cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of radiolabeled GLP-1 receptor agonists as PET tracers for pancreatic β-cell imaging

388 Objectives The Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a 30 amino acid hormone produced in L-cells in the intestines. GLP-1 has been identified as an important mediator to induce the release of insulin in a glucose-dependent manner. Exenatide is a FDA approved synthetic drug of exendin-4, a known agonist for the GLP-1 receptor. In this study, 64Cu and 68Ga radiolabeled DOTA and NOTA analogues of Exenatide were used for preclinical imaging of pancreatic β-cells via targeting of GLP-1R. Methods DOTA and NOTA-Exenatide compounds were labeled with 64Cu and 68Ga using standard techniques. In vitro stability studies were conducted in rat serum at 37oC. Biodistribution studies and PET scans were carried out using normal Sprague-Dawley rats and organs of interest were harvested and counted after each time points. In vivo blocking studies were conducted by co-injecting unlabeled Exenatide (agonist) and Exendin-(9-39)-amide (antagonist) to SD rats. Ex vivo autoradiography imaging was conducted with freshly frozen pancreatic thin sections from both blocked and unblocked animals. Results Serum studies indicated that all compounds were highly stable. Biodistribution data indicated a similar uptake in pancreatic islets within the range of 0.1-0.3 %ID/g with 68Ga-NOTA-Exenatide having the highest uptake (0.26 ± 0.03 % ID/g). Both Exenatide and Exendin-(9-39)-amide successfully displaced the radiolabeled DOTA/NOTA-Exenatide with 48 to 88% decrease of the pancreatic uptake compared to the unblocked control. Conclusions DOTA/NOTA-Exenatide analogues can be used as a PET imaging agent specific for GLP-1R which is expressed on β-cells. Out of the four radiopharmaceuticals compared, 68Ga-NOTA-Exenatide resulted in the best accumulation and specific binding to the GLP-1R. Research Support This work was supported by US Department of Energy Integrated Research Training Program of Excellence in Radiochemistry (DE-SC00002032).
Gaza everywhere: exploring the applicability of a rhetorical lens in HCI

By examining application software as a type of rhetorical artifact, it is possible to highlight its social, ethical and moral implications. In this paper, we explore one possibility for such a lens: application software functioning as a visual enthymeme. To explore the applicability of that concept in HCI, we analyze one web application as a first step. In our analysis, we observe that interaction and usability are two features that support an application in functioning as a visual enthymeme. Also, online sharing could help the user take the role of the arguer. Our analysis allows us to outline the elements of a user-centric persuasive experience and shows promise for further explorations regarding the applicability of rhetoric in HCI.
Immunogenicity of Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine in Children with CKD

Abstract Background and objectives There is a disproportionate burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) –related genital tract disease in patients with CKD and kidney transplantation; therefore, the potential effect of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil; Merck GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany) is profound. Immune abnormalities associated with CKD and immunosuppression may prevent optimal vaccine response. Our objective was to determine antibody response to the HPV vaccine in adolescent girls with CKD. Design, setting, participants, & measurements This cohort study conducted from 2008 to 2012 included 57 girls aged 9–21 years old with CKD ( n =25), on dialysis ( n =9), or with status postkidney transplantation ( n =23) who received the standard three–dose vaccine series of the HPV vaccine recruited from two pediatric nephrology clinics. Antibody levels to HPV genotypes 6, 11, 16, and 18 were measured before vaccine dose 1 (baseline), Results Antibody response to all four HPV genotypes was 100% in the CKD and dialysis groups with samples drawn at P =0.003), 11 (63.6%; P =0.003), and 18 (72.7%; P =0.02) and blood draw 3 for HPV genotypes 6 (62.5%; P =0.02), 11 (50%; P =0.001), 16 (75%; P =0.04), and 18 (50%; P =0.001). Conclusions Antibody response to the quadrivalent recombinant HPV vaccine was robust and sustained in girls and young women with CKD and on dialysis. A less robust response to the vaccine was observed among those with a kidney transplant. Additional study is needed to determine if vaccination before kidney transplantation or an alternative vaccination regimen would benefit transplant recipients.
Unintended consequences--the cost of preventing preterm births after FDA approval of a branded version of 17OHP.

