); and (iv) promoting of survival of infected neurons by nonapoptotic mechanisms (8). Thus, understanding of the mechanisms regulating the expression of LAT is critical for antiviral strategies targeting latent infection. In PNAS, Shu et al. (9) identify Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) as a host factor that induces expression of LAT in infected cells in culture and plays a role in maintaining latent infection in murine trigeminal ganglion sensory neurons.
Imaging inflammatory changes in atherosclerosis multimodal imaging hitting stride.

Atherosclerosis is largely an inflammatory disorder marked by infiltration of monocytes into the arterial wall ([1,2][1]). Activated macrophages produce proinflammatory cytokines and contribute to lesion progression, adding to the lipid-rich necrotic core and (via the production of degradative
The Role of Bacteria in Chemical Signals of Elephant Musth: Proximate Causes and Biochemical Pathways

The chemical analysis of urine tells much about the physiological status of mammals, and often reveals compounds that function as chemical signals to conspecifics. Such is the case with mature male African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants in which there is odoriferous drainage from the temporal gland and dribbling of urine during musth, a periodic state in which serum androgens are elevated, food intake typically decreases, and aggressiveness between male conspecifics increases. We have employed solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE)/GC-MS to identify a series of alkan-2-ones, alkan-2-ols, and a few simple aromatic compounds that increase in abundance in musth elephant urine. The primary focus of this report is on the alkan-2-ones and their corresponding alkan-2-ols, specifically: (1) the probable biosynthesis of these compounds via a secondary pathway for fatty acid metabolism, (2) the proximate cause for their increased abundance in musth urine, and (3) the role of bacteria in the increased abundance of these compounds exogenously in aged urine.
Even Noisy Responses Can Be Perfect If Integrated Properly.

Integral feedback for perfect adaptation is a ubiquitous strategy in engineering and biology. Long studied in deterministic settings, it can now be understood in the context of the fully stochastic systems that are prevalent in biology.
Effects of milk flow on the physiological and behavioural responses to feeding in an infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome often experience difficulty with oral feeding, which contributes to growth failure, morbidity, and mortality. In response to feeding difficulty, clinicians often change the bottle nipple, and thus milk flow rate. Slow-flow nipples have been found to reduce the stress of feeding in other fragile infants, but no research has evaluated the responses of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome to alterations in milk flow. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological and behavioural responses of an infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome to bottle feeding with either a slow-flow (Dr. Brown's Preemie) or a standard-flow (Dr. Brown's Level 2) nipple. A single infant was studied for three feedings: two slow-flow and one standard-flow. Oral feeding, whether with a slow-flow or a standard-flow nipple, was distressing for this infant. During slow-flow feeding, she experienced more coughing events, whereas during standard-flow she experienced more gagging. Disengagement and compelling disorganisation were most common during feeding 3, that is slow-flow, which occurred 2 days after surgical placement of a gastrostomy tube. Clinically significant changes in heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate were seen during all feedings. Heart rate was higher during standard-flow and respiratory rate was higher during slow-flow. Further research is needed to examine the responses of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome to oral feeding and to identify strategies that will support these fragile infants as they learn to feed. Future research should evaluate an even slower-flow nipple along with additional supportive feeding strategies.
Investigation on flies population and seasonal fluctuation in Dalian city from 2008 to 2011

Objective To grasp the dynamic change of flies population and seasonal fluctuation in Dalian city.Methods Cage traps were applied in the surveillance.Results Totally 14 543 flies were trapped in the years from 2008 to 2011.Lucilia sericata was the dominant species.Density peak was between July and August.The density of flies was the highest in residential areas.Conclusion The density of flies continues to show a downward trend in Dalian for 4 years.Fly species and its composition changes.Flies monitoring should be strengthened continually.It is necessary to control flies in residential areas and green belts.
Multiscale imaging, modeling, and principal component analysis of gas transport in shale reservoirs

