cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response to activator treatment in Class II malocclusions

A clinical study was designed to disclose the effects of activator treatment in the correction of Class II malocclusions. The rationale for the use of the activator appliance was based on the premise that correction of distocclusion can be achieved by inhibition of forward growth of the maxilla, inhibition of mesial migration of maxillary teeth, inhibition of maxillary alveolar height increase and extrusion of mandibular molars, increased growth of the mandible, anterior relocation of the glenoid fossa, mesial movement of mandibular teeth, and combinations of these effects. The appliance, as designed for this study, could potentially have an effect on all of these factors. Measurements were obtained from cephalometric head films obtained at 6-month intervals. Matched-pairs analyses of control versus treatment change after 6 months and after 1 year of treatment were done on 36 and 29 pairs, respectively. Pretreatment versus treatment changes were analyzed on 33 subjects by means of the spline regression analysis; posttreatment versus treatment changes were analyzed on 18 subjects by means of the Student Newman-Keuls multiple comparison test. The matched-pairs analyses of mean values demonstrated significant reduction in forward growth of the maxilla, uprighting of the maxillary incisors, reduced overjet, leveling of the mandibular occlusal plane, improved molar relationship, downward and forward relocation of the glenoid fossae, increased advancement of all mandibular structures, increased face profile angle, and increased lower face height. The two longitudinal analyses yielded similar findings, but some differences were noted. Because rather severe dental malocclusions were corrected, the slight average inhibition of maxillary growth and the anterior relocation of glenoid fossae alone could not account for the correction of the Class II dental arch relationship. It was therefore concluded that, in addition to the statistically significant changes, smaller changes occurred in several areas without being consistent enough or of a large enough magnitude to become statistically significant in the analyses of mean values. Comparison of group averages may mask treatment effects that significantly contribute to the correction of malocclusions in individual cases.
Segmenting Business Students Using Cluster Analysis Applied To Student Satisfaction Survey Results

This paper demonstrates a new application of cluster analysis to segment business school students according to their degree of satisfaction with various aspects of the academic program. The resulting clusters provide additional insight into drivers of student satisfaction that are not evident from analysis of the responses of the student body as a whole. The results show how predictors of satisfaction cited in prior studies, such as quality of advising and degree of social integration, are important to some students but less important to others.
Prognostic significance of VDR, DKK-1, and DKK-4 expression in colorectal cancer

e15047 Introduction: Inactivation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and up-regulation of its down-stream molecules, Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) and DKK-4 are implicated in the aggressive progression of colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRC). In this study, the expression of these molecules was evaluated in sporadic CRCs, and their expression levels were assessed for correlation with patient prognosis. Methods: By the qRT-PCR, 98 CRCs and matching normal tissues were analyzed for expression of VDR, DKK-1, and DKK-4 at the mRNA level. These levels were normalized to b-actin expression and calculated as ratios of copy numbers. The expression levels were assessed for correlation with clinicopathological features and for their prognostic importance. The survival probabilities were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: VDR expression was 1.5 times lower in CRCs (53 of 98, 54%) than in their corresponding normal tissues. Expression of DKK-1 was found in 51 of 98 (52%) of the CRCs and in 29 of 98 (29%) of the normal tiss...
Field measurement of moisture-buffering model inputs for residential buildings

Abstract Moisture adsorption and desorption in building materials impact indoor humidity. This effect should be included in building-energy simulations, particularly when humidity is being investigated or controlled. Several models can calculate this moisture-buffering effect, but accurate ones require model inputs that are not always known to the user of the building-energy simulation. This research developed an empirical method to extract whole-house model inputs for the effective moisture penetration depth (EMPD) model. The experimental approach was to subject the materials in the house to a square-wave relative-humidity profile, measure all of the moisture-transfer terms (e.g., infiltration, air-conditioner condensate), and calculate the only unmeasured term—the moisture sorption into the materials. We validated this method with laboratory measurements, which we used to measure the EMPD model inputs of two houses. After deriving these inputs, we measured the humidity of the same houses during tests with realistic latent and sensible loads and demonstrated the accuracy of this approach. These results show that the EMPD model, when given reasonable inputs, is an accurate moisture-buffering model.
De-Confinement in small systems: Clustering of color sources in high multiplicity p̄p collisions at √s = 1.8 TeV

It is shown that de-confinement can be achieved in high multiplicity non jet pp collisions at √s = 1.8 TeV Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory(FNAL- E735) experiment. In this paper we have analyzed the transverse momentum spectrum in the framework of the clustering of color sources. This frame-work naturally predicts the reduction in the charged particle multiplicity with respect to the value expected from the number of independent strings. Results are presented for both thermodynamic and transport properties. The initial temperature and energy density are obtained from the data via the color reduction factor F (ξ ) and the associated string density parameter ξ . The results for he trace anomaly Δ and shear viscosity to entropy density ratio(η /s ) are presented. These results confirm our earlier observation that the de-confined state of matter was created in high multiplicity events in pp collisions at √s = 1.8 TeV.
Emission Spectroscopy Characterization of Thermal Protection System Materials in Arc-Heated Flows

