cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical Axon Guidance by the Glial Wedge during the Development of the Corpus Callosum

Growing axons are often guided to their final destination by intermediate targets. In the developing spinal cord and optic nerve, specialized cells at the embryonic midline act as intermediate targets for guiding commissural axons. Here we investigate whether similar intermediate targets may play a role in guiding cortical axons in the developing brain. During the development of the corpus callosum, cortical axons from one cerebral hemisphere cross the midline to reach their targets in the opposite cortical hemisphere. We have identified two early differentiating populations of midline glial cells that may act as intermediate guideposts for callosal axons. The first differentiates directly below the corpus callosum forming a wedge shaped structure (the glial wedge) and the second differentiates directly above the corpus callosum within the indusium griseum. Axons of the corpus callosum avoid both of these populations in vivo. This finding is recapitulated in vitro in three-dimensional collagen gels. In addition, experimental manipulations in organotypic slices show that callosal axons require the presence and correct orientation of these populations to turn toward the midline. We have also identified one possible candidate for this activity because both glial populations express the chemorepellent molecule slit-2, and cortical axons express the slit-2 receptors robo-1 and robo-2. Furthermore, slit-2 repels-suppresses cortical axon growth in three-dimensional collagen gel cocultures.
Strategies and Resources for Teaching Family Gerontology

Including study of family relationships in adult development and aging courses is desirable because family members are key sources of support and contributors to physical and psychological well-being throughout adulthood. In this article, I include suggestions for course activities and instructor and student resources related to family gerontology.
M-ary PPM for Transmitted Reference Ultra-Wideband Communications

In this paper, we investigate the multiple-access (MA) performance of transmitted reference (TR) ultra-wideband (UWB) systems employing M-ary PPM in multipath environments. Because we assume there is no power control in the network, interfering power levels from users can vary over many 10's of dB. We categorize the interfering users into two groups with respect to power levels. A new method for deriving the variance of the Gaussian random variable resulting from multiple-access interference (MAI) is developed using the power delay profile (PDP) of the channel. This makes the theoretical analysis tractable and enables us to predict the system-level performance such as the supported number of users, the achievable data rate, and the required bit-energy-to-noise ratio. Chip discrimination is applied and shown to mitigate the effect of high-power users. Performance is quantified due to the combined effects of equal-power and high-power users.
Establishment of a novel rat cholangiocarcinoma cell culture model

Furan cholangiocarcinogenesis in rat liver is proving to be a unique and useful animal model for investigating important aspects of the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma potentially relevant to the human disease. We now describe the first culture model of rat cholangiocarcinoma cells derived from a transplantable cholangiocarcinoma originally induced in the liver of a furan-treated rat. An epithelial cell isolate highly enriched in viable cholangiocarcinoma cells was consistently obtained from transplantable cholangiocarcinoma tissue utilizing a similar procedure to that recently developed by us to establish a new rat hyperplastic bile ductular epithelial cell culture model characterized by the appearance of polarized bile ducts in vitro. Primary cholangiocarcinoma cell cultures could be readily established with these isolated cells and, in addition, we established from one such culture a novel rat cholangiocarcinoma cell line designated C611B. Cultured C611B cholangiocarcinoma cells retained a number of important characteristic features of the carcinoma cells of the parent tumor, including marked expression of the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor proteins c-Met and c-Neu. Under basal culture conditions, the C611B cell line exhibited a cell doubling time of approximately 24 h and was aneuploid, with a predominant chromosomal count of 43. Moreover, C611B cells on collagen gels were 100% tumorigenic when transplanted into inguinal fat pads of syngeneic rats. All tumors formed at the transplantation site were cytokeratin 19-positive, mucin-producing tubular adenocarcinomas whose histological and phenotypic features closely resembled those of the furan-induced parent transplantable rat cholangiocarcinoma. Based on our findings, we believe that this novel rat cholangiocarcinoma cell culture model can serve as a valuable resource for investigating aberrant growth properties and tumor progression in biliary cancer.
Hydrology of Small Oceanic Islands — Influence of Atmospheric Pressure on the Water Table

There is a spectrum of sea-level fluctuations that affect the water table of a small, permeable oceanic island. At the high-frequency end of the spectrum are the semi-diurnal and diurnal components of the astronomical tides. Also affecting sea-level elevation are atmospheric pressure and the temperature and salinity (hence density) of the ocean column. Changes in atmospheric pressure cause sea-level changes on the order of up to about 30 cm, by what oceanographers call the “inverted barometer effect.” As a result, pressure changes, like tides, generate waves that migrate across the water table. Amplitudes of the resultant pressure-related water-table fluctuations diminish inland. However, owing to the relatively long period of the pressure-related fluctuations, their inland attenuation is far less than that of the hydraulically analogous tides. In fact, in Bermuda for example, the pressure-related water-table fluctuations completely dominate water-table statistics that reflect day-to-day changes in elevation. Because a drop in pressure and corresponding rise in the water table accompanies passage of a storm front, which also brings a rainfall, there is commonly a coincidental, and very misleading, correlation between rainfalls and water-table rises. In island and coastal settings, non-tidal sea-level changes and their effect on the water table must be taken into account, if recharge is to be correctly evaluated from water-table data.
Predictors of Timely Baccalaureate Attainment for Underrepresented Minority Community College Transfer Students

