cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of interleukin-2 and selenium on the growth of squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Abstract Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether the expression of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors on squamous cell carcinoma cells can be enhanced in the presence of selenium (Se) and contribute to a greater retardation of tumor growth after locoregional therapy with IL-2. Study design: The growth of the cells was studied after in vitro or dietary supplementation with Se in a murine model. Results: Treatment of established tumors in hosts supplemented with Se with peritumoral injections of IL-2 resulted in 50% reduction of tumor size, whereas treatment of early tumors resulted in 72.4% reduction. The effect was most likely related to a combination of enhanced immune responsiveness and enhanced IL-2 receptor expression on the tumor cells. Conclusions and significance: The data suggested that local immunotherapy with IL-2 in hosts supplemented with Se may represent an effective modality of treatment for the prevention of recurrences at the site of conventionally treated primary tumors, including tumors that do not express IL-2 receptors.
Characterization of juvenile play in rats: importance of sex of self and sex of partner

Background Juvenile social play is observed in many mammalian species, and its disruption in several neuropsychiatric disorders has greatly increased interest in understanding the origins and sources of variability in this behavior.
Nonuniformly quantized min-sum decoder architecture for low-density parity-check codes

In this paper, we propose a novel min-sum (MS) decoder architecture using nonuniform quantization schemes for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The finite word-length analysis in implementing an LDPC decoder is a very important factor since it directly impacts the size of memory to store the intrinsic and extrinsic messages and the overall hardware area in the partially parallel LDPC decoder. The proposed nonuniform quantization scheme can reduce the finite word-length while achieving similar performances compared to a conventional quantization scheme. From simulation results, it is shown that the proposed 4-bits nonuniform quantization scheme achieves an acceptable decoding performance unlike a conventional 4-bits uniform quantization scheme. In addition, the hardware implementation for the proposed nonuniform quantization scheme requires smaller area.
Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Juvenile Hormone

Determination of the molecular modes of action of juvenile hormone to regulate gene expression has remained an elusive goal. This review discusses how studies on JH action have been influenced by the perspectives based on the mode of action of vertebrate retinoid/steroid hormones. Also identified are assumptions implicit in the experimental approaches used thus far, as well as alternative perspectives from which to frame future hypotheses on JH action.
Species control variation in litter decomposition in a pine forest exposed to elevated CO2

Net primary production and the flux of dry matter and nutrients from vegetation to soils has increased following four years of exposure to elevated CO2 in a southern pine forest in NC, USA. This has increased the demand for nutrients to support enhanced rates of NPP and altered the conditions for litter decomposition on the forest floor. We quantified the chemistry and decomposition dynamics of leaf litter produced by five of the most abundant tree species in this ecosystem during the third and fourth growing seasons under elevated CO2. The objectives of this study were to determine (i) if there were systemic or species-specific changes in leaf litter chemistry associated with a sustained enhancement of plant growth under elevated CO2; and (ii) whether the process of litter decomposition was altered by increased inputs of energy and nutrients to the forest floor in the plots under elevated CO2. Leaf litter chemistry, including various C fractions and N concentration, was virtually unchanged by elevated CO2. With few exceptions, plant litter produced under elevated CO2 lost mass or N at the same relative rate as that produced under ambient CO2. The relationship between initial litter chemistry and decomposition was not altered by elevated CO2. The greater forest floor mass and nutrient content in the plots under elevated CO2 had no consistent or long-term effect on litter decomposition. Thus, we found no evidence that plant and microbial processes under elevated CO2 resulted in systemic changes in mass loss or N dynamics during decomposition. In contrast to the limited effects of elevated CO2 on litter chemistry and decomposition, there were large differences among species in initial litter chemistry, mass loss and N dynamics during decomposition. If the species composition of this forest community is altered by elevated CO2, the indirect effect of a change in species composition will exert greater control over the long-term rate of nutrient cycling than the direct effect of elevated CO2 on litter chemistry and decomposition dynamics alone.
Inter-operability demonstration for 100G DP-QPSK OIF MSA based LH optical module

An inter-operability test on 100G DP-QPSK LH optical modules from different vendors is conducted. We successfully demonstrate the interoperability of 100G DP-QPSK modules in line-side test with error free operation. We also demonstrate end to end error free operation including the transfer of 100GbE client signal with 100G OTN framer.
Outcome of pregnancies after pelvic artery embolization for postpartum hemorrhage: retrospective cohort study.

