cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical Staging of Carcinoma of the Prostate.

Surgical staging (bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy) has become a widely used and accepted procedure over the past eight years. It's utility is recognized by surgeons and radiotherapists alike. Approximately 15 to 20% of patients with small, palpable prostate cancer nodules (Stage B,) have (+) pelvic lymph nodes; over 30% of patients with larger but still intracapsular involvement (Stage B2 ) have (+) nodes. Over 50% of patients with localized capsular penetration (Stage C) have (+) nodes. Poorly-differentiated tumors metastasize to nodes with greater frequency than do well-differentiated tumors. The complication rate appears to be acceptable with lymphocele formation, thromboembolic phenomena, wound infections, and lymphedema being some of the more common problems. Operative mortality due to pelvic lymphadenectomy is extremely rare. Multiple positive nodes are a bad prognostic sign, whereas one or two nodes with minimal tumor volume are much less ominous. Little data is available on the therapeutic efficacy of a thorough pelvic lymphadenectomy in combination with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy in terms of 10 or 15 year survival. Such data should become available in the next few years.
A new time-to-digital converter for the central tracker of the colliding detector at Fermilab

We describe a FPGA-based, 96-channel, time-to-digital converter (TDC) intended for use with the central outer tracker (COT) in the CDF experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. The COT system is digitized and read out by 315 TDC cards, each serving 96 wires of the chamber. The TDC, which is implemented as a 9U VME card, has been built around two Altera Stratix FPGAs. The special capabilities of this device are the availability of 840 MHZ LVDS inputs, multiple phase locked clock modules, and abundant memory. The TDC system would operate with an input resolution of 1.2 ns, a minimum input pulse width of 4.8 ns and a minimum separation of 4.8 ns between pulses. Each wire input can accept up to 7 hits per collision. Memory pipelines are included for each channel to allow deadtimeless operation in the first-level trigger; the pipeline has a depth of 5.5 /spl mu/s to allow the data to pass into one of four separate level-two buffers for readout. If the level-two buffer is accepted, the data are passed through a processor implemented in the FPGA to encode the relative time-to-digital values by using the memory positions and addresses of the transitions due to the input pulses. This processing and moving of the data takes 12 microseconds; the results are then loaded into an output VME memory. A separate memory contains the resulting word count, which is used in performing a VME 64-bit chain block transfer of an entire sixteen-card crate. The TDC must also produce prompt trigger flags for a tracking trigger processor called the extremely fast tracker (XFT). This separate path uses the same input data but passes the stream through a special processor, also implemented in the FPGA, to develop the trigger data delivered with a 22 ns clock to the XFT through a high-speed transmission cable assembly. The full TDC design and multi-card test results will be described.
Sheath placement in femoral artery during cardiac catheterization in children can influence pressure waveform.

Abstract Introduction It is reported that pressure wave reflection is enhanced by external compression of the femoral artery. Therefore, it is possible that cardiac catheterization itself can influence the aortic pressure waveform. Aim The purpose of this study is to clarify the influence of sheath placement in a femoral artery on the pressure waveform. Methods This study enrolled 21 pediatric patients (5.1±4.0years) who underwent cardiac catheterization. A sheath was placed in the femoral arteries of all patients. The change in the pressure waveform induced by the placement of the sheath was investigated using the b/a and d/a ratio of second derivative of a fingertip photoplethysmogram. A high b/a ratio means a stiff aorta and a low d/a ratio represents an enhancement of the aortic pressure wave reflection. Results By the placement of the sheath in their femoral arteries, the b/a ratio was not influenced (sheath (−): −0.556±0.081 vs. sheath (+): −0.558±0.072; p =0.896). However, the d/a ratio was significantly decreased (−0.150±0.074 vs. −0.185±0.084; p =0.0003). Conclusions The placement of the femoral arterial sheath enhances the pressure wave reflection and would lead to a change in the central aortic pressure waveform.
Adaptation in Caco-2 Human Intestinal Cell Differentiation and Phenolic Transport with Chronic Exposure to Blackberry (Rubus sp.) Extract

As evidence mounts for a health-protective role of dietary phenolics, the importance of understanding factors influencing bioavailability increases. Recent evidence has suggested chronic exposure to phenolics may impact their absorption and metabolism. To explore alterations occurring from chronic dietary exposure to phenolics, Caco-2 cell monolayers were differentiated on Transwell inserts with 0–10 μM blackberry (Rubus sp.) total phenolics extracts rich in anthocyanins, flavonols, and phenolic acids. Following differentiation, apical to basolateral transport of phenolics was assessed from an acute treatment of 100 μM blackberry phenolics from 0 to 4 h. Additionally, differences in gene expression of transport and phase II metabolizing systems including ABC transporters, organic anion transporters (OATs), and uridine 5'-diphospho (UDP) glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) were probed. After 4 h, 1 μM pretreated monolayers showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the percentage of cumulative transport inclu...
Can Mining Produce Development in Central America

