cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying local heterogeneity of in vivo transport dynamics using stochastic scanning multiphoton multifocal microscopy and segmented spatiotemporal image correlation spectroscopy

Elucidating the mechanisms of insulin granule trafficking in pancreatic β-cells is a critical step in understanding Type II Diabetes and abnormal insulin secretion. In this paper, rapid-sampling stochastic scanning multiphoton multifocal microscopy (SS-MMM) was developed to capture fast insulin granule dynamics in vivo. Stochastic scanning of (a diffractive optic generated) 10×10 hexagonal array of foci with a galvanometer yields a uniformly sampled image with fewer spatio-temporal artifacts than obtained by conventional or multibeam raster scanning. In addition, segmented spatio-temporal image correlation spectroscopy (Segmented STICS) was developed to extract dynamics of insulin granules from the image sequences. Measurements we conducted on MIN6 cells, which exhibit an order of magnitude lower granule number density, allow comparison of particle tracking with Segmented-STICS. Segmentation of the images into 8×8 pixel segments (similar to a size of one granule) allows some amount of spatial averaging, which can reduce the computation time required to calculate the correlation function, yet retains information about the local spatial heterogeneity of transport. This allows the correlation analysis to quantify the dynamics within each of the segments producing a "map" of the localized properties of the cell. The results obtained from Segmented STICS are compared with dynamics determined from particle tracking analysis of the same images. The resulting range of diffusion coefficients of insulin granules are comparable to previously published values indicating that SS-MMM and segmented- STICS will be useful to address the imaging challenges presented by β-cells, particularly the extremely large number density of granules.
The Student Dust Counter: Status report at 23 AU

The Student Dust Counter (SDC) is an impact dust detector on board the New Horizons Mission to Pluto. SDC was designed to resolve the mass of dust grains in the range of 10−12 < m < 10−9 g, covering an approximate size range of 0.5–10 μm in particle radius. The measurements can be directly compared to the prediction of a grain trajectory tracing model of dust originating from Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt (EKB). Comparing our measurements and model prediction is used to estimate the net mass production rate and the ejecta mass distribution power law exponent to be and , respectively. Through April 2012, the New Horizons spacecraft reached approximately 23 AU, enabling SDC to map the dust density distribution along its path.
Constructing Feminist Teachers: Complexities of identity

ABSTRACT This article explores the synergistic relationship between the construction of identities and teaching practices of those using feminist teaching in higher education classrooms. I propose that teachers do not construct their identities in isolation, but rather are strongly influenced by the expectations of other participants in the educative process. Through qualitative research data, I suggest that teachers and their practices are simultaneously objects and subjects in their fluctuating identity constructions as feminist teachers. Further, I explore how the existence of and attention to teachers' and students' identities can be used as a tool in teaching and learning processes.
The life concept in female college students: An exploratory analysis.

In the present study a two-part animism questionnaire was devised and administered to 200 female undergraduate students who had fairly extensive course backgrounds in science. When these students were asked to classify each of 15 objects as “living” or “nonliving,” 67% (N=134) gave evidence of apparent animistic thought. Yet when the subjects were asked to choose which of several statements reflected their own definition of living, 66% (N=132) claimed that “only plants and animals are living.” Scientific background did not relate to performance on either section of the questionnaire. Results indicate that although the primary orientation of many young adults toward the word living is not a biological one, most college students areable to classify stimuli according to this criterion.
The influence of thermal history on structure and water transport in Parylene C coatings

Abstract Poly(monochloro- p -xylylene) (Parylene C) coatings are commonly used in a number of applications due to their robust properties and unique ability to be deposited directly from the vapor phase. Recently, Parylene C has been used in new medical devices, where an accurate assessment and understanding of liquid transport and its relationship to the polymer structure is critical in design and evaluation. In this study, the diffusion of liquid water in Parylene C coatings was examined as a function of the thermal history with in situ time-resolved Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, while the polymer structure was investigated with in situ X-ray scattering. Anomalous transport behavior was observed, where dynamic infrared spectra provide evidence of water diffusion and water-induced polymer relaxation occurring on similar time scales. Both of these phenomena were quantified and regressed to a diffusion–relaxation model to determine the diffusion coefficient and polymer relaxation time constant. After thermal treatment of the Parylene C coating, the water diffusivity reduced by 2-fold, which can be attributed to the increase in crystallinity and the evolution of a new crystalline phase in Parylene C.
Modeling solute transport in structured soils: a review

Abstract Solute transport in structured soils is and has been the focus of a significant research effort. Transport in such systems is often characterized by nonideal phenomena. These phenomena have usually been ascribed to the presence of immobile domains within the porous medium, which results in physical nonequilibrium. The phenomena can also, in some cases, be attributed to rate-limited sorption (i.e., sorption nonequilibrium). These processes are often modeled using a bicontinuum approach. It might be expected, for fieldscale problems, that nonequilibrium may be the result of more than one contributing process. A model that explicitly accounts for multiple sources of nonequilibrium would be preferable for such cases. The various models developed for simulating solute transport under nonequilibrium conditions are reviewed.
Tumor spectrum analysis in p53-mutant mice.