The recent approval by the Food and Drug Administration of Makena, a new version of progesterone 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, will drive up the drug's cost about 100-fold, with minimal added clinical benefit.
Précis of Flicker: Your Brain on Movies

This article is a precis of the book Flicker: Your Brain on Movies (Zacks 2014). Flicker aims to introduce a broad readership to the psychology and neuroscience that underlies their experience in the movie theatre. The book's topics include including: emotional experience, adaptation from texts to films, memory and propaganda, movie violence, film editing, and brain stimulation. Cutting across the specific topics are a few broad themes: the evolution of the brain and mind, the role of automatically evoked responses in film viewing, and the role of behavioral and neural plasticity in everyday experience.
Stabilizing Fiber-Based Cell Delivery Devices by Physically Bonding Adjacent Fibers

Non-woven meshes of polyglycoiic acid (PGA) fibers are attractive candidates to transplant cells and engineer new tissue. However, these devices typically lack the structural stability to resist compressive forces, and collapse in vivo. To determine whether these devices could be stabilized by physically bonding adjacent PGA fibers, we have sprayed solutions of poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and a 50/50 copolymer of poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) dissolved in chloroform over PGA meshes formed into hollow tubes. After the chloroform evaporated, the PLLA and PLGA formed a coating over the PGA fibers and bonded adjacent fibers. The pattern and extent of fiber bonding was found to depend on both the concentration of polymer in the spraying solution, and the total mass of polymer sprayed on the device. The compression resistance of sprayed devices increased with increasing extent of bonding, and devices bonded with PLLA resisted compressive forces better than devices bonded with PLGA. For example, under a compressive force of 200 mN, devices sprayed with PLLA compressed approximately 20%, while devices sprayed with PLGA were completely crushed. To determine whether stabilized devices such as these can guide the development of neointestine and neocartilage by transplanted cells, intestinal cells and chondrocytes have been attached to PLLA bonded devices and transplanted into experimental animals.
A brief summary on formalizing parallel tensor distributions redistributions and algorithm derivations.

Large-scale datasets in computational chemistry typically require distributed-memory parallel methods to perform a special operation known as tensor contraction. Tensors are multidimensional arrays, and a tensor contraction is akin to matrix multiplication with special types of permutations. Creating an efficient algorithm and optimized im- plementation in this domain is complex, tedious, and error-prone. To address this, we develop a notation to express data distributions so that we can apply use automated methods to find optimized implementations for tensor contractions. We consider the spin-adapted coupled cluster singles and doubles method from computational chemistry and use our methodology to produce an efficient implementation. Experiments per- formed on the IBM Blue Gene/Q and Cray XC30 demonstrate impact both improved performance and reduced memory consumption.
Self-Reflexive Inquiry into Language Use and Beliefs: Toward More Expansive Language Ideologies.

ABSTRACTThe pedagogical innovation of this study is self-reflexive inquiry into language, culture, and identity. This work was conducted in a course on Cultural Diversity and Education serving 76 culturally and linguistically diverse undergraduate students, many of whom planned to become teachers. Through analysis of a Personal Language Inventory and other assignments and surveys, we surface the range of beliefs these diverse students hold about language, prompted by reflective activities, including the impact of their experiences with linguicism and the tensions and variations they report on dominant language ideologies. We highlight potential openings for transformation and argue that a deep understanding of the often-unexposed language ideologies of potential teachers before and as they enter teacher preparation programs is a necessary first step toward developing coursework and experiences that will help guide them toward more expansive views of language. Such expansive views may impact future teacher...
Performance Improvement of Probabilistic Transcriptions with Language-specific Constraints

Abstract This article describes a method for reducing the error rate of probabilistic phone-based transcriptions resulting from mismatched crowdsourcing by using language-specific constraints to post-process the phone sequence. In the scenario under consideration, there are no native-language transcriptions or pronunciation dictionary available in the test language; instead, available resources include non-native transcriptions, a rudimentary rule-based G2P, and a list of orthographic word forms mined from the internet. The proposed solution post-processes non-native transcriptions by converting them to test-language orthography, composing with testlanguage word forms, then converting back to a phone string. Experiments demonstrate that the phone error rate of the transcription is reduced, using this method, by 22% on an independent evaluation-test dataset.
Transit States: Labour, Migration and Citizenship in the Gulf

Transit States: Labour, Migration and Citizenship in the Gulf represents a timely, critical contribution to studies of migration and citizenship in the Gulf. While most of the literature posits GCC...
PET/CT in RT Planning

Radiation therapy is a key component of combined modality therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In an effort to improve the therapeutic ratio and prevent late effects, radiation fields designed to encompass entire lymph node regions have recently been replaced with conformal methods of target volume delineation, known as involved-site radiation therapy (ISRT) and involved-node radiation therapy (INRT). Due to an increased risk of marginal misses with these new approaches, FDG-PET has become a critical aspect of modern radiation therapy planning, given its ability to identify areas of disease overlooked on CT. However, there are many challenges inherent to using PET for radiation planning. The current standard is a qualitative visual method, whereby PET/CT images are fused to the planning CT and the radiation oncologist contours target volumes using information from both image sets. Although not always possible, this method is best applied with input from an experienced radiologist or nuclear medicine physician given the complex nature of PET imaging and high rates of false positives. Due to a significant degree of inter- and intra-observer variability with this method, an effort has been made to explore the use of automated segmentation methods, which vary from simple standardized uptake value (SUV) cutoffs to more complex algorithms that incorporate signal-to-background ratios and sophisticated edge detection methodologies. This chapter covers the role of PET/CT in radiation planning for HL including automated and semiautomated contouring methods and the common pitfalls and artifacts in PET that are relevant when applied to radiation planning.
The Hierarchy of Models in Simulation

