cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation of Organotypic Raft Cultures from Primary Human Keratinocytes

The development of organotypic epithelial raft cultures has provided researchers with an efficient in vitro system that faithfully recapitulates epithelial differentiation. There are many uses for this system. For instance, the ability to grow three-dimensional organotypic raft cultures of keratinocytes has been an important milestone in the study of human papillomavirus (HPV)1. The life cycle of HPV is tightly linked to the differentiation of squamous epithelium2. Organotypic epithelial raft cultures as demonstrated here reproduce the entire papillomavirus life cycle, including virus production3,4,5. In addition, these raft cultures exhibit dysplastic lesions similar to those observed upon in vivo infection with HPV. Hence this system can also be used to study epithelial cell cancers, as well as the effect of drugs on epithelial cell differentiation in general. Originally developed by Asselineau and Prunieras6 and modified by Kopan et al.7, the organotypic epithelial raft culture system has matured into a general, relatively easy culture model, which involves the growth of cells on collagen plugs maintained at an air-liquid interface (Figure 1A). Over the course of 10-14 days, the cells stratify and differentiate, forming a full thickness epithelium that produces differentiation-specific cytokeratins. Harvested rafts can be examined histologically, as well as by standard molecular and biochemical techniques. In this article, we describe a method for the generation of raft cultures from primary human keratinocytes. The same technique can be used with established epithelial cell lines, and can easily be adapted for use with epithelial tissue from normal or diseased biopsies8. Many viruses target either the cutaneous or mucosal epithelium as part of their replicative life cycle. Over the past several years, the feasibility of using organotypic raft cultures as a method of studying virus-host cell interactions has been shown for several herpesviruses, as well as adenoviruses, parvoviruses, and poxviruses9. Organotypic raft cultures can thus be adapted to examine viral pathogenesis, and are the only means to test novel antiviral agents for those viruses that are not cultivable in permanent cell lines.
1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) ligated iridium(I) complexes as catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination of 4-pentyn-1-amine in water

Abstract The water-soluble complex [Ir(COD)(PTA)3]Cl (1, PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) was prepared by the reaction of [IrCl(COD)]2 with six equivalents of PTA under a nitrogen atmosphere. Compound 1 was fully characterized in solution and the solid state. 1 crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 29.648(9) A, b = 11.238(2) A, c = 19.930(2) A, and β = 96.55(2)°. Complex 1 and the related Ir(I) compounds, [IrCl(CO)(PTA)3] (2) and [Ir(CO)(PTA)4]Cl (3), were active catalysts in the intramolecular hydroamination of 4-pentyn-1-amine in water. This is the first reported study of the Ir(I) mediated transformation in aqueous media.
UIMA: an architectural approach to unstructured information processing in the corporate research environment

IBM Research has over 200 people working on Unstructured Information Management (UIM) technologies with a strong focus on Natural Language Processing (NLP). These researchers are engaged in activities ranging from natural language dialog, information retrieval, topic-tracking, named-entity detection, document classification and machine translation to bioinformatics and open-domain question answering. An analysis of these activities strongly suggested that improving the organization's ability to quickly discover each other's results and rapidly combine different technologies and approaches would accelerate scientific advance. Furthermore, the ability to reuse and combine results through a common architecture and a robust software framework would accelerate the transfer of research results in NLP into IBM's product platforms. Market analyses indicating a growing need to process unstructured information, specifically multilingual, natural language text, coupled with IBM Research's investment in NLP, led to the development of middleware architecture for processing unstructured information dubbed UIMA. At the heart of UIMA are powerful search capabilities and a data-driven framework for the development, composition and distributed deployment of analysis engines. In this paper we give a general introduction to UIMA focusing on the design points of its analysis engine architecture and we discuss how UIMA is helping to accelerate research and technology transfer.
Friedel–crafts crosslinking methods for polystyrene modification. IV. Macromolecular structure of crosslinked particles

Crosslinked polystyrene particles were prepared by Friedel–Crafts suspension crosslinking of polystyrene using 2,4-dichloromethyl-2,5-dimethyl benzene as crosslinking agent. The polymer was dissolved in nitrobenzene and reaction occurred in a 70 wt % aqueous solution of ZnCl2 with poly(vinyl alcohol) as a suspending agent. The spherical particles produced were swollen in toluene, chloroform, and tetrahydrofuran to determine their equilbrium polystyrene volume fraction. Analysis of the crosslinked macromolecular structure gave values of number-average molecular weight between crosslinks of Mc = 900–5900 increasing as the nominal crosslinking ratio X decreased from 0.75 to 0.0625 mol of crosslinking agent per mole of polystyrene repeating unit. Porosimetric analysis contributed to the understanding of the importance of the pore structure for swelling behavior.
Exposure of R169 controls protein C activation and autoactivation

