cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of adenosine receptor blockade : preventing protective preconditioning depends on time of initiation

Ischemic preconditioning protects the rabbit myocardium from infarction from a subsequent ischemia, and adenosine receptors appear to be involved in this protection. The present study attempts to determine when adenosine receptors must be occupied to achieve protection by infusing the adenosine receptor antagonist PD-115,199 at various time points during the study. Open-chest rabbits were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia followed by 3 h of reperfusion and had 38 +/- 4% infarction of the risk zone. When hearts were preconditioned by 5 min of ischemia and 10 min reperfusion before the 30-min period of ischemia, only 9 +/- 2% infarction occurred. PD-115,199 given 5 min before the ischemic preconditioning episode blocked the protective effect of preconditioning (39 +/- 5% infarction). PD-115,199 also blocked the protection when given between the ischemic preconditioning episode and the 30-min period of ischemia (30 +/- 4% infarction). PD-115,199 given at the end of 30 min of ischemia did not block protection in preconditioned (PC) hearts (17 +/- 5% infarction) and had no effect on non-PC hearts (44 +/- 6% infarction). In prior studies we found that exogenous adenosine could substitute for ischemia to precondition the heart, indicating that adenosine is an initiator of preconditioning. These results, however, indicate that adenosine receptors must also be occupied during the long ischemic period for preconditioning to be protective and suggest that adenosine is a mediator of preconditioning as well.
The Treatment of Colorectal Cancer During Pregnancy: Cytotoxic Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy Challenges

UNLABELLED : Cancer diagnosed during pregnancy has increased because of delayed child-bearing and the known occurrence of age-dependent malignancies. Cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) in pregnancy have recently been reported. With the expected rise in CRC diagnosed in young adults coupled with the current trend of delayed child-bearing, CRC during pregnancy is likely to increase. Treating pregnant women with CRC by using antineoplastics presents a dilemma because there are many unknowns to guide treatment decisions. We review the issues regarding the use of 10 CRC-approved agents in pregnancy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Colorectal cancer (CRC) in pregnancy is likely to become more common because of the current population trend in delayed child-bearing and the increase in CRC incidence expected among young adults. Practitioners should become familiar with the challenges associated with systemic treatment of a pregnant patient with CRC. This review addresses concerns surrounding the 10 systemic agents approved for CRC to help provide treatment guidance when such a case arises.
The Use of Discriminant Functions in Laboratory Medicine: Evaluation of Phosphate Clearance Studies in the Diagnosis of Hyperparathyroidism

Discriminant functions maximize the discriminating power of a group of laboratory tests and, in addition, offer a powerful method for evaluating the contribution of a new test to our diagnostic capabilities. In this study discriminant functions were used to evaluate the contributions of the various phosphate clearance tests in distinguishing between patients with hyperparathyroidism and control patients. The routine phosphate clearance and the phosphate-creatinine clearance ratio did not add significant information to the discriminant. A small but significant amount of discriminant power was added by either the phosphate-creatinine clearance ratio or the change in phosphate-creatinine ratios after calcium infusion. This analysis demonstrates that in difficult cases the addition of one of these two clearance tests to the usual analyses of serum calcium and phosphorus increases our diagnostic capability and provides more accurate diagnoses. For the data in this study the proposed discriminant function positively distinguishes patients with hyperparathyroidism from patients without this disease. These results demonstrate that discriminant functions can optimize diagnostic classification and, equally important to the clinical laboratory scientist, provide a formal mechanism by which to evaluate the effectiveness of any laboratory procedure.
Noches De Boda Para El Derecho De La Competencia En Venezuela (Venezuela's Competition Law's Honeymoon)

Spanish Abstract: En los ultimos anos se han producido en Venezuela numerosos cambios legislativos. En este articulo se analizan las transformaciones que estan teniendo lugar en materia de Derecho de la competencia venezolano, con el fin de otorgar al lector una vision panoramica de la situacion de esta rama del derecho en dicho pais. Partiendo de la vigente Constitucion venezolana, se exponen en este analisis los instrumentos juridicos existentes en el pais para garantizar el mantenimiento de una competencia efectiva, incluyendo los pertenecientes a la Comunidad Andina de Naciones. Ademas, se realiza un breve analisis sobre el Proyecto de Ley Antimonopolio, Antioligopolio y contra la Competencia Desleal, permitiendo al lector adquirir una vision general sobre, no solo el futuro de la legislacion Venezolana destinada a garantizar una competencia efectiva en el mercado, sino tambien obtener una vision sobre la seguridad juridica existente dentro del ordenamiento juridico venezolano.English Abstract: In recent years there have been numerous legislative changes in Venezuela. This article describes the changes that are taking place in the field of Venezuelan competition policy in order to give the reader an overview of the situation of this branch of law in such country. Based on the current Venezuelan Constitution, this analysis provides for the existing legal instruments in the country to ensure the maintenance of effective competition including those belonging to the Andean Community of Nations. In addition, the paper provides for a brief analysis on the Draft Anti-Monopoly, Oligopoly and Unfair Competition Law, allowing the reader to build an opinion on the future of the Venezuelan legislation to ensure effective competition in the market.
Determination of the repeatability and accuracy of the Pressed Juice Percentage (PJP) method at sorting beef strip loin steaks into categories of known juiciness

ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine the repeatability of the Pressed Juice Percentage (PJP) method of objective juiciness measurement and evaluate the ability of the PJP method to segregate steaks based on the likelihood of being rated “juicy” by consumers. Materials and MethodsStrip loins (n = 72) of USDA Prime, Low Choice, and Low Select were equally represented. Half of the strip loins within each grade were enhanced to 108% of the green weight with water, salt, and alkaline phosphates. Strip loins were aged 21 d, cut into 2.5-cm thick steaks, paired, and frozen (-20°C) until subsequent analyses. Thawed steaks were cooked to one of three degrees of doneness (DOD): Rare: 60°C, Medium: 71°C, or Very Well-Done: 82°C. All cooked samples were evaluated by either consumer panelists or used for objective measures including Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), Slice Shear Force (SSF), and PJP (moisture loss from sample when compressed at 8 kg of force for 30 s). Consumer panelists’ juiciness scores were used to determine the accuracy of threshold values determined by previous work. Samples were considered “juicy” if the mean juiciness score of each sample was greater than the 50 mm neutral anchor on the 100 mm juiciness scale. Steaks were evaluated for PJP and classified into one of four categories based on the probability of a sample being rated as “juicy” determined from previous research: PJP of 23.25 = > 90% chance of being rated “juicy”. Moreover, paired samples from strip loins of Prime, Low Choice, Low Select, and enhanced Low Select were prepared under identical conditions for determination of the repeatability of the PJP method. Variance components for repeatability measures were calculated using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). The accuracy of the predetermined PJP thresholds (from logistic regression model in previous research) were determined by comparison to the actual percentage of “juicy” samples in the current study. ResultsResults indicated PJP threshold values accurately segregated strip loin steaks by the probability of a sample being rated as “juicy” by consumers. The actual percentage of “juicy” samples in the current study was 41.67, 72.31, 89.33, and 98.08% for the predetermined categories of 90%, respectively. The PJP had a repeatability coefficient of 0.70, indicating only 30% of the variation observed was due to sample measurement differences between paired samples. Also, repeatability coefficients of SSF and WBSF were calculated as 0.68 and 0.85, respectively. ConclusionResults of this study indicate the PJP instrumental juiciness method is both repeatable and accurate at sorting steaks based on the likelihood of being considered “juicy” by consumers. Moreover, a PJP value of 23.25% is proposed as a “Guaranteed Juicy” threshold, as more than 90% of samples will be considered juicy at or above this level by consumers.
Does Rapid Diffusion of HbA1c Testing Affect Amputation Rates

BACKGROUND The association of speed of diffusion of Hemoglobin A1C (hbA1c) testing with temporal changes in outcomes of primary importance to patients with diabetes, such as amputation, remains an issue of debate. We investigated these correlations. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of diabetics, based on Medicare fee-for-service claims data from 2002 to 2012. We examined the association of the rate of diffusion of HbA1c testing with changes in amputation rates. Our unit of analysis was the hospital referral region (HRR), a definition of tertiary care markets defined in the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. RESULTS From the 11 096 270 diabetics followed in our study for a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, 106 340 (0.96%) underwent lower extremity amputations. The speed of diffusion of HbA1c testing had a moderate association with the speed of diffusion of lower extremity amputations, after adjusting for multiple factors including baseline regional amputation and testing rates (adjusted difference, -0.7%; 95% confidence interval, -1.0% to -0.3%). The risk-adjusted HRR-level speed of diffusion of testing demonstrated significant correlation with the risk-adjusted HRR-level diffusion of amputations (r = .250, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS We observed a moderate association of the speed of diffusion of HbA1c testing with the speed of diffusion of lower extremity amputations among Medicare patients with diabetes. Improvements in performance on quality metrics such as HbA1c testing may not immediately translate into tangible patient outcomes.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist administration enhances gonadotrope responsiveness at doses inadequate to suppress immunoassayable gonadotropin levels *

Chronic GnRH antagonist therapy produces enhanced gonadotrope responsiveness to supraphysiologic stimuli despite the lack of any measurable suppression of gonadotropin levels. This indicates that GnRH antagonists fundamentally alter gonadotrope response mechanisms without inhibiting gonadotropin release. Beyond the physiologic implications, these data may eventually impact the development of clinical protocols. Benefits could include enhancements in the endogenous gonadotropin flare during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles. Additionally, proposed contraceptive protocols where GnRH antagonists are used to produce the initial inhibition in gonadotropin release and are then followed by a GnRH-a (to avoid the gonadotropin flare) may in fact produce paradoxical results.
Impact of an interdisciplinary team on drug therapy outcomes in a geriatric clinic

Inappropriate drug therapy is defined as a therapy whose adverse risks exceed its health benefits.[1][1] Inappropriate prescribing is common among the elderly[2–][2],[6][3] and has been associated with increased health care costs and poor patient outcomes.[7–][4],[11][5] Some 21% of community-
Saúde nas cidades: precisamos de uma abordagem sistêmica?

