cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic control of the immune response to staphylococcal nuclease. X. Isoelectric focusing spectrotypes of antinuclease antibodies detected by labeling with antigen and with anti-idiotype.

Antibody responses of inbred strains of mice to staphylococcal nuclease were studied by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels followed by in situ labeling of focused antibodies with radioactive antigen. All A/J mice examined produced antinuclease antibodies of limited heterogeneity, and although there was individual variation in the focusing patterns observed, a characteristic spectrotype produced by all of the animals could be discerned. In order to determine the possible relationship between this characteristic spectrotype and the cross-reactive idiotypes of A/J antinuclease antibodies previously described (7), focused antibodies were also examined with a radioactively labeled pig anti-(A/J antinuclease) anti-idiotypic antibody preparation. Using this reagent, similar spectrotypes to those observed for antigen binding were seen in all of the individual A/J sera, suggesting that cross-reactive idiotype expression is a reflection of the characteristic spectrotypes observed. The same labeled anti-idiotypic reagent revealed characteristic but different spectrotypes when used to develop focused antinuclease antibodies from individual mice of other strains, suggesting that the use of similar variable region structures may be a common feature of the antinuclease response in mice of different allotypes. These studies thus provide a structural basis for the genetics of idiotype expression defined previously by serologic analysis.
Increased osmotic resistance of human erythrocytes treated with saline extracts of the fava bean, lima bean, and isoimmune antibody of the ABO and Rh systems.

An absolute increase in osmotic resistance to hypotonic saline solution was observed with erythrocytes agglutinated by fava bean extracts with or without 5% glucose. Similar osmotic resistance was obtained with blood group A cells, but not group B and O cells, incubated with the lima bean. The osmotic resistances of blood group cells of the ABO and Rh systems incubated in their commercial specific anti-sera were inversely proportional to saline concentrations.
PGUA-lndole Microtube: A Rapid, Accurate, Cost-effective Screen for Escherichia coli in Urine Cultures

One-hundred thirty-five (135) consecutive urine isolates that were oxidase-negative, nonswarming, aerobic gram-negative bacilli (ie, probable members of the Enterobacteriaceae) were screened as possible Escherichia coli through the use of the PGUA (4-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acidHndole microtube using a modified incubation period of one hour. Each isolate was simultaneously tested by our routine multibiochemical test system. Those isolates that were both PGUA positive and Indole positive were considered to be E coli . The sensitivity and specificity of the test combination PGUA-indole for an E coli screen were 90% and 100%, respectively. The PGUA-lndole microtube appears to be a rapid, accurate, cost-effective screen for E coli in urine cultures versus a more expensive multi-biochemical test system.
Hyperfiltration Is a Risk Factor For The Development Of Microalbuminuria In Sickle Cell Anemia

Hyperfiltration, which has been implicated in the early stages of development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diabetes mellitus, is a common finding in sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients with normal kidney function. We hypothesized that it may be a risk factor for the development of microalbuminuria, an early indicator of glomerular injury that is observed in 40-60% of adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). In the cross-sectional analysis, 233 adult SCA patients treated at the University of Illinois at Chicago Sickle Cell Center with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) determined by the MDRD equation and albuminuria concentrations were screened. Data was collected from steady-state visits defined as four weeks from a vaso-occlusive pain episode or red blood cell transfusion. Eight-two patients with normoalbuminuria (urine albumin concentration 150mL/min/1.73 m2). On univariate analysis, the median age of patients with hyperfiltration was 23 years compared to 34 years in patients with a normal eGFR (p<0.0001). Additionally, patients with hyperfiltration had lower hemoglobin F concentrations (3.9 vs. 7.3%, p=0.01) and higher absolute reticulocyte counts (390 vs. 288 x103/µL, p=0.03) than patients with normal eGFR, respectively. On multivariate analysis, hyperfiltration was independently associated with age (OR 0.9, 95% CI: 0.8-0.9; p=0.0001) and the natural log of hemoglobin F concentration (OR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2-1.0; p=0.04). Forty-six patients with normoalbuminuria and eGFR ≥ 90mL/min/1.73m2 were followed longitudinally for progression to microalbuminuria. At a median follow up of 30 months (range 1-81 months), 35% (16/46) of patients developed microalbuminuria with a mean time to progression of 49 months (range 11-57 months). The average time to develop microalbuminuria in patients with hyperfiltration was 33 months (42%, 11/26) compared to 62 months in patients with normal eGFR (25%, 5/20) (age-adjusted HR 4.0, 95% CI 1.5 – 10.4; log-rank p=0.016) ([Figure 1][1]). In summary, hyperfiltration in SCA patients with normoalbuminuria was associated with younger age and lower hemoglobin F concentration on cross sectional analysis and with higher rates of progression to microalbuminuria on longitudinal analysis. Future research to better understand the development of hyperfiltration and its contribution to kidney damage may help guide future therapies for sickle cell nephropathy. ![Figure][2] Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. [1]: #F1 [2]: pending:yes
Expanding Applications of Renal Mobilization and Downward Nephropexy in Ureteral Reconstruction