ABSTRACTFor many underrepresented minority students, the path to the baccalaureate degree begins with initial enrollment at a community college. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of students interested in transferring actually do transfer to a 4-year institution. Of these transfers, few graduate with a baccalaureate degree within 6 years of initial matriculation at their community college. This study was completed to see if the graduation rates for underrepresented minority community college transfer students vary depending on the type of receiving institution. In addition, an analysis was conducted to determine if the factors that best predict timely graduation for these transfers vary by ethnicity. Results from a suite of logistic regression models indicated that the factors that predict timely graduation for underrepresented minority transfers were not the same for each ethnicity. The most predictive factor for African-American transfers was enrollment in a 4-year transfer program at the community...
Corporate Governance the Jack Wright Series # 1 – Jack Wright, Director

This is the first case study of 12 in the Jack Wright series of cases on Corporate Governance. This first case describes the process by which Jack came to be asked to join the board of Mega Corporation. The case requires students to consider the pros and cons of board membership and decide whether they would recommend Jack join the board.
Hydrologic Evaluation of NWP-Adjusted CMORPH Estimates of Hurricane-Induced Precipitation in the Southern Appalachians

AbstractSatellite-retrieved precipitation has the potential to support flood modeling in mountainous areas. However, to reach this potential satellite estimates need to be corrected for the severe underestimation exhibited in orography-induced heavy precipitation events (HPEs). This paper assesses an existing satellite precipitation error correction technique driven by high-resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) simulations of HPEs in complex terrain. The study is based on NOAA Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH) high-resolution precipitation estimates of six such events induced by hurricane landfalls in the southern Appalachian mountainous region. A distributed hydrological model (Coupled Routing and Excess Storage model) is applied to evaluate the impact of the proposed satellite precipitation error correction on flood simulations for 20 basins of various sizes in this mountainous region. The results demonstrate significant improvements due to the NWP-based adjustment technique ...
Enzymology of indole alkaloid biosynthesis.

The monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are a large family of structurally diverse compounds encompassing some of the most important plant medicinais discovered by man. Although these alkaloids were one of the last major groups of well-known natural products to have their biogenesis delineated, they have become one of the first classes of plant secondary metabolites to be studied at the enzymatic level. A contributory factor has been the excellent progress made by in vivo tracer work, which within a little more than a decade has led to the elucidation of the major features of a highly complicated pathway1,2.
Effects of Single Versus Combinations of Insecticides on the Development of Resistance

When house fly, Musca domestica L., populations were exposed to five insecticides (arsenite, dieldrin, malathion, methomyl, and fenvalerate) in different sequences and rotations, the development of resistance was slowed only slightly and cross-resistance was reduced compared with exposure to one insecticide. In only one population that evolved methomyl resistance was there evidence that it evolved significantly greater susceptibility to two insecticides (arsenite and fenvalerate). When a fly population was exposed to a combination of fenvalerate, a sticky trap, and a biocontrol agent (wasp parasite), it evolved resistance to fenvalerate, but not to the sticky trap or parasite. However, populations exposed to one control factor evolved resistance to the sticky trap, parasite, and fenvalerate.
Friction, nanostructure, and residual stress of single-layer and multi-layer amorphous carbon films deposited by radio-frequency sputtering

Single- and multi-layer amorphous carbon (a-C) films of varying thickness were deposited on Si(100) substrates by radio-frequency sputtering in a pure Ar atmosphere. The thickness, roughness, coefficient of friction, and residual stress of the a-C films were measured by profilometry, atomic force microscopy, surface force microscopy, and curvature method, respectively. The through-thickness nanostructure and elemental composition of the films were examined by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The multi-layer a-C films, consisting of alternating ∼10-nm-thick hard and soft a-C layers deposited under 0 and −200 V substrate bias, respectively, were found to exhibit lower roughness, coefficient of friction, and residual stress and slightly higher tetrahedral carbon atom hybridization than single-layer a-C films of similar thickness. The results of this study reveal a strong correlation of the friction characteristics with the surface roughness and nanostructure of single- and multi-layer a-C films.
Hi-Res scan mode in clinical MDCT systems: Experimental assessment of spatial resolution performance.

