cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The abstraction hierarchy as a basis for interface design: an empirical evaluation

The utility of adopting J. Rasmussen's (Information Processing and Human-Machine Interaction, North Holland, 1986) abstraction hierarchy as a basis for interface design for complex work domains was evaluated. The study was conducted within the context of DURESS (dual reservoir system simulation), a thermal hydraulic process simulation. A traditional interface and an interface based on the abstraction hierarchy were compared on diagnosis and memory tasks in order to determine which of the two interfaces provided better support for knowledge-based problem solving. The results indicate that displaying information at various levels of abstraction enhances the subjects' ability to diagnose various types of events, as compared with performance on a more traditional interface that presents subjects with information about component settings and goal variables alone. >
Widowhood, Health Status, and the Use of Health Services by Older Adults: A Cross-sectional and Prospective Approach

Using data from the LSOA, we examined the relationship between widowhood, health status, and the use of health services. Controlling for the characteristics specified in the behavioral model, a cross-sectional assessment of the 2,354 respondents widowed at baseline showed that regardless of how the recency of widowhood is modeled, it is not related to any measure of health status, and it is only marginally associated with two measures of health services utilization: nursing home placement and death. A prospective assessment of the 4,113 respondents reinterviewed at follow-up produced similar results. Becoming widowed did not alter previous reports of health status, nor prior patterns of physician or hospital utilization. Being widowed did, however, significantly increase the likelihood of being placed in a nursing home. For the 14 respondents who were both widowed and placed in a nursing home after baseline, the sequence is always widowhood first, and then nursing home placement.
Outcomes after endovascular treatment for anterior circulation stroke presenting as wake-up strokes are not different than those with witnessed onset beyond 8 hours

Objective Previous studies have suggested that patients with wake-up stroke (WUS) may have superior outcomes compared with patients with a witnessed late time of onset after revascularization. We sought to test this hypothesis in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke (ACLVOS) treated with endovascular therapy beyond 8 h from time last seen well (TLSW). Methods A single center retrospective review of a prospectively acquired database of consecutive patients was performed to identify patients presenting beyond 8 h of TLSW with radiographic evidence of ACLVOS, small core, and large penumbra who subsequently underwent endovascular treatment. Results We identified 206 patients. Patients were divided into two groups: (1) patients with WUS (38%, n=78) and (2) patients with witnessed onset beyond 8 h (62%, n=128). The groups were similar in age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, TLSW to reperfusion, baseline infarct volume, and rate of successful recanalization. Rates of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 at 90 days, 43% vs 50%, p=0.3), parenchymal hematoma (9% vs 5.5%, p=0.3), and final infarct volume (75.2 vs 61.4 mL, p=0.6) were comparable. Multivariate analysis identified age (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99, p<0.042), successful recanalization (OR 6.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 23.5, p=0.009), and final infarct volume (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99, p<0.001) but not mode of presentation as predictors of favorable outcomes. Conclusions Rates of good outcomes, parenchymal hematoma, and final infarct volumes following endovascular treatment may not be different in patients with WUS compared with patients with witnessed onset of symptoms beyond 8 h.
Prices versus Prizes: Patents, Public Policy and the Market for Inventions

I consider whether government prizes should replace market prices for inventions. The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 establishes a framework for government prizes. I examine how the economic benefits of the market for inventions should antitrust and public policy towards patents. I consider the limitations of a prize system in terms of economic efficiency. I find that the deadweight welfare loss argument for replacing market prices with government prizes is flawed. I show how prices in the market for inventions provide state-contingent signals that guide invention, commercialization, innovation, financing, and complementary inventions. I examine how prices in the market for inventions provide indicators of technological change. I conclude that replacing market prices with government prizes would harm invention, innovation and economic growth.
The Variation of Flicker-Fusion Thresholds Among Groups of Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients

(1961). The Variation of Flicker-Fusion Thresholds Among Groups of Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 351-360.
Type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase in human skeletal muscle: new insights into its physiological role and regulation.

The paper by Heemstra et al. (1) in this issue of JCEM provides some striking and unexpected results that have significant implications for our understanding of thyroid hormone physiology in humans. Their findings help to clarify how the regulation of type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2) in skeletal muscle is affected by thyroid status, fasting, and insulin, and illustrate the importance of its functional activity in that tissue. They also contribute to our understanding of the effects of illness and hypothyroidism on thyroid hormone metabolism and help define the role of skeletal muscle D2 in the production of the active hormone T3.
The New Associationism: A Neural Explanation for the Predictive Powers of Cerebral Cortex

