cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age-specific distribution of serum prostate-specific antigen in a community-based study of African-American men

Abstract Objectives. Previous studies have observed higher age-specific serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values in African-American (AA) men without prostate cancer compared to white men, leading some to recommend race-specific PSA reference ranges for the early detection of prostate cancer. The primary objective of the Flint Men’s Health Study was to determine age-specific PSA reference values in a community-based sample of AA men, aged 40 to 79 years. Methods. A probability sample of 943 AA men was selected from households in Genesee County, Michigan. Men without a prior history of prostate cancer/surgery were invited to participate in a prostate cancer screening protocol, consisting of measurement of serum total PSA, free/total PSA ratio, and digital rectal examination. Sextant biopsies were recommended, based on total PSA greater than 4.0 ng/mL and/or an abnormal digital rectal examination. Results. From the sample of 943 men, 732 were eligible, 432 had blood drawn for PSA testing, and 374 completed all phases of the clinical examination. The 95th percentile PSA values were estimated to range from 2.36 ng/mL for men in the fifth decade to 5.59 ng/mL for men in the eighth decade. The 95th percentile values for age-specific PSA were comparable to those observed in a similar study of white men in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The median and 5th percentile values for free/total PSA did not vary significantly across age. Conclusions. The minor differences in PSA reference ranges between AA and white men may not be of sufficient magnitude to recommend the use of race-specific PSA reference ranges for screening.
Emulation, Imitation, and Global Consumerism:

Consumption is a key mediator of the environmental impact of human population on this planet. The prospects for a sustainable future with 10 or more billion people, consuming at present North American levels, are quite dim. There has been a good deal of social science research on the forces that impel and restrain consumption, but this literature has rarely been directly connected to environmental issues. This article discusses different scenarios for the development and growth of consumer culture, challenging the utility of strictly diffusionary emulation models. Instead, heterogeneity and divergence in levels of consumption is likely, far into the future. Theories of consumption are surveyed, and avenues for future research are suggested.
Improved buffer control of Fano decoders using channel memory

In portable mobile communications, variable complexity Fano decoders are of interest because they offer a desirable tradeoff between bit error rate (BER) and decoding complexity. The practical use of Fano decoders is made possible by buffers that are able to absorb the variations in decoding delays. The optimal buffer control scheme aims to minimize the overall probability of block loss, which is comprised of the loss due to excessive bit errors caused by fast yet coarse decoding, and the loss due to buffer overflow caused by long processing delays. While our previous work has yielded a solution to the control problem over memoryless channel, we now investigate Fano decoding over channels with memory. We seek to achieve better control performance by taking advantage of the memory of the channel. We use slow, flat Rayleigh fading channels as an example to demonstrate that prediction based on two-state Markov models can further lower the probability of block loss.
Thomas and Nancy

I love cars and computers. The time I enjoy the most are road trips with my parents. At times, I wish I could help my dad with driving, but he doesn’t let me. According to him, I cannot get a license and fears about my capability. Both my parents know that it’s me who helped them fix their car twice.
Physiological consequences of complex II inhibition for aging, disease, and the mKATP channel.

article i nfo In recent years, it has become apparent that there exist several roles for respiratory complex II beyond me- tabolism. These include: (i) succinate signaling, (ii) reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, (iii) ischemic preconditioning, (iv) various disease states and aging, and (v) a role in the function of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K + (mKATP) channel. This review will address the involvement of complex II in each of these areas, with a focus on how complex II regulates or may be involved in the assembly of the mKATP. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory complex II: Role in cellular physiology and disease. © 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Suppression of meal size by intestinal nutrients is eliminated by celiac vagal deafferentation.

The arrival of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract suppresses intake. To specify the neural pathways and receptor locations of this feedback, we examined the effects of intraduodenal infusions of 10 nutrients plus saline on short-term food intake of rats with selective deafferentations of vagal celiac branches. Three response profiles were observed: 1) isotonic saline, 5.6% glycerol, and 3% fructose did not inhibit intake of controls or selectively deafferented animals; 2) 3% glucose, 3% maltose, 3% L-phenylalanine, 12% Isocal, and 1.4% oleic acid suppressed intake of controls, but this inhibition was eliminated by vagal celiac deafferentation; and 3) 3% casein hydrolysate and 24% Isocal suppressed intake of controls and rats with selective vagotomies, although the latter exhibited significantly less suppression. In addition, elimination of celiac afferents chronically reduced meal size (i.e., first 30-min intake) without reducing daily food intake or body weight. Furthermore, D-phenylalanine infusions produced a delayed suppression of food intake in controls (possibly from intraluminal irritation); however, this reduction was eliminated with celiac deafferentation. Overall, this experiment indicates that vagal celiac afferents are critical for preabsorptive detection of some energy-yielding molecules or properties of nutrient solutions (as well as, perhaps, intraluminal inflammation), but not others, which are still detected, although only partially.
The Impact of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Neuroanatomical and Behavioral Development in Mice.