Protein C is activated by thrombin with a value of kcat/Km = 0.11mM−1s−1 that increases 1700-fold in the presence of the cofactor thrombomodulin. The molecular origin of this effect triggering an important feedback loop in the coagulation cascade remains elusive. Acidic residues in the activation domain of protein C are thought to electrostatically clash with the active site of thrombin. However, functional and structural data reported here support an alternative scenario. The thrombin precursor prethrombin-2 has R15 at the site of activation in ionic interaction with E14e, D14l, and E18, instead of being exposed to solvent for proteolytic attack. Residues E160, D167, and D172 around the site of activation at R169 of protein C occupy the same positions as E14e, D14l, and E18 in prethrombin-2. Caging of R169 by E160, D167, and D172 is responsible for much of the poor activity of thrombin toward protein C. The E160A/D167A/D172A mutant is activated by thrombin 63-fold faster than wild-type in the absence of thrombomodulin and, over a slower time scale, spontaneously converts to activated protein C. These findings establish a new paradigm for cofactor-assisted reactions in the coagulation cascade.
Measurements of tritium recycling and isotope exchange in TFTR

Tritium Balmer-alpha (T{sub {alpha}}) emission, along with H{sub {alpha}} and D{sub {alpha}} is observed in the current D-T experimental campaign in TFTR. The data are a measure of the fueling of the plasma by tritium accumulated in the TFTR limiter and the spectral profile maps neutral hydrogenic velocities. T{sub {alpha}} is relatively slow to appear in tritium neutral beam heated discharges, (T{sub {alpha}}/(H{sub {alpha}} + D{sub {alpha}} + T{sub {alpha}}) = 11% after 8 tritium-only neutral beam discharges). In contrast, the T{sub {alpha}} fraction in a sequence of six discharges fueled with tritium puff,s increased to 44%. Larger transient increases (up to 75% T{sub {alpha}}) were observed during subsequent tritium gas puffs. Analysis of the Doppler broadened spectral profiles revealed overall agreement with the dissociation, charge exchange, sputtering and reflection velocities predicted by the neutral Monte-Carlo code DEGAS with some deficiency in the treatment of dissociation products in the 10--100 eV range.
Concept Learning in Context

Concept learning behavior should be influenced by the context in which the learning takes place. Unfortunately, most current learning systems incorporate fixed, implicit assumptions about the learning context. As the learning context changes over time, these contextual assumptions become invalid and learning degenerates. This paper describes a learning program called MetaLEX which partially overcomes these problems by making contextual knowledge more explicit and easier to change.
Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase Regulates Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I Subcellular Localization and Selective Lipid Uptake in Hepatocytes

Objective— The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor scavenger receptor Class B type I (SR-BI) plays a key role in mediating the final step of reverse cholesterol transport. This study examined the possible regulation of hepatic SR-BI by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), a well known regulator of endocytosis and membrane protein trafficking. Methods and Results— SR-BI-dependent HDL selective cholesterol ester uptake in human HepG2 hepatoma cells was decreased (&50%) by the PI3K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. Insulin increased selective uptake (&30%), and this increase was blocked by PI3K inhibitors. Changes in SR-BI activity could be accounted for by pronounced changes in the subcellular localization and cell surface expression of SR-BI as determined by HDL cell surface binding, receptor biotinylation studies, and confocal fluorescence microscopy of HepG2 cells expressing green fluorescent protein-tagged SR-BI. Thus, under conditions of PI3K activation by insulin, and to a lesser extent by the SR-BI ligand HDL, cell surface expression of SR-BI was promoted, resulting in increased SR-BI-mediated HDL selective lipid uptake. Conclusion— Our data indicate that PI3K activation stimulates hepatic SR-BI function post-translationally by regulating the subcellular localization of SR-BI in a P13K-dependent manner. Decreased hepatocyte PI3K activity in insulin-resistant states, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome, may impair reverse cholesterol transport by reducing cell surface expression of SR-BI.
CDC Capital Partners

SUBJECT AREAS: Emerging markets, Privatization, Venture capital CASE SETTINGS: London; Securities & investing; 300 employees; 2000-2001 In 2001, CDC Capital Partners is facing the greatest challenge in its 53-year history. Founded as part of the U.K. government's post-war colonial reconstruction, it had operated as a developmental finance institution, largely issuing debt to the world's poorest countries. Now, however, it must transform itself to become a public-private partnership (PPP) dealing in private equity projects, but still restricted to the world's poorest countries. Can CDC succeed?
Gene regulatory networks in embryonic stem cells and brain development

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are endowed with the ability to generate multiple cell lineages and carry great therapeutic potentials in regenerative medicine. Future application of ESCs in human health and diseases will embark on the delineation of molecular mechanisms that define the biology of ESCs. Here, we discuss how the finite ESC components mediate the intriguing task of brain development and exhibit biomedical potentials to cure diverse neurological disorders.
Rotational perspective and learning procedural tasks from dynamic media