The ability to predict is the most importantability of the brain. Somehow, the cortex isable to extract regularities from theenvironment and use those regularities as abasis for prediction. This is a most remarkableskill, considering that behaviourallysignificant environmental regularities are noteasy to discern: they operate not only betweenpairs of simple environmental conditions, astraditional associationism has assumed, butamong complex functions of conditions that areorders of complexity removed from raw sensoryinputs. We propose that the brain's basicmechanism for discovering such complexregularities is implemented in the dendritictrees of individual pyramidal cells in thecerebral cortex. Pyramidal cells have 5–8principal dendrites, each of which is capableof learning nonlinear input-to-outputtransfer functions. We propose that eachdendrite is trained, in learning its transferfunction, by all the other principal dendritesof the same cell. These dendrites teach eachother to respond to their separate inputs withmatching outputs. Exposed to differentbut related information about the sensoryenvironment, principal dendrites of the samecell tune to functions over environmentalconditions that, while different, arecorrelated. As a result, the cell as awhole tunes to the source of the regularitiesdiscovered by the cooperating dendrites,creating a new representation. When organizedinto feed-forward/feedback layers, pyramidalcells can build their discoveries on thediscoveries of other cells, graduallyuncovering nature's hidden order. Theresulting associative network is powerfulenough to meet a troubling traditionalobjection to associationism: that it is toosimple an architecture to implement rationalprocesses.
Smoking-mediated up-regulation of GAD67 expression in the human airway epithelium

Background The production of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is dependent on glutamate decarboxylases (GAD65 and GAD67), the enzymes that catalyze the decarboxylation of glutamate to GABA. Based on studies suggesting a role of the airway epithelial GABAergic system in asthma-related mucus overproduction, we hypothesized that cigarette smoking, another disorder associated with increased mucus production, may modulate GABAergic system-related gene expression levels in the airway epithelium.
The Review of Meetings of the Government of the Russian Federation in May 2015

In May 2015, at the meetings of the Government of the Russian Federation among other things the following issues were discussed: a draft law in the sphere of mandatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases; draft amendments to the Federal Law on Customs Regulation.
Association Between Microglia, Inflammatory Factors, and Complement with Loss of Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses Induced by Trimethyltin

Complement-associated factors are implicated in pathogen presentation, neurodegeneration, and microglia resolution of tissue injury. To characterize complement activation with microglial clearance of degenerating mossy fiber boutons, hippocampal dentate granule neurons were ablated in CD-1 mice with trimethyltin (TMT; 2.2 mg/kg, i.p.). Neuronal apoptosis was accompanied by amoeboid microglia and elevations in tumor necrosis factor [Tnfa], interleukin 1β [Il1b], and Il6 mRNA and C1q protein. Inos mRNA levels were unaltered. Silver degeneration and synaptophysin staining indicated loss of synaptic innervation to CA3 pyramidal neurons. Reactive microglia with thickened bushy morphology showed co-localization of synaptophysin+ fragments. The initial response at 2 days post-TMT included transient elevations in Tnfa, Il1b, Il6, and Inos mRNA levels. A concurrent increase at 2 days was observed in arginase-1 [Arg1], Il10, transforming growth factor β1 [Tgfb1], and chitinase 3 like-3 [Ym1] mRNA levels. At 2 days, C1q protein was evident in the CA3 with elevated C1qa, C1qb, C3, Cr3a, and Cr3b mRNA levels. mRNA levels remained elevated at 5 days, returning to control by 14 days, corresponding to silver degeneration. mRNA levels for pentraxin3 (Ptx3) were elevated on day 2 and Ptx1 was not altered. Our data suggest an association between microglia reactivity, the induction of anti-inflammatory genes concurrent with pro-inflammatory genes and the expression of complement-associated factors with the degeneration of synapses following apoptotic neuronal loss.
EFFECT OF RED CELL AGE ON ITS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO LYSIS BY RABBIT HEMOLYTIC FACTOR.

A hemolytic factor capable of lysing human and other mammalian red cells in vitro has been previously isolated from rabbit erythrocytes(l-3). This factor requires exogenous ATP, Mg++, and Na+ or K+ for its lytic activity, but is not dependent on glycolysis, choline esterase, or active ion transport. In addition, the action of this factor on intact erythrocytes is completely inhibited by preincubation with purified human stroma in the presence of the above co-factors. It appears, therefore, that its substrate is some component of the red cell membrane and that lysis of the cell is the result of membrane degradation.Since it has been demonstrated that some relationship exists between the age of the red cell and its susceptibility to osmotic(4), im-munologic(5), and primaquine-induced he-molysis(6) it was of interest to investigate the effect of red cell age on its lysis by rabbit hemolytic factor.Materials and methods. 59Fe citrate: Abbott Laboratories; 100 microcuries per ml.Glycine-2-14C: Prepared by the ...
Formation of a patient safety organization

Recent federal legislation permits the creation of a patient safety organization (PSO) to receive, process, and analyze health care related errors without fear of unintended disclosure. When properly qualified, a health system’s risk of liability from this pooling of information is nonexistent. In
The Interaction Between Moths and Plants Containing Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

Moths of the families Ctenuchidae and Arctiidae are attracted to dried and withered plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids where they spend considerable time feeding. Three sex-biased patterns of visitation are noted: strong male bias; weak male bias; and strong female bias. The biological significance of this plant-animal interaction, previously unstudied, is examined. The results of field observations and flight cage experiments discount the hypothesis that moths ingest sex pheromone precursors as in danaine and ithomiine butterflies. That pyrrolizidine alkaloids might provide a nutrient (nitrogen) source for visiting moths is discussed.
Means to Express Number in English

It is pointed out that there are various means to express number and amount in English, such as numerals, nouns, quantifiers and other words. Every mean is discussed and examples are given. An understanding of the means will facilitate the study of English as well as its culture.
Problems in establishing the relationship between pumping rate and oxygen consumption rate in the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria.

1. 1. Data and a line of reasoning are presented to indicate the problems in establishing the relationship between pumping rate and oxygen consumption rate in the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, on the basis of pumping-rate measurements and external, oxygen-concentration measurements alone. 2. 2. An analysis is presented illustrating the two extreme possibilities for gill tissue VdotO2 relative to total VdotO2 following an increase in total VdotO2 from an average rate where gill tissue accounts for 20 per cent of the total.
Using a monoclonal antibody to identify patients with type I and type II von Willebrand's disease

Three monoclonal antibodies produced against vWF:Ag by conventional hybridoma technique did not inhibit factor VIII coagulant activity (F. VIII:C) but did inhibit VIII ristocetin cofactor activity. The antibodies were used in an indirect competitive ELISA for quantifying von Willebrand's antigen (vWF:Ag) and compared with values obtained by the Laurell technique using commercial antibody by means of a ratio: ELISA/Laurell. For one monoclonal BD2-CC9, vWF:Ag values obtained in the two assays were in good agreement for normal and hemophilia A plasmas (normal, n = 19, ratio = 1.13 +/- .17, hemophilia A, n = 10, ratio = 0.91 +/- .15). However, type II vWD patients had a disproportionately low value of vWF:Ag with the ELISA. Use of the ratio normalized the difference among individual plasma values and allowed a significant separation of type II vWD plasma (n = 9, ratio = 0.46 +/- .19) from normal plasma (p = .0001) and type I vWD plasma (n = 8, ratio = 1.52 +/- .34) from type II vWD plasma (p = .0003) using BD2-CC9. Although the sample size was small, the greater degree of discrimination among the vWD plasmas tested with BD2-CC9 (compared with the other two antibodies [CA3-AE4, CC6-BG10]) suggests that this antibody may recognize conformational epitopes that reflect the degree of multimeric polymerization of the vWF molecule rather than simply recognize a decreased number of antigenic sites in a basic subunit. BD2-CC9 may be valuable in investigating the various types of vWD and/or the process of polymerization of this complex protein.
New Directions in Pulmonary Embolism

Improvements in diagnosis have helped to show that this disorder is both much more common and, in terms of its prevalence, less serious than was previously believed. Of particular importance among these diagnostic advances is lung scanning, which permits objective data to be gathered on the degree of circulatory impairment at the outset of an embolic episode and on its resolution following therapy.
Improving medical adherence in cardiovascular disease management with mHealth technologies.

The availability of valuable resources for patients and physicians to use for disease prevention and chronic disease management is rapidly expanding. Outpatient offices are being transformed into more patient-centric and empowering information centres while urgent care and emergency department facilities are working to streamline operations and improve the ease of patient care and communications. However, a large amount of innovation has also occurred outside of these traditional models. From web-based symptom queries and medical information platforms, smartphone-enabled apps for counting calories or providing baseline assessments of skin abnormalities to the countless new sensor devices for activity tracking, blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiographic assessment and beyond, a patient's home can be nearly as sophisticated as a modern medical facility.1 The rapid growth in these mobile health (mHealth) technologies is as exciting as it is complex and we are only scratching the surface of understanding the challenges and opportunities brought by these novel medical technologies. The product of a perfect collision between the continued increases in computing power confined to ever-smaller dimensions and a global expansion of mobile connectivity, as evidenced by the ubiquity of smartphones, with the desire by patients to take a more active role in health management combined with the realization of the limits of the current medical systems, mHealth is on track to vastly transform medical practice. However, questions remain as … [↵][1]*Corresponding author. Tel: +1 858 554 5751, Fax: +1 858 546 9284, Email: emuse{at}scripps.edu [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Evaluation of Dose-Reduced Direct Oral Anticoagulant Therapy