Background In utero alcohol, or ethanol (EtOH), exposure produces developmental abnormalities in the brain of the fetus, which can result in lifelong behavioral abnormalities. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is a term used to describe a range of adverse developmental conditions caused by EtOH exposure during gestation. Children diagnosed with FASD potentially exhibit a host of phenotypes including growth retardation, facial dysmorphology, central nervous system anomalies, abnormal behavior, and cognitive deficits. Previous research suggests that abnormal gene expression and circuitry in the neocortex may underlie reported disabilities of learning, memory, and behavior resulting from early exposure to alcohol (J Neurosci, 33, 2013, 18893). Methods Here, we utilize a mouse model of FASD to examine effects of prenatal EtOH exposure (PrEE), on brain anatomy in newborn (postnatal day [P]0), weanling (P20), and early adult (P50) mice. We correlate abnormal cortical and subcortical anatomy with atypical behavior in adult P50 PrEE mice. In this model, experimental dams self-administered a 25% EtOH solution throughout gestation (gestational days 0 to 19, day of birth), generating the exposure to the offspring. Results Results from these experiments reveal long-term alterations to cortical anatomy, including atypical developmental cortical thinning, and abnormal subcortical development as a result of in utero EtOH exposure. Furthermore, offspring exposed to EtOH during the prenatal period performed poorly on behavioral tasks measuring sensorimotor integration and anxiety. Conclusions Insight from this study will help provide new information on developmental trajectories of PrEE and the biological etiologies of abnormal behavior in people diagnosed with FASD.
Surgical treatment results and pathological features in pediatric occult tight filum syndrome

Occult tight filum terminale syndrome (OTCS) is defined as a clinical syndrome of tethered cord and without “classic” radiographic evidence of low lying conus and/or fatty filum.
Book Review: The Free Press Crisis of 1800: Thomas Cooper's Trial for Seditious Libel

This article was an invited book review of a book of the same title by Peter Charles Hoffer. Hoffer, Distinguished Research Professor of History at the University of Georgia, has published this accessible case history as part of the University Press of Kansas’s Landmark Law Cases & American Society series, which he co-edits.The book discusses one of the cases arising as a result of the Alien & Sedition Act under the presidency of John Adams, mostly targeting Republicans who editorialized against the Adams administration.
Effector function of CTLs is increased by irradiated colorectal tumor cells that modulate OX-40L and 4-1BBL and is reversed following dual blockade

Sub-lethal doses of ionizing radiation (IR) can alter the phenotype of target tissue by modulating genes that influence effector T cell activity. Previous studies indicate that cancer cells respond to radiation by up-regulating surface expression of death receptors, cell adhesion molecules and tumor-associated antigens (TAA). However, there is limited information available regarding how T cells themselves are altered following these interactions with irradiated tumor cells. Here, several human colorectal tumor cell lines were exposed to radiation (0–10 Gy) in vitro and changes in the expression of molecules costimulatory to effector T cells (4-1BBL, OX-40L, CD70, ICOSL) were examined by flow cytometry. T cell effector function was assessed to determine if changes in these proteins were directly related to the changes in T cell function. We found OX-40L and 4-1BBL to be the most consistently upregulated proteins on the surface of colorectal tumor cells post-IR while ICOSL and CD70 remained largely unaltered. Expression of these gene products correlated with enhanced killing of irradiated human colorectal tumor cells by TAA-specific T-cells. Importantly, blocking of both OX-40L and 4-1BBL reversed radiation-enhanced T-cell killing of human tumor targets as well as T-cell survival and activation. Overall, results of this study suggest that, beyond simply rendering tumor cells more sensitive to immune attack, radiation can be used to specifically modulate expression of genes that directly stimulate effector T cell activity.
Percutaneous coronary intervention for older adults who present with syncope and coronary artery disease? Insights from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry.

Background We explored the risks/benefits of revascularization versus medical management in syncope patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods We retrospectively examined Medicare patients ≥65 years undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for syncope at 539 CathPCI Registry hospitals with ≥70% stenosis in at least 1 coronary artery, excluding those with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, left main disease, and coronary artery bypass grafting. In a propensity-matched population, we compared short-term (90-day) all-cause readmission risk and long-term (3-year) risks of readmission for syncope and MI, as well as mortality in those receiving PCI versus medical management. Results Among 14,674 syncope patients, 9,549 (65%) had at least 1-vessel obstructive CAD. After exclusions, 3,196 of 7,338 patients (44%) underwent PCI. In the propensity-matched cohort, there was no significant difference in 90-day all-cause readmission risk (28.2% vs 30.3%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.92, 95% CI 0.83-1.02) or long-term risks of readmission for syncope (7.0% vs 6.1%, adjusted HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.83-1.35). PCI-treated patients had significantly higher risk of readmission for MI (5.6% vs 4.0%, adjusted HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.18-2.06) but lower risk of long-term mortality (27.0% vs 30.3%, adjusted HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.97) than medically managed patients. Conclusions In patients presenting with syncope and obstructive CAD, PCI was not associated with significant improvements in the risk of readmission but was associated with lower long-term mortality compared with medical therapy, suggesting the need to more definitively assess the benefit of PCI among elderly syncope patients.
Isolation of the Relaxative Hormone on the Corpus Luteum.