This paper focuses on the role of the computer in helping to manage mathe-matically unsolvable sets of equations that arise within models in the physical sciences. The study of these models often consists in developing representations of the underlying physics on a computer, and using the techniques of computer simulation in order to learn about the behavior of these systems. I argue that this process of transformation, which involves a hierarchy of models, is also a process of knowledge creation, and it has its own epistemology. Accordingly, I urge philosophers of science to examine more carefully the process of theory articulation, the process by which a general theory is made to conform to a particular application. It is a relatively neglected aspect of scientific practice, but it plays a role that is often as crucial, as complex, and as creative as theorizing and experimenting. Indeed, my conclusion will be that we now need a new philosophy of simulation to complement recent work on the philosophy of experiment.
Structure, Expression and Function of Mouse Laminin

Basement membranes are thin extracellular matrices that separate epithelial and endothelial cells from underlaying stroma (Kefalides, 1973; Timpl and Martin, 1982). At the ultrastructural level, different zones are observed in the basement membrane including an electron dense zone, the lamina densa, and adjacent to it less electron dense zones, the lamina lucida. Basement membranes have diverse functions including forming barriers to the passage of proteins as well as of cells (Kefalides, 1979). They also play important roles in embryogenesis by delineating the developing tissues and by mediating the adhesion, growth, and differentiation of muscle, and peripheral nerve as well as of a variety of epithelial cells and organs.
Rectal prolapse: rare presentation and complication

An 86-year-old female presented with the first episode of an incarcerated full thickness rectal prolapse, concerning for ischemia of the prolapsed segment. Intra-operatively, the patient was noted to have an enterocele containing a 20-25 cm segment of strangulated and perforated small bowel. She underwent a perineal rectosigmoidectomy (altemeier procedure) with levatorplasty followed by a small bowel resection and anastomosis trans-abdominally.
Subspace filters and polar bases for spaces of symmetric multilinear functions

AbstractLet V be a finite dimensional complex vector space, and for each positive integer n let denote the vector space whose elements are the complex valued symmetric n-linear functions on (n-copies). If , that is, f is a linear functional on V, then we define the symmetric n-linear function by for all . It is well known that the elements , known as polar elements, span . A basis for consisting entirely of polar elements is a polar basis. We present a surprisingly simple recursive algorithm for the generation of polar bases. Explicit stand alone formulas for polar bases are also presented. One such explicit basis is so natural that it should probably be called the canonical polar basis for . We introduce the notion of subspace filter and show that each subspace filter of order n provides polar bases for all of the spaces simultaneously, and we extend this result to the entire symmetric algebra .
Abstract 396: Diet-derived Lysophosphatidic Acid and Obesity-associated Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Diet-dependent obesity is a risk factor for coronary artery disease and a powerful risk factor for some cancers particularly in women. One mechanism that has been proposed to link diet-dependent obesity to disease is that diets high in fats and lipids promote the formation of bioactive lipid metabolites that increase disease risk. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a family of bioactive lysophospholipids that elicit broadly mitogenic and proinflammatory responses in multiple cell types, primarily through actions at cell surface G-protein coupled receptors. LPA promotes vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation and migration, decreases vascular barrier endothelial function, activates platelets and myeloid cells all of which could contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. In mice, genetic and pharmacological targeting of LPA receptors inhibits atherosclerosis. We conducted studies to investigate the impact of fasting and high fat feeding on circulating levels, metabolic sources and distribution of plasma LPA in both humans and mice. After overnight fasting, blood was drawn from human volunteers to obtain baseline LPA levels before being given a drink supplemented with fats to provide approximately 50% of daily energy requirement. Blood was subsequently drawn at intervals to prepare plasma. In mice, after overnight fasting, the animals were gavaged with olive oil either with or without a tracer phosphatidylcholine. These studies were extended to mice with genetically induced hyperlipidemia fed models of diet. Changes in plasma LPA levels were measured by using HPLC ESI multistage mass spectrometry. We found that plasma LPA levels in mice and humans are acutely sensitive to fasting and high fat feeding. In mice plasma LPA levels are dramatically increased by a combination of feeding a high fat atherogenic diet and genetic induction of hyperlipidemia by inactivation of the LDLr or apoE genes. In addition, in mice, plasma LPA can be formed from dietary phosphatidylcholine. These results provide support for the concept that high fat atherogenic diets promote the formation of circulating LPA and have led to development and characterization of mouse models that can be used to define the role of LPA in obesity in other disease processes including cancer.
Secrecy DoF of Blind MIMOME Wiretap Channel With Delayed CSIT