O artigo faz uma revisao da utilidade potencial de conceitos e ferramentas sistemicos para compreender e agir sobre a saude urbana. A revisao inclui os elementos basicos das abordagens sistemicas e os elos entre cidades enquanto sistemas e a saude da populacao, a partir do funcionamento de um sistema. A autora tambem discute as implicacoes do pensamento sistemico para a saude urbana, incluindo o desenvolvimento de modelos conceituais dinâmicos, o uso de novas ferramentas, novas formas de integracao de dados e a identificacao de lacunas nos dados, e a formulacao de tipos diferentes de questoes e a identificacao politicas novas. O artigo conclui com uma revisao das limitacoes e desafios.
Human biofield therapy does not affect tumor size but modulates immune responses in a mouse model for breast cancer.

Abstract Objective To assess the effect of human biofield therapy, an integrative medicine modality, on the development of tumors and metastasis, and immune function in a mouse breast cancer model. Methods Mice were injected with 66cl4 mammary carcinoma cells. In study one, mice received biofield therapy after cell injection. In study two, mice were treated by the biofield practitioner only prior to cell injection. Both studies had two control groups of mock biofield treatments and phosphate-buffered saline injection. Mice were weighed and tumor volume was determined. Blood samples were collected and 32 serum cytokine/chemokine markers were measured. Spleens/popliteal lymph nodes were isolated and dissociated for fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of immune cells or metastasis assays in cell culture. Results No significant differences were found in weight, tumor size or metastasis. Significant effects were found in the immune responses in study one but no additional effects were found in study two. In study one, human biofield treatment significantly reduced percentage of CD4 + CD44loCD25 + and percentage of CD8 + cells, elevated by cancer in the lymph nodes, to control levels determined by FACS analysis. In the spleen, only CD11b + macrophages were increased with cancer, and human biofield therapy significantly reduced them. Of 11 cytokines elevated by cancer, only interferon-γ, interleukin-1, monokine induced by interferon-γ, interleukin-2 and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 were significantly reduced to control levels with human biofield therapy. Conclusion Human biofield therapy had no significant effect on tumor size or metastasis but produced significant effects on immune responses apparent in the down-regulation of specific lymphocytes and serum cytokines in a mouse breast cancer model.
A light sharing, charge multiplexed time-of-flight depth-of-interaction PET detector

Time-of-flight (TOF) and depth of interaction (DOI) measurements are both important capabilities to improve clinical PET imaging. The combination of these two measurements has been shown to improve image quality and uniformity. Current high performance TOF DOI detectors have a high level of complexity, requiring cooling, pulse shape information or increased numbers of photosensors. This works describes and characterizes an approach to TOF DOI using a two layer, 20mm thick, lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) light sharing crystal array. The crystal array was coupled to a single ended SiPM readout with a novel binary encoded multiplexing scheme that has a 4:1 timing channel multiplexing ratio, and two position channels. Flood maps show show excellent crystal separation with a minimum ratio of distance between crystal peaks to standard deviation of crystal peaks of 9.2. The detector achieves 10mm DOI resolution with 180 +/−2ps FWHM coincident time resolution. The top and bottom layers had 170 +/− 2ps, and 185 +/−3ps FWHM coincident timing resolutions respectively. The simplicity of the readout scheme makes it a good candidate for scaling to a practical TOF DOI PET system. The detector presented in this work has single ended readout, no active cooling, a 4:1 timing channel multiplexing ratio, and requires no pulse shape information.
Non-monotonic probability of thermal reversal in thin-film biaxial nanomagnets with small energy barriers

The goal of this paper is to investigate the short time-scale, thermally-induced probability of magnetization reversal for an biaxial nanomagnet that is characterized with a biaxial magnetic anisotropy. For the first time, we clearly show that for a given energy barrier of the nanomagnet, the magnetization reversal probability of an biaxial nanomagnet exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on its saturation magnetization. Specifically, there are two reasons for this non-monotonic behavior in rectangular thin-film nanomagnets that have a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. First, a large perpendicular anisotropy lowers the precessional period of the magnetization making it more likely to precess across the x^=0 plane if the magnetization energy exceeds the energy barrier. Second, the thermal-field torque at a particular energy increases as the magnitude of the perpendicular anisotropy increases during the magnetization precession. This non-monotonic behavior is most noticeable when analyzing the magnetiz...
Comparison of a Rotary Powered Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy Device to the Traditional Manual Device in an Adolescent