Objective The effects of pelvic artery embolization (PAE) for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) on subsequent pregnancies have been explored in small case series and one case-control study by mailed questionnaire with uncomplicated pregnancies as controls. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study using women with PPH without PAE for comparison. Study Design From a cohort of 103 women undergoing PAE for primary PPH between January 1999 and December 2012 (exposed) and 189 pregnancies with PPH not requiring PAE between January 2008 and December 2012 (unexposed), we queried the electronic medical records for readmissions to labor and delivery in subsequent years. Outcomes of subsequent pregnancies continuing past 20 weeks were obtained by chart review. Results Repeat pregnancies were documented in 17 of 103 exposed women (16.5%) and 18 of 189 unexposed women (9.5%). At delivery complicated by PPH, the groups did not differ in demographics, gestational age, units of blood transfused, or PPH cause. At the time of subsequent deliveries, there was a greater interdelivery interval in women exposed to PAE than those unexposed (1710 ± 938 days vs 904 ± 358 days; P = .002), and the 2 groups were similar in terms of gestational age and birthweight. However, there was a significantly higher rate of placenta accreta in exposed than unexposed women (23.5 % vs 0%; P = .04), with 3 of 17 sustaining total abdominal hysterectomy and 1 requiring repeat PAE for severe PPH. Conclusion Pregnancies following PAE for PPH were more likely than those not receiving PAE for treatment to be complicated by placenta accreta. Pregnancies following PAE should be followed up for imaging evidence of placenta accreta.
A Massive Repository for the National Medical Knowledge Bank Warren M. Sterling, Ph.D.

This paper describes a massively parallel object relational (O/R) database used in an advanced development program to create a comprehensive medical information system called the National Medical Knowledge Bank (NMKB). This database, named the Teradata Object Relational Database (TOR), was developed for massive data warehouse applications in the multiple terabyte range. We present a brief discussion of the NMKB architecture, its healthcare applications, and the requirements of TOR to support the NMKB. We then concentrate on the architecture of TOR including scalability features, large object store, system and user defined functions, geo-spatial data types, and the internal indices required to support these features.
Health of Indigenous Circumpolar Populations

Indigenous circumpolar populations have experienced profound transitions in lifeways over the past half-century as a result of economic development. Although there have been positive aspects of this social transformation, most circumpolar groups today have a triple burden of disease, with a modestly elevated infectious disease level, an elevated and increasing burden of chronic conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, and high rates of mental health–related challenges. The health of contemporary circumpolar populations is not easily characterized because of dramatic regional differences that stem from socioeconomic disparities among nonindigenous groups, individual population histories, lifestyle factors, environmental pollution, and underlying biological variation. Overall health and well-being range from excellent among the Sami of Sweden and Norway to extremely poor among marginalized native populations in northern Russia. Circumpolar groups today are not only threatened by continued regi...
On Replicating the S&P 500 Index

To minimize tracking error, S&P 500 index funds often follow inflexible, nearly exact replication strategies. This inflexibility causes stocks with relatively low floating supply to experience abnormally high negative or positive returns upon addition or deletion on average. Moreover, the alternative of trading at the open following the announcement of a change, rather than when the change occurs, results in 25.9 basis points more return per year with virtually no incremental variance. If investment principals knew in advance of these additional returns, they may nonetheless have rationally chosen to forgo such added returns to better monitor their agents. The early-trading strategy has much higher tracking errors than the 2.7 basis-point average of the largest indexer.
Business to Business on the Web: Buying and Selling

This technical note discusses business-to-business electronic commerce, especially buy-side and sell-side applications in the supply chain.
Evaluating Cluster Integrals

In this Lecture, we shall evaluate some cluster integrals, and consider several generalized techniques for evaluating classes of cluster integrals. We specifically treat hard-sphere and Lennard-Jones potentials. Generalized methods include Katsura’s Fourier-transform approach to loop integrals, the g bond resummation, and application of the Silverstone-Moats formula for the representation of spherical harmonics around displaced centers.
Practice Is Protective: Mindfulness Training Promotes Cognitive Resilience in High-Stress Cohorts

Attention is critical for successful performance in demanding real-world situations. Yet, protracted periods of high demand may compromise attention and increase off-task thinking. Herein, we investigate if mindfulness training (MT) may promote cognitive resilience by curbing attentional lapses in high-stress cohorts. Two military cohorts were recruited during their high-stress predeployment interval. Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT)® was provided to one group (MT, N = 31) but not the other group (military control group, MC, N = 24). The MT group attended an 8-week MMFT® course and logged the amount of out-of-class time spent practicing formal MT exercises. The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) was used to index objective attentional performance and subjective ratings of mind wandering before (T1) and after (T2) the MT course. In the MT group, changes in SART measures correlated with the amount of time spent engaging in MT homework practice, with greater objective performance benefits (indexed by A′, a sensitivity measure), and reduced subjective reports of mind wandering over time in those who engaged in high practice vs. low practice. Performance measures in the low practice and MC groups significantly declined from T1 to T2. In contrast, the high practice group remained stable over time. These results suggest that engaging in sufficient MT practice may protect against attentional lapses over high-demand intervals. Based on these results, we argue that MT programs emphasizing greater engagement in mindfulness practice should be further investigated as a route by which to build cognitive resilience in high-stress cohorts.
A logic of proofs for differential dynamic logic: toward independently checkable proof certificates for dynamic logics