Purpose: The introduction of a High-Resolution (Hi-Res) scan mode and another associated option that combines Hi-Res mode with the so-called High Definition (HD) reconstruction kernels (referred to as a Hi-Res/HD mode in this paper) in some multi-detector CT (MDCT) systems offers new opportunities to increase spatial resolution for some clinical applications that demand high spatial resolution. The purpose of this work was to quantify the in-plane spatial resolution along both the radial direction and tangential direction for the Hi-Res and Hi-Res/HD scan modes at different off-center positions. Methods: A technique was introduced and validated to address the signal saturation problem encountered in the attempt to quantify spatial resolution for the Hi-Res and Hi-Res/HD scan modes. Using the proposed method, the modulation transfer functions(MTFs) of a 64-slice MDCT system (Discovery CT750 HD, GE Healthcare) equipped with both Hi-Res and Hi-Res/HD modes were measured using a metal bead at nine different off-centered positions (0–16 cm with a step size of 2 cm); at each position, both conventional scans and Hi-Res scans were performed. For each type of scan and position, 80 repeated acquisitions were performed to reduce noise induced uncertainties in the MTF measurements. A total of 15 reconstruction kernels, including eight conventional kernels and seven HD kernels, were used to reconstructCTimages of the bead. An ex vivo animal study consisting of a bone fracture model was performed to corroborate the MTF results, as the detection of this high-contrast and high frequency task is predominantly determined by spatial resolution.Images of this animal model generated by different scan modes and reconstruction kernels were qualitatively compared with the MTF results. Results: At the centered position, the use of Hi-Res mode resulted in a slight improvement in the MTF; each HD kernel generated higher spatial resolution than its counterpart conventional kernel. However, the MTF along the tangential direction of the scan field of view (SFOV) was significantly degraded at off-centered positions, yet the combined Hi-Res/HD mode reduced this azimuthal MTF degradation. Images of the animal bone fracture model confirmed the improved spatial resolution at the off-centered positions through the use of the Hi-Res mode and HD kernels. Conclusions: The Hi-Res/HD scan improve spatial resolution of MDCT systems at both centered and off-centered positions.
Epidemiological characteristics and intervention measures of hand-foot-mouth disease in Changping District of Beijing in 2012

[Objective]To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and intervention measures of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) in Changping District of Beijing.[Methods]The epidemiological characteristics and nursing intervention measures of 4317 HFMD cases reported in Changping District of Beijing in 2012 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological method. [Results]The crowded towns/streets were the high incidence area of HFMD,and most of patients were children under 5 years old, which were mainly scattered children and preschool children. Male patients were more than female patients. The peak season was May to July,and the severe cases reports were consistent with the peak season of HFMD. 98. 45% of patients were treated with home quarantine,and there was no death case. All of intestinal virus EV71,CoxA16,other enteric viruses and mixed infection were detected. 91. 80% of patients and their caregivers have heard of HFMD,and 75. 43% obtained the related knowledge from the medical staff. [Conclusion]The occurrence of HFMD shows obvious differences in gender,age and season. Medical personnel should carry out the effective nursing intervention according to epidemiological characteristics and change of disease,which can enhance the trust and compliance of HFMD children and their parents. The healthy behaviors are helpful for the recovery of the disease and the control of epidemic.
Iterative Algorithms and Left-Right Caputo Fractional Derivatives

We present a local as well as a semilocal convergence analysis for some iterative algorithms in order to approximate a locally unique solution.
Compound specific amino acid δ13C patterns in a deep-sea proteinaceous coral: Implications for reconstructing detailed δ13C records of exported primary production

Abstract Deep-sea proteinaceous corals represent high-resolution paleoarchives, extending biogeochemical time series far beyond recent instrumental data. While recent studies have applied compound specific amino acid δ 15 N (δ 15 N-AA) measurements of their organic skeletal layers to investigate Holocene nitrogen cycling, potential applications of amino acid δ 13 C (δ 13 C-AA) in proteinaceous corals have not yet been examined. Here we developed δ 13 C-AA analysis in deep-sea bamboo coral ( Isidella sp.) from the Monterey Canyon to reconstruct exported primary production over an ~ 80 year record. Preserved deep-sea coral essential amino acid δ 13 C-AA patterns (δ 13 C-EAA) closely matched those expected from natural and cultured phytoplankton, supporting the hypothesis that deep-sea coral δ 13 C-EAA values represent unaltered signatures of exported primary production sources. The coral bulk δ 13 C record showed cyclic 0.5‰ variations over the last century, with a shift to lower δ 13 C values in the early 1960s. Variations in coral δ 13 C-EAA values closely followed bulk δ 13 C signatures, although both the range and the magnitude of change in the bulk δ 13 C record were highly attenuated compared to the δ 13 C-EAA record. Our results indicate that δ 13 C-EAA in proteinaceous corals represent a new, direct proxy for δ 13 C in primary production that is more sensitive and accurate than bulk δ 13 C. To test this idea, we used existing phytoplankton δ 13 C-AA data to calculate an offset between bulk δ 13 C and δ 13 C-EAA. When applied to our data, a reconstructed record of δ 13 C values for exported organic matter was consistent with regional phytoplankton dynamics and expected trophic transfer effects, suggesting significant AA resynthesis only in the non-essential AA pool. Together, these results indicate that δ 13 C-EAA in deep-sea proteinaceous corals provide a powerful new long-term, high resolution tool for investigating variations in exported primary production and biogeochemistry.
Genetic Transformation in Liriodendron tulipifera L. (Yellow Poplar)