Abstract Characterization and upscaling of gas transport in shales is challenging because of the multiple spatial scales. Rock characterization using high-resolution imaging (e.g., X-ray computed tomography [CT] and scanning electron microscope [SEM]) captures fundamental geometrical and transport properties, but the obtained information is usually highly localized and contains significant uncertainties. An effective upscaling method is thus needed to propagate the pore-scale information across multiple spatial scales. A modified dual-porosity model was proposed to study multiscale gas transport in shales. The model consists of two domains, a kerogen domain, and an inorganic matrix. Within kerogen, gas transport is dominated by molecular diffusion and nonlinear adsorption and desorption. Within inorganic matrix, gas transport is dominated by viscous flow driven by a pressure gradient. A mass-exchange-rate coefficient is used to describe gas transport between kerogen and inorganic matrix. The modified dual-porosity model was used to perform history matching of a pressure-pulse-decay experiment in the laboratory. The long tail of the pressure decline curve was well-captured by the model, suggesting that it accounted for both fast and slow transport mechanisms. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to study the impact of input variation on model output. We found that the impact of the transport processes within the slower domain (kerogen) depends primarily on the transport rate within the faster domain (inorganic matrix). The principal component analysis (PCA) method was applied to study the continuous movement of the upstream pressure decline curve resulting from input parameter variation. This study is the first to apply the PCA method in analysis of pressure decline curve in reservoir engineering. We found that increased convective transport rate within inorganic matrix expedited upstream pressure decline; conversely, increased mass-exchange rate and desorption-rate coefficients slowed down upstream pressure decline in the short term, but expedited it in the long term, when convective transport within inorganic matrix was fast. We also conducted primary recovery simulations to study the impacts of adsorbed gas ratio and Klinkenberg effect on upstream pressure decline, recovery factor, and recovery rate. We found that a higher adsorbed gas ratio led to a longer recovery rate curve. This confirms that a higher adsorbed gas ratio increases the longevity of a gas-producing well. Furthermore, Klinkenberg effect significantly enhanced initial recovery rate while lowering recovery rate at later times. Therefore, it is critical to accurately evaluate adsorbed gas ratio because it determines the shape and longevity of production curves; when reservoir pressure is relatively low, Klinkenberg effect might affect both early- and later-time production and thus cannot be simply ignored.
The Clinical Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire: Implications for Trauma-Informed Behavioral Healthcare

Within primary care pediatrics, there is an optimal and essential opportunity to educate parents on how the pernicious effects of toxic stress have impacted their lives and how they can prevent and/or buffer the effects of stress in their child’s life. The recommendation from the 2012 American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement is to infuse a trauma-informed perspective into pediatrics, and this may be accomplished by introducing providers to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study and the essential role of two-generational ACE screening. The seminal ACEs studies provided a paradigm shift in our understanding of the impact of childhood trauma on both physical and mental health throughout the life span. At the same time, the intergenerational link between childhood experiences and quality of parenting has been well established in attachment research. Integrating these two bodies of work has led to new ways of understanding the links between parental experiences in their own childhood and the quality of the parent–child relationship with their offspring. The link between trauma and attachment research provides a solid rationale for including the ACE measures into comprehensive screening and treatment with vulnerable families, many of whom regularly present to primary care pediatrics.
Making the connection: Successful cross campus collaboration among students

In fall 2015, a senior capstone course (CIS 457 Senior Design Lab 1) of multidisciplinary groups from the majors of computer science, information systems, and software engineering aligned with a senior-level entrepreneurship class (ENTR 410 New Venture Creation) consisting of entrepreneurship majors and minors within the school of business to successfully form teams collaborating towards a common project vision. All of the students, in the College of Engineering and Business, have not had a shared experience even though the college was initiated in 2009 and even though efforts to combine a senior-level class have been discussed since 2009.
The Iron Age copper industrial complex: A preliminary study of the role of ground stone tools at Khirbat en-Nahas, Jordan

The first industrial revolution in the southern Levant crystallized during the Iron Age when copper production reached scales never before seen in this part of the Middle East. Ever since copper ore was first smelted during the Chalcolithic period, the Arabah valley, and its widespread distribution of copper mineralization, was the main source for copper ore in the region. The main ore deposits are located in Timna (Israel) in the southern part of the valley, and some 105 km to the north, in the Faynan region (Jordan). Faynan is the largest copper ore resource zone in the southern Levant. Excavations at the Iron Age Faynan site of Khirbat en-Nahas and the recent final publication of that project have revealed peaks in industrial-scale production during the 10th and 9th centuries BCE. However, the role of ground stone tools in the Iron Age copper industry in Faynan has not been systematically presented. This paper presents a preliminary study of the ground stone assemblage from one excavation season at Khirbat en-Nahas, thereby highlighting the great potential for ground stone tools research at the site. Using the chaine operatoire method of technological study, this paper takes a quantitative approach to the typological, material, and spatial distribution of ground stone artefacts at Khirbat en-Nahas to understand their role in copper production. Ethnoarchaeological study of hereditary bronze casting workshops in southern India provides a compelling model of how ground stone tools played a critical role in one of the most important dimensions of metal production in all periods - recycling - in an Iron Age copper factory.
Gun Stories: How Evidence Shapes Firearm Policy in the United States

