cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mutual Fund Flows and Performance in Rational Markets

We develop a simple rational model of active portfolio management that provides a natural benchmark against which to evaluate observed relationship between returns and fund flows. Many effects widely regarded as anomalous are consistent with this simple explanation. In the model, investments with active managers do not outperform passive benchmarks because of the competitive market for capital provision, combined with decreasing returns to scale in active portfolio management. Consequently, past performance cannot be used to predict future returns, or to infer the average skill level of active managers. The lack of persistence in actively managed returns does not imply that differential ability across managers is nonexistent or unrewarded, that gathering information about performance is socially wasteful, or that chasing performance is pointless. A strong relationship between past performance and the flow of funds exists in our model: Indeed, this is the market mechanism that ensures that no predictability in performance exists. Choosing parameters to match the flow-performance relationship and survivorship rates, we find these features of the data are consistent with the vast majority (80%) of active managers having at least enough skill to make back their fees.
Basic dimensions of temperament and their relation to anxiety and depression: A symptom-based perspective

We examine relations among neuroticism/negative emotionality (N/NE), extraversion/positive emotionality (E/PE), and the mood and anxiety disorders. We present data showing that E/PE correlates most strongly with anhedonia/depressed affect and social anxiety. Similarly, although N/NE is a general predictor of psychopathology, it correlates more substantially with subjective distress and dysphoria than with other types of dysfunction. Thus, it is most strongly related to disorders characterized by pervasive distress, moderately related to syndromes involving more limited forms of distress, and weakly related to disorders characterized primarily by behavioral avoidance. We demonstrate a similar pattern at the symptom level, examining the basic dimensions comprising PTSD, OCD, specific phobia, and depression. These systematic associations suggest a fundamental continuity between normal and abnormal psychological processes.
Left/right, up/down: the role of endogenous electrical fields as directional signals in development, repair and invasion.

A fundamental aspect of biological systems is their spatial organization. In development, regeneration and repair, directional signals are necessary for the proper placement of the components of the organism. Likewise, pathogens that invade other organisms rely on directional signals to target vulnerable areas. It is widely understood that chemical gradients are important directional signals in living systems. Less well recognized are electrical fields, which can also provide directional information. Small, steady electrical fields can directly guide cell movement and growth and can generate chemical gradients of charged macromolecules against the leveling action of diffusion. At the site of a lesion in an ion-transporting epithelium, for example, a substantial electrical field is instantly generated and may extend over many cell diameters. There are numerous other situations in which relatively long-range electrical fields have been shown to exist naturally. Recently, there has been substantial progress in identifying specific processes that are controlled, to some extent, by these endogenous electrical fields. This review highlights these recent data and discusses possible mechanisms by which the fields might affect biological processes.
Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy

Anal fissure, or fissure-in-ano, is defined as a tear in the squamous epithelium of the anus distal to the dentate line. It is characterized by severe pain during and after defecation often causing a great deal of distress in affected individuals. Minimal bleeding can occur and is usually limited to bright red blood on toilet paper or the surface of stool [1]. Chronic anal fissures may present with perianal swelling, mucous drainage, or a sentinel pile [2].
Correction of Severe Deformity of the Cervical Spine in Ankylosing Spondylitis with the Halo Device

1. A method of traction correction of severe deformity of the cervical spine resulting from ankylosing spondylitis has been presented. 2. It is suggested that the halo described by Perry and Nickel may have a wide application in problems requiring carefully controlled adjustment of position and immobilization of the cervical spine and skull. 3. A case has been reported in which the halo was used for correction and immobilization in conjunction with occipitothoracic spine fusion under local anesthesia. 4. The halo-fusion technique is believed to be safer than the less precise immobilization techniques; the minimum discomfort experienced by the patient in this device is remarkable and is apparently the result of the rigid immobilization of the skull and cervical spine.
For Better and for Worse: Family and Friends' Responses to Chronic Liver Disease:

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic and potentially fatal liver disease that primarily affects women in their middle years. Caregivers of people with PBC or other rare chronic ailments fac...
Hormonal Contraception Use is Common Among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and an Elevated Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We sought to examine whether the self-report of hormonal contraception (HC) as a proxy for exposure to estrogen-based contraception was less common for women with multiple risk factors for venous thromboembolism. METHODS: We examined the prevalence of personal use of hormonal birth control in a large internet-based cohort of patients with IBD. To determine whether HC was less common among patients with IBD with increased risk of thrombosis we estimated unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for the use of HC. RESULTS: Thousand four hundred ninety-nine female survey respondents answered optional fertility questions and were included in the analysis. The prevalence of HC was 33.7% (95% CI 30.6%-36.9%) among women with Crohns disease and was 32.6% (95% CI 28.6%-36.8%) for women with ulcerative colitis. Women with one risk factor for thrombosis were not significantly less likely to receive HC (PR = 0.91 95% CI: 0.76-1.08; adjusted PR = 0.94 95% CI: 0.80-1.11) compared with women without risk factors nor were women with 2 or more risk factors (PR = 1.10 95% CI 0.56-1.28; adjusted PR = 1.10 95% CI: 0.83-1.45). The use of an intrauterine device was also similar between women with and without risk factors for venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HC use in women with multiple risk factors was similar to that in women without risk factors which represents an opportunity for prevention. Gastroenterologists should ask patients with IBD using HC about risk factors for thromboembolic disease to identify patients who may benefit from alternative contraception.
Abstract 5188: Combination of radiofrequency ablation and Sunitinib in the treatment of experimental hepatocellular cancer

Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is one of current clinical option in the treatment of hepatocellular cancer (HCC); however, RFA monotherapy is often not curative as a consequence of tumor micro-metastases and recurrence. Thus, induction of systemic response with additive treatment is required. In the present study, we are exploring the combination of RFA and sunitinib, an FDA-approved multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in the treatment of HCC. Using our established strategy a clinically relevant murine model of HCC is prepared which mimics human disease and reflect its typical features. The follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is applied to monitor tumor progression until the cumulative tumor volume reaches 2000 mm3. Size-matched tumor-bearing mice are assigned into 3 groups and receive the following treatments: no treatment, RFA alone with our improved machine and optimized parameters, combination of sunitinib and RFA. The therapeutic efficacy is evaluated by measuring tumor volume with MRI every twice weeks. We demonstrate that tumors grow substantially in the mice without treatment. RFA alone effectively destroys tumors, but unable to prevent tumor recurrence and micro-metastasis. In contrast, > 50% size reduction in tumor size is detected in the combined group compared to that in control mice, even no detectable tumors are observed in some treated mice. In conclusion, combination of sunitinib and RFA powerfully suppress tumor growth and could be translate into clinic practice. Citation Format: Xiaoqiang Qi, Guangfu Li, Dai Liu, Kevin F Staveley-O’Carroll, Eric Kimchi. Combination of radiofrequency ablation and Sunitinib in the treatment of experimental hepatocellular cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 5188.
Network theory and behavioral finance in a heterogeneous market environment

This article addresses the stock market as a complex system. The complexity of the stock market arises from the structure of the environment, agent heterogeneity, interactions among agents, and interactions with market regulators. We develop the idea of a meta-model, which is a model of models represented in an agent-based model that allows us to investigate this type of market complexity. The novelty of this article is the incorporation of various complexities captured by network theoretical models or induced by investment behavior. The model considers agents heterogeneous in terms of their strategies and investment behavior. Four investment strategies are included in the model: zero-intelligence, fundamental strategy, momentum (trend followers), and adaptive trading strategy using the artificial neural network algorithm. In terms of behavior, the agents can be risk averse or loss occupied with overconfidence or conservative biases. The agents may interact with each other by sharing market sentiments through a structured scale-free network. The market regulator controls the market through various control tools such as the risk-free rate and taxation. Parameters are calibrated to the S&P500. The calibration is implemented using a scatter search heuristic approach. The model is validated using various stylized facts of stock return patterns such as excess kurtosis, auto-correlation, and ARCH effect phenomena. Analysis at the macro and micro level of the market was performed by measuring the sensitivity of volatility and market capital and investigating the wealth distributions of the agents. We found that volatility is more sensitive to the model parameters than to market capital, and thus, the level of volatility does not affect market capital. In addition, the findings suggest that the efficient market hypothesis holds at the macro level but not at the micro level. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 530–554, 2016
Effects of inset floodplains and hyporheic exchange induced by in-stream structures on nitrate removal in a headwater stream

