cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone therapy for chronic lung disease in ventilator- and oxygen-dependent infants: a controlled trial.

To determine whether dexamethasone therapy altered the outcome of chronic lung disease in neonates, we conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Twenty-one 30-day-old oxygen- and ventilator-dependent infants were enrolled. The mean (±SD) birth weight was 808.1±141 gm and the mean gestational age was 26.0±1.5 weeks. There were 17 black and 12 male infants. Twelve received placebo and nine received dexamethasone. Neither severity of early illness, birth weight, gestational age, age when treated, gender and race distribution, nor frequency of diuretic therapy differed significantly between groups. The age at extubation, 57.2 days (placebo) versus 39.4 days (steroid), was significantly different. The average oxygen requirements of the steroid-treated patients was significantly lower than for placebo-treated patients during the first 10 days of treatment. There were no differences for placeboversus steroid-treated patients in age when weaned to room air (95.5 days vs 74.9 days), age at discharge (119 days vs 111 days), or number of deaths (2(17%) vs 1 (11%)). Dexamethasone therapy was associated with a significantly increased incidence of hyperglycemia (89% vs 8%) but did not influence the incidence of hypertension, intracranial hemorrhage, infection, or retinopathy of prematurity. The steroid-treated patients had a significant delay in weight gain during the first 3 weeks of treatment but recovered by discharge. Our results suggest that dexamethasone produces acute improvement in infants with lung disease but no long-term effect on mortality rate, duration of oxygen requirement or age at discharge.
Profils des patients à risque de complications artérielles fémorales après cathétérisme cardiaque

Introduction Les complications arterielles femorales apres catheterisme cardiaque peuvent aller des evenements indesirables simples aux complications severes necessitant un traitement invasif ou chirurgical, avec un cout significatif. Cette etude evaluait les complications arterielles femorales precoces apres acces percutane pour catheterisme cardiaque diagnostique et interventionnel, a une epoque ou les dispositifs de fermeture et l’anticoagulation massive sont de plus en plus utilises. Methodes Les patients ayant eu un catheterisme cardiaque percutane par ponction femorale entre Aout 2005 et Decembre 2005 etaient identifies a l’aide d’une base de donnees ICD-9. Quarante-six variables etaient extraites par revue retrospective des dossiers, dont les donnees demographiques, les comorbidites, le type d’anticoagulation, les details de la procedure, et les complications post-procedure. Une analyse univariee et une regression logistique binaire etaient utilisees pour determiner les facteurs associes aux complications. Resultats Quatre-vingt-deux patients sur 579 (14%) presentaient des complications. Les complications les plus frequentes etaient l’hematome (51 patients, 10%) et le saignement actif (14 patients, 2,4%). Des dispositifs de fermeture etaient utilises chez 470 patients. Apres correction multivariee, l’utilisation d’agents anti-thrombotiques (antiagregants plaquettaires et/ou anticoagulants) avant la procedure (odds ratio [OR] = 5,65, intervalle de confiance [IC] a 95% 2,58-12,3, p p p = 0,017), et d’heparine en post-procedure (OR = 29,4, IC 95% 3,56-250, p = 0,002) etaient associes a une augmentation du risque. La coronaropathie etait associee a une augmentation du risque (OR = 11,1, IC 95% 4,78-25,6, p p p = 0,009), et l’antecedent de catheterisme (OR = 0,033, IC 95% 0,012-0,095, p Conclusion Avec l’augmentation perpetuelle du nombre de procedures endovasculaires coronaires complexes et la generalisation de l’utilisation des anti-thrombotiques a doses elevees, les lesions arterielles femorales continueront a representer un risque significatif pour les patients. La surveillance rapprochee post-procedure et l’utilisation de dispositifs de fermeture vasculaire chez les patients a haut risque pourraient diminuer l’incidence des complications arterielles femorales. L’utilisation de dispositifs de fermeture vasculaire apres les procedures a faible risque chez les patients de sexe masculin ou chez ceux aux antecedents de catheterisme homolateral pourrait ne pas etre necessaire mais necessite de nouvelles etudes.
The role of complement in experimental bullous pemphigoid.