Abstract 4718 Bone marrow examination is important for the diagnosis of hematological malignancies and nonmalignant diseases in children. In patients with newly diagnosed lymphoproliferative diseases and certain non-hematopoietic malignancies, bone marrow examination is also part of the staging process. Core biopsy length has been found to be critical in diagnosing, predicting relapse or identifying residual disease following chemotherapy in patients. The larger the amount of marrow obtained increases the chance of finding a focal lesion. Unfortunately, the current practice of obtaining trephine biopsies and bone marrow aspirates in children via the manual method has a poor success rate for obtaining adequate specimens. In 2007, an FDA-cleared battery powered bone marrow aspiration and biopsy system (OnControl™ by Vidacare) was developed. Multiple studies have evaluated the use of the powered device in adults and found decreased time of procedure, decreased pain, and improved core biopsy specimens. Here we present a direct comparison of the rotary powered device versus the traditional manual device (e.g. Jamshidi) when obtaining bilateral bone marrow aspirates and biopsies in a 17 year-old female with relapsed alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. This patient required bilateral bone marrow biopsies to stage her disease and evaluate for bone marrow involvement. One aspirate and biopsy was obtained using the powered device from the right posterior superior iliac crest, and specimens were obtained from the left iliac crest using the traditional manual device. The endpoints measured were quality of the biopsy, length and width of the biopsy, time to obtain aspirate and biopsy, number of attempts to obtain the biopsy, post-procedural pain, and operator satisfaction with the device (O.S.). In conclusion, the powered device was superior to the manual device in terms of time to obtain the aspirate and biopsy and operator satisfaction with the device. It was found to be equivalent to the manual device in regards to number of attempts to obtain the biopsy, and post-procedural pain score. The manual device produced a biopsy that was longer, wider, and of higher quality than the biopsy obtained via the powered method. A randomized controlled trial in the pediatric population comparing the rotary powered device to the traditional device is currently underway as further studies are needed to evaluate the use of the powered bone marrow aspiration and biopsy device in children. Disclosures: Falcon: Vidacare Corporation: Research Funding. Assanasen: Vidacare Corporation: Research Funding.
Abstract 1564: A computational framework for removing mouse contamination in tumors sequenced from patient-derived xenografts

Introduction: Using patient derived xenograft (PDX) models has become an effective way for investigating response to standard or new therapeutics in cancer. Human cancer cells injected in mice are allowed to establish tumors and subjected to desired treatments. The PDX tumors are later harvested and characterized, often by massive parallel sequencing. However, a major challenge with analyzing these data is the presence of stromal mouse genomic material, frequently resulting in artifacts in downstream variant detection. We present a computational method to eliminate mouse contamination in PDX. Method: We used the Burrows-Wheeler Aligner to map reads obtained from sequencing the PDX samples to a combined human and mouse reference genome . We remove reads that are mapped to the mouse reference. The remaining reads are then processed through standard mutation calling pipelines for somatic mutation detection. To test the efficacy of our method, we created in silico mixtures of human and mouse whole-exome sequencing reads from a melanoma patient’s tumor and an immortalized mouse cell line captured with human exome baits. We then carried out a sensitivity analysis to examine how changing the mean target coverage of sequencing, or mouse contamination levels affects our results. For each of the computational experiments, we evaluated somatic mutations detected from the synthetic samples in comparison to the original human sample. Results: We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of detecting somatic mutations to determine our algorithm’s performance. In all instances, we found greater than 99% for both sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that our method works accurately towards removing mouse reads in PDX samples. This task could also be applied to separating sequence reads from other species. Citation Format: Ali Amin-Mansour, Judit Jane-Valbuena, Xinmeng Jasmine Mu, Levi Garraway. A computational framework for removing mouse contamination in tumors sequenced from patient-derived xenografts [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1564. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1564
Accounting for Differential Error in Time-to-Event Analyses Using Imperfect Electronic Health Record-Derived Endpoints

Estimates of the relationship between an outcome and an exposure are biased by imperfect ascertainment of the outcome of interest. In studies using data derived from electronic health records (EHRs), misclassification of outcomes is common and is often related to patient characteristics. For instance, patients with greater comorbid disease burden may use the healthcare system more frequently making it more likely that the EHR will contain a record of their diagnosis, possibly resulting in poorer outcome classification for healthier patients who do not seek care as frequently. This is particularly problematic in studies of time-to-event outcomes in which both the occurrence of an event and the timing of the event, if it occurs, may be captured with error in the EHR. Misclassification-adjusted estimators in the context of time-to-event outcomes are available using discrete time proportional hazards models but may be biased if operating characteristics of the EHR-derived endpoint vary across exposure categories. Motivated by an algorithm for identifying second breast cancer events using EHR data, we investigated the implications of using an imperfectly assessed outcome with differential measurement error in time-to-event analyses. We used simulation studies to demonstrate the magnitude of bias induced by failure to account for error in the status and timing of recurrence and compared alternative methods for correcting this bias. We conclude with general guidance on accounting for outcome misclassification in time-to-event studies using EHR data.
Collaborative Efforts by the Auburn University Applied Behavior Analysis Program in the Treatment of Adolescents Adjudicated for Illegal Sexual Behavior

