cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
History of Electrical Neuromodulation for Chronic Pain

Houston, Texas, USA ABSTRACT Electrical stimulation of the nervous system has a long history, starting in ancient Rome, progress- ing through the 19th century, and being applied with scientific intention since the beginning of the 20th century. In the middle of the last century, observations were made in the laboratory that stimulation of the septal area would result in profound analgesia, which led to similar stimulation being applied in patients with cancer pain. With the introduction of the Melzack-Wall gate theory, it became apparent that stimulation of the large somatosensory fibers in peripheral nerve and spinal cord might "close the gate" and inhibit chronic pain. In 1967, Wall and Sweet initiated therapeutic stimulation of peripheral nerve, and Shealy and Mortimer introduced spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain management. In 1973, Hosobuchi introduced somatosensory thalamus stimulation for treatment of denervation, and 4 years later, Richardson and Akil reported the use of periventricular stimulation for somatic pain. Along with advances in stimulation, improved patient selection has indicated both spinal and brain electrical neuromodulation for a variety of clinical types of chronic pain.
Getting a Clue The Effects of Communication Media and Information Distribution on Participation and Performance in Computer-Mediated and Face-to-Face Groups

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) has been viewed as overcoming process losses in groups by fostering equal particpation in discussions. This study examines antecedents of participation and tests the hypothesis that the benefit of the equalization effect depends on how information is distributed within the group. Fifty-four 3-person groups worked on a problem-solving task either in computer conferences or inface-to-face meetings. Additional pieces of information (clues) were distributed equally across members orto single members. In contrast to ideas that electronic communication reduces inhibitions, participation in CMC was associated with individual differences in extraversion. In addition; despite more equal participation in CMC, individuals dondated in both media. Media had few effects on information sharing or performance, although CMC groups were less satisfied with the process. Results of this and other studies of group problem solving suggest that patterms of interaction andperformance in comp...
The Impact of Intercollegiate Athletics on Employment in the Restaurant and Accommodations Industries

In this paper, we analyze Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)-level data in the U.S. to examine the economic impact of college athletics. Specifically, we examine the relationship between total athletics revenues (aggregated across all colleges in an MSA) and MSA-level employment in the accommodations and food services industries. Controlling for a variety of other factors that might influence hotel/restaurant employment within an MSA, we find that below $40 million (in 2005) in college athletics revenues there is no evidence that college athletics affects MSA employment in the food services and accommodations industries. However, above $40 million we find highly significant impacts on employment in the food services and accommodations industries that climb with college sports revenue generation.
The Growth and Scope of Partial Hospitalization

With the initial wave of expansion in the partial hospitalization movement, which began about 1963, a concurrent mood of expectation and optimism emanated from the proponents of this “new” treatment modality. This optimism, at times reaching near-grandiose proportions, was reflected by Barnes (1964), who stated: The psychiatry of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was built around the large state hospital. After World War II emphasis began to pass to the “mental hygiene clinic” and the psychiatrist’s office. The mid and late 60s will see the central position shifting to the day hospital and fewer and fewer cases of psychosis and severe neurosis will require residential hospitalization.... Thus, the “New Psychiatry” of the 60s will rest firmly on the day hospital, (p. x)
On the complexity of Newman's community finding approach for biological and social networks

Given a graph of interactions, a module (also called a community or cluster) is a subset of nodes whose fitness is a function of the statistical significance of the pairwise interactions of nodes in the module. The topic of this paper is a model-based community finding approach, commonly referred to as modularity clustering, that was originally proposed by Newman (Leicht and Newman, 2008 [25]) and has subsequently been extremely popular in practice (e.g., see Agarwal and Kempe, 2008 [1], Guimer'a et al., 2007 [20], Newman, 2006 [28], Newman and Girvan, 2004 [30], Ravasz et al., 2002 [32]). Various heuristic methods are currently employed for finding the optimal solution. However, as observed in Agarwal and Kempe (2008) [1], the exact computational complexity of this approach is still largely unknown. To this end, we initiate a systematic study of the computational complexity of modularity clustering. Due to the specific quadratic nature of the modularity function, it is necessary to study its value on sparse graphs and dense graphs separately. Our main results include a ([email protected])-inapproximability for dense graphs and a logarithmic approximation for sparse graphs. We make use of several combinatorial properties of modularity to get these results. These are the first non-trivial approximability results beyond the NP-hardness results in Brandes et al. (2007) [10].
Digital Wideband Excitation Technique for Impedance-Based Structural Health Monitoring Systems