The present work reports on the use of emission spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool in arc-heated thermal protection system (TPS) testing. Absolute radiance measurements by emission spectroscopy from candidate TPS materials were performed concurrently with two-wavelength optical pyrometry in both a split tube furnace and the 30 kW mini-Arc Jet (mARC) at NASA Ames. In doing so, the emissivity values of certain common TPS materials were characterized as they vary with wavelength in the 685 to 925 nm spectral range. Preliminary measurements on carbon FiberForm, PICA, and TUFROC have yielded emissivity values between 0.84 and 0.96 at maximum survivability surface temperatures ranging from 1980-2860 K, depending on material. These measurements lay the foundation for more precise TPS surface temperature diagnostics by obtaining improved material emissivity estimates, while providing independent validation of surface temperature measurements via optical pyrometry. Because these specific material emissivity estimates are solely dependent on measured radiation intensity at a given wavelength and temperature, such results can be readily transferred to similar experiments on TPS material within larger arc jet systems, ultimately improving the understanding of surface temperature as it relates to TPS material recession.
Quantification of CO2 concentration in apatite

We have calibrated the infrared (IR) method for determining CO2 concentrations in apatite with absolute concentrations obtained through nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). IR data were obtained on double-polished apatite wafers using polarized transmission IR spectroscopy. Due to the various sites and orientations of ![Formula][1] in apatite, the IR spectra are complicated and do not have the same shape in different apatite samples. Hence, simple peak heights are not used to characterize CO2 concentrations in apatite. The total absorbance ( A total) was derived using the integrated area under the curves in a given polarized spectral region. Then A total is calculated as A E // c + 2 A E ⊥ c . The calibration has been carried out for two wavenumber regions, one with high sensitivity and the other applicable to apatite with high CO2 concentrations. The first calibration is for the fundamental asymmetric ![Formula][2] stretching at wavenumbers of 1600–1300 cm−1, and the CO2 concentration in parts per million can be obtained as (0.0756 ± 0.0036) A total/ d where d is sample thickness in centimeters. The fundamental stretching bands are strong and hence sensitive for measuring low CO2 concentrations in apatite, down to parts per million level. The second calibration is for the ![Formula][3] bands at wavenumbers of 2650–2350 cm−1, and the CO2 concentration in parts per million is (9.3 ± 0.6) A total/ d where d is sample thickness in centimeters. These bands are weak and hence are useful for measuring high CO2 concentrations in apatite without preparation of super-thin wafers. The anisotropy is significant. The difference between A E // c and A E ⊥ c can reach a factor of 2.73. Hence, for high accuracy, it is best to use polarized IR to determine CO2 concentrations in apatite. For rough estimation, unpolarized IR spectra may be used by estimating A total = 3 A unpol, where A unpol is the integrated absorbance from unpolarized spectra. [1]: /embed/mml-math-1.gif [2]: /embed/mml-math-2.gif [3]: /embed/mml-math-3.gif
Estimation of Interval Shear-wave Attenuation From Mode-converted Data

Interval attenuation measurements provide valuable information for reservoir characterization and lithology discrimination. Here, we present a methodology for estimating the interval S-wave attenuation coefficient from mode-converted (PS) data. By identifying PP and PS events with shared ray segments and applying the PP+PS=SS method, we first perform kinematic construction of pure shear (SS) events in the target layer and overburden. Then, the modified spectral-ratio method is used to compute the effective shear-wave attenuation coefficient for the target reflection. Finally, application of the dynamic version of velocity-independent layer stripping to the constructed SS reflections yields the interval S-wave attenuation coefficient in the target layer. The algorithm does not require knowledge of velocity and attenuation in the overburden, as long as it is composed of laterally homogeneous layers with a horizontal symmetry plane. The attenuation coefficient estimated for a range of source-receiver offsets can be inverted for the interval attenuation-anisotropy parameters. The method is tested on multicomponent synthetic data from layered VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) media generated with the anisotropic reflectivity method.
The role of history in Chan/Zen enlightenment