Abstract Background: The p53 tumor suppressor gene is mutated in a large percentage of human malignancies, including tumors of the colon, breast, lung and brain. Individuals who inherit one mutant allele of p53 are susceptible to a wide range of tumor types. The gene encodes a transcriptional regulator that may function in the cellular response to DNA damage. The construction of mouse strains carrying germline mutations of p53 facilitates analysis of the function of p53 in normal cells and tumorigenesis. Results In order to study the effects of p53 mutation in vivo , we have constructed a mouse strain carrying a germline disruption of the gene. This mutation removes approximately 40 % of the coding capacity of p53 and completely eliminates synthesis of p53 protein. As observed previously for a different germline mutation of p53 , animals homozygous for this p53 deletion mutation are viable but highly predisposed to malignancy. Heterozygous animals also have an increased cancer risk, although the distribution of tumor types in these animals differs from that in homozygous mutants. In most cases, tumorigenesis in heterozygous animals is accompanied by loss of the wild-type p53 allele. Conclusion We reaffirm that p53 function is not required for normal mouse development and conclude that p53 status can strongly influence tumor latency and tissue distribution.
Enhanced Tracheostomy Wound Healing Using Maltodextrin and Silver Alginate Compounds in Pediatrics: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy wounds are commonly encountered in children but rarely reported. Relatively few treatments are available or have been investigated to manage this problem. Healing times for pediatric tracheostomy wounds are often unpredictable and protracted. Recent use of maltodextrin gel (MD) and a silver alginate sponge (AG) at our institution has demonstrated expedited healing and interest in this novel treatment for tracheostomy wounds. METHODS: We conducted an 11-month retrospective review of children with wound complications following tracheostomy placement at a tertiary care facility. Wounds were evaluated and rated based upon the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel staging system. Subjects identified with stage 2 or greater tracheostomy-related ulcers treated with MD and/or AG were included. Subject characteristics and wound healing rates were tabulated in a database that included age, wound site, initial and final wound stage, type of treatment, length of treatment, and complications. Tracheostomy wounds treated as an out-patient were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Eighteen subjects, which included both in-patients and out-patients, were treated with AG and/or MD during the study period for tracheostomy-related wounds. Of the 26 subjects with tracheostomies performed during the study period, 10 (38.5%) were treated for postoperative wounds. A total of 11 subjects completed their in-patient wound treatment and were thus included in the study. Average subject age was 5.3 y (range 0.25–15.6 y). Wound locations were as follows: infrastomal region (n = 8), stoma (n = 2), and lateral neck (n = 1). Six subjects had stage 2 wounds, 4 had stage 3 wounds, and 1 had a stage 4 ulcer. All wounds achieved complete epithelialization following treatment with MD and/or AG. The average length of treatment was 12.8 d (range 6–28 d). No adverse effects were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative tracheostomy wounds are common. The use of MD and AG provides an effective and safe treatment for tracheostomy-related ulcers.
The Pain Imaging Revolution: Advancing Pain Into the 21st Century:

The great advances in brain imaging techniques over the last few decades have determined a shift in our understanding of chronic pain conditions and opened the door for new opportunities to develop better diagnoses and perhaps better drug treatments. Neuroimaging has helped shape the concept of chronic pain from a disease affecting mainly the somatosensory system, to a condition in which emotional, cognitive, and modulatory areas of the brain are affected, in addition to degenerative processes. All these contribute to the development and maintenance of pain symptoms and comorbid features, including alterations in anxiety, depression, and cognitive processes. In this article the authors review the current understanding of the brain changes in chronic pain and the developments made possible by the use of various brain imaging techniques. They also discuss the possible applications of brain imaging to developing a “pain phenotype” that could aid in diagnostic and treatment choices of chronic pain conditions.
Infantile Hemangioma: Treatment with Surgery or Steroids

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) often pose a significant risk to visual development. The lesions interfere with visual development by causing deprivation, astigmatism, or strabismus. Propranolol has bee...
Venous Hyperoxia after Cardiac Arrest: Characterization of a Defect in Systemic Oxygen Utilization