With ever increasing complexity in new mechanical structures, as well as aging structures in operation, locating damage with structural health monitoring techniques is becoming increasingly important. Permanent deployment of structural health monitoring systems is limited by the availability of sensor technology. Previous efforts to miniaturize the hardware required for the impedance method of structural health monitoring resulted in prototypes reliant on a DAC for providing excitation to the structure of interest. In this paper, a new excitation technique using wideband digital signals is proposed to eliminate the power dissipated by a DAC in the system. An experiment is performed to compare performance of the proposed technique and previous excitation techniques. Results are presented and reveal no loss in damage detection performance while reducing the power dissipation.
Algorithm-level Feedback-controlled Adaptive data prefetcher: Accelerating data access for high-performance processors

The rapid advance of processor architectures such as the emerged multicore architectures and the substantially increased computing capability on chip have put more pressure on the sluggish memory systems than ever. In the meantime, many applications become more and more data intensive. Data-access delay, not the processor speed, becomes the leading performance bottleneck of high-performance computing. Data prefetching is an effective solution to accelerating applications' data access and bridging the growing gap between computing speed and data-access speed. Existing works of prefetching, however, are very conservative in general, due to the computing power consumption concern of the past. They suffer low effectiveness especially when applications' access pattern changes. In this study, we propose an Algorithm-level Feedback-controlled Adaptive (AFA) data prefetcher to address these issues. The AFA prefetcher is based on the Data-Access History Cache, a hardware structure that is specifically designed for data access acceleration. It provides an algorithm-level adaptation and is capable of dynamically adapting to appropriate prefetching algorithms at runtime. We have conducted extensive simulation testing with the SimpleScalar simulator to validate the design and to analyze the performance gain. The simulation results show that the AFA prefetcher is effective and achieves considerable IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) improvement for 21 representative SPEC-CPU benchmarks.
Clinical computing: monitoring patients with eating disorders by using e-mail as an adjunct to clinical activities.

1586 A t a recent case conference, an articulate, psychotic 50-year-old hippie from New Mexico told us that for several years he’d been drinking a concoction made of ayahuasca root— the significant ingredient of which is N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine, or DMT —under the close guidance of “Daniel,” a viejo, or elderly native healer and spiritual teacher, who lived deep in the jungles of the Peruvian Amazon. The man said that this healer frequently communicated with him and that the healer was now urging him to follow the advice of his
Olympic Sport and Its Lessons for Peace

(2006). Olympic Sport and Its Lessons for Peace. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 205-214.
Sleep apnea and essential hypertension: a critical review of the epidemiological evidence for co-morbidity.

This paper reviews the epidemiological literature on the linkage between sleep apnea and essential hypertension. Despite the large number of case reports, general overviews and the wide acceptance of this linkage, surprisingly, only four epidemiological articles were identified. The prevalence of sleep apnea among hypertensives ranged between 26% and 47. 8%(mean=33.6%) across the studies as compared to the estimated prevalence of 0.4% to 1.4% in the general population. There seem to be no consistently replicated risk factors for apnea amongst hypertensives, although older age, relative obesity, and severity of hypertension have been suggested as possible markers for this co-morbidity.The findings require further replication with special efforts at studying: (1) unmedicated hypertensive patients; (2) patients without significant cardiac or renal complications; and (3) patients across a broad range of age, obesity, and severity of hypertension.
Control of Wind Turbines

Wind energy is a fast-growing interdisciplinary field that encompasses multiple branches of engineering and science. Despite the growth in the installed capacity of wind turbines in recent years, larger wind turbines have energy capture and economic advantages, the typical size of utility scale wind turbines has grown by two orders of magnitude. Since modern wind turbines are large, flexible structures operating in uncertain environments, advanced control technology can improve their performance.The goal of this article is to describe the technical challenges in the wind industry relating to control engineering.
Simulation and Experimental Results of a 0.15µm Independent Double Gated CMOS Transistor

Abstract-Independent double gated transistors give better control of the channel and dynamic tradeoff between power and performance. An independent double gated (IDG) FlexFET transistor is simulated using the Silvaco Atlas tool and the results are then compared with the data obtained from experimental devices manufactured by American Semiconductor Inc. (ASI). A reasonable correlation between the simulations and the experimental devices is obtained, following careful calibration of the simulation parameters. The bottom gate control factor (f) (i.e. the ratio of the change in threshold voltage to the change in bottom gate voltage) is observed to be around 0.3. The simulator is calibrated to match the experimental results by changing several parameters.
An image processing IC for backprojection and spatial histogramming in a pipelined array

The first VLSI digital signal processor that performs both high-precision image backprojection and spatial histogram calculations at raster-scan rates as high as 30 MHz is described. Realized in 1 mu m CMOS technology, this 13.3 mm*13.3 mm chip is designed to handle images as large as 1024*1024 12 b pixels. Loadable coefficients and a unified architecture allow this IC to be used with a variety of computed-tomography scanners for image reconstructions, including fan- and parallel-beam reconstruction. This chip also computes the forward Radon transform, which is a spatial histogram, permitting it to be used for iterative reconstruction algorithms. The bit lengths in the fixed-point architecture assure 12 b reconstruction accuracy. >
Interaction of MyoD family proteins with enhancers of acetylcholine receptor subunit genes in vivo.

