cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression and biological significance of type I insulin-like growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase in chronic myeloid leukemia

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 2376 Type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) is a tetrameric transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. Previous studies have documented the pathogenetic role of IGF-IR in several epithelial tumors including breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers. Despite the fact that IGF-IR signaling stimulates the growth of hematopoietic cells and induces their cytokine-independence, a direct role of IGF-IR has not been significantly evaluated in most of the hematological malignancies. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is the most common subtype of chronic myeloproliferateive diseases. It carries t(9;22)(q34;q11), which leads to the generation of Bcr-Abl oncogene. CML typically develops as a chronic phase (CP) disease that subsequently progresses into accelerated (AP) and blast phase (BP) stages. The BP represents the most aggressive stage of the disease. Imatinib mesylate has become an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of CML patients; particularly those in the CP. Nonetheless, BP CML still represents a clinical challenge because of its notable resistance to imatinib mesylate and other therapies. Therefore, identification of new therapeutic strategies is needed. In the present study, we explored the frequency of expression and possible role of IGF-IR in CML. Using immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR, we detected the expression of IGF-IR in the 4 CML cell lines K562, KBM-5, BV173, and MEG01. Of these cell lines, K562 secretes significant amounts of IGF-I. We also explored the expression of IGF-IR in a tissue microarray that included bone marrow samples from CML patients at different stages of the disease. Whereas IGF-IR was expressed in 3/10 (30%) of patients in CP and 2/8 (25%) of AP, the frequency of expression increased to 11/15 (73%) of BP patients. Furthermore, quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated significantly higher levels of IGF-IR mRNA in bone marrow samples from BP CML patients compared to CP and AP. To begin to investigate its biological contribution to CML, we used picropodