cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1274: Hallmark of immune responses to multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in immunodiagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other solid tumors

The immune system of the patient with cancer is a sensitive sensor of alterations in structure and/or function of participants in tumorigenesis pathways and is capable of making immune responses in the form of autoantibodies to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). A hallmark of this immune response is the production of autoantibodies of multiple specificities indicating the activation of more than one tumorigenesis pathway. Novel autoantibodies appear prior to or coincident with clinical detection of transformation to cancer. Activation of more than one tumorigenesis pathway expressed as multiple autoantibodies to TAAs is a finding consistent with the synthetic lethality paradigm where mutation of more than one gene or in the case of cancer, more than one tumorigenesis pathway is required for malignant transformation. After analyzing 321 sera from patients with different type of cancer for autoantibodies to seven selected TAAs including p53, c-myc, cyclin B1, p62, KOC, IMP1 and Survivin, 34% of the sera had autoantibody to one TAA and 20% had two to six autoantibodies simultaneously. In a recent study, we have used a mini-array of 14 selected TAAs as an approach in the immunodiagnosis of HCC, and found that 68% of the sera contained one or more than one antibodies against these TAAs. In addition, this TAA array can identify 43.8% of HCC patients who had normal AFP levels in serum. Some autoantibodies appeared de-novo concurrent with conversion to malignancy. Many novel target antigens besides the above have been identified and shown to be participants in tumorigenesis. The immune system response to TAAs is a repository of information on partners in the synthetic lethality paradigm. Our study can also support the hypothesis that a customized TAA array used for detecting anti-TAA autoantibodies can constitute a promising and powerful tool for immunodiagnosis of HCC and other solid tumors. Citation Format: Liping Dai, Pei Li, Weihong Liu, Chenglin Luo, Eng M. Tan, Jianying Zhang. Hallmark of immune responses to multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in immunodiagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other solid tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1274. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1274
Disaster Preparedness for Clinics - Further Study from Haiti.

Objective: This team created a manual to train clinics in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to effectively respond to disasters. This study is a follow-up to a prior study evaluating disaster response. The team returned to previously trained clinics to evaluate retention and performance in a disaster simulation. Background: Local clinics are the first stop for patients when disaster strikes LMICs. They are often under-resourced and under-prepared to respond to patient needs. Further effort is required to prepare these crucial institutions to respond effectively using the Incident Command System (ICS) framework. Methods: Two clinics in the North East Region of Haiti were trained through a disaster manual created to help clinics in LMICs respond effectively to disasters. This study measured the clinic staff’s response to a disaster drill using the ICS and compared the results to prior responses. Results: Using the prior study’s evaluation scale, clinics were evaluated on their ability to set up an ICS. During the mock disaster, staff was evaluated on a three-point scale in 13 different metrics, grading their ability to mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover in a disaster. By this scale, both clinics were effective (36/39; 92%) in responding to a disaster. Conclusion: The clinics retained much prior training, and after repeat training, the clinics improved their disaster response. Future study will evaluate the clinics’ ability to integrate disaster response with country-wide health resources to enable an effective outcome for patients.
Increased Mindfulness Skills as Predictors of Reduced Trauma‐Related Guilt in Treatment‐Seeking Veterans

The present study examined the predictive role of increased self-reported mindfulness skills on reduced trauma-related guilt in a sample of veterans over the course of residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; N = 128). The residential treatment consisted of seven weeks of intensive cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for PTSD, as well as additional psychoeducational groups, including seven sessions on mindfulness skills. Increased mindfulness skills describing, acting with awareness, and accepting without judgment were significantly associated with reductions in trauma-related guilt over the course of treatment. Increases in the ability to act with awareness and accept without judgment were significantly associated with reductions in global guilt, R2 = .26, guilt distress, R2 = .23, guilt cognitions, R2 = .23, and lack of justification, R2 = .11. An increase in the ability to accept without judgment was the only self-reported mindfulness skill that was associated with reductions in hindsight bias, β = -.34 and wrongdoing, β = -.44. Increases in self-reported mindfulness skills explained 15.1 to 24.1% of the variance in reductions in trauma-related guilt, suggesting that mindfulness skills may play a key role in reducing the experience of trauma-related guilt during psychotherapy. Our results provide preliminary support for the use of mindfulness groups as an adjunct to traditional evidence-based treatments aimed at reducing trauma-related guilt, though this claim needs to be tested further using experimental designs.
Abstract 2411: The role of A-to-I RNA editing in human cancer