Liriodendron tulipifera L. (yellow poplar) is one of the most common hardwood forest species in eastern North America, growing throughout the eastern United States and into southern Ontario, Canada. The species is most abundant and reaches its largest size in the lower Ohio River valley and in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia (Fowells 1965). Although it is an early-stage successional species on most sites, the rapid growth rate of yellow poplar and the large size of mature trees (up to 60 m) make it a dominant canopy species. These growth characteristics, along with its straight form, self-pruning ability, and wood of highly desirable working quality (Wilcox and Taft 1969), make yellow poplar a valuable timber species. It has been employed for furniture (mostly hidden parts), plywood, corestock, millwork, siding, and other light construction lumber. It is also used for such glue-wood products as chipboard, flakeboard, and oriented strandboard. Breeding programs have been established to take advantage of genetic variation in characteristics such as height growth (Farmer et al. 1983) and wood-specific gravity (Thorbjornsen 1961; Wilcox and Taft 1969). Bees are a primary pollinator of yellow poplar, and the species is known as a good honey producer. Yellow poplar is widely planted as an ornamental landscape tree, admired for its symmetrical leaves and yellow, green, and orange flowers. A number of horticultural cultivars have been described for the species (Santamour and McArdle 1984; see also Merkle and Sommer 1991 for more details).
Assurance of Learning: Statistical Analysis of Learning Retention

We present a simple and systematic process to analyze retention of learning assessment results. We suggested ways to deal with the data before applying any statistical tests. We applied several nonparametric statistical tests for differences in means, medians or entire distributions using actual data. Our preliminary analysis reveals that an acceptable point spread in learning retention appears to be in the range of 5-6 points, on a scale of 0-100.
Probing the dynamics of the interaction between few-cycle laser pulses and single crystal (100) Si and GaAs near the laser-induced damage threshold

The dynamics of the laser-solid interaction with high intensity ultra-short s-polarized few-cycle pulses (FCPs) (Ephoton ~ 1.65 eV) and single crystals (100) Si and GaAs (Egap ~ 1.14 and 1.4 eV, respectivly) near the multipulse laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) were measured using a pump-probe reflectivity technique. FCP’s with central wavelength 760 nm and FWHM duration 5 fs used as both pump and probe pulses were incident at 45°, and the reflectivity of each probe pulse was measured as the delay between the pump and probe pulses was varied with ~ 0.1 fs resolution. Near zero delay, the probe pulse reflectivity displayed oscillatory behavior relative to the unexcited reflectivity for both materials, with a period equal to the optical cycle (~2.6 fs). For Si, the crystal orientation was varied so that the field polarization was parallel to the (010) and (011) directions, and half way in between. Significantly larger zero delay oscillations were observed for the field polarization parallel to the (011) direction compared to those for the other two directions.
Significance of Prior HSCT on the Outcome of Salvage Therapy with CPX-351 or Conventional Chemotherapy Among First Relapse AML Patients

Abstract 2619 Background: CPX-351 is a liposomal formulation containing a 5:1 molar ratio of cytarabine (Ara-C) and daunorubicin (DNR) designed to maximize anti-tumor synergy (Mayer L, et al. Mol Can Ther, 2006;5:1854). In the Phase 1 study 18/45 AML patients were in 1st relapse with 8 patients ≤65 years of age. All 8 achieved aplasia and 4/8 achieved CR after CPX-351 treatment. (Feldman E, et al. Blood 2008;112:Abst 2984). These observations provided the rationale for a randomized Phase 2b study in 1st relapse AML patients comparing CPX-351 against investigator9s choice of salvage regimen. An initial safety and efficacy summary has been submitted to this meeting. This report summarizes the impact of prior HSCT on patient response and 60 day mortality. Methods: Patients ≤65yo with AML in 1st relapse after an initial CR lasting >1 month with ECOG PS= 0–2, SCr Results: By November 12, 2010, 126 patients were accrued at 35/46 sites in the US, Canada, France, Poland. Data for response, acute safety, and 60 day deaths are available. Patients in both arms were well balanced by Relapse Free Interval (RFI), age at 1st relapse and cytogenetics. More patients with prior HSCT were assigned to the CPX-351 arm (27% v. 18%). Table 1 shows patient characteristics organized by presence or absence of prior HSCT. Among patients with prior HSCT, the CPX-351 arm had more patients with RFI ≤6 months (36% v. 0%) and younger patients (age For the overall study, the CPX-351 arm had higher aplasia (90% v. 60%) and CR + CRi rate (51% v. 42%) and similar 60 day mortality (15% v. 16%) compared to control. Table 2 shows patient response and early mortality organized by presence or absence of prior HSCT. In the 96 patients (76%) with no prior HSCT, CPX-351 produced an increased rate of aplasia compared to control (90% v. 57%), a response rate that was greater than control (56% v. 41%), and a lower 60 day mortality rate (10% v. 16%). HSCT had little observed impact on outcomes in the control arm but appears to be associated with reduced aplasia (90% to 55%) and response (56% to 36%) and a disproportionate contribution to early deaths (6/12) in the CPX-351 arm. The higher proportion of patients with RFI ≤6 months on the CPX-351 arm (36% v. 0%) may be a contributing factor. Conclusion: Eighty six/126 (68%) patients had unfavorable risk by EPI with equal proportions randomized to each arm of the study. Prior HSCT had little impact on outcomes in the control arm but seemed to have a much larger adverse impact on the CPX-351 arm. This observation of a change in outcome associated with prior HSCT may be due to the higher proportion of patients with RFI ≤6 months on the CPX-351 arm (36% v. 0) and is being evaluated further. Additional data (EFS, % survival at 1 year) are expected later this year. Disclosures: Cortes:Celator: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Louie:Celator: Employment.
FDA Approval Summary: Nivolumab in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma After Anti-Angiogenic Therapy and Exploratory Predictive Biomarker Analysis