Pelvic ligaments of guinea pigs undergo very pronounced relaxation during pregnancy to facilitate the birth of young. While studying the physiology of this reaction, one of us discovered that it was under hormonal control and that the substance responsible was present in the blood of certain mammals during pregnancy.1 This hormone is capable of producing relaxation of the pelvic ligaments of virgin guinea pigs in a fashion typical of pregnancy, if given while the animals are in or recovering from oestrum. Later it was found that this reaction could also be produced through the use of extracts of corpora lutea of sows' ovaries. General methods for the preparation of these extracts have been given elsewhere.2 These corpus luteum extracts, in addition to relaxing the pelvic ligaments, also produced other physiological changes ordinarily attributed to the corpus luteum, such as inhibition of ovulation, vacuolation of the vaginal mucosa of rats,3 production of pseudo-pregnancy in rabbits,4 and production of pr...
Crossing Hermaphroditic Races of Neurospora

acters in interspecific hybrids in Neurospora," 1 there were de? scribed a number of plate cultures in which were grown two different hermaphroditic races. Some combinations resulted in the production of ascocarps along the meeting line in addition to those formed about the points of inoculation. The irregularities in spore numbers in asci from the perithecia along the line were such as to suggest in some cases that the two races had hybridized. Individual asci had not been analyzed thoroughly to prove this, however. Later many more combinations were made and cul? tures were obtained from all of the spores from individual asci. The results prove that in many combinations the line ascocarps were purely the product of the one or the other race through selffertilization. In other words, two hermaphroditic races of Neuro? spora each of which is more or less self sterile may become more self fertile when grown opposite each other. It has been found for other ascomycetes also that fruit bodies often develop where two mycelia meet because of nutritive conditions and without involving cross fertilization. Crossing Neurospora sitophila and N. tetrasperma, gives larger perithecia than either parent, but this should not mislead one as to the nature of the exceptionally large perithecia formed where two hermaphroditic races such as " Tet" and " 4A5" meet. Straight N. tetrasperma which is conidial and hermaphroditic, and 1A7 which is non-conidial and hermaphroditic,1 grown op? posite each other, gave four kinds of ascocarps. Each race pro? duced its own fruit bodies by self-fertilization. Over on the N. tetrasperma side of the line were scattered here and there excep? tionally large perithecia. A few of their asci were analyzed 1 Mycologia 23: 1-50. 1931.
Effects of the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism on Anxiety-Like Behavior Following Nicotine Withdrawal in Mice

INTRODUCTION Nicotine withdrawal is characterized by both affective and cognitive symptoms. Identifying genetic polymorphisms that could affect the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal are important in predicting withdrawal sensitivity and identifying personalized cessation therapies. In the current study we used a mouse model of a non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in the translated region of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene that substitutes a valine (Val) for a methionine (Met) amino acid (Val66Met) to examine the relationship between the Val66Met single nucleotide polymorphism and nicotine dependence. METHODS This study measured proBDNF and the BDNF prodomain levels following nicotine and nicotine withdrawal and examined a mouse model of a common polymorphism in this protein (BDNF(Met/Met)) in three behavioral paradigms: novelty-induced hypophagia, marble burying, and the open-field test. RESULTS Using the BDNF knock-in mouse containing the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism we found: (1) blunted anxiety-like behavior in BDNF(Met/Met) mice following withdrawal in three behavioral paradigms: novelty-induced hypophagia, marble burying, and the open-field test; (2) the anxiolytic effects of chronic nicotine are absent in BDNF(Met/Met) mice; and (3) an increase in BDNF prodomain in BDNF(Met/Met) mice following nicotine withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to examine the effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on the affective symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine in mice. In these mice, a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the translated region of the BDNF gene can result in a blunted withdrawal, as measured by decreased anxiety-like behavior. The significant increase in the BDNF prodomain in BDNF(Met/Met) mice following nicotine cessation suggests a possible role of this ligand in the circuitry remodeling after withdrawal.
The prognostic value of lymph node ratio in colon cancer is independent of resection length.