Differential dynamic logic is a logic for specifying and verifying safety, liveness, and other properties about models of cyber-physical systems. Theorem provers based on differential dynamic logic have been used to verify safety properties for models of self-driving cars and collision avoidance protocols for aircraft. Unfortunately, these theorem provers do not have explicit proof terms, which makes the implementation of a number of important features unnecessarily complicated without soundness-critical and extra-logical extensions to the theorem prover. Examples include: an unambiguous separation between proof checking and proof search, the ability to extract program traces corresponding to counter-examples, and synthesis of surely-live deterministic programs from liveness proofs for nondeterministic programs. This paper presents a differential dynamic logic with such an explicit representation of proofs. The resulting logic extends both the syntax and semantics of differential dynamic logic with proof terms -- syntactic representations of logical deductions. To support axiomatic theorem proving, the logic allows equivalence rewriting deep within formulas and supports both uniform renaming and uniform substitutions.
Institutional Arrangements and Policymaking: Are Some Policies Pre-Determined by Political Institutions?

Are policies pre-determined by political institutions? The recently passed economic partnership agreement between Japan and the Philippines (JPEPA) was fought fiercely between supporters such as the government, business and academe and the opposition composed of civil society, academe and other interest groups. Close observation shows that the outcome was either rejection or concurrence by Senate. These outcome possibilities expected in a democratic environment, do not refine or make better policy but waste resources because the Executive branch which has the sole power to initiate treaties has already sunk resources during negotiations. Thus, it is important to study institutional roles in trade policy making. Legislative oversight of the Executive is in the Philippine 1987 Constitution, yet it does not allow for better executive-legislative relations in trade policy making. This research attempts to study these dynamics between the Executive and the Senate in trade policy. The Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) will be used as a case. The JPEPA narrative as well as supporting documents and data will be analyzed to determine where different interests are able to articulate their positions and affect this policy.
Abstract 2968: Outcomes Of Young Acute Ischemic Stroke Over The Last Decade: Insights From Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Background: The burden of young ischemic stroke has increased over the years. However, outcomes of young patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remain unknown. Over the last decade, with increasing utilization rate of iv tpa, our objective was to evaluate trends in survival and discharge outcomes of young AIS patients in the United States. Methods: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2001 through 2009 were reviewed. Hospitalizations with a discharge diagnosis of an acute ischemic stroke (ICD-9 codes: 433.01, 433.11, 433.21, 433.31, 433.81, 433.91, 424.01, 434.11, 434.91 and 436) were included. Nationwide estimates of deaths and discharge destination were calculated for each year within the young AIS subset. The Cochrane Armitage test was used to assess trend across the years Results: From 2001 through 2009, there were an estimated 4,917,217 admissions for acute ischemic stroke. Out of that, 204,703 (4.16%) were young patients with AIS. Thrombolysis in young ischemic stroke increased from 354 (1.84% of young AIS) in 2001 to 1237 (4.97%) in 2009 (p Conclusion: Over the last decade, deaths from AIS among young patients have decreased. The increase in rehabilitation placement and decrease in nursing home discharges suggest improving neurologic outcomes. Modern treatments such as stroke units, thrombolysis, and mechanical thrombectomy may be responsible for the reductions in mortality and morbidity.
Aminoacyl-Transfer RNA Synthetases Connecting Nutrient Status to Angiogenesis Through the Unfolded Protein Response

Aminoacyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetases (AARSs) are well known for catalyzing the selective attachment of amino acids to their cognate tRNAs to ensure accurate protein translation. Evidence has accumulated in recent years that AARSs are involved in additional complex eukaryotic processes, including recruitment of immune cells and regulation of angiogenesis.1–4 In this issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology , Castranova et al5 report an additional link between angiogenesis regulation and 2 specific AARSs, threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IARS). In a genetic screen for altered vasculature, mutations in the tars and iars zebrafish genes were identified by classical genetic mapping and sequencing. The dysregulated vessel formation was associated with a premature stop codon in the tars gene and a point mutation in the iars gene. The phenotype caused by these mutations could be rescued by transgenes encoding the wild-type alleles. Further mechanistic studies showed that loss of TARS or IARS function leads to upregulation …
Using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to Screen for Motor Delay in Former Preterm Infants: A Validation Study

Preterm infants require close surveillance for gross motor delay after neonatal discharge. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 3rdedition (Bayley-III) is used widely in research settings, but is too resource intensive for routine clinical use. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is an alternative test of motor development that can be administered by a range …
Towards a quantitative comparison between experimental and synthetic grain structures