Abstract Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a blistering skin disease associated with an IgG autoimmune response directed against the ectodomain of the hemidesmosomal protein, BP180. An animal model of BP has recently been developed by our laboratory based on the passive transfer of rabbit antimurine BP180 antibodies into neonatal BALB/c mice. The experimental animals develop a blistering disease that reproduces all of the key immunopathological features of BP. In the present study we have investigated the role of complement in the pathogenesis of subepidermal blistering in the mouse model of BP. We demonstrate the following. (a) Rabbit anti-murine-BP180 IgG was effective in inducing cutaneous blisters in a C5-sufficient mouse strain, but failed to induce disease in the syngeneic C5-deficient strain; (b) neonatal BALB/c mice, pretreated with cobra venom factor to deplete complement, became resistant to the pathogenic effects of the anti-BP180 IgG; (c) F(ab')2 fragments generated from the anti-BP180 IgG exhibited no pathogenic activity in the mouse model; and (d) histologic evaluation of the skin of mice described in points b and c above showed minimal or no neutrophilic cell infiltration in the upper dermis. Thus, anti-BP180 antibodies trigger subepidermal blistering in this BP model via complement activation. This experimental model of BP should greatly facilitate future studies on the pathophysiology of autoantibody-mediated diseases of the dermal-epidermal junction.
Convergence of the classical Rayleigh-Ritz method and the finite element method

It is demonstrated in this paper that convergence of the classical Rayleigh-Ritz method can be vastly improved by introducing a new class of admissible functions, called quasi-comparison functions
Incidence and patterns of polydrug use and craving for ecstasy in regular ecstasy users: an ecological momentary assessment study.

Background: Previous studies employing retrospective assessments methods found that regular ecstasy users frequently use alcohol, marihuana and other drugs in combination with ecstasy. Methods: Twenty-two participants (13 males, 9 females) wore a wrist actigraph/data recorder to record real-time drug use and ecstasy craving for 6 weeks. Rates of alcohol and drug use on ecstasy use versus non-use nights, and before, during, and after ecstasy use were analyzed with generalized estimation equations (GEE). Craving was modeled with GEE and linear mixed models. Results: Approximately 70% of ecstasy uses occurred on Friday or Saturday nights. No drug was significantly more likely to be used on ecstasy use nights than comparison Friday and Saturday nights. On nights ecstasy was used, in general across all drugs assessed, use was more likely before and during than after ecstasy intoxication, while alcohol use was also more likely before than during ecstasy intoxication. Though low overall, craving for ecstasy increased over 24 h before use and was higher on Friday nights of weeks ecstasy was used on weekends than weeks it was not used. Conclusions: Use of ecstasy on a particular night may not be associated with any greater likelihood of using any other intoxicating drug, and use of other drugs on nights involving ecstasy use may simply reflect a “natural history” of drug-use nights that begins with alcohol, progresses to more intoxicating drugs, and ends with little drug use. Confirmation of these findings awaits further advances in the application of ecological momentary assessment methodologies. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Interpretation of mercury porosimetry data using a pore-throat network model

A three-dimensional network model with pores and throats is used for the interpretation of mercury porosimetry data. The throat and pore size distributions are obtained from the experimental intrusion and extrusion curves. Application of this model to pore structures with unimodal and bimodal distributions is demonstrated. The present model is found to provide an improved description of the pore topology.
Integration of newly born dentate granule cells into adult brains: hypotheses based on normal and epileptic rodents

The granule cells of the dentate gyrus are a population of neurons continously generated throughout life. In the rat, the morphological development of newly born granule cells generated in the adult share many similarities with granule cells generated during development. These include a specific migration pattern, orientation and progression of neurite outgrowth. It appears as though varied dendritic morphology occurs depending on the position of the granule cells within the granule cell layer. A hypothesis for granule cell migration and differentiation of their dendritic processes is proposed based on normal and epileptic rats. In this hypothesis, the granule cells are generated in the subgranular zone, and then they migrate into the granule cell layer. During this migration, the sequence of neurite outgrowth is described, where the newly born granule cell first sprouts rudimentary processes. One of these processes, the basal dendrite, is transiently present on developing rodent granule cells in rats. However, in seizure-induced rats the basal dendrite often fails to retract, which leads to the formation of hilar basal dendrites, and also perhaps, ectopic granule cells in the hilus. In this review, granule cell development is discussed with relevance to the creation of the recurrent excitatory circuitry in rodent models of temporal lobe epilepsy.
Data-driven approach for creating synthetic electronic medical records

New algorithms for disease outbreak detection are being developed to take advantage of full electronic medical records (EMRs) that contain a wealth of patient information. However, due to privacy concerns, even anonymized EMRs cannot be shared among researchers, resulting in great difficulty in comparing the effectiveness of these algorithms. To bridge the gap between novel bio-surveillance algorithms operating on full EMRs and the lack of non-identifiable EMR data, a method for generating complete and synthetic EMRs was developed. This paper describes a novel methodology for generating complete synthetic EMRs both for an outbreak illness of interest (tularemia) and for background records. The method developed has three major steps: 1) synthetic patient identity and basic information generation; 2) identification of care patterns that the synthetic patients would receive based on the information present in real EMR data for similar health problems; 3) adaptation of these care patterns to the synthetic patient population. We generated EMRs, including visit records, clinical activity, laboratory orders/results and radiology orders/results for 203 synthetic tularemia outbreak patients. Validation of the records by a medical expert revealed problems in 19% of the records; these were subsequently corrected. We also generated background EMRs for over 3000 patients in the 4-11 yr age group. Validation of those records by a medical expert revealed problems in fewer than 3% of these background patient EMRs and the errors were subsequently rectified. A data-driven method was developed for generating fully synthetic EMRs. The method is general and can be applied to any data set that has similar data elements (such as laboratory and radiology orders and results, clinical activity, prescription orders). The pilot synthetic outbreak records were for tularemia but our approach may be adapted to other infectious diseases. The pilot synthetic background records were in the 4-11 year old age group. The adaptations that must be made to the algorithms to produce synthetic background EMRs for other age groups are indicated.
Experiments on the burning of single drops of fuel