Objective To evaluate renal mobilization with downward nephropexy as an adjunct maneuver to facilitate various methods of reconstruction of the upper urinary tract with limited ureteral length. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all upper urinary tract reconstructive procedures performed from 2007 to 2015 to identify those requiring downward renal mobilization with nephropexy. Data including concomitant maneuvers, stricture location, prior surgeries, and intraoperative details were analyzed. Success rates, defined by resolution of symptoms and avoidance of further intervention, and complications were evaluated. Results Of 92 patients undergoing ureteral reconstruction during the study period, 18 (19.6%) involved renal mobilization with downward nephropexy to gain additional ureteral length (5/7 [71.4%] of ureterocalycostomies, 8/26 [30.1%] of Boari flap bladder reconfigurations, 4/12 [33.3%] of ureteroureterostomies, and 1/12 [8.3%] of ileal ureters). Two-thirds of patients (12/18, 66.7%) had undergone unsuccessful prior open, laparoscopic, or endoscopic reconstruction attempts. Renal mobilization was performed open in 15/18 (83.3%) cases and laparoscopically in 3/18 (16.7%). After renal mobilization, the average distance of downward movement achieved was 3.3 cm (range 3-5 cm). With a mean follow-up of 50.4 months (range 3-87 months), overall success rate defined as ureteral patency was 88.9%, with 2/18 patients (11.1%) requiring a subsequent nephrectomy for failed upper tract reconstruction and persistent symptomatic hydronephrosis. Conclusion Downward renal mobilization and nephropexy is a safe and versatile technique that can be effectively combined with many other reconstructive maneuvers.
Genetic Methods for Studying the Role of Viral Oncogenes in the HPV Life Cycle

Human papillomaviruses are the causative agents of several cancers, but only a minority of HPV infections progress to malignancy. In order to better understand HPV biology during the normal, differentiation-dependent life cycle, a cell culture model that maintains the complete episomal genome and permits host cell differentiation is critical. Furthermore, the use of cloned DNA as a starting material is important to facilitate genetic analyses. In this chapter, procedures for isolating human keratinocytes, establishing cell lines maintaining HPV16 genomes, and inducing cellular differentiation, which permits analysis of both early and late stages in the viral life cycle, are described.
A historical sketch of the School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania.

An advertisement in the 1765 Pennsylvania Gazette described the course as follows: “Dr. Shippen's course of Anatomical Lectures will begin on Thursday, the 14th of November, 1765. It will consist of sixty lectures, in which the situation, figure and structure of all parts of the Human Body will be demonstrated on the fresh subject; their respective uses explained, and their Diseases, with the Indications and Methods of Cure, briefly treated of; all the necessary Operations in Surgery will be performed, a course of Bandages given, and the whole will conclude with a few plain and general directions in the Practice of Midwifery. Each person to pay six Pistoles.”
Agrobacterium -Mediated Transformation of Plants

The focus of these exercises will be to examine Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of tobacco and petunia using leaf disk and shoot apex explant. In addition, tobacco leaf infiltration method will be examined for transient expression of proteins to analyze their subcelluar location or biochemical characteristics. A method of inserting foreign genes into plants is an important tool in both basic and applied studies including functional analysis of unknown genes and a genetic engineering strategy to develop biotic or abiotic stress-tolerant crop? species. In particular, Agrobacterium -mediated transformation method is a simple, low cost alternative and generally results in the introduction of single or low copy numbers of the intact transgenes without transgene rearrangement. A variety of techniques for Agrobacterium -mediated transformation will be examined. To facilitate fast transient expression of desired proteins in tobacco leaves, a tobacco leaf infiltration method will be examined.
Virtual Fashion Play as Embodied Identity Re/Assembling: Second Life Fashion Bloggers and Their Avatar Bodies

Second LifeTM fashion bloggers use the virtual environment as a place to re/construct different assemblages of self, thereby creating new potential for and experiences of subjectivity. Drawing on theories of embodiment and Deleuze and Guattari’s (A thousand plateaus: Capitalism and schizophrenia. (B. Massumi, Tran.). University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1987) theories of the Body without Organs, assemblage, and becoming, I propose virtual fashion play as a process through which people continually construct and deconstruct identity. The inquiry centres on two questions: What is the relationship between bloggers and their avatars? How do bloggers construct identities through fashion? The fashion bloggers referenced do not see themselves as constructing identities that are separate from the identities of their physical lives. However, their avatars do have an impact on their physical selves. Their physical and virtual bodies are integrated as they re/assemble identities, and virtual fashion offers a technology of self that expresses practices of identity.
Irony, Cynicism, and Potential Resistance

Both recent theories of socialism and the evidence from China thus suggest that totalizing institutions never have complete control. The resulting free space has always been there, but has grown increasingly obvious in China over the last decade, as the reforms have encouraged departures from strict state control. Such alternative social relations guarantee that cultural domination can never be total, because the institutions of official interpretation themselves have inherent limits. This chapter will follow how the space created by reciprocal ties, family life, and even political small groups has fostered ambiguous interpretations and refusals to interpret that deflect and deform the campaign for a unified, official reading of Tiananmen.
LANA-Mediated Recruitment of Host Polycomb Repressive Complexes onto the KSHV Genome during De Novo Infection.