The myogenic determination factors (MDFs) are transcriptional activators that target E boxes in many muscle-specific promoters, including those of the genes coding for the subunits of the acetylcholine receptor. It is not known, however, if in vivo a given E box in a transcriptionally active gene is occupied, either uniquely by one MDF or randomly by all MDFs. We have analyzed expression of MDF and acetylcholine receptor subunits in cultured mouse muscle cells and, using chromatin immunoprecipitation, have determined which individual MDFs reside at promoters of several receptor subunit genes. We find that before fusion, C2C12 cells express myf-5, MyoD, and myogenin, all of which take up residence at promoters of all subunits except e. At this stage, herculin is present in limited amounts and is detected mainly at the γ and δ subunit genes. On myotube formation, herculin reaches high levels; concomitantly, the e subunit gene becomes a common MDF target and begins to be expressed. In general, any MDF protein that is expressed also is present on transcriptionally active receptor genes; transcriptional activity of target genes correlates with occupancy by MDF, in particular, herculin.
Promoting Professional Student Learning Through Study Groups: A Case Study

The purpose of this research was to analyze how 24 graduate students perceived the study group experience and how study groups fostered a change in their knowledge and teaching of comprehension. Data sources included pre-post questionnaires, text concepts, International Reading Association process form, facilitator logs, and post-survey. Data were analyzed through traditional case study techniques. Results indicated the students favored study groups as an avenue to learning. They also reported changes in their knowledge and teaching of comprehension. Implications for college professors are included.
Adaptive responses of the endothelium to stress.

It is now established that endothelial cells acquire several functional properties in response to a diverse array of extracellular stimuli. This expression of an altered phenotype is referred to as endothelial cell activation, and it includes several activities that promote inflammation and coagulation. While it is recognized that endothelial cell activation has a principal role in host defense, recent studies also demonstrate that endothelial cells are capable of complex molecular responses that protect the endothelium against various forms of stress including heat shock, hypoxia, oxidative stress, shock, ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxins, wounds, and mechanical stress. In this review, we examine endothelial cell genotypic and phenotypic responses to stress. Also, we highlight important cellular stress responses that, although not yet demonstrated directly in endothelial cells, likely exist as part of the repertoire of stress responses in endothelium. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms mediating the adaptive responses of endothelial cells to stress should facilitate the development of novel therapeutics to aid in the management of diverse surgical diseases and their complications.
Securing RFIDs by randomizing the modulation and channel

RFID cards are widely used in sensitive applications such as access control and payment systems. Past work shows that an eavesdropper snooping on the communication between a card and its legitimate reader can break their cryptographic protocol and obtain their secret keys. One solution to this problem is to install stronger encryption on the cards. However, RFIDs' size, power, and cost limitations do not allow for strong encryption protocols. Further, changing the encryption on the cards requires revoking billions of cards in consumers' hands, which is impracticable. This paper presents RF-Cloak, a solution that protects RFIDs from the above attacks, without any changes to today's cards. RF-Cloak achieves this performance using a novel transmission system that randomizes both the modulation and the wireless channels. It is the first system that defends RFIDs against MIMO eavesdroppers, even when the RFID reader has no MIMO capability. A prototype of our design built using software radios demonstrates its ability to protect commercial RFIDs from both single-antenna and MIMO eavesdroppers.
Cortical auditory evoked responses of older adults with and without probable mild cognitive impairment.

Abstract Objective Hearing loss has been well-documented as a risk factor for cognitive impairment, but the simple presence of hearing loss is not a sufficient predictor of cognitive decline. Although auditory behavioral research has not revealed an effective indicator of early cognitive impairment, a limited number of studies using cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) have shown promising evidence of an auditory neurophysiological indicator of early-stage cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to examine the P1–N1–P2 complex for indicators of cognitive impairment. Methods The latency and amplitude of the P1–N1–P2 complex was measured for two stimuli (pure tone, speech) in two groups: cognitively normal older adults (CNOAs) and older adults with probable mild cognitive impairment (MCI), based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Results Significantly smaller P2 amplitudes were found for those with probable MCI compared to CNOA across stimulus conditions. Stimulus effects were found for P1 and P2 latency. Conclusion P2 amplitude may be a useful indicator of early-stage cognitive impairment. Significance As effective treatments become available, early identification of cognitive impairment can facilitate the prescription of treatment at the earliest juncture. CAEPs have the potential to serve as efficient, non-invasive, cost-effective indicators of future cognitive decline and impairment.
Buck, Buck, What'S Up? Tales from 60 Years in Journalism by Tom Buck. Winnetka, IL: Conversation Press, 2003. 210 pp

