cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nursing Home Deficiencies

In the United States, deficiencies are issued to nursing homes that have failed to comply with the minimum published federal and state requirements for operating a nursing home. Generally, deficiencies are found during routine inspections conducted by trained surveyors employed by the state's nursing home regulatory agency but who also act on behalf of the federal government. Deficiencies are rated on both scope (number of residents affected) and severity (level of harm). Scope and severity are reported as deficiency scores that are publically reported on the website Nursing Home Compare and are one component of the federal nursing homes quality star rating. Facilities found deficient must provide evidence that they will remedy the deficiency in order to continue to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid nursing home program. Keywords: nursing home; quality of care; regulations
Does directly observed therapy improve tuberculosis treatment? More evidence is needed to guide tuberculosis policy

Tuberculosis (TB) now ranks alongside HIV as the leading infectious disease cause of death worldwide and incurs a global economic burden of over $12 billion annually. Directly observed therapy (DOT) recommends that TB patients complete the course of treatment under direct observation of a treatment supporter who is trained and overseen by health services to ensure that patients take their drugs as scheduled. Though the current WHO End TB Strategy does not mention DOT, only “supportive treatment supervision by treatment partners”, many TB programs still use it despite the fact that the has not been demonstrated to be statistically significantly superior to self-administered treatment in ensuring treatment success or cure. DOT is designed to promote proper adherence to the full course of drug therapy in order to improve patient outcomes and prevent the development of drug resistance. Yet over 8 billion dollars is spent on TB treatment each year and thousands undergo DOT for all or part of their course of treatment, despite the absence of rigorous evidence supporting the superior effectiveness of DOT over self-administration for achieving drug susceptible TB (DS-TB) cure. Moreover, the DOT component burdens patients with financial and opportunity costs, and the potential for intensified stigma. To rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of DOT and identify the essential contributors to both successful treatment and minimized patient burden, we call for a pragmatic experimental trial conducted in real-world program settings, the gold standard for evidence-based health policy decisions. It is time to invest in the rigorous evaluation of DOT and reevaluate the DOT requirement for TB treatment worldwide. Rigorously evaluating the choice of treatment supporter, the frequency of health care worker contact and the development of new educational materials in a real-world setting would build the evidence base to inform the optimal design of TB treatment protocol. Implementing a more patient-centered approach may be a wise reallocation of resources to raise TB cure rates, prevent relapse, and minimize the emergence of drug resistance. Maintaining the status quo in the absence of rigorous supportive evidence may diminish the effectiveness of TB control policies in the long run.
French Cinema: A Critical Filmography

As the author of two well-regarded monographs that have become standard references for scholars of French film – The Classic French Cinema, 1930–1960 (1993) and Genre, Myth and Convention in the Fr...
Rapid evolution of tolerance to road salt in zooplankton.

Abstract Organisms around the globe are experiencing novel environments created by human activities. One such disturbance of growing concern is the salinization of freshwater habitats from the application of road deicing salts, which creates salinity levels not experienced within the recent evolutionary history of most freshwater organisms. Moreover, salinization can induce trophic cascades and alter the structure of freshwater communities, but knowledge is still scarce about the ability of freshwater organisms to adapt to elevated salinity. We examined if a common zooplankton of freshwater lakes (Daphnia pulex) could evolve a tolerance to the most commonly used road deicing salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). Using a mesocosm experiment, we exposed freshwater communities containing Daphnia to five levels of NaCl (15, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mg Cl− L−1). After 2.5 months, we collected Daphnia from each mesocosm and raised them in the lab for three generations under low salt conditions (15 mg Cl− L−1). We then conducted a time-to-death experiment with varying concentrations of NaCl (30, 1300, 1500, 1700, 1900 mg Cl− L−1) to test for evolved tolerance. All Daphnia populations exhibited high survival when subsequently exposed to the lowest salt concentration (30 mg Cl− L−1). At the intermediate concentration (1300 mg Cl− L−1), however, populations previously exposed to elevated concentrations (i.e.100–1000 mg Cl− L−1) had higher survival than populations previously exposed to natural background levels (15 mg Cl− L−1). All populations survived poorly when subsequently exposed to the highest concentrations (1500, 1700, and 1900 mg Cl− L−1). Our results show that the evolution of tolerance to moderate levels of salt can occur within 2.5 months, or 5–10 generations, in Daphnia. Given the importance of Daphnia in freshwater food webs, such evolved tolerance might allow Daphnia to buffer food webs from the impacts of freshwater salinization.
Small changes, big effects: The hemodynamics of partial and complete aortic occlusion to inform next generation resuscitation techniques and technologies

BACKGROUNDThe transition from complete aortic occlusion during resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta can be associated with hemodynamic instability. Technique refinements and new technologies have been proposed to minimize this effect. In order to inform new techniques and techno
Uncertainty Management in Engineering Risk Assessment