Experiments have been performed in order to measure the mass rate of consumption of single drops of liquid fuel suspended on a quartz filament and burning under various ambient conditions. The influence of increased oxidizer concentration, increased pressure, and elevated temperature in the surrounding atmosphere on mass burning rate has been studied. Comparison is made with theoretical calculations based on the concept of a heterogeneous diffusion flame, with burning rate controlled by heat and mass transfer. The influence of forced convection on burning rate and extinction of burning has also been investigated.
Comparing Measures of Political Similarity An Empirical Comparison of S Versus τb in the Study of International Conflict

Signorino and Ritter developed and advocated a new measure of the political similarity of states (S). They demonstrated logical flaws associated with the common Kendall's τb-based alliance similarity measure and showed that using S may yield quite different similarity estimates. But without a broader empirical comparison and analysis using S, the full empirical ramifications of this difference is not known. In this study, a comparison of S versus τb is conducted over a wide spatial and temporal domain, examining the relationship between S, τb, expected utility scores, and conflict. Despite significant positive correlations, important differences in the distribution of S and τb-based measures of alliance similarity are found. It should not be assumed that the measures are substitutable. Reanalysis of an important expected utility theory of war shows a stronger relationship between equilibrium predictions and conflict when S is used versus τb.
Construction of genetically engineered Streptococcus gordonii strains to provide control in QPCR assays for assessing microbiological quality of recreational water.

Aims: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) methods for beach monitoring by estimating abundance of Enterococcus spp. in recreational waters use internal, positive controls which address only the amplification of target DNA. In this study two internal, positive controls were developed to control for both amplification and cell lysis in assays measuring abundance of vegetative Gram-positive bacteria. Methods and Results: Controls were constructed using Streptococcus gordonii DL-1, a naturally transformable, Gram-positive bacterium. Unique target sequences were provided by chromosomal insertion of a genetically modified, green fluorescent protein gene fragment. Results suggest that their use for control of lysis and amplification may be of significant value. Conclusions: The use of these controls and the establishment of data quality objectives to determine the tolerable level of decision error should ensure that environmental decisions based on QPCR data are technically and scientifically sound. Significance and Impact of the Study: QPCR measurements related to cell abundance may vary between samples as thick-walled Gram-positive bacteria are inherently difficult to lyse and substances present in recreational waters may inhibit amplification. As QPCR methods are considered for beach monitoring, it is essential to demonstrate that the data obtained accurately reflects the abundance of the bacterial indicator.
Turnover rates and organizational performance Review, critique, and research agenda

The author of this article reviews the burgeoning literature on turnover rates and dimensions of organizational performance, and concludes that substantial evidence indicates that turnover rates have negative implications for several dimensions of organizational performance (e.g., safety, productivity, and monetary), that the content of turnover rates plays a role in the magnitude and form of the relationship between turnover rates and organizational performance, and that turnover rates affect distal measures (e.g., profitability, financial performance) through decreased productivity and losses in human and social capital. A roadmap is provided for future theory-building and empirical work in this area.
Interaction of Hydrogen Chloride with Thin Ice Films: The Effect of Ice Morphology and Evidence for Unique Surface Species on Crystalline Vapor-Deposited Ice

Temperature programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPDMS) has been employed to study the interactions of hydrogen chloride with thin (200−1000 ML) ice films prepared under a variety of conditions. A single desorption state, designated as β-HCl, is observed in experiments with ice films vapor-deposited at substrate temperatures below 153 K and in experiments with ice films prepared by annealing of amorphous ice at 170−180 K. β-HCl evolution occurs at 205 K and is consistent with desorption of HCl hexahydrate, HCl·(H2O)6, incorporated into the ice film bulk. HCl uptake measurements demonstrate that migration of hydrogen chloride into the film bulk is relatively unrestrained even at 100 K. Dramatic differences in HCl TPD spectra and uptake are observed when ice films are vapor-deposited at temperatures above 153 K. A new state, designated as δ-HCl, appears in the TPD spectra at 185 K. HCl uptake with this type of film is limited to approximately 1 ML. δ-HCl is tentatively assigned to desorption of a unique...
Part III: routers with very small buffers