We study the Gaussian multiple-input multiple-output multiple-eavesdropper wiretap channel where a transmitter wishes to communicate a confidential message to a legitimate receiver in the presence of eavesdroppers. Each node in the network is equipped with an arbitrary number of antennas. Furthermore, channels are time varying, and there is no channel state information available at the transmitter (CSIT) with respect to eavesdroppers' channels; and transmitter only has access to delayed CSIT of the channel to the legitimate receiver. The secure degrees of freedom (SDoF) for such a network has only been characterized for special cases, and is unknown in general. We completely characterize the SDoF of this network for all antenna configurations. In particular, we strictly improve the state-of-the-art achievable scheme for this network by proposing more efficient artificial noise alignment at the receivers. Furthermore, we develop a tight upper bound by utilizing three important inequalities that provide lower bounds on the received signal dimensions at receivers which supply delayed CSIT or no CSIT. These inequalities together allow for analysis of signal dimensions in networks with heterogeneous CSIT; and as a result, we present a converse proof that leads to characterization of SDoF for all possible antenna configurations.
Victorian Visions: Literary Imaginings of Social (In)Justice in the Later Nineteenth Century

Following the Industrial Revolution, Victorian culture was transformed into a highly mechanized society that cultural critics such as Thomas Carlyle, Matthew Arnold and John Ruskin openly deplored. Victorian artists, writers, and inventors began to imagine different possibilities and alternative worlds that might counter the modernity of the mid-nineteenth century; they envisioned plans for new communities that could revitalize the industrialized culture and reinvigorate a stultified people. This chapter details a course that considers a series of later nineteenth-century dys/utopian, science fiction, and lost world texts that offer visions for new future possibilities. In these texts, the class can address specific social justice issues of the late-Victorian period, such as the Woman Question and the suffragette movement, labor inequalities and the widening gap between rich and poor, the emergence of modern raciology and the rise of eugenics, and looming ecological disaster. The visionary texts of the course demonstrate how literature can help both to confront prominent social justice concerns and generate alternative future worlds.
Safety of intravenous lacosamide in critically ill children.

Abstract Purpose Acute seizures are common in critically ill children. These patients would benefit from intravenous anti-seizure medications with few adverse effects. We reviewed the usage and effects of intravenous lacosamide in critically ill children with seizures or status epilepticus. Methods This retrospective series included consecutive patients who received at least one dose of intravenous lacosamide from April 2011 to February 2016 in the pediatric intensive care unit of a quaternary care children's hospital, including patients with new lacosamide initiation and continuation of outpatient oral lacosamide. Dosing and prescribing practices were reviewed. Adverse effects were defined by predefined criteria, and most were evaluated during the full admission. Results We identified 51 intensive care unit admissions (47 unique patients) with intravenous lacosamide administration. Lacosamide was utilized as a third or fourth-line anti-seizure medication for acute seizures or status epilepticus in the lacosamide-naive cohort. One patient experienced bradycardia and one patient experienced a rash that were considered potentially related to lacosamide. No other adverse effects were identified, including no evidence of PR interval prolongation. Conclusions Lacosamide was well tolerated in critically ill children. Further study is warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of earlier lacosamide use for pediatric status epilepticus and acute seizures.
An Experimental Investigation Of The Mean And Dynamic Tensions In Towed Strumming Cables

The mean hydrodynamic drag is shown analytically to playa critical role in the deployment of small-diameter lightweight cables. To examine this parameter, cable tensions accompanied by strumming were measured in a towing tank. Mean hydrodynamic tensions were found in excellent agreement with predictions based on Taylor's analogy. Augmentation of tangential drag coefficients due to strumming of up to 50% were measured, in excellent agreement with similar heat transfer measurements under lateral excitation. Large fluctuations in tension were measured and found to be due to strumming. Excellent theoretical and experimental agreement is reported. These fluctuations increase with cable length and may be important for the integrity and stability of long cables. Strumming was observed over the entire speed range. In the speed range of transition between the lower and next higher natural frequency, simultaneous excitation of significant amplitudes was observed for both modes in their spectral and times series records.
Genetics and the phylogeny of insect-plant interactions

Two salient features of phytophagous insects are the subjects of this paper: the host specificity (specialization) that all species display, often to an extraordinary degree; and the phylogenetic conservatism of host associations, manifested in the frequent association of related insects with related plants. Both features are frequently attributed to the genetically determined behavioral and physiological responses of insects to plants’secondary compounds. Phylogenetic conservatism of diet is presumed to arise from the greater ease with which insects will adapt to plants that are chemically similar to their ancestral hosts than those that are dissimilar (Ehrlich & Raven, 1964). This hypothesis, a specific instance of Darwin’s presumption that natura non facit saltum,assumes the existence of lineage-specific, historically determined developmental or genetic constraints. Although we can readily appreciate such constraints in the evolution of morphology -- we do not expect beetles to evolve a lepidopteran proboscis in a single step -- we know so little of the neurobiology and biochemistry of insects that we cannot readily specify which plants might lie within the adaptive scope of an insect lineage, and which do not. Likewise, host plant specialization, exemplified by cases of related species that have diverged in host affiliation and therefore have abandoned an ancestral host in favor of another, is often attributed to constraints on the capacity to process different plant allelochemicals, a constraint that is frequently termed a “trade-off”(Futuyma & Moreno, 1988; Jaenike, 1990).
Soviet Science in the Materials World