This paper describes a knowledge-based methodology to deal with uncertainty in risk assessment and management. Using the theory of endorsement, the method provides information concerning the uncertainty associated with risk estimates. The information on uncertainty is subsequently evaluated by the risk analyst for better risk assessment and management.
Migraine with Aura and New Combined Hormonal Contraceptives: A Retrospective Analysis of Thrombotic Events (S40.002)

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk of thrombotic events in migraine both with and without aura (MwA and MWoA) patients using newer vs. older combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC). BACKGROUND: The use of CHCs in women with aura is controversial, owing to worries about the synergistic thrombotic risks of MwA and estrogen. Newer CHCs have been associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events. A recent FDA analysis suggested an increased risk of DVT in users of newer CHCs. There are limited data on the use of the newer CHCs in patients with migraine with aura. DESIGN/METHODS: We used the computerized Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) of Partners Healthcare to identify a cohort of unique patients with MwA and MWoA who had been prescribed: levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol, norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol, (older agents) or drospirenone, norgestromin/ethinyl estradiol transdermal patch, etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring, (newer agents). Within these groups we searched for diagnoses of selected thrombotic events. RESULTS: Out of a total population of almost 2 million women seen over the period 2001-2012, we identified roughly 145,304 who had used the selected CHCs. When evaluated by migraine type, a larger proportion of patients with MwA had experienced selected thrombotic complications compared with patients with MWoA. For example, 7.6% of women with MwA who used drosperinone-ethinyl estradiol were diagnosed with DVT compared with 6.3% of women with MWoA. Higher rates of thrombotic complications were observed with all CHCs in women with MwA compared with those with MWoA and with both newer and older contraceptives. Rates of thrombotic complications were higher in the migraine-CHC group than a comparable group of women without migraine using CHCs. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data support the view that migraine, particularly migraine with aura is associated with an elevated risk of thrombotic complications in women who use CHCs. The risk appears particularly high with newer agents. Disclosure: Dr. Joshi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Burch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Loder has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for British Medical Journal.
Bounce Coating Induced Domes on Glow Discharge Polymer Coated Shells

Plasma polymer coating of larger (1 mm or greater in diameter) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) targets in a piezo electric based bounce pan results in surfaces which contain numerous domes of var...
Evaluation of Aerodynamic and Stability Performance Parameters of High Wing Piston Engine Aircraft

Aerodynamic performance and stability parameters of high wing piston engine aircraft were evaluated using Computational Fluid Dynamics and validated against wind tunnel test and analytical solution. The results were calculated at various angles of attack and angles of sideslip at standard sea level conditions and at 121 Kts. Aircraft geometry was scanned with scanner and meshing was carried out using hexagonal mesh elements with growth ratio of 1.2. SA turbulence model was used in commercially available software Fluent®. Boundary layer effects were modeled using prism elements with y+ value of 35 and standard wall functions. Convergence was achieved in around 12000 iterations using 6.34 million volume mesh. It was found that gradient of pitching moment coefficient with angle of attack was -0.003 rad-1 which showed longitudinal stable behavior. However, the trim angle of attack was obtained as -2o therefore aircraft needs to be trimmed at positive angle of attack for steady and level flight. It is also found that tendency of instability is caused mainly by swirl effect of propeller. Rolling and yawing moment coefficients showed that aircraft not only underwent positive yaw but also rolled towards right. This yaw-roll coupling was computationally captured, however magnitude of yaw-roll coupling was found to be very small due to the swept forward wings and high wing configuration. Wind tunnel tests were carried out at 121Kts and lift and drag coefficients were compared with CFD results. Wind tunnel tests over predicted coefficient of lift at all angles of attack, however it under predicted coefficient of drag at all angles of attack. Most probable cause of this deviation seems to be more turbulence and vibration level of wind tunnel. The Zero lift drag coefficient of aircraft was found to be higher as compared to other similar aircraft like Cessna 172.
MMP14-Containing Exosomes Cleave VEGFR1 and Promote VEGFA-Induced Migration and Proliferation of Vascular Endothelial Cells.

Purpose Investigate the impact matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) delivered via exosomes produced by corneal fibroblasts on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) cleavage on endothelial cells, and other key processes of angiogenesis. Methods Proteolysis of VEGFR1 and R2 by the catalytic domain of MMP14 was investigated via immunocytochemistry with anti-VEGFR1, anti-VEGFR2, and anti-MMP14 antibodies. Exosomes were isolated via precipitation and serial ultracentrifugation from wild-type (WT) and MMP14 exon4-deficient corneal fibroblasts. Transmission electron microscopy and nanotracking analysis were used to characterize the isolated exosomes. The presence of MMP14 in exosomes from WT fibroblasts was confirmed by Western blotting. VEGFR1 cleavage upon treatment with WT-derived exosomes, Δexon4-derived exosomes, or the pan-MMP inhibitor GM60001 was examined via in vitro proteolysis analysis using recombinant mouse (rm) VEGFR1/R2. Endothelial cell migration and proliferation were investigated using a Boyden chamber assay and BrdU incorporation, respectively. Results WT-derived exosomes specifically cleaved rmVEGFR1 in vitro, whereas Δexon4-derived exosomes did not. Treatment with the pan-MMP inhibitor GM6001 effectively inhibited VEGFR1 cleavage by WT-derived exosomes, confirming the role of MMP14 in this cleavage. WT-derived exosomes induced greater endothelial cell migration (P < 0.01) and proliferation (P < 0.5) compared to Δexon4-derived exosomes. Conclusions MMP14-containing exosomes may be involved in the regulation of corneal neovascularization through degradation of VEGFR1 and VEGFA-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration.
Biomechanics of the Sacroiliac Joint: Anatomy, Function, Biomechanics, Sexual Dimorphism, and Causes of Pain.