Abstract A method is proposed to quantitatively compare 3-D microstructural data using the Hellinger distance. Statistics from an experimentally observed 3-D IN100 microstructure are used to generate six synthetic microstructures. These are compared quantitatively to the experimental microstructure by computing the Hellinger distances between distributions of microstructural descriptors, such as the volume, the aspect ratio, and the affine moment invariant Ω ¯ 3 . The synthetic microstructures use three starting shape classes, namely ellipsoids, superellipsoids, and shapes generated by truncating a cube with an octahedron; this latter shape class is proposed here for use in microstructure generation, and we derive relevant morphological descriptors. Synthetic microstructures are generated using either random grain placement or by constraining the grain placement to the experimental grain centroids. We present a method for determining microstructure similarity by random sampling from a reference microstructure as well as quantitative shape comparisons between synthetic and experimental microstructures.
The Aspergillus Ochraceus Group: Two New Species from Western Soils and a Synoptic Key

Two new species in the Aspergillus ochraceus group are described and compared to related taxa. Aspergillus bridgeri, from soils collected in a native community dominated by Atriplex gardneri in Wyoming, somewhat resembles A. elegans and A. lanosus, but differs in cultural and morphological details. Aspergillus campestris, from a native prairie in northern North Dakota, resembles A. dimorphicus in having metulae that are up to 35-45 im long, but is a more restricted form with yellow conidial heads, taller conidiophores, occasionally septate metulae, and ellipsoidal conidia. A synoptic key is presented as an aid to identification of species in the A. ochraceus group-an assemblage which has increased considerably since 1965 and currently embraces 15 species. Brief descriptions of the species accompany the key along with distributional and ecological analyses prepared from species lists in more than 130 published surveys.
The Punchboard in Group-Decision Testing

The self-scoring multiple-choice punchboard is an efficient device for confirmation of a correct response and correction of errors, but considerable anxiety may result from a number of corrections in close succession. This anxiety may be diluted to the level of beneficial stimulation by placing teams of students in competition, using the punchboard to validate or reject the group decision.
Abstract A94: Missed opportunities: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in emergency presentation of colorectal cancer

Background: Emergency presentation for colorectal cancer (CRC) is common and associated with high morbidity and mortality. African Americans and those with lower socioeconomic status (SES) experience higher CRC morbidity and mortality, and higher rates of emergency CRC presentation may, in part, account for these disparities. We hypothesized that African Americans and individuals with low SES have higher rates of emergency CRC presentation. Methods: We examined disparities in emergency CRC presentation using nationally representative 1992-2005 SEER-Medicare data of U.S. adults aged ≥66 years with invasive CRC. Emergency CRC presentation (the primary outcome) was defined as a newly diagnosed CRC associated with: obstruction, perforation, or an inpatient admission requiring immediate medical intervention (e.g. for severe, life threatening conditions) identified using Medicare claims with ICD-9 and admission type codes. We used logistic regression to compare associations of race and census tract poverty rate with emergency CRC presentation, adjusting for sociodemographic (age, sex, Medicaid status, year of diagnosis, urban/rural residence at diagnosis), tumor (SEER historic stage, left/right side tumor location, grade, histology), and clinical (history of the following in the prior year: preventable hospitalizations, comorbidity, endoscopic testing) covariates. Results: We identified 88,859 patients with CRC during the study period, 29.0% of whom presented emergently (of these, 81.3% had an emergency admission, 31.6% obstruction, and 4.2% perforation). In unadjusted analyses, CRC patients more likely to present emergently included African Americans (vs. whites OR: 1.64 95% CI: 1.57-1.72) and those living in census tracts with the highest poverty rate (≥20% vs. Discussion: In this population-based study, racial and socioeconomic disparities are evident in emergency presentation of CRC, which may account for some of the observed disparities in morbidity and mortality. Targeted efforts to increase CRC screening in these populations would reduce this preventable disparity. Citation Format: Sandi L. Pruitt, Nicholas O. Davidson, Samir Gupta, Yan Yan, Mario Schootman. Missed opportunities: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in emergency presentation of colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A94.
Allosensitization does not alter post-transplant outcomes in pediatric patients bridged to transplant with a ventricular assist device.