Abstract Stream restoration efforts in the United States are increasingly aimed towards water quality improvement, yet little process-based guidance exists to compare pollutant removals from different restoration techniques for variable site conditions. Excess nitrate (NO3−) is a frequent pollutant of concern due to eutrophication in downstream waterbodies such as the Chesapeake Bay. We used MIKE SHE to simulate hydraulics and NO3− removal in a 90 m restored reach of Stroubles Creek, a second-order stream in Blacksburg, Virginia. Site specific geomorphic, hydrologic, and hydraulic data were used to calibrate the model. We evaluated in-stream structures that induce hyporheic zone denitrification during baseflow and inset floodplains that remove NO3− during storm flows. We varied hydraulic conditions (winter baseflow, summer baseflow, storm flow), biogeochemical parameters (literature hyporheic zone denitrification rates and newly available inset floodplain removal rates) and boundary conditions (upstream NO3− concentration), sediment conditions (hydraulic conductivity), and stream restoration design parameters (inset floodplain length). Our results indicate that NO3− removal rates within the 90 m reach were minimal. Structure-induced hyporheic zone denitrification did not exceed 3.1% of mass flowing in from the upstream channel, was achieved only during favorable background groundwater hydraulic conditions (i.e. summer baseflow), and was transport-limited such that non-trivial removal rates were achieved only when the streambed hydraulic conductivity (K) was at least 10−4 m/s. Inset floodplain nitrogen removal was limited by floodplain residence time and NO3− removal rate, and did not exceed 1% of inflowing mass. Summing these removals for both restoration practices over the course of the year based on the frequency of storm and summer baseflow conditions yielded ∼2.1% annual removal. Achieving 30% NO3− removal required increasing the length of stream reach restored to 0.9 km–819 km (depending on hydraulic conductivity) and 3.8–46 km (depending on inset floodplain length and nitrogen removal rate) for in-stream structures during baseflow and inset floodplains during storm flow, respectively. In one of the first comparisons of process-based modeling to the Chesapeake Bay Program stream restoration guidance, we found that the guidance overestimated hyporheic NO3− removal for our modeled reach, but correctly estimated inset floodplain removal. Overall, our results indicate that in-stream structures and inset floodplains can improve water quality, but overall required level of effort may be high to achieve desired results.
Critical Analysis of the Melanogenic Pathway in Insects and Higher Animals

Animals synthesize melanin pigments for the coloration of their skin and use it for their protection from harmful solar radiation. Insects use melanins even more ingeniously than mammals and employ them for exoskeletal pigmentation, cuticular hardening, wound healing and innate immune responses. In this review, we discuss the biochemistry of melanogenesis process occurring in higher animals and insects. A special attention is given to number of aspects that are not previously brought to light: (1) the molecular mechanism of dopachrome conversion that leads to the production of two different dihydroxyindoles; (2) the role of catecholamine derivatives other than dopa in melanin production in animals; (3) the critical parts played by various biosynthetic enzymes associated with insect melanogenesis; and (4) the presence of a number of important gaps in both melanogenic and sclerotinogenic pathways. Additionally, importance of the melanogenic process in insect physiology especially in the sclerotization of their exoskeleton, wound healing reactions and innate immune responses is highlighted. The comparative biochemistry of melanization with sclerotization is also discussed.
Unit Labour Costs: No Argument for Low Wages in Eastern and Central Europe

This working paper discusses the use of unit labour costs (ULC) by the European Commission as a measure of competitiveness of exports, especially in central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It shows the flawed nature of the European Commission’s argument that increasing wages ahead of measured productivity would necessarily represent a threat to export competitiveness. In fact, past history has shown rising unit labour costs and rising relative wages have frequently accompanied increasing exports. It demonstrates that the recorded measure of productivity appears to be low in countries with lower wage levels precisely because wages are low, even when the work performed is often very similar, or identical, to much better-paid work in higher income countries. The conclusion is that there is scope for significant wage increases without harming export competitiveness.
Stratigraphic Significance of Two Genera of Tertiary Calcareous Nannofossils

A new species of calcareous nannoplankton Ceratolithus rugosus is described, and emended descriptions of two other species of this genus are presented. The worldwide occurrence and partial overlap in the sequence of ranges of these taxa are helpful in age assignment of late Miocene to Holocene strata. A new species Peritrachelina joidesa of late Eocene to middle Oligocene age is also described.
SBS Threshold Dependence on Pulse Duration in a 2053 nm Single-Mode Fiber Amplifier

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is the first nonlinear effect that limits power scaling of narrow linewidth fiber lasers. Nonlinearities typically have a reduced impact when operating at longer wavelengths. However, the SBS gain is considered wavelength independent. To investigate this further, a pulsed 2053 nm source with MHz-linewidth is amplified to >100 W peak powers in single-mode, thulium-doped fiber. The SBS thresholds were measured while varying the pulse duration. Analyzing the SBS threshold measurements suggests that the peak Brillouin gain coefficient is ∼12.2 pm/W with a spontaneous Brillouin bandwidth of ∼17.5 MHz in the passive single-mode fiber at 2053 nm. While the peak Brillouin gain coefficient is comparable to those reported at shorter wavelengths, the spontaneous Brillouin bandwidth is significantly narrower. This indicates that long wavelength sources can inhibit the onset of SBS more readily than short wavelength sources.
CMOS-MEMS resonant demodulator for near-zero-power RF wake-up receiver

We demonstrate a CMOS-MEMS resonant demodulator for use in a nanoWatt-power RF wake-up sensor. "Near-zero" power operation is enabled through voltage step-up and frequency keying in passive MEMS elements. The integrated MEMS demodulator minimizes parasitic capacitance to maximize gain and performs high-Q filtering to prevent false triggering due to interference signal feedthrough. High-frequency testing of a demodulator with a minimum transduction gap size of 400 nm agrees with device models.
Hospital readmissions following HLA-incompatible live donor kidney transplantation: A multi-center study