One of the hallmarks of the latent phase of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection is the global repression of lytic viral gene expression. Following de novo KSHV infection, the establishment of latency involves the chromatinization of the incoming viral genomes and recruitment of the host Polycomb repressive complexes (PRC1 and PRC2) to the promoters of lytic genes, which is accompanied by the inhibition of lytic genes. However, the mechanism of how PRCs are recruited to the KSHV episome is still unknown. Utilizing a genetic screen of latent genes in the context of KSHV genome, we identified the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) to be responsible for the genome-wide recruitment of PRCs onto the lytic promoters following infection. We found that LANA initially bound to the KSHV genome right after infection and subsequently recruited PRCs onto the viral lytic promoters, thereby repressing lytic gene expression. Furthermore, both the DNA and chromatin binding activities of LANA were required for the binding of LANA to the KSHV promoters, which was necessary for the recruitment of PRC2 to the lytic promoters during de novo KSHV infection. Consequently, the LANA-knockout KSHV could not recruit PRCs to its viral genome upon de novo infection, resulting in aberrant lytic gene expression and dysregulation of expression of host genes involved in cell cycle and proliferation pathways. In this report, we demonstrate that KSHV LANA recruits host PRCs onto the lytic promoters to suppress lytic gene expression following de novo infection.
Trans-ethnic follow-up of breast cancer GWAS hits using the preferential linkage disequilibrium approach

Leveraging population-distinct linkage equilibrium (LD) patterns, trans-ethnic follow-up of variants discovered from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has proved to be useful in facilitating the identification of bona fide causal variants. We previously developed the preferential LD approach, a novel method that successfully identified causal variants driving the GWAS signals within European-descent populations even when the causal variants were only weakly linked with the GWAS-discovered variants. To evaluate the performance of our approach in a trans-ethnic setting, we applied it to follow up breast cancer GWAS hits identified mostly from populations of European ancestry in African Americans (AA). We evaluated 74 breast cancer GWAS variants in 8,315 AA women from the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk (AMBER) consortium. Only 27% of them were associated with breast cancer risk at significance level α=0.05, suggesting race-specificity of the identified breast cancer risk loci. We followed up on those replicated GWAS hits in the AMBER consortium utilizing the preferential LD approach, to search for causal variants or better breast cancer markers from the 1000 Genomes variant catalog. Our approach identified stronger breast cancer markers for 80% of the GWAS hits with at least nominal breast cancer association, and in 81% of these cases, the marker identified was among the top 10 of all 1000 Genomes variants in the corresponding locus. The results support trans-ethnic application of the preferential LD approach in search for candidate causal variants, and may have implications for future genetic research of breast cancer in AA women.
Detecting Cell Growth and Drug Response in Heterogeneous Populations: A Dynamic Imaging Approach

Tumor heterogeneity has been increasingly recognized as one of the potentially contributing factors in explaining drug resistance. In order to gain better understanding of heterogeneous cancer cell populations and different cells' responses to various drugs, we use fluorescent proteins to mark the cells and a live-cell dynamic imaging platform to collect cell-by-cell measurements. After addressing the issue of fluorescent reporter variance in a Bayesian inference framework, we decompose the different cell types in the mixture and calculate their proportions and counts over time responding to different drug treatments. Additionally, the drug response as characterized by the cell death rate was also computed for these cells, and their different sensitivity was demonstrated. Overall, this work represents an important advancement toward evaluating cancer heterogeneity and drug responses in heterogeneous cancer cell populations.
A 2.3 $\mu$ W Wireless Intraocular Pressure/Temperature Monitor

We present the design of an ultra-low power, wireless pressure/temperature sensing device for continuous intraocular pressure monitoring. The device is wirelessly powered and demonstrates a power consumption of 2.3 μW at 1.5 V during continuous monitoring. The chip converts both capacitance and temperature to frequency using a time-interleaved relaxation oscillator, which modulates RF backscatter to a reader for computation of measured samples. A significant reduction in power consumption results from the elimination of the digitization circuitry, time-multiplexed operation, and moving the signal processing burden to the external reader using analog IF-modulated backscatter. The chip exhibits measured capacitance and temperature standard deviations of 1.4 fF and 0.4°C, respectively.
Experimental Tests of the Theory: Beauty and Meaning

Aesthetic chills, strong aesthetic emotions have been used for experimental tests of theoretical predictions about the nature of the beautiful and its relations to the highest meaning and purpose. What is the beautiful, what are the highest meaning and purpose? Theoretical predictions are confirmed: the beautiful is defined not by shapes, or forms, or colors, or story tensions, all of these are important, still the beautiful is what makes human life meaningful and purposeful. Emotions of the beautiful are related to understanding contents of mental models near the top of the mental hierarchy. Kantian aesthetics is made simple. Courses on aesthetics will have to change their contents.
Disease Modification in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