Patients supported with a VAD are at increased risk for sensitization. We aimed to determine risk factors for sensitization as well as the impact of sensitization on post-transplant outcomes. The UNOS database (January 2004-June 2014) was used to identify patients (≤18 yrs) supported with a durable VAD. Rates and degree of sensitization in the VAD cohort were calculated. Post-transplant survival was determined comparing outcomes of sensitized vs. non-sensitized patients. There were 3097 patients included in the study; 19% (n = 579) were bridged with a VAD. Of these, 41.8% were sensitized vs. 29.9% of the patients who were not bridged with a VAD (p 50% and VAD patients with a positive DSC (p = 0.280 and 0.160, respectively). In conclusion, pediatric VAD patients are more likely to be sensitized, but there was no difference in sensitization based on device type. In addition, sensitization does not appear to impact outcomes.
Screening of xylose fermentation yeast to produce ethanol and its application

Brewer's spent grains is the largest number of by-product in the beer production process,a certain content of fermentable sugars can be obtained after acid hydrolysis and enzymatic treatment,including xylose and glucose.They are the main reducing sugar,which has well cost-effectiveness.In this paper,we screened the yeast which can ferment xylose to ethanol from the natural environment based on traditional strain screening methods,and they were preliminary identified as Candida yeast.The production of ethanol can be up to 3.10 g/L by fermenting xylose at 2% in 30℃,under 100rpm condition,which basically reached to the average level of wild yeast.In order to improve ability of zymolysis,brewer's spent grains hydrolysates were used as well to be fermented.By this way,the maximal ethanol production can be ultimately up to 4.24 g/L.The results showed that the Y-4T-1 can grow and ferment well in the hydrolyzate of the Brewer's spent grains with acetic acid,furfural,hydroxymethyl furfural and other inhibitors,which provided culture support for ethanol fermentation and in the meantime created a new way of thinking for the further study of biomass fuel ethanol.
3-Year Followup of Urinary Symptoms after Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

AbstractA total of 84 patients underwent detailed symptom analysis and urodynamic study preoperatively, and 3 and 12 months after transurethral resection of the prostate. In addition, 69 patients were contacted 3 years postoperatively for a detailed symptom analysis. These 3-year data then were compared to earlier evaluations. At 3 years 75 per cent of the patients claimed to have improvement, while 13 per cent stated that they were the same symptomatically. At the 1-year evaluation 84 per cent of the patients believed that they were improved and 10 per cent stated that they were unchanged.At 3 years 18 per cent of the patients had urge incontinence (an increase from 6 per cent at 1 year), while none complained of marked nocturia or frequency. Mean total irritative and obstructive symptoms were minimal and unchanged from the 1-year evaluation. Of the patients 33 per cent noticed decreased or absent erections and most blamed the surgery. One patient required another prostatic resection, while stricture dev...
The diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders.

SUMMARY Information regarding sleep apnea syndromes and primary alveolar hypoventilation has been widely disseminated in both medical and lay publications. As a result, the pulmonary physician is confronted with a growing number of patients referred for evaluation of sleep-related breathing disorders. In addition, many pulmonary diseases may become worse during sleep. A wide variety of diagnostic options is available. The method chosen will depend on availability, cost, and the strength of the clinical impression. Screening studies, from the most simple (night-time Holter monitor or ear oximetry) to either a carefully performed nap study or a home recording may aid in deciding which patients require a formal polysomnogram. Centers with full all-night study capability may not use preliminary recordings at all. Because many therapeutic modalities exist, their intelligent use requires an accurate assessment of the type and severity of the breathing disorder.
Therapeutic substitution in the health maintenance organization outpatient environment.

Health maintenance organizations (HMO) are growing in number as a cost-effective way of providing health care. In some, stringent formulary management policies including programs authorizing therapeutic substitution are practiced. Under this concept a drug that has been previously determined to be therapeutically equivalent to a second drug, even though it is not chemically equivalent to the prescribed drug, is automatically dispensed without contacting the prescriber.This study was undertaken to learn the extent and conditions under which therapeutic substitution is being practiced in the HMO setting. A survey was sent to all HMO in the U.S. inquiring into the operation of the pharmacy services. Specific focus was on the operation of the formulary and the policies and procedures being followed. The main goal was to learn how many programs authorize therapeutic substitution, what drugs are allowed, and what procedures are followed once the substitution is made.Of the 481 surveys sent out, 192 (40 percent)...
Effect of chromium tripicolinate supplementation on porcine immune response during the periparturient and neonatal period