Recent studies show that A-to-I RNA editing introduces a large number of specific nucleotide changes in cancer transcriptomes. Using the genomic/transcriptomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we systematically characterized the landscape of RNA editing in a variety of cancer types and revealed many sites with clinically relevant patterns. We further integrated proteomic data from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium and found that mutations and RNA editing introduced similar numbers of amino acids changes per tumor sample in breast and ovarian cancers. The amino acid changes engendered by these RNA editing events may significantly alter protein stability. Some of the identified RNA editing events show critical consequent changes driving tumor growth and altering therapeutic activity. We also identified the RNA editing hotspots in miRNAs across cancer types, and some of RNA editing events modify the miRNA target genes. They could function as potential therapeutic targets and therapeutics. Our study suggests a large contribution of A-to-I RNA editing to protein diversity and gene regulation, and highlights its translational potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Han Liang. The role of A-to-I RNA editing in human cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2411. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2411
Incidence of Endocrine Dysfunction Following the Use of Different Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Regimens: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance If not promptly recognized, endocrine dysfunction can be life threatening. The incidence and risk of developing such adverse events (AEs) following the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) regimens are unknown. Objective To compare the incidence and risk of endocrine AEs following treatment with US Food and Drug Administration–approved ICI regimens. Data Sources A PubMed search through July 18, 2016, using the following keywords was performed: “ipilimumab,” “MDX-010,” “nivolumab,” “BMS-963558,” “pembrolizumab,” “MK-3475,” “atezolizumab,” “MPDL3280A,” and “phase.” Study Selection Thirty-eight randomized clinical trials evaluating the usage of these ICIs for treatment of advanced solid tumors were identified, resulting in a total of 7551 patients who were eligible for a meta-analysis. Regimens were categorized by class into monotherapy with a PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) inhibitor, a CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4) inhibitor, or a PD-L1 (programmed cell death 1 ligand 1) inhibitor, and combination therapy with PD-1 plus CTLA-4 inhibitors. Data Extraction and Synthesis The data were extracted by 1 primary reviewer (R.B.-S.) and then independently reviewed by 2 secondary reviewers (W.T.B. and A.C.G.-C.) following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Inferences on the incidence of AEs were made using log-odds random effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures Incidence of all-grade hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypophysitis, primary adrenal insufficiency, and insulin-deficient diabetes. Results Overall, 38 randomized clinical trials comprising 7551 patients were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The incidence of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism was highest in patients receiving combination therapy. Patients on the combination regimen were significantly more likely to experience hypothyroidism (odds ratio [OR], 3.81; 95% CI, 2.10-6.91, P P = .001) than patients on ipilimumab. Compared with patients on ipilimumab, those on PD-1 inhibitors had a higher risk of developing hypothyroidism (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.17-3.05; P = .03). The risk of hyperthyroidism, but not hypothyroidism, was significantly greater with PD-1 than with PD-L1 inhibitors (OR, 5.36; 95% CI, 2.04-14.08; P = .002). While patients who received PD-1 inhibitors were significantly less likely to experience hypophysitis than those receiving ipilimumab (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.18-0.49; P P = .001). For primary adrenal insufficiency and insulin-deficient diabetes no statistical inferences were made due to the smaller number of events. Conclusions and Relevance Our study provides more precise data on the incidence of endocrine dysfunctions among patients receiving ICI regimens. Patients on combination therapy are at increased risk of thyroid dysfunction and hypophysitis.
Fractures of the proximal tibial epiphyseal cartilage.

Fracture of the proximal tibial epiphyseal cartilage is one of the most uncommon fractures of childhood. The immunity of this cartilage plate to injury is due to the absence of powerful ligamentous attachments to the periphery of the epiphysis. Most reported cases have resulted from hyperextension injuries and show posterior displacement of the tibial shaft with a high incidence of damage to the popliteal vessels. Two unusual cases are presented, both of which show an apparent anterior displacement of the shaft in relation to the epiphysis. In Case 1, the type of fracture has been reported only twice previously, while the medical displacement found in Case 2 has never been reported.
Auditory brainstem response in infants and children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta‐analysis of wave V

Infants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were recently found to have prolonged auditory brainstem response (ABR); however, at older ages, findings are contradictory. We compared ABR differences between participants with ASD and controls with respect to age using a meta-analysis. Data sources included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, HOLLIS, and ScienceDirect from their inception to June 2016. The 25 studies that were included had a total of 1349 participants (727 participants with ASD and 622 controls) and an age range of 0–40 years. Prolongation of the absolute latency of wave V in ASD had a significant negative correlation with age (R2 = 0.23; P = 0.01). The 22 studies below age 18 years showed a significantly prolonged wave V in ASD (Standard Mean Difference = 0.6 [95% CI, 0.5–0.8]; P < 0.001). The 3 studies above 18 years of age showed a significantly shorter wave V in ASD (SMD = −0.6 [95% CI, −1.0 to −0.2]; P = 0.004). Prolonged ABR was consistent in infants and children with ASD, suggesting it can serve as an ASD biomarker at infancy. As the ABR is routinely used to screen infants for hearing impairment, the opportunity for replication studies is extensive. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 The Authors Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Our analysis of previous studies showed that infants and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a slower brain response to sound, while adults have a faster brain response to sound. This suggests that slower brain response in infants may predict ASD risk. Brain response to sound is routinely tested on newborns to screen hearing impairment, which has created large data sets to afford replication of these results.
Mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior conserve more fat despite increased exercise.