Abstract Background Compared with vitamin K antagonists, direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have fixed dosing, limited drug interactions, and do not require therapeutic drug level monitoring. Dose adjustments are recommended for moderate renal dysfunction, low body weight, and select drug interactions. Objectives The aim of our study is to determine if DOAC dose reductions were appropriate based on the manufacturer labeling recommendations for each agent. We also followed patients' treatment outcomes. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients administered a DOAC at a reduced dose between January 2011 and August 2014. The primary outcome was adherence to current manufacturer dose recommendations. The secondary outcome measures were the incidence of thromboembolic events or any bleeding episodes, regardless of severity, while on therapy. Results Of 224 patients included in the analysis, 43.3% of patients fit criteria for a dose adjustment according to manufacturer recommendations. Only 3 of 28 (10.7%) patients treated with apixaban met 2 out of 3 clinical criteria required for a dose reduction per manufacturer recommendations. Only 54.7% of rivaroxaban-treated patients and 32.2% of dabigatran-treated patients had renal insufficiency requiring a dose reduction. Half of our patient population received aspirin therapy, with 6.3% of patients on triple antithrombotic therapy (dual antiplatelet agents plus an anticoagulant). A past medical history significant for bleeding was prevalent in patients treated with a reduced-dose DOAC (32.1%, 20.4%, and 25.4% of patients in the apixaban-, rivaroxaban-, and dabigatran-treated groups, respectively). Thromboembolic events occurred in 10.7%, 3.6%, and 5.1% of patients in the apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran groups, respectively. Frequency of bleeding complications, regardless of severity, was 17.9%, 18.2%, and 23.7% of patients in the apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran groups, respectively. Conclusion We found that dose-adjusted DOAC therapy was often prescribed in a dose that was lower than package insert recommendations.
Fixed-Effects Panel Data Models: To Cluster or Not to Cluster

Fixed effects panel data models are not immune to problems caused by nonstationarity. Using Monte Carlo experiments, we find that OLS standard errors invariably fail to generate significance tests with correct size when either or both of the regressors are I(1). Clustered standard errors generate correct standard errors if the number of groups is 50 or more and the number of time series observations are 25 or more. With respect to unbalanced models in which an I(1) variable is regressed on an I(0) variable or vice-versa, clustering the standard errors will generate correct standard errors, but not for small values of N and T. We find that neither OLS nor clustered standard errors generate reliably sized significance tests in the case of heterogeneous panels in which the dependent variable, the independent variable, or both are mixes of stationary and nonstationary groups. This could be important given the well-known weakness of unit root tests and the fact that rejecting the null hypothesis in a panel unit root test implies only that one or more of the groups are stationary. First differencing is a simple solution, in which case OLS standard errors are preferred. However, first differences generate a short run model. For estimation in levels, clustered standard errors for relatively large N and T and a simulation or bootstrap approach for smaller samples appears to be the best method for significance tests in fixed effects models in the presence of nonstationary time series.
Automatic Lymph Node Cluster Segmentation Using Holistically-Nested Neural Networks and Structured Optimization in CT Images

Lymph node segmentation is an important yet challenging problem in medical image analysis. The presence of enlarged lymph nodes (LNs) signals the onset or progression of a malignant disease or infection. In the thoracoabdominal (TA) body region, neighboring enlarged LNs often spatially collapse into “swollen” lymph node clusters (LNCs) (up to 9 LNs in our dataset). Accurate segmentation of TA LNCs is complexified by the noticeably poor intensity and texture contrast among neighboring LNs and surrounding tissues, and has not been addressed in previous work. This paper presents a novel approach to TA LNC segmentation that combines holistically-nested neural networks (HNNs) and structured optimization (SO). Two HNNs, built upon recent fully convolutional networks (FCNs) and deeply supervised networks (DSNs), are trained to learn the LNC appearance (HNN-A) or contour (HNN-C) probabilistic output maps, respectively. HNN first produces the class label maps with the same resolution as the input image, like FCN. Afterwards, HNN predictions for LNC appearance and contour cues are formulated into the unary and pairwise terms of conditional random fields (CRFs), which are subsequently solved using one of three different SO methods: dense CRF, graph cuts, and boundary neural fields (BNF). BNF yields the highest quantitative results. Its mean Dice coefficient between segmented and ground truth LN volumes is 82.1 % ± 9.6 %, compared to 73.0 % ± 17.6 % for HNN-A alone. The LNC relative volume (\(cm^3\)) difference is 13.7 % ± 13.1 %, a promising result for the development of LN imaging biomarkers based on volumetric measurements.
Faster estimation of Bayesian models in ecology using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo

Summary Bayesian inference is a powerful tool to better understand ecological processes across varied subfields in ecology, and is often implemented in generic and flexible software packages such as the widely used BUGS family (BUGS, WinBUGS, OpenBUGS and JAGS). However, some models have prohibitively long run times when implemented in BUGS. A relatively new software platform called Stan uses Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC), a family of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms which promise improved efficiency and faster inference relative to those used by BUGS. Stan is gaining traction in many fields as an alternative to BUGS, but adoption has been slow in ecology, likely due in part to the complex nature of HMC. Here, we provide an intuitive illustration of the principles of HMC on a set of simple models. We then compared the relative efficiency of BUGS and Stan using population ecology models that vary in size and complexity. For hierarchical models, we also investigated the effect of an alternative parameterization of random effects, known as non-centering. For small, simple models there is little practical difference between the two platforms, but Stan outperforms BUGS as model size and complexity grows. Stan also performs well for hierarchical models, but is more sensitive to model parameterization than BUGS. Stan may also be more robust to biased inference caused by pathologies, because it produces diagnostic warnings where BUGS provides none. Disadvantages of Stan include an inability to use discrete parameters, more complex diagnostics and a greater requirement for hands-on tuning. Given these results, Stan is a valuable tool for many ecologists utilizing Bayesian inference, particularly for problems where BUGS is prohibitively slow. As such, Stan can extend the boundaries of feasible models for applied problems, leading to better understanding of ecological processes. Fields that would likely benefit include estimation of individual and population growth rates, meta-analyses and cross-system comparisons and spatiotemporal models.
Intraoperative Hypothermia and Surgical Site Infections in Patients with Class I/Clean Wounds: A Case-Control Study.