My presentation will cover Soviet metallurgy and metallurgical engineering education at the Diploma level, research and development at the Candidat level, and touch briefly on the Soviet Doctorate. An evaluation will also be made of research and development at the professional level (Academy facilities as well as industrial facilities).
Simultaneous Large Mode Index and High Quality Factor in Infrared Hyperbolic Metamaterials

Semiconductor hyperbolic metamaterials comprise alternating doped (metal) and undoped (dielectric) subwavelength semiconductor layers. These materials support high wavevector modes called volume plasmon polaritons. Here, we investigate the quality and modal indices of volume plasmon polaritons in three semiconductor systems: Si:InGaAs/InAlAs, Si:InAs/GaSb, and Si:InAs/AlSb. We are able to demonstrate modal indices as high as 15, which is higher than any other artificial hyperbolic metamaterial within its respective wavelength range. We achieve this while maintaining quality factors as high as 14, comparable to those same material systems. Understanding of how the material combinations of these semiconductor hyperbolic metamaterials affect the volume plasmon polaritons provides the groundwork for the development of tunable, low-loss, infrared optoelectronic devices.
A Tale of Two Trademarks: A US Analysis of the Protection Strategies of adidas and Converse

Each day consumers are presented with numerous advertisements and marketing communications regarding goods and services. To break through the clutter, strong brands must have products and services that are distinguishable to consumers. Unfortunately, as brands seek to become more identifiable, they may be confronted with competing products that will use similar names, packaging or slogans to influence consumer purchase decisions. One of the best strategies to combat unfair marketing tactics by competitors is through the registration and protection of a trademark.Recently, adidas and Converse have been characterized as being aggressive in their trademark protection strategies. Using these companies as a foundation, the purpose of this article is to provide guidance to sport brands regarding trademark enforcement and protection. First, the authors discuss the history of adidas and Converse and their approaches to trademark protection. Next, the strategies of these companies are compared and contrasted. Lastly, the authors provide recommendations to sport brands regarding best trademark protection practices.
Patient Priorities for Research Involving Peritoneal Dialysis.

In any routine meeting of patients on dialysis with their nephrologist, the topic of discussion is usually dominated by an assessment of how well recent laboratory work falls into the desired ranges. There is good reason for this quantitative approach, but when dealing with patients who live every
Gastrointestinal Health and Healthy Aging

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common in older adults. Age-related changes in gastrointestinal function and an increase in the prevalence of diseases that impact gastrointestinal function, including diabetes and polypharmacy, all play a role. US census data from 2005 revealed that approximately 50% of people over the age of 65 had at least one GI complaint severe enough to merit an annual medical visit [1]. In the United States, the number of residents aged 65 years or older will double from the current 47 million to more than 90 million in 2060 [2]. These demographic changes will result in an increasing number of GI disorders requiring care. Common GI problems seen in older adults include swallowing disorders, reflux disease, constipation, pill esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder disease, diverticular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and GI cancers. In this chapter, we will address approaches which promote healthy aging by preventing, identifying, and treating common GI complaints in older adults.
DNA Stable Isotope Probing to Examine Organisms Involved in Biodegradation

In situ applications of molecular biology to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have advanced the study of activities of microorganisms without the need for cultivation. DNA-based fingerprinting tools, such as 16S-TTGE, T-RFLP, DGGE, or pyrosequencing, facilitate in assessing pesticide impacts on microbial community composition. Quantitative PCR or functional gene microarrays help us understand effects of pesticides on genes of interest. Such tools improve our understanding of environmental impacts on microbial phylogeny or function, though few can link a specific organism to its function in situ. Stable isotope probing (SIP) emerged specifically to provide this linkage. SIP approaches vary in sensitivity, specificity, and inference space, depending on biomolecules targeted to obtain phylogenetic information. Combining SIP with “omics” tools further characterizes responses of microbial communities to environmental events. Herein we have reviewed strengths and weaknesses of common SIP techniques, with emphasis on the ecology of pesticide degradation.
Polyurethane Aerogels based on Cyclodextrins: High-Capacity Desiccants Regenerated at Room Temperature by Reducing the Relative Humidity of the Environment

Polyurethane aerogels were prepared from a rigid aromatic triisocyanate (tris(4-isocyanatophenyl)methane) and cage-shaped α- and β-cyclodextrins as rigid polyols. Gelation was carried out in DMF us...
The Story so Far