This article examines the role of evidence in the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence's firearm policy debate proximate to the December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. The groups’ member-directed policy narratives are operationalized with The Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), and new categories of evidence for the framework are developed. Analysis of 2,535 paragraphs of member newsletters indicates the groups display different patterns of narrative components. Evidence is associated with narrative elements, and that narrative strategy has a significant, but mixed relationship with evidence. Most importantly, findings indicate that evidence frequently co-occurs with characters, leading us to conclude that evidence has a buttressing, or supportive, role in policy narrative closely associated with character attributions. The findings expand the understanding of evidence in contentious policy debates and offer a new component for NPF theory. Related Articles Nevbahar, Ertas. 2015. “Policy Narratives and Public Opinion Concerning Charter Schools.” Politics & Policy 43 (3): 426-451. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12120/abstract Raile, Eric D., Amber N. W. Raile, Charles T. Salmon, and Lori Ann Post. 2014. “Defining Public Will.” Politics & Policy 42 (1): 103-130. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12063/abstract Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Mark K. McBeth, and Paul T. Hathaway. 2011. “Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Media Policy Narratives on Public Opinion.” Politics & Policy 39 (3): 373-400. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x/abstract Related Media Brady Campaign YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/BradyCampaign National Rifle Association YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/NRAVideos
Generalized min-max bound-based MRI pulse sequence design framework for wide-range T1 relaxometry: A case study on the tissue specific imaging sequence.

This paper proposes a new design strategy for optimizing MRI pulse sequences for T1 relaxometry. The design strategy optimizes the pulse sequence parameters to minimize the maximum variance of unbiased T1 estimates over a range of T1 values using the Cramer-Rao bound. In contrast to prior sequences optimized for a single nominal T1 value, the optimized sequence using our bound-based strategy achieves improved precision and accuracy for a broad range of T1 estimates within a clinically feasible scan time. The optimization combines the downhill simplex method with a simulated annealing process. To show the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, we optimize the tissue specific imaging (TSI) sequence. Preliminary Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the optimized TSI sequence yields improved precision and accuracy over the popular driven-equilibrium single-pulse observation of T1 (DESPOT1) approach for normal brain tissues (estimated T1 700-2000 ms at 3.0T). The relative mean estimation error (MSE) for T1 estimation is less than 1.7% using the optimized TSI sequence, as opposed to less than 7.0% using DESPOT1 for normal brain tissues. The optimized TSI sequence achieves good stability by keeping the MSE under 7.0% over larger T1 values corresponding to different lesion tissues and the cerebrospinal fluid (up to 5000 ms). The T1 estimation accuracy using the new pulse sequence also shows improvement, which is more pronounced in low SNR scenarios.
Unusual presentation of lipoblastoma as a skin dimple of the thigh. A report of three cases.

The term lipoblastoma was first used by Jaffe in 19261 to refer to a tumor of immature fat cells. It was not consistently applied to the benign embryonal adipose tumors that now bear its name until Chung and Enzinger established the initial morphological criteria for its diagnosis in 19732. In doing so, they expanded on the descriptions provided by Vellios et al. in 19583 and by Shear in 19674 in their reports on the diffuse form of the tumor, called lipoblastomatosis. Despite their infrequent occurrence in the overall population and their rare discussion in the literature, lipoblastoma and lipoblastomatosis represent >15% of all benign soft-tissue neoplasms that present in the extremities of children who are five years of age or less5. The typical—almost exclusive—presentation of lipoblastoma as described in the literature is that of a painless soft-tissue mass, with or without progressive enlargement and with or without mass-effect symptoms when located near vital structures. Between February 1999 and October 2002, three children presented to the orthopaedic clinic at our institution for evaluation of thigh dimples; each was found to have a lipoblastoma. The families of our three patients were informed that data concerning the cases would be submitted for publication. Case 1. A thirty-nine-month-old girl presented with a three to four-month history of an enlarging dimple on the proximal part of the lateral aspect of the left thigh. The defect was noticed when it was approximately 7 mm in size, and it had grown to 25 mm in size by the time of presentation to the orthopaedic clinic. No history of trauma or pain was reported. Gestation, birth, development, and the medical history were unremarkable. Physical examination revealed a 2.5-cm, nontender deficit of the subcutaneous fat overlying the left greater trochanter. No …
Structural Biology Facilities at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s High Flux Beam Reactor