Background Numerous surgical quality metrics focus on prevention of unintentional perioperative hypothermia due, in part, to the association between hypothermia and surgical site infections (SSI). However, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the relationship between these metrics and SSI. In this study, we evaluated individual components of 1 set of hypothermia metrics to determine their association with SSI. Study Design Patients with clean (class I) wounds who developed an SSI within 30 days after surgery, from January 2003 to December 2012, in 1 of 5 surgical specialties, were matched to specialty-specific controls without SSI. Stratified logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between (1) compliance with the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) Performance Measure, Surgery Patients with Perioperative Temperature Management (SCIP-Inf-10), overall and its components (maintenance of minimum body temperature and use of an active warming device) and SSI and (2) intraoperative hypothermia. Results In both univariate and adjusted analyses using adjusted odds ratios (OR), SCIP-Inf-10 compliance was not associated with SSI (composite compliance OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.24; temperature compliance OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.09; forced-air warming device compliance OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.19). Higher intraoperative nadir temperature (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.35) was associated with SSI. Percent of time exposed to a temperature Conclusions Intraoperative hypothermia was not significantly associated with SSI. These results suggest that development of compliance metrics may not be an effective strategy for SSI reduction in class I surgical wounds.
Engineering the Niche for Intestinal Regeneration

There is an urgent need for the generation of intestinal tissues to serve as in vitro models of intestinal development, function, and disease and to aid in replacement and repair of intestinal tissue in vivo. In vitro intestinal models have relied historically on cell lines that have provided much useful information but are inherently lacking in proper representation of native tissue. Recent advancements in the understanding of the intestinal stem cell niche and primary intestinal culture have enabled long-term primary intestinal cultures and offered promising sources of primary cells and tissue for transplantation in vivo. The physical and chemical environment, including matrix support, mechanical forces and flows, and soluble factors, is highly important to the formation of intestinal models in vitro and integration of transplanted cells in vivo.
Bergman and Szegö Kernels, CR Analysis

In this short, but influential note, Boutet de Monvel proves that the algebra of CR-functions on a strictly pseudoconvex, compact CR-manifold X of dimension 2n + 1, for n ≥ 2, contains enough functions to define an embedding of X into \(\mathbb{C}^{N}.\) If we let \(\phi: X \rightarrow \mathbb{C}^{N}\) denote a choice of CR-embedding, then ϕ(X) is a maximally complex submanifold of \(\mathbb{C}^{N}.\) By Harvey and Lawson’s solution of the complex Plateau problem, see [4], there exists an analytic current \(Y \subset \mathbb{C}^{N}\setminus \phi (X)\) such that ∂ Y = ϕ(X). The normalization of Y is then an abstract Stein space whose boundary is CR-equivalent to the original CR-manifold X.
Partial Tissue-Specific Expression of Two Human Angiotensinogen Promoter-Lacz Transgenes in Mice

P13 Previous analysis of transgenic mice carrying a genomic construct encoding the human angiotensinogen (HAGT) gene indicated that the 13.7 Kb sequence harbored all cis elements required for the appropriate tissue and cell expression of HAGT in vivo . In addition, analysis of independently derived HAGT transgenic lines suggested the presence of a locus control element (LCR) in the HAGT gene since the expression levels were proportional to transgene copy number. In attempt to identify cis elements responsible for the regulation of HAGT expression in vivo we created several new transgenic mouse lines carrying either 1.5 Kb of the HAGT promoter or 1.5 kb of the promoter along with the first exon and intron of the HAGT gene fused to the LacZ reporter gene. Reporter gene expression did not correlate with transgene copy number suggesting the absence of a putative LCR element in the 1.5 Kb region proximal to the HAGT transcription start site. LacZ expression was most prominent in liver and adrenal gland, with additional expression in heart, testis, brain, and cerebellum. Most other tissues (including kidney) had little to no expression of the reporter gene. Our results indicate that the regions proximal to the HAGT transcription start site contain cis -acting elements important for appropriate HAGT expression in the liver and some, but not all, extra-hepatic tissues which should express HAGT. Further dissection of the genomic HAGT sequence will be required to identify all elements involved in proper in vivo regulation of the HAGT gene.
The effect of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory variables in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis: A case report.