Internet routers require buffers to hold packets during times of congestion. The buffers need to be fast, and so ideally they should be small enough to use fast memory technologies such as SRAM or all-optical buffering. Unfortunately, a widely used rule-of-thumb says we need a bandwidth-delay product of buffering at each router so as not to lose link utilization. This can be prohibitively large. In a recent paper, Appenzeller et al. challenged this rule-of-thumb and showed that for a backbone network, the buffer size can be divided by pN without sacrificing throughput, where N is the number of ows sharing the bottleneck. In this paper, we explore how buffers in the backbone can be significantly reduced even more, to as little as a few dozen packets, if we are willing to sacrifice a small amount of link capacity. We argue that if the TCP sources are not overly bursty, then fewer than twenty packet buffers are sufficient for high throughput. Specifically, we argue that O(log W) buffers are sufficient, where W is the window size of each ow. We support our claim with analysis and a variety of simulations. The change we need to make to TCP is minimal--each sender just needs to pace packet injections from its window. Moreover, there is some evidence that such small buffers are sufficient even if we don't modify the TCP sources so long as the access network is much slower than the backbone, which is true today and likely to remain true in the future. We conclude that buffers can be made small enough for all-optical routers with small integrated optical buffers.
Preparation and Properties of Uranium and Thorium Monosulfides

Uranium and thorium monosulffde bodies were made by the reaction of H/ sub 2/S with the metal at low temperatures followed by homogenization and sintering at high temperatures. Some US-- ThS solid solutions also were made. The effect of homogenization and firing temperature, S/metal ratio, impurities, and atmosphere on the densification, structure, and properties of these bodies is discussed. The properties evaluated include melting point, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, hardness, strength, oxidation behavior, and compatibility. (auth)
Reform before NCLB.

Standards-based reform before NCLB was more successful because it sought teacher buy-in and was less punitive.
Teachers' voices in program evaluation and improvement: A case study of a TESOL program

Abstract In spite of the many ways that schools have changed to accommodate students not yet proficient in English, obstacles still exist that limit students' opportunities to receive adequate instruction. This paper describes the role of evaluation in developing a program to prepare Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The teachers' voices presented in this paper suggest the importance of considering their contributions in refining and improving teacher preparation programs. Implications for on-going program evaluation and improvement are discussed.
PARENTAL CARE IN RELATION TO BROOD SIZE IN THE HOUSE FINCH

Abstract Studies that quantify parental care in birds are often faced with the confounding effects of variation in brood size. That is, nestlings from broods of varying sizes may receive different quantities of food for reasons not entirely related to the parental quality of the adults. To control for variation in brood size, researchers often divide feeding visitation rates by brood size to yield a per-nestling feeding rate. This presents problems, however, if adults adjust food load size in response to variation in brood size. We examined the relationship between brood size and parental care in the herbivorous House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) by considering not only visitation rates but also food load sizes. As brood size increased, the overall visitation rate increased but both per-nestling visitation rate and per-nestling food load rate decreased. The relationship between brood size and per-nestling care was similar regardless of whether we considered visitation rate or actual food loads, suggesting...
A Web-Based Fact Sheet Series for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and the Professionals Who Serve Them

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a series of web-based fact sheets for grandparents raising grandchildren. The fact sheets focus on child development issues that grandparents may face when raising their grandchildren. Design and Methods: The fact sheets were developed using research on attachment theory, child development, and the needs of grandparents raising grandchildren. The fact sheets can be viewed online or downloaded for free. Evaluation data for the fact sheets were gathered using an online survey. Results: Results of the survey revealed that the fact sheets are used by grandparents and professionals. Respondents reported sharing the fact sheets with others and using them for personal use, in support groups, and as a general agency resource. Implications: The fact sheet series is a useful way to reach both grandparents and professionals working with this audience in a variety of settings. Modifications to the fact sheet series are suggested to address additional needs of grandparents raising grandchildren.
Relating Tree Physiology to Past and Future Changes in Tropical Rainforest Tree Communities