On November 23, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab (OPDIVO, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy. The approval was based on efficacy and safety data demonstrated in an open-label, randomized study of 821 patients with advanced RCC who progressed after at least one anti-angiogenic therapy. Patients were randomized to nivolumab or everolimus and followed for disease progression. The primary end point was overall survival. Subsequent therapies, including everolimus for patients who developed progressive disease on the nivolumab arm, were allowed, but no cross-over was permitted. The median overall survival was 25.0 months on the nivolumab arm and 19.6 months on everolimus arm (hazard ratio: 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.89). The confirmed response rates were 21.5% versus 3.9%; median durations of response were 23.0 versus 13.7 months, and median times to response were 3.0 versus 3.7 months in the nivolumab and everolimus arms, respectively. A statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival was not observed in this trial. The safety profile of nivolumab in renal cell cancer was similar to that in other disease settings. However, the incidence of immune-mediated nephritis appeared to be higher in patients with RCC. The Oncologist 2017;22:311-317 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The overall benefit/risk profile demonstrated in trial CA209025 supported the approval of nivolumab as an additional treatment option for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma after anti-angiogenic therapy. The use of nivolumab in patients who had received vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapy resulted in a 5.4 month improvement in median overall survival compared with the everolimus arm. This difference is statistically significant and clinically meaningful.
Assessing the thickness of the vaginal wall and vaginal mucosa in pre-menopausal versus post-menopausal women by transabdominal ultrasound: A feasibility study.

Abstract Objective As life expectancy increases, the number of women reporting adverse genito-urinary symptoms (genitourinary syndrome of menopause; GSM) from menopause, including vaginal dryness and sexual pain, also will increase. Current objective measurements of vaginal atrophy such as maturation index require vaginal swabs and are invasive; at present, no minimally invasive measurements exist. The purpose of this study was to assess whether total vaginal wall thickness (TVT) and total vaginal mucosa thickness (TMT) as measured by transabdominal ultrasound could qualify as additional objective markers of vaginal wall thinning which could be related to menopausal status. Design Women presenting for pelvic ultrasound had a transabdominal ultrasound scan performed to measure TVT and TMT at the level of the bladder trigone. In addition, a transvaginal endometrial lining thickness was measured. Results The ultrasound measurement data from 76 participants showed that there was a significant difference in the mean value for TVT and endometrial lining between pre- and post-menopausal women. The same difference in mean was not observed for TMT. Conclusion TVT may be a reliable measure of vaginal thinning, which worsens with estrogen decline. These preliminary data also suggest that TMT does not have the same correlation as the TVT measurement. A larger sample is needed to further assess the usefulness and sensitivity of these measures and whether there is clinical and/or research usefulness in obtaining vaginal wall measurements by transabdominal ultrasound.
The Effect of Physicochemical Modification on the Function of Antibodies Induced by Anti-Nicotine Vaccine in Mice

Smoking remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. One approach to assisting smoking cessation is via anti-nicotine vaccines, composed of nicotine-like haptens conjugated to a carrier protein plus adjuvant(s). We have previously shown that the carrier, hapten, linker, hapten load, degree of conjugate aggregation, and presence of adducts can each influence the function (nicotine-binding capacity) of the antibody (Ab) induced. Herein, we extend those findings and show that tertiary structure is also critical to the induction of functional immune responses and that this can be influenced by conjugation conditions. We evaluated immunogenicity in mice using six lots of NIC7-CRM, a conjugate of 5-aminoethoxy-nicotine (Hapten 7), and a single point (glycine 52 to glutamic acid) mutant nontoxic form of diphtheria toxin, cross-reactive material 197 (CRM197), which were synthesized under different reaction conditions resulting in conjugates with equivalent molecular characteristics (hapten load, aggregates, adducts), but a different tertiary structure. When tested in mice, better functional responses (reduced nicotine in the brain of immunized animals relative to non-immunized controls) were obtained with conjugates with a more closed structure than those with an open conformation. These studies highlight the need for a better understanding of the physicochemical properties of small molecule conjugate vaccines.
Decreased Identification of Vesicoureteral Reflux: A Cautionary Tale