A short piece that assesses Central America's political institutional capacity to leverage its mineral sector for inclusive development.
Thorough Use of Information in Deterministic Adaptive Control

Abstract A new model reference adaptive control structure and recursive adaptation algorithm are presented. It is proven that the excitation requirements for asymptotic model transfer function matching are strictly weaker than those required by earlier stable adaptive systems. The conditions for convergence are obtained either in terms of certain internal signals or in terms of external command inputs to the system. These results help clarify the issue of information content in a deterministic adaptive control setting, proving that persistent excitation is sufficient for convergence but not necessary. The results also show conclusively that there is merit in the use of past information in a parameter update law.
Virtualizing real-world objects in FRP

We begin with a functional reactive programming (FRP) model in which every program is viewed as a signal function that converts a stream of input values into a stream of output values. We observe that objects in the real world --- such as a keyboard or sound card --- can be thought of as signal functions as well. This leads us to a radically different approach to I/O: instead of treating real-world objects as being external to the program, we expand the sphere of influence of program execution to include them within. We call this virtualizing real-world objects. We explore how virtual objects (such as GUI widgets) and even non-local effects (such as debugging and random number generation) can be handled in the same way.The key to our approach is the notion of a resource type that assures that a virtualized object cannot be duplicated, and is safe. Resource types also provide a deeper level of transparency: by inspecting the type, one can see exactly what resources are being used. We use arrows, type classes, and type families to implement our ideas in Haskell, and the result is a safe, effective, and transparent approach to stream-based I/O.
Introduction to Cluster Algebras

These are notes for a series of lectures presented at the ASIDE conference 2016. The definition of a cluster algebra is motivated through several examples, namely Markov triples, the Grassmannians \(\mathit{Gr}_{2}(\mathbb{C}^{n})\), and the appearance of double Bruhat cells in the theory of total positivity. Once the definition of cluster algebras is introduced in several stages of increasing generality, proofs of fundamental results are sketched in the rank 2 case. From these foundations we build up the notion of Poisson structures compatible with a cluster algebra structure and indicate how this leads to a quantization of cluster algebras. Finally we give applications of these ideas to integrable systems in the form of Zamolodchikov periodicity and the pentagram map.
Quantifying differences in the material properties of the fiber regions of the pectoralis major using ultrasound shear wave elastography.

The sternocostal and clavicular regions of the pectoralis major are independently harvested to provide shoulder stability, but surgical decision making does not consider the biomechanical consequences that disinsertion of one fiber region over the other has on shoulder function. Differences in material properties between the fiber regions could influence which tissue is more optimal for surgical harvesting. The current study utilized ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) to investigate whether the in vivo material properties differ between the fiber regions. Shear wave velocities (SWVs) were collected from the sternocostal and clavicular fiber regions of the pectoralis major from ten healthy young male participants. Participants produced isometric shoulder torques of varying magnitudes (passive, 15%, and 30% MVC) and directions (horizontal and vertical adduction). Four shoulder positions encompassing different vertical abduction and external rotation angles were examined. One-way ANOVAs tested the hypotheses that differences in SWVs during rest existed between the fiber regions as a function of shoulder position, and differences in SWVs during contraction existed as a function of shoulder position and torque direction. In all shoulder positions, the clavicular region exhibited greater SWVs during rest than the sternocostal region (P < 0.001). In shoulder positions that did not include external rotation, the clavicular region exhibited greater SWVs during contraction when producing horizontal adduction torques (P < 0.001), while the sternocostal region exhibited greater SWVs during contraction when producing vertical adduction torques at 30% MVC (P < 0.01). Our results suggest that each fiber region of the pectoralis major provides unique contributions to passive and active shoulder function.
Consistency and Decision: Variations on Ramseyan Themes

This paper will develop ideas of Ramsey’s concerning the notion of consistency as it applies to systems of decisions and of degrees of belief, which are set forth in the final two sections of “Truth and Probability.” Ramsey’s comments on this subject were very unsystematic, but I think that they advance considerations of fundamental importance which appear to have been overlooked by his followers. I may add that in Chapter III of Adams, 1975, I attempted to extend these ideas in order to provide a rational foundation for my theory of conditionals, and that argument has also been overlooked by commentators on this theory.1 Thus, this paper bears both on the logic of decision and the logic of conditionals.
TNFAIP3/A20 as a potential regulator of NF-κB-mediated resistance to O6-alkylating chemotherapy in glioblastoma multiforme