Predicting future changes in tropical rainforest tree communities requires a good understanding of past changes as well as a knowledge of the physiology, ecology and population biology of extant species. Climate change during the next hundred years will be more similar to climate fluctuations that have occurred in the last few thousand years and of a much smaller magnitude than the extent of climate change experienced during last glaciation or at the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Unfortunately, the extent to which tropical rainforest tree communities have changed during the last few thousand years has been little investigated. As a consequence we lack the detailed evidence for population and range shifts of individual tropical species resulting from climate change analogous to the evidence available for temperate zone forests. Some evidence suggests that the rate of tropical forest change in the last several thousand years may have been high. If so, then CO2 increases and the likely alterations in temperature, forest turnover rate, rainfall, or severe droughts may drive substantial future forest change. How can we predict or model the effects of climate change on a highly diverse tree community? Explanations for the regulation of tropical tree populations often invoke tree physiology or processes that are subject to physiological regulation such as herbivory, pathology or seed production. In order to incorporate such considerations into climate change models, the physiology of a very diverse tree community must be understood. My work has focused on simplifying this diversity by categorizing the shade-tolerant species into functional physiological groups. Most species and most individual trees are shade-tolerant species, gap-requiring species being relatively uncommon. Additionally, in a regenerating gap most of the individuals are shade-tolerant species that established before gap formation. Despite the fact that the shade-tolerant species are of major ecological importance, their comparative physiology has received little attention. I have found that shade-tolerant species differ substantially in their responses to light flecks, treefall light gaps and drought. Furthermore, among phylogenetically unrelated species, these differences in physiology can be predicted from leaf lifetime. These results provide a general framework for understanding the mechanics of tropical rainforests from a physiological perspective that can be used to model their responses to climate change.
Modeling Genetic Diseases in the Mouse

The use of powerful linkage strategies for the mapping of genetic disease genes has led to the positional cloning of a number of genes associated with human genetic diseases. At the same time, techniques for manipulating the mammalian genome have been refined, so that the modification of the mouse genome via transgenic technology is now routine throughout the world. These two technologies have advanced and proliferated simultaneously to the point that among the first experiments planned upon the cloning of a human disease gene is the creation of an appropriate transgenic or knock-out mouse, with the hope of modeling that disease. A mammalian model is extremely valuable in the understanding of the function of a disease gene in normal animals, as well as its role in the pathophysiology of the disease. A good disease model can be used to test therapeutic options, especially gene therapy vectors. Finally, the genetic and biochemical pathways that a disease gene is part of can be dissected and investigated in animal models.
Above and Beyond International Law: George W. Bush as the Austinian Sovereign

The arguments of power are not always devoid of law. In the domain of Austinian jurisprudence, the matter is even more lucid.
The shallows: how the internet is changing our brains a response #3

Each year, Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) chooses a book to read as a whole campus, called The Common Read. In 2014-2015 the book chosen was "The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains." Three professors wrote a response that was then read aloud and discussed at a lunch presentation on campus. The questions the responders were asked included: How do we use the internet and related technology well? How do we opt out of cultural changes that aren't life giving? How do we retain the ability to read and engage the 'long-form' book? What does academic excellence mean in an age of The Shallows?
Metrizamide Sagittal Tomography: Adjunct to CT Cisternography of the Sellar Region

A total of 30 patients with pituitary adenoma was studied by sagittal polytomography en route to coronal and axial computed tomography (CT) cisternography after a low FDA-approved dose of 6 ml of 170 mg 1/ml metrizamide via lumbar injection. The requirement for defining the relation of the optic nerves and chiasm to the intrasellar contents or suprasellar mass before proton beam irradiation or certain surgical approaches was satisfied. Pneumoencephalography as a supplemental procedure to CT and CT cisternography was replaced. The concomitant elimination of conventional sellar polytomography and pneumoencephalography results in decreased total radiation exposure and a more comfortable, expeditious workup.
Abstract 594: Dual regulation of cell death by Akt kinase inhibitor Mk-2206 in colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second highest cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Dissemination of CRC cells to distant organs (liver and lungs) often leads to treatment failure. Thus, the identification of novel strategies for the treatment of metastases is a pressing need in this type of cancer. Several reports have suggested the development of inappropriate cell survival signaling for various steps in the metastatic process and have noted the particular importance of aberrant cell survival to successful colonization at metastatic sites. We have earlier reported that Akt inactivation is associated with survivin and XIAP downregulation and increased cell death. Given the widespread role of Akt in cell survival and association of survivin and XIAP with CRC progression and metastasis, as well as other types of cancer, we hypothesize that Akt phosphorylation may be key to the aberrant survival mechanism permitting metastatic growth at distal organ sites. Thus, inactivation of Akt activity might be an important therapeutic target in CRC metastasis. Methods: Mk-2206 is a potent allosteric kinase inhibitor of Akt (provided by Merck). It inhibits the translocation of Akt to plasma membrane to prevent its phosphorylation and activation. IGF1R dependent CRC cell lines were treated with MK-2206 to study its anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Results: Mk-2206 promotes anti-tumor activity in the IGF1R dependent CRC cell lines and increases cell death both in vitro and in vivo. Mk-2206 inhibits Akt phosphorylation at S473 and T308 leading to decreased protein expression of XIAP and Survivin. Interestingly, Mk-2206 treatment upregulated apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and its translocation from mitochondria to the nucleus and a concomitant inactivation of phospho-Ezrin at Y354 and T567.Ezrin is a cytoskeleton organizing protein implicated in the metastatic process of several other types of cancer in addition to CRC. RNAi studies were performed to confirm the role of AIF and Ezrin in Mk-2206 mediated cell death. We are currently analyzing the anti-metastatic effects of MK-2206 in an orthotopic mouse model of human CRC cells. Conclusion: In this work we have demonstrated the effectiveness of Mk-2206 as a pharmacological agent for targeting CRC cells. We have identified dual mechanisms by which Mk-2206-mediated Akt inactivation promotes cell death.The first mechanism involved caspase-independent AIF mediated DNA fragmentation; while the second involved caspase-dependent Akt-Ezrin-XIAP mediated cell death. Citation Format: Ekta Agarwal, Anathbandhu Chaudhuri, Michael G. Brattain, Sanjib Chowdhury. Dual regulation of cell death by Akt kinase inhibitor Mk-2206 in colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 594. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-594 Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 because the presenter was unable to attend.
Brownian Dynamics Simulation of Peeling a Strongly-Adsorbed Polymer Molecule from a Frictionless Substrate