30% of kidney transplant recipients are readmitted in the first month post-transplant. Those with donor-specific antibody requiring desensitization and incompatible live donor kidney transplantation (ILDKT) constitute a unique subpopulation that might be at higher readmission risk. Drawing on a 22-center cohort, 379 ILDKTs with Medicare primary insurance were matched to compatible transplant matched controls and to waitlist-only matched controls on panel reactive antibody, age, blood group, renal replacement time, prior kidney transplantation, race, gender, diabetes, and transplant date/waitlisting date. Readmission risk was determined using multilevel, mixed-effects Poisson regression. In the first month, ILDKTs had a 1.28-fold higher readmission risk than compatible controls (95%CI: 1.13-1.46; P<0.001). Risk peaked at 6-12 months (RR 1.67; 95%CI: 1.49-1.87; P<0.001), attenuating by 24-36 months (RR 1.24; 95%CI: 1.10-1.40; P<0.001). ILDKTs had a 5.86-fold higher readmission risk (95%CI: 4.96-6.92; P<0.001) in the first month compared to waitlist-only controls. At 12-24 (RR 0.85; 95%CI: 0.77-0.95; P=0.002) and 24-36 months (RR 0.74; 95% CI: 0.66-0.84; P<0.001), ILDKTs had a lower risk than waitlist-only controls. These findings of ILDKTs having a higher readmission risk than compatible controls, but a lower readmission risk after the first year than waitlist-only controls should be considered in regulatory/payment schemas and planning clinical care. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Dielectrophoresis Testing of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Behaviors of Human Red Blood Cells

Dielectrophoresis in microfluidics provides a useful tool to test biomechanics of living cells, regardless of surface charges on cell membranes. We have designed an experimental method to characterize the nonlinear viscoelastic behaviors of single cells using dielectrophoresis in a microfluidic channel. This method uses radio frequency, low voltage excitations through interdigitated microelectrodes, allowing probing multiple cells simultaneously with controllable load levels. Dielectrophoretic force was calibrated using a triaxial ellipsoid model. Using a Kelvin-Voigt model, the nonlinear shear moduli of cell membranes were determined from the steady-state deformations of red blood cells in response to a series of electric field strengths. The nonlinear elastic moduli of cell membranes ranged from 6.05 μN/m to up to 20.85 μN/m, which were identified as a function of extension ratio, rather than the lumped-parameter models as reported in the literature. Value of the characteristic time of the extensional recovery of cell membranes initially deformed to varied extent was found to be about 0.14 s. Shear viscosity of cell membrane was estimated to be 0.8-2.9 (μN/m)·s. This method is particularly valuable for rapid, non-invasive probing of mechanical properties of living cells.
Characterization of Disulfide Linkages in Proteins by 193 nm Ultraviolet Photodissociation (UVPD) Mass Spectrometry

Deciphering disulfide bond patterns in proteins remains a significant challenge. In the present study, interlinked disulfide bonds connecting peptide chains are homolytically cleaved with 193 nm ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD). Analysis of insulin showcased the ability of UVPD to cleave multiple disulfide bonds and provide sequence coverage of the peptide chains in the same MS/MS event. For proteins containing more complex disulfide bonding patterns, an approach combining partial reduction and alkylation mitigated disulfide scrambling and allowed assignment of the array of disulfide bonds. The 4 disulfide bonds of lysozyme and the 19 disulfide bonds of serotransferrin were characterized through LC/UVPD-MS analysis of nonreduced and partially reduced protein digests.
vNetTracer: Efficient and Programmable Packet Tracing in Virtualized Networks

As the scale of cloud systems continues to grow, virtualized networks that provide connectivity between services within and across data centers, are becoming increasingly important to the performance and reliability of the cloud. Despite many advantages, including fast deployment, ease of management, and programmability, virtualized networks require additional layers of abstraction and complicate monitoring and diagnosis of performance issues compared to traditional networks on physical hardware. Virtualized networks usually connect components in multiple protection domains, such as a guest OS, the hypervisor, network bridges, and separate virtualized network functions. There is no efficient means to trace packet transmission across the boundaries. Furthermore, it is challenging to reason about the performance of dynamic virtualized networks. Therefore, fine-grained, user customizable, and reconfigurable network tracing becomes a great need. To address these challenges, we built vNetTracer, an efficient and programmable packet profiler for virtualized networks. vNetTracer relies on the extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) to dynamically insert user-defined trace programs into a live virtualized network without any changes to the applications or restarts of the monitored network. Through three case studies, we demonstrate the effectiveness of vNetTracer in diagnosing various virtualized networking problems.
ON THE MECHANISM FOR REPAIR OF CROSS-LINKED DNA IN E. coli TREATED WITH PSORALEN AND LIGHT