Background Supranormal mixed venous oxygen saturation (mixed venous hyperoxia), although reported, has never been characterized in humans resuscitated from cardiac arrest (postarrest cardiogenic shock). By contrast, cardiogenic shock without cardiopulmonary arrest (primary cardiogenic shock) is accompanied by mixed venous hypoxia under similar conditions of low oxygen delivery (Do 2 ). The appearance of mixed venous hyperoxia indicates an excessive supply relative to demand in perfused tissue or cellular impairment of oxygen utilization, ie , low systemic oxygen consumption (Vo 2 ). Failure to improve Vo, has been associated with a poor outcome in other shock states. Study Objective This study evaluates the clinical significance of mixed venous hyperoxia and its implications for impaired systemic oxygen utilization. The oxygen transport patterns in surviving and nonsurviving cardiac arrest patients are compared for their prognostic and therapeutic implications. Study Design Consecutive, nonrandomized series. Setting Large urban emergency department (ED). Participants: Adult normothermic, nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients presenting to the ED who develop a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Interventions On arrival to the ED, a fiberoptic catheter was placed in the central venous position for continuous central venous oxygen saturation monitoring (ScvO 2 ). A proximal aortic catheter was placed via the femoral artery for blood pressure monitoring. Upon ROSC, the fiberoptic catheter was advanced to the pulmonary artery. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), Vo 2 , Do 2 , systemic oxygen extraction ratio (OER), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI-dynes·s/cm 5 ·m 2 ) were measured immediately and every 30 min. The duration of cardiac arrest (DCA) in minutes and amount of epinephrine (milligrams) administered during ACLS was recorded. Measurements and Results Twenty-three patients were entered into the study. Survivors (living more than 24 h) and nonsurvivors (living less than 24 h) were compared. Conclusions These findings indicate an impairment of systemic oxygen utilization in postarrest cardiogenic shock patients. In spite of a lower Do, than survivors, the OER in nonsurvivors remained lower than expected. Venous hyperoxia is a clinical manifestation of this derangement. Epinephrine dose may have a causal relationship. The inability to attain a Vo, of greater than 90 ml/min·m 2 after the first 6 h of aggressive therapy was associated with a 100 percent mortality in 24 h.
The Allen Cognitive Level Test and social competence in adult psychiatric patients.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive disability and social skills in an acute care adult inpatient psychiatric population (n = 55). Method Independent ratings of patient's social skills were made during a semistructured interview using the Social Interaction Test (SIT), followed by measurement of cognitive disability using the revised Allen Cognitive Level Test (ACL-90). Reliability of the assessments was established. Results Significant correlations were found between the ACL-90 and SIT scores: patients with greater cognitive disability had poorer social skills. ACL-90 scores were not related to gender or diagnosis. A gender difference was found for SIT scores with women having better social skills than men. Conclusion These findings suggest there is a relationship between cognitive disability and social skills in adult psychiatric inpatients. Implications for occupational therapy treatment include better integration of the grading of the cognitive and social requirements of tasks to achieve optimal functioning.
On input-to-state stability for time varying nonlinear systems

Input-to-state stability was introduced about 10 years ago. This notion is nowadays a central concept in the analysis of nonlinear systems. However, most theoretical developments dealt mainly with time invariant systems. In this work we study the Lyapunov characterizations of input-to-state stability for time varying nonlinear systems, and in particular, for periodic time varying systems. We also present a small gain theorem for time varying nonlinear systems.
Impact of Prostate Weight on Probability of Positive Surgical Margins in Patients With Low-risk Prostate Cancer After Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of prostate weight (PW) on probability of positive surgical margin (PSM) in patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for low-risk prostate cancer. METHODS The cohort consisted of 690 men with low-risk prostate cancer (clinical stage T1c, prostate-specific antigen <10 ng/mL, biopsy Gleason score ≤6) who underwent RARP with bilateral nerve-sparing at our institution by 1 of 2 surgeons from 2003 to 2009. PW was obtained from the pathologic specimen. The association between probability of PSM and PW was assessed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS A PSM was identified in 105 patients (15.2%). Patients with PSM had significant higher prostate-specific antigen (P = .04), smaller prostates (P = .0001), higher Gleason score (P = .004), and higher pathologic stage (P < .0001). After logistic regression, we found a significant inverse relation between PSM and PW (OR 0.97%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96, 0.99; P = .0003) in univariate analysis. This remained significant in the multivariate model (OR 0.98%; 95% CI 0.96, 0.99; P = .006) adjusting for age, body mass index, surgeon experience, pathologic Gleason score, and pathologic stage. In this multivariate model, the predicted probability of PSM for 25-, 50-, 100-, and 150-g prostates were 22% (95% CI 16%, 30%), 13% (95% CI 11%, 16%), 5% (95% CI 1%, 8%), and 1% (95% CI 0%, 3%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Lower PW is independently associated with higher probability of PSM in low-risk patients undergoing RARP with bilateral nerve-sparing.
2J-6 Parallel Tracking and Other Methods for Real-Time ARFI Imaging Systems