We used brownian dynamics to study the peeling of a polymer molecule, represented by a freely jointed chain, from a frictionless surface in an implicit solvent with parameters representative of single-stranded DNA adsorbed on graphite. For slow peeling rates, simulations match the predictions of an equilibrium statistical thermodynamic model. We show that deviations from equilibrium peeling forces are dominated by a combination of Stokes (viscous) drag forces acting on the desorbed section of the chain and a finite rate of hopping over a desorption barrier. Characteristic velocities separating equilibrium and nonequilibrium regimes are many orders of magnitude higher than values accessible in force spectroscopy experiments. Finite probe stiffness resulted in disappearance of force spikes due to desorption of individual links predicted by the statistical thermodynamic model under displacement control. Probe fluctuations also masked sharp transitions in peeling force between blocks of distinct sequences, indicating limitation in the ability of single-molecule force spectroscopy to distinguish small differences in homologous molecular structures.
Repeat-Purchase Estimation and the Linear Learning Model

Using experimentally generated data and a method of estimating parameters developed by Massy, the linear learning model was tested as a predictor of brand repeat purchasing. The results differ from...
Partial Adjustment of Shares Issued and IPO Underpricing

Existing research finds that changes to expected offer prices of IPOs are correlated to initial returns. This study finds that shares issued are also partially adjusted while increases in shares outstanding are associated with lower initial returns. The effect of the shares issued adjustment is greater when it is negative, contrary to the price adjustment. An adjustment to shares issued may enhance or diminish the effect of a price adjustment on initial returns. This study also finds that public information if more fully included into the original shares issued and shares outstanding amounts than it is for price.
Comparison of thallium-201 and F-18 FDG SPECT uptake in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PURPOSE To compare the uptake of 2-[F-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (fludeoxyglucose F-18; F-18 FDG) and thallous chloride Tl 201, using single-photon emission CT (SPECT), for the detection and location of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS Five patients with biopsy-proved squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract underwent both F-18 FDG and thallium-201 SPECT on the same day. F-18 FDG SPECT was performed using a dual-head gamma camera equipped with commercially available, extremely high-energy collimators (full width half-maximal height, 17 mm for 511 keV photons). Tumor size was estimated at 1.0 to 5.0 cm3 in these cases. RESULTS F-18 FDG SPECT showed five of five primary tumors. In two of the five cases, normal salivary gland activity severely limited thallium SPECT, and the tumors could not be definitively identified. Two of four lymph node groups that were positive for metastatic disease by CT criteria were shown by F-18 FDG SPECT. None were seen with thallium imaging. In one case, F-18 FDG SPECT was able to show a tumor that was not visible on CT. CONCLUSIONS F-18 FDG has advantages over Tl-201 as a squamous cell carcinoma imaging agent (primarily because of its reduced salivary activity). F-18 FDG SPECT has potential as a viable, less expensive alternative to F-18 FDG positron emission tomography. The ultimate value of F-18 FDG SPECT imaging for detecting occult malignancy, monitoring therapeutic effectiveness, or evaluating tumor recurrence remains to be determined in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
A data portal for molecular imaging