The techniques for determining the structure of biological molecules and larger biological assemblies depend on the extent of order in the particular system. At the High Flux Beam Reactor at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Biology Department operates three beam lines dedicated to biological structure studies. These beam lines span the resolution range from approximately 700A to approximately 1.5A and are designed to perform structural studies on a wide range of biological systems. Beam line H3A is dedicated to single crystal diffraction studies of macromolecules, while beam line H3B is designed to study diffraction from partially ordered systems such as biological membranes. Beam line H9B is located on the cold source and is designed for small angle scattering experiments on oligomeric biological systems.
Inequality of Opportunity in Wages and Consumption in Egypt

Most explanations of the recent political upheavals in Egypt since 2011 include a reference to rising inequality, but the usual indicators of income inequality in Egypt do not support that inequality was on the rise prior to the uprisings. In this paper we provide measures of inequality of opportunity in wages and consumption for Egypt at different points in time from 1988 to 2012 that shed light on the gap between popular perceptions and measured indices of inequality. Our findings indicate that although measures of inequality of wage income have increased over time in Egypt starting in 1998, the share attributable to circumstances declined steadily throughout the whole period. We attribute this decline to the fact that outcomes for individuals from a middle class background have moved closer to the outcomes of those from a poor background. The outcomes for those from privileged backgrounds remain quite apart from the rest.
Chapter 4 - Total Synthesis of Schisandra Nortriterpenoids: History, Progress, and Perspective

Schisandra nortriterpenoids are a large group of highly oxygenated polycyclic nortriterpenoids that were isolated from the plants of Schisandraceae , which have been used as traditional Chinese medicine to resist infections, improve skin health, combat insomnia, suppress coughing, and quench thirst. Schisandra nortriterpenoids become fairly attractive targets for synthetic chemists due to the challenging and striking architecture of natural nortriterpenoids. A few members of the group have been synthesized: (±)-schindilactone A, (+)-rubriflordilactone A, (+)-propindilactone G, and schilancitrilactone B and C. The synthetic efforts to other members of the family are still ongoing. This chapter will summarize the history, progress and perspective of total synthesis of Schisandra nortriterpenoids. <div class=" textboxdefault "> Figure options Download full-size image Download high-quality image (67 K) Download as PowerPoint slide
Recursion flattening

High-level synthesis tools automatically generate custom hardware circuits from high-level languages, including popular programming languages like standard ANSI C, but are unable to handle recursive functions. The convenience of recursive algorithms has made recursion a widespread programming practice, therefore limiting the applicability of high-level synthesis tools. We introduce a new synthesis technique, recursion flattening, that reduces the limitations caused by recursion for high-level synthesis. Recursion flattening can eliminate many instances of recursion by determining recursion depth, and then inlining recursive calls. Recursion flattening cannot eliminate all recursion, but we show that the technique succeeds for many common recursive algorithms. We applied the technique to seven recursive benchmarks that previously would not have been synthesizable, resulting in FPGA hardware circuits that run 75x faster on average than if the benchmark were run as microprocessor software. Furthermore, we compared those hardware circuits to circuits synthesized from the same benchmarks coded using non-recursive algorithms, and show nearly identical performance and area for many examples, and significantly increased performance for several examples.
Effects of chronic ketamine on hippocampal cross-frequency coupling: implications for schizophrenia pathophysiology.

Disrupted neuronal oscillations have been identified as a potentially important biomarker for the perceptual and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Emerging evidences suggest that interactions between different frequency bands, cross-frequency coupling (CFC), serve an important role in integrating sensory and cognitive information and may contribute to disease pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated the effects of 14-day consecutive administration of ketamine (30 mg/kg i.p.) vs. saline on alterations in amplitude and changes in the coupling of low-frequency (0-30 Hz) phase and high-frequency (30-115 Hz) amplitude in the CA1 hippocampus of Long Evans rats. Intracranial electrode recordings were conducted pre- and post-injection while the animals performed a foraging task on a four-arm rectangular maze. Permutation analysis of frequency band-specific change in amplitudes revealed between-group differences in theta (6-12 Hz) and slow gamma (25-50 Hz) but not fast gamma (65-100 Hz) bands at both slow and fast speeds. Chronic ketamine challenge resulted in decreased coupling (pre to post) at slow speeds but increased coupling at faster speeds, compared to either no or modest increased coupling in the saline group. These results demonstrate that chronic ketamine administration alters the interaction of low-frequency phase and high-frequency oscillations chronically and that such coupling varies as a function of locomotive speed. These findings provide evidence for the potential relevance of CFC to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Random Thermal Stress in Concrete Containments