4493 Resistance to chemotherapy is a major obstacle to the successful treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. There is increasing appreciation that drug resistance in tumor cells emerges from the orchestrated activity of multiple cellular components in complex signaling networks. We have utilized an integrated model of glioblastoma resistance to O 6 -alkylating agents (including Temozolomide and BCNU) and genomics tools to globally explore molecular factors, cellular pathways, and functional interaction networks perturbed during the selection and evolution of drug resistance in glioblastoma cells. We have identified a transcriptomic signature of 329 genes that predicts a common in vitro and in vivo resistance phenotype to these agents (false discovery rate: 0.005), a proportion of which is recurrently imprinted by gene dosage changes in the resistant glioblastoma genome. This signature was highly enriched for genes with functions in cell death, compromise, and survival. Modularity was a predominant organizational principle of the resistance signature, with functions being carried out by groups of interacting molecules in overlapping networks. Our results highlight a key role of a cytoplasmic signaling cascade that activates nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in response to these agents. Our data indicate the alteration of various members of the NF-κB canonical pathway. Within this pathway, we have identified the tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) gene as a new factor significantly associated with glioblastoma cell resistance. expression of the corresponding zinc finger protein A20 closely mirrored the expression of the TNFAIP3 transcript, and was immediately related to NF-κB activation status (nuclear translocation and DNA-binding) in the resistant phenotype. Translation of these findings into the clinic showed that a prediction model based on our cell model-derived resistance signature enabled us to sub-classify an independent validation cohort of 31 glioblastoma patients into distinct outcome groups ( p = 0.037). We have also revealed TNFAIP3 as part of an optimized four-gene predictor (TNFAIP3, CD44, FBXO32, SDC1) significantly associated with patient survival in glioblastoma multiforme ( p = 0.022). A Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis of the individual genes in this predictor revealed TNFAIP3 to be significantly associated with outcome when considered as individual continuous variable ( p = 0.028). Our results offer strong evidence for TNFAIP3 as a key regulator of the cytoplasmic signaling to activate NF-κB in the emergence of resistance of glioblastoma cells to O 6 -alkylating chemotherapy. Our observations raise the hope for TNFAIP3 as an amenable target to modulate NF-κB-mediated resistance in these cells, with the ultimate goal of increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients harboring these challenging malignancies.
Creating Positive Behavior Support Plans for Students with Significant Behavioral Challenges.

In this article, a process for creating positive behavior support plans for individual students who have difficult behaviors is described. Challenges facing rural educators are presented along with...
Genetic Testing: How Genetics and Genomics Can Affect Healthcare Disparities

Advances in oncology care have transformed treatment approaches as genetics and genomics analyses promote implementation of personalized medicine. Genetics and genomics research in TP53 have demonstrated that some mutations are prevalent in minority populations. This has implications on personalized treatment approaches, particularly in early disease stages. The purpose of this article is to describe oncology nurses' role in applying these findings in practice to reduce disparities observed in cancer and survivorship care. .
Dose-escalation is needed for gross disease in high-risk neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND Locoregional failure is common after subtotal resection in high-risk neuroblastoma. Although a dose of 21 Gy radiation therapy (RT) is standard for treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma after gross total resection, the dose needed for local control of patients with gross residual disease at the time of RT is unknown. We sought to evaluate local control after 21-36 Gy RT in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma undergoing subtotal resection. METHODS All patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who received RT to their primary site from 2000 to 2016 were reviewed. Of the 331 patients who received consolidative RT to their primary site, 19 (5.7%) underwent subtotal resection and were included in our analysis. Local failure (LF) was correlated with biologic prognostic factors and dose of RT. RESULTS Median follow-up among surviving patients was 6.0 years. Median RT dose was 25 Gy (range, 21 Gy-36 Gy). The 5-year cumulative incidence of LF among all patients was 17.2%. LF at 5 years was 30% in those who received <30 Gy versus 0% in those who received 30-36 Gy (P = 0.12). There was a trend towards improved local control in patients with tumor size ≤10 cm at diagnosis (P = 0.12). The 5-year event-free and overall survival were 44.9% and 68.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION After subtotal resection, patients who received less than 30 Gy had poor local control. Doses of 30-36 Gy are likely needed for optimal control of gross residual disease at the time of consolidative RT in high-risk neuroblastoma.
Authigenic chromium enrichments in Proterozoic ironstones

Abstract Chromium isotopes have recently emerged as a proxy for atmospheric oxygen levels in the Precambrian. Chromium (Cr) enrichments, along with a suite of other redox sensitive metals, have also been used as marine redox proxies for decades. Despite significant interest and growing use of this system, which has been used to argue for low oxygen levels through the mid-Proterozoic leading up to the rise of animals, there is a poor understanding of the host phases of Cr in the sedimentary record. Without this context, interpretation of measured isotopic signatures and concentrations of Cr in various sedimentary archives can be ambiguous. In order to shed light on this problem, we have used electron microprobe elemental mapping to identify authigenic and detrital Cr phases. We have examined a range of ironstone samples that have been previously analyzed for Cr isotopes and find that Cr is predominantly associated with iron rich allochems instead of detrital Cr mineral phases. We did not find evidence for detrital chromite or other Cr-rich detrital minerals. Additionally, we find evidence for authigenic Ti enrichments, and decoupling of Al and Ti—elements traditionally used as detrital tracers—similar to what has been reported in other slowly accumulating metal-rich sediments (e.g., iron manganese nodules). Lastly, we have explored a range of possible sedimentary Cr isotope signals that could result from changes in the percentage of detrital versus authigenic Cr incorporated into a sample, providing clear evidence for the ambiguity in interpretations of this isotope system without petrographic context.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder research: Growing in scope, advances unclear.