For patients with heart failure, hospitalization is associated with a downward clinical trajectory that accelerates with each subsequent admission. The risk of adverse events after hospitalization may be increased for patients who do not have reductions in levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) between hospital admission and discharge.1 In addition, among patients who present with decompensation, troponin levels that are even slightly above the upper limit of the normal range (not attributable to an acute coronary syndrome) are associated with worse outcomes.2 In part on the basis of these observations, it has been suggested that early . . .
Novel Method for Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis of Soil-Emitted Nitric Oxide

The global inventory of NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) emissions is poorly constrained, with a large portion of the uncertainty attributed to soil NO emissions that result from soil abiotic and microbial processes. While natural abundance stable N isotopes (δ15N) in various soil N-containing compounds have proven to be a robust tracer of soil N cycling, soil δ15N-NO is rarely quantified due to the measurement difficulties. Here, we present a new method that collects soil-emitted NO through NO conversion to NO2 in excess ozone (O3) and subsequent NO2 collection in a 20% triethanolamine (TEA) solution as nitrite and nitrate for δ15N analysis using the denitrifier method. The precision and accuracy of the method were quantified through repeated collection of an analytical NO tank and intercalibration with a modified EPA NOx collection method. The results show that the efficiency of NO conversion to NO2 and subsequent NO2 collection in the TEA solution is >98% under a variety of controlled conditions. The method precis...
A Graphical Model for Online Auditory Scene Modulation Using EEG Evidence for Attention

Recent findings indicate that brain interfaces have the potential to enable attention-guided auditory scene analysis and manipulation in applications, such as hearing aids and augmented/virtual environments. Specifically, noninvasively acquired electroencephalography (EEG) signals have been demonstrated to carry some evidence regarding, which of multiple synchronous speech waveforms the subject attends to. In this paper, we demonstrate that: 1) using data- and model-driven cross-correlation features yield competitive binary auditory attention classification results with at most 20 s of EEG from 16 channels or even a single well-positioned channel; 2) a model calibrated using equal-energy speech waveforms competing for attention could perform well on estimating attention in closed-loop unbalanced-energy speech waveform situations, where the speech amplitudes are modulated by the estimated attention posterior probability distribution; 3) such a model would perform even better if it is corrected (linearly, in this instance) based on EEG evidence dependence on speech weights in the mixture; and 4) calibrating a model based on population EEG could result in acceptable performance for new individuals/users; therefore, EEG-based auditory attention classifiers may generalize across individuals, leading to reduced or eliminated calibration time and effort.
P1.09 Diagnosing mycoplasma genitalium: comparison of four nucleic acid amplification tests and use of the speedx real-time pcr assay for azithromycin resistance

Introduction Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) associated with urethritis in men and cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. Azithromycin (AZ) resistance in MG, resulting in treatment failure is an issue. We compared molecular assays for detection of MG in females; a prospective cohort of adolescents with PID and a retrospective group of women at a STD clinic. We tested vaginal samples for AZ resistance with the SpeeDX assay, a real-time PCR, which detects MG and 23S rRNA AZ resistance mutations. Methods For the prospective study, SpeeDX results were compared to 16S rRNA and pdhD real-time PCR assays, and the Aptima MG ASR assay. Samples consisted of dry transported vaginal swab samples (n=116); expressed in water. For the retrospective study we evaluated vaginal samples (n=289) stored in liquid Amies media. Nucleic acid extraction was performed utilising the Roche MagNA Pure LC robot according to manufacturer instructions. The SpeeDX assay was performed according to manufacturer instructions. For the retrospective study, results were compared to the 2 real-time PCR assays for the 16S rRNA gene and pdhD gene. Results For the prospective study, a gold standard of 3 of 4 positive tests defined a true positive. The 16S PCR had 100% sensitivity (10/10) and 100% specificity (106/106) Kappa=1 [95% CI: 1–1], while SpeeDX PCR displayed 90% sensitivity (9/10) and 99% specificity (105/106) Kappa=0.89 [95% CI: 0.74–1]. The pdhD PCR had 100% sensitivity (10/10) and 100% specificity (106/106) Kappa=1. The Aptima MG assay had 90% sensitivity (9/10) and 94% specificity (100/106) Kappa=0.69 [0.46–0.91]. The SpeeDX 23S rRNA mutation rate was 50% (5/10). For the retrospective group, no Aptima MG was done because of transport media. A gold standard of 2 of 3 positive tests defined a true positive. The 16S PCR was 84% sensitive (21/25) and 100% specific (264/264) Kappa=0.91 [0.813–0.997]. The SpeeDX was 92% sensitive (23/25) and 99% specificity (262/264) Kappa=0.91 [0.833–0.997]. The pdhD PCR was 96% sensitive (24/25) and 99% specific (261/264) Kappa=0.91 [0.833–0.997]. The SpeeDX AZ resistance was 36% (9/25). Conclusion: More prospective evaluation studies are required; all assays performed well. The SpeeDX PCR compared well to two real-time PCRs and the Aptima MG assay. High AZ resistance was observed. The SpeeDX assay is potentially useful for MG diagnosis and for detection of resistance to AZ
Phencyclidine increased while isolation rearing did not affect progressive ratio responding in rats: Investigating potential models of amotivation in schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1% of the global population with heterogeneous symptoms including positive, negative, and cognitive. While treatment for positive symptoms exists, none have been developed to treat negative symptoms. Animal models of schizophrenia are required to test targeted treatments and since patients exhibit reduced effort (breakpoints) for reward in a progressive ratio (PR) task, we examined the PR breakpoints of rats treated with the NMDA receptor antagonist phencyclidine or those reared in isolation – two common manipulations used to induce schizophrenia-relevant behaviors in rodents. Methods In two cohorts, the PR breakpoint for a palatable food reward was examined in Long Evans rats after: 1) a repeated phencyclidine regimen; 2) A subchronic phencyclidine regimen followed by drug washout; and 3) post-weaning social isolation. Results Rats treated with repeated phencyclidine and those following washout from phencyclidine exhibited higher PR breakpoints than vehicle-treated rats. The breakpoint of isolation reared rats did not differ from those socially reared, despite abnormalities of these rats in other schizophrenia-relevant behaviors. Conclusion Despite their common use for modeling other schizophrenia-relevant behaviors neither phencyclidine treatment nor isolation rearing recreated the motivational deficits observed in patients with schizophrenia, as measured by PR breakpoint. Other manipulations, and negative symptom-relevant behaviors, require investigation prior to testing putative therapeutics.
The US biofuel mandate as a substitute for carbon cap-and-trade