There have been conflicting accounts regarding the effectiveness of animations for learning. Procedural motor learning represents one of the few areas in which animations have consistently shown to be facilitative. Some have suggested that this benefit is related to activation of the mirror neuron system (MNS), with higher activation leading to better performance. This study examines this explanation, and observed the effects of instructional media (animation vs. static), as a function of viewing perspective (face-to-face vs. over-the-shoulder) on understanding a procedural motor task (knot tying). Results indicate that performance was significantly improved with animations over static images, however this appeared to be most pronounced in situations which matched the learners' own perspective (i.e., over-the-shoulder). These findings have implications for the design of instructional media for procedural motor tasks and provide confirmation of the assertion that appropriate activation of the perceptual system can be leveraged to increase performance.
The effects of ozone and nitrogen dioxide on pulmonary function in healthy and in asthmatic adolescents.

The aim of this project was to investigate whether well-characterized asthmatic adolescent subjects were more sensitive to the inhaled effects of oxidant pollutants than were well-characterized healthy adolescent subjects. Ten healthy and 10 asthmatic subjects inhaled via a mouthpiece 0.12 or 0.18 ppm of ozone (O3) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or clean air for 30 min at rest followed by 10 min during moderate exercise (32.5 L/min) on a treadmill. The following pulmonary functional values were measured before and after exposure: peak flow, total respiratory resistance (Rt), maximal flow at 50 and 75% of expired VC, and FEV1. After exercise exposure to 0.18 ppm O3, statistically significant increases were seen in Rt in asthmatic and healthy adolescent subjects. No consistent changes were seen in either group after NO2 exposure. Also, no significant differences in response to oxidant pollutants between the 2 groups could be demonstrated. It was concluded that neither group was consistently sensitive to these po...
Towards identifying populations that increase the likelihood of success in genetic programming

This paper presents a comprehensive, multivariate account of how initial population material is used over the course of a genetic programming run as while various factors influencing problem difficulty are changed. The results corroborate both theoretical and empirical studies on factors that influence population dynamics. The results also indicate a clue for a possible empirical measurement that could be used in tuning initial populations for increasing the likelihood of success.
The Effects of Anabolic Steroids on Driving Performance as Assessed by the Iowa Driver Simulator

The effect of physiologic (100 mg/wk) and supraphysiologic (250 and 500 mg/wk) doses of testosterone cypionate (TC) on automobile driving were studied using the Iowa Driver Simulator. Six normal subject volunteers were studied off TC and on TC once steady-state concentrations were achieved after at least three weeks of dosing. Despite the administration of supraphysiologic testosterone doses, an increase in aggressive driving behavior was not detected. Likewise, corresponding psychometric testing using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory to assess aggression was unable to detect any change in aggression in the test subjects. Although aggressive driving behavior may be increased by testosterone administration, the drug itself may not be responsible for these effects. Supraphysiologic doses greater than 500 mg/wk and a semi-controlled research environment may be necessary to produce this effect since case reports of AAS abuse causing altered driving behavior may be multifactorial in nature.
Novel Macromolecular Crosslinking Hydrogel to Reduce Intra-Abdominal Adhesions

Background The aim of this study was to compare the anti-adhesion efficacy of a biodegradable, in situ, macromolecular cross-linking hydrogel made from oxidized dextran/N-carboxyethyl chitosan (Odex/CEC) with a commercially available carboxymethylcellulose/modified hyaluronan barrier film (Seprafilm; Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA) in a rat cecum abrasion model. Methods The rat model utilized a cecal abrasion and abdominal wall insult surgical protocol. The 2% Odex/CEC hydrogel treatment was applied by syringe to coat both the cecal and the abdominal wall insults, while other animals were treated with Seprafilm applied to the cecal injury only. Control animals did not receive any treatment. Animals were sacrificed after post operative day 21 and adhesion severity was quantitatively graded using a whole number scale from 0 – 3. Histological analysis was also performed for animals receiving Odex/CEC hydrogel treatment and no treatment (control). Results Mean adhesion score was 2.09 ± 1.22 for control animals, 1.00 ± 1.00 for 2% Odex/CEC hydrogel animals, and 1.25 ± 1.22 for Seprafilm animals. Hydrogel treated animals showed significantly lower adhesion scores than control animals (P Conclusions Both Seprafilm and the 2% Odex/CEC hydrogel showed a significantly decreased adhesion score compared with the control. However, the hydrogel, compared with Seprafilm, offers ease of application and ability to conform to complex tissue geometries that could provide surgeons with another prophylactic treatment to prevent abdominal adhesions.
On the classification of simple and complex cells