As the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) moves towards recognition as an established profession (Johnston, Carr, & Mellichamp, 2017), it is important to identify strides in diverse treatment and research areas. One such area is that of the treatment of adolescents adjudicated for illegal sexual behavior. This is a population of individuals for whom psychologists have recognized the need for a unique and holistic treatment approach (LeTourneau et al., 2009). Although some branches of psychology have a well-established history working with this population, the behaviorist branch has yet to establish a strong foothold. The purpose of the current article is to describe a partnership between the Auburn ABA Master’s Program and the Accountability Based Sex Offender Program based in Alabama. This partnership has resulted in fruitful consequences for both parties in the areas of clinical service delivery and research productivity. The manner in which the partnership evolved and flourished is not unique to work with adolescents adjudicated for illegal sexual behavior. We describe the specific steps and groups of behaviors we employed to find success in this unique setting and suggest that they be employed in other diverse areas.
Snackwise: When you Choose a Snack, Choose Health

Abstract An inventory of items being sold in vending machines throughout the University was taken. A poster entitled Snack Wise was created to present the calorie and fat content of all foods offered in the vending machines. Those foods with less than 300 calories and 30 percent fat were designated as healthy snacks with a gold apple. Lunch seminars were also arranged across campus to provide further healthy snacking information (called Learn over Lunch). Seventy employees participated in the Learn over Lunch program. Overall, the program evaluations indicated participants felt the information provided was useful and it increased their knowledge of the SnackWise program. Snack Wise posters, table tents, educational seminars and articles were used to disseminate information. In addition, snack sales from vending machines and cafeterias were collected before and after marketing the SnackWise program. Sales will be analyzed to assess changes in consumer choices.
1H NMR Approach to Observe Tissue Oxygenation with the Signals of Myoglobin

NMR has opened many new perspectives on metabolic regulation in vivo, with its non-invasive application as a key feature. It can localize metabolite signals from specific tissue and reveal their fluctuation under different physiological conditions, even in humans. The signals of phosphocreatine, inorganic phosphate, ATP, and lactate have helped to detail the cellular response and to illuminate the metabolic regulation (Brown et al, 1982, Koretsky and Williams, 1992).
The search for Parkinson disease biomarkers: Retinal thinning as a correlate of dopamine loss

As the prevalence of Parkinson disease (PD) continues to rise, the need for specific and reliable biomarkers is paramount. A biomarker is an objective measure of disease and may help confirm diagnosis, track disease progression, or identify targets for therapeutic development.1 Many clinicians and scientists are devoting time and effort to the discovery and validation of such tools, which would improve clinical management of patients with PD. Indeed, the development of early diagnostic biomarkers could help identify at-risk individuals and allow precocious interventions at the onset of disease and more precise monitoring of therapies that may slow disease progression.2
Past is prologue: The role of memory retrieval in young children's episodic prospection.