Abstract Environmental economists might recommend a cap-and-trade program as a good way to lower emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), but US carbon cap-and-trade legislation was proposed and failed to become law. Instead, the biofuel use mandate is the primary existing GHG reduction program in the United States. The mandate effectively requires a rising amount of GHG abatement each year, but allows regulated parties to buy and sell credits to meet annual obligations. Although many aspects of the biofuel mandate look similar to a cap-and-trade program, there are additional requirements, such as feedstock eligibility limitations and waivers. The existence of the mandates is presumably conditional on all the legal requirements, but these conditions represent a departure from a strict GHG cap-and-trade program. We estimate GHG abatement costs of the mandate and compare them to a hypothetical cap-and-trade program targeting vehicle fuels. The mandate abatement cost is found to be higher than a hypothetical GHG cap-and-trade. Our results show that the RFS might be judged as a feasible substitute for a cap-and-trade regime that can deliver GHG reductions, but at a higher cost reflecting its multiple objectives.
A MODIFIED HALDANE GAS ANALYZER FOR ANALYSIS OF MIXTURES WITH ONE HUNDRED PER CENT ABSORBABLE GAS

SUMMARY A modification of the Haldane gas analysis apparatus is de- scribed. This modification is adapted to allow analysis of samples of gas up to 16 ml. from mixtures containing up to 100 per cent of absorbable gas. This is attained by using a main burette of 16 ml. with 4 ml. graduated in 0.01 ml., and a second burette con- nected to it by a T-cock containing 12.5 ml. The latter burette may be used to store nitrogen, which can be accurately measured and be utilized to make up the volume in the main burette as gas is absorbed. The smaller burette consists of three sections with a bulb of 3.5 ml. and a graduated tube above it of 0.5 ml. Below the lowermost bulb an additional 0.5 ml. is graduated. The accuracy obtainable is of the same order as that of the ordinary Haldane apparatus. The double burette can be used not only in this way but also both burettes may be used to contain the unknown gas. Samples of gas up to 28.5 ml. in volume may thus be analyzed if the ab- sorbable gas is 57 per cent or less of the total. The accuracy ob- tainable in this form in analysis of outside air is of the order of f0.005 per cent. If desired, the main burette alone may be used exactly as an ordinary Haldane analyzer. Owing to the very variable volumes that may be utilized in the active burette, it is important to have the volume of air in the control burette adjustable. The arrangement for so doing is described, and it is pointed out that it is a useful addition to the ordinary Haldane analyzer.
Toxic and Medication-Induced Conditions

In our practice, relatively nebulous symptoms such as “dyspepsia” or “heartburn” are common indications for examination by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Few such patients will present for an endoscopic examination aimed at elucidating the cause of these symptoms without having a tried and failed medical therapy such as proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications to alleviate their suffering. In addition, many patients seen for such symptoms are on one or more medications unrelated to gastrointestinal disease, and over-the-counter medications are ubiquitous. Finally, other ingested and endogenous substances can affect the mucosa of the stomach, resulting in reactive mucosal changes. Thus, the biopsies that we receive commonly show the effect of one or more medications or toxic substances. Although many types of insult are possible, there is a relatively limited number of ways the mucosa can respond, meaning that intense reactive features to the gastric mucosa can have a variety of causes. In general, these reactive mucosal changes have little in the way of inflammation, leading us to classify most of them as types of gastropathy rather than gastritis, which will be discussed separately. In addition to the general category of reactive changes, some types of medication- or toxin-induced injury manifest with more characteristic histological findings.
Mental Health and Culture