Currently, the overly conservative thermal design forces are obtained on the basis of simplified assumptions made about the temperature gradient across the containment wall. Using the method presented in this paper, a more rational and better estimate of the design forces can be obtained. Herein, the outside temperature is considered to consist of a constant mean on which yearly and daily harmonic changes plus a randomly varying part are superimposed. The random part is modeled as a stationary random process. To obtain the stresses due to random and harmonic temperatures, the complex frequency response function approach has been used. Numerical results obtained for a typical containment show that the higher frequency temperature variations, though of large magnitude, induce relatively small forces in a containment. Therefore, in a containment design, a rational separation of more effective, slowly varying temperatures, such as seasonal cycle from less effective but more frequently occuring daily and hourly changes, is desirable to obtain rational design forces.
Psychological Aspects of Industrial Rehabilitation

Psychological factors play a major role in an individual's perceptions of his or her injury and ability to work. The severity of impairment in industrial compensation cases often has little relation to organic signs of injury. Psychological factors involved in assessment and treatment of the injured worker are examined. These factors are treated in relation to the most common industrial injury problem: low back pain. The treatment of patients with chronic pain problems is seen as a psychosocial and behavioral issue, regardless of the severity of physical injury and the presence of organic signs. Some suggestions for alternative treatment are offered.
A Climate of Gridlock: Climate Change Adaptation, Federalism, and Expansion of the National Electric Transmission Grid

This article examines how adaptation to climate change will impact federalism issues in future expansion of the U.S. electrical transmission grid. To date, most legal scholarship on transmission issues and climate change examines transmission in the context of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, by connecting renewable energy generation to the national grid. This article takes a different tack, arguing that accelerating climate disasters, particularly extreme storms and heat waves, will increase political pressure for adapting the grid to withstand a more punishing physical environment. Such adaptation will likely entail dramatic expansion of today’s grid, which is too small to deliver electricity reliably in a hotter, more violent climate. The need for grid expansion, in turn, will likely intensify demands from electric utilities for new federal legislation preempting traditional state authority over transmission construction. Utilities have depicted state obstruction as the main barrier to grid expansion, but this paper argues against the elimination of state authority over transmission siting because of the local resentment such action would trigger. The paper concludes by discussing an alternative to sweeping federal preemption of state authority, one that would adapt the transmission grid to climate change by a new framework of cooperative federalism. This framework would consist of regional, multi-state transmission siting bodies subject to federal oversight, as well as enhanced legal protection for local communities facing environmental impacts or declining property values associated with transmission construction.
Inhibition of Salmonella enterica by Plant-Associated Pseudomonads In Vitro and on Sprouting Alfalfa Seed

Foodborne illness due to the consumption of contaminated raw or lightly cooked sprouts is a continuing food safety concern. In this study, we tested several plant-associated pseudomonads for their ability to inhibit the growth of Salmonella enterica both in vitro and in situ. An agar spot bioassay method was used with three different media. Only Pseudomonas fluorescens 2-79 produced clear zones of inhibition when tested against five serovars of S. enterica, and activity was dependent on media type and serovar. The antibiosis by derivative strains of P. fluorescens 2-79 defective in the production of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and fluorescent siderophore was not reduced, indicating that these known antimicrobial metabolites were not responsible for the inhibition observed in our studies. However, mutants defective in the regulatory gene gacS (global antibiotic and cyanide control) were severely reduced in inhibitory activity. In tryptic soy broth, the control cultures of a cocktail of S. enterica strains reached approximately 10 log CFU/ml by 24 h but, when coinoculated with P. fluorescens 2-79, reached only approximately 5 log CFU/ml. The addition of P. fluorescens 2-79 to the seed soak water prior to the germination of alfalfa seed previously inoculated with a cocktail of S. enterica strains led to an average reduction of 5 log CFU/g at 6 days of sprouting without an adverse effect on sprout yield or appearance. Time course studies indicated that S. enterica outgrowth was controlled on days 1 through 6 of sprouting. Competitive exclusion as a potential food safety intervention for seed sprouts merits further study.
Abstract 214: Genetic and transcriptional instability alters cell line drug response