ABSTRACTAnkylosing Spondylitis (AS) presents with both musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory pathophysiological manifestations. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) may be a useful intervention to address deficits in respiratory and functional status. Case Description: A 25-year-old male with AS initially sought treatment for low back and right hip pain, but 7 weeks of IMT was also provided due to abnormal respiratory performance. Outcomes: At baseline, the patient presented with a resting respiratory rate (RR) of 14.5 breaths/minute, tidal volume (TV) of 0.76 L, minute ventilation (VE) of 10.87 L/min, and end tidal CO2 (PetCO2) of 30.56 mmHg. Baseline exercise test results revealed a VO2max of 44 ml/kg/min and VE to CO2 output (VE/VCO2) slope of 30. Baseline MIP, SMIP, and MEP were 54 cm H2O, 507 PTU, and 87 cm H2O, respectively, and increased to 176 cm H2O, 807 PTU, and 151 cm H2O, respectively, after IMT. The VO2max increased to 51 ml/kg/min with decreases in the VE/VCO2 slope (29), resting RR (12 breaths...
Abstract 5380: Inactivation of endogenous genes in cancer cells using targeted promoter DNA methylation via CRISPR-DNMT3a fusion protein

Background: Developing technologies for precise manipulation of individual DNA methylation loci is an attractive challenge in cancer and lung biology, because aberrant expression via hyper- or hypo-methylation is so common. Projects such as ENCODE and the Roadmap Epigenetics Project, have identified thousands of epigenetic marks from human genome. However, the functional evaluation of these marks has been largely limited to determining their associations with gene expression. Technologies for targeting manipulation of epigenetic marks would allow direct experimental testing of the impact of DNA methylation at specific residues, mechanisms of gene regulation, and potential use as interventions, for example to silence constitutively active oncogenes. Methods: Here, we developed a CRISPR Cas9-based tool for specific DNA methylation in which the catalytic domain of DNMT3a (DNMT3a-CD) is fused to the carboxy-terminus of Cas9 D10A-H840A mutant (dCas9). Both construct promoter strength and transfection strategies were optimized. Results: We demonstrated targeted and consistent CpG methylation in 30~100bp regions downstream of the PAM (binding) site of the gRNA guided fusion protein in HEK293 cells. The multiple guide RNAs could target the dCas9-DNMT3A to multiple sites consistently. DNA methylation activity was specific for the targeted region and was heritable across cell divisions. We also found directed promoter DNA methylation of DAL1, GATA5 and C-MYC could decrease the corresponding mRNA expression by up to 80%; different DNA methylation positions had consequently different effects on gene expression. We have now performed C-MYC methylation-mediated knockdown in A549 lung cancer cells and are evaluating resulting cell cycle and apoptosis phenotypes. Conclusion: We believe this new targeted epigenetic technology can be directed to cancer cells for the purpose of reprogramming lung cancer, and unregulated stromal and microenvironment cells, for preventive and therapeutic uses. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Simon D. Spivack. Inactivation of endogenous genes in cancer cells using targeted promoter DNA methylation via CRISPR-DNMT3a fusion protein [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 5380. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5380
The effects of traffic light labelling versus cartoon labelling on food and beverage purchases in a children's hospital setting.

This study's purpose was to examine changes in healthy and unhealthy items purchased following the implementation of traffic light and cartoon labelling in a small retail food venue (Cafe Bay) in a children's hospital in eastern North Carolina. Between October 2015 and March 2016, daily food and beverage sales from Cafe Bay were obtained during baseline, traffic light labelling, a washout period, cartoon labelling (on healthy foods only) and a final washout period. Pearson chi-squared tests and multiple linear regressions were used to examine effects of labelling strategies, controlling for the holidays. In unadjusted analyses, traffic light labelling was associated with significant decreases in purchases of unhealthy items purchased, while cartoon labelling was associated with increases in unhealthy items purchased. In adjusted linear regression analysis, traffic light labelling was associated with fewer unhealthy purchases and thus may have potential to decrease the amount of unhealthy items purchased in a children's hospital food retail venue.
Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitor Initiation in Hospitalized Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Background: Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are commonly used by patients with diabetes mellitus in the outpatient setting. The efficacy and safety of initiating inpatient insulin pumps and CGM in the nonintensive care unit setting is unknown. Materials and Methods: In a prospective pilot study, inpatients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive standard subcutaneous basal-bolus insulin and blinded CGM (group 1, n = 5), insulin pump and blinded CGM (group 2, n = 6), or insulin pump and nonblinded CGM (group 3, n = 5). Feasibility, glycemic control, and patient satisfaction were evaluated among groups. Results: Group 1 had lower mean capillary glucose levels, 144.5 ± 19.5 mg/dL, compared with groups 2 and 3, 191.5 ± 52.3 and 182.7 ± 59.9 mg/dL (P1 vs. 2+3 = 0.05). CGM detected 19 hypoglycemic episodes (glucose <70 mg/dL) among all treatment groups, compared with 12 episodes detected by capillary testing, although not statistically significant. No significant differenc...
Identifying Anomalies in GridFTP transfers for Data-Intensive Science through Application-Awareness