Abstract Background Lymph node ratio (LNR), the ratio of tumor-positive lymph nodes (+LN) to the total number of resected lymph nodes (rLN), predicts recurrence and survival in colon cancer. Variations in colonic resection length (RL) may influence rLN, +LN, or both, thereby potentially impacting LNR and its prognostic value in colon cancer. Methods All colon cancer patients treated surgically at our center from 2004 to 2011 were included in an institutional review board–approved data repository (n = 1,039). Results Larger RL was associated with increased rLN ( ρ = .22; P P = .21). In node-positive patients (n = 411), RL-adjusted LNR had weaker correlations with death ( ρ = .338 vs .373, both P ρ = .303 vs .345; both P Conclusions Provided that resections are performed following standard oncologic principles, our analysis shows that RL does not significantly impact the prognostic value of LNR in colon cancer. Correcting LNR for RL seems redundant and may even act as noise distorting LNR values.
Prospect of IEC 61850 Standard in Engeering Practice and Application

IEC 61850 is the new standard used for guiding the construction of substation.The current situation of a project based on IEC 61850 was investigated and the process device,bay device,substation device,network structure,communication with dispatch center were analyzed in detail.The present problems about the application of IEC 61850 in substation were presented,the development of IEC 61850 was described.It will be useful to the application of IEC 61850 and the construction of smart substation.
mda-7 (IL-24): signaling and functional roles.

One hallmark of neoplasia is abnormal differentiation. Induction of differentiation, by chemical or biological methods, provides a possible therapeutic intervention. “Differentiation therapy” is we...
Marine atmospheric corrosion of Al-Mg joints by friction stir blind riveting

Abstract This paper investigated the atmospheric corrosion behavior of Al-Mg friction stir blind riveting joints exposed at a severe marine test environment. Besides the severe corrosion that occurred on Mg alloy AZ31B-H23, Al alloy 5754-O also corroded in the coupled region because of the alkaline condition generated by the cathodic reaction inside of the crevice. The highly alkaline environment, however, passivated Mg deep inside the crevice. The corrosion products on Mg were identified as magnesium carbonates and that on Al was mainly gibbsite, which was an unusual corrosion product of Al exposed to atmospheric conditions.
AOA 2015-2016 Presidential Address: Move Your Own Cheese: AOA Critical Issues.

It is the greatest professional honor to stand in front of you today. I first want to thank Larry and Linda Marsh for their leadership and friendship during the past year. I feel humbled when I look at the list of previous presidents and their contributions to this society and our profession, and know that I would not have the opportunity to be here without the commitment and support of so many. With a few exceptions, I will not name names, for the list is long. It starts with the amazing medical students and residents whom I have had the opportunity to both teach and learn from. My partners and support staff at Penn State Hershey Medical Center are wonderful friends and gifted colleagues and I depend upon them enormously. Kristin Olds Glavin and the AOA staff demonstrate a tremendous passion for this society and their patience and perseverance are what keep the machine running. As a junior resident, I could not have had a better chief resident than Dr. Vin Pellegrini. His work ethic and commitment to excellence set the foundation for my career. There are several other individuals whom I have been very fortunate to learn from: Drs. Mac Evarts, Ken DeHaven, John Bergfeld, and Pete Fowler. There are no greater mentors. They are truly giants in orthopaedics and even larger in life. My sister, Lillian, has always been my confidant, partner in crime, and ever-present ally. Although my brother, Jimmy, died at age 24, he inspired me to make every day count. My parents committed themselves to providing their children with opportunities they would never experience. Their lifelong commitment to placing the needs of others ahead of their own is, perhaps, the most critical lesson they taught me. And, finally, there are those most important to me. …
Geographic Decision Support Systems To Optimize The Placement Of Distributed Energy Resources

The United States electric utility industry is moving toward a new power grid that will accommodate bidirectional energy flow and the incorporation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). Currently, utility companies lack tools to identify locations on the electric grid that can sustain DERs’ adoption. This research explores the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a class of tools for developing spatial models, with the aim of optimizing the placement of DERs. The intent of this research paper is to propose a Geographic Decision Support Systems (GDSS) model as a solution for the utility industry to assist in the DERs’ portfolio choices and provide actionable information for utilities, system operators, and power producers. Claremont city has been chosen as the research site to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. This will also serve as the basis for future research.
Prevalence and trends of leisure-time physical activity by occupation and industry in U.S. workers: the National Health Interview Survey 2004-2014.