Aim: To find the trend in patient’s visits to our centers for vesicoureteral reflux. We hypothesize that VUR diagnosis and hence possible nephropathy recognition may be diminishing because of changing practice patterns. Methods: Data were extracted from electronic medical records for new and follow-up patients aged 0-18 years with ICD9/10 codes to correspond with VUR, VUR unilateral, VUR bilateral, and VUR with reflux nephropathy, as well as new patients with diagnoses of UTI and pyelonephritis at two major pediatric centers from 2012 to 2015. Figures and statistics to reflect absolute clinic visits and annual trends were created with SPSS 2010. Linear regression was applied. Results: Annually, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital (LBCH) and Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) experienced an average decrease of 13% and 17% in total VUR visits, and an average decrease of 22% and 27% in VUR nephropathy visits, respectively for each institution. Patient visits for UTIs were reduced an average of 16% annually in both centers. Linear regression demonstrated that number of patients (patients/year ± SE) decreased annually 69±19 (P= 0.02), 7±2 (P=0.02) and 67±25 (P=0.04) for VUR, VUR nephropathy and UTI, respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that the decrease number of VUR and VUR nephropathy cases identified in subspecialty clinics (Nephrology/Urology) at two major children’s hospitals reflect a possible decreased identification of VUR. This trend may also be due to decreased referral of low grade cases of VUR. We cannot conclude that “undifferentiated UTI” referrals increased concomitantly to account for the decreased VUR as our data reflects a decreased trend in those visits as well. We suggest that clinicians following the AAP guidelines ensure that all UTI are accounted for and surveillance is appropriately escalated for recurrent UTI or abnormal imaging results.
Comparative study of low energy ion beam oxidation of Si(100), Ge/Si(100) and Si1−xGex/Si(100)

Abstract Low energy ion beam oxidation (IBO) of Si(100) and germanium and Si1−xGex grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Si(100) was investigated at room temperature using 18O2+ ion beams with energies E ion ranging from 100 eV to 1 keV. The dependence of phase formation and film properties upon ion energy was established. In the case of silicon, thin films of stoichiometric SiO2 are formed at each energy studied and their thickness increases from 39 to 70 A with increasing E ion . Insulating GeO2 can only be formed for E ion ⩽ 200 eV . Under IBO, both silicon and germanium in Si0.8 Ge0.2 are fully oxidized. At each energy investigated, thin SiGe dioxide films are formed and found to be insulating by scanning electron microscopy. This contrasts with IBO of elemental germanium and shows that the presence of silicon surrounding the germanium in the SiGe alloy enhances the oxidation of germanium under IBO.
Magnetizable concrete composite materials for road-embedded wireless power transfer pads

In this paper, MAGnetizable CONcrete (MagCon) composite materials are introduced and studied thoroughly. MagCon material is obtained by mixing cement with a magnetic material, for example, powdered ferrite or magnetite with different aggregate ratios and sizes, and optionally adding other aggregates to the mixture. Effective relative permeability (μ r, eff ) of MagCon is evaluated as a function of volumetric ratio of the magnetic material in the mixture. Furthermore, the effect of aggregate size of the magnetic materials is examined and the core losses of MagCon are analyzed. Compressive strength of the new material is also discussed. MagCon can be used in the core structure of road-embedded Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) pads for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging applications. MagCon has the benefit of significant design flexibility and reduced cost. This paper investigates how to take advantage of the characteristics of the new composite material to design new pad structures for WPT systems. 3D finite element analysis (FEA) approach is used to simulate and compare the proposed pad design with a properly selected reference pad. The mutual inductance between the aligned primary and secondary coils is adopted as the figure of merit in order to maximize the power transfer capability of WPT pads. Considering the fact that magnetite is significantly less expensive than the ferrite tiles or bars, MagCon with magnetite could be a very cost-effective solution. On the other hand, using MagCon in the road creates a more durable structure comparing with the junction of ferrite bars or tiles in regular concrete. This is important for road-embedded implementation of WPT coils where the pad is permanently under the mechanical stress due to heavy vehicles passing over it.
Simple vs Optimal Contests with Convex Costs

We study an optimal contest design problem where contributors abilities are private, their costs are convex as a function of their effort, and the designer seeks to maximize their total productivity. We address the design of approximately-optimal mechanisms that are robust, in that they are independent of the ability distribution and the precise form of the cost function. We show that a very simple all-pay contest where the prize is distributed equally among the top quartile of contributors is a constant-factor approximation to the optimal, for a large class of convex cost functions, when the number of contributors is larger than some constant. This result stands in contrast to contests with linear costs, where awarding a prize to a single top contributor ("winner-takes-all»») is approximately-optimal; when costs are convex, winner-takes-all is far from optimal. We validate the performance of our approximately-optimal contest designs via simulation experiments, which uncover much better empirical performance than the worst-case guarantees. Our results are enabled by novel results in the space of optimal mechanism design with convex costs, which could be of independent interest.
Establishment of a pharmacist-led service for patients at high risk for opioid overdose.