656 Learning Objectives: The program will allow users to retrieve valuable information from a pool of diverse data. Abstract (summary): Advancements in biomedical research have provided, along with medical imaging, a growing number of ways to examine biological systems. There is a data explosion, not only in the amount of data, but in their variety. They are at many levels, ranging from molecules as probes of biology, various levels of genes, transcriptions and proteins to systems level functions of organs, individual living organisms and populations that are scattered in different laboratories and data storage. The lack of adequate mechanisms to access, share and integrate this information hinders state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research focused on solving common problems. We are developing a web-based data communication system that bridges this variety of biomedical research databases to allow investigators convenient access with a fast search of these data, based on key words. The data in the pilot program will include microPET, CT, Gamma Counter, HPLC, Autoradiography, Optical images. Data can include text files, documents, spreadsheets, PDF or binary files. The system consists of a Apache web server, MySQL database, Perl and JAVA environment for the search engine which are running on a Sun Linux/Solaris Server. The search engine will look through a newly defined index database for entries that match certain criterion or user query. The program will allow users to retrieve valuable information from a pool of diverse data. With the program, data from different laboratories, investigators, technologies and shared resources will be better managed, linked and integrated to help accelerate solving scientific problems. This system will also be beneficial to integration of engineering, physical, biological and medical scientists.
Sketch-based navigation for mobile robots using qualitative landmark states

In this work, a system for navigating a mobile robot along a sketched route is proposed. The sketch is drawn on a PDA screen by a human operator and contains approximate landmarks and a path, similar to a sketch provided to another person to reach a goal. The robot receives the sketch and detects the objects and route. The robot proceeds to extract spatial relations between the robot and surrounding objects at crucial nodes along the sketched route. Based on the extracted spatial relations, a sequence of Qualitative Landmark States (QLS’s) and associated robot commands serves as a guide for robot navigation in the real world. The robot then executes the sketched route by matching landmark states in the real world to the extracted states. The approach is validated and tested using sketches by independent study participants both with a real robot and in a simulator. Special sketches and robot operating environments are used to illustrate results in extreme cases and to independently test extraction, identification and matching of QLS’s. We show that QLS’s based on spatial relations can be used as a common route representation between a sketched route map and a physical environment. The selection of QLS's is crucial to the success of such an approach and the algorithm shows a way to pick the correct states for successful navigation. The approach is not dependent on the number or type of sensors on the robot and does not assume a particular type of robot; the strategy can work with any sensory method that can provide an object representation in two dimensions (top view). The approach is not dependent on the route chosen, the size or shape of objects, or the position of the objects. The algorithm can account for a certain degree of uncertainty and inconsistencies in sketching (scaling of object size and position, distortions, completeness of object representation).
WE-FG-206-07: Assessing the Lung Function of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 Dissolved-Phase MRI

Purpose: Hyperpolarized xenon-129 dissolved-phase MRI is the first imaging technique that allows 3-dimensional regional mapping of ventilation and gas uptake by tissue and blood the in human lung. Multiple outcome measures can be produced from this method. Existing studies in subjects with major lung diseases compared to healthy controls demonstrated high sensitivities of this method to pulmonary physiological factors including ventilation, alveolar tissue density, surface-to-volume ratio, pulmonary perfusion and gas-blood barrier thickness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of this new imaging tool to assess the lung function in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Ten healthy controls (age: 63±10) and five patients (age: 62±13) with NSCLC underwent the xenon-129 dissolved-phase MRI, pulmonary function test (PFT) and CT for clinical purpose. Three outcome measures were produced from xenon-129 dissolved-phase MRI, including ventilation defect fraction (Vdef%) reflecting the airflow obstruction, tissue-to-gas ratio reflecting lung tissue density, and RBC-to-tissue ratio reflecting pulmonary perfusion and gas exchange. Results: Compared to healthy controls, patients with NSCLC showed more ventilation defects (NSCLC: 22±6%; control: 40±18%; P=0.01), lower tissue-to-gas (NSCLC: 0.82±0.31%; control: 1.07±0.13%; P=0.05) and RBC-to-tissue ratios (NSCLC: 0.82±0.31%; control: 1.07±0.13%; P=0.01). Maps for ventilation and gas uptake by tissue and blood were highly heterogeneous in the lungs of patients. Vdef% and RBC-to-tissue ratios in all 15 subjects correlated with corresponding global lung functional measures from PFT: FEV1/FVC (R=−0.91, P<0.001) and DLCO % predicted (R=0.54, P=0.03), respectively. The tissue-to-gas ratios correlated with tissue density (HU) measured by CT (R=0.88, P<0.001). Conclusion: With the unique ability to provide detailed information about lung function including ventilation, tissue density, perfusion and gas exchange with 3D resolution, hyperpolarized xenon-129 dissolved-phase MRI has high potential to be used as an important reference for radiotherapy treatment planning and for evaluating the side effects of the treatment. Receive research support and funding from Siemens.
Emerging Technology: Instructional Strategies for Nailing Jell-O to a Tree