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is a useful method for characterizing the local mechanical properties of tissue. Relevant issues in creating a real-time ARFI imaging system include patient exposure, observation time per image location, field-of-view, and data porting and processing. We propose two methods to increase ARFI frame rates without compromising patient safety. We have implemented ARFI imaging with parallel tracking and alternating receive foci in tissue mimicking phantoms. Parallel receive beamforming is used to simultaneously track multiple locations from a single pushing pulse. Alternating the lateral positions of receive foci on each tracking pulse can be used to observe the response of tissue over a larger region. These parallel techniques are demonstrated in a tissue mimicking phantoms using ratios of 4:1, 8:1, and 12:1. Displacement images using parallel tracking were compared to images created with conventional tracking. Images using the parallel tracking showed little difference to the images produced by conventional tracking after a short wait time
Synthesis and Field Evaluation of the Sex Pheromone of Stenoma catenifer (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae)

Field trials of the sex pheromone of an important and potentially invasive pest of avocados, Persea americana Miller (Lauraceae), Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae), were carried out in commercial avocado orchards in Guatemala. The results indicated that the pheromone consists of a single component, (9Z)-9,13-tetradecadien-1-ynal; blends of this compound with a range of ratios of the corresponding alcohol and acetate, or with (6Z,9Z)-tricosadiene, which was present in pheromone gland extracts, were equally or less attractive to male moths than the single component. A range of doses from 10 microg to 1 mg were equally attractive, and lures remained attractive for periods of several weeks. Male moth flight activity peaked between 0230 and 0430 hours. Overall, trap catches were relatively low, similar to what was reported for the congeneric Stenoma cecropia Meyrick, suggesting that this species may use other signals in addition to pheromones during mate location. Nevertheless, the pheromone will be useful for detection of S. catenifer, particularly in areas where there is a risk of the moth invading and establishing due to increased commerce in fresh avocados, and for certifying export orchards as being free of S. catenifer.
Leadership and Writing: How Principals' Knowledge, Beliefs, and Interventions Affect Writing Instruction in Elementary and Secondary Schools:

Purpose: This study explored the perceptions of teachers regarding principal support for and understanding of effective writing instruction and whether certain areas of knowledge influence principals' actions and interventions.Research Design:Researchers surveyed teacher participants using the Principal's Support for Writing Instrument and also asked whether their principal was trained in writing as a process. The sample (N = 169) included elementary and secondary rural, urban, and suburban teachers.Findings: An exploratory principle-axis factor analysis with a promax rotation was conducted to determine the underlying structure of the 13 survey items. Results of the factor analysis yielded a two-factor correlated solution. The first factor accounted for 55.79% of the variance and the second for 6.94%. The two-factor correlated structure was confirmed using structural equation modeling. Most fit statistics were observed to be good. Using the subscales as observed variables, a path analysis was conducted us...
RESP: a robust physical unclonable function retrofitted into embedded SRAM array

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) have emerged as an attractive primitive to address diverse hardware security issues in Integrated Circuits (ICs). A majority of existing PUFs rely on a dedicated circuit structure for generating chip-specific signatures, which often imposes concerns due to area/power overhead and extra design efforts. Furthermore, existing PUF-based signature generation cannot be employed to authenticate chips already in the market. In this paper, we propose RESP, a novel PUF structure realized in embedded SRAM array, a prevalent component in processors and system-on-chips (SOCs), with virtually no design modification. RESP leverages on voltage-depend memory access failures (during write) to produce large volume of high-quality challenge-response pairs. Since many modern ICs integrate SRAM array of varying size with isolated power grid, RESP can be easily retrofitted into these chips. Circuit-level simulation of 1000 chips using realistic process variation model shows high uniqueness of 49.2% average inter-die Hamming distance and good reproducibility of 2.88% intra-die Hamming distance under temperature <; 85°C. The device aging effect, e.g. bias temperature instability (BTI), results in only 4.95% estimated unstable bits for ten-year usage.
Laws of motion and precession for black holes and other bodies