In their pioneering studies of primary visual cortex, Hubel and Wiesel described the existence of two classes of cells, which they termed "simple" and "complex". The original classification scheme was based on a number of partly subjective tests of linear spatial summation. Later, investigators adopted an objective classification method based on the ratio between the amplitude of the first harmonic of the response and the mean spike rate (or the F(1)/F(0) ratio) when the neuron is stimulated with drifting sinusoidal gratings. This measure is bimodally distributed over the population and divides neurons into two classes that correspond closely to the classical definition by Hubel and Wiesel. Here we show that a simple rectification model can predict the observed bimodal distribution of F(1)/F(0) in primary visual cortex when the distributions of the intracellular response modulation and mean are unimodal. Thus, contrary to common belief, the bimodality of F(1)/F(0) does not necessarily imply the existence of two discrete cell classes. Furthermore, in reviewing the literature, we find no independent support for a simple/complex dichotomy. These results suggest that the existence of two distinct neural populations in primary visual cortex, and the associated hierarchical model of receptive field organization, need to be re-evaluated.
Rawlsian Justice and the Ayers Settlement

In 2004 a near 30-year legal battle over higher education desegregation in Mississippi was settled with the state’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to receive US$503 million ov...
Teacher Development: Roles of Domain Expertise and Pedagogical Knowledge

Abstract The problems of teaching have now become a domain of active, systematic research by psychologists, anthropologists, linguists, sociologists, educational practitioners, and disciplinary specialists. What did not exist 30 years ago has become a vigorous and active field of research. Our theories of teaching demand principles of both exposition and discussion. Most of the pedagogies emerging from the seminal research on student concept learning reveal that some form of dialogue, exchange, conversation, or alternating argument—some kind of social manifestation of the understanding—is central. Therein lies the enormous pedagogical complexity that derives from this work. That complexity is the reason why, even though we know discussion is necessary, the dominant form of pedagogy is the lecture. Lecture is relatively simple, and it reduces much of the technical and economical complexities of teaching. This paper centers on pedagogies for externalizing students' knowledge and then encouraging them to reconstruct the information and internalize and represent these new understandings.
Discrete Stochastic Metapopulation Model with Arbitrarily Distributed Infectious Period

In this talk, a stochastic discrete-time model is introduced to study the spread of an infectious disease in an n-patch environment. The model includes an arbitrary distribution of the (random) infectious period T, and the results are used to investigate how the distribution of T may influence the model outcomes. Specific distributions including Geometric, Negative Binomial, Poisson and Uniform distributions are compared both numerically and analytically. The measures used in model comparisons include (i) the basic reproduction number ; (ii) probability of a minor epidemic (or probability of disease extinction) ; (iii) final epidemic size; and (iv) duration of the epidemic. The results are illustrated for the case of two patches. It is also shown analytically that the reproduction numbers corresponding to different distributions of T can be ordered based on the probability generating function of T.
Molluskan Ocular Pacemakers: Lessons Learned

Invertebrate models have proved invaluable in understanding of fundamental properties of the nervous system including the ionic basis of the resting potential, impulse production, synaptic transmission, and the cellular basis of learning and memory. Invertebrate models have also provided important insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms. Study of the retinae of several opisthobranch mollusks, which contain circadian clocks, has provided lasting insights into the cellular/molecular basis of biological timing. Key “lessons” from the molluskan retina include the cell-autonomous nature of neuronal clocks, the mechanisms underlying coupling within multi-oscillator ensembles, and the biochemical/ionic mechanisms involved in synchronization of the clock by environmental timing cycles. Much of what was learned from molluskan retinae remains highly relevant to study of mammalian circadian system.
Abstract 9765: The Impact of Premature Lung Disease on the Maturation of Cardiac Function in the First Year of Life: Discerning Early Predictive Markers of Chronic Lung Disease

Background: The aims of this study were to discern the impact of premature lung disease on cardiac development in the first year of life and to determine if quantitative echocardiographic measures of function could predict the severity of chronic lung disease in premature infants. Methods: 100 premature infants (26 ± 2 weeks at birth) were prospectively enrolled and followed over the first year of life through the Premature and Respiratory Outcomes Program (NIH 1U01 HL1014650). Ventricular systolic function was assessed using myocardial strain. Measurements of right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular strain were acquired and compared at 5 time points: day of life one and three (n=30), 32 and 36 weeks post-menstrual age (n=100), and 1 year corrected age (n=50). The primary outcome was bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), as defined by the 2001 NIH Workshop Criteria and the 2004 Physiological Definition. Infants were grouped and compared by the development and severity of BPD at 36 weeks PMA (no/mild vs. moderate/...
Differential Fc-receptor engagement drives an anti-tumor vaccinal effect (VAC13P.1123)