A total of 36 gilts were used to assess the effects of Cr tripicolinate supplementation on immune response in sows and their offspring during the periparturient and neonatal period. Gilts were raised from weaning to reproductive age on diets with either 0 (-Cr) or 200 (+Cr) ppb supplemental Cr from CrPic. Subsequently, 22 gilts (9 -Cr and 13 +Cr) in parity 1 and 16 sows in parity 2 (7 -Cr and 9 +Cr) underwent immune status testing. Only sows that completed all procedures in parity 1 were included in parity 2. Sows were immunized with ovalbumin about 3 wk (d 0), and again 14 d later for gilts, prior to anticipated farrowing, and serum was collected on d 0 and at 14-d intervals for a total of four samples. Serum was collected from five to six pigs/litter at 24 h after birth, three or six pigs/litter the day after weaning (25 d of age) in parity 1, and three pigs/litter the day of weaning (20 d of age) in parity 2. Milk was collected at 1 h (colostrum), 6.5 d (early), and 19 d (late) after farrowing. The only effect of Cr on total immunoglobulin (Ig) concentration was on sow serum IgG (21.7 and 24.1 mg/mL for -Cr and +Cr, respectively; P = 0.08) and IgM (11.0 and 12.5 mg/mL; P = 0.06) on d 0. No effect (P > 0.15) of Cr was observed on the IgG antibody response to ovalbumin, but Cr was associated (P < 0.10) with a decreased IgM antibody response to ovalbumin beginning on d 14. In parity 2, colostral total IgG increased (80.6 and 92.4 mg/mL for parity 1 and 2, respectively; P = 0.06), which was reflected in the neonates at 24 h after birth (33.6 and 39.7 mg/mL; P = 0.01) and at weaning (7.3 and 13.3 mg/mL; P < 0.001). Supplementation of Cr tripicolinate had minimal effects on humoral antibody response of the dam or its transfer to the neonate; however, parity greatly influenced the concentrations of immunoglobulins in the milk and their transfer to the neonate.
Smart phone based occupancy detection in office buildings

A recent literature review shows that approximately 20–50% of energy/cost savings are possible in office buildings when accurate occupancy information is applied to the control of building energy systems. Implicit occupancy sensing, by extracting occupancy data from systems already in the building rather than from those explicitly designed to collect occupancy information, has the potential to provide high-enough accuracy for building energy management with lower costs compared to traditional explicit sensing approaches. Since more and more office workers today carry smart phones, we conducted a proof-of-concept study to explore the feasibility of using smart phone Bluetooth signals for office occupancy detection. The objective is to use existing IT infrastructure to detect occupancy to enhance building control functions while protecting office worker privacy. This paper presents some preliminary results of our recent investigation in this direction. The experimental results are very promising.
An “archaeology of [narrative] silence”: Cognitive Segregation and Productive Citizenship in McCullers’ The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

Rountree offers a long-overdue exploration of mental disability, capitalism, and institutionalization within Carson McCullers’ The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Focusing on the lesser-explored Greek character Spiros Antonapoulos, John Singer’s “big deaf-mute moron” friend, the chapter constellates nationalist, economic, and medical technologies that emerged in the early 1900s to spur cognitive segregation, or the widespread relegation of mentally ill persons to mental hospitals. Tracing these historical phenomena in Lonely Hunter, Rountree demonstrates how four phenomena—xenophobia following eastern European immigration, liberal economic philosophy, ableist ideals of U.S. citizenship, and the U.S. South’s cultural impulse toward social segregation—all work together to collectively structure both the plot’s development toward its modernist ethos and the narrative structure that expels Antonapoulos’s mentally deviant character to the margins of the text.
Fibroblasts from IPF explanted lungs have mitochondrial dysfunction and short telomeres leading to an increased senescence phenotype

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive disease of the elderly. However, the complete mechanisms involved in the disease are still not well understood. We studied human Lung Fibroblasts (hLF) isolated from normal controls as well as IPF explanted lungs, in an effort to get a better understanding of the role that fibroblasts play in the disease. Our results suggest that hLF from IPF individuals differ from their age-matched controls in morphology, as well as in mitochondrial function. Additionally, IPF hLF have less collagen expression compared to controls. TGF-β has a negative effect in proliferation and a nule effect in mitochondrial function in fibroblasts. All these findings, together with the detection of shorter telomeres are associated with an increase in the expression of p21, p53 and the activity of β-galactosidase, suggesting a higher senescence phenotype in IPF hLF.
Chemogenetic enhancement of functional recovery after a sciatic nerve injury.

Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are chemogenetic tools used to modulate neuronal excitability. We hypothesized that activation of excitatory (Gq) DREADD by its designer ligand, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), would increase the excitability of neurons whose axons have been transected following peripheral nerve injury, and that this increase will lead to an enhanced functional recovery. The lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle of adult female Lewis rats was injected unilaterally with AAV9- hsyn- hM3Dq-mCherry (7.6 × 109 viral genomes/μL) to transduce Gq-DREADD expression in LG neurons. The contralateral LG muscle served as an uninjected control. No significant changes in either spontaneous EMG activity or electrically evoked direct muscle (M) responses were found in either muscle after injection of CNO (1 mg/kg, i.p.). The amplitude of monosynaptic H-reflexes in LG was increased after CNO treatment exclusively in muscles previously injected with virus, suggesting that Gq-DREADD activation increased neuronal excitability. After bilateral sciatic nerve transection and repair, additional rats were treated similarly with CNO for up to three days after injury. Electrophysiological data were collected at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after injury. Evoked EMG responses were observed as early as 2 weeks after injury only in Gq-DREADD expressing virus injected LG muscle. By 4 weeks after injury, both M-response and H-reflex amplitudes were significantly greater in muscles previously injected with viral vector than contralateral, uninjected muscles. Increases in the excitability of injured neurons produced by this novel use of Gq-DREADD were sufficient to promote an enhancement in functional recovery after a sciatic nerve injury.
Disorder, defects, and band gaps in ultrathin (001) MgO tunnel barrier layers