Abstract There has been impressive growth in scholarly research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As a general rule, this can be construed as a sign of health in the subspecialty within anxiety disorder research. One factor that likely contributed to the growth in research on OCD was the observation that obsessional experiences can be placed on a dimension from normal to abnormal (or non-clinical to clinical) (Rachman and de Silva, 1978). While the dramatic growth in OCD research has led to increased sophistication in clinical conceptualization of various presentations of this heterogeneous condition, it has not led to a commensurate increase in the availability of efficacious treatment. This gap, between awareness of the disorder and delivery of evidence-based treatment, serves as a limiting factor in enthusiasm regarding the growth in research productivity on OCD as a sign of health in the subspecialty.
Design principles for photonic crystals based on plasmonic nanoparticle superlattices

Photonic crystals have been widely studied due to their broad technological applications in lasers, sensors, optical telecommunications, and display devices. Typically, photonic crystals are periodic structures of touching dielectric materials with alternating high and low refractive indices, and to date, the variables of interest have focused primarily on crystal symmetry and the refractive indices of the constituent materials, primarily polymers and semiconductors. In contrast, finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations suggest that plasmonic nanoparticle superlattices with spacer groups offer an alternative route to photonic crystals due to the controllable spacing of the nanoparticles and the high refractive index of the lattices, even far away from the plasmon frequency where losses are low. Herein, the stopband features of 13 Bravais lattices are characterized and compared, resulting in paradigm-shifting design principles for photonic crystals. Based on these design rules, a simple cubic structure with an ∼130-nm lattice parameter is predicted to have a broad photonic stopband, a property confirmed by synthesizing the structure via DNA programmable assembly and characterizing it by reflectance measurements. We show through simulation that a maximum reflectance of more than 0.99 can be achieved in these plasmonic photonic crystals by optimizing the nanoparticle composition and structural parameters.
Polysomnography Should Be Required Both Before and After Adenotonsillectomy for Childhood Sleep Disordered Breathing

In April 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a Clinical Practice Guideline for the diagnosis and management of uncomplicated childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome. OSA is one component of a spectrum of sleep disorders known as sleep disordered breathing (SDB). SDB ranges from primary snoring (isolated snoring without obstructive apnea, arousals, or gas exchange abnormalities) to upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) to OSA. In the past, primary snoring (PS) was considered benign and therefore not requiring surgical therapy. The AAP guideline emphasizes that pediatricians should screen all children for snoring, since snoring is a presenting symptom of more severe SDB that may require an adenotonsillectomy as the first line of treatment. Complex high-risk patients should be referred to a specialist.1 Since clinical evaluation is known to be poor at distinguishing OSA from primary snoring,2 the diagnostic test of choice is full-night polysomnography (PSG). One can extrapolate from this consensus based guideline that to diagnose OSA one requires PSG. However, PSG is expensive, time consuming, and often unavailable in many institutions that offer pediatric surgical care.
Information Retrieval Using Conceptual Representations of Phrases

The information retrieval problem is described starting from an analysis of the concepts “user’s information request” and “information offerings of texts”. It is shown that natural language phrases are a more adequate medium for expressing information requests and information offerings than character string based query and indexing languages complemented by Boolean operators.. The phrases must be represented as concepts to reach a language invariant level for rule based relevance analysis. The special type of representation called advanced thesaurus is used for the semantic representation of natural language phrases and for relevance processing. The analysis of the retrieval problem leads to a symmetric system structure.
Isolated Heart Preparations Perfused or Superfused with Balanced Salt Solutions

Hearts of small laboratory animals (rats, guinea pigs, small rabbits, and cats) are frequently used for either isolated work-performing (antegrade or anagrade perfused) or Langendorff (retrograde perfused) heart preparations. Muscle strips from the atria and strips and/or papillary muscles from the ventricles of these hearts provide excellent specimens for heart muscle preparations immersed in or superfused with balanced salt solutions (BSS). Muscle strip preparations, especially atrial and ventricular trabeculae preparations and Purkinje fibers, are also used from dog, sheep, and pig hearts and, occasionally, from small portions of human hearts excised during open-heart surgery. The long-term viability of the preparations is greatly enhanced by the prevention of intravascular coagulation of blood and by removal of blood from the heart tissues at the time of sacrifice. For this reason, we always pretreat the experimental animals, including dogs, with intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intravenous (i.v.) injections of 5000 IU heparin/kg body weight and wash out, immediately after sacrifice, the coronary arterial and venous system with warm or cold BSS, dependent on the type of preparation we use (see below).
Quality care in therapeutic residential programs: definition, evidence for effectiveness, and quality standards

There are three recent developments in the field of therapeutic residential care (TRC) which provide a major leap forward for new policy and practice directions. These developments further promote ...
Wildervanck’s syndrome