Passively-administered anti-tumor mAbs mediate killing of tumor targets via FcγR-mediated cytotoxicity, a rapid and short-term process. However, anti-tumor mAb treatment can also induce a vaccinal effect, in which mAb-mediated tumor death induces a long-term anti-tumor cellular immune response. To determine how such responses are generated, we utilized a murine model of a mAb-mediated anti-tumor vaccinal effect. Using mice with a conditional deletion of FcγRs on dendritic cells (DCs), we demonstrate that FcγR expression by antigen-presenting DCs is required to generate an anti-tumor T cell response upon ADCC-mediated tumor clearance by anti-tumor mAb. However, human FcγR expression differs from mice; humans express two activating FcRs, FcRIIA and FcRIIIA, on cytotoxicity-mediating NK cells and monocytes, while antigen-presenting DCs only express FcRIIA. Thus, we used FcγR-humanized mice, which express the full array of human FcγRs in place of mouse FcγRs, to demonstrate that anti-tumor huIgG1 must engage huFcγRIIIA on monocytes/NK cells to mediate ADCC, but also engage hFcRIIA on DCs to generate a potent vaccinal effect and anti-tumor cellular immune response. Thus, while next-generation anti-tumor antibodies with enhanced binding to only hFcγRIIIA for ADCC are now in clinical use, optimal anti-tumor antibodies must be optimized for both their short-acting cytotoxic effects as well as for engagement of hFcγRIIA on DCs to stimulate long-term anti-tumor cellular immunity.
Treatment of Alcoholic Liver Disease Including Emerging Therapies, Novel Targets, and Liver Transplantation

Therapies in alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis have not evolved in decades. This is in striking contrast to the high mortality of patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis indicating an unmet medical need for more effective treatments. In addition to alcohol cessation and abstinence that are difficult to achieve for many patients, pharmacotherapy with corticosteroids remains to be the main standard of care in acute alcoholic hepatitis. In a subset of patients, pentoxifylline may provide some benefits, while most studies failed to prove obvious benefits. This chapter summarizes the recent literature on abstinence, nutrition, corticosteroids, and pentoxifylline that are all used in the general clinical practice. The challenges of liver transplantation in patients with alcoholic liver disease are also discussed. We provide a list of ongoing clinical trials and identify novel targets and approaches that may deserve investigation in alcoholic liver disease based on evidence from preclinical studies or state-of-the-art pathomechanistic understanding.
Design of automatic insulin injection system with Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) signals

Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes critical health problems, and eventually leads to damage major organs. The number of people with diabetes keeps increasing over the next decade. Diabetes requires lifetime treatment in patients' daily life. Although many patients already know that tight glucose control is a critical factor of success for the quality of life, they still fail to monitor their blood glucose level in actual clinical practice because of the frequent and painful fingerstick tests. The main aim of this research is to design automatic insulin injection system with Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) signals. This system controls the insulin dosage automatically according to the real-time glucose level, so that it can improve the quality of life for those who are suffering from diabetes. The current system we developed can also provide real time glucose data to the end user to manage the diabetes.
Digital replantation--selection, technique, and results.

Summary In summary, if digital replantation is done, one must be fully prepared to handle microsurgical problems at any time, day or night. The selection of cases in terms of what should or should not be replanted is discussed. If intra- and postoperative regimens are carefully and meticulously adhered to, the result should be satisfying to the patient and gratifying to the surgeon.
Comparative microclimatology and plant responses in Encelia species from contrasting habitats.

The microclimate, water relations, and leaf temperatures of two closely related arid land shrubs of the genus Encelia (Asteraceae) in south-western North America are compared. The two species differ primarily in leaf pubescence; Encelia californica from cool, relatively wet coastal sites has essentially glabrous leaves, whereas Encelia farinosa from relatively hot, dry inland sites has heavily pubescent leaves. The two habitats contrasted sharply in air temperature, atmospheric vapor pressure deficit, and precipitation. When leaf water potentials were compared, they were lower for Encelia farinosa, the species which occurs on sites with less precipitation. Leaf conductances to water vapor were similar in both species at similar times of the year. Leaf temperatures of Encelia californica were greater than air temperature, whereas leaf temperatures of Encelia farinosa were normally less than air temperature because of differences in leaf spectral characteristics caused by pubescence and because relative humidities were lower at the inland sites. The significance of leaf pubescence in adapting to the more arid desert environment is discussed.
Clinical Reasoning: A 59-year-old man with multifocal strokes, then subsequent painful eye movements and diplopia

A 59-year-old man, who was a nonsmoker, with persistent hematuria and history of multifocal strokes was admitted for progressive painful right eye movements and binocular vertical diplopia.
Evaluation of Bluetooth beacons behavior

Bluetooth low energy beacons have gained traction among ambient intelligence researchers. Their low cost and robustness make them a fit choice for ambient assisted living or other healthcare applications. Nevertheless, similar to many other radio-frequency based technologies, beacons pose serious challenges when it comes to developing applications that require predictability. Moreover, the multipath propagation characteristics of Bluetooth beacons prevent ambient intelligent researchers to solely rely on using theoretical models to describe their behaviors. In this paper, we present an empirical evaluation of Bluetooth beacons behaviors. We describe the observed pattern of the signal through a series of experiments totalizing more than 3 million samples.
The perception-adjusted Luce model

We develop an axiomatic model that builds on Luce's (1959) model to incorporate a role for perception. We identify agents' "perception priorities" from their violations of Luce's axiom of independence from irrelevant alternatives. Using such perception priorities, we adjust choice probabilities to account for the effects of perception. Our axiomatization requires that the agents' adjusted random choice conforms to Luce's model. Our model can explain the attraction, compromise, and similarity effects, which are very well-documented behavioral phenomena in individual choice.
Training Pediatric Fellows in Palliative Care: A Pilot Comparison of Simulation Training and Didactic Education.