(2003). Buck, Buck, What'S Up? Tales from 60 Years in Journalism by Tom Buck. Winnetka, IL: Conversation Press, 2003. 210 pp. American Journalism: Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 114-115.
Aiming control

The problem of aiming control is formulated. Necessary and sufficient conditions for complete and partial residence time controllability of linear systems with small additive noise are derived. Design techniques for aiming controllers are given. The development is based on a control-theoretic approach to the asymptotic first passage time theory.
Vested Interests: Interest Group Resource Allocation in Presidential Campaigns

Interest groups are key players in contemporary campaigns and elections. Along with candidates and political parties, interest groups invest heavily in attempting to influence the outcomes of elect...
Price and Choice Behavior

Do behavioral differences exist among consumers who select items priced differently within the same product category? Analysis of 18 perceptual, personality, and economic variables compared across ...
HETEROCHRONY AND DEVELOPMENTAL INNOVATION: EVOLUTION OF FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE ONTOGENY IN GNETUM, A HIGHLY APOMORPHIC SEED PLANT.

Seed plant female gametophytes are focal points for the evolutionary modification of development. From a structural perspective, the most divergent female gametophytes among all seed plants are found in Gnetum, a clade within Gnetales. Coenocytic organization at sexual maturity, absence of defined egg cells (free nuclei are fertilized), lack of centripetal cellularization, and postfertilization development of embryo-nourishing tissues are features of the female gametophytes of Gnetum unparalleled among seed plants. Although the female gametophyte of Gnetum retains the three basic phases of somatic development common to female gametophytes of plesiomorphic seed plants (free nuclear development, cellularization, cellular growth), the timing of fertilization has been accelerated relative to the rate of somatic development. As a consequence, the female gametophyte of Gnetum matures sexually (is fertilized) at a juvenile (compared with the ancestral somatic ontogeny) and free nuclear stage of somatic development, thereby precluding differentiation of egg cells. Unlike progenetic animals, where truncation of somatic ontogeny evolves in tandem with acceleration in the timing of sexual maturation, the female gametophyte of Gnetum completes the entire ancestral somatic ontogeny after precocious sexual maturation. This results in the evolution of postfertilization development of embryo-nourishing female gametophyte tissues, a phenomenon unique among seed plants. Nonheterochronic developmental innovations have also played important roles in the evolution of the female gametophyte of Gnetum. Centripetal cellularization, which is always associated with the phase change from coenocytic to cellular organization among plesiomorphic seed plant female gametophytes, is lacking in Gnetum. Instead, during early phases of development, apomorphic free nuclear organization is coupled with a highly anomalous pattern of cellularization. Stage-specific innovations during early development in the female gametophyte of Gnetum do not affect plesiomorphic aspects of later phases of development. Thus, a complex array of heterochronic and nonheterochronic developmental innovations have played critical roles in the ontogenetic evolution of the highly apomorphic female gametophyte of Gnetum.
Toxin production and signs of spoilage in commercially canned vegetables and fruits inoculated with detoxified spores of B. botulinus. XII

Epidemiologic investigations on botulism in the United States have aroused considerable discussion among public health workers, food packers, dealers and consumers concerning the liability of certain foods to favor the growth and toxin production of B. botulinus. It is now recognized that certain articles of food are more frequently implicated in outbreaks than others, but the reasons are obscure and still remain to be worked out. Early in the course of an analysis of the published and unpublished data dealing with the botulism problem, it was realized that the occurrence of B. botulinus toxin in containers
Improved depolarization imaging in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate that the superior contrast of the differential depolarization index (DDI) compared with the degree of polarization uniformity makes DDI a promising candidate for characterizing depolarization with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography images.
Resistance of Blattella germanica to four kinds of common used insecticides in Shanghai

Objective To know the resistance of Blattella germanica to four kinds of common used insecticides in Shanghai.Methods The surface contact method was used.Results The field population of B.germanica had different resistance to deltamethrin,cypermethrin,propoxur and dichlorovos.The resistance ratios to these tested insecticides were 3.39-16.87,1.41-13.61,0.57-4.39 and 4.44-4.89 respectively.Of which,the resistance of CN population to deltamethrin and cypermethrin was higher.Conclusion The resistance of B.germanica field population to four kinds of insecticides differs greatly,so the cockroach control by chemical method must be selected suitable insecticides.
Disk-Elektrophorese der wasserlöslichen Proteine einiger Weizensorten

Die beschriebene Methode erlaubt eine zuverlassige Erkennung der Sorte Kranich aus insgesamt 9 untersuchten Weizensorten innerhalb von 5 Stunden.
The medical treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate and citrovorum rescue: preliminary experience *