Dr. Leon presented us with a series of vignettes as concrete examples of how one delivers mental health services and how one is influenced by and collaborates with a set of beliefs and perceptions which are culturally molded. This leads me to a criticism. Too often, at this conference, we have heard vast and somewhat empty generalizations about the state of the world as it applies to the mental health movement. Some of these generalizations have been full of doom and gloom — the world is going to pieces and poverty is spreading all over the place and we will never have enough resources and we have to be terribly, terribly concerned. That raises our anxiety and, although anxiety sometimes moves people to action, sometimes it moves them to inaction. On the other hand, some of the generalizations we have heard have been full of promise. As Dr. Pierce said yesterday, we know enough. All we have to do is roll up our sleeves and apply ourselves, and we will be able to put the mental health movement forward wherever we are working. We have swung between pessimism and optimism at this conference. What I have missed are concrete examples of what you do for wherever you are in relation to whatever culture you are working in. I thought that Dr. Leon’s examples of what he has done and what he has experienced are the kind of examples that we need, so that we can function in a way to advance things, particularly in under-developed countries. I admired Dr. Leon’s reference to his own experience as a child in the treatment of “susto”, that is, his experiencing “susto”, which is the loss of soul, and his treatment by a native healer, the “limpiadora”. This personal experience is extremely important, so that we know the sort of background from which the person delivering mental health services in a cultural context comes.
Using Transcription Factor Based Assays to Study Herbal Products

Transcription factors bind to specific DNA sequences in the vicinity of genes and are the major regulators of gene expression. The activity of these factors is controlled by the various signal transduction mechanisms and second messenger systems used by the cell to coordinate and respond to signals from the extracellular environment, including hormones and the local tissue environment. Because of this, transcription factors can be used to indirectly monitor the activity of many cellular components, such as the status of membrane receptor-hormone interactions, the biochemical transformations accompanying the relay of this binding event to a cytoplasmic signal, or the multitude of protein targets used to coordinate this signal to various cellular compartments. By monitoring the activity of several transcription factors, one can gain an overall impression of the state of various signal transduction systems and other targets. Therefore, monitoring transcription factors’ activities is useful for determining the influence that a particular herb or herbal component may have on a cell. The easiest way to detect changes in transcription factor activity is through luciferase reporter gene technology. These plasmid constructs can contain either the complex promoter region of a gene or binding sites for a particular transcription factor. Comparing activity profiles of herbs or herbal components to specific transcription factors can provide an index of specificity, in addition to determining potential mechanisms of action. The particular transcription factor binding sites comprising the battery are chosen based on the type of activity an herb exhibits and/or upon a well-established therapeutic target of the disorder. The same criteria determine the cell type or types used for the assays. Results and examples of the utilization of this technology over the past several years at the National Center for the Development of Natural Products (NCNPR) will be presented from the therapeutic areas of inflammation and immunomodulation.
Low-Communication Self-stabilizing Leader Election in Large Networks

This paper makes two contributions: (1) On a completely connected network of n anonymous processes, it presents a synchronous randomized algorithm to solve the weak leader election problem in expected O(1) time using $O(\sqrt{n} \log n)$ messages with high probability, (2) It presents a self-stabilizing algorithm for the strong leader election problem on a completely connected network of processes with unique ids  it stabilizes in expected O(1) number of rounds (or in O(logn) rounds with high probability) using O(n) messages. In doing so, the algorithm also solves the stabilizing unison problem.
Sex Differences in Photic Entrainment and Sensitivity to Ethanol-Induced Chronodisruption in Adult Mice After Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure.

BACKGROUND Evidence supports a role for the circadian system in alcohol use disorders, but the impact of adolescent alcohol exposure on circadian timing later in life is unknown. Acute ethanol (EtOH) attenuates circadian photic phase-resetting in adult, but not adolescent, rodents. However, nearly all studies have focused on males and it is unknown whether this adolescent-typical insensitivity to EtOH persists into adulthood after adolescent drinking. METHODS Circadian activity was monitored in C57BL/6J mice receiving adolescent intermittent EtOH (AIE) exposure (15% EtOH and water every other day throughout adolescence) or water alone followed by 24 days wherein EtOH was not available (washout). Mice then received a challenge dose of EtOH (1.5 g/kg, intraperitoneal) or saline 15 minutes prior to a 30-minute phase-delaying light pulse and then were released into constant darkness (DD). To control for possible phase-shifting by EtOH challenge alone, a separate group of mice underwent AIE exposure (or water-only) and washout and then received an EtOH or saline injection, but did not receive a light pulse prior to DD. RESULTS Striking sex differences in nearly all measures of circadian photic entrainment were observed during adolescence but AIE effects were subtle and few. Only EtOH-naive adult male mice showed attenuated photic phase-shifts with EtOH challenge, while all other groups showed normal phase-resetting responses to light. AIE-exposed females showed a persistent delay in activity offset. CONCLUSIONS Adult male AIE-exposed mice retained adolescent-like insensitivity to EtOH-induced suppression of photic phase-resetting, suggesting AIE-induced "lock-in" of an adolescent behavioral phenotype. Adult AIE-exposed females showed delayed initiation of the rest phase. Our results also indicate that intermittent EtOH drinking has subtle effects on circadian activity in mice during adolescence that differ from previously reported effects on adult males. The observed sex differences in circadian activity, EtOH consumption and preference, and responses to EtOH challenge merit future mechanistic study.
The Prognostic Significance of p16 Status in Patients With Vulvar Cancer Treated With Vulvectomy and Adjuvant Radiation.