In his Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism, Dale Wright addresses the issue of romanticism in the course of Zen's transmission to the West during the twentieth century, with a focus on the figure of the ninth-century Chinese Buddhist master, Huangbo (Huang Po) ~ , and his Western interlocutor John Blofeld. One of the romantic strands of the Western reception of Zen Buddhism is the literal interpretation of Zen's self-proclaimed ahistorical nature of enlightenment, transmitted from mind to mind through the patriarchs down to the modem time. This is clear in D.T. Suzuki's and John Blofeld's interpretations of Zen, especially the former, who was instrumental in the early stage of Zen's transmission to the West. However, such an ahistorical interpretation has been challenged since the early twentieth century, manifestly displayed in the famous debate between HU Shi (Hu Shih) ~ and Suzuki, with Hu advocating that a proper appreciation of Chan requires a historical, cultural, and political understanding of the environment within which Chan emerged and of the prevailing intellectual movement o f which Chan was an integral part. In many ways, this debate set the parameters for the ensuing scholarship on Zen. Recent discourse on Zen has been increasingly tilting toward the direction pioneered by Flu. Wright's book is a distinctly philosophical approach to Zen set against such a background. In my judD'nent , Wright's book has gone beyond the parameters set by the debate between Hu and Suzuki in his treatment of history in Zen enlightenment, even though Wright does not address that debate directly in the book. We will take a look at how Wright has accomplished such a task. I will argue that Wright accomplishes this by making history constitutive, instead of simply interpretative, of Zen enlightenment. However, we will also see that Wright's hermeneutic approach has an inherent tendency to privilege theory over practice.
Environmental issues of fibrous glass

This paper will deal with fibrous glass as it is used in the electrical, electronic, and reinforced plastic industries, and its environmental aspects. Environment is defined in the broadest items, to include both the occupational, as well as the general environment. This paper will deal with the health effects of these materials, and their possible effect on man, as well as the environment, and will include an assessment of the possible future effects on these industries.
Study of a New Algorithm of Digital Wattmeter Calibration

According to the characteristics of the digital meter which is widely used in the power supply system,an algorithms of calibration based on the digital all-pass phase-shifting filter is proposed to solve the problems of the traditional method,involving the high measuring complexity,bad real-time performance and inapplicability in embedded measuring device.The algorithm of digital meter calibration studied in the paper mainly refers to two aspects-the standard digital power source calibration and the calibration of the whole calibration device.Considering the measurement uncertainty,the standard uncertainty of input amount and the uncertainty of synthetic standard are assessed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Highlights of ISPD 1995.

New ideas and innovations continue to emerge in the field of peritoneal dialysis. I believe that by converging experts from around the world and sharing our knowledge, we will advance our efforts t...
Lyndon bases of partially commutative free Lie algebras

Abstract Les empilements de Lyndon forment un analogue partiellement commutatif des mots de Lyndon. On construit une base de l'algebre de Lie libre (partiellement commutative) correspondante en utilisant les proprietes combinatoires des empilements de Lyndon.
Food Retailers and Retailing

Retailing, in terms of costs, is the most important function in marketing the fresh fruits and vegetables consumers purchase for home consumption. Retailing charges account for about one-third of the amount consumers pay for these commodities, or about 40 percent of the total marketing margin.
Transmembrane Signaling by G Protein-Coupled Receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) make up the largest and most diverse family of membrane receptors in the human genome, relaying information about the presence of diverse extracellular stimuli to the cell interior. All known GPCRs share a common architecture of seven membrane-spanning helices connected by intra- and extracellular loops. Most GPCR-mediated cellular responses result from the receptor acting as a ligand-activated guanine nucleotide exchange factor for heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding (G) proteins whose dissociated subunits activate effector enzymes or ion channels. GPCR signaling is subject to extensive negative regulation through receptor desensitization, sequestration, and down regulation, termination of G protein activation by GTPase-activation proteins, and enzymatic degradation of second messengers. Additional protein-protein interactions positively modulate GPCR signaling by influencing ligand-binding affinity and specificity, coupling between receptors, G proteins and effectors, or targeting to specific subcellular locations. These include the formation of GPCR homo- and heterodimers, the interaction of GPCRs with receptor activity-modifying proteins, and the binding of various scaffolding proteins to intracellular receptor domains. In some cases, these processes appear to generate signals in conjunction with, or even independent of, G protein activation.
Abstract 1665: Piperlongumine (PPLGM) has potent tumor-radiosensitizing properties in a mouse model of lung cancer

Background: Although over half of all lung cancer patients receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan, the therapeutic window of radiation is quite small, and it is difficult to deliver tumoricidal doses of radiation without the development of severe adverse effects in the nearby normal tissues. An agent that could sensitize lung cancer tissue to radiotherapy while sparing damage to normal tissues is still an unmet need. Piperlongumine (PPLGM), a natural product of the plant Piper longum has shown potent anti-carcinogenic properties through an ROS-inducing mechanism. Our hypothesis is that PPLGM will sensitize tumor cells to radiation-induced cell death in an orthotopic murine model of lung cancer. Methods: 7-week old female C57BL/6 mice were injected intravenously with 1×106 Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. Mouse cohorts (n = 30/group) were administered PPLGM (1 mg/kg of body weight) or vehicle daily by oral gavage initiated 7 days post-LLC injection. At 14 days post-LLC injection, 15 mice per treatment cohort were exposed to 12 Gy thoracic X-ray radiation treatment (XRT). Administration of PPLGM or vehicle continued 7 days post-XRT. Mice were euthanized 14 days post-XRT and evaluated for total lung weight and tumor burden using morphometric analysis. Additionally, we assessed the potential for a dual role of PPLGM (0.1-2.5μM) as a radiosensitizer of cancer cells (LLC) and a radioprotector of normal lung cells (pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVEC)) via clonogenic survival assays. Results: Using LC/MS/MS we were able to detect significantly elevated levels of PPLGM above baseline in mouse plasma and lung tissue. We observed a significant (p Funding: Funded in part by NIH-1R21CA178654-01 Citation Format: Anastasia Velalopoulou, Ralph A. Pietrofesa, Raymond Luke, Katie Reindl, Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou. Piperlongumine (PPLGM) has potent tumor-radiosensitizing properties in a mouse model of lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1665.
The Supercritical State Paradigm in Thermoplastic Foaming