We report scanning tunneling spectroscopy studies of the electronic structure of $1.5--3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ (001) textured MgO layers grown on (001) Fe. Thick MgO layers exhibit a bulklike band gap, $\ensuremath{\sim}5--7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$, and sparse, localized defect states with characteristics attributable to oxygen and, in some cases, Mg vacancies. Thin MgO layers exhibit an electronic structure indicative of interacting defect states forming band tails which in the thinnest case extend to $\ensuremath{\sim}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{V}$ of the Fermi level. These vacancy defects are ascribed to compressive strain from the $\mathrm{Mg}\mathrm{O}∕\mathrm{Fe}$ lattice mismatch, accommodated as the MgO grows.
Abstract PD7-04: A novel nomogram model can predict oncotype DX results thus reducing healthcare expenditures

Oncotype DX (ODX) is a commercially available 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay for breast cancer (BC), which has both prognostic and predictive recurrence value for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/HER2-negative (HER2-)/lymph node-negative (LN-) BC. ODX is currently endorsed for us by ASCO, the NCCN, and others for routine guideline application. The RS predicts benefit of adding adjuvant chemotherapy to hormonal manipulation. ODX is costly, a factor which contributes to the test being performed in only ∼1/3 of ER+BC in the USA. Disparities of its use in the US and other developed countries were recently published by us and others. The need for finding an accurate widely applicable, readily available surrogate for ODX is apparent. This study serves to develop and validate nomograms which can be used in place of ODX. National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) analysis from 2010-2012 of ODX tested ER+/HER2-/LN- patients (pts) with 6-50mm tumor size was used to create nomograms for predicting a high or low ODX RS test results. Analysis of NCDB ODX tested pts in 2013 was used for external validation. Age, tumor size, grade, progesterone receptor (PR) status, lymph-vascular invasion (LVI), and the four most frequent BC histologic types were chosen as variables for creating nomograms based on the published methods (JCO, 26(8):1364-70, 2008). Logistic regression was used to generate the scores and predicted probabilities. The predictive accuracy of the regression model was yielded using a Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis and model fit was analyzed by plotting the predicted probabilities against the actual probabilities. Nomograms predicting a high- or low-risk ODX RS test results were created based on results from 27,719 ODX tested pts (2012-2012) and were validated on 12,763 ODX tested pts (2013) (table1). Grade and PR status were shown to be the highest predictors for a low- or high-risk ODX RS. The ROC curves for the probabilities of a low- or high-risk RS showed excellent agreement between the nomogram prediction and actual observation with high, acceptable C-indexes-.89 for both internal and external validation cohorts. We created and validated nomograms that accurately predict for a high- and low-risk ODX score based on the large, National Cancer Data Base which is comprised of >1500 Commission on Cancer accredited facilities. These nomograms may serve to select pts for which further ODX testing is not necessary and may be an excellent surrogate for BC pts for which ODX testing is not available. Citation Format: Orucevic A, Bell JL, Heidel RE. A novel nomogram model can predict oncotype DX results thus reducing healthcare expenditures [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD7-04.
Writing in a Digital World

Over the past two years, the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program has been conducting an extensive review of George Mason UniversityA¢â¬â¢s writing-intensive (WI) courses. As part of this review, WAC has explored the kinds of texts students read, the types of writing students are composing, and the major constraints faculty experience teaching WI courses. In the fall of 2016, WAC program staff conducted a review of syllabi from all WI courses on record in all colleges and schools offering undergraduate majors (62 academic units in total). This process entailed the review of 107 syllabi from 86 different WI courses taught during the spring 2015, fall 2015, and a few previous semesters. This review of syllabi focused on answering one question: What types of writing are being assigned in WI courses? In order to answer this question, WAC Program staff recorded writing assignments as listed on syllabi into two major categories (high stakes and low stakes) and several subcategories (different genres). This poster presentation will share the results of that review and draw on those results to explore the question: Are we writing in a digital world? This question will allow us to explore what it means to write in a digital world and to provide suggestions for incorporating writing projects inspired by the digital world.For more information about writing and research:AÂ https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/teaching/writing-and-research
Global regularity of Wave Maps from R3+1 to surfaces

We consider Wave Maps with smooth compactly supported initial data of small \(\)-norm from R3+1 to certain 2-dimensional Riemannian manifolds and show that they stay smooth globally in time. Our methods are based on the introduction of a global Coulomb Gauge as in [17], followed by a dynamic separation as in [8]. We then rely on an adaptation of T. Tao's methods used in his recent breakthrough result [24].
Large $N$ phase transitions and the fate of small Schwarzschild-AdS black holes