Purpose Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a relatively rare malignancy. Human papillomavirus has been implicated as a causative factor for a subset of these patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether p16-positivity (a human papillomavirus surrogate) predicts for better response rates in women who undergo surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). Methods and Materials We retrospectively analyzed data from women with VSCC who were treated with adjuvant RT. p16-Positivity was defined as diffuse strong immunoreactivity within the tumor. Time to event outcomes was performed with Kaplan-Meier and cumulative incidence methodologies. Results Thirty-nine women were identified. Ten had positive results for p16 (p16+), and 29 had negative results (p16−). The median follow-up was 25.7 months. The median age at diagnosis was 59 years for women with p16+ tumors and 74 years for women with p16− tumors (P = .022). The distribution of stage did not differ by p16 status. The indications for adjuvant RT were close/positive margins in 19 women, positive nodes in 9 women, and both in 11 women. There were 21 recurrences: 15 vulvar, 3 isolated nodal, 2 synchronous vulvar/nodal, and 1 distant metastasis. In-field relapse rates at 3 years were lower in p16+ patients (32.5%) than in p16− patients (59.1%, P = .072). This trend was also observed in progression-free survival (P = .062). A p16+ status and a lower International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage were associated with fewer in-field relapses and improved progression-free survival in multivariable analyses. The p16 status was not a predictor of overall survival. Conclusions p16-Positivity appears to be a prognostic factor for in-field relapse rates in patients with VSCC appropriately treated with adjuvant RT.
Vemurafenib Redifferentiation of BRAF Mutant, RAI-Refractory Thyroid Cancers.

Context BRAFV600E mutant thyroid cancers are often refractory to radioiodine (RAI). Objectives To investigate the utility and molecular underpinnings of enhancing lesional iodide uptake with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in patients with RAI-refractory (RAIR). Design This was a pilot trial that enrolled from June 2014 to January 2016. Setting Academic cancer center. Patients Patients with RAIR, BRAF mutant thyroid cancer. Intervention Patients underwent thyrotropin-stimulated iodine-124 (124I) positron emission tomography scans before and after ~4 weeks of vemurafenib. Those with increased RAI concentration exceeding a predefined lesional dosimetry threshold (124I responders) were treated with iodine-131 (131I). Response was evaluated with imaging and serum thyroglobulin. Three patients underwent research biopsies to evaluate the impact of vemurafenib on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and thyroid differentiation. Main outcome measure The proportion of patients in whom vemurafenib increased RAI incorporation to warrant 131I. Results Twelve BRAF mutant patients were enrolled; 10 were evaluable. Four patients were 124I responders on vemurafenib and treated with 131I, resulting in tumor regressions at 6 months. Analysis of research tumor biopsies demonstrated that vemurafenib inhibition of the MAPK pathway was associated with increased thyroid gene expression and RAI uptake. The mean pretreatment serum thyroglobulin value was higher among 124I responders than among nonresponders (30.6 vs 1.0 ng/mL; P = 0.0048). Conclusions Vemurafenib restores RAI uptake and efficacy in a subset of BRAF mutant RAIR patients, probably by upregulating thyroid-specific gene expression via MAPK pathway inhibition. Higher baseline thyroglobulin values among responders suggest that tumor differentiation status may be a predictor of vemurafenib benefit.
CMET-10. RISK OF RADIATION NECROSIS FOLLOWING REPEAT STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY FOR RECURRENT BRAIN METASTASES

INTRODUCTION Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has become the standard of care for the treatment of many patients with oligo-metastases of the brain with a local control rate of 80–90% and radiation necrosis rate of 7% per lesion. Per patient, the rate of radiation necrosis is 10–15% with half being symptomatic. We sought to determine outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery for treatment of recurrent brain metastases after failure of initial SRS.
Lessons Learned from TR-β Mutant Mice

Thyroid hormone receptors (TR) are cellular homologues of the viral erythroblastic leukemia oncogene (v-erbA). TRs (c-erbA isoforms) are derived from two separate gene loci in mammals: α and β1. The α locus in humans is located on chromosome 17 (17q11.2) and the β locus is on chromosome 3 (3p24.3). The TR-α gene undergoes alternative splicing generating two c-erbA isoforms: TR-αl and α2. TR-α1 is a bona fide thyroid hormone receptor, whereas alternative splicing of the C-terminus of α2 generates a non-T3 binding isoform. The TR-β gene generates two major isoforms due to alternative promoter utilization: TR-β1 and TR-β2. This results in two beta thyroid hormone receptors with different amino termini (Figure 1).
Forearm loop arteriovenous grafts preserve and may create new upper arm access sites