ABSTRACT This article describes our recent progress in studies on the mechanism of repair of cross-linked DNA in E. coli treated with psoralen and light. Some of the reactions involved in this complex repair sequence were carried out in permeabilized cells and in vitro with purified enzymes. Other studies in whole cells indicate that genetic recombination is involved in this sequence, and that successive repair events controlled by recA occur singly in time, in clusters that may correspond to domains of the folded chromosome.
Abstract 10: Rising Trend of Ischemic Stroke in the Young

Background: Stroke in patients under 45 years of age occurs less frequently than in older patients but its impact on the individual and society is greater. Recent studies have reported decreasing trends of acute ischemic stroke hospitalization. However, it is less clear what the trends are in different age groups and across different races. We sought to determine trends of ischemic stroke by age, gender and race in a large multi-ethnic population. Methods: Northern California Kaiser Permanente (KPNC) is a large multi-ethnic health care system that serves over 3 million members. Membership demographics, socio-economic and racial-ethnic distributions are representative of California. Study patients were identified by primary discharge ICD-9 codes (433.01, 433.11, 433.21, 433.31, 433.81, 433.91, 434.01, 434.11, 434.91 and 436) for the period of January 2000 - December 2008. Only one stroke per person per year was included in the analyses. Age-adjusted stroke rates standardized to the 2000 US Census population were calculated. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine trend data. Results: From 2000-2008, a total of 25,433 ischemic strokes and 28,438,488 person-years were included in the analyses. Age-adjusted rates of ischemic stroke decreased from 203 to 145 per 100,000 during this time (p Conclusions: While the overall trend in KPNC showed a decrease in age-adjusted rates for ischemic stroke from 2000-2008, this was mainly true for age ≥ 65 years. There was an alarming rise in the number of ischemic strokes among patients age 25-44 years. Further studies to assess the trends of vascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes are needed to identify future stroke prevention targets in this age group.
Telomerase Control by Epigenetic Processes in Cellular Senescence

Cellular senescence is a controversial process that can prevent age-related diseases such as cancer while also promoting the aging process. A number of genes, such as those of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, have been shown to be of high importance in this process. Telomerase is a crucial enzyme that plays a pivotal role in cellular senescence by maintaining the stability of the genome. Five components of telomerase have been discovered so far, namely hTERT which is the catalytic subunit of telomerase, hTR which provides the RNA template for hTERT, a protein termed dyskerin which binds to hTR, and two additional proteins termed pontin and reptin which can assist the assembly of telomerase. Genetic control of these genes in cellular senescence has been investigated widely and many advances have been made in understanding the basis of the control of these genes. Epigenetic processes are important mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes and epigenetic control has also been shown to play an important role in cellular senescence. Our current insights on telomerase control by epigenetic processes in cellular senescence are reviewed in this chapter.
The Psychodynamics of Messes: The Pioneering Work of Melanie Klein and Donald Winicott

This chapter discusses the work of the enormously influential child psychoanalyst Melanie Klein. It shows the psychological difficulties in merely acknowledging the existence of complex, messy systems, let alone in dealing with them. To put it mildly, this makes the recognition of the crises that are associated with complex, messy systems even more difficult. The chapter shows how our minds are organized in such a way that we characteristically split the world into “good” versus “bad guys and/or forces.” For instance, recently Mark Zuckerberg has claimed, “Old people can’t do tech.” Similar claims have been made that “tech is a man’s game.” Needless to say, this makes the treatment of complex, messy systems—not to mention crises—even messier and more complex. There is a deeper implication still of Klein’s work. For instance, Facebook has rightly been accused of undermining trust in our institutions as a result of its serving as a platform for Fake News, salacious ads, etc. Klein’s work shows who the initial source of trust is for humans. The point is the violation of trust stirs up feelings and emotions that lie deep in the makeup of humans. In short, technologists are messing around with forces of which they have very little understanding. It’s the stuff of an immense backlash against technology and technologists. Most importantly, Klein’s works show what we need to do to overcome such difficulties.
Outcomes Following Revision Joint Arthroplasty Among Hemodialysis-Dependent Patients