Abstract Physical activity is an important component of energy expenditure, and acute changes in activity can lead to energy imbalances that affect body composition, even under ad libitum food availability. One example of acute increases in physical activity is four replicate, selectively-bred High Runner (HR) lines of mice that voluntarily run ~3-fold more wheel revolutions per day over 6-day trials and are leaner, as compared with four non-selected control (C) lines. We expected that voluntary exercise would increase food consumption, build lean mass, and reduce fat mass, but that these effects would likely differ between HR and C lines or between the sexes. We compared wheel running, cage activity, food consumption, and body composition between HR and C lines for young adults of both sexes, and examined interrelationships of those traits across 6 days of wheel access. Before wheel testing, HR mice weighed less than C, primarily due to reduced lean mass, and females were lighter than males, entirely due to lower lean mass. Over 6 days of wheel access, all groups tended to gain small amounts of lean mass, but lose fat mass. HR mice lost less fat than C mice, in spite of much higher activity levels, resulting in convergence to a fat mass of ~1.7 g for all 4 groups. HR mice consumed more food than C mice (with body mass as a covariate), even accounting for their higher activity levels. No significant sex-by-linetype interactions were observed for any of the foregoing traits. Structural equation models showed that the four sex-by-linetype groups differed considerably in the complex phenotypic architecture of these traits. Interrelationships among traits differed by genetic background and sex, lending support to the idea that recommendations regarding weight management, diet, and exercise may need to be tailored to the individual level.
Strength and margins of brazed joints

Abstract: Despite the great advances in analytical methods available to structural engineers, designers of brazed structures have great difficulties in determining load-carrying capabilities of the brazed assemblies and predicting their failures. In this chapter we will review why such common engineering tools as finite element analysis (FEA) as well as many well-established theories (Tresca, von Mises, Highest Principal Stress, etc.) do not work well for brazed joints. This chapter will show how the classic approach of using interaction equations and the lesser-known Coulomb–Mohr failure criterion can be employed to estimate margins of safety (MS) in brazed joints.
Exchange Rates, Interest Rates and the Mobility of Capital: A Comment

In October 1979, the government of the United Kingdom removed many, long-standing restrictions on capital movements. In the following year, the pound appreciated against the dollar and other major currencies. At the time of the announcement, the dollar exchange rate stood below $2.20 per pound; a year later the dollar exchange was above $2.40. The appreciation of the pound against other currencies-for example the mark and the yen-is proportionally greater during this period because the dollar appreciated against the mark and the yen and the pound appreciated relative to the dollar.
Romantic Relationships, Sexuality, and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Romantic relationships and sexual behaviors among individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complicated matters and involve many personal issues including emotions, values, attitudes, and beliefs—all of which can change constantly in response to interactions, experiences, and education (Sexuality and Disability 18:125–135, 2000). Further, other issues, such as living conditions (e.g., independent vs. residential), extent of symptom severity, and level of communication and socialization may also play a role in relationships and sexuality (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 5:614–621, 2011). In regard to education and general knowledge, sex education materials and instruction for individuals with autism differ greatly from those provided for typically developing students, with individuals with disabilities receiving far lower levels of support in this area. While almost all parents of individuals with disabilities favor comprehensive sex education for their adolescent/adult children, very few individuals with disabilities receive any type of formal sex education (Sexuality and Disability, 18:125–135, 2000), and furthermore, most teachers do not feel confident in their ability to provide sex education to students with ASD (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 4(3):433–437, 2010). Logically, then, without education and the communicative skills to gain social support from and interact with peers, individuals with ASD may have more difficulties with relationships and sexuality. The literature also suggests that they demonstrate more challenges with a wide variety of sexuality-related issues, including their bodily changes during puberty, privacy rules and customs, and masturbation. Further, adolescents and adults with ASD have far fewer sexual experiences than their typically developing peers, despite their expressed sexual interest (Sexuality and Disability 28:93–104, 2010). Despite these issues and concerns, there is a paucity of research, literature, and education relating to romance and sexuality in individuals with ASDs, and while the desire for intimate and sexual relationships may be similar to individuals without ASDs, attitudes and practice in this population appear to differ. This chapter will discuss issues related to romance and sexuality in individuals with ASDs.
Histograms: Looking at the Distribution of Data