ABSTRACT Background: The sacroiliac joints (SIJs), the largest axial joints in the body, sit in between the sacrum and pelvic bones on either side. They connect the spine to the pelvis and thus facilitate load transfer from the lumbar spine to the lower extremities. The majority of low back pain (LBP) is perceived to originate from the lumbar spine; however, another likely source of LBP that is mostly overlooked is the SIJ. This study (Parts I and II) aims to evaluate the clinical and biomechanical literature to understand the anatomy, biomechanics, sexual dimorphism, and causes and mechanics of pain of the SIJ leading to conservative and surgical treatment options using instrumentation. Part II concludes with the mechanics of the devices used in minimal surgical procedures for the SIJ. Methods: A thorough review of the literature was performed to analyze studies related to normal SIJ mechanics, as well as the effects of sex and pain on SIJ mechanics. Results: A total of 65 studies were selected related to anatomy, biomechanical function of the SIJ, and structures that surround the joints. These studies discussed the effects of various parameters, gender, and existence of common physiological disorders on the biomechanics of the SIJ. Conclusions: The SIJ lies between the sacrum and the ilium and connects the spine to the pelvic bones. The SIJ transfers large bending moments and compression loads to lower extremities. However, the joint does not have as much stability of its own against the shear loads but resists shear due the tight wedging of the sacrum between hip bones on either side and the band of ligaments spanning the sacrum and the hip bones. Due to these, sacrum does not exhibit much motion with respect to the ilium. The SIJ range of motion in flexion-extension is about 3°, followed by axial rotation (about 1.5°), and lateral bending (about 0.8°). The sacrum of the female pelvis is wider, more uneven, less curved, and more backward tilted, compared to the male sacrum. Moreover, women exhibit higher mobility, stresses/loads, and pelvis ligament strains compared to male SIJs. Sacroiliac pain can be due to, but not limited to, hypo- or hypermobility, extraneous compression or shearing forces, micro- or macro-fractures, soft tissue injury, inflammation, pregnancy, adjacent segment disease, leg length discrepancy, and prior lumbar fusion. These effects are well discussed in this review. This review leads to Part II, in which the literature on mechanics of the treatment options is reviewed and synthesized.
COORDINATION OF MICROCIRCULATORY FUNCTION WITH OXYGEN DEMAND IN SKELETAL MUSCLE

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some facts showing how microcirculatory parameters other than bulk flow of blood to the tissues may be controlled. It discusses the way in which various microvessel elements may interact with one another. The chapter focuses on the ways in which oxygen delivery to cells is regulated. It further discusses four variables: (1) arteriolar diameter (flow control), (2) capillary density (diffusion distance), (3) O2 content (hematocrit), and (4) cell PO2. It also discusses how they are interrelated by microvascular control systems to regulate cellular oxygen delivery. Within this context, the chapter discusses the way in which the microvascular elements vary and interact during regulation of blood flow and whether the available evidence is consistent with the idea that the system is designed to regulate tissue PO2 within narrow limits. A large part of the work done to date on the local regulation of circulatory function has been carried out on perfused organs of various sorts, and microvessel behavior is inferred from measurements of flow and the capillary filtration coefficient or permeability surface area product.
When Active Learning Fails… and What to Do About It

The literature on active learning is full of success stories, but how many instructors have tried and failed to implement new teaching strategies? This chapter discusses the four main factors that impede successful adoption of active learning: student resistance, instructor reluctance, administrative roadblocks, and physical settings. Some of these barriers, such as institutional policies and underlying instructor beliefs about the role of teachers and students, are difficult to overcome. Most of the barriers can be eliminated through faculty development and course design that includes teaching students metacognition and the skills needed to be successful in self-directed learning environments. The chapter ends with suggestions for facilitating implementation of active learning.
Phosphorus Speciation in Municipal Wastewater Solids and Implications for Phosphorus Recovery

The most popular method for recovering phosphorus from municipal wastewater solids is precipitation of dissolved phosphate (e.g., Struvite). New technologies are being developed to recover particul...
Structural Racism, Historical Redlining, and Risk of Preterm Birth in New York City, 2013–2017