"Supercritical" has become automatically and intrinsically associated with "carbon dioxidefoaming", withthiscombinationgenerallyresultingintoclaimedbenefitssuch as microcellular structure, high cell density and enhanced mechanical properties. However the supercritical state remains accessible to any blowing agents. The newly-introduced hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), following the ban put on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the polystyrene foam industry, are other examples of foaming agents thatare processed under temperature and pressure conditions that belong to the supercritical region. Unfortunately, such unusual conditions have resulted in the past into typical processing difficulties that make the resulting benefits associated to the supercritical state questionable. The supercritical state may not be apparently the panacea usually claimed... and sought for ! In this work, density characteristics of supercritical fluids were reviewed and linked to the foam nucleation stage. Foaming experiments using a specific polymer-carbon dioxide system were conducted at the vicinity of the critical locus and the sequence leading to phase separation monitored using an ultrasonic technique. The results suggested a phase separation mechanism similar to that of spinodal decomposition. Density fluctuations reported for supercritical fluids close to their critical locus would translate for the foaming process into concentration fluctuations typical of the spinodal decomposition.
High linearity current mode image sensor

Current mode image sensors enable an easy implementation of focal plane algebraic functions, but suffer from poor linearity performance. A theoretical analysis is first performed on the source of the non-linearity for current mode image sensors. According to the analysis, an architecture of a current mode image sensor with a voltage feedback loop between pixel output and the current conveyor for linearity enhancement is proposed. An image sensor array of 100 × 200 current mode pixels is fabricated in 0.5um 2P3M standard CMOS processing technology. Experimental results illustrate a 45% improvement of the linearity of the proposed imager. Fixed pattern noise is reduced by 19% at the saturation level and signal to noise ratio of 49.6dB is achieved.
The properties of isolated dangling bonds on hydrogenated 2H-SiC surfaces

Abstract Using state-of-the-art electronic structure methods, we calculate the properties of silicon and carbon dangling bonds at several hydrogenated SiC surfaces including polar and non-polar cases. Generally, carbon defect levels are in the lower portion of the SiC band gap whereas silicon defect levels are in the upper portion. Additionally, surface work functions and hydrogen desorption energies are calculated and compared with experimental data. Carbon dangling bonds with hetero-polar back-bonding appear consistent with constraints derived from experiments on device quality nano-porous SiC. Finally, we make superhyperfine predictions which may help identify back bonded atoms involved in defect complexes.
Theoretical and experimental foundations

Growth of a single population on a single resource is the basic building block of resource competition theory, which is constructed by expansion of simple growth models to represent many species. Assuming first that there is competition for a single abiotic resource, the quantity R i * can be computed, which is the resource availability at equilibrium when a single species i grows in the absence of competing species. When several species compete this quantity is critical, and a simple rule governs competitive outcomes. At equilibrium, the species with the lowest R i * competitively excludes all others.
Beyond Mutualism: Complex Mycorrhizal Interactions

The soil–plant–fungal matrix is inherently complex. There are thousands of species, highly variable environments in time and space, multiple interactions within a range of resources, and exchanges between multiple trophic levels. Here, we look at the structure of that complexity to see if there are emergent properties that allow us to understand that complexity. We emphasize our work from Mediterranean-type ecosystems in California and Oregon, but the perspective is valid across biomes. We examine a diversity of mycorrhizal types, with an emphasis on interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) and ectomycorrhizae (EM) with host plants. These taxonomically different fungi differ in structural and biochemical properties including hyphal growth patterns and enzymatic capabilities. Because the symbionts are fungi, their hyphae connect multiple plants, forming networks. Materials (C, N, P, and water) are exchanged between plants through mycorrhizal networks. Importantly, networks themselves have structural properties that confer stability or instability and control the directions of flows. Thus, network theory has the ability to resolve patterns of elemental transfers and exchanges, and thus the outcomes for plant community dynamics. Also importantly, hyphae and fine roots have limited life spans, making interactions highly dynamic. Together, these dynamic interactions will help us unravel the complex relationships and the evolutionary histories that result in community and ecosystem dynamics.
Understanding the puzzle of organizational sustainability: toward a conceptual framework of organizational social connectedness and sustainability

ABSTRACTMuch scholarship on organizational sustainability has focused on organizational survival and strategies aimed at financial independence. However, there is increasing awareness that organizational social connectedness may be equally important for longer-term organizational sustainability. This article bridges theories of organizational survival, social connectedness, and sustainability research, with sustainable management practices from the field of the US culture nonprofits to investigate the questions: What are the antecedents of organizational social connectedness? What role does social connectedness play for the sustainability of organizations? Our analysis results in a conceptual framework of the relationship between the social connectedness and sustainability of cultural nonprofits.
EZ Switch From EZH2 to EZH1: Histone Methylation Opens a Window of Cardiac Regeneration.