In this chapter, you will learn how to make sense of a list of numbers by visually interpreting the histogram picture whose bars rise above the number line (so that tall bars easily show you where lots of data are concentrated) answering the following kinds of questions: One : What values are typical in this data set? Just look at the numbers below the tall histogram bars that indicate where there are many data values. Two : How different are the numbers from one another? Look at how spread out the histogram bars are from one another. Three : Are the data values strongly concentrated near some typical value? Look to see if the tall bars are close together. Four : What is the pattern of concentration? In particular, do data values “trail off” at the same rate at lower values as they do at higher values? Look to see if you have a symmetric bell-shaped “normal” distribution or, instead, a skewed distribution with histogram bars trailing off differently on the left and right. You will learn how to ignore ordinary randomness when making this judgment. If you find skewness—which is common with business data that have many small-to-moderate data values and fewer very large values (think sizes of companies, with lots of small-to-medium-sized companies, and then a couple of very large ones like Google, Microsoft, and Apple) then you might consider transforming these skewed data (perhaps by replacing data values with their logarithms) to make the distribution more normal-shaped (to help with validity of statistical methods we will learn in later chapters) although transformation will add complexity to the interpretation of the results. Five : Do you have two groups of data (a bimodal distribution) in your histogram? Look to see if there is a separation between two groups of histogram bars. You might choose to analyze these groups separately and explore the reason for their differences. You might even find three or more groups. Six : Are there special data values (outliers) very different from the rest that might require special treatment? Look for a short histogram bar separated from the rest of the data to represent each outlier. Because outliers can cause trouble (one outlier can greatly change a statistical summary, so that the summary no longer describes the rest of the data) you will want to identify outliers, fix them if they are simply copying errors, and (if they are not errors) perhaps delete them (but only if they are not part of what you wish to analyze) and perhaps analyze the data both with and without the outlier(s) to see the extent of their effects.
Osteosarcoma and the Less Common Sarcomas of Childhood

Osteosarcoma is the second most common primary tumor of bone after plasmacytoma (myeloma) (Dahlin and Unni 1986). Within the pediatric age group, it is the most common primary bone tumor (Dahlin and Unni 1986; Lichtenstein 1977; Jaffe 1958). According to Dahlin and Unni, the sine qua non for histopathologic definition of osteosarcoma is the presence of proliferating malignant cells producing an osteoid substance or material histologically indistinguishable therefrom (Dahlin and Unni 1986). While the majority of osteosarcomas are primary idiopathic neoplasms occurring in the first two and a half decades, they may also arise spontaneously against a background of Paget’s disease of bone or as a consequence of therapeutic radiation for other tumors. In the Mayo Clinic series (Dahlin and Unni 1986), however, no patient developed osteosarcoma from Paget’s disease prior to the age of 30, thus excluding this etiology from discussion in the context of childhood. While the long latency period for radiation-associated osteosarcoma, 15.1 years in the Mayo Clinic series (Dahlin and Unni 1986), generally places the clinical presentation of such secondary tumors beyond the pediatric age group, enough cases are the apparent consequence of radiation in childhood to warrant further discussion (vide infra) (Dahlin et al. 1970; Nascimento et al. 1979; Hutter et al. 1962; Johnson and Dahlin 1959).
Ethical issues and ethical therapy associated with anxiety disorders.

The prevalence of anxiety disorders is among the highest of all psychiatric diagnoses, with a lifetime morbidity rate of nearly 30 %. Given this prevalence, it is important to identify effective and ethical treatments. Empirically based treatments considered efficacious for anxiety disorders largely include cognitive behavioral treatments (CBT) , and among these, exposure therapy stands out as both useful and potentially concerning. Ethical concerns regarding exposure treatment for anxiety include fears of symptom exacerbation, high treatment dropout rates, client safety concerns, and the blurring of boundary lines between therapists and clients. Although concerns have been raised regarding exposure treatment generally, specific concerns have been raised related to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) given the vulnerable nature of the population. Despite these concerns, research largely supports both the efficacy and safety of exposure therapy. The present chapter provides a review of extant literature highlighting potential ethical concerns, research regarding the raised concerns, and suggestions for minimizing risk in treatment.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Past, Present, and Future

Europe. The present investigation describes a large, singlecenter experience of 136 consecutive CoreValve transfemoral implants.7 The findings from this series demonstrate a marked improvement in patients’ short-term hemodynamics and functional status. Technical improvements in device engineering reduced its size from a 25-French first-generation device to the current 18-French device, with an increase in acute procedural success from 70% to 91%. Operator experience and procedural learning resulted in better outcomes, with a reduction in 30-day major adverse events from 40% to 15%. The patients in this study were elderly (mean age, 81.5 years), had critical aortic stenosis (mean aortic valve area, 0.7 cm 2 ), and had multiple comorbidities, as reflected in the logistic EuroSCORE mortality estimate of 23.1%. The procedural mortality in the last group of 102 patients was a remarkable 0%, with a 30-day mortality of 10.8% and an estimated 1-year survival of 84%. In this group, other in-hospital major adverse events included stroke (2.9%), an increase in paravalvular aortic insufficiency (26%), and the need for a permanent pacemaker (33%). Importantly, the procedure has evolved from one requiring hemodynamic support, with cardiopulmonary bypass, general anesthesia, and surgical cutdown on the femoral artery, to one that can reliably be performed without bypass and with a true percutaneous approach under conscious sedation.
Catch & Release: An Approach to Debugging Distributed Full-Stack JavaScript Applications