Inconsistencies in cell line-based studies jeopardize reproducibility of cancer research. Natural evolution leading to genetic and transcriptional heterogeneity within cancer cell lines may contribute to such inconsistencies. To systematically test this hypothesis, we performed comprehensive genetic and transcriptomic characterization of 27 strains of the common breast cancer cell line MCF7, and then assessed the response of those strains to 321 anti-cancer compounds. We found extensive variation in genomic profiles and responses to small molecules across strains. Genetic variation occurred at all levels – point mutations, rearrangements, and copy number changes – and affected multiple oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Similar findings were obtained across 23 strains of the lung cancer cell line A549, indicating that such variation is a general property of cancer cell lines. These changes resulted in substantial differences in gene expression programs, cell morphology and proliferation, and strikingly high variability in drug response. Over 75% of the compounds that exhibited strong activity in some of the strains, were completely inactive in other strains. These results indicate that genomic variation within commonly used cancer cell lines is extensive, resulting in disparate drug responses. Such variation may contribute to difficulties in conducting reproducible cell line-based studies. Citation Format: Uri Ben-David, Ben Siranosian, Gavin Ha, Helen Tang, Nicholas J. Lyons, Robert Burns, Anwesha Nag, Beth Cimini, Peter Tsvetkov, Andrew A. Tubelli, Bang Wong, Aaron R. Thorner, Joshua Bittker, Matthew Meyerson, Rameen Beroukhim, Todd R. Golub. Genetic and transcriptional instability alters cell line drug response [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 214.
CT-Guided Percutaneous Spine Biopsy Specimen Adequacy, Pathology Concordance, and Negative Predictive Value with Battery-Powered Drill and Manual Approaches

Abstract Objective Determine computed tomography-guided percutaneous spine biopsy specimen adequacy, pathology-imaging concordance, and negative predictive value with battery-powered drill vs manual approach. Materials and Methods One-hundred-fourteen consecutive computed tomography-guided percutaneous spine biopsies in 109 patients (age: 61.1 ± 15.4 years; range: 17-90 years; males: 55, 50.5%; females: 54, 49.5%) performed at a single institution from September 2013 through January 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Specimen adequacy was recorded. Imaging-pathology concordance was assessed. Chi-square tests compared specimen adequacy and imaging-pathology concordance obtained with a battery-powered drill vs manual approach. Negative predictive values were calculated. Results Battery-powered drill yielded slightly better, but not statistically significant, specimen adequacy (96% vs 90% overall, P = 0.270; 96% vs 89% for suspected neoplasm, P = 0.278; 95% vs 90% for suspected infection, P = 0.514), pathology-imaging concordance (82% vs 74% overall, P = 0.301; 92% vs 77% for suspected neoplasm, P = 0.107; 71% vs 65% for suspected infection, P = 0.602), and negative predictive value (65% vs 41% overall; 75% vs 33% for suspected neoplasm; 58% vs 33% for suspected infection). Four battery-powered drill procedures were technically unsuccessful. Conclusions Use of a battery-powered drill appears to yield similar to slightly better spine biopsy specimens than a manual approach, but also appears to carry a greater risk of technical failure. The battery-powered drill may be particularly helpful for procedures with complex approaches, but trajectory planning remains of paramount importance.
Antitumor effects of Tv1 venom peptide in liver cancer

Abstract A strategy for treating the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) applies a targeted therapy using venom peptides that are selective for ion channels and transporters overexpressed in tumor cells. Here, we report selective anti-HCC properties of Tv1, a venom peptide from the predatory marine terebrid snail, Terebra variegata. Tv1 was applied in vitro to liver cancer cells and administered in vivo to allograft tumor mouse models. Tv1 inhibited the proliferation of murine HCC cells via calcium dependent apoptosis resulting from down-regulation of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway. Additionally, tumor sizes were significantly reduced in Tv1-treated syngeneic tumor-bearing mice. Tv1’s mechanism of action involves binding to specific transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels that are overexpressed in HCC cell models. Our findings demonstrate the unique potential of venom peptides to function as tumor specific ligands in the quest for targeted cancer therapies.
Triple oxygen and hydrogen isotopic study of hydrothermally altered rocks from the 2.43-2.41 Ga Vetreny belt, Russia: An insight into the early Paleoproterozoic seawater