Abstract Purpose Studies describing prevalence and trends of physical activity among workers in the United States are scarce. We aimed to estimate prevalence and trends of “sufficient” leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during the 2004–2014 time period among U.S. workers. Methods Data were collected for U.S. workers in the National Health Interview Survey. LTPA was categorized as sufficiently active (moderate intensity, ≥150 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), and inactive ( Results Prevalence trends of “sufficient” LTPA significantly increased from 2004 to 2014 (45.6% to 54.8%; P Conclusions Among U.S. workers, trends of “sufficient” LTPA significantly increased between 2004 and 2014. Overall, a larger proportion of white-collar compared to blue-collar workers were engaged in “sufficient” LTPA.
Introduction: Mobilization as the Key to Mass Dictatorships

Mobilization is one of the most crucial concepts in analyzing mass dictatorships. In his definition of “mass dictatorship,” Jie-Hyun Lim argues that “modern dictatorship presupposes the support of the masses. The term ‘mass dictatorship’ implies the attempted mobilization of the masses by dictatorships, and that these frequently secured voluntary mass participation and support” (Lim 2011, p. 3). Mobilization is thus the dynamic and ever-changing relationship between the agents of a dictatorial state seeking to propel its people to action on the state’s behalf, and the people who might potentially be voluntarily self-propelled into action. This relationship can shift dramatically over time as the circumstances change within a given mass dictatorship. Tracing the transformations in this relationship provides an effective way to study mass dictatorships.
A circuit for saccadic suppression in the primate brain.

A fundamental puzzle in visual neuroscience is that we frequently make rapid eye movements (saccades) but seldom perceive the visual blur accompanying each movement. We investigated neuronal correl...
Application-Aware Infrastructure Clustering for Cloud Service Placement to Enhance User QoE

Cloud service placement can be suboptimal in certain cases due to inefficient network design, which in turn impacts user Quality of Experience (QoE). Consequently, Application Service Providers (ASPs) need to manage cloud network infrastructures with efficient designs that fully satisfy Service Level Objectives (SLOs) of their data/videointensive applications of users. To proactively avoid this problem, a straightforward solution used by ASPs is to have many replicas of their services by renting more resources from Infrastructure Providers (InPs) which can lead to an expensive service delivery proposition. In this paper, we present a novel possibilistic C-Means (PCM) approach to enhance user QoE in cloud service placement by clustering network infrastructure with awareness of user SLO satisfaction amidst network path constraints. Our evaluation results obtained using numerical simulations as well as in a real-world cloud testbed with actual users prove that our multi-constrained path aware PCM approach outperforms existing solutions. Specifically, we show how our proposed infrastructure clustering with the PCM approach allows ASPs to rent less resources from InPs that reduces user cost, while still delivering satisfactory user QoE.
Identification of senescence-associated circular RNAs (SAC-RNAs) reveals senescence suppressor CircPVT1.

Using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), we compared the expression patterns of circular RNAs in proliferating (early-passage) and senescent (late-passage) human diploid WI-38 fibroblasts. Among the differentially expressed senescence-associated circRNAs (which we termed ‘SAC-RNAs’), we identified CircPVT1, generated by circularization of an exon of the PVT1 gene, as a circular RNA showing markedly reduced levels in senescent fibroblasts. Reducing CircPVT1 levels in proliferating fibroblasts triggered senescence, as determined by a rise in senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, higher abundance of CDKN1A/P21 and TP53, and reduced cell proliferation. Although several microRNAs were predicted to bind CircPVT1, only let-7 was found enriched after pulldown of endogenous CircPVT1, suggesting that CircPVT1 might selectively modulate let-7 activity and hence expression of let-7-regulated mRNAs. Reporter analysis revealed that CircPVT1 decreased the cellular pool of available let-7, and antagonizing endogenous let-7 triggered cell proliferation. Importantly, silencing CircPVT1 promoted cell senescence and reversed the proliferative phenotype observed after let-7 function was impaired. Consequently, the levels of several proliferative proteins that prevent senescence, such as IGF2BP1, KRAS and HMGA2, encoded by let-7 target mRNAs, were reduced by silencing CircPVT1. Our findings indicate that the SAC-RNA CircPVT1, elevated in dividing cells and reduced in senescent cells, sequesters let-7 to enable a proliferative phenotype.
Extracellular RNAs Are Associated With Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE Insulin resistance (IR) is a hallmark of obesity and metabolic disease. Circulating extracellular RNAs (ex-RNAs), stable RNA molecules in plasma, may play a role in IR, though most studies on ex-RNAs in IR are small. We sought to characterize the relationship between ex-RNAs and metabolic phenotypes in a large community-based human cohort. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We measured circulating plasma ex-RNAs in 2,317 participants without diabetes in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring Cohort at cycle 8 and defined associations between ex-RNAs and IR (measured by circulating insulin level). We measured association between candidate ex-RNAs and markers of adiposity. Sensitivity analyses included individuals with diabetes. In a separate cohort of 90 overweight/obese youth, we measured selected ex-RNAs and metabolites. Biology of candidate microRNAs was investigated in silico. RESULTS The mean age of FHS participants was 65.8 years (56% female), with average BMI 27.7 kg/m2; participants in the youth cohort had a mean age of 15.5 years (60% female), with mean BMI 33.8 kg/m2. In age-, sex-, and BMI-adjusted models across 391 ex-RNAs in FHS, 18 ex-RNAs were associated with IR (of which 16 were microRNAs). miR-122 was associated with IR and regional adiposity in adults and IR in children (independent of metabolites). Pathway analysis revealed metabolic regulatory roles for miR-122, including regulation of IR pathways (AMPK, target of rapamycin signaling, and mitogen-activated protein kinase). CONCLUSIONS These results provide translational evidence in support of an important role of ex-RNAs as novel circulating factors implicated in IR.
Pubic Rami Fractures