Objectives. To assess if historical redlining, the US government’s 1930s racially discriminatory grading of neighborhoods’ mortgage credit-worthiness, implemented via the federally sponsored Home O...
Skull Base Anatomy in Patients with Bilateral Choanal Atresia: A Radiographic Study

Background The risk of skull base injury during choanal atresia repair can be mitigated via thorough understanding of skull base anatomy. There is a paucity of data describing differences in skull base anatomy between patients with coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanae, growth retardation, genital abnormalities, and ear abnormalities (CHARGE) syndrome and those without. Objectives The aim of this study was to measure nasal and skull base anatomy in patients with isolated bilateral choanal atresia (BCA), CHARGE syndrome, and other syndromic congenital anomalies. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients with bilateral choanal atresia and computed tomography of the face between 2001 and 2019 were evaluated. Choanal width, height, mid-nasal height, and skull base slope were measured radiographically. Differences in anatomy between healthy patients, those with CHARGE syndrome, and those with other congenital anomalies were compared. Results Twenty-one patients with BCA and relevant imaging were identified: 7 with isolated BCA, 6 with CHARGE syndrome, and 8 with other congenital anomalies. A t-test indicated insignificant difference in skull base slope, choanal height, choanal width, or mid-nasal skull base height between isolate BCA cases and patients with any congenital anomaly. When comparing CHARGE to isolated BCA cases, mid-nasal height was shorter in CHARGE patients (p = 0.03). There were no differences in measurements between patients with congenital anomalies excluding CHARGE (p > 0.05). Two patients in the congenital anomaly group were found to have bony skull base defects preoperatively. Conclusion This study represents the largest description of skull base and nasal anatomy in patients with CHARGE syndrome and BCA. Surgeons should be aware of the lower skull base in CHARGE patients to avoid inadvertent skull base injury.
Selective recovery of rare earth elements with ligand-functionalized polymers in fixed-bed adsorption columns

Abstract Rare earth elements (REE) are a group of valuable metals with growing demand and broad applications. Mineral ores, the traditional sources of REE, require significant capital investment and their refinement has been a source of environmental contamination. Industrial fluids and natural REE-bearing liquids are potential alternative sources for these metals. This work investigated the performance and REE selectivity of polymer resin beads functionalized with N,N-bis(phosponomethyl)glycine (BPG) for extraction of REE from saline solutions in fixed-bed adsorption columns. Competitive batch adsorption experiments were conducted with various metals (Nd, Gd, Ho, Al, Fe, Co, Ni, Ba, Pb, Th, and U) and the BPG-functionalized resins were up to 137 times more selective for REE than aminated resins. In column experiments, the BPG-functionalized resins preferentially adsorbed heavier metals and REE were strongly retained in the functionalized column, taking 270 times longer than the amine column to reach 10% breakthrough and 128 times longer to reach 50% breakthrough. REE bound to the BPG-functionalized resins were recovered with a dilute HNO3 solution, yielding REE concentrations up to 236 times higher than the influent feedstock. This work provides new insight into the operational performance of novel functionalized adsorbents for recovery of REE from saline fluids.
Is pre-college interpersonal trauma associated with cannabis use?

Objective To examine the prevalence and correlates of lifetime cannabis use (i.e., experimental [use 1-5 times] and non-experimental [use ≥ 6 times]) in relation to interpersonal trauma (IPT) above and beyond relevant covariates. Participants A large (n = 9,889) representative sample of college students at an urban university in the southeastern part of the United States. Methods Participants were 4 cohorts of first-year college students who completed measures of demographics, cannabis, alcohol, nicotine, and IPT. Associations were estimated using multinomial logistic regressions. Results The prevalence of lifetime cannabis use was 28.1% and 17.4% for non-experimental and experimental cannabis use, respectively. IPT was significantly associated with experimental and non-experimental cannabis use above and beyond effects of sex, race, cohort, alcohol, and nicotine. Conclusions Results show that cannabis use is prevalent among college students and is associated with IPT above and beyond associations with sex, race, and other substance use.
A G-Band Reconfigurable Waveguide-Based Bandstop Filter Enabled by High-Performance Optically Controlled RF Switches

We report the design, simulation, and analysis of a G-band (140-220 GHz) reconfigurable bandstop filter (BSF) using the waveguide-based configuration. The reconfigurability is enabled by novel optically controlled RF switches with superior performance in the millimeter-to-terahertz (mmW-THz) region. For a prototype demonstration, multiple such switches are integrated into three pairs of split-ring resonators coupled to a microstrip transmission line for operation. By turning on/off these switches using a 100 W/cm2 light from fiber-coupled 550 nm LEDs, the center frequency of the bandstop filter can be reconfigured to 148 GHz, 182 GHz or 212 GHz as expected. For all three states, a center frequency suppression of larger than 15 dB, and an average 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 17.14 % have been achieved. The optically controlled reconfigurable waveguide filter reported here is of unique and high performance, demonstrating the approach for developing tunable/reconfigurable THz circuits using the optically controlled RF switches is promising and transformative for applications in advanced THz sensing, imaging, and adaptive communications.
BehaviorDEPOT: a tool for automated behavior classification and analysis in rodents