Seven women with unruptured tubal pregnancies diagnosed on laparoscopy were treated with methotrexate and citrovorum rescue. Criteria for inclusion in the study were that the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) be plateaued or rising, that the ectopic pregnancy not exceed 3 X 3 cm, that the tubal serosa be intact, and that there be no active bleeding. The women were followed with serial measurements of hCG, complete blood counts, and liver function tests. All women responded to a single course of therapy. The median time to resolution (from the first day of treatment to when the hCG was undetectable) was 31 days (range, 5 to 50 days). Follow-up hysterosalpingograms were available for five women. Four women demonstrated tubal patency, and one showed a unilateral occlusion on the side of the ectopic. One woman was found to have an intrauterine pregnancy prior to the scheduled time of hysterosalpingogram.
Review: Hematopoietic Growth Factors: Overview and Clinical Applications, Part I

ABSTRACT The growth and differentiation of blood cells is regulated by a group of at least 12 glycoproteins, collectively known as hematopoietic growth factors. Advances in protein biochemistry and molecular genetics have provided the tools for the bulk production of these hormones for clinical application. Clinical trials of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin-3 have all demonstrated significant effects on the peripheral blood counts of the recipients. The clinical usefulness of these agents in ameliorating post-chemotherapy myelosuppression, in the treatment of other cytopenias, and in enhancing engraftment after bone marrow transplantation has already been demonstrated. Potential applications to the therapy and diagnosis of other clinical disorders is under study. The history of the elucidation of these growth factors, our current understanding of their properties, interactions, and clinical effects, and the potential prospects for their future use in the manipulation of human blood cell production are the subject of this review.
Sex Trafficking Assessment and Resources (STAR) for Pediatric Attendings in Rhode Island.

BACKGROUND: Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) victims have unique medical and mental health needs and present frequently for medical attention. Little is known about the reported training, screening, comfort and knowledge of DMST among pediatricians in Rhode Island who likely encounter these patient victims without knowing. METHODS: An anonymous electronic survey sent to Rhode Island Hospital staff physicians from November 2014 through January 2015. RESULTS: Of the 109 participants, the majority reported no training, screened no patients for DMST in the past year, did not know any resources available and had limited knowledge and comfort with this pediatric patient population. CONCLUSIONS: Rhode Island pediatricians of various specialties do not feel adequately prepared to identify and respond to a DMST patient population. These findings inform the need for increased training and education on DMST in our medical community. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-09.asp, free with no login]. Keywords: Human trafficking Language: en
Tailbench: a benchmark suite and evaluation methodology for latency-critical applications

Latency-critical applications, common in datacenters, must achieve small and predictable tail (e.g., 95th or 99th percentile) latencies. Their strict performance requirements limit utilization and efficiency in current datacenters. These problems have sparked research in hardware and software techniques that target tail latency. However, research in this area is hampered by the lack of a comprehensive suite of latency-critical benchmarks. We present TailBench, a benchmark suite and evaluation methodology that makes latency-critical workloads as easy to run and characterize as conventional, throughput-oriented ones. TailBench includes eight applications that span a wide range of latency requirements and domains, and a harness that implements a robust and statistically sound load-testing methodology. The modular design of the TailBench harness facilitates multiple load-testing scenarios, ranging from multi-node configurations that capture network overheads, to simplified single-node configurations that allow measuring tail latency in simulation. Validation results show that the simplified configurations are accurate for most applications. This flexibility enables rapid prototyping of hardware and software techniques for latency-critical workloads.
Activity Induces Fmr1-Sensitive Synaptic Capture of Anterograde Circulating Neuropeptide Vesicles

Synaptic neuropeptide and neurotrophin stores are maintained by constitutive bidirectional capture of dense-core vesicles (DCVs) as they circulate in and out of the nerve terminal. Activity increases DCV capture to rapidly replenish synaptic neuropeptide stores following release. However, it is not known whether this is due to enhanced bidirectional capture. Here experiments at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction, where DCVs contain neuropeptides and a bone morphogenic protein, show that activity-dependent replenishment of synaptic neuropeptides following release is evident after inhibiting the retrograde transport with the dynactin disruptor mycalolide B or photobleaching DCVs entering a synaptic bouton by retrograde transport. In contrast, photobleaching anterograde transport vesicles entering a bouton inhibits neuropeptide replenishment after activity. Furthermore, tracking of individual DCVs moving through boutons shows that activity selectively increases capture of DCVs undergoing anterograde transport. Finally, upregulating fragile X mental retardation 1 protein (Fmr1, also called FMRP) acts independently of futsch/MAP-1B to abolish activity-dependent, but not constitutive, capture. Fmr1 also reduces presynaptic neuropeptide stores without affecting activity-independent delivery and evoked release. Therefore, presynaptic motoneuron neuropeptide storage is increased by a vesicle capture mechanism that is distinguished from constitutive bidirectional capture by activity dependence, anterograde selectivity, and Fmr1 sensitivity. These results show that activity recruits a separate mechanism than used at rest to stimulate additional synaptic capture of DCVs for future release of neuropeptides and neurotrophins. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Synaptic release of neuropeptides and neurotrophins depends on presynaptic accumulation of dense-core vesicles (DCVs). At rest, DCVs are captured bidirectionally as they circulate through Drosophila motoneuron terminals by anterograde and retrograde transport. Here we show that activity stimulates further synaptic capture that is distinguished from basal capture by its selectivity for anterograde DCVs and its inhibition by overexpression of the fragile X retardation protein Fmr1. Fmr1 dramatically lowers DCV numbers in synaptic boutons. Therefore, activity-dependent anterograde capture is a major determinant of presynaptic peptide stores.
Abstract 2089: Role of Cdx2 in maintainining differentiated chromatin structure during tumor progression