Abstract The early Paleoproterozoic represents a period of rapid changes in Earth systems that could have affected the stable isotopic composition of seawater. The well-preserved pillow structures, hyaloclastites and komatiitic basalts of the 2.43–2.41 Ga Vetreny belt, Baltic Shield provide a record of high-temperature water-rock interaction induced by contemporaneous seawater. Here we present results of mineralogical, fluid inclusion, hydrogen, and triple oxygen isotopic analysis of hydrothermal alteration products. Emphasis is given to vein-filling quartz and epidote as they likely formed at high water-rock ratios. Ten minerals pairs, quartz-epidote and quartz-calcite, returned temperatures of isotopic equilibrium between 286 and 387 °C, which compares well to the homogenization temperatures measured for saline fluid inclusions hosted in vein quartz. The computed δD and δ18O values of equilibrium fluids range between −31 and +12‰, and −1.36 and +3.20‰, respectively, which overlap with the isotopic composition of ice-free world seawater and fluids generated at submarine hydrothermal systems. This is the earliest piece of evidence suggesting that early Paleoproterozoic seawater had a δD value close to 0‰. We also present triple oxygen isotopic composition of quartz and epidote that formed in similar facies of hydrothermal alteration from the relatively young (6–7 Ma) oceanic crust as sampled by the ODP Hole 504B in the eastern Pacific Ocean. These data show similarity to the triple oxygen isotope analyses of the Vetreny belt rocks indicating that the 2.43–2.41 Ga seawater had the Δ17O value close to that of modern-day seawater. Due to small fractionation at 300–390 °C (αepidote-water ≈ 1), epidotes present a strong evidence that equilibrium fluids had Δ′17O values close to 0‰. Based on the previously published quartz-water calibration, the computed Δ17O values of equilibrium fluids range between −0.11 and −0.03‰, significantly lower than that of seawater or inferred seawater-derived fluids at low water-rock ratios. This can be explained by multiple factors including phase separation of fluids or/and presence of low-temperature quartz overgrowths. Both are reflected in the fluid inclusion data and in situ δ18O measurements by ion microprobe (SIMS) presented here. Overall, our study suggests that the δ18O, Δ17O and δD values of the 2.43–2.41 Ga seawater were −1.7 ± 1.1, −0.001 ± 0.011 and 0 ± 20‰ respectively, similar to the modern values, which reflects the dominant role of submarine hydrothermal alteration in the stable isotopic budget of seawater throughout Earth’s history.
Tangential Flow Microfiltration for Viral Separation and Concentration

Microfluidic devices that allow biological particle separation and concentration have found wide applications in medical diagnosis. Here we present a viral separation polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device that combines tangential flow microfiltration and affinity capture to enrich HIV virus in a single flow-through fashion. The set-up contains a filtration device and a tandem resistance channel. The filtration device consists of two parallel flow channels separated by a polycarbonate nanoporous membrane. The resistance channel, with dimensions design-guided by COMSOL simulation, controls flow permeation through the membrane in the filtration device. A flow-dependent viral capture efficiency is observed, which likely reflects the interplay of several processes, including specific binding of target virus, physical deposition of non-specific particles, and membrane cleaning by shear flow. At the optimal flow rate, nearly 100% of viral particles in the permeate are captured on the membrane with various input viral concentrations. With its easy operation and consistent performance, this microfluidic device provides a potential solution for HIV sample preparation in resource-limited settings.
Relationship Trajectories in the Margins: Considerations of the Structure and Course of Nonmonogamous Relationships

As researchers who study alternatives to monogamy, we find Eastwick et al.’s (this issue) framework compelling. Our particular interest is in the application of the framework to relationships that ...
Hyperacetylated Chromatin Domains Mark Cell Type-Specific Genes and Suggest Distinct Modes of Enhancer Function

Stratification of enhancers by relative signal strength in ChIP-seq assays has resulted in the establishment of super-enhancers as a widespread and useful tool for identifying cell type-specific, highly expressed genes and associated pathways. We have examined a distinct method of stratification that focuses on peak breadth, and use it to classify broad regions exhibiting histone modifications associated with gene activation as "hyperacetylated chromatin domains" (HCDs). We find that application of this analysis to multiple datasets serves to identify genes that are both more highly expressed and more closely aligned to cell identity than super-enhancer analysis does. Moreover, genetic manipulations of selected gene loci suggest that at least some HCDs harbor enhancers that work by distinct mechanisms, and in turn reveal that the super-enhancer concept can obscure important functions of constituent elements.
Pacific Visions: A Bold Departure for an Aquarium to Enhance Ocean Education