Laws of motion and precession are derived for a Kerr black hole or any other body which is far from all other sources of gravity ("isolated body") and has multipole moments that change slowly with time. Previous work by D’Eath and others has shown that to high accuracy the body moves along a geodesic of the surrounding spacetime geometry, and Fermi-Walker transports its angular-momentum vector. This paper derives the largest corrections to the geodesic law of motion and Fermi-Walker law of transport. These corrections are due to coupling of the body’s angular momentum and quadrupole moment to the Riemann curvature of the surrounding spacetime. The resulting laws of motion and precession are identical to those that have been derived previously, by many researchers, for test bodies with negligible self-gravity. However, the derivation given here is valid for any isolated body, regardless of the strength of its self-gravity. These laws of motion and precession can be converted into equations of motion and precession by combining them with an approximate solution to the Einstein field equations for the surrounding spacetime. As an example, the conversion is carried out for two gravitationally bound systems of bodies with sizes much less than their separations. The resulting equations of motion and precession are derived accurately through post1.5-Newtonian order. For the special case of two Kerr black holes orbiting each other, these equations of motion and precession (which include couplings of the holes’ spins and quadrupole moments to spacetime curvature) reduce to equations previously derived by D’Eath. The precession due to coupling of a black hole’s quadrupole moment to surrounding curvature may be large enough, if the hole lives at the center of a very dense star cluster, for observational detection by its effects on extragalactic radio jets. Unless the hole rotates very slowly, this quadrupole-induced precession is far larger than the spin-down of the hole by tidal distortion ("horizon viscosity"). When the hole is in orbit around a massive companion, the quadrupole-induced precession is far smaller than geodetic precession.
Variation in learning curves and competence for ERCP among advanced endoscopy trainees by using cumulative sum analysis

Background and Aims There are limited data on learning curves and competence in ERCP. By using a standardized data collection tool, we aimed to prospectively define learning curves and measure competence among advanced endoscopy trainees (AETs) by using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. Methods AETs were evaluated by attending endoscopists starting with the 26th hands-on ERCP examination and then every ERCP examination during the 12-month training period. A standardized ERCP competency assessment tool (using a 4-point scoring system) was used to grade the examination. CUSUM analysis was applied to produce learning curves for individual technical and cognitive components of ERCP performance (success defined as a score of 1, acceptable and unacceptable failures [p1] of 10% and 20%, respectively). Sensitivity analyses varying p1 and by using a less-stringent definition of success were performed. Results Five AETs were included with a total of 1049 graded ERCPs (mean ± SD, 209.8 ± 91.6/AET). The majority of cases were performed for a biliary indication (80%). The overall and native papilla allowed cannulation times were 3.1 ± 3.6 and 5.7 ± 4, respectively. Overall learning curves demonstrated substantial variability for individual technical and cognitive endpoints. Although nearly all AETs achieved competence in overall cannulation, none achieved competence for cannulation in cases with a native papilla. Sensitivity analyses increased the proportion of AETs who achieved competence. Conclusion This study demonstrates that there is substantial variability in ERCP learning curves among AETs. A specific case volume does not ensure competence, especially for native papilla cannulation.
Exploring novice programmer example use

Both experienced and novice programmers use examples while programming, whether from tutorials, forums, or source code. Novice programmers, however, often find it challenging to use unfamiliar example code. Little is known about the challenges of using examples, making it difficult to design support for novice programmer example use. We ran an exploratory study of novices using examples to complete programming tasks. To analyze programming behaviors, we define the ‘realization point’ as the time when the participants discover the crucial concept in an example. Our results show that participants spent more time after the realization point using the example than they did identifying which part of the example to use. We describe hurdles and strategies, types of tasks behaviors, and finally, implications for supporting example use.
Effect of planting date, cultivar, and seed treatment on leaf rust severity of wheat along the Gulf Coast.

The effects of planting date, cultivar, and seed treatments on wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Ericks) were studied in the 1995 and 1996 at two sites in Louisiana. Three winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, differing in susceptibility to leaf rust, were planted 21 to 35 days early and at a recommended date. FFR 525 was susceptible, Coker 9835 was moderately susceptible, and Pioneer brand 2566 was moderately resistant to prevalent races of leaf rust. Seed fungicide treatments were: Vitavax® 200 and Baytan® 30 plus Captan® 30-DD, plus a non-treated control. Across cultivars, early planting resulted in higher leaf rust levels in both years compared to planting wheat at the later date. The rust susceptible FFR 525W, when planted at the recommended date, had lower areas under rust progress curves than when planted early. The moderately resistant Pioneer 2566 may be planted early or at the recommended date, while Coker 9835 should be planted at the recommended date. Seed treatment fungicides provided limited control of leaf rust in only one environment. Planting within the recommended planting period with a resistant cultivar provided the most reliable disease control.
Abstract IA02: The application of integrative sequencing for precision oncology