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Tumor progression often coincides with the appearance of tumor cells with dedifferentiated or stem-like properties; the ontogeny of these cells is unclear, but they are thought to carry a more malignant capacity than their differentiated counterparts. Cdx2 is a transcriptional factor that specifies cell fate of the intestinal epithelium. Epigenetic studies have demonstrated that Cdx2 loss alters chromatin structure in the intestinal epithelium. Cdx2 loss is often observed during colon tumor progression and is correlated with de-differentiation. Our current study is aimed to test the hypothesis that the Cdx2 prevents tumor progression by maintaining the tumor epigenome. To this end, we have generated two mouse models to determine the effect of Cdx2 loss on chromatin structure in a tumorigenic environment and in primary tumors. Our current studies are aimed at comparing Cdx2 binding sites on the genome in a normal and tumorigenic environment, and in defining how Cdx2 loss affects chromatin structure in primary tumors. These studies will shed light on how alterations in chromatin structure can contribute to the epigenomic mechanisms of colon tumor progression. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Ansu O. Perekatt, Ritu Rana, Namit Kumar, Michael Valdez, Michael Verzi. Role of Cdx2 in maintainining differentiated chromatin structure during tumor progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2089. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2089
Insight into Social Support of Autism Blogger Community in Microblogging Platform

At current time social media seems to be an easy and popular media where parents of autistic kids, share and relate their experiences of families of children with ASD and build a social bonding. Semantic analysis of vast amounts of social media content such as blogs, tweets, and Facebook postings can be proved to be a cost effective, compelling and practical learning tool for what parents with autistic kids say about effective ways to deal with various challenges as experienced by the caretakers. The purpose of the current study is to provide a research-based understanding of social media conversations among families dealing with autism. Through such interactions, the study would further analyze the efficacy of the various forms of daily intervention strategies and therapies to help kids with ASD to cope with daily life challenges. Furthermore, by systematically analyzing the users’ interactions and feedback about an issue or a topic, strategic health messaging and the claims/arguments surrounding a health issue can be crafted with accuracy and sensitivity which can guide the care service provider to reduce costs and be more effective.
Applying Combinatorial Testing to Data Mining Algorithms

Data mining algorithms are used to analyze and discover useful information from data. This paper presents an experiment that applies Combinatorial Testing (CT) to five data mining algorithms implemented in an open-source data mining software called WEKA. For each algorithm, we first run the algorithm with 51 datasets to study the impact different datasets have on the test coverage. We select one dataset that achieves the highest branch coverage. Next we construct positive and negative combinatorial test sets of configuration options and execute each test set with the selected dataset. Test effectiveness is measured using branch and mutation coverage. Our results suggest that when testing data mining algorithms: (1) larger datasets do not necessarily achieve higher coverage than smaller datasets, (2) test coverage increases progressively slower as test strength increases, and (3) branch coverage correlates well with mutation coverage.
Media Framing of Zoos and Aquaria: From Conservation to Animal Rights

ABSTRACTZoos and aquaria are controversial institutions, vilified by animal rights activists and championed by those who value their entertainment and educational resources. Examining media frames of these institutions can identify public perspectives. A qualitative content analysis was conducted for print and online magazine articles that discussed zoos and aquaria in North America. Sixty-five articles were analysed, and eight different frames were identified. The diverse frames highlight the differing roles of zoos and aquaria. Most of the articles were positive and supportive of zoos; 11% were negative. Animal welfare was the most common frame, from both positive and negative perspectives. Other frames, such as conservation and education, were less prevalent in the sample than expected, since zoos and aquaria portray themselves to be leaders in these fields. The unbalanced media discourse and small publication rate over the four years sampled suggest opportunities for increased media engagement on zoos...
Validation of a One-Step Method for Extracting Fatty Acids from Salmon, Chicken and Beef Samples.