Abstract Background: Pediatric fellows receive little palliative care (PC) education and have few opportunities to practice communication skills. Objective: In this pilot study, we assessed (1) the relative effectiveness of simulation-based versus didactic education, (2) communication skill retention, and (3) effect on PC consultation rates. Design: Thirty-five pediatric fellows in cardiology, critical care, hematology/oncology, and neonatology at two institutions enrolled: 17 in the intervention (simulation-based) group (single institution) and 18 in the control (didactic education) group (second institution). Intervention group participants participated in a two-day program over three months (three simulations and videotaped PC panel). Control group participants received written education designed to be similar in content and time. Measurements: (1) Self-assessment questionnaires were completed at baseline, post-intervention and three months; mean between-group differences for each outcome measure were ...
Dynamic Dispersion via Acousto-Optic Angular Excitation of Multimode Waveguides

To enable tunable temporal engineering in optical communications and processing systems, we integrate RF and wavelength control of mode excitation angle in a multimode waveguide. Dynamic tunability of dispersion is demonstrated over 1.27 ns and 40 nm of optical bandwidth.
Wet waste-to-energy resources in the United States

Abstract Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies present an opportunity to recycle organic waste material into renewable energy while offsetting disposal and environmental costs. A key challenge to ensuring economic and environmental viability of WTE is understanding the variability of individual WTE resource characteristics, including their location, amount, and quality. The main objective of this study is to estimate the wet WTE resource potential in the United States and illustrate its geographic distribution. The wet resources considered in this study are wastewater sludge, animal manure, food waste, and FOG (fats, oils, and greases). This study is the first to achieve results below national level, at the finest geographic resolution. Our analysis indicates that about 566 teragrams (Tg) of wet WTE resources are generated annually in the United States. This amount corresponds to about 1 exajoule (EJ), which is sufficient to displace about 18% of the 2015 U.S. on-highway diesel consumption on an energy basis. About half of this potential is generated by animal manure.
Possible Role of Fruit Cell Wall Oxidative Activity in Ethylene Evolution

The burst in ethylene evolution accompanying the respiratory upsurge in climacteric fruit has been extensively shown to accelerate the ripening process (3). The newly acquired knowledge of ethylene biosynthesis, particularly the finding that l-amino cyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) is the penultimate ethylene precursor (1) has been used to an advantage to further demonstrate the dependency of ripening on ethylene synthesis and action. Accordingly, depressed production of ACC, and subsequently, of ethylene evolution were also strongly inhibitory to the ripening process (23,29). Clearly, ethylene biosynthesis and action in climacteric fruit have a major regulatory role in ripening.
Water Security: Identifying Governance Issues and Engaging Stakeholders

This paper examines the concept of environmental security and the relevance of governance frameworks (policies, laws, and institutions) for mitigating water scarcity and degradation concerns in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region (This region consists of Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen). The paper highlights the importance of governance frameworks that support meaningful risk assessment, policy analysis, strategic planning, and policy implementation in coordination with experts in the scientific community and other relevant stakeholders. The paper begins by providing a core definition of environmental security, which is affected by anthropogenic drivers categorized as resource demand, resource depletion, and resource degradation. It also offers a dynamic model for assessing security-relevant consequences that arise through the interaction of these drivers with natural events or conditions and population/technology concerns (collectively “environmental stressors”) within a local, national and regional economic, social, and political context. Under this model, anthropogenic triggers act directly or in combination with natural conditions or events to threaten security through a range of vectors. These consequences may escalate or interact – driven by social, political or economic factors – often in a nonlinear fashion. The author posits that governance frameworks may intervene within the broader economic, political and social context to minimize the cause, avoid the consequence, or prevent escalation. The magnitude and impact of any specific security threat depends on the ability of governance frameworks to avoid and/or respond. Those states with adequate governance frameworks are more likely to recognize environmental stresses and minimize their impact. Environmental security challenges will ultimately be met by states on the basis of their national priorities and traditions, but the author suggests that careful coordination by state officials with key civil society stakeholders and relevant members of the scientific community is needed to animate agencies that have not been traditional partners and to strengthen the legitimacy and efficacy of institutional responses.
Web-Based Video in Education: Possibilities and Pitfalls