An important area of research is the functional significance of posttranslational modifications of histone proteins. The modification of histones is maintained by a balance of enzymes which place specific modifications (writers), factors which read modifications (readers), and enzymes which remove modifications (erasers). Histone methylation is regulated by histone methyltransferases (writers) and demethylases (lysine demethylases; erasers).1 Lysine residues can be mono- (me1), di- (me2), or tri- (me3) methylated with different resultant functions (Figure A). A connection between histone methylation and Polycomb group–mediated gene silencing was established by purification and characterization of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2).2 PRC2 is essential for maintenance of histone H3K27me3 in embryonic stem cells,3 and enhancer of zeste 1 (EZH1) and EZH2, SUZ12, and EED are the key components of the PRC2 complex. EZH2, a histone methyltransferase, catalyzes H3K27me3, and it has been shown to be dysregulated in various cancers. EZH1 is an alternative core subunit to EZH2 in PRC2 complexes. Increasing evidence indicates that EZH2 is highly expressed in cancer stem cells and mediates cancer stem cell expansion and maintenance. Figure. PRC2 complex–mediated histone methylation and differential regulation of EZH2 and EHZ1 in heart development and regeneration. A , Histone methylation of histone H3 and core components of PRC2 complex. B , Differing roles of EZH2 and EZH1 in the heart during embryogenesis and postnatally. EZH2 functions in cardiac progenitors in the early phase of cardiac development, whereas both EZH2 and EZH1 are redundantly involved in the late phase of organogenesis. EZH1 regulates cardiac myocyte proliferation and regeneration after birth. Note that a noncanonical pathway is involved in EZH1 function in the adult heart. It is unclear whether the conventional intact PRC2 complex is required in the mechanism of EZH1. EZH1 indicates enhancer of zeste 1; EZH2, enhancer of zeste 2; HMTase, …
Which foods are displaced in the diets of adults with type 2 diabetes with the inclusion of eggs in their diets? A randomized, controlled, crossover trial

Background The inclusion or exclusion of specific foods from the overall diet inevitably affects other food choices, and this matter is routinely neglected in dietary guidance and nutritional epidemiology. We examined how the inclusion of eggs in the diets of type 2 diabetics affected dietary pattern. Methods Randomized, controlled, single-blind, crossover trial of 34 adults (mean age 64.5 years; 14 women, 20 men) with type 2 diabetes assigned to one of two possible sequence permutations of two different 12-week treatments (two eggs/day or egg exclusion), with 6-week washout periods. For the egg inclusion phase, participants received advice from a dietitian on how to preserve an isocaloric condition relative to the egg exclusion phase. To assess changes in dietary pattern in the diets of our study participants, we analyzed the 12 components of the 2010 Healthy Eating Index. Results The inclusion of eggs was associated with reduced consumption of refined grains nearing statistical significance (−0.7±3.4 vs 0.7±2.2; p=0.0530). The consumption of total protein foods significantly increased from baseline (0.3±0.7; p=0.0153) with the inclusion of eggs for 12 weeks, while the consumption of dairy products significantly decreased with the exclusion of eggs from their diets (−1.3±2.9; p=0.0188). Conclusions Eggs in the diets of type 2 diabetics may lead to increased consumption of some healthful foods and reduced consumption of some less healthful foods. Trial registration number NCT02052037; Post-results.
Abstract 249: Dietary supplementation with methylseleninic acid reduces male mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-PyMT mice

Male breast cancer makes up approximately 1% of all breast cancers and less than 1% of all cancers in men in the United States. However, it is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis and the incidence of male breast cancer is on the rise. The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of selenium on male breast carcinogenesis in MMTV-PyMT mice (FVB/N background). Three-week-old male mice were weaned onto the AIN93G diet with or without supplementation of selenium in the form of methylseleninic acid (2.5 mg Se/kg). Mice were euthanized 10 weeks after the first palpable mammary tumor was detected. There were no differences in food intake and body weight between the groups. The median latency (the age at which the first palpable tumor was detected) was 14.1 and 13.9 weeks and the incidence of palpable mammary tumor was 71% and 70% for the control and the selenium group, respectively. Selenium supplementation compared to the control diet reduced mammary tumor progression by 258% and tumor weight by 84%, respectively. Tumor progression was defined as the change in tumor volume from detection of the first palpable mammary tumor to termination 10 weeks later. Incidence of lung metastasis was 74% and 50% in control and selenium group, respectively. In mice bearing lung metastases, selenium supplementation significantly reduced the number of metastases by 83% compared to the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with selenium in the form of methylseleninic acid reduces male breast carcinogenesis and its metastasis in mice. It indicates that selenium may be useful in male breast cancer prevention. Citation Format: Sneha Sundaram. Dietary supplementation with methylseleninic acid reduces male mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-PyMT mice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 249. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-249
Abnormal eye development associated with Cat4a, a dominant mouse cataract mutation on chromosome 8.