Localizing bugs in distributed applications is complicated by the potential presence of server/middleware misconfigurations and intermittent network connectivity. In this paper, we present a novel approach to localizing bugs in distributed web applications, targeting the important domain of full-stack JavaScript applications. The debugged application is first automatically refactored to create its semantically equivalent centralized version by gluing together the application’s client and server parts, thus separating the programmer-written code from configuration/environmental issues as suspected bug causes. The centralized version is then debugged to fix various bugs. Finally, based on the bug fixing changes of the centralized version, a patch is automatically generated to fix the original application source files. We show how our approach can be used to catch bugs that include performance bottlenecks and memory leaks. These results indicate that our debugging approach can facilitate the challenges of localizing and fixing bugs in web applications.
Antifungal Susceptibility Testing: The Times They Are A-Changing

Abstract Antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) has never been performed as commonly or in as many laboratories as antibacterial susceptibility testing, but strategies may soon change. The pharmaceutical industry is in an unprecedented era of antifungal development, which may alter the utility of, and demand for, AFST. Here, we illustrate an argument for increased AFST capacity, discuss new antifungals that are likely to appear on the market soon, describe the phenomenon of trailing growth that can lead to false interpretation of susceptibility results for Candida spp., and illuminate problems and solutions commonly encountered when performing AFST.
RESPONSE: All Cardiovascular Health Professionals Need to Know the ABCDEs of Primary and Secondary Prevention.

Dr. Mehta and colleagues do an excellent job of emphasizing the importance of preventive cardiovascular medicine training for all cardiology fellows during their training. The goal for all program directors is to address the gap between scientific discovery and implementation of proven preventive
Exploring the Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Interview Skills to Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Interviewing for jobs is a challenge for many young adults with autism spectrum disorders, potentially due to deficient social repertoires and anxiety about the application process. While there is research on the efficacy of behavioral skills training for workplace behaviors, there is limited research on management strategies for covert behaviors that may interfere with the process of obtaining a job, such as feelings of anxiety. This study investigated the efficacy of a brief acceptance and commitment training protocol and behavioral skills training on simulated interview performance for three young adults with autism spectrum disorders. Mindfulness and defusion exercises were implemented prior to a mock job interview, and performance was measured. Behavioral skills training was added to the instructional package if criterion of the skill was not met. The ACT protocol produced some improvements in performance, but BST was required for all three participants to master the skills. All of the participants not only demonstrated a skilled interviewing repertoire upon conclusion of the experiment but either interviewed for, or obtained, an actual employment position. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of ACT strategies for teaching new skills, especially in stressful environments.
Feasibility of Manufacturing Strand-Based Wood Composite Treated with β-Cyclodextrin-Boric Acid for Fungal Decay Resistance.

The feasibility of using β-cyclodextrin (βCD) as an eco-friendly carrier of boric acid for the protection of strand-based wood composites against decay fungi was evaluated. The formation of a βCD–boric acid (βCD–B) complex was confirmed by the appearance of the boron–oxygen bond by using attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Chemical shifts of around 6.25 and 1.41 ppm were also observed in 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and 11B NMR spectra, respectively. The βCD–B preservatives at two levels (5 and 10 wt.%) were uniformly blended with southern pine strands that were subsequently sprayed with polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) resin. The blended strands were formed into a loose mat by hand and consolidated into 25 × 254 × 12 mm oriented strand boards (OSB) using a hot-press. The OSB panels were cut to end-matched internal bonding (IB) strength and fungal decay resistance test specimens. The vertical density profiles (VDPs) of the IB specimens were measured using an X-ray based density profiler and the specimens with statistically similar VDPs were selected for the IB and decay tests. The IB strength of the treated specimens was lower than the control specimens but they were above the required IB strength of heavy-duty load-bearing boards for use in humid conditions, specified in the BS EN 300:2006 standard. The reduced IB of preservative-treated OSB boards could be explained by the destabilized resin upon the addition of the βCD–B complex, as indicated by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results. The resistance of the OSB panels against two brown-rot fungi (i.e., G. trabeum or P. placenta) was evaluated before and after accelerated leaching cycles. The treated OSBs exposed to the fungi showed an average mass loss of lower than 3% before leaching, while the untreated OSBs had 49 and 35% mass losses due to decay by G. trabeum or P. placenta, respectively. However, upon the leaching, the treatment provided protection only against G. trabeum to a certain degree (average mass loss of 15%). The experimental results suggest that protection efficacy against decay fungi after leaching, as well as the adhesion of the OSB strands, can be improved by increasing the amount of pMDI resin.
Evaluation of Variation in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Cultivars for Rust (Puccinia emaculata) Resistance1