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach California, the 4th largest aquarium in the U.S. in terms of attendance, needed to expand to accommodate its growing attendance. It chose to depart from traditional aquarium expansions that focus on more and larger tanks to display more and larger marine animals and to focus instead on the one animal that is putting all other animals on the planet—aquatic and terrestrial—at risk. That animal is of course us. The new wing called Pacific Visions is a permanent commitment to telling the story of the changing relationship of humans with the Earth and World Ocean and what it will take to make that relationship sustainable. It uses media, technology, interactives, and some live marine animals to tell this story. The story was created with the assistance of some of the world's best scientists. It doesn't pull any punches concerning the severity of the problems of climate change, but offers hope if we use the knowledge and technology we have.
Potential and mechanism of mebendazole for treatment and maintenance of ovarian cancer

Abstract Objective Mebendazole and other anti-parasitic drugs are being used off-prescription based on social media and unofficial accounts of their anti-cancer activity. The purpose of this study was to conduct a controlled evaluation of mebendazole's therapeutic efficacy in cell culture and in vivo models of ovarian cancer. The majority of ovarian cancers harbor p53 null or missense mutations, therefore the effects of p53 mutations and a mutant p53 reactivator, PRIMA-1MET (APR246) on mebendazole activity were evaluated. Methods Mebendazole was evaluated in cisplatin-resistant high grade serous stage 3C ovarian cancer patient derived xenograft (PDX) models: PDX-0003 (p53 null) and PDX-0030 (p53 positive), and on ovarian cancer cell lines: MES-OV (p53 R282W), ES2 (p53 S241F), A2780 (p53 wild type), SKOV3 parental (p53 null) and isogenic sublines, SKOV3 R273H p53 and SKOV3 R248W p53. Drug synergy and mechanisms were evaluated in cell cultures using isobolograms, clonogenic assays and western blots. Prevention of tumor establishment was studied in a MES-OV orthotopic model. Results Mebendazole inhibited growth of ovarian cancer cell cultures at nanomolar concentrations and PDXs at doses up to 50 mg/kg, and reduced orthotopic tumor establishment at 50 mg/kg. The mechanism of mebendazole was associated with p53-independent induction of p21 and tubule depolymerization. PRIMA-1MET also inhibited tumor establishment and worked synergistically with mebendazole in cell culture to inhibit growth and induce intrinsic apoptosis through a p53- and tubule destabilization-independent mechanism. Conclusion This work demonstrates the therapeutic potential of repurposing mebendazole and supports clinical development of mebendazole for ovarian cancer therapy and maintenance.
Stroke and Chronic Kidney Disease in Fabry Disease.

Abstract Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the GLA gene leading to a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A). Multiple organ systems are implicated in Fabry disease, most severely the cardiac, kidney, and central nervous systems. In this brief review, we will focus on the kidney and central nervous system involvement.
PIM447 inhibits oncogenesis and potentiates cisplatin effects in hepatoblastoma.

Background Novel therapies are needed for patients with hepatoblastoma because of an increasing incidence of disease and poor prognosis for advanced, refractory, and recurrent disease. PIM kinases promote tumorigenesis in hepatoblastoma. A novel PIM inhibitor, PIM447, has shown promise in inhibiting oncogenesis in hematologic and lymphoid malignancies. We hypothesized that PIM inhibition with PIM447 would result in decreased tumorigenesis in hepatoblastoma. Methods The effects of PIM447 on hepatoblastoma viability, proliferation, motility, apoptosis, and tumor cell stemness were assessed in HuH6, a human hepatoblastoma cell line, and COA67, a human hepatoblastoma patient-derived xenograft. Results PIM447 significantly decreased the viability, proliferation, and motility of HuH6 and COA67 cells. Apoptosis significantly increased following PIM447 treatment. PIM447 had a significant impact on tumor cell stemness as evidenced by decreased expression of CD133 and reduced ability of HuH6 and COA67 cells to form tumorspheres. Furthermore, combining PIM447 with cisplatin resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability compared to either treatment alone. Conclusion We showed that PIM447 inhibits oncogenesis and potentiates the effects of cisplatin in hepatoblastoma and, therefore, warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for hepatoblastoma.