Standard descriptors of the fractures, as well as the patient’s mental status, and other concomitant injuries are crucial for pubic rami fracture patients. The vast majority of these patients can weight bear as tolerated with an assistive device and follow-up in 4–6 weeks.
Recombinant Slit2 Reduces Surgical Brain Injury Induced Blood Brain Barrier Disruption via Robo4 Dependent Rac1 Activation in a Rodent Model

Brain tissue surrounding surgical resection site can be injured inadvertently due to procedures such as incision, retractor stretch, and electrocauterization when performing neurosurgical procedures, which is termed as surgical brain injury (SBI). Blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption due to SBI can exacerbate brain edema in the post-operative period. Previous studies showed that Slit2 exhibited vascular anti-permeability effects outside the brain. However, BBB protective effects of Slit2 following SBI has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether recombinant Slit2 via its receptor roundabout4 (Robo4) and the adaptor protein, Paxillin were involved in reducing BBB permeability in SBI rat model. Our results showed that endogenous Slit2 increased in the surrounding peri-resection brain tissue post-SBI, Robo4 remained unchanged and Paxillin showed a decreasing trend. Recombinant Slit2 administered 1 h before injury increased BBB junction proteins, reduced BBB permeability, and decreased neurodeficits 24 h post-SBI. Furthermore, recombinant Slit2 administration increased Rac1 activity which was reversed by Robo4 and Paxillin siRNA. Our findings suggest that recombinant Slit2 reduced SBI-induced BBB permeability, possibly by stabilizing BBB tight junction via Robo4 mediated Rac1 activation. Slit2 may be beneficial for BBB protection during elective neurosurgeries.
“Fighting Response”: A Definitional Problem

The consequences of applying an operational definition of a behavioral category, “fighting response,” observationally formulated on the basis of single species to the behavior of other species is examined and illustrated.
HPV Integration in HNSCC Correlates with Survival Outcomes, Immune Response Signatures, and Candidate Drivers

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharynx cancer has steadily increased over the past two decades and now represents a majority of oropharyngeal cancer cases. Integration of the HPV genome into the host genome is a common event during carcinogenesis that has clinically relevant effects if the viral early genes are transcribed. Understanding the impact of HPV integration on clinical outcomes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is critical for implementing deescalated treatment approaches for HPV+ HNSCC patients. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from HNSCC tumors (n = 84) were used to identify and characterize expressed integration events, which were overrepresented near known head and neck, lung, and urogenital cancer genes. Five genes were recurrent, including CD274 (PD-L1) A significant number of genes detected to have integration events were found to interact with Tp63, ETS, and/or FOX1A. Patients with no detected integration had better survival than integration-positive and HPV- patients. Furthermore, integration-negative tumors were characterized by strongly heightened signatures for immune cells, including CD4+, CD3+, regulatory, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, and B cells, compared with integration-positive tumors. Finally, genes with elevated expression in integration-negative specimens were strongly enriched with immune-related gene ontology terms, while upregulated genes in integration-positive tumors were enriched for keratinization, RNA metabolism, and translation.Implications: These findings demonstrate the clinical relevancy of expressed HPV integration, which is characterized by a change in immune response and/or aberrant expression of the integration-harboring cancer-related genes, and suggest strong natural selection for tumor cells with expressed integration events in key carcinogenic genes. Mol Cancer Res; 16(1); 90-102. ©2017 AACR.
Sample Preparation of Primary Astrocyte Cellular and Released Proteins for 2-D Gel Electrophoresis and Protein Identification by Mass Spectrometry