This chapter provides a summary of the major issues so far. It identifies the hazards posed by railroads, assesses the casualty rates, looks at trends in those rates, makes comparisons with comparable hazards in other industries or elsewhere in society, and reflects on how people react to the hazards. The five major railroad hazards considered are (in no particular order): fatalities to highway users at grade crossings; trespasser fatalities, fatalities to train crews in collisions and derailments and during coupling operations; occupational injuries to maintenance employees; and releases of hazardous materials.
Understanding neighborhood isolation through spatial interaction network analysis using location big data

Hidden biases of racial and socioeconomic preferences shape residential neighborhoods throughout the USA. Thereby, these preferences shape neighborhoods composed predominantly of a particular race ...
The otic microbiota and mycobiota in a referral population of dogs in eastern USA with otitis externa

Background Canine otitis externa (OE) is a common inflammatory disease that is frequently complicated by secondary bacterial and/or yeast infections. The otic microbial population is more complex than appreciated by cytological methods and aerobic culture alone. Hypothesis/objectives Differences in bacterial and fungal populations of the external ear canal will correlate with specific cytological and culture-based definitions of bacterial and Malassezia otitis. Animals Forty client-owned dogs; 30 with OE and 10 with healthy ears. Methods and materials Prospective study comparing cytological samples, aerobic bacterial cultures and culture-independent sequencing-based analyses of the external ear canal. Subjects with OE included 10 dogs with only cocci [≥25/high power field (HPF)] on cytological evaluation and culture of Staphylococcus spp.; 10 dogs with rods (≥25/HPF) and exclusive culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 10 dogs with only yeast on cytological results morphologically compatible with Malassezia spp. (≥5/HPF). Results Staphylococcus was the most abundant taxa across all groups. Ears cytologically positive for cocci had decreased diversity, and all types of OE were associated with decreased fungal diversity compared to controls. Conclusions and clinical importance Cytological and culture-based assessment of the ear canal is not predictive of the diverse microbiota of the ear canal in cases of Pseudomonas or Malassezia otitis. Less abundant bacterial taxa in cases of staphylococcal OE are worth scrutiny for future biological therapy.
Bone-Muscle Mutual Interactions.

The purpose of this review is to describe the current state of our thinking regarding bone-muscle interactions beyond the mechanical perspective. Recent and prior evidence has begun to dissect many of the molecular mechanisms that bone and muscle use to communicate with each other and to modify each other’s function. Several signaling factors produced by muscle and bone have emerged as potential mediators of these biochemical/molecular interactions. These include muscle factors such as myostatin, Irisin, BAIBA, IL-6, and the IGF family and the bone factors FGF-23, Wnt1 and Wnt3a, PGE2, FGF9, RANKL, osteocalcin, and sclerostin. The identification of these signaling molecules and their underlying mechanisms offers the very real and exciting possibility that new pharmaceutical approaches can be developed that will permit the simultaneous treatments of diseases that often occur in combination, such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia.
Synthetic auxotrophy remains stable after continuous evolution and in co-culture with mammalian cells

Abstract Understanding the evolutionary stability and possible context-dependence of biological containment techniques is critical as engineered microbes are increasingly under consideration for applications beyond biomanufacturing. While batch cultures of synthetic auxotrophic Escherichia coli previously exhibited undetectable escape throughout 14 days of monitoring, the long-term effectiveness of synthetic auxotrophy is unknown. Here, we report automated continuous evolution of a synthetic auxotroph using custom chemostats that supply a decreasing concentration of essential biphenylalanine (BipA). After 100 days of evolution in three separate trials, populations exhibit no observable escape and are capable of normal growth rates at 10-fold lower BipA concentration than the ancestral synthetic auxotroph. Allelic reconstruction of three proteins implicated in small molecule transport reveals their contribution to increased fitness at low BipA concentrations. Mutations do not appear in orthogonal translation machinery nor in synthetic auxotrophic markers. Based on its evolutionary stability, we introduce the progenitor synthetic auxotroph directly to mammalian cell culture. We observe containment of bacteria without detrimental effects on HEK293T cells. Overall, our findings reveal that synthetic auxotrophy is effective on timescales and in contexts that enable diverse applications. One Sentence Summary To ascertain whether life inevitably finds a way, we continuously evolve an Escherichia coli strain that was not able to escape from engineered biocontainment before, and we find that it does not escape even after 100 days of evolution, nor does it escape when added to mammalian cell culture.
A Comparison of Elementary Foreign Language Programs in China and the USA