Abstract Eleven switchgrass cultivars (eight ornamental and three agronomic) were inoculated with 40 switchgrass rust isolates collected from the southeastern U.S. to study host resistance, rust vi...
A secondary bile acid from microbiota metabolism attenuates ileitis and bile acid reduction in subclinical necrotic enteritis in chickens

Clostridium perfringens-induced chicken necrotic enteritis (NE) is responsible for substantial economic losses worldwide annually. Recently, as a result of antibiotic growth promoter prohibition, the prevalence of NE in chickens has reemerged. This study was aimed to reduce NE through titrating dietary deoxycholic acid (DCA) as an effective antimicrobial alternative. Day-old broiler chicks were assigned to six groups and fed diets supplemented with 0 (basal diet), 0.8, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg (on top of basal diet) DCA. The birds were challenged with Eimeria maxima (20,000 oocysts/bird) at d 18 and C. perfringens (109 CFU/bird per day) at d 23, 24, and 25 to induce NE. The birds were sacrificed at d 26 when ileal tissue and digesta were collected for analyzing histopathology, mRNA accumulation and C. perfringens colonization by real-time PCR, targeted metabolomics of bile acids, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. At the cellular level, birds infected with E. maxima and C. perfringens developed subclinical NE and showed shortening villi, crypt hyperplasia and immune cell infiltration in ileum. Dietary DCA alleviated the NE-induced ileal inflammation in a dose-dependent manner compared to NE control birds. Consistent with the increased histopathological scores, subclinical NE birds suffered body weight gain reduction compared to the uninfected birds, an effect attenuated with increased doses of dietary DCA. At the molecular level, the highest dose of DCA at 1.5 g/kg reduced C. perfringens luminal colonization compared to NE birds using PCR and FISH. Furthermore, the dietary DCA reduced subclinical NE-induced intestinal inflammatory gene expression and cell apoptosis using PCR and TUNEL assays. Upon further examining ileal bile acid pool through targeted metabolomics, subclinical NE reduced the total bile acid level in ileal digesta compared to uninfected birds. Notably, dietary DCA increased total bile acid and DCA levels in a dose-dependent manner compared to NE birds. These results indicate that DCA attenuates NE-induced intestinal inflammation and bile acid reduction and could be an effective antimicrobial alternative against the intestinal disease.
Seeking Alpha From Stock Splits

The authors assess the announcement trading returns on the stocks of splitting firms. The authors join the traditional cumulative abnormal return (CAR) approach to estimating abnormal returns with the economic value added (EVA) style approach to investing. The authors’ empirical results are robust for a sample of more than 4,900 stock splits during the 1997–2014 period. The authors argue that alpha returns may be available by longing the stocks of splitting firms at the announcement and holding the trading position open for 5- to 10-trading days thereafter. A notable finding linked to EVA style is that alpha returns were available by longing the stocks of value-creating growth companies and the underinvesting but still positive EVA companies in need of a growth signal. This contrasts with the stocks of value-destroying growth companies where potential shorting opportunities were available. The authors conclude with CAR results for companies having a one-time stock split versus companies with repeat splits, and the authors assess announcement wealth effects on splitting firms around pre- and postdecimalization of US equity prices. TOPICS:Security analysis and valuation, exchange-traded funds and applications, performance measurement Key Findings • Our CAR and EVA style findings on stock-splitting firms confirm both information signaling at time of split announcement and the potential for alpha-generating trading returns thereafter. • For active investors, alpha-generating trading opportunities may be available by longing the stocks of splitting firms at announcement and holding the position open for some 5- to 10-trading days, with potential shorting opportunities on splitting firms thereafter (default event trading window of 30 days). • Based on EVA style classifications, we find that alpha-generating trading returns on stock splitting firms were potentially available on stocks of value-creating growth companies with positive EVA momentum and the stocks of currently underinvesting but still positive EVA companies in need of a growth signal.
Transformation electromagnetics devices using tensor impedance surfaces

A method for designing transformation electromagnetics devices using tensor impedance surfaces (TISs) is presented. The method allows anisotropic TISs to be designed that can support tangential wave vector distributions and power flow directions specified by a coordinate transformation. A beam-shifting device is designed using an anisotropic surface that allows a surface wave with a Gaussian profile to be shifted laterally at 10 GHz. The design is verified with a commercial full-wave solver. This work opens new opportunities for the design and implementation of surfaces that can guide or radiate electromagnetic fields.
Orbital impalement by ballyhoo fish beak.