The neurotrauma field needs more accurate and sensitive tools to diagnose and evaluate damage to the brain or spinal cord. A controlled, in vitro mechanical trauma model to study protein changes during astrocyte activation after injury is used as a means to discover neurotrauma biomarkers. This model offers several advantages over analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or microdialysates including increased sample amount, higher reproducibility between biological samples, enrichment of undegraded proteins due to fewer extracellular matrix proteases in the in vitro versus in vivo system and the ability to relate trauma changes to one cell type. This protocol describes an approach for preparing intact protein samples from conditioned medium (CM) and whole cell lysates of murine cortical astrocytes. The proteins from these samples are separated using 2-D gel electrophoresis, and the protein spot intensities are measured. Proteins showing statistically significant trauma induced changes are then identified using tandem mass spectrometry. This protocol contains optimization steps to enrich proteins of interest, to remove substances that interfere with isoelectric focusing (IEF) and to improve IEF conditions. With this procedure, the 2-D gels show high resolution spot separation and allow for high confidence protein identifications from 107 released and 22 whole cell lysates protein spots so far. Some proteins were identified from multiple spots, suggesting post-translational modification had occurred as a result of the mechanical trauma.
Complications and retrieval characteristics of Celect Platinum inferior vena cava filters.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the retrieval characteristics and rate of filter-related complications associated with use of the Celect Platinum (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind) inferior vena cava filter (IVCF). Methods A single-center, retrospective review was conducted to identify patients who received a Celect Platinum IVCF between June 2013 and February 2016. The patients' charts and imaging records (computed tomography [CT] and cavography) associated with filter placement, follow-up, and filter retrieval procedures were assessed for attempted and successful retrieval rates and filter-related complications. Results During the review period, 562 Celect Platinum filters were placed in 556 patients. Outcome and evaluable imaging data (CT and cavography) were available from 335 patients, with median CT follow-up time of 45 days (average, 126 days) and median cavography follow-up time of 90 days (average, 102 days). IVCF leg perforation of the inferior vena cava wall >3 mm was identified in 65 cases (19.4%) on follow-up imaging (64 cases). In addition, filter tilt >15 degrees was identified in 4 filters (1.2%), filter migration >2 cm in 1 filter (0.3%), and occlusive filter or inferior vena cava or iliac vein thrombus in 11 filters; no filter fracture was observed. One case of breakthrough pulmonary embolism and two additional indeterminate cases were identified on follow-up CT pulmonary angiography (2.6%-7.7%). Retrieval was successful in 155 of 155 patients (median indwell time, 90 days; range, 1-445 days); an advanced retrieval technique was used in 11 retrievals. Conclusions The outcomes for the Celect Platinum filter were comparable to those previously reported for the first-generation Celect filter in all categories assessed.
Promoting Life Using the Object-Oriented Paradigm

The concepts of system ecology and life-preserving transformations presented thus far can be integrated into any building process where choices are made. To illustrate, this chapter describes how these concepts can be realized in and are facilitated by the object-oriented paradigm and engineering processes associated with it. It is not the object-oriented paradigm’s uniqueness in offering these modeling­ concepts that sets it apart – for the paradigm has borrowed almost all its ­concepts from other approaches. But rather, it is the coincidence of concepts in a single paradigm that offers such a pleasingly ingenious and expressive tool for expressing life.
An Extended Finite Element Method for the Analysis of Submicron Heat Transfer Phenomena

Manipulating the spatial layout of heterogeneous materials at submicron scales allows for the design of novel nano-engineered material with unique thermal properties. To analyze heat conduction at submicron scales of geometrically complex nano-structured materials, an extended finite element method (XFEM) is presented. Appropriate for both diffusive and ballistic domains, heat conduction is described by the phonon Boltzmann transport equations. Specifically, the gray phonon model is used along with a diffusive scattering model describing the transmission and reflection of phonons at material interfaces. The geometry of the material interfaces is described by a level-set approach. The phonon distribution is discretized in the velocity space by a discrete ordinate approach and in the spatial domain by a stabilized Galerkin finite element method. Discontinuities of the phonon distribution across material interfaces are captured via enriched shape functions. To enforce interface scattering conditions and boundary conditions, a stabilized Lagrange multiplier method is presented. The proposed method is verified through comparison with benchmark results. The utility of the XFEM approach is demonstrated through the thermal analysis of experimentally characterized material samples and computer-designed nano-composites.
Zusammenarbeit als neues Leitmotiv der Kommunalpolitik

Kyōdō ist das Schlagwort, mit dem programmatisch die institutionell wie politisch praktisch zu beobachtende Erweiterung der kommunalpolitischen Akteure auf die BurgerInnen, also die partizipative, lokale Governance bezeichoet wird.
Place formation and axioms for reading the natural landscape

Nine axioms for interpreting landscapes from a geoscience perspective are presented, and illustrated via a case study. The axioms are the self-evident portions of several key theoretical frameworks...
Abstract 1822: Emergence of MET D1228N mutation as a resistance mechanism following an exceptional response to crizotinib in a MET-amplified triple-negative breast cancer patient