PURPOSE. Cat4 a , one of four mutant alleles at the mouse Cat4 locus, causes central corneal opacity and anterior polar cataract in heterozygotes and microphthalmia in homozygotes. The Cat4 locus has been mapped to chromosome 8, 31 cM from the centromere. In this study ocular development of Cat4 a mutant mice was investigated to characterize the defects in eye morphogenesis. METHODS. Serial sections from eyes of wild-type, heterozygous, and homozygous littermates were examined by means of light microscopy at selected intervals from embryonic day 11 to postnatal day 1. Eyes of adult heterozygous and homozygous mice also were evaluated histologically. RESULTS. Failure of separation of the lens vesicle from the surface ectoderm was the earliest structural defect observed. In heterozygous embryos, the abnormality was limited to persistent connection of the anterior pole of the lens to the cornea. Adult heterozygotes had defects in the central corneal stroma and endothelium and anterior polar cataracts with or without keratolenticular adhesion. In homozygous embryos, the persistent connection of lens to surface ectoderm was associated with aborted lens development, failure of closure of the optic fissure, and impairment of growth of the eyecup. Microphthalmic eyes of adult homozygous mice had a poorly developed cornea, and the anterior chamber and vitreous compartment were absent. An extensively folded retina and remnants of a degenerated lens filled the interior of the globe. CONCLUSIONS. A developmental defect inhibits separation of the lens vesicle from surface ectoderm in mice heterozygous or homozygous for the Cat4 a mutation. In homozygotes subsequent lens and eye morphogenesis are also severely affected. Cat4a shows phenotypical similarity to several other independent mouse mutations including Small eye, a mutation of the Pax6 gene. Cat4 may be one of several genes involved in a common developmental path and may be part of the Pax6-regulated gene cascade governing eye morphogenesis.
Applications of Ultrasound in Medicine — Comparison with Other Modalities

There exist a large variety of important applications of ultrasound in medicine today. The applications can be divided into three major categories: surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic. For these categories, an important distinguishing physical feature is the intensity level utilized. Nearly all these applications employ sound in the frequency range of 0.8 – 15 MHz. The choice of frequency used in any specific application is based on considerations of sound absorption, adequate penetration and, in diagnostic applications, adequate resolution.
Getting out of the dirt: racialized modernity and environmental inequality in the cotton sector of Burkina Faso

Scholarship on environmental inequality has long focused on racial inequalities in exposure to environmental pollution. In explaining this, previous scholarship has identified mechanisms such as in...
Chapter 9 – Studying Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay in Mammalian Cells

Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) in eukaryotic cells largely functions as a quality control mechanism by degrading faulty mRNAs that terminate translation prematurely. In recent years it has become evident that NMD also eliminates a subset of naturally occurring mRNA during proper gene expression. The mechanism of NMD in mammalian cells can be distinguished from the mechanism in, for example, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Caenorhabditis elegans, by its apparent restriction to newly synthesized mRNA during a pioneer round of translation. This dependence can be explained by the need for at least one exon-exon junction complex (EJC) that is deposited on newly synthesized mRNA during the process of pre-mRNA splicing. Additionally, mammalian-cell NMD is promoted by the cap-binding protein heterodimer CBP80/20 that also typifies newly synthesized mRNA. When translation terminates sufficiently upstream of an EJC, the NMD factor Up-frameshift (Upf)1 is thought to join the stable EJC constituent NMD factors Upf2 and Upf3 or Upf3X (also called Upf3a or Upf3b, respectively), and undergo phosphorylation. Phosphorylation appears to trigger translational repression and mRNA decay. Although there are established rules for what generally defines an NMD target in mammalian cells, as with any rule there are exceptions and, thus, the need to experimentally verify individual mRNAs as bona fide targets of NMD. This chapter provides guidelines and protocols for how to define NMD targets using cultured mammalian cells.
Overcoming Antiapoptotic Responses to Promote Chemosensitivity in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer to the Liver

Background: Metastatic colon cancer is highly resistant to chemotherapy. A variety of mechanisms by which cancer cells resist chemotherapy have been described including enhanced export of drug from cancer cells and alterations in drug metabolism. In addition, the response of cancer cells to genotoxic therapies may be diminished by acquired defects in either the response mechanisms to DNA damage or cell cycle regulatory pathways. Recently, attention has focused on mechanisms that are activated by treatment exposure and subsequently promote resistance by rescuing cancer cells from apoptosis. The objective of this review is to examine the role of antiapoptotic mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance and to determine the potential utility of therapeutic strategies that target these mechanisms.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound With Color Flow Doppler in Children With Thyroid Nodules.