The association of congenital cervical synostosis typical of the Klippel-Feil deformity with eye-ball retraction, abducens nerve palsy, and hearing loss first described by Wildervanck in 1952 is reviewed. Conductive, as well as sensorineural hearing losses have since been described. Polytomography, in our case, demonstrates a unilateral bulbous vestibule and dilated semicircular canal with basilar impression of the skull. A Duane’s retraction syndrome of the eyes was discovered.
Bispecific Antibody Fragment Targeting APP and Inducing α-Site Cleavage Restores Neuronal Health in an Alzheimer’s Mouse Model

The amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, correlated with development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is produced by sequential proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases. Alternative proteolytic cleavage of APP by α-secretase prevents formation of Aβ peptide and produces a neuroprotective protein, a soluble fragment of APPα (sAPPα). We previously generated a single-chain variable domain antibody fragment (scFv) that binds APP at the β-secretase cleavage site and blocks cleavage of APP (iBsec1), and a second scFv which has been engineered to have α-secretase-like activity that increases α-secretase cleavage of APP (Asec1a) and showed that a bispecific antibody (Diab) combining both iBsec1 and Asec1a constructs protects mammalian cells from oxidative stress. Here, we show that the diabody is an effective therapeutic agent in a mouse model of AD. An apolipoprotein B (ApoB) binding domain peptide was genetically added to the diabody to facilitate transfer across the blood-brain barrier, and a recombinant human adeno-associated virus 2/8 (rAAV2/8) was used as a vector to express the gene constructs in a APP/PS1 mouse model of AD. The diabody increased levels of sAPPα, decreased Aβ deposits and levels of oligomeric Aβ, increased neuronal health as indicated by MAP2 and synaptophysin staining, increased hippocampal neurogenesis, and most importantly dramatically increased survival rates compared with untreated mice or mice treated only with the β-secretase inhibitor. These results indicate that altering APP processing to inhibit β-site activity while simultaneously promoting α-secretase processing provides substantially increased neuronal benefits compared with inhibition of β-secretase processing alone and represents a promising new therapeutic approach for treating AD.
Attitudes toward medical marijuana among substance use clinicians

ABSTRACTBackground: Research on health professional’s attitudes toward medical marijuana have failed to include addictions treatment professionals. The current study attempted to address this gap i...
Moderating Effect of Meanings-Made on the Relationship Between Exposure to Potentially Traumatic Life Events and Suicidal Ideation:

A majority of people experience potentially traumatic events but only a subsection develop negative psychological outcomes such as suicidal ideation. As these events may impact existing life-orient...
The emergence of social entrepreneurs in China

Since China embarked on its economic reform in 1978, it has spent the last 40 years pursuing an aggressive economic development strategy. The private sector, made up largely of small and medium-siz...
Diagnosing Heart Disease Types from Chest X-Rays Using a Deep Learning Approach

A chest x-ray is the most commonly performed diagnostic examination of heart disease. The interpretation of chest radiographs is crucial to detect a variety of conditions that affect millions all around the world every year. These diseases include cancer, heart and lung diseases, tuberculosis, fibrosis, and others. Trained radiologists perform these difficult time-consuming and challenging interpretation tasks. Misdiagnosis can occur. Computer-aided techniques could lead to more accurate and accessible diagnoses. The present paper used the VGG16 architecture to develop a deep convolutional neural network, which addressed the issue of ensuring accurate diagnoses of various diseases in chest radiography. The model performed well for chest radiography, resulting in high levels of diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity and the ability to classify 14 different diseases.
Cooperative Advertising in a Dynamic Retail Market Oligopoly

Cooperative advertising is a key incentive offered by a manufacturer to influence retailers’ promotional decisions. We study cooperative advertising in a dynamic retail oligopoly where a manufacturer sells his product through N competing retailers. We model the problem as a Stackelberg differential game in which the manufacturer announces his shares of advertising costs of the N retailers or his subsidy rates, and the retailers in response play a Nash differential game in choosing their optimal advertising efforts over time. We obtain the feedback equilibrium solution consisting of the optimal advertising policies of the retailers and manufacturer’s subsidy rates. We identify key drivers that influence the optimal subsidy rates and, in particular, obtain the conditions under which the manufacturer will not support the retailers. For the special case of two retailers we obtain insights on some key supply chain issues. First, we analyze its impact on profits of channel members and the extent to which it can coordinate the channel. Second, we investigate the case of an anti-discrimination act which restricts the manufacturer to offer equal subsidy rates to the two retailers.
Are there monogenic hereditary forms of bladder cancer or only genetic susceptibilities

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common cancer involving the urinary system and the ninth most common cancer worldwide. Tobacco smoking is the most important environmental risk factor of BC. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms have been validated by genome-wide association studies as genetic risk factors for BC. However, the identification of DNA mismatch-repair genes, including MSH2 in Lynch syndrome and MUTYH in MUTYH-associated polyposis, raises the possibility of monogenic hereditary forms of BC. Moreover, other genetic mutations may play a key role in familial and hereditary transmissions of BC. Therefore, the aim of this review is to focus on the major hereditary syndromes involved in the development of BC and to report BC genetic susceptibilities established with genome-wide significance level.
SIV-Specific Neutralizing Antibody Induction Following Selection of a T-Cell Escape nef Mutation

HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections are known for impaired neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses. While sequential virus-host B cell interaction has been indicated to be a baseline requisite for NAb induction, what events may further drive NAb induction has remained largely unknown. Here we describe anti-SIV NAb induction triggered after selection of a T-cell escape nef variant. Screening of seventy neutralization-resistant SIVmac239-infected macaques found seven animals inducing NAbs in the chronic phase. These selected for a CD8+ T-cell escape mutation in viral nef before NAb induction. This mutation reduces Nef-mediated hyperactivation of Akt, a canonical negative regulator of B-cell maturation, in Nef-invaded B cells, explanatory for amelioration in Nef/Akt-mediated suppression of B-cell maturation. Indeed, SIV Env-specific B-cell responses were elevated following the mutant selection. These results highlight Nef-mediated B-cell perturbation in HIV/SIV infection and provide an understanding of sequential virus interaction with both wings of adaptive immune responses.
Using Moral Foundations to Assess Stereotypes: Americans’ Perceptions of Immigrants and Refugees

This study considers the role of moral foundations in the formation and perpetuation of Americans’ stereotypes of immigrants and refugees. The results of two content analyses and an inductive thema...
The Category of Pairs

Let Σ be a Hausdorff space and denote by C(Σ) the algebra of all complex-valued continuous functions ort Σ. If X is an arbitrary subset of Σ and f is a function defined on X let |f|X = sup{|f(x)|: x ∈ X}. If X = Σ write |f| instead of |f|Σ. When X is compact (X ⊂⊂ Σ) the function f → |f |X is a semi-norm on the algebra C(Σ). The family of all such, semi-norms associated with compact subsets of Σ defines a Hausdorff topology on C(Σ) with respect to which C(Σ) is a topological algebra. This topology is equivalent to the compact-open topology, the topology of uniform convergence on compact subsets of Σ. A neighborhood basis at a point f ∈ C(Σ) is given by sets of the form $$ {N_f}(K,e) = \left\{ {f' \in C(\Sigma ):{{\left| {f - f'} \right|}_K} < \varepsilon } \right\} $$ where e > 0 and K ⊂⊂ 2. If Σ is compact then we obviously obtain the usual norm topology on C(Σ). Note that if Σ is not locally compact then a function on Σ may be a uniform limit of continuous functions on compact subsets of Σ without being itself continuous, so C(Σ) need not be closed with respect to the compact-open topology in the space of all functions on Σ. In all that follows, the topology assumed for functions defined on Σ will always be the c-o (compact-open) topology unless the contrary is explicitly indicated.
Audrey’s Overhang: A Pictographic Maze in Central Montana

Audrey’s Overhang, a small pictograph site in Montana’s Smith River Drainage, is part of a highly abstract rock art style localized in the Rocky Mountain foothills of central Montana. An abstract a...
Model-Based Clustering of DNA Methylation Array Data

Clustering refers to the “grouping” of observations into a discrete set of classes, such that observations in the same class are more similar compared to objects between classes. In the context of DNA methylation data, clustering can be used to discover novel molecular subtypes or to identify biological pathways comprised of co-methylated CpG dinucleotides, depending on whether the samples or the CpGs themselves are being clustered. In this chapter, we focus on the problem of clustering samples/subjects on the basis of their methylation profile. We begin by discussing the motivation behind clustering DNA methylation data, the nature of DNA methylation data generated from the Illumina BeadArrays, and three promising model-based clustering methods. In addition to providing a methodological overview of each of the three methods, we also demonstrate their application using a publicly available data set deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Issues such as feature selection and comparison of clustering partitions will also be discussed.
The Early Days of Electron Microscopy of Nerve Tissue and Membranes

Publisher Summary This chapter is an autobiographical account of the development of ideas about the molecular structure of membranes along with some anecdotes about scientists encountered by the author. The author describes work in his laboratory with Jakoi and Zampighi involving the discovery of a new intrinsic receptor protein in intestinal epithelial cell membranes of neonatal rat that is called “ligatin” and its occurrence in developing chick retinal cells and synaptosome membranes, work on the crystalline membranes of urothelial cell membranes with Vergara and others, and work on the crystalline membranes of the lens of the eye with Costello, McIntosh, Zampighi, and Simon. He also discusses the recent work with his colleagues Beatrice Anner and Hie Ping Ting-Beall on Na + K + ATPase and the work of Ping Ting-Beall and of Taylor on Ca + ATPase, as well as many other exciting discoveries in his laboratory. He also talks about his new project on the morphological and biochemical basis of learning and memory in the octopus jointly with J.Z. Young.
Abstract P6-03-09: Targeting the c-myc/E2F1 pathway in TNBC promotes a DNA damage dependent synthetic lethality