Studies of the genomic landscape of human cancers have demonstrated that most solid cancers have a multitude of mutations, a subset of which may be “actionable” with current drugs. Thus, the personalization of therapy for cancer will require molecular characterization of unique and shared genetic aberrations. Patients who have advanced/refractory cancer and are candidates for clinical trials could potentially benefit by identifying eligibility for “targeted” drugs based on the “actionable” genes in their specific tumor. Growing technological advances in genomic sequencing has now made it possible to consider the use of sequence data in a clinical setting. MI-ONCOSEQ initiative brings together expertise at the University of Michigan including clinical oncology, cancer genetics, bioinformatics, clinical pathology, social and behavioral sciences, and bioethics in order to implement clinical cancer sequencing. Our study identifies patients with advanced or refractory cancers that are eligible for clinical trials, consent them to the study, obtain biospecimens (tumor tissue, germline tissue) and store clinical data. The clinical sequencing team processes biospecimens, performs comprehensive sequencing and analysis of tumors to identify point mutations, copy number changes, rearrangements/gene fusions, and aberrant gene expression. Finally, a multi-disciplinary Sequencing Tumor Board deliberates on return of actionable or incidental genomic results. Citation Format: Arul Chinnaiyan. The application of integrative sequencing for precision oncology. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Computational and Systems Biology of Cancer; Feb 8-11 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 2):Abstract nr IA02.
Perinatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is at present one of the most commonly encountered acute perinatal insults to brain and is a major cause of death in low-birth-weight infants.12,30,67,89,90 IVH is associated clinically with respiratory distress in from 50 to 95% of cases and is the most common neuropathological finding in infants dying with this disorder.44 Improvement in the management of the complex of problems faced by the premature neonate has led to the survival of many infants who have sustained IVH. Recent statistics of longterm morbidity indicate an ultimately poor outcome with a high incidence of developmental retardation, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and learning disability.16,35–38 If severe IVH is associated with intraparenchymal hemorrhage, then the mortality is 88% in preterm newborns less than 1000 g and is 36% in preterm neonates greater than 1000 g with most survivors severely afflicted.48a Therefore, accurate diagnosis of IVH, identification of prognostic factors, and management of posthemorrhagic complications have become of increasing importance in the neonatal intensive care unit population.
Treatment of SCCVII Tumors with Systemic Chemotherapy and Interleukin-12 Gene Therapy Combination

Cyclophosphamide and Interleukin-12 (IL-12) have been successfully used in clinical trials for treating malignancies. In this study, we explore the coadministration of cyclophosphamide and IL-12 plasmid DNA followed by electroporation for treating SCCVII in mice. Cyclophosphamide, IL-12 plasmid DNA, or a combination of both was injected intramuscularly in mice bearing SCCVII tumors. The tumor growth, survival, cytokine expression, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, and vascular density were analyzed. Coadministration of cyclophosphamide and IL-12 plasmid DNA via electroporation delays tumor growth and increases survival in mice. This combination therapy has great potential to be translated to a clinical setting for treating malignancies.
The Obesity Epidemic and Women’s Health

Obesity is epidemic in the United States and other countries, among both children and adults. The prevalence of obesity is higher among women, among individuals with low socio-economic status, and among African-American than Caucasian women, and lower among Asian-American women. Obesity is a major risk factor for excess morbidity, disability and death among women, but substantial heterogeneity in risk factor burden exists within each body mass index category. Weight gain is due to imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, requiring only a small excess to gradually increase weight. Research links gastrointestinal hormones, subcutaneous fat depots, fatty acid metabolism, ectopic stores of fat in liver and muscle, and receptors in brain centers with eating behaviors, energy expenditure, and metabolic sequelae. Weight loss and maintenance are metabolically more difficult than prevention of weight gain. Substantial long-term weight loss has been difficult to maintain, except by bariatric surgery.
Improving the quality of online journals

AbstractA previous study by the author of 35 titles in Elsevier's Earth and Planetary Sciences digital back file package revealed that 73.6% of the 6,038 issues published before digital format was available had at least one figure with unacceptable quality. During 2006–2009 Elsevier conducted a rescanning project to improve the quality of the images in their backfile packages for issues published prior to 1995. The author conducted a follow-up study to determine the effectiveness of Elsevier's rescanning project. Although the project corrected many problems, a noticeable number of line drawings are still unacceptable, as well as images in issues published during the 1995–1998 time period.
Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Cell Cycle Effects for Gemcitabine and Trabectedin Combinations in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Combinations of gemcitabine and trabectedin exert modest synergistic cytotoxic effects on two pancreatic cancer cell lines. Here, systems pharmacodynamic (PD) models that integrate cellular response data and extend a prototype model framework were developed to characterize dynamic changes in cell cycle phase of cancer cell subpopulations in response to gemcitabine and trabectedin as single agents and in combination. Extensive experimental data were obtained for two pancreatic cancer cell lines (MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3), including cell proliferation rates over 0-120 h of drug exposure, and the fraction of cells in different cell cycle phases or apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that gemcitabine induced cell cycle arrest in S phase, and trabectedin induced transient cell cycle arrest in S phase that progressed to G2/M phase. Over time, cells in the control group accumulated in G0/G1 phase. Systems cell cycle models were developed based on observed mechanisms and were used to characterize both cell proliferation and cell numbers in the sub G1, G0/G1, S and G2/M phases in the control and drug-treated groups. The proposed mathematical models captured well both single and joint effects of gemcitabine and trabectedin. Interaction parameters were applied to quantify unexplainable drug-drug interaction effects on cell cycle arrest in S phase and in inducing apoptosis. The developed models were able to identify and quantify the different underlying interactions between gemcitabine and trabectedin, and captured well our large datasets in the dimensions of time, drug concentrations and cellular subpopulations.
Versatile RNA tetra-U helix linking motif as a toolkit for nucleic acid nanotechnology