Prior research has revealed a strong link between the ability to remember one's past (i.e., episodic memory) and the ability to envision one's future (i.e., episodic prospection). Indeed, the past holds valuable learning experiences that can inform future choices and plans. Although these abilities both emerge during preschool years, there exist few theoretical accounts of how memory processes might support developmental improvements in prospection abilities. We developed a novel paradigm to determine whether young children (3 and 4 years of age) use past knowledge to inform future choices. Experiment 1 revealed that children find it more difficult to retrieve relevant information from their past when they envision the future versus reflect on the past. Experiment 2 facilitated children's access to past event components and, thereby, eased retrieval of relevant components from memory for future event construction. We discuss results in light of recent proposals on the development of episodic prospection.
Successful Secondary Engraftment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma Patient-Derived Xenografts After Previous Failed Primary Engraftment.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) provide histologically accurate cancer models that recapitulate patient malignant phenotype and allow for highly correlative oncologic in-vivo downstream translational studies. Primary PDX engraftment failure has significant negative consequences on programmatic efficiency and resource utilization and is due to either no tumor growth or development of lymphoproliferative tumors. We aimed to determine if secondary engraftment of previously cryopreserved patient tumor tissues would allow salvage of PDX models that failed previous primary engraftment and increase overall engraftment efficiency. METHODS: Patient hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers that failed primary engraftment were identified. Previously cryopreserved primary patient cancerous tissues were implanted into immunodeficient mice (NOD/SCID). Mice were monitored, growth metrics calculated, and secondary engraftment outcomes were recorded. Established PDX were verified and compared to original patient tissue through multiple generations by a GI pathologist. RESULTS: We identified 55 patient tumors that previously failed primary engraftment: no tumor growth (n = 46, 84%) or lymphoproliferative tumor (LT) (n = 9, 16%). After secondary implantation using cryopreserved patient tissues, 29 new histologically validated PDX models were generated with an overall secondary engraftment rate of 53% for all tumor types with greatest yield in pancreatic and biliary tract cancers. Of the secondary engraftment failures (n = 26), 21 (38%) were due to no growth and 5 (9%) developed LT. CONCLUSION: Secondary PDX engraftment using cryopreserved primary cancerous is feasible after previous failed engraftment attempts and can result in a 50% increase in overall engraftment efficiency with decreases in LT formation. This technique allows for salvage of critical patient PDX models that would otherwise not exist. SYNOPSIS: Patient-derived xenografts have many important translational applications however can be limited by engraftment failure. We demonstrate optimized methodology utilizing cryopreservation of primary tumor tissue that allows for subsequent successful secondary engraftment and creation of PDX models that failed previous primary engraftment and allowed salvage of patient PDX models that would otherwise not exist.
Thumb Amputations in Children: Classification and Reconstruction by Microsurgical Toe Transfers.

Purpose Traumatic amputations of the thumb are rare in children compared with adults, but hand surgeons remain reticent to consider microsurgical reconstruction with toe-to-thumb transfers. This study reports the functional outcomes and complications of children with traumatic thumb amputations who underwent toe-to-thumb reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review of children who sustained thumb amputations and whose parents elected for their child to undergo reconstruction by toe-to-thumb transfer was performed. Details of the level of thumb amputation, whether other fingers were also amputated, which toe was transferred on which vascular pedicle, survival of the transfer, and complications, were collected. Opposition, sensation, and growth of the toe-to-thumb transfers was measured. Functional and psychosocial outcomes were evaluated by both the parents and the older children using the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument questionnaire. Results Twenty-one thumb amputations in 19 children between the ages of 2 and 17 years were referred for secondary reconstruction. Ten were isolated thumb amputations and 11 were combined thumb and multiple finger amputations. Two children had bilateral thumb amputations. Twenty-one toe-to-thumb transfers were performed: 14 second toe transfers and 7 great toe transfers (3 great toe and 2 trimmed and 2 Morrison wraparound variations). There were no immediate postoperative reexplorations of the microsurgical anastomoses and all toe transfers survived completely. All children regained pinch and grasp function and sensation. There were no gait problems in the donor feet. Conclusions Microsurgical toe-to-thumb transfers should be offered as an alternative option to the traditional techniques of distraction lengthening and pollicization, for posttraumatic thumb reconstruction in children for any level of amputation from just distal to the carpometacarpal joint to the interphalangeal joint. Toe-to-thumb transfer provides length, opposition, and sensation without disturbing ambulation and is associated with excellent psychosocial outcomes as evaluated by both parents and older children. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Durability of technologies in the keeping of ZEB’s performances

Abstract Durability is an important aspect that has not to be neglected in ZEB design. The requirements for buildings energy needs reduction and increase of renewable energy sources stimulated designers to integrate technologies in an efficient way. This ambitious goal must meet the capacity of the technical solutions to guarantee their performances over the years. The durability of materials and technologies is a topic that warrants further analyses in order to assess the proper efficiencies and the expected lifetime of a ZEB. Typically the energy balance of a ZEB is calculated by considering the annual energy flows or rarely the whole life cycle. The most used approaches consider constant performance of materials and technical elements over the lifespan. However, the performance loss of a single element can cause an imbalance in the behavior of a ZEB, for which persists a thin balance between inlet and outlet flows. The paper provides a critical point of view on this issue paying attention on the following technical solutions implemented in a case study for which the current scientific literature provides analysis on the degradation during their lifetime: glazing systems, VIPs, PV panels and GSHPs.
ukbREST: efficient and streamlined data access for reproducible research in large biobanks.

SUMMARY Large biobanks, such as UK Biobank with half a million participants, are changing the scale and availability of genotypic and phenotypic data for researchers to ask fundamental questions about the biology of health and disease. The breadth of the UK Biobank data is enabling discoveries at an unprecedented pace. However, this size and complexity pose new challenges to investigators who need to keep the accruing data up to date, comply with potential consent changes, and efficiently and reproducibly extract subsets of the data to answer specific scientific questions. Here we propose a tool called ukbREST designed for the UK Biobank study (easily extensible to other biobanks), which allows authorized users to efficiently retrieve phenotypic and genetic data. It exposes a REST API that makes data highly accessible inside a private and secure network, allowing the data specification in a human readable text format easily shareable with other researchers. These characteristics make ukbREST an important tool to make biobank's valuable data more readily accessible to the research community and facilitate reproducibility of the analysis, a key aspect of science. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION It is implemented in Python using the Flask-RESTful framework for the API, and it is under the MIT license. It works with PostgreSQL and a Docker image is available for easy deployment. The source code and documentation is available in Github: https://github.com/hakyimlab/ukbrest.
Breast Density Notification Letters and Websites: Are They Too "Dense"?