The MET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase which is activated by Hepatocyte Growth Factor binding. Recent reports have described single agent activity for crizotinib in MET-amplified or mutant lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and papillary renal cell carcinoma. Here we describe a stage IV triple-negative breast cancer patient in her early forties, previously treated with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide, carboplatin/paclitaxel and with capecitabine. PET/CT imaging after progression on capecitabine revealed extensive metastatic disease including a large left pleural effusion, bilateral hypermetabolic nodular pleural implants, innumerable bilateral lung nodules and widespread mildly hyper-metabolic skeletal metastases in the ribs, spine and pelvis. A next-generation sequencing assay detected a 30-fold amplification of MET. MET amplification, overexpression and hyperactivity was confirmed by FISH and by immunohistochemistry for total MET and phospho-MET, respectively. Single agent crizotinib (250 mg, twice daily) was well-tolerated. Immunostaining of a biopsy taken after 9 days of treatment showed elimination of active phosphorylated MET, demonstrating in-tumor crizotinib efficacy at the clinical dose. CT imaging at 10 weeks showed a resolution of her metastatic disease, meeting RECIST 1.1 criteria for a complete response. This response was sustained at 22 weeks. At 37 weeks, the patient progressed in the pleura. An ultrasound guided biopsy revealed a robust resurgence of MET phosphorylation while still taking crizotinib, suggesting an alteration rendering MET recalcitrant to crizotinib. Next generation sequencing revealed a MET D1228N mutation, previously implicated in crizotinib resistance in lung cancer. This mutation was not detected in the pre-crizotinib biopsy (locus sequenced at 6300x) suggesting de novo acquisition in response to crizotinib. Transition from this type I MET inhibitor to a type II inhibitor (cabozantinib, initially 60 mg/day, later 100 mg/day) resulted in clinically stable disease for a period of 7 weeks, at which point the patient again progressed. Although MET-amplification is rare in breast cancer (~0.6% of cases), these data indicate that substantial clinical benefit may be achieved using single agent MET inhibition however the optimal selection of second-line agents to use upon progression will be critical. Citation Format: Benjamin M. Parsons, David R. Meier, Grzegorz T. Gurda, Kristopher A. Lofgren, Paraic A. Kenny. Emergence of MET D1228N mutation as a resistance mechanism following an exceptional response to crizotinib in a MET-amplified triple-negative breast cancer patient [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1822.
Magnetic III-N Semiconductors Based on Rare Earth Doping

This paper focuses on the magnetic properties of wide bandgap III-N semiconductors doped with rare earth elements. Such materials form a novel class of dilute magnetic semiconductors that have an important potential impact on future information processing devices. In particular, rare earth doped III-N thin films may lead to integration of electronic, optical, and magnetic functionality for computation, sensing, and communication applications. The main aspects of this paper concern the efficient incorporation of rare earth ions in III-N thin films and the demonstration of magnetic effects at room temperature. While early studies were based on ion implantation and solid-state diffusion, major advances have been achieved through molecular beam epitaxy and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Measurements of room temperature magnetic effects from III-N films doped with rare earth elements, including erbium, gadolinium, and europium, are presented. The dependence of measured magnetic properties on the synthesis method and co-doping are addressed.
Fairness measures for decision-making and conflict resolution

Allocating utility among stakeholders is a fundamental decision-making task that arises in complex organizations, social planning, infrastructures, and markets. In this work, we reconcile concepts of fairness from the perspectives of game theory, economics, statistics, and engineering by using an axiomatic approach. Our work reveals significant deficiencies in the social welfare allocation approach (which is widely used in the engineering literature) and highlights interesting and desirable properties and connections between Nash and entropy allocation approaches.
The prevention of AIDS.

The chapters in this volume dealing with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) constitute an urgent call to action. The problem is: What action? In this rapidly changing field, controversy surrounds detailed proposals, but the principles on which action should be based are, or at least ought to be, unchanging.
Sexual minority men want provider behavior consistent with attitudes and norms during patient-provider interactions regarding HIV prevention.

HIV is a health problem for sexual minority men in the United States. One factor among many that contributes to this HIV disparity is poor patient-provider interactions. We focused on specific prov...
Investigation of flow regimes in arc plasma-gas interactions using a two-temperature arc in crossflow model

The perpendicular impingement of a gas stream on an electric arc, a configuration known as the arc in crossflow, is of primary relevance in the study of plasma–gas interactions as well as in industrial applications such as circuit breakers and wire-arc spraying. The flow dynamics in the arc in crossflow are the result of coupled fluid-thermal-electromagnetic phenomena accompanied by large property gradients, which can produce significant deviations from Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) among electrons and gas species. These characteristics can lead to the establishment of distinct flow regimes depending on the relative values of the controlling parameters of the system, such as inflow velocity, arc current, and inter-electrode spacing. A two-temperature non-LTE model is used to investigate the arc dynamics and the establishment of flow regimes in the arc in crossflow. The plasma flow model is implemented within a nonlinear Variational Multiscale (VMS) numerical discretization approach that is less dissipative and, hence, better suited to capture unstable behavior than traditional VMS methods commonly used in computational fluid dynamics simulations. The Reynolds and the Enthalpy dimensionless numbers, characterizing the relative flow strength and arc strength, respectively, are chosen as the controlling parameters of the system. Simulation results reveal the onset of dynamic behavior and the establishment of steady, periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic or potentially turbulent regimes, as identified by distinct spatiotemporal fluctuations. The computational results reveal the role of increasing the relative arc strength on enhancing flow stability by delaying the growth of fluctuating and unstable flow behavior.