RNA nanotechnology employs synthetically modified ribonucleic acid (RNA) to engineer highly stable nanostructures in one, two, and three dimensions for medical applications. Despite the tremendous advantages in RNA nanotechnology, unmodified RNA itself is fragile and prone to enzymatic degradation. In contrast to use traditionally modified RNA strands e.g. 2′-fluorine, 2′-amine, 2′-methyl, we studied the effect of RNA/DNA hybrid approach utilizing a computer-assisted RNA tetra-uracil (tetra-U) motif as a toolkit to address questions related to assembly efficiency, versatility, stability, and the production costs of hybrid RNA/DNA nanoparticles. The tetra-U RNA motif was implemented to construct four functional triangles using RNA, DNA and RNA/DNA mixtures, resulting in fine-tunable enzymatic and thermodynamic stabilities, immunostimulatory activity and RNAi capability. Moreover, the tetra-U toolkit has great potential in the fabrication of rectangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal NPs, representing the power of simplicity of RNA/DNA approach for RNA nanotechnology and nanomedicine community.
The Association between Personality Traits and Voting in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

I examine the association between “Big Five” personality traits and voting in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election using an online panel of over 4,000 representative Americans. I find that personality has a strong, statistically significant association with voting intentions, even when controlling for voter characteristics and past voting behavior. Higher degrees of Extraversion and Conscientiousness are associated with voting for Donald Trump (the Republican candidate), while higher degrees of Neuroticism and Openness are associated with voting for Hillary Clinton (the Democratic candidate). These findings are in line with a nascent literature documenting associations of personality with conservative or liberal views.
High Frequency Continuous Time Filters in Digital CMOS Processes

List of Figures. List of Tables. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. MOS Capacitor Modeling. 3. A Review of Integrator Architectures. 4. Time Scaling in Electrical Networks. 5. Filter Design. 6. Filter Testing and Measurement Results. 7. Further Applications of Scaling. 8. Tuning in Continuous-time Filters. Appendices. Index.
Population demographics influence genetic responses to fragmentation: A demogenetic assessment of the ‘one migrant per generation’ rule of thumb

Abstract Fragmented landscapes reduce gene flow and impair long term population viability. Stream networks are particularly susceptible to fragmentation because dispersal is constrained to linear upstream and downstream movements. Despite these potential effects, infrequent migrations can maintain genetic diversity and as few as one migrant per generation (OMPG) is commonly suggested as sufficient gene flow to minimize losses in genetic diversity. However, demography varies by taxa, space and time, making such a generalized rule of thumb unlikely to be applicable across a diverse array of fragmentation scenarios and species. We utilized a demogenetic model to evaluate the OMPG rule and simulate the influence of population demographics on the rate of genetic changes following fragmentation in a headwater meta-population of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). A single migrant per generation increased allelic diversity by an average of 15% and decreased genetic differentiation by 31% following 40 years of simulations compared to complete isolation, however OMPG was not sufficient to prevent significant changes in within- or between-population genetic metrics in all but the largest population scenario (N = 500). Less than 10 individuals were typically required to achieve no changes in both genetic metrics, yet this pattern was dependent on the source populations and will be context-specific given the population sub-structuring in a given stream network. Sensitivity analyses indicated the parameter controlling the proportion of mature females spawning annually was the most influential on population genetic responses in isolated populations, suggesting that when fewer females contribute to each generation the population is more likely to experience rapid changes in allelic frequency through genetic drift. This finding supports the use of metrics such as effective population size and the number of effective breeders in predicting population stability and viability following fragmentation. Variability in population dynamic processes and associated responses to fragmentation suggest that generalized rule of thumbs for management should be used with caution. Particularly when violations of the underlying theoretical assumptions exist, consideration of demographic processes (i.e. vital rates, species specific life history strategies and dispersal) and genetic structuring will allow for more appropriate conservation recommendations.
Effectiveness of Nutrition Intervention in a Selected Group of Overweight and Obese African-American Preschoolers