Abstract Quantitative descriptions of animal behavior are essential to understand the underlying neural substrates. Many behavioral analyses are performed by hand or with expensive and inflexible commercial software that often fail on animals with attached head implants, such as those used for in vivo optogenetics and calcium imaging. With the development of machine learning algorithms that can estimate animal positions across time and space, it is becoming easier for users with no prior coding experience to perform automated animal tracking in behavioral video recordings. Yet classifying discrete behaviors based on positional tracking data remains a significant challenge. To achieve this, we must start with reliable ground truth definitions of behavior, a process that is hindered by unreliable human annotations. To overcome these barriers, we developed BehaviorDEPOT (DEcoding behavior based on POsitional Tracking), a MATLAB-based application comprising six independent modules and a graphical user interface. In the Analysis Module we provide hard-coded classifiers for freezing and rearing. Optionally applied spatiotemporal filters allow users to analyze behaviors in varied experimental designs (e.g. cued tasks or optogenetic manipulations). Even inexperienced users can generate organized behavioral data arrays that can be seamlessly aligned with neurophysiological recordings for detailed analyses of the neural substrates. Four additional modules create an easy-to-use pipeline for establishing reliable ground-truth definitions of behaviors as well as custom behavioral classifiers. Finally, our Experiment Module runs fear conditioning experiments using an Arduino-based design that interfaces with commercialhardware and significantly reduces associated costs. We demonstrate the utility and flexibility of BehaviorDEPOT in widely used behavioral assays including fear conditioning, avoidance, and decision-making tasks. We also demonstrate the robustness of the BehaviorDEPOT freezing classifier across multiple camera types and in mice and rats wearing optogenetic patch cables and head-mounted Miniscopes. BehaviorDEPOT provides a simple, flexible, automated pipeline to move from pose tracking to reliably quantifying a wide variety of task-relevant behaviors.
Proteomics-Based Retinal Target Engagement Analysis and Retina-Targeted Delivery of 17β-Estradiol by the DHED Prodrug for Ocular Neurotherapy in Males.

We examined the impact of 17β-estradiol (E2) eye drops on the modulation of the proteome profile in the male rat retina. With discovery-driven proteomics, we have identified proteins that were regulated by our treatment. These proteins were assembled to several bioinformatics-based networks implicating E2’s beneficial effects on the male rat retina in a broad context of ocular neuroprotection including the maintenance of retinal homeostasis, facilitation of efficient disposal of damaged proteins, and mitochondrial respiratory chain biogenesis. We have also shown for the first time that the hormone’s beneficial effects on the male retina can be constrained to this target site by treatment with the bioprecursor prodrug, DHED. A large concentration of E2 was produced after DHED eye drops not only in male rat retinae but also in those of rabbits. However, DHED treatment did not increase circulating E2 levels, thereby ensuring therapeutic safety in males. Targeted proteomics focusing on selected biomarkers of E2’s target engagement further confirmed the prodrug’s metabolism to E2 in the male retina and indicated that the retinal impact of DHED treatment was identical to that of the direct E2 treatment. Altogether, our study shows the potential of topical DHED therapy for an efficacious and safe protection of the male retina without the unwanted hormonal side-effects associated with current estrogen therapies.
Systematic prioritization protocol applied to wolverine habitat connectivity.

I describe a prioritization protocol for future wolverine habitat connectivity conservation using integer linear programming. Conservation prioritization has broad applications across scales, systems, and species. However, the process of preparing, generating, and analyzing the necessary data can be complex. Thus, this protocol details the process from data acquisition to implementation. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Carroll et al. (2020) and Carroll et al. (2021).
Chlamydia Knowledge among Asymptomatic Females Utilizing University Health Center Gynecological Services

Abstract A survey of 475 asymptomatic women utilizing university student health services revealed a low to moderate level of knowledge regarding genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections. The most common sources of Chlamydia knowledge were physicians and nurses, magazines, and teachers and schools. Seventy-nine respondents had no source of information. Sexually active subjects (n = 449) and those previously diagnosed with genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections (n = 53) had higher knowledge scores. Thirty-seven respondents tested positive for genital Chlamydial trachomatis infection. Knowledge score was unrelated to current infection status. Implications of these findings for education efforts related to prevention of sexually transmitted diseases are discussed.
Abstract 4073: STAT3 inhibitors elicit direct anti-tumor effects against human biliary caner cell lines and limit release of immune suppressive cytokinesin vitro