Abstract Purpose To evaluate grade-level readability of dense breast notification letters (DBNs) and popular websites. Methods HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board–exempt study. As of April 2018, letter characteristics and grade-level readability were evaluated from states with mandated text using five readability metrics, one of which was the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. For states that had mandated DBNs in 2016, the 2016 data were compared with 2018. Readability was also assessed for common websites about dense breasts. Results Thirty states had mandated text for DBNs. All were written above a Flesch-Kincaid sixth-grade level. Eight state DBNs were around or below a Flesch-Kincaid eighth-grade level. Connecticut was the highest (19.4) and Alabama and New York lowest (both at 7.2). For all states, the mean readability score using the five metrics exceeded an eighth-grade level. Of states that had updated DBNs since 2016, only one state significantly improved readability (Missouri 13.1 to 8.5). All DBNs discussed that breast density may mask cancer on a mammogram, 20 discussed the association with increased risk of breast cancer, and 23 discussed supplemental screening. For websites, the range of Flesch-Kincaid grade-level readability was 6 to 11.3. The lowest was the American Cancer Society dense breast website (6.0) followed by ACR dense breast patient pamphlet (7.2). Conclusion As of 2018, the mean readability score using five metrics for all state-mandated DBNs exceeded an eighth-grade reading level. Compared with 2016, only one state significantly decreased DBN grade-level readability. Publicly available websites performed relatively better.
Dragomans Gaining Footing: Translators as Usurpers in Two Stories by Rodolfo Walsh and Moacyr Scliar

Abstract: Fictional texts focusing on translators and translation have proliferated in world literature during the last fifty years. Thanks to the recent and commonly named “fictional turn” in Translation Studies, fictional translators have been studied and analyzed much more and made ever more visible. This visibility serves to consider translators not as mere interlingual photocopiers but as social beings that operate in particular sociocultural contexts. Two stories from Latin America, “Notas al pie” (Footnotes) by Rodolfo Walsh (1967) and “Notas ao pe da pagina” (Footnotes) by Moacyr Scliar (1995), introduce translators who are uncomfortable with having to occupy a second-rate space. The fictional translators’ footnotes utilize whole pages (effectively taking over in each of the stories) and usurp a space that is conventionally assigned only to writers/authors of a text. The translators in these stories have found a way to use these explanatory comments to their advantage. Since footnotes are often not well-received by many readers, who consider them temporary interruptions and/or a nuisance, they are usually kept to a minimum. Our fictional translators, however, increase the size and number of footnotes dramatically. The clear-cut hierarchical relationships between writer/author and translator are reversed in these stories to unveil the struggle for power that exists between the figures of author and translator. Both stories can also serve as pedagogical tools to discuss the exciting world of Translation Studies.
Spatial Patterns From High-Resolution Electrogastrography Correlate With Severity of Symptoms in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia and Gastroparesis.

Background & Aims Invasive gastric electrical mapping has revealed spatial abnormalities of the slow wave in subjects with gastroparesis and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Cutaneous high-resolution electrogastrography (HR-EGG) is a non-invasive method that can detect spatial features of the gastric slow wave. We performed HR-EGG in subjects with active foregut symptoms to evaluate associations between gastric myoelectric abnormalities, symptoms (based on a validated questionnaire), and gastric emptying. Methods We performed a case–control study of 32 subjects, including 7 healthy individuals (controls), 7 subjects with functional dyspepsia and normal gastric emptying, and 18 subjects with gastroparesis, from a tertiary care program. All subjects were assessed by computed tomography imaging of the abdomen and HR-EGG and completed the PAGI-SYM questionnaire on foregut symptoms, which includes the gastroparesis cardinal symptom index. We performed volume reconstruction of the torso and stomach from computed tomography images to guide accurate placement of the HR-EGG array. Results Spatial slow-wave abnormalities were detected in 44% of subjects with foregut symptoms. Moreover, subjects with a higher percentage of slow waves with aberrant propagation direction had a higher total gastroparesis cardinal symptom index score (r = 0.56; P Conclusions In case–control study, we found that the genesis of symptoms of functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis is likely multifactorial, including possible contribution from gastric myoelectric dysfunction. Abnormal spatial parameters, detected by cutaneous HR-EGG, correlated with severity of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, regardless of gastric emptying. This noninvasive, repeatable approach might be used to identify patients for whom gastric myoelectric dysfunction contributes to functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis.
A Language for International Cooperation