Fatty acid extraction methods are time-consuming and expensive because they involve multiple steps and copious amounts of extraction solvents. In an effort to streamline the fatty acid extraction process, this study compared the standard Folch lipid extraction method to a one-step method involving a column that selectively elutes the lipid phase. The methods were tested on raw beef, salmon, and chicken. Compared to the standard Folch method, the one-step extraction process generally yielded statistically insignificant differences in chicken and salmon fatty acid concentrations, percent composition and weight percent. Initial testing showed that beef stearic, oleic and total fatty acid concentrations were significantly lower by 911% with the one-step method as compared to the Folch method, but retesting on a different batch of samples showed a significant 48% increase in several omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations with the one-step method relative to the Folch. Overall, the findings reflect the utility of a one-step extraction method for routine and rapid monitoring of fatty acids in chicken and salmon. Inconsistencies in beef concentrations, although minor (within 11%), may be due to matrix effects. A one-step fatty acid extraction method has broad applications for rapidly and routinely monitoring fatty acids in the food supply and formulating controlled dietary interventions.
Assessment of public health core competencies in prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the use of the Public Health Foundation's (Public Health Foundation [PHF], 2014) Competency Assessment for Tier 1 Public Health Professionals to examine prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students' self-reported levels of competence in public health before and after completing community health nursing courses. Design Prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in community health nursing courses completed a pre and postcourse Competency Assessment for Tier 1 Public Health Professionals survey. The survey results were analyzed using nonparametric tests to determine whether there were significant differences in pre and postsurvey scores for the eight domains of public health core competencies, and for an overall competency score. Results Significant differences were found in the pre and postaggregate mean scores for each of the eight domains of public health core competency, and the overall mean public health competency score. Chi-square testing of pre and postcourse competency found significant difference in the proportion of students who met criteria for self-reported competence in each of the eight domains and overall public health competence. Conclusion The Competency Assessment for Tier 1 Public Health Professionals can assist baccalaureate nursing faculty with assessing precourse learning needs, and postcourse evaluation of self-reported competence in public health.
Dynamics-Based Motion Deblurring Improves the Performance of Optical Character Recognition During Fast Scanning of a Robotic Eye

This paper presents a quantitative evaluation of the dynamics-based deblurring method using an optical character recognition (OCR) technology. Although various image deblurring algorithms have been studied, there has been no standard performance metric; deblurred images have often been evaluated in a qualitative manner. In this study, blurry images containing alphanumeric characters were obtained in the course of rapid motion using a robotic vision system. The obtained blurry images were recovered by the dynamics-based deblurring method. For a quantitative evaluation, OCR rates from the deblurred images by the dynamics-based method were calculated and compared with those by other well-known methods. Experiment results show that the dynamics-based method has the best quantitative results.
Nationwide analysis of genitourinary expert opinions on active surveillance for localized prostate cancer.

29Background: The ProtecT trial has provided Level 1 evidence supporting active surveillance for prostate cancer patients with low-risk and intermediate risk disease. The impact of these findings on the opinions of North American genitourinary (GU) experts regarding the role of active surveillance for these patients has not been previously examined. Methods: A survey was distributed to 88 practicing North American GU physicians serving on decision-making committees of cooperative group research organizations. Questions pertained to knowledge about and personal opinions on the role of active surveillance in patients with low-risk and intermediate-risk (Gleason 3+4) disease. Opinions regarding active surveillance were correlated with practice patterns using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Analysis was conducted on 42 radiation oncologist respondents. Forty percent have been in practice for 20+ years; 90% practice at an academic center. Forty-five percent see 20+ patients/month in consultation. More than 95% r...
Memoranda of understanding between Medicaid MCOs and public health departments.

PURPOSE This evaluation research project was conducted to describe local perspectives on creating and implementing mandated memoranda of understanding (MOU) between Medicaid managed care organizations and local health departments (LHD), to provide insights into the strengths and limitations of MOU, and to share information on their use as tools for interorganizational service coordination. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional, qualitative and quantitative, self-administered, mailback survey was conducted with employees of MCOs and LHDs in California having experience in creating and/or implementing state-mandated MOU in nine service areas. Descriptive and qualitative results are reported. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The creation of MOU was facilitated by supportive leadership, previous collaborative experience, and the state mandate. The majority of respondents believed the MOU worked well to achieve coordination of services. MOU strengths and limitations were identified. The MOU were reported to have contributed to an increase in participation in four of six types of collaborative activities. Perceived quality of health care services for Medicaid participants improved with the MOU, but no impact on quality of public health services was reported. A majority (78 percent) supported a continuation of the mandated policy. Some organizations reported expanding the use of MOU beyond mandated areas. CONCLUSIONS Study respondents held generally positive perceptions of the strengths of MOU and supported continuation of the mandated MOU policy in California. Their experience demonstrates a capacity for MCOs and LHDs to work together on health care coordination issues despite the difficulties inherent in interorganizational collaboration.
Exogenous estrogen therapy for treatment of clomiphene citrate-induced cervical mucus abnormalities: is it effective?