Trying to keep current with the ever increasing numbers of emerging technologies has been compared to nailing Jell-O to a tree: frustrating and often unproductive. As students are continually exploring these innovative tools, it is critical that educators adopt instructional strategies that will facilitate learning and take advantage of new possibilities. This paper presents the past 10 years of the NMC Horizon Report predictions and compares the predictions to today’s reality. It also discusses using Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction and Keller’s ARCS Model as a framework for instructional approaches that align with an experiential immersion methodology for learning about the new technology.
Neutrinoless double beta decay and chiral $SU(3)$

Abstract TeV-scale lepton number violation can affect neutrinoless double beta decay through dimension-9 Δ L = Δ I = 2 operators involving two electrons and four quarks. Since the dominant effects within a nucleus are expected to arise from pion exchange, the π − → π + e e matrix elements of the dimension-9 operators are a key hadronic input. In this letter we provide estimates for the π − → π + matrix elements of all Lorentz scalar Δ I = 2 four-quark operators relevant to the study of TeV-scale lepton number violation. The analysis is based on chiral S U ( 3 ) symmetry, which relates the π − → π + matrix elements of the Δ I = 2 operators to the K 0 → K ¯ 0 and K → π π matrix elements of their Δ S = 2 and Δ S = 1 chiral partners, for which lattice QCD input is available. The inclusion of next-to-leading order chiral loop corrections to all symmetry relations used in the analysis makes our results robust at the 30% level or better, depending on the operator.
Variability in viral pathogenesis: modeling the dynamic of acute and persistent infections

Virus infection often results in diverse outcomes. This variability of virus pathogenesis is not well understood. Here we revise theoretical arguments to further our understanding of factors controlling infection and its severity. We propose that variability in these factors results in different clinical outcomes, which ultimately ensure virus reproduction.
The effects of anemia and anemia treatment on the quality of life of people with cancer.

Anemia, common in people with cancer, can be due to the disease itself or to the associated therapy. Fatigue, the most prevalent of all symptoms experienced by cancer patients, is the primary symptom of anemia. Caused by many factors, fatigue, regardless of etiology, has an adverse impact on health-related quality of life.
THU0608 Association between allopurinol dose-titration and serum uric acid levels in gout patients: us electronic health record data

Background Allopurinol is a first-line urate lowering therapy for patients with gout. The American College of Rheumatology guidelines recommend allopurinol dose-titration to maintain serum uric acid (sUA) levels Objectives To understand allopurinol dose-titration relative to sUA levels. Methods This retrospective study used the de-identified Humedica electronic medical record database. The study included all sUA and allopurinol records among gout patients (ICD-9-CM: 274.xx) ≥18 years old with first gout diagnosis in 2007 – 2015. An episode was defined as an allopurinol initial dose (ID) prior to (closest) and titrated dose (TD) after (within 30 days) an sUA test. Dose-titration was categorized as an episode with a dose-change (up-titration: ID TD), or no-dose-change (ID = TD). For multiple different doses recorded on the same prescription date, the sum of doses was taken as daily dosage. Episodes were considered uncontrolled when sUA ≥6 mg/dl. Descriptive episode-level analyses were performed. Results Within 64,609 episodes, 57% of episodes were uncontrolled (sUA: 6 to 100, 300mg/day: 36%). Seventy-eight percent of dose-change episodes were uncontrolled, of which 100 to 300 mg/day (39%) was the most frequent dose titration. Overall, the most frequent TD was 300 mg/day (52%) followed by 100mg/day (36%), >100 – 300mg/day (3%), and Conclusions Allopurinol dose is not generally titrated regardless of sUA control. This pattern suggests a need for active management of patients with gout with uncontrolled sUA including consideration of new treatment options in addition to allopurinol. References Juraschek SP et al. Gout, urate-lowering therapy, and uric acid levels among adults in the United States. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2015 Apr;67(4):588–92. Khanna D et al. 2012 American College of Rheumatology guidelines for management of gout. Part 1: systematic nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapeutic approaches to hyperuricemia. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 Oct;64(10):1431–46. Acknowledgements This study was funded by Ironwood Pharmaceuticals. Disclosure of Interest A.-C. Fu Employee of: Employee of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, D. Taylor Employee of: Employee of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, D. Reasner Employee of: Employee of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Stochastic Insulator-to-Metal Phase Transition-Based True Random Number Generator

An oscillator-based true random number generator (TRNG) is experimentally demonstrated by exploiting inherently stochastic threshold switching in the insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) in vanadium dioxide. Through experimentation and modeling, we show that the origin of stochasticity arises from small perturbations in the nanoscale domain structure, which are then subsequently amplified through a positive feedback process. Within a 1T1R oscillator, the stochastic cycle-to-cycle variations in the IMT trigger voltage result in random timing jitter, which is harnessed for a TRNG. The randomness of the IMT TRNG output is validated using the NIST SP800-22 statistical test.