The c-myc/E2F1 pathway is highly upregulated in TNBC and dictates increased genomic instability, a higher frequency of relapse and poor overall survival. C-myc is a potent oncogene with overexpression activity that influences several pathways including metabolism, DNA replication, DNA damage, cell cycle and apoptosis. The essential role of c-myc in normal cells has made therapeutic intervention elusive. However the role of c-myc influencing cell cycle progression has demonstrated that CDK inhibition downregulates c-myc expression in TNBC breast cancer cells. We hypothesize that CDK inhibition downregulates c-myc expression resulting in an accumulation of DNA damage thus increasing the susceptibility of TNBC cells to PARP inhibition. A panel of TNBC cell lines was assessed for c-myc/E2F1 pathway expression and downregulation in the presence of CDK inhibitor Dinaciclib. An MTT-based High Throughput Survival Assay (HTSA) was utilized to assess growth inhibition response to drug treatment in TNBC cells. FACS analysis was performed on Dinaciclib treated TNBC cell lines to asses cell cycle response to CDK inhibition. DNA damage and Homologous Recombination DNA repair was assessed by γH2AX, BRCA1, RAD51 foci formation by immunofluorescence. Lentiviral knockdown of c-myc, E2F1, BRCA1 and RAD51 were performed to assess susceptibility to PARP inhibition. Combination treatment of Dinaciclib + PARP inhibitor MK4827 was assessed via combination index values calculated by Calcusyn. CDK inhibition resulted in downregulation of both c-myc and E2F1 in all TNBC cells. The pan-CDK inhibitor Dinaciclib universally inhibited proliferation in all TNBC cell lines in the presence of the drug however drug removal allowed TNBC cells to recover a normal proliferative profile. Dinaciclib induction increased γH2AX foci formation while decreasing BRCA1 and RAD51 foci formation resulting in an increase in DNA damage induced cell death that correlated with c-myc downregulation. CDK inhibition correlated with downregulation of c-myc/E2F1 target genes. Lentiviral knockdown of c-myc and not E2F1 induced susceptibility to PARP inhibitor MK4827. Combination CDK + PARP inhibitor resulted in a dose dependent synthetic lethal increase in PARP inhibitor efficacy in both BRCA1 mutant and wild-type cells. Together these results suggest that c-myc downregulation via CDK inhibition in combination with PARP inhibition may pose a novel combination therapy for TNBC patients. Citation Format: Jason P Carey, Khandan Keyomarsi. Targeting the c-myc/E2F1 pathway in TNBC promotes a DNA damage dependent synthetic lethality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-03-09.
Pattern Formation in Gradient Systems

Abstract Stable and metastable patterned solutions of nonlinear evolution equations of gradient type are discussed. Examples include classes of higher order parabolic PDEs and integrodifferential equations. A governing theme is that patterns can arise as a result of a competition between opposing influences such as destabilizing and stabilizing mechanisms. The discussion is within the context of a general framework although in the case of conserved evolutions, most attention is given to the Cahn-Hilliard equation and metastable patterns. The focus is on rigorous results; however some important formal stability and modulational theories are also reviewed.
Reversion of Streptococcal Protoplasts

The reversion of protoplasts of Streptococcus faecium was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Regularly shaped streptococci emerged from the narrow region of large, oval protoplasts. Images
Surface Energies of Nonionic Surfactants Adsorbed onto Nylon Fiber and a Correlation with Their Solubility Parameters

The surface energies of spin finishes adsorbed onto synthetic fibers are a major factor in determining the processing capabilities of these fibers. They also play a key role in determining how wett...
On Multiple Alternating Steady States Induced by Periodic Spin Phase Perturbation Waveforms

Direct measurement of neural currents by means of MRI (ncMRI) can potentially open a high temporal resolution (10-100 ms) window applicable for monitoring dynamics of neurnal activity without loss of the high spatial resolution afforded by MRI. Previously we have shown that the alternating balanced steady states (ABSS) imaging affords high sensitivity to weak periodic currents owing to its amplification of periodic spin phase perturbations. This technique, however, requires precise synchronization of such perturbations to the RF pulses. Herein we extend ABSS imaging to multiple balanced alternating steady states (MASS) for estimation of neural current waveforms. Simulations and phantom experiments show that the off-resonance profile of the MASS signal carries information about the frequency content of driving waveforms. In addition, the method is less sensitive than ABSS to precise waveform timing relative to RF pulses. Thus MASS is potentially applicable to MR imaging of the waveforms of periodic neuronal activity.
INCOME DISTRIBUTION AND ECONOMIC CHANGE IN PARAGUAY, 1972–88

The author reconstructs the income distribution of families in Paraguay for 1972, 1982, and 1988 by aligning three different urban household surveys with two farm income and two land tenure studies within a national accounts framework. He finds, first, a narrowing disparity between average family incomes in agriculture and non-agriculture in the recent decade, and, second, a steady widening in the agrarian distribution in contrast to a more stable non-agricultural distribution. The “cross-over” of the Paraguayan agricultural distribution from one of greater to lesser equality than the non-agricultural distribution is also found for a number of other recent cases and confirms Kuznets' speculation about the North American data. In the Paraguay experience, the “cross-over” may be due to the deepening cleavage between the commercial minifundia and the modernizing latifundia in the areas of new settlement. Paraguay's countrywide distributions are also compared to other Latin American economies of similar income level and agricultural shares.
A new opiine (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from Australia with discussion of Diachasma Foerster.