Network anomaly detection systems can be used to identify anomalous transfers or threats, which, when undetected, can trigger large-scale malicious events. Data-intensive science projects rely on high-throughput computing and high-speed networking resources for data analysis and processing. In this paper, we propose an anomaly detection framework and architecture for identifying anomalies in GridFTP transfers. Application-awareness plays an important role in our proposed architecture and is used to communicate GridFTP application metadata to the machine learning and anomaly detection system. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our architecture by evaluating the framework with a real-world, large-scale dataset of GridFTP transfers. Preliminary results show that our framework can be used to develop novel anomaly detection services with diverse feature sets for distributed and data-intensive projects.
Placement of Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheter

Central venous pressure monitoring. Placement of Swan-Ganz catheter. Delivery of central venous nutrition or medications Hemodialysis. Emergency access when other routes fail.
Trichosurus vulpecula (Vulpine phalanger)

Several pairs of the autosomes as well as the X have distinct second arms. The sex chromosomes are the smallest of the complement and can be identified without difficulty.
Wafer Stacking and 3D Memory Test

In any 3D manufacturing and test flow, it is necessary to determine which tests should be performed and when, as well as how stacking will take place in order to minimize cost. This determination is necessary to ensure suitably high compound stack yields, or the yield for stacking subsequent tiers on a stack. This chapter will examine two related issues—the stacking process, in particular the benefits and cost of wafer sorting, and architectures for 3D memory test and yield assurance in 3D stacked ICs. Pre-bond test of logic, memory, and interconnects is necessary to enable wafer matching, and memory test is crucial especially for memory-on-memory stacks where wafer stacking is more likely to be used due to higher yields through repair solutions.
Prognostic significance of primary tumor sidedness in patients undergoing liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer.

Abstract Background Approximately 38% of patients with colorectal cancer will develop isolated liver metastases. Sidedness of colon tumor is identified in non-metastatic and unresected metastatic cancers as predictive of survival, yet its dedicated analysis in resected liver metastases is minimal. Our primary aim was to assess whether left-sided primary tumors improve prognosis in stage IV cancer patients undergoing curative-intent liver metastasectomy; it was hypothesized that it would. Methods This is a retrospective, observational cohort study from 1996 to 2016 in a single tertiary-care facility. Survival from diagnosis was calculated via Kaplan–Meier method and compared between the right and left sides via log-rank analysis. Results Median survival differs significantly between colorectal tumors of the right and left origins after hepatic metastasectomy in 612 patients. In patients with right-sided tumors, median survival from diagnosis was 4.5 years (IQR 4.1–5.3), and 6.3 years (IQR 5.6–6.9) in those with left tumors (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.38–1.60, p Conclusion As in studies on earlier-stage or unresected metastatic disease, tumor sidedness is an important prognostic factor in patient survival with liver metastasectomy. Clinical risk scores should include side of primary tumor. Further work is needed to determine the molecular basis for this difference.
Harmonic analysis meets stationarity: A general framework for series expansions of special Gaussian processes

In this paper, we present a new approach to derive series expansions for some Gaussian processes based on harmonic analysis of their covariance function. In particular, we propose a new simple rate-optimal series expansion for fractional Brownian motion. The convergence of the latter series holds in mean square and uniformly almost surely, with a rate-optimal decay of the remainder of the series. We also develop a general framework of convergent series expansions for certain classes of Gaussian processes with stationarity. Finally, an application to optimal functional quantization is described.
Stokes waves in a constant vorticity flow

The Stokes wave problem in a constant vorticity flow is formulated via conformal mapping as a modified Babenko equation. The associated linearized operator is self-adjoint, whereby efficiently solved by the Newton-conjugate gradient method. For strong positive vorticity, a fold develops in the wave speed versus amplitude plane, and a gap as the vorticity strength increases, bounded by two touching waves, whose profile contacts with itself, enclosing a bubble of air. More folds and gaps follow as the vorticity strength increases further. Touching waves at the beginnings of the lowest gaps tend to the limiting Crapper wave as the vorticity strength increases indefinitely, while a fluid disk in rigid body rotation at the ends of the gaps. Touching waves at the boundaries of higher gaps contain more fluid disks.
Differential modulation of energy landscapes of cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) as a regulatory mechanism for class II CRP-dependent promoters.