In recent years, Web-based video-sharing sites such as YouTube have emerged and filled so quickly with video clips that millions of short video segments are now available online. Through these sites both amateur and professional video content covering a wide array of topics has been uploaded for free distribution to the general public. The presence of so much video on the Internet is intriguing due to the potential value as a content repository that may be tapped into for educational purposes. The value of video as a visual representation can be used advantageously to show faraway places, historic film segments, animals in the wild, digital stories, and more. A drawback for educators is that the purpose of most video-sharing sites is not primarily educational. Because of this a great deal of video content currently available is not suitable for traditional educational needs. Access to some video-sharing sites such as YouTube is blocked at many schools due to the presence of inappropriate content. The challenge is to identify usable video resources and instructional strategies that are enhanced with online video. This paper illustrates how online video can be effectively used in online discussions, video case analysis, virtual field trips, and WebQuests.
Selecting a Display Monitor

The monitor is the principal communications link between microcomputer and user. Yet it is virtually ignored by most purchasers, who merely accept the vendor’s bundled display device. The bundled monitors are quite acceptable, given the advantages of compatibility and one-vendor service support. But it can pay to shop around for a monitor, particularly if you are interested in a low-cost monochrome display device (a good monochrome device can be obtained for under $100), a high-resolution RGB (Red Green Blue) color monitor, or one with specialized capabilities (such as touch screen, large screen, or specialized graphics controller).
Abstract 1828: Predictive Value of T wave Morphology in LQT2 Patients with Borderline QTc Duration

Background : Long QT syndrome patients with type 2 disorder (LQT2) show QTc prolongation and changes in T wave morphology consisting of flat, low-amplitude and notched T waves. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of T wave morphology in LQT2 patients for predicting cardiac events. Methods: Study population consisted of 405 genetically confirmed carriers of LQT2 gene mutations with QTc ≥440 ms (mean age: 26 years). Baseline ECGs were used to evaluate QTc duration and T wave morphology using classification adopted by the study and differentiating T waves as normal or abnormal (flat, broad upsloping, notched). The association between T wave morphology and endpoints, defined as aborted cardiac arrest or death, was tested separately in patients with borderline QTc (440–500ms) and in patients with definitely prolonged QTc (>500ms). Results: Abnormal T wave morphology was observed in 37% of 281 patients with borderline QTc (440–500 ms) and in 50% of 124 patients with definitely prolonged QTc (>500 ms). Cox regression analysis revealed that, in LQT2 patients with borderline QTc, presence of T wave abnormalities was associated with significantly increased risk of aborted cardiac arrest or death (HR=4.10; p=0.005). The analysis of 124 patients with QTc>500 showed no significant association between T wave abnormalities and cardiac events (HR=0.69; p=0.446). Conclusions: T wave abnormalities consisting of flat, broad based, or notched T waves indicate an increased risk of aborted cardiac arrest or death in LQT2 patients with borderline QTc. In LQT2 patients with definitely prolonged QTc, T wave abnormality does not improve risk stratification.
Fungal Infections in the Immunocompromised Host

Fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised host. In the last 25 years, the frequency of invasive fungal infections has increased remarkably. Unbiased data concerning the true incidence and prevalence of invasive fungal infections in different patient populations is limited. Hart et al.1 reported 132 invasive fungal infections in normal and immunocompromised patients. Seventy infections occurred in immunocompromised patients, 81% caused by Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., and Zygomycete spp. and 12% by Cryptococcus spp. In contrast, 62 invasive fungal infections occurred in normal patients, and none were caused by Candida, Aspergillus, or Zygomycete spp. Muller et al. 2 reported the following incidence of opportunistic deep-seated mycosis, candidiasis 92.6%; aspergillosis 6.7%; cryptococcosis 0.35%, and zygomycosis 0.35%. Rose and Varkey,3 in a comprehensive review of invasive fungal infections, reported per 10,000 hospital discharges the following rates: Candida spp. 7.08, Aspergillus spp. 1.4, and Zygomycete spp. 0.23. Data from the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CDC)4 representing 1984 rates showed Candida spp. accounted for 5.5% of all isolates and was the eighth most common nosocomial pathogen. The category listed as “other fungi” accounted for 1.7% of all isolates and ranked 11th. Although data from autopsies are limited and selective, the relative frequency of invasive fungal infections in transplant and oncologic patients can be inferred by their review. The observed frequency of invasive fungal infections is 20–30% in patients with acute leukemia, 10–15% in patients with lymphoma, and 5% in patients with other malignancies.5 The frequency in organ transplant recipients is 28–42% for liver, 10–35% for heart, 2–30% for bone marrow, and 0–20% for kidneys.6 Overall invasive candidiasis accounted for death in 10–40% of patients and invasive aspergillosis in 5–15%.7
Associations of Measured Smell Function with Adiposity and Cardiometabolic Measures: Results from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (OR22-02-19)