Proposals for an international auxiliary language were relatively widespread in the decades around the turn of the century, when hopes for a more decent and reasonable world society were common and perhaps a bit innocent. The proposals, too, were too simple to be viable. The languages were constructed with some arbitrariness; and there was not enough knowledge of how a language could be constructed so as to be more adequate for carrying particular kinds of information and discussion, or so as to be more easily used by the speakers of the existing major languages. And little thought was given to the question of what conditions, and what chains of social events, might lead to the actual use of such an auxiliary language. It is possible now to consider these questions somewhat more carefully.
Frequency-agile metasurface quantum-cascade lasers (Conference Presentation)

Changing the length of the cavity is perhaps the simplest way to tune the wavelength of a laser, but is almost never used for continuous tuning over a large fractional range. This is because, to avoid multi-mode lasing and mode hopping, the cavity must be kept optically short to ensure a large free-spectral-range compared to the gain bandwidth of the amplifying material. The metasurface VECSEL architecture is shown to be an effective approach for widely tunable lasers based upon cavities that operate on low-order longitudinal modes. Since the gain resides in the amplifying reflectarray metasurface, and not a bulk medium, there is no gain/loss penalty to making the cavity length wavelength scale. Fractional tuning of a THz quantum-cascade laser up to 25% is observed in a multi-mode regime, and up to 19% in a single-mode regime with high quality beam pattern. We discuss the fundamental limits to broadband single-mode tuning using this approach.
Synthesizing Views to Understand Sex Differences in Response to Early Life Adversity

Sex as a biological variable (SABV) is critical for understanding the broad range of physiological, neurobiological, and behavioral consequences of early life adversity (ELA). The study of the interaction of SABV and ELA ties into several current debates, including the importance of taking into account SABV in research, differing strategies employed by males and females in response to adversity, and the possible evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of altered development in response to adversity. This review highlights the importance of studying both sexes, of understanding sex differences (and similarities) in response to ELA, and provides a context for the debate surrounding whether the response to ELA may be an adaptive process.
The Synchronicity Paradox in Online Education

As online education proliferates, one concern that has been raised is that it may fail to capture desirable emergent phe-nomena from on-campus programs. Student community is one example of such a phenomenon: on-campus student communities thrive based on synchronous collocation. An online program might be designed to capture all deliberate constructs in an on-campus program, but there may be beneficial side effects of synchronous collocation that are not apparent. In this work, we examine the issue of social isolation in an online graduate program. By happenstance, three studies were conducted in relative isolation looking at social isolation from different angles. The first study exam-ined trajectories in social presence as a semester proceeded. The second study developed an understanding of students' needs with regard to community in an online program. The third study tested out an immersive virtual environment to try to improve students' sense of connectedness. Combin-ing their findings, we find compelling evidence of the exist-ence of a Synchronicity Paradox in online education: stu-dents desire synchronicity to form strong social communi-ties, and yet part of the chief appeal of these online pro-grams is their asynchronicity. In light of this finding, we provide design guidelines for how synchronicity may be reintroduced into asynchronous programs without sacrific-ing the benefits of asynchronicity. More specifically, we propose that scale itself may be the key to building emer-gent synchronicity.
A novel mechanism of microbially-induced carbon steel corrosion at an aqueous/non-aqueous interface

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a common problem in biodiesel storage tanks. Here, thick microbial growths develop at and span aqueous/non-aqueous fluid interfaces. MIC in this setting wa...
Middle Ear Salivary Choristoma: A Rare Case Report and Update on Congenital Associations, Facial Nerve Involvement, and Treatment Strategies

Salivary gland choristoma is an extremely rare middle ear mass and is hypothesized to be caused by second branchial arch developmental anomalies. We present a 14-year-old girl with Dandy-Walker syndrome and conductive hearing loss. Middle ear exploration revealed a large middle ear mass with absent incus and stapes and displaced facial nerve. The mass was completely excised with histological confirmation of salivary gland choristoma. Her hearing was improved with bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA). As facial nerve involvement is common, physicians should consider partial excision to avoid facial nerve palsy. Hearing restoration can be achieved with OCR or BAHA.
Drifting Isles and Re-integration on the Metaeconomics Continent

The Other-interest and Self-interest landscapes have led to the metaphorical Isles of the InstituEcon (those who practice Neoinstitutional Economics) and the NeoClassEcon (those who practice neoclassical economics, especially as represented in Microeconomics). The MetaEcon (those who practice Metaeconomics), who operate on their own Isle with the BehavEcon (those who practice behavioral economics), have proposed bringing the Isles back together, as in integrating Neoinstitutional and Neoclassical Economics. The hope of the MetaEcon is to someday produce a new continent with best ideas from all the Isles at work.