Clomiphene citrate (CC) may have an adverse effect on cervical mucus (CM) quality and quantity. A placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the effect of exogenous follicular phase estrogen (E) on CM. Subjects qualified for inclusion by repeated demonstration of poor CM while on CC therapy as judged by spinnbarkeit, quantity, and viscosity. Subjects were treated by a randomized, placebo-controlled format using: (1) oral micronized estradiol (E 2 ), 2mg; (2) conjugated Es, 5mg, or (3) placebo administered on cycle days 9 to 14. Cervical mucus was scored blindly during therapy within 48 hours before ovulation. Twelve subjects were observed through 36 treatment cycles with mean (±SD) CM scores: micronized E 2 , 4.2±1.8; conjugated Es, 4.3±1.7; and placebo, 4.7±2.9. There was no significant difference in mean values ( P =0.96, analysis of variance) or frequency of CM score>4 ( P =0.85, Fisher exact test). We conclude that therapy with the E preparations tested did not improve the quality or quantity of CM in CC-treated patients.
IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES FOR REDUCING SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

Loneliness and social isolation are significant public health issues, affecting over one third of adults age 45 and older. Both are predictive of cognitive and physical functioning, morbidity, and mortality. Despite significant prevalence of these conditions and their import for health, few effective and widely-used programs exist to enhance social connections and decrease loneliness. In an effort to build an intervention that could be delivered to community-dwelling older adults, we conducted a critical review of the experimental and quasi-experimental intervention literature aimed at reducing feelings of loneliness or social isolation in older adults. Our goals were to identify intervention elements shown to be most effective in reducing these outcomes and identify the most sensitive assessment tools for these conditions. Our presentation will provide an overview of how this knowledge was translated into a home-based community intervention and share findings from initial implementation of the program.
Intravenous contrast-free standardized exercise perfusion imaging in diabetic feet with ulcers.

Background Impaired foot perfusion is a primary contributor to foot ulcer formation. There is no existing device nor method that can be used to measure local foot perfusion during standardized foot muscle exercise in an MRI environment. Purpose To develop a new MRI-compatible foot dynamometer and MRI methods to characterize local perfusion in diabetic feet with ulcers. Study type Prospective. Population/subjects Seven participants without diabetes and 10 participants with diabetic foot ulcers. Field strength/sequence 3.0T, arterial spin labeling (ASL). Assessments Using a new MRI-compatible foot dynamometer, all participants underwent MRI ASL perfusion assessment at rest and during a standardized toe-flexion exercise. The participants without diabetes were scanned twice to assess the reproducibility of perfusion measurements. The absolute perfusion and perfusion reserve values were compared between two groups and between regions near ulcers (peri-ulcer) and away from ulcers (away-ulcer). Statistical tests Bland-Altman methods for the calculation of coefficient of repeatability (CR) and two-sided and unpaired Student's t-test to compare multiple differences. Results The perfusion reserves measured had the best reproducibility (CR in medial region: 1.6, lateral region: 0.9). The foot perfusion reserve was significantly lower in the participants with diabetes compared with the participants without diabetes (1.34 ± 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 1.58 vs. 1.76 ± 0.31, 95% CI: 1.53, 1.98, P = 0.02). Both peri-ulcer exercise perfusion (8.7 ± 3.9 ml/min/100g) and perfusion reserve (1.07 ± 0.39, 95% CI: 0.78, 1.35) were significantly lower than away-ulcer exercise perfusion (12.7 ± 3.8 ml/min/100g, P = 0.02) and perfusion reserve (1.39 ± 0.37, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.66, P = 0.03), respectively. Data conclusion This study demonstrates intravenous contrast-free methods for local perfusion in feet with ulcers by standardized exercise-based MRI. Ischemia regions around foot ulcers can be quantitatively distinguished from normal perfused muscle regions. Level of evidence 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:474-480.
The Islamic Action Front: Between Participation and Boycotts

In this chapter, Buttorff analyzes the case of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) in Jordan and its electoral strategies during five legislative elections: 1993, 1997, 2003, 2007, and 2010. The party boycotted just twice, even though all five elections used the single non-transferable vote electoral system, one of the opposition's main grievances and motivations for both boycotts. The author shows how the opposition group’s shifting perceptions of regime strength drove the changes in its electoral strategies during this period. In so doing, Buttorff provides a more nuanced understanding of the pattern of opposition strategies observed in Jordan during this period.