Abstract Background Hemodialysis (HD) dependence is known to impact the integrity of bone and has long been associated with metabolic bone disease and other adverse events postoperatively. The aim of this study is to analyze postoperative outcomes following revision hip and knee arthroplasty in hemodialysis-dependent (HDD) patients and to characterize the common indications for revision procedures among this patient population. Methods A total of 1779 HDD patients who underwent a revision joint arthroplasty (930 revision total knee arthroplasty [TKA] and 849 revision total hip arthroplasty [THA]) between 2005 and 2014 were identified from a retrospective database review. Our resulting study groups of revision TKA and THA HDD patients were compared to their respective matched control groups for hospital length of stay (LOS), 90-day mean total cost, hospital readmission, and other major medical and surgical complications. Results HD was significantly associated with increased LOS (7.7 ± 8.3 vs 4.8 ± 4.5; P Conclusion HD remains a significant risk factor for increased LOS, mean total cost, hospital readmission, septicemia, and mortality following revision joint arthroplasty.
Comparative Assessment of Widefield Fundus Autofluorescence Patterns in Retinoschisis and Retinal Detachment

Purpose:This article characterizes widefield fundus autofluorescence (WF-FAF) patterns in retinoschisis (RS), retinal detachment (RD), and combined retinoschisis-detachment (RS/RD), and to correlat...
Abstract P3-05-05: Imipramine, an FDA approved anti-depressant, suppresses triple negative breast cancer growth and progression through inhibition of FOXM1 and DNA repair pathways

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks effective targeted therapies with the main therapeutic option being cytotoxic chemotherapies, which have toxic side effects on patient9s health. Less toxic alternatives that could target key pathways that are altered in TNBCs could lead to better outcomes for the patients. Important distinguishing traits of TNBCs is the high amounts of genomic instability and high number of alterations in key proteins in DNA repair and cell proliferation that helps the cancer grow, survive and progress. Previous findings from our lab indicate that Imipramine Blue, a derivative of anti-depressant imipramine, may be a potential inhibitor of proliferation and DNA repair pathways in TNBC. Therefore, we tested the therapeutic efficacy of Imipramine on TNBCs using various in vitro assays for viability, migration, invasion as well as in vivo xenograft assays for tumor growth. Our results demonstrate that Imipramine inhibits cancer cell viability and progression in vitro. Similarly, in vivo xenograft assays showed reduced tumor growth in pre-clinical models upon imipramine treatment. Importantly, at the molecular level, Imipramine treatment suppressed key players in both cell proliferation, and DNA repair pathways, including FOXM1; a proto-oncogene that is a master regulator of both cell proliferation and DNA Repair pathways. These findings suggest that Imipramine may be a potential therapeutic option for TNBC patients. A clinical trial is ongoing to test the efficacy of Imipramine in Triple Negative Breast Cancer patients. Citation Format: Santosh Timilsina, Subapriya Rajamanickam, Ismail Jatoi, Yidong Chen, Ratna Vadlamudi, Virginia Kaklamani, Manjeet K. Rao. Imipramine, an FDA approved anti-depressant, suppresses triple negative breast cancer growth and progression through inhibition of FOXM1 and DNA repair pathways [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2975.
Weight discrimination inflates psychological health risk and academic impairment in sexual minority cisgender college students relative to their heterosexual peers.

This study examined whether exposure to weight discrimination modified the association between sexual orientation, self-reported eating disorders, self-reported depression and academic impairment i...
768-P: Perceived Burdens and Benefits Associated with Continuous Glucose Monitor Use in Type 1 Diabetes

Objective: To describe perceived burdens and benefits of continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use in CGM non-users vs. users with type 1 diabetes across the lifespan. Research Design and Methods: The Burdens of CGM (BurCGM) and Benefit of CGM (BenCGM) questionnaires were completed at clinic visits from Feb 2019 to Nov 2019. Mean scores were calculated (scale 1-5; higher score reflects greater perceived burdens and benefits). Data collected from medical records included demographic information, CGM and insulin pump use, and HbA1c within 3 months of the visit. Results: Participant characteristics (n=1143) and the 3 most common perceived CGM burdens (in non-CGM users) and benefits (in non-CGM users and CGM users) are shown in the Table. Individuals using real time (RT) and non-RT CGM described more benefits (mean scores 34.9 and 34.0) when compared to those who never used CGM (mean score 30.2) (p 9.0%. Conclusions: Cost is a barrier to CGM use, particularly in adults. In non-CGM users (vs. users), CGM was perceived as having less benefit and to be associated with pain and concern that readings cannot be trusted. Advocacy (for lower cost) and education are needed to address these barriers. Disclosure V. Divan: None. M. Greenfield: None. C.P. Morley: None. R.S. Weinstock: Board Member; Self; JDRF. Consultant; Self; Insulogic LLC. Research Support; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Diasome Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Kowa Research Institute, Inc., Medtronic, Tolerion, Inc. Funding Type 1 Diabetes Exchange QI Learning Collaborative
Retinoic acid synthesis and autoregulation mediate zonal patterning of vestibular organs and inner ear morphogenesis.