Biliary cancer (BC), or cholangiocarcinoma originates from the malignant transformation of epithelial cells in the bile ducts. This deadly cancer is typically refractory to standard therapies and has a 3 year survival rate of only 10%. Therefore, novel treatment strategies are desparately needed against this malignancy. One important feature of BC cells is their ability to secrete interleukin-6 (IL-6) in an autocrine manner. This characteristic affords them an opportunity to activate numerous pro-oncogenic signaling pathways including MAPK, and STAT3 within the tumor cell, while simultaneously promoting immunologic changes in patients with advanced disease. We hypothesized that inhibitors of Signal-Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway may elicit a dual effect by promoting apoptosis of human BC cell lines, and limiting the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines from these cells. A panel of human BC cell lines with various genotypic profiles was utilized, and all demonstrated secretion of IL-6 (range 5149-68pg/mL) and had constitutively phosphorylated STAT3 as determined by western blot. Similar to positive control conditions with IL-6 + GM-CSF (10 ng/mL each), exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to 5% or 10% BC culture supernatants induced in vitro differentiation into myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). These data indicate that BC cells have robust activation of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis, and that culture supernatants contain factors capable of promoting expansion of immune suppressive cell subsets. A novel small molecule inhibitor FLLL100, could directly inhibit Tyr705 phosphorylation within the SH2 domain of STAT3, and induce apoptosis in the BC cell lines regardless of genotypic profile. Both growth inhibitory (by MTT assay) and pro-apoptotic effects (by Annexin V/PI staining) were observed within 24-48 hours of drug exposure at micromolar concentrations. Apoptosis was confirmed after drug exposure by assessment of PARP cleavage by immunoblot. Exposure of BC cell lines to FLLL100 resulted in significantly reduced secretion of immunomodulatory cytokines including IL-6 (p Citation Format: Jennifer Yang, Kaitlin Keenan, Thomas Mace, Tanios Bekaii-Saab, James Fuchs, Eric Schwartz, Chenglong Li, Jiayuh Lin, Pui-Kai Li, Gregory Lesinski. STAT3 inhibitors elicit direct anti-tumor effects against human biliary caner cell lines and limit release of immune suppressive cytokines in vitro. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4073. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4073
The heme environment of ovoperoxidase as determined by optical spectroscopy.

Abstract Native ovoperoxidase exhibited an optical absorption spectrum with certain similarities to lactoperoxidase, but not horseradish peroxidase, over the pH range 4.5-11.5. Ovoperoxidase had three distinct spectral forms dependent on pH, with transitions at apparent pKa values of 6.6 and 3.0. Complexes of ovoperoxidase with CN-, N3-, F-, or when reduced and ligated to carbon monoxide, CN-, or pyridine, were distinct from other peroxidases. Ovoperoxidase formed two specific and different spectral derivatives at pH 6.0 and 8.0, either in the native state, or when combined with CN-, when reduced, or when reduced and ligated to CN-. The position of the Soret band when mixed with near-stoichiometric amounts of H2O2. This cycling was inhibited by phenylhydrazine, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, or low pH (less than or equal to 6). Compound II was formed when ovoperoxidase was mixed with ethyl hydrogen peroxide in a 1:3 ratio, but not with H2O2. With a great excess of H2O2, Compound III was formed at pH 8.0; at pH 6.0 or below, the Soret band shifted slightly with excess of H2O2, but Compound III was never formed. Even when ovoperoxidase was bound to proteoliaisin (Weidman, P. J., and Shapiro, B. M. (1987) J. Cell Biol. 105, 561-567), ovoperoxidase exhibited spectral characteristics of the free enzyme.
Plasma Engineering for Minimars: A Small Commercial Tandem Mirror Reactor with Octopole Plugs

With the employment of a novel octopole end plug scheme, we examine the plasma engineering design of MINIMARS, a small compact fusion reactor based on the tandem mirror principle. With a net electric output of 600 MW/sub e/, MINIMARS is expressly designed for short construction times, factory built modules, and a passively safe blanket system. We show that the compact octopole/mantle provides several distinct improvements over the more conventional quadrupole (yin-yang) end plugs and enables ignition to be obtained with much shorter central cell length. In this way we can design economic small reactors which will minimize utility financial risk and provide attractive alternatives to the conventional larger fusion plants encountered to date.
Essay: Weighing the Potential of Citizen Redistricting

As they do every ten years, this year state legislatures across the country are redrawing legislative district lines to reflect population shifts and ensure equal representation for each district. In 2010, California voters passed a proposition granting the California Citizens Redistricting Commission control over the drawing of congressional lines. This Symposium Essay examines the potential for redistricting by an independent group of citizens such as the Citizens Redistricting Commission. First, it explores the nature of the redistricting process, a process often explained as fundamentally political, and argues, instead, that the process is both political and pre-political. This Essay then examines incumbent legislators’ roles in the redistricting process in light of this insight, and challenges the presumption that incumbents are more accountable to members of their districts because of redistricting. Finally, this Essay reviews various alternatives to incumbent control of the redistricting process, and both the positive and negative potential of citizen redistricting.
Bacterial hydrolysis of protein and methylated protein and its implications for studies of protein degradation in aquatic systems.

Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase was radiolabelled by in vitro translation, resulting in uniformly labelled ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, and also by reductive methylation. We investigated the degradation of the two forms of radiolabelled protein by natural bacterial populations. Although total hydrolysis of uniformly labelled protein and methylated protein was nearly equal, percent assimilation, respiration, and release as low-molecular-weight material were different. Radioactivity from uniformly labelled protein was approximately equally assimilated into cells, respired as 3H2O, and released as low-molecular-weight material, but radioactivity from the methylated protein was nearly all released as low-molecular-weight material, and little was assimilated or respired.
What if Marketers Put Customers Ahead of Profits

We examine a duopoly where one of the firms does not maximize profit, but instead maximizes consumer surplus subject to a minimum profit constraint. Competition between the firms is modeled as a two-stage game, which is solved by backward induction. In the first stage, firms choose product quality levels sequentially, anticipating (simultaneous move) Bertrand price competition in the second stage of the game. The identity of the first moving firm is taken as exogenous, and thus we separately consider the cases of a surplus-maximizing and a profitmaximizing first mover. We consider both cases of convex fixed costs and convex variable costs of producing quality. Our primary goal in conducting the analysis is to evaluate changes in key market outcomes as the surplus-maximizing firm becomes more altruistic in its orientation, as measured by the extent to which it sacrifices profits. As a limiting case, our framework considers competition between a profit-maximizing firm and a non-profit firm. Interim cases may be viewed as models of competition involving a form of “social enterprise,” i.e., a firm organized as a for-profit entity but whose primary objective is to advance consumer welfare. From the analysis, we conclude that the surplus-maximizing firm can deliver significant additional value to consumers by forgoing some of the profit it would have earned as a profit maximizer. However, the effectiveness of this strategy depends upon the cost structure of the industry and which firm is the first mover. With fixed costs of quality, there is a significant first mover advantage. When the surplus-maximizing firm moves first, the tradeoff between sacrificing profits and generating consumer surplus is quite favorable, with surplus approaching its fully efficient level as the surplus-maximizing firm approaches being a non-profit. With variable costs of quality, higher levels of consumer surplus are achieved when the surplus-maximizing firm is the follower in quality choice, although differences in outcomes diminish as the surplus-maximizing firm sacrifices more profit. A key implication of these results is that in order to achieve highly favorable outcomes, the surplus-maximizing firm must move first when production costs are fixed, whereas the order of quality moves is less restrictive when costs are variable.
“Responsibility at-risk”: Perceptions of stress, control and professional effectiveness in child welfare direct practitioners

This study examines the role of work stress and control in child welfare direct practitioners' assessments of their own service effectiveness. While much attention has recently been devoted to describing the problems of worker burnout and turnover in child welfare, no attempts have yet explicitly examined the role of work stresses and control on workers' own effectiveness assessments. The results of this study, using hierarchical and simultaneous regression analyses, indicate a significant relationship between worker control and workers' professional effectiveness assessments, as well as an important link between worker control and selected forms of work stress. After accounting for worker control variance, perceived work stresses were not found to be significantly associated with professional effectiveness assessments. No moderation effects were found in the perceived stress-perceived effectiveness relationship.
Post-extension shortening strains preserved in calcites of the Midcontinent Rift

Analysis of mechanically twinned calcite throughout the middle Proterozoic Midcontinent rift (57 sites, 62 strain analyses) reveals the presence of two layer-parallel and sub-horizontal shortening strains, one that is rift-parallel and one that is rift-normal. We interpret these two strain patterns to represent strike-slip and thrust motions, respectively, along the margins of the rift during closure between 1060 Ma and <350 Ma. Calcite strains preserved in pre-rift, Penokean-aged rocks (5 sites) are unique compared to the rift calcite strains, and are included.
Cross-sectional comparison of production functions for US manufacturing industries: Some evidence on the urban productivity

Abstract This study attempts to show that the production function for a given industry associated with urban areas yields a greater output than that associated with rural areas for a given vector of inputs. For purposes of estimation and hypothesis testing, the production function is of the Cobb-Douglas form with three inputs. Empirical estimates are based on cross-sectional data from the census of manufacturing for each manufacturing industry at the two-digit level of the standard industrial classification. From the data, two subsamples—“urban” and “rural”—are created to obtain separate estimates of the parameters of the production function. The empirical results indicate that for 12 of the 19 industries studied, there is no significant difference between the urban and rural production functions, and, for the remaining 7 industries, the results are not conclusive but do suggest that output elasticities of some factors are greater for urban areas than for rural areas.
Solovay's theorem cannot be simplified