Introduction:This study evaluated the mid-term patency of forearm loop arteriovenous grafts and the dilation of previously inadequate upper arm basilic and cephalic veins after failed forearm loop ...
An implementation of backpropagation learning on GF11, a large SIMD parallel computer

Abstract Current connectionist simulations require huge computational resources. We describe a neural network simulator for the IBM GF11, an experimental SIMD machine with 566 processors and a peak arithmetic performance of 11 Gigaflops. We present our parallel implementation of the backpropagation learning algorithm, techniques for increasing efficiency performance measurements on the NETTALK text-to-speech benchmark, and a performance model for the simulator. Our simulator currently runs the backpropagation learning algorithm at 900 million connections per second, where each “connection per second” includes both a forward and a backward pass. This figure was obtained on the machine when only 356 processors were working; with all 566 processors operational, our simulator will run at over one billion connections per second. We conclude that the GF11 is well-suited to neural network simulation, and we analyze our use of the machine to determine which features are the most important for high performance.
BMI growth trajectory from ages 2 to 6 years and its association with maternal obesity, diabetes during pregnancy, gestational weight gain, and breastfeeding

Objective To identify latent BMI growth trajectories from ages 2 to 6 years and examine their independent associations with maternal prepregnancy obesity or overweight, pre-existing type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) or gestational diabetes (GDM) with or without requiring antidiabetic medications during pregnancy, excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG), and breastfeeding ≤ 6 months. Research design and method Data included 71 892 children born at Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals in 2007 to 2011 with complete information on maternal risk factors. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify latent BMI trajectory groups. Logistic regression was used to assess independent associations adjusted for covariates. Results Three distinct BMI trajectory groups were identified: Group 1 (59% of the cohort) had stable low BMI, Group 2 (35% of the cohort) had stable median BMI, and Group 3 (6% of the cohort) had high and increasing BMI over time. Relative to Groups 1 and 2 combined, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) of being in Group 3 associated with maternal exposures were 5.6 (5.1-6.2) for prepregnancy obesity, 2.4 (2.2-2.7) for prepregnancy overweight, 2.1 (1.2-3.7) for T1D, 1.6 (1.4-1.8) for T2D, 1.4 (1.3-1.6) for GDM requiring medication treatment, 1.1 (1.0-1.3) for GDM not requiring medication, 1.3 (1.2-1.4) for EGWG, and 1.2 (1.2-1.3) for breastfeeding ≤ 6 months. Conclusion Child's high and increasing BMI trajectory was strongly associated with maternal prepregnancy obesity and overweight, modestly associated with maternal T1D, T2D, and GDM requiring medication treatment and EGWG, and slightly associated with breastfeeding ≤ 6 months. GDM not requiring medication treatment during pregnancy had little association.
Developmental exposure to Pb2+ induces transgenerational changes to zebrafish brain transcriptome.

Abstract Lead (Pb2+) is a major public health hazard for urban children, with profound and well-characterized developmental and behavioral implications across the lifespan. The ability of early Pb2+ exposure to induce epigenetic changes is well-established, suggesting that Pb2+-induced neurobehavioral deficits may be heritable across generations. Understanding the long-term and multigenerational repercussions of lead exposure is crucial for clarifying both the genotypic alterations behind these behavioral outcomes and the potential mechanism of heritability. To study this, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos (
Integrative Approach in Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. The economic impact of the epidemic is expected to total more than $800 billion by 2030. Low-cost interventions such as meditation and mindfulness, physical activity, and improvement in dietary habits are of particular interest in curbing the impact of CVD. The chapter will review the evidence for these interventions in primary and secondary prevention of CVD.
CT volumetric measurements correlate with split renal function in renal trauma.

To evaluate whether volumetric measurements of segmental vascular injuries (SVIs) based on computed tomography (CT) imaging obtained during an initial trauma survey correlate with future nuclear medicine (NM) split renal function. A retrospective review was performed of renal trauma patients treated at a level 1 trauma center between 2008 and 2015. Patients with unilateral SVIs on initial CT imaging with follow-up NM renal scans were evaluated. CT-based split renal function was calculated by assessing the ratio of ipsilateral uninjured kidney volume to bilateral total uninjured kidney volume by two separate radiologists. Eight patients with unilateral SVIs on initial CT trauma evaluation underwent follow-up NM renal scans at a mean of 4 months (range 2–6) after injury. Mean NM split renal function of the injured kidney was 43% (range 22–57). Based on the CT volumetric measurements of the affected kidney, mean percent injured was 23% (range 7–62) with a calculated mean split renal function of 44% (range 23–60). Calculated mean CT split function correlated with NM split function (R = 0.89). Intraclass correlation measuring inter-rater reliability for CT volumetric measurements was 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.72–0.99). Volumetric measurements based on CT imaging obtained during the initial trauma evaluation correlated with future NM split renal function after SVIs with high inter-rater reliability. This method utilizes pre-existing imaging and avoids additional radiation exposure, work burden, and financial cost from a NM scan. Further evaluation is required to assess feasibility with more complex injuries.