Retinoic acid (RA), a vitamin A (retinol) derivative, has pleiotropic functions during embryonic development. The synthesis of RA requires two enzymatic reactions: oxidation of retinol into retinaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) or retinol dehydrogenases (RDHs), and oxidation of retinaldehyde into RA by class 1A aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH1as), such as ALDH1a1, ALDH1a2, and ALDH1a3. Levels of RA in tissues are regulated by spatiotemporal expression patterns of genes encoding RA-synthesizing and degrading enzymes such as cytochrome P450 26 (Cyp26s). Here, we show that RDH10 is important for both sensory and non-sensory formation of the vestibule of the inner ear. Mice deficient for Rdh10 exhibit failure of utricle-saccule separation, otoconial formation, and zonal patterning of vestibular sensory organs. These phenotypes are similar to those of Aldh1a3 knockouts, and the sensory phenotype is complementary to that of Cyp26b1 knockouts. Together, these results demonstrate that RDH10 and ALDH1a3 are the key RA synthesis enzymes involved in vestibular development. Furthermore, we discovered that RA induces Cyp26b1 expression in the developing vestibular sensory organs, which generates the differential RA signaling required for zonal patterning.
Development of a new spacer grid pressure drop model in rod bundle for the post-dryout two-phase flow regime during reflood transients

Abstract Flow blockages such as the spacer grids play an important role in a two-phase flow system as they modify the flow and heat transfer behavior. Their existence, on the one hand, increase the turbulent mixing and heat transfer capability of fluid directly downstream; while on the other hand, create additional pressure loss within the system thus requiring a detailed and comprehensive understanding. In the present work, a new two-phase flow pressure drop correlation induced by spacer grids in the dispersed flow film boiling (DFFB) regime is developed based on the unique reflood experimental data obtained from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission/Pennsylvania State University rod bundle heat transfer test facility. The test conditions cover wide ranges of system parameters for two-phase flow system which can be used for model development. It is found that the most dominating system parameter is the mixture mass flow rate across the spacer grid location. As a result, the spacer grid loss coefficient is correlated with the mixture Reynolds number and a blockage geometry correction factor. The current correlation is found to significantly improve the prediction of the spacer grid pressure drop in the DFFB regime generally within a 25% error span, while the other exiting correlations failed to capture the two-phase flow hydraulic behavior involved during the reflood transients. The current correlation developed can be readily implemented into existing thermal-hydraulic analysis codes to further improve their prediction capabilities in the DFFB regime with the presence of flow blockages.
Building the Human Firewall: Combating Phishing through Collective Action of Individuals Using Leaderboards

Phishing is an increasing organizational threat that causes billions in losses and damage to productivity, trade secrets, and reputation each year. This work explores how organizations can use gamification techniques to improve phishing detection efforts by individuals to create a human firewall. We build on cognitive evaluation theory to begin a new area of inquiry in gamification of IT security. With three experiments in a mock work setting, we test leaderboard components of validation, attribution, incentives, and public presentation for improvements in experiential (e.g., motivation) and instrumental outcomes (e.g., hits and false positives) in phishing reporting. Our findings suggest public attribution with rewards and punishments best balance the competing necessities of accuracy with widespread reporting. Further, our results demonstrate leaderboards’ unique benefits to phishing reporting over and above other phishing mitigation techniques (training and warnings). However, we noted that unintended consequences in false alarms may arise from shifts in motivation resulting from public display of incentives.
Factors Associated with Caregiver Preferences for Children's Return to School during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to understand caregiver preferences for their children's instructional format for the start of the 2020 to 2021 academic year. The purpose of the current study was to assess caregiver preferences for on-campus versus virtual learning at home during the fall and factors associated with these preferences. Methods Participants were caregivers of 4436 children and adolescents who were enrolled in pre-kindergarten through high school at a large, public school district in Texas. Caregivers were asked to complete an anonymous, online survey about their initial preferences for their student's back to the school learning environment. Results Caregivers of high- and middle-school students were more likely to endorse a preference for an on-campus/virtual hybrid instructional format and less likely to endorse a preference for a traditional, face-to-face instructional format compared to caregivers of elementary school students. Regardless of the school level, concerns about child health and safety were the factor most strongly associated with caregiver preferences for on-campus versus virtual learning at home during the fall. Conclusions These data highlight the importance of school re-opening plans offering virtual options and addressing caregiver concerns about children's health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sphingolipid-Containing Outer Membrane Vesicles Serve as a Delivery Vehicle To Limit Macrophage Immune Response to Porphyromonas gingivalis.