Abstract In this paper we consider three potential simplifications to a result of Solovay's concerning the Turing degrees of nonstandard models of arbitrary completions of first-order Peano arithmetic (PA). Solovay characterized the degrees of nonstandard models of completions T of PA, showing that they are the degrees of sets X such that there is an enumeration R⩽ T X of an “appropriate” Scott set and there is a family of functions (t n ) n∈ω , Δ n 0 (X) uniformly in n , such that lim s→∞ t n (s) is an index for T∩Σ n and for all s , t n (s) is an index for a subset of T∩Σ n . The simplifications under consideration are attempts to restrict the families of functions (t n ) n∈ω that appear in Solovay's result, known henceforth as Solovay families . We show that none of these potential simplifications may be made, by proceeding as follows. First, we construct a nonstandard model A of PA such that there is no Solovay family (t n ) n∈ω for Th( A ) relative to A in which all the functions t n are constant. Second, for each k we construct a nonstandard model A of PA such that there is no Solovay family (t n ) n∈ω for Th( A ) relative to A in which all the functions t n change values at most k many times. Third, we construct a nonstandard model A of PA such that there is no Solovay family (t n ) n∈ω for Th( A ) relative to A with a computable function f such that for all n , t n (s) changes values at most f(n) times. Our constructions answer three questions asked by Julia Knight. Our solutions make use of several consistency results that seem to be of independent interest.
Role of defective interfering particles of Sendai virus in persistent infections.

Abstract We show that mixed infection with standard virus and defective interfering (DI) particles of Sendai virus regularly leads to the survival of infected cells and to the establishment of long-term persistent infections. Three independent carrier cultures were established and all strongly resist challenge by Sendai virus, while remaining fully susceptible to challenge by an heterologous virus, vesicular stomatitis virus. Nearly 100% of the carrier cells show viral antigen. Intracellular viral nucleocapsids isolated from these carrier cultures contain small amounts of 50 S RNA and up to 100-fold greater amounts of smaller-sized DI RNAs at all times during long-term persistence in BHK 21 cells. These carriers shed only small amounts of immature virus and DI particles into the medium. These standard virions and DI particles are biologically inactive unless activated by trypsin treatment.
Sufficient conditions for orthogonal designs in mixed linear models

This paper revisits the concepts of orthogonal block structure and orthogonal design in mixed linear models. The primary tool used in investigating these concepts is that of a commutative quadratic subspace. The idea of an error orthogonal design is introduced. These designs are less restrictive than orthogonal designs, but retain almost all of the nice properties. Easy-to-check conditions are given that insure a model has an orthogonal or error orthogonal design. The results given are most useful for those mixed models with a nested covariance structure or those whose covariance structure comes from random main effects.
Working health time: A comparison of preindustrial, industrial, and postindustrial experience in life and health

Abstract Life expectancy at working ages has improved substantially since the 18th century. But the probability of survival in health, which is a joint probability, shows much less substantial improvement. This conclusion is based on a comparison of health and survival experience in four British populations, one preindustrial, two industrial, and one postindustrial. It suggests that economic growth should be attributed only in small measure to gains in working health time.
Vacuum misalignment in high energy collisions.

We study a recent proposal to observe the disoriented chiral condensate in high energy collisions. In order to produce a large fluctuation in the pion probability distribution, a large size of the correlated region is essential. We study the role of intrinsic symmetry breaking and suggest that a negative (mass)[sup 2] of mesons arising from a misaligned vacuum may be a candidate for such a mechanism. We further point out a possibility to observe unsuppressed strong [ital CP] violation in the disoriented vacuum phase.
Code completion of multiple keywords from abbreviated input

Abbreviation Completion is a novel technique to improve the efficiency of code-writing by supporting code completion of multiple keywords based on non-predefined abbreviated input--a different approach from conventional code completion that finds one keyword at a time based on an exact character match. Abbreviated input consisting of abbreviated keywords and non-alphanumeric characters between each abbreviated keyword (e.g. pb st nm) is expanded into a full expression (e.g. public String name) by a Hidden Markov Model learned from a corpus of existing code and abbreviation examples. The technique does not require the user to memorize abbreviations and provides incremental feedback of the most likely completions. In addition to code completion by disabbreviation of multiple keywords, abbreviation completion supports prediction of the next keywords and non-alphanumeric characters of a code completion candidate, a technique called code completion by extrapolation. The system finds the most likely next keywords and non-alphanumeric characters using an n-gram model of programming language. This enables a code completion scenario in which a user first types a short abbreviated expression to complete the beginning part of a desired full expression and then uses the extrapolation feature to complete the remaining part without further typing. This paper presents the algorithm for abbreviation completion, integrated with a new user interface for multiple-keyword code completion. We tested the system by sampling 4919 code lines from open source projects and found that more than 99% of the code lines could be resolved from acronym-like abbreviations. The system could also extrapolate code completion candidates to complete the next one or two keywords with the accuracy of 96% and 82%, respectively. A user study of code completion by disabbreviation found 30% reduction in time usage and 41% reduction of keystrokes over conventional code completion.