Purpose A program at a family medicine clinic to provide naloxone prescriptions in conjunction with education on naloxone use and opioid hazards to patients at risk for opioid overdose is described. Summary Consistent with a 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline on opioid prescribing for chronic pain, a family medicine clinic implemented updated controlled substance agreements and medical record templates for documentation of pain management visits and established a pharmacist-led naloxone clinic. Chart reviews were performed to identify patients eligible for naloxone, as defined by the CDC guideline. A standard visit template was constructed to guide patient education regarding overdose risks and naloxone use. The teach-back method was used to ensure patient understanding, and patients were encouraged to bring a friend or family member to clinic visits. To address medication access barriers, community resources for patient referral for assistance were identified. Barriers to attendance at pharmacist-conducted visits necessitated changes in clinic workflow to incorporate education into prescheduled physician visits and education of some patients via telephone. During the first 6 months of clinic operations, 49 patients were identified as being at risk for opioid overdose; pharmacists educated 84% of those patients and subsequently confirmed that 69% had filled a naloxone prescription. Conclusion Naloxone prescribing and provision of education on naloxone use to at-risk patients in a family medicine clinic can help ensure access to life-saving medication and reinforce CDC recommendations on safe prescribing of opioids.
Personality traits and long-term health status : The influence of neuroticism and conscientiousness on renal deterioration in type-1 diabetes

Stringent long-term control of blood glucose concentration in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) can decrease albuminuria, presumably forestalling development of renal insufficiency. Personality characteristics may influence a diabetic patient's ability and willingness to follow a prescribed regimen to achieve glycemic control. This study investigated the relationship of 2 personality factors to renal deterioration time (from initiation of insulin therapy to renal failure) in 85 patients with IDDM and end-stage renal disease. Persons moderate in the personality trait of neuroticism and high in conscientiousness had renal deterioration times that were 12 years longer than persons with either high or low neuroticism and low conscientiousness, presumably because of better self-care. The implications of this study's findings are discussed.
Augmentation Cystoplasty in the Treatment of Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

We report on the role of augmentation cystoplasty in the treatment of 18 patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction and associated symptoms of severe urinary urgency, frequency and urinary incontinence. All patients failed to obtain any symptomatic improvement with a variety of treatments, including intermittent self-catheterization and pharmacologic manipulation. Preoperative evaluation helped segregate the patients into 3 groups: 1) those with extremely poor bladder wall compliance, 2) those with severe detrusor hyperreflexia and 3) those with a combined problem of poor bladder wall compliance and hyperreflexia. Bladder augmentation involved cecocystoplasty in 15 cases and ileocystoplasty in 3. In 5 patients an artificial urinary sphincter cuff was placed in an attempt to improve continence. Followup ranging from 12 to 120 months (mean 38 months) was available in 17 patients. An excellent surgical result was obtained in 82 per cent of the patients who became asymptomatic and continent after augmentation cystoplasty. Augmentation cystoplasty is a therapeutic modality that should be considered a viable treatment option in selected patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
A Continuum Reaction Field Theory of Polarizable, Nondipolar, Quadrupolar Solvents: Ab Initio Study of Equilibrium Solvation in Benzene

A continuum theory to describe solvation in nondipolar quadrupolar solvents is developed by accounting for electronic polarizability. A general Hamiltonian for a solute–solvent system in an arbitrary nonequilibrium configuration is obtained in terms of two field variables—densities of the solvent quadrupole and induced dipole moments. Equilibrium solvation is studied by optimizing this Hamiltonian with account of cavity boundaries. As an application, electronic structures and free energies of small molecules in benzene are examined with ab initio methods. Solvation stabilization due to solvent quadrupole moments is found to be substantial; for the solutes considered here, it is comparable to and often in excess of that arising from solvent-induced dipole moments.
BACK TO BASICS: The Autonomic Nervous System and Adrenergic Receptors in Pediatric Practice

The autonomic nervous system, with its normal balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic effects, is responsible for control of the body's involuntary functions. The importance of this balance is shown by the severe physiologic derangements seen after cervical spine injury, when the absolute loss of sympathetic function leads to unopposed action of the parasympathetic system that causes bradycardia, vasodilation, and hypotension that can be life-threatening. The sympathetic nervous system controls a multiplicity of functions and can be manipulated pharmacologically to the pediatric patient's advantage in some disease states. A basic understanding of the actions of the available sympathetic receptor agonists and antagonists can simplify and clarify many of these therapeutic options and improve the care of these children.
Curli fimbriae confer shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli a competitive trait in mixed biofilms.