The Escherichia coli cAMP receptor protein, CRP, is a homodimeric global transcription activator that employs multiple mechanisms to modulate the expression of hundreds of genes. These mechanisms require different interfacial interactions among CRP, RNA, and DNA of varying sequences. The involvement of such a multiplicity of interfaces requires a tight control to ensure the desired phenotype. CRP-dependent promoters can be grouped into three classes. For decades scientists in the field have been puzzled over the differences in mechanisms between class I and II promoters. Using a new crystal structure, IR spectroscopy, and computational analysis, we defined the energy landscapes of WT and 14 mutated CRPs to determine how a homodimeric protein can distinguish nonpalindromic DNA sequences and facilitate communication between residues located in three different activation regions (AR) in CRP that are ∼30 A apart. We showed that each mutation imparts differential effects on stability among the subunits and domains in CRP. Consequently, the energetic landscapes of subunits and domains are different, and CRP is asymmetric. Hence, the same mutation can exert different effects on ARs in class I or II promoters. The effect of a mutation is transmitted through a network by long-distance communication not necessarily relying on physical contacts between adjacent residues. The mechanism is simply the sum of the consequences of modulating the synchrony of dynamic motions of residues at a distance, leading to differential effects on ARs in different subunits. The computational analysis is applicable to any system and potentially with predictive capability.
A diet containing high- versus low-daidzein does not affect bone density and osteogenic gene expression in the obese Zucker rat model

Phytoestrogens are nonsteroidal plant compounds with similar chemical structures to mammalian estrogen capable of mimicking the effect of estrogen in selective tissues. A diet rich in phytoestrogens is associated with a variety of health benefits including decreased risks for heart disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. Obesity has long thought to be associated with improved bone density due to increased mechanical loading, but recent literature suggests obesity may actually decrease bone health. Daidzein, a soy-derived phytoestrogen, has been shown to improve parameters of bone health in lean animal models of osteoporosis but has not been tested in obese animals. Following a one-week acclimation to a standard AIN-93G diet, 19 five-week-old female obese Zucker rats (OZR) were randomly assigned to a modified AIN-93G diet containing either high daidzein (HD, 0.121 g kg−1 feed) or low daidzein (LD, 0.01 g kg−1 feed). After 8 weeks, tibias and femurs were removed to assess true density (Archimedes principal), mechanical strength (three-point bending test), and femoral osteogenic gene expression. Serum was collected to assess osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline. Our results indicated that there were no significant differences between the measures for tibial or femoral true density or mechanical strength for the rats in the HD and LD diet groups. Similarly, there were no significant differences in gene expressions related to osteogenic pathways, or serum biomarkers of bone formation and resorption. Overall, an increased dose of daidzein from soy protein supplementation does not elicit an improvement in markers of bone health in obese Zucker rats.
Ancile: Enhancing Privacy for Ubiquitous Computing with Use-Based Privacy

Widespread deployment of Intelligent Infrastructure and the Internet of Things creates vast troves of passively-generated data. These data enable new ubiquitous computing applications---such as location-based services---while posing new privacy threats. In this work, we identify challenges that arise in applying use-based privacy to passively-generated data, and we develop Ancile, a platform that enforces use-based privacy for applications that consume this data. We find that Ancile constitutes a functional, performant platform for deploying privacy-enhancing ubiquitous computing applications.
Green tea polyphenol EGCG antagonizes androgen function: Novel insight into the mechanism of chemopreventive effects of green tea on prostate cancer

2107 Oral consumption of green tea polyphenols containing epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to TRAMP and other mouse models affords substantial prostate cancer (PCa) chemo-preventive effects. Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that these animal data are also applicable to human PCa patients. Androgens play a central role in prostate development and PCa proliferation. Androgen receptor (AR) manifests the biological actions of androgens. AR activity is critical for PCa progression and its transactivation is known to enhance PCa cell survival. AR is known to act as a homodimer on the regulatory elements of the target genes to modulate their expression and the interdomain interaction (N-C terminus interaction) of AR is required for the optimal/maximal activation of the receptor. Since the growth of prostate cancer cells is regulated by androgens, we hypothesized that EGCG will blunt AR function in PCa. We first asked whether EGCG can act as a ligand for AR. EGCG was therefore screened in AR competitive binding assay employing time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) format where ligands for AR are identified by their ability to compete with and displace fluorescent dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from the receptor. EGCG was found to compete and displace fluorescent DHT and disrupted FRET, resulting in a lower TR-FRET ratio with an effective IC50 of 0.4 µM. To evaluate the functional consequence of this interaction on transcription activation function of AR, a reporter assay was performed to determine how EGCG modulates hormone-dependent AR action. We observed that in LNCaP cells, EGCG led to a dose-dependent decrease in AR transcription activation function on a cognate reporter element MMTV containing AR binding sites. This indicates that physical interaction of EGCG with AR leads to attenuation of its transactivation function implicating EGCG to be a novel antagonist of AR function. To further explain decrease in AR transactivation, an interdomain interaction assay was performed which clearly indicated a decrease in AR amino-carboxy termini interaction by EGCG. Since AR transactivation is known to positively stimulate growth of PCa cells and EGCG led to a potent inhibition of this function, next we tested the effect of EGCG on the growth of hormone R1881 stimulated PCa LNCaP cells employing MTT assay. R1881 treatment enhanced cell growth and this enhancement was blunted by EGCG. Taken together, we propose EGCG as a novel candidate antagonist of AR signaling in PCa that may function as a PCa chemotherapeutic agent alone or in combination with currently employed chemotherapeutic regimens.