High prevalence of childhood obesity persists as a public health concern in the USA. However, limited study has been conducted on the effectiveness of nutrition education focused on African-American (AA) preschoolers (PSLRs) in the preschool settings. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the effectiveness of nutrition education on AA PSLR's health. A convenience sample of 164 PSLRs (95% AA, 44% female) from six Head Start (HS) centers in a Midwestern metropolitan area was randomly assigned to 3 groups: intervention group A, standard curriculum plus nutrition education for PSLRs; intervention group B, standard curriculum plus nutrition education for PSLRs and their caregivers (CGs); and control group, standard curriculum. Baseline and post-intervention differences within each group and differences among the three groups in body mass index (BMI) percentiles, blood lipid profile, and food preference/knowledge were analyzed. No significant changes in BMI percentiles among the three groups were observed. When only overweight and obese PSLRs were considered, there was a significant reduction in BMI percentile in group B (PSLR + CG) and control group. More PSLRs in all three groups had blood lipid levels in the acceptable with few in the high-risk levels. There were no changes in nutrition knowledge and healthy eating behavior post-intervention. This pilot study supports including both PSLRs and CGs in future preschool-based interventions and the need for more intense intervention to optimize healthy outcomes, especially for those AA PSLRs who are overweight or obese.
Green science: Advanced building design technology to mitigate energy and environment

Abstract A model to produce multiple photons from a single one by ultrarelativistic proton-proton collision within a heavy duty silicon PV panel, which is actually part of a building's exterior glazing wall, has been proposed. It is a simple photophysical reaction technology that will initially create a pair of photons within the solar panel from the reaction of two bare ions, activated by quark-lepton particle interactions. Then, the pair will be scattered by a three diode superconductor silicon surface to create multiple photons. Consequently, a series of mathematical calculations have been performed using MATLAB software regarding the creation of electrons at a bound ionic state ( e − e − ) of photon-photon collision and photon emission from an ultrarelativistic plasma. Calculative analysis confirms that in the extreme ultrarelativistic condition, a single photon does create photon pairs within the PV panel. The pair is then furthered scattered by the three diode semiconductor to create photons exponentially [1 photon = (1+1=2 photons ) = (2 photons +2 photons ) 3diode = 64 photons total]. These naturally created photons can be implemented in PV panel circuit systems to produce DC current, which will then be converted into AC current for utilization as the energy source for that building. The objective of this research is to implement this innovative technology into building sector to meet its total energy demand. Thus, a detailed energy production has also been calculated, which revealed that if a mere 0.025% of the building exterior curtain wall is used as an ultrarelativistic collision solar panel, it will meet the total energy demand for a building that is 100% clean. Naturally application of this technology on a large scale would symbolize a new era in which science could meet the total energy demand in building sectors, which would also mitigate global warming dramatically.
Unstable C1 Fracture Managed with Internal Fixation Using Lateral Mass Screws: A Case Report.

Case A 47-year-old woman presented with an unstable C1 fracture after falling down several stairs. She was found to have a sagittal split fracture of the right C1 lateral mass extending into the posterior arch. The fracture was treated with a direct posterior osteosynthesis of C1 using lateral mass screws. Conclusion Surgical management of unstable C1 fractures has traditionally involved posterior fusion of C1 to C2 or fusion from the occiput to C2. These fusion procedures can be quite functionally limiting. Recently, direct osteosynthesis of C1 has been shown to be an effective, motion-preserving alternative.
Concepts of General Anesthesia and Assessment of Adequacy of Anesthesia for Animal Surgery

Pain is one of the most compelling and physiologically complex experiences of humans. It is usually a very unpleasant sensation that defies consistent satisfactory definition. What is commonly labeled as pain by humans covers a wide range of subjective phenomena, usually resulting from the perception of a noxious stimulus. Debate continues as to whether animals commonly used in teaching and research perceive pain as humans do (68).
Orient Me!: Important Event Identification in an Enterprise Activity Stream

Social media platforms such as blogs, wikis and file sharing have become very popular in enterprises. Despite their effectiveness in increasing collaboration in the organization, employees are overloaded with information originating from these many sources and find it hard to orient themselves in the stream of events occurring in their organizational news feed. In this paper we identify what makes an event in an organizational social media platform important to employees. Once important factors of an event to an employee are identified, the stream of events can be personalized and prioritized based on those and thus reduce the overload and assist in work efficiency. Through interviews and two extensive user surveys, the first hypothetical and the second empirical, we identified which factors of an event make it important and compare results from the hypothetical and empirical surveys.