Abstract Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most common causal agents of foodborne illness linked to fresh leafy vegetables. Here, we investigated the impact of spinach-associated microorganisms on proliferation and biofilm formation of STEC O157:H7 on stainless steel surfaces at temperatures related to produce production and postharvest processing environments. Although a proliferation of inoculated pathogen cells in spinach leaf wash water was detected at all temperatures examined, the impact of spinach-associated microorganisms on the proliferation of E. coli O157:H7 was observed at 10 °C and 26 °C, but not at 4 °C. The inhibition of E. coli O157:H7 growth by spinach-associated microorganisms indicated a competition between the pathogen and spinach indigenous microflora. A significant decrease of the pathogen population in mixed biofilms was observed only at 26 °C for curli-deficient strain MQC43, but not for curli-expressing strain MQC57. Deletion of curli genes in a curli-expressing strain resulted in a phenotype similar to that of MQC43 in mixed biofilms; however, this deficiency was rescued when curli biogenesis was restored in the curli-deletion mutant strain. Our data support that curli confer E. coli O157:H7 a competitive trait in mixed biofilms, presumably through the interaction between STEC and the biofilm-proficient microorganisms associated with spinach leaves.
Development of the cerebral cortex

Abstract The cerebral neocortex is the largest segment of the mammalian brain. In humans, it consists of multiple folds that contain a vast number of neurons, glia, and myelin. This allows the size of the skull to remain relatively small. The neocortex consists of six laminar layers made up of Glu-containing excitatory neurons and GABA-containing inhibitory neurons. The lamina develop sequentially from neuronal precursors in the subventricular zone with layer VI neurons migrating first, being overlaid sequentially with neurons forming layers V, IV, etc. Layer I contains mostly axons and dendrites. Radial glia form scaffolds along which neuronal migration occurs. Several tropic/trophic factors and receptor systems are involved in this migration. The GABAergic neurons develop later in a lower region of the forebrain called the ganglionic eminences. These neuronal precursors migrate tangentially until they encounter the axons of projection neurons from the cortex. They then migrate along these axons until reaching their final destinations in the cortical lamina. Various tropic/trophic factor–receptor interactions are important in this migratory flow.
Risk Factors for Endometrial Cancer or Hyperplasia in Adolescents and Women 25 Years Old or Younger.

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate characteristics of young women with endometrial hyperplasia or cancer. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care referral center. Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures We included 10- to 25-year-old young women seen at a single institution between 2006 and 2017 with International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th revision codes for endometrial cancer or hyperplasia (cases), or who underwent an endometrial biopsy with other benign pathologic diagnoses (controls). Exclusions included a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome. Comparisons were made using χ2, Fisher exact, and nonparametric Wilcoxon rank tests. Results Sixty-nine patients were identified: 13 cases, 54 controls, and 2 exclusions. Of the 13 cases, 3 had endometrial cancer, 5 had complex atypical hyperplasia (now called endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia), and 5 had hyperplasia without atypia. A higher proportion of cases had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, compared with controls (76.9% vs 40.4%; P Conclusion In women aged 25 years and younger with endometrial sampling, a BMI greater than 30 was statistically more common in patients with endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer. Although smoking or PCOS alone was not related to endometrial hyperplasia or cancer in this small cohort study, there might be a relationship between endometrial abnormalities and multiple exposures, including smoking and BMI greater than 30 or smoking and a history of PCOS.
Misperceptions and Motivations of the Female Terrorist: A Psychological Perspective

Terrorism perpetrated by females is often overlooked. Women take on numerous roles in terrorist organizations- acting as intelligence gatherers, informants, sexual bait, recruiters, and even suicid...
Synchronous metastatic colon cancer and the importance of primary tumor laterality - A National Cancer Database analysis of right- versus left-sided colon cancer.

Abstract Background The role of laterality for patients with synchronous metastatic colon cancer (SMCC) is not well-defined. Methods Using the National Cancer Database (2010–2015), we compared patients with metastatic right- (RCC) versus left-sided colon cancer (LCC). We performed Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare overall survival (OS) for each metastatic site and utilized adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis to identify predictors of OS. Results Patients with RCCs were more likely to be older, female, and have more comorbidities. LCCs were more likely to metastasize to liver and lung, whereas RCCs were more likely to metastasize to peritoneum and brain. There was equal likelihood to metastasize to bone. OS was significantly longer for LCCs for all metastatic sites. After controlling for multiple variables, RCC (HR 1.426, p Conclusions Laterality of the primary tumor plays an important role in outcomes for patients with SMCC.
Assessing the Accessibility of Library Tools & Services When You Aren’t an Accessibility Expert: Part 1

In 2019, the Goldey-Beacom College library served its first 100% blind student. To become more familiar with accessibility efforts at other colleges and universities, the authors compiled a brief l...