This study presents comparisons regarding current elementary foreign language programs in China and the USA. The design features a comparative analysis approach combined with deductive thematic analysis to collect, analyze, and compare relevant data. Data were collected from samples such as governmental documents, organizational guidelines, national statistical reports, published scholarly works, audiovisual materials, and textbooks. Preceding the research, primary categories were identified, used to group data, and then look for similarities and differences. Categories for comparison were: (a) program types, (b) curriculum standards, (c) instructional methods, and (d) assessments. Results indicated US programs could benefit from consistency, widespread support and demand, state-to-state organization and/or alignment, equitable teaching materials, and attention to all student populations. China’s program, while organized, could benefit from more authentic, real-life-context, other-culture-oriented practices, flexibility, and deeper, genuine information about English-speaking countries’ cultures. This research contributes to scholarly conversations regarding comparisons of elementary foreign language teaching in China and the USA, while also supporting worldwide comparisons and exchange of ideas.
Using Rasch analysis to evaluate the psychometric functioning of the other-directed, lighthearted, intellectual, and whimsical (OLIW) adult playfulness scale

Abstract It is important for instruments measuring playfulness constructs to be valid and reliable because these instruments help inform playfulness-related theories. This study uses Rasch psychometric techniques to evaluate the functioning of the OLIW instrument (Proyer, 2017a), a questionnaire that assesses four adult playfulness traits (Other-directed, Lighthearted, Intellectual, and Whimsical). Results confirm that the instrument measures four discrete traits. Analyses of the rating scale suggest acceptable scale functioning. The item hierarchy observed on each Rasch Wright Map provides new details regarding the definition of each construct (e.g. what it means for a person to be at various locations along each construct). Potential changes to future versions of the instrument are discussed.
Comparison of Pharmacists’ Scoring of Fall Risk to Other Fall Risk Assessments

ABSTRACT Objectives Given their professional education and participation within the healthcare system, pharmacists are ideal candidates to assess drug-associated fall risk for patients. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if pharmacists can quantitatively differentiate individuals who reported falling within the previous year (Fallers) from those who do not (Non-fallers), and to compare the pharmacist evaluation with two recently published fall risk assessments. Design Cross-sectional design of pharmacists’ assessments of fall risk. Setting and Participants Six licensed pharmacists evaluated patient records from WAVE 1 of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) dataset using generic drug list (drug counts), age, and body mass index (BMI) to generate a Pharmacist Risk Score (PRS) based on these variables. Pharmacists were allowed to use drug information resources and were provided with a simple 5-point scale to assist them in scoring patients. Outcome Measures The fall risk assessments: PRS, drug counts, Medication-based Index of Physical Function (MedIP), Quantitative Drug Index (QDI), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) were compared for their capacity to differentiate Fallers from Non-fallers. Results Each fall risk assessment was highly correlated (p 0.001). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was significant for each assessment. Comparison of ROC area under the curve for the fall risk assessments found no significant difference between the PRS and other assessments. Conclusion Fall risk assessment by pharmacists was comparable to other fall risk assessments in distinguishing Fallers from Non-fallers.
Optical Network Devices

Research and development on optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networkshave matured considerably over the past few years, and a number of experimental prototypes have been deployed and are being tested in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. It is anticipated that the next generation of the Internet will employ WDM-based optical backbones.
Abstract 2229: CD117 expression and activation in prostate cancer progression

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA We have demonstrated that CD117/c-kit expression on circulating tumor cells and in primary tumors correlates with advanced disease in prostate cancer patients. In addition, the ligand for CD117, stem cell factor (SCF) is increased in high-grade prostate cancer patients. To examine the effects of CD117 activation and expression on prostate cancer progression, we sorted CD117 positive and negative RM1 murine prostate cancer cells and LNCaP-C4-2 human prostate cancer cells. Sorted cells were then examined for tumorigenicity, proliferation, cell signaling, cell migration, angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. A xenograft model demonstrated that CD117 positive LNCaP-C4-2 tumors generate larger tumors characterized by increased vascularization and proliferation. In vitro, SCF induced CD117 activation results in altered cell signaling, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In addition, in vivo imaging of tumor growth demonstrated changes in tumor cell organization between CD117 positive and negative cell populations. In summary, CD117 expression and activation enhances prostate cancer progression. Citation Format: Bethany Kerr. CD117 expression and activation in prostate cancer progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2229. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2229
The Right to Self-Government After Bush v. Gore

Critics and defenders of the Supreme Court alike have supposed that in Bush v. Gore the Justices were motivated by conventional political instincts, selecting a President whose political ideology was closer to their own and repaying political debts to those who had conferred so much honor and power on them by appointing them to the Court. While the authors of this paper do not share that suspicion, they also do not credit the Justices with having made an earnest effort to conform their decision to the Constitution of the United States. Their keenest disappointment is with the performance of Justice Antonin Scalia, who has so long and ardently presented himself as an advocate of the self-restraint required by judges participating in a republican form of government. The authors first review Justice Scalia's utterances of principles with many of which they are in agreement. They then measure his performance in Bush v. Gore against the standards he has proclaimed for himself.
Friedreich’s ataxia and cardiac disease