Context Thyroid nodules are increasingly recognized in children and are associated with a greater risk for thyroid cancer compared with adults. Thyroid ultrasound is the favored tool for evaluation of thyroid nodules; however, there are limited data regarding the accuracy of thyroid ultrasound to confirm features associated with a low risk of thyroid cancer in children. Objectives We examined whether thyroid ultrasound is capable of accurately identifying thyroid nodules at a low risk of malignancy in children. Design and setting Using a retrospective cohort study design, we identified children age ≤18 years with thyroid nodules and adequate follow-up. Ultrasound images were reviewed independently by two blinded expert radiologists, and ultrasound characteristics were analyzed to determine optimal predictive value and reliability. Patients and results A total of 417 subjects were found to have thyroid nodules, and 152 subjects had adequate follow-up; 59 (38.8%) of these were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We evaluated 236 individual nodules. Features most consistent with benign nodules included small size, isoechoic echogenicity, partially cystic structure, sharp or noninfiltrative margins, absent Doppler flow, and absent calcifications. Significant variability was found between expert interpretations of ultrasound features. Thyroid nodule composition appears to be the most sensitive and reliable feature for stratifying the risk of thyroid cancer. Ultrasound accurately identified benign thyroid nodules in 80.9% of subjects (95% confidence interval, 74-86.6). Conclusions Ultrasonography is useful for the evaluation of thyroid nodules, but we found no combination of ultrasound features sufficient to exclude thyroid cancer without a biopsy.
The Megameatus, Intact Prepuce Variant of Hypospadias: Use of the Inframeatal Vascularized Flap for Surgical Correction.

Introduction The megameatus intact prepuce variant of hypospadias (MIP) is a rare variant of hypospadias that is diagnosed either early at the time of circumcision or later as the foreskin is retracted. The true incidence of the anomaly is difficult to determine precisely as some patient never come to medical attention but is felt to under 5% of all cases of hypospadias. The purposes of this study are to review the embryology and clinical findings of MIP and then, in light of a personal experience, present a series of patients evaluated for MIP who were treated with a modification of the Mathieu technique. Materials and Methods A PubMed search of all articles in the MIP variant of hypospadias was carried out followed by an exhaustive review of the literature. The charts of all patients evaluated and treated at Boston Children’s Hospital by MC between 2007 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent the standard procedure and those who underwent a repair using a modification of the Mathieu procedure using an infra-meatal flap. Results The embryologic explanation of the MIP variant is not clear but failure of the distal, glanular portion of the urethra to tubularize results in spectrum of abnormality characterized by a deep glanular groove and an abnormal opening of the urethra anywhere from the mid-glans to a sub-coronal location. Surgical repair is complicated by a wide distal urethra which may be injured if not properly identified. Overall satisfactory outcomes were noted with one patient experiencing a urethra cutaneous fistula in the first group and one patient having a mild glans dehiscence in the second. Conclusions The MIP variant of hypospadias is a rare variant of hypospadias that presents as a spectrum of urethral anomaly. Surgical repair may not always be necessary but if surgical repair is carried out, the Mathieu technique modification may offer better anatomic delineation of the urethra and will provide an extra layer of tissue to cover the reconstructed urethra. Low complication rates should be expected with adequate functional outcome such as a normal urinary stream. In
Sensitivity of FDG PET in malignant lung nodules based on non-attenuation corrected images, attenuation corrected images and SUV

260 Objectives: To estimate the sensitivity of FDG PET in malignant lung nodules based on visual interpretation of non-attenuation corrected images and attenuation corrected images and based on SUV. Methods: Sixty-two malignant lung nodules in 54 patients with preoperative FDG PET were included. The nodules with more intense uptake than normal lung or more intense uptake than mediastinum or an SUVmax > 2.5 were considered positive for malignancy on the non-attenuation corrected images, attenuation corrected images or based on SUV, respectively. McNemar9s test was used to compare the detection rate of the nodules by different methods. Logistic regression was used to model the probability that a nodule of a given size was missed on the attenuation corrected images or based on SUV. Results: The non-attenuation corrected images correctly identified 61/62 nodules (Sensitivity 98%; CI: 91%-100%) as malignant, while attenuation corrected images correctly identified only 36/62 (Sensitivity 58%; CI: 45%-70%), p 2.5 as a criterion for malignancy gave correct identification similar to that of the attenuation corrected images, 38/62 (Sensitivity 61%; CI: 48%-73%), but significantly worse than on the non-attenuation corrected images (p 2.5 as criterion for malignancy were estimated to increase 5-fold (95% CI: 2.2-11.7) with each halving in nodule size. SUVmax increased up to a nodule size of 2.5 cm and was constant at 7 thereafter. Conclusions: Non-attenuation corrected images are more sensitive than attenuation corrected images or SUV-based interpretation in detecting malignant lung nodules. Review of the non-attenuation corrected images should be included in the design of future studies estimating the sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET for diagnosing malignancy in indeterminate lung nodules. Research Support (if any): NIH grant #T35 DK007386
Evaluation reflections: Evaluation and explication of educational reform