A 27-year-old woman snorkeling in Barbados surfaced and was struck in the left lower eyelid by an airborne fish, later identified as a ballyhoo (Figure 1A). Six days later, she presented with incre...
The ‘stone soup’ approach to creating a library makerspace

Students acquire, communicate, share, and create knowledge through more than the printed word. Libraries are in a position to provide equitable access to a variety of multimodal resources enabling ...
Methods to improve wind turbine generator bearing temperature imbalance for onshore wind turbines

For better annual energy production, wind turbine generator components are expected to perform efficiently and safely. Development of recent high-efficiency generators and motors leading their desi...
Homoleptic Perchlorophenyl "Ate" Complexes of Thorium(IV) and Uranium(IV).

The reaction of AnCl4(DME)n (An = Th, n = 2; U, n = 0) with 5 equiv of LiC6Cl5 in Et2O resulted in the formation of homoleptic actinide-aryl "ate" complexes [Li(DME)2(Et2O)]2[Li(DME)2][Th(C6Cl5)5]3 ([Li][1]) and [Li(Et2O)4][U(C6Cl5)5] ([Li][2]). Similarly, the reaction of AnCl4(DME)n (An = Th, n = 2; U, n = 0) with 3 equiv of LiC6Cl5 in Et2O resulted in the formation of heteroleptic actinide-aryl "ate" complexes [Li(DME)2(Et2O)][Li(Et2O)2][ThCl3(C6Cl5)3] ([Li][3]) and [Li(Et2O)3][UCl2(C6Cl5)3] ([Li][4]). Density functional calculations show that the An-Cipso σ-bonds are considerably more covalent for the uranium complexes vs the thorium analogues, in line with past results. Additionally, good agreement between experiment and calculations is obtained for the 13Cipso NMR chemical shifts in [Li][1] and [Li][3]. The calculations demonstrate a deshielding by ca. 29 ppm from spin-orbit coupling effects originating at Th, which is a direct consequence of 5f orbital participation in the Th-C bonds.
Integrating Faith Matters in Social Work Education

Abstract Faith matters were crucial in the birth of the profession of social work. Despite present day social work curriculum rarely addressing faith matters, they are significant factors in the worldview of many clients and social workers. Faith matters can affect social work in nearly all areas of practice. The inclusion of faith matters into the social work curriculum can assist the profession in providing services that reflect principals concerning diversity and client-focused practice found in the NASW Code of Ethics. Ultimately, the integration of faith matters will allow for more multiculturally competent practice. doi:10.1300/J377v26n03_02
Early Investigations on Antibody Structure and Idiotypy

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews some of the early research on two subjects—the structure of antibodies and idiotypy—both considered in the context of other contemporary work. The research on idiotypy was initiated in collaboration with Bruce MacDonald, John Hopper, Laura Pawlak, David Hart, and Susan Spring. Before 1958, the information available on the structure of antibodies was very limited. The molecular weights of two types of immunoglobulin, immunoglobulin (IgG) and IgM, were known, and some data were available on amino acid composition. In addition, hydrodynamic measurements, electron microscopy, and hapten-binding studies had indicated that IgG is an elongated, flexible molecule with two antigen-binding sites. A dramatic improvement in the knowledge of the structure occurred during the next five years. The model, described by Fleischman, Porter, and Press in an elegant paper, delineates the relationships between the antigen-binding fragments and the heavy and light chains of the molecule. Investigations in the laboratory on the topic of idiotypy began in 1968, long after the concept had been established. Systematic immunochemical studies on idiotype began in 1955 with the work on myeloma proteins of Slater, Ward, and Kunkel at the Rockefeller Institute.
The Symptom of Beauty

For a woman in the Western world, there is no escaping beauty. Either she possesses it, or she lacks it. If she lacks it, she may hope to gain it. If she already has it, she will certainly lose it. But what is 'it'? Not an objective thing, Francette Pacteau tells us, but a generic term for an unspecifiable number of psychological experiences in the mind of the observer. What these experiences are, what causes them, and how they manifest themselves as a notion of beauty is the subject of this book. Less interested in the contingent object of desire than the fantasy that frames it, Pacteau considers the staging of the aesthetic emotion. Her analysis extends from the Classical ideals of beauty, through Renaissance poetry to the recent formulations of Hollywood. Her book is an ambitious attempt to describe the mise-en-scene of beauty within a particular field of representations that of the beauty of a woman.
Teaching appropriate interactions with pharmaceutical company representatives: The impact of an innovative workshop on student attitudes