ABSTRACT Sphingolipids (SLs) are essential structural components of mammalian cell membranes. Our group recently determined that the oral anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis delivers its SLs to host cells and that the ability of P. gingivalis to synthesize SLs limits the elicited host inflammatory response during cellular infection. As P. gingivalis robustly produces outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), we hypothesized that OMVs serve as a delivery vehicle for SLs, that the SL status of the OMVs may impact cargo loading to OMVs, and that SL-containing OMVs limit elicited host inflammation similar to that observed by direct bacterial challenge. Transwell cell culture experiments determined that in comparison to the parent strain W83, the SL-null mutant elicited a hyperinflammatory immune response from THP-1 macrophage-like cells with elevated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-6. Targeted assessment of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) identified elevated expression of TLR2, unchanged TLR4, and elevated expression of the adaptor molecules MyD88 and TRIF (Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor-inducing beta interferon) by SL-null P. gingivalis. No significant differences in gingipain activity were observed in our infection models, and both strains produced OMVs of similar sizes. Using comparative two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we identified differences in the protein cargo of the OMVs between parent and SL-null strain. Importantly, use of purified OMVs recapitulated the cellular inflammatory response observed in the transwell system with whole bacteria. These findings provide new insights into the role of SLs in P. gingivalis OMV cargo assembly and expand our understanding of SL-OMVs as bacterial structures that modulate the host inflammatory response.
Management of arch aneurysms with a single-branch thoracic endograft in zone 0.

Abstract Background We present preliminary data from a patient cohort undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair for Ishimaru zone 0 and 1 using a novel branched arch endograft. Methods This US multicenter early feasibility investigational device exemption clinical trial treated 9 patients with a mean age 72.8 ± 8.0 years (77.8% male). The endograft was designed with a single side branch designed to facilitate aortic coverage proximal to the innominate or left carotid artery while maintaining branch vessel patency. Pathology treated included fusiform (n = 2) or saccular (n = 7) aneurysm, with a maximum aortic diameter of 6.3 ± 0.7 cm. Treatment was into zone 0 in 8 patients, and zone 1 in 1 patient. Results All patients underwent initial successful first-stage supra-aortic trunk revascularization using a variety of techniques, without the occurrence of stroke. For the second thoracic endovascular aortic repair stage, median total treatment length was 20 cm. The primary end point of device delivery and branch vessel patency was achieved in 100% of patients, without 30-day mortality or spinal cord ischemia. Cerebrovascular events were observed in 2 patients through 30 days. No type I or III endoleaks were reported and all side branches were patent at 12-month imaging follow-up. Conclusions Endovascular repair of Ishimaru zone 0 or 1 arch aortic aneurysms can be achieved with a novel branched arch endograft. Future studies will evaluate the mid-term outcomes with this device in other pathologies and further define the occurrence of postoperative neurologic events.
Soft Microrobotic Transmissions Enable Rapid Ground-Based Locomotion

In this paper we present the design, fabrication, testing, and control of a 0.4 g milliscale robot employing a soft polymer flexure transmission for rapid ground movement. The robot was constructed through a combination of two methods: smart-composite-manufacturing (SCM) process to fabricate the actuators and robot chassis, and silicone elastomer molding and casting to fabricate a soft flexure transmission. We actuate the flexure transmission using two customized piezoelectric (PZT) actuators that attach to the transmission inputs. Through high-frequency oscillations, the actuators are capable of exciting vibrational resonance modes of the transmission which result in motion amplification on the transmission output. Directional spines on the transmission output generate traction force with the ground and drive the robot forward. By varying the excitation frequency of the soft transmission we can control locomotion speed, and when the transmission is oscillated at its resonance frequency we achieve high speeds with a peak speed of 439 mm/s (22 body lengths/s). By exciting traveling waves through the soft transmission, we were able to control the steering direction. Overall this paper demonstrates the feasibility of generating resonance behavior in millimeter scale soft robotic structures to achieve high-speed controllable locomotion.
Neoadjuvant versus concurrent androgen deprivation therapy plus radiotherapy for unfavorable intermediate-risk and high-risk prostate cancer with low PSA

243Background: Dose-escalated radiotherapy (RT) with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard definitive treatment for localized prostate cancer (LPCa), but the optimal sequencing of hormon...
Employee Job Search: Toward an Understanding of Search Context and Search Objectives

Job search behaviors occur across various contexts, involving diverse populations of job seekers searching for employment opportunities. In particular, individuals may search for their first jobs following a period of education, may seek reemployment following job loss, or may search for new opportunities while currently employed. Research in each of these contexts has evolved somewhat separately, yet there is value to applying the ideas and findings from one search context to other search contexts. The purpose of this article is to review the prior research in each of the three job search contexts and offer an integrative analysis of the predictors, processes, consequences, and varying objectives of job search behavior across an individual’s potential employment situations (i.e., new entrant, job loser, employed job seeker). Implications for future research on job search behavior are discussed