A new species of Opiinae, Diachasma dentatum Shirley, Restuccia & Ly, is described from Australia. This species is similar to several other Australian opiines previously described or included in the genus Diachasma, but the mandibles are unusually broad, nearly exodont. Notable differences between Australian and Palaearctic Diachasma are discussed. Diachasma tasmaniae Fischer, 1995, originally described from Tasmania and New South Wales, is newly recorded from Victoria. Diachasma rufipes Szepligeti, 1905 is transferred to Notiopambolus, new combination.
Mean meridional circulation in the Southern Hemisphere stratosphere based on satellite information

Atmospheric structure derived from satellite multi-channel radiance data is used to calculate zonally-averaged vertical motions in the wintertime stratosphere of both hemispheres using a heat budget approach. The Northern Hemisphere calculations based on the satellite data are shown to compare favorably with a computation carried out with conventional data, and with results of previous studies. The mean Southern Hemisphere pattern for the month of July 1969 indicates a high-latitude cell with the axis of sinking motion at approximately 50 deg S, while the rising motion is centered at 70 deg S. Thus the Antarctic stratospheric jet stream is associated with an indirect cell. Two individual 10-day periods from July 1969 are also examined to compare the mean meridional circulation and eddy heat flux patterns in the Southern Hemisphere during a minor midwinter warming and during a quiet period.
High-speed integrated circuit probing using a scanning force microscope sampler

Using a scanning force microscope as a high-speed all-electrical sampler, the authors have probed voltages on internal nodes of integrated circuits. The authors have demonstrated non-invasive probing through a passivating layer and probing of an Intel 80486 microprocessor.
Orthotic effect on metatarsophalangeal joint extension. A preliminary study

The authors evaluated the effect of modified Root orthoses on first metatarsophalangeal joint extension. Motion within the joint was measured dynamically following the insertion of bone markers into the first metatarsal and the hallux. Extension at the joint was greatest when the subjects were barefoot, the mean angle being 62 degrees. Plimsolls restricted extension of the joint to a mean angle of 57 degrees, while orthoses further reduced the angle of metatarsophalangeal joint extension to a mean angle of 55 degrees. The marginal reduction in first metatarsophalangeal joint extension caused by functional orthoses may be of therapeutic value in the early stages of hallux rigidus, when restricting motion at the joint may slow or prevent development of subchondral sclerosis.
Murine lymphocyte proliferation impaired by substituted neosolaniols and calonectrins—Fusarium metabolites associated with trichothecene biosynthesis

Abstract G. S. Bondy , S. P. McCormick , M. N. Beremand and J. J. Pestka . Murine lymphocyte proliferation impaired by substituted neosolaniols and calonectrins— Fusarium metabolites associated with trichothecene biosynthesis. Toxicon 29, 1107–1113, 1991.—The capacity of Fusarium secondary metabolites associated with trichothecene biosynthesis to inhibit murine spleen lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated and compared to that for well known trichothecenes. Activity of these compounds was not specific for B and T lymphocytes since they inhibited [ 3 H]thymidine (TdR) incorporation in unstimulated, Con A- and LPS-stimulated lymphocytes to the same extent. Concentrations of 8-propionyl neosolaniol and 8-butyrylneosolaniol which inhibited [ 3 H]Tdr uptake by 50% ( id 50 s ) were 0.95 and 0.34 ng/ml, respectively. The id 50 for T-2 toxin was 0.26 ng/ml, indicating that there are minor alterations in 12, 13-epoxytrichothecene toxicity resulting from the replacement of the isovaleryl moiety on C8 of the trichothecene skeleton with other bulky acyl groups. id 50 values for 4,15-diacetylnivalenol, fusarenon X, deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol were 25, 38, 120 and 1800 ng/ml, respectively. Comparatively, id 50 values for 3,15-dideacetylcalonectrin, 15-deacetylcalonectrin, and 7,8-dihydroxycalonectrin were 390, 2700 and 2400 ng/ml, respectively, indicating that the modified calonectrins had equivalent or less toxicity. Lymphotoxicity of trichothecenes thus decreased upon substitution of acyl groups at the C8 with keto or hydroxy moieties and was also dependent on the nature of substitutions at the C3, C4 and C15 positions. Sambucinol and the trichothecene precursor trichodiene, metabolites which do not contain a 12,13-epoxide, did not inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. The results suggest the need for further assessment of occurrence and in vivo toxicity of Fusarium metabolites, particulary the substituted neosolaniols and calonectrins.