1. A case is described of angina pectoris and Friedreich’s ataxia in a young female aged 29 years in whom the condition was first noticed when she was 26 years of age. 2. A review of the literature is also given.
¿Qué es un texto? Una teoría pragmática

“What is a Text? A Pragmatic Theory”. The paper begins by defending a principleof procedural individualism according to which meanings are always subjectiveor inter-subjective. Texts do not have meanings in themselves, but rather areobjects to which individuals attach various meanings. Then the paper deploysthis analysis of meaning to address debates about textuality. It considers thestability of the text: although texts are indeterminate in that future individualsmight attach unforeseen meanings to them, they have determinate content atany given time in that the meanings people have then attached to them arefixed. And it considers the relationship of textual meaning to authorial meaning:authors and readers alike attach meanings to texts, with confusions arisingwhen philosophers assume that one or other must constitute the meaning ofthe text itself.
Electronic structure and doping of p-type transparent conducting oxides

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are a group of materials that are widely used in solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. Recently, Cu-containing p-type TCOs such as M/sup II/Cu/sub 2/O/sub 2/ (M/sup II/ = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) and CuM/sup III/O/sub 2/ (M/sup III/=Al, Ga, In) have been proposed. Using first-principles band structure methods, we have systematically studied the electronic and optical properties of these p-type transparent oxides. For M/sup II/Cu/sub 2/O/sub 2/, we predict that adding a small amount of Ca into SrCu/sub 2/O/sub 2/ can increase the transparency and conductivity. For CuM/sup III/O/sub 2/, we explained the doping and band gap anomalies in this system and proposed a new approach to search for bipolar dopable wide-gap materials.
Calculation of Radiation from Hot H_2O and CO_2 Viewed through a Cool Intervening Atmosphere

Thermal radiation from hot water vapor and carbon dioxide imbedded in cool atmosphere, using extended molecular band models
Multiple-beam adaptive array architecture using channel-level FDMA concept

In this paper, a new multiple-beam adaptive array architecture is presented. High-speed real-time multiple-beam forming can be realized using analog-DSP hybrid beamforming approach combined with Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) concept. Unlike the conventional analog beamforming architecture, the number of analog mixers can be significantly reduced so that the multiple-beam smart antenna system can be constructed without great expense. The system concept on the proposed multi-beam beamformer is validated using a mathematical simulation model in MATLAB. Design considerations on the hardware implementation are discussed using the circuit simulation model.
Microwave‐assisted radiosynthesis of [18F]ASEM, a radiolabeled α7‐nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist

An improvement of the original radiochemical synthesis of [(18) F]ASEM, an α7-nicotinic acetylcholinergic receptor radioligand, is reported. The new procedure utilizes microwave-assisted radiofluorination. In addition, a new preparative HPLC method was developed to eliminate a chemical impurity in the final product. Quality control procedures were also enhanced to improve detection of product with enhanced resolution of potential impurities. [(18) F]ASEM was produced in 20.1 ± 8.9% non-decay corrected (NDC) yield with an average synthesis time of 57 min and an average specific radioactivity of 856 ± 332 GBq/µmol (23 ± 9 Ci/µmol).
Informed choice and the widespread use of antiinflammatory drugs

Objective To examine whether the current widespread use of antiinflammatory drugs may reflect a lack of informed choice (i.e., unawareness of adverse effects or potential treatment alternatives) among older patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Consecutive patients with symptomatic knee OA (n = 100) completed a questionnaire to assess their awareness of drug toxicity. Patients also completed an Adaptive Conjoint Analysis task so that the influence of providing an additional treatment alternative on patient preferences for nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors could be assessed. Results Fifty-four percent of the patients surveyed were unaware of any adverse effects related to NSAIDs and 80% were unaware of any toxicity related to COX-2 inhibitors. When given a choice between NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors, 57% of patients preferred COX-2 inhibitors over NSAIDs. When presented with a third less effective, but safer alternative, 100% of patients switched preferences to the safer, albeit less effective, option. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the widespread use of NSAIDs may reflect lack of informed choice among older patients with OA.
Short range ordering in undercooled Fe3Al

Alloys of Fe-27 at.% Al were prepared far from thermodynamic equilibrium by ultra-rapid quenching from the melt. The hyperfine magnetic field (hmf) distribution revealed a wide variety of local Al environments around57Fe atoms. Upon low temperature annealing, the probabilities of these different Al environments changed at different rates. The “kinetic path” of short range ordering in Fe3Al is consistent with that found in a previous study of long range ordering, where B2 order grows more rapidly than D03 order at lower temperatures.
NUCLEAR ENERGY LEVELS AND THE STRUCTURE OF NUCLEI

The development of our understanding of the quantum states of nuclei is viewed from a historical perspective. The characteristics of nuclear energy levels are presented, and interpretations of these excitations in terms of simple vibrational and rotational modes are presented. The application of energy level schemes in a variety of fields is briefly summarized.