Sufficiently small Schwarzschild-AdS black holes in asymptotically global ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{S}^{5}$ spacetime are known to become dynamically unstable toward deformation of the internal ${S}^{5}$ geometry. The resulting evolution of such an unstable black hole is related, via holography, to the dynamics of supercooled plasma which has reached the limit of metastability in maximally supersymmetric large-$N$ Yang-Mills theory on $\mathbb{R}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{S}^{3}$. Puzzles related to the resulting dynamical evolution are discussed, with a key issue involving differences between the large-$N$ limit in the dual field theory and typical large volume thermodynamic limits.
Effect of nifedipine on sphincter of Oddi motor activity: Studies in healthy volunteers and patients with biliary dyskinesia

The effect of nifedipine on sphincter of Oddi (SO) motor activity was determined by endoscopic manometry. Sphincter of Oddi pressures and motor function were compared in 21 healthy volunteers and in 9 patients with SO dyskinesia. The effects of sublingual doses of 10 or 20 mg of nifedipine were compared with placebo. Neither placebo nor 10 mg of nifedipine produced any effect on SO motor activity. In healthy volunteers 20 mg of nifedipine produced a moderate but significant decrease in basal SO pressure from 12.0 to 6.7 mmHg as well as in the amplitude, duration, and frequency of phasic contractions. In patients with SO dyskinesia 20 mg of nifedipine also resulted in a significant but more profound decrease of the basal SO pressure from 47.1 to 17.3 mmHg as well as in a decrease of amplitude, duration, and frequency of the phasic contractions. Neither placebo nor 10 or 20 mg of nifedipine has any effect on the sequence of phasic contractions. In summary, nifedipine may have a possible therapeutic role in the treatment of SO dyskinesia.
Data Management, Exploratory Data Analysis, and Regression Analysis with 1969–2000 Major League Baseball Attendance

The 1969–2000 Major League Baseball Attendance dataset contains Runs Scored, Runs Allowed, Wins, Losses, Number of Games Behind the Division Leader, and Home Game Attendance of each major league fr...
Pitfalls in developing precision medicine for genetic epilepsy.

The KCNT1 gene encodes a sodium-gated potassium channel subunit, which modulates hyperpolarization after repetitive neural firing.1 In 2012, mutations in KCNT1 were discovered in the familial focal epilepsy syndrome, autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE),2 and in an early-onset epileptic encephalopathy known as malignant migrating focal seizures of infancy.3 Subsequently, it has become apparent that the phenotypic spectrum associated with KCNT1 mutations includes pleiotropy, incomplete penetrance, and other forms of focal epilepsy and epileptic encephalopathies.1 Also, ADNFLE has been associated with mutations in 3 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ( nAChR ) subunit genes.1 Those patients with ADNFLE with KCNT1 have a more severe disorder with earlier age at seizure onset, more refractory seizures, and more comorbid intellectual disability and psychiatric problems than those with nAChR mutations.
Generation of integration-free induced pluripotent stem cells from a patient with spina bifida

Abstract A skin biopsy was obtained from a 14-year-old female patient with a history of Myelomeningocele. Dermal fibroblasts were isolated and reprogrammed with Sendai virus (SeV) vectors encoding OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC. The generated induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) clones NTDi4_09A were free of genomically integrated reprogramming genes, had a stable normal karyotype and expressed pluripotency markers. The iPSCs formed teratomas in mice, which were differentiated towards derivatives of the three germ layers in vivo. This iPSC line offers a useful resource to study a genetic profile of a patient with spina bifida.
National Health Care and Insurance Systems

In a National Health Care/Insurance System (NHC/I), a national government seeks to guarantee something approaching modern standards of medical care to all citizens. NHC/I schemes can include systems of insurance, direct health care delivery, or a combination of the two. They are normally operated by intermediaries, either non governmental sickness funds or lower levels of government. All NHC/I systems socialize risk and substantially de-couple access to care from personal income. Yet none completely equalizes care. Social factors mean some citizens have below-average access, while others obtain extra services outside the system. Cost controls create conflicts especially between the payers and the medical profession. These conflicts must be managed because services depend on physicians. Social science has influenced NHC/I since research documented health problems in the nineteenth century. Currently, social science often supports more population-oriented objectives at the expense of the perspectives of both physicians and individual patients. NHC/I systems are frequently discussed in terms of the government versus the market, but in fact evolved from other forms of community, i.e., medieval guilds. The political paths to NHC/I in each country are unique. Yet common pressures mean there are common trends in reform proposals—and common difficulties in implementation.
Airway Evaluation and Management

Review the anatomy relevant to airway management Understand the components of an airway examination Learn the principles of mask ventilation and intubation