To assess the associations between smell function and adiposity and cardiometabolic measures in a nationally representative sample of US adults. In the 2013–2014 NHANES, 3527 adults ≥40 years, completed the NHANES Taste and Smell Exam. Smell function was assessed with an 8-item odor identification test. Participants smelled and identified each odorant by selecting one of four descriptors. Smell impairment was defined as incorrect identification of ≥3 (of 8) odors. Survey-weighted linear regression models estimated cross-sectional associations of smell function with adiposity (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC)) and cardiometabolic measures (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)). Models were adjusted for age, race, education, physical activity, self-reported health status, smoking history, and income-poverty ratio, and stratified by sex and age group (40–64 years vs. ≥65 years). In US adults ≥40 years, smell function was significantly associated with several adiposity and cardiometabolic measures in adjusted models, with significant interactions by sex and age. Compared to normal smell, smell impairment was significantly associated with higher BMI [β = 3.0; 95% CI: 0.6, 5.4)] and WC [β = 5.0; 95% CI: 0.3, 9.8] among women <65 years; conversely among men ≥65 years, smell impairment associated with lower BMI [β = −1.6; 95% CI: −3.2, −0.01)]. In adults < 65 years, smell impairment was associated with lower FPG [β = −7.9; 95% CI: −13.0, −2.6] and triglyceride levels [β = −27.0; 95% CI: −51.0, −3.7], but this was only significant among men. In older men (≥65 years), smell impairment was positively associated with higher total cholesterol [β = 12.8; 95% CI: 7.4, 18.1] and LDL [β = 18.1; 95% CI: 9.1, 27.2] ; among older women however, smell impairment was inversely associated with both total [β = −15.0; 95% CI: −25.0, −5.7] and LDL cholesterol [β = −12.0; 95% CI: −25.0, 1.2)], and positively associated with FPG [β = 15.6; 95% CI:1.5, 29.7]. No significant associations were observed with SBP or DBP. In adults ≥ 40 years, smell impairment is associated with adiposity measures, and glucose and lipid levels, with differential associations by age and sex. Rutgers University, NJ.
Day-to-Day Learning Framework for Online Origin–Destination Demand Estimation and Network State Prediction

Origin–destination (O–D) demand is a critical component in both online and offline dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) systems. Recent advances in real-time DTA applications in large networks call for...
Abstract 3522: Enzymatic DNA repair enables high quality library preparation and accurate sequencing from highly damaged DNA inputs

High-throughput sequencing is key for clinical diagnostic applications such as disease mutation profiling and identifying pathogens with high taxonomic specificity. Preparation of high quality next-generation sequencing (NGS) libraries is critical for obtaining accurate patient data, but clinical scientists are often limited by input DNA quality. In cancer genomics, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from patient biopsy is a common source of DNA, but the extracted DNA is often poor in both yield and quality due to fixation- and storage-induced damage. Additionally, these damage-induced sequencing artifacts raise the background level of mutations, making it difficult to discern true, low frequency, disease-related variants from noise. Even relatively high-quality DNA inputs contain nicks and gaps limiting library yields and read lengths for long read sequencing platforms including Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and Pacific Biosciences (PacBio). We developed a second-generation DNA repair enzyme mix (V2) that efficiently repairs the most prevalent damage types found in FFPE DNA and further improves the quality and yield of NGS libraries through efficient nick and gap repair. Illumina library yield and quality were improved when DNA samples were treated with FFPE DNA Repair V2 before library preparation. Target enrichment and whole exome enrichment experiments showed that the V2 repair mix did not alter the overall frequency of variants identified, thus it did not introduce bias, but significantly improved the sequencing accuracy by reducing the number of false variant calls due to damage-induced sequence artifacts. True mutation frequencies were validated using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Repaired ONT libraries using DNA inputs of varying quality also showed improved library quality as well as greater read lengths. Therefore, enzymatic DNA repair prior to NGS library preparation is a critical first step for improving the quality and accuracy of short- and long-read sequencing libraries. Citation Format: Margaret R. Heider, Lixin Chen, Chen Song, Luo Sun, Pingfang Liu, Laurence Ettwiller, Lauren Higgins, Eileen Dimalanta, Theodore Davis, Thomas Evans. Enzymatic DNA repair enables high quality library preparation and accurate sequencing from highly damaged DNA inputs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3522.
Root Cause Analysis of an Oil-Burning Tabletop Torch Explosion

Recent severe burn injuries and at least one death have been attributed to the sudden explosion of a particular type of tabletop fuel oil-burning torch when moved by or somehow affected by the user while lit. An investigation was performed to determine the variables involved in the design and operation of the subject torch that provided the necessary and sufficient conditions for the occurrence of the above explosions. The investigation findings strongly suggest that the explosions were caused by a faulty design of the tabletop torch that failed to separate the fire (ignition source) from a fuel that had too low of a flashpoint.