Abstract Research is always and by logical necessity based upon moral and political valuations, and the researcher should be obliged to account for them explicitly. (Myrdal, 1968, 74)
Team response to internal disagreement about professional conduct.

When members of a care team disagree about what constitutes appropriate professional conduct or methods for achieving a clinical goal, a resolution process inclusive of all members must be undertaken.
Examining the association between hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection and multiple-bed room exposure: a case-control study.

ObjectiveTo determine whether assignment to a multiple-bed room increased the risk of hospital-onset C. difficile diarrhea (HO-CDI).DesignCase-control study.SettingSan Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.PopulationAdult general medical and surgical inpatients.MethodsConsecutive cases of HO-CDI were identified between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. To investigate the effect of multiple-bed room exposure both at admission and at the time of symptom onset, 2 sets of controls were selected from the general medical/surgical inpatient population using incidence density sampling. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between room assignment (single bed vs multiple beds) and the development of HO-CDI.ResultsIn total, 187 cases were identified and matched with 512 and 515 controls for the admission and at-diagnosis analyses, respectively. The adjusted rate ratio (RR) associated with the development HO-CDI associated with multiple-bed room exposure during the 7 and 14 days immediately prior to HO-CDI diagnosis were 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93–1.25; P=.31) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93–1.18; P=.12), respectively. Furthermore, no significant association was detected in the analysis of the first 7 and 14 days after case admission or among patients with Charlson comorbidity scores ≥4 in either period.ConclusionAssignment of patients to multiple-bed rooms on general medical and surgical wards was not associated with an increased risk in the development of HO-CDI. Future investigation should be performed with larger cohorts in multiple sites to more definitively address the question because this issue could have implications for patient room assignment and hospital design.
Exploring reward system responsivity in the nucleus accumbens across chronicity of binge eating in female rats.

Objective Research has highlighted the importance of reward-based processes in binge eating (BE). However, both increased and decreased activation have been observed in reward related brain regions for BE. Differences may be similar to addiction research, where the reward system is initially hyper-responsive at early stages of use, but becomes hypo-responsive with prolonged drug/alcohol use. This study was the first to examine differences in reward system responsivity at early versus chronic BE stages. Method Using an animal model, Sprague-Dawley female rats were identified as BE prone (BEP) or BE resistant (BER) and randomly assigned to an early or chronic stage group. Neural activation (via Fos protein) was quantified in the nucleus accumbens core (NAC) and shell (NAS). Results Early stage BEP rats had the highest levels of Fos expression of all of the study groups. By contrast, chronic stage BEP rats exhibited decreased activation in the NAS and NAC that was similar to the activation in chronic stage BER rats. Discussion Findings are significant in suggesting hyper-neural activation to reward in the early stages of BE and decreased activation in later stages of BE. Additional studies are needed to elucidate how these differences may impact risk for and maintenance of BE.
Parsing dimensions of family violence exposure in early childhood: Shared and specific contributions to emergent psychopathology and impairment.

Abstract Early childhood exposure to family violence predicts increased risk for psychopathology. However, violence between partners and towards children often co-occur. This complicates efforts to determine how experiences of family violence contribute to early mental health problems. Utilizing mother-report data on harsh parenting and intimate partner violence (IPV) from two large community-based, socioeconomically and ethnically diverse samples of 3–5-year-old children, we illustrate the value of a bifactor method for characterizing a family climate in which verbal and physical violence are more chronic and pervasive among family members. In our Calibration sample (N = 1,179), we demonstrate the fit of a bifactor model with a shared violence factor reflecting violence among partners and towards children and orthogonal factors for physically harsh parenting and IPV. Examination of item distributions along quartiles on the identified factors reveals that violent behaviors are most frequent/chronic in families with high scores on the shared violence factor. Next, we apply this model in Validation (N = 1,316) and lab-visit samples (N = 369). Children’s symptoms and impairment showed relatively strong and consistent associations with the shared factor. Some unique associations with IPV and harsh parenting were also observed. Overall, patterns suggest particularly negative impact when verbal and physical violence are more chronic and pervasive among family members. Finally, evidence supporting the bifactor model’s validity relative to multi-method data from coded interviews about child abuse and IPV and observed parenting is presented. Findings illustrate the value of a bifactor approach for the meaningful characterization of shared and specific features of family violence.