Pharmaceutical company representatives (PCRs) influence the prescribing habits and professional behaviour of physicians. However, the skills for interacting with PCRs are not taught in the traditional medical school curriculum. We examined whether an innovative, mandatory workshop for third year medical students had immediate effects on knowledge and attitudes regarding interactions with PCRs. Surveys issued before and after the workshop intervention solicited opinions (five point Likert scales) from third year students (n = 75) about the degree of bias in PCR information, the influence of PCRs on prescribing habits, the acceptability of specific gifts, and the educational value of PCR information for both practicing physicians and students. Two faculty members and one PCR led the workshop, which highlighted typical physician-PCR interactions, the use of samples and gifts, the validity and legal boundaries of PCR information, and associated ethical issues. Role plays with the PCR demonstrated appropriate and inappropriate strategies for interacting with PCRs. The majority of third year students (56%, 42/75) had experienced more than three personal conversations with a PCR about a drug product since starting medical school. Five percent (4/75) claimed no previous personal experience with PCRs. Most students (57.3%, 43/75) were not aware of available guidelines regarding PCR interactions. Twenty-eight percent of students (21/75) thought that none of the named activities/gifts (lunch access, free stethoscope, textbooks, educational CD-ROMS, sporting events) should be restricted, while 24.0% (8/75) thought that students should be restricted only from sporting events. The perceived educational value of PCR information to both practicing physicians and students increased after the workshop intervention from 17.7% to 43.2% (chi square, p = .0001), and 22.1% to 40.5% (p = .0007), respectively. Student perceptions of the degree of bias of PCR information decreased from 84.1% to 72.9% (p = .065), but the perceived degree of influence on prescribing increased (44.2% to 62.1% (p = .02)). Students have exposure to PCRs early in their medical training. A single workshop intervention may influence student attitudes toward interactions with PCRs. Students were more likely to acknowledge the educational value of PCR interactions and their impact on prescribing after the workshop intervention.
The Complexity of Protective Immunity Against Liver-Stage Malaria

Sterile protective immunity against challenge with Plasmodium spp. sporozoites can be induced in multiple model systems and humans by immunization with radiation-attenuated Plasmodium spp. sporozoites. The infected hepatocyte has been established as the primary target of this protection, but the underlying mechanisms have not been completely defined. Abs, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, cytokines (including IFN-γ and IL-12), and NO have all been implicated as critical effectors. Here, we have investigated the mechanisms of protective immunity induced by immunization with different vaccine delivery systems (irradiated sporozoites, plasmid DNA, synthetic peptide/adjuvant, and multiple Ag peptide) in genetically distinct inbred strains, genetically modified mice, and outbred mice. We establish that there is a marked diversity of T cell-dependent immune responses that mediate sterile protective immunity against liver-stage malaria. Furthermore, we demonstrate that distinct mechanisms of protection are induced in different strains of inbred mice by a single method of immunization, and in the same strain by different methods of immunization. These data underscore the complexity of the murine host response to a parasitic infection and suggest that an outbred human population may behave similarly. Data nevertheless suggest that a pre-erythrocytic-stage vaccine should be designed to induce CD8 + T cell- and IFN-γ-mediated immune responses and that IFN-γ responses may represent an in vitro correlate of pre-erythrocytic-stage protective immunity.
Is Growth Good for Women

Using cross-country data, we find that attitudes towards women are more progressive as income rises and that the quality and quantity of women's human capital increases with income. Prior to presenting these empirical results, we first demonstrate the importance of these relationships with a simple model that shows how a feedback loop between attitudes towards women, investment in women's human capital, and income affects the dynamic path of the economy. Depending on the nature of the relationship between income and attitudes towards women, we identify the possibility of a gender equity poverty trap.
Spinal Cord Injury Elicits Expression of Keratan Sulfate Proteoglycans by Macrophages, Reactive Microglia, and Oligodendrocyte Progenitors

Keratan sulfate proteoglycans (KSPGs) are extracellular matrix molecules that appear to establish boundaries for axonal growth in the developing brain and spinal cord. In vitro studies confirm that KSPGs define inhibitory boundaries to extending neurites. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether KSPGs are expressed after spinal cord injury (SCI) and thereby might act as potential inhibitors of axonal growth. Adult Fischer 344 rats were subjected to spinal cord lesions, and the temporal and spatial expression of KSPGs was examined using the 5D4 monoclonal anti-KSPG antibody. In the intact spinal cord, a subpopulation of microglia expressed 5D4-KSPG throughout the white and gray matter. Within 24 hr of injury, 5D4-KSPG immunoreactivity substantially increased and appeared on cellular profiles in close proximity to the spinal cord lesion site, peaking 3 d after injury. Double immunolabeling revealed that 5D4-KSPG expression arose from multiple cell types at the lesion site, including reactive microglia, macrophages, and oligodendrocyte progenitors. Astrocytes were not identified as a source of 5D4-KSPG. The robust and extensive production of 5D4-KSPG at sites of SCI precedes the expression of other putatively inhibitory proteoglycan molecules such as chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. This is the first demonstration that KSPGs are expressed after SCI in a temporal and spatial relationship that could exert an early and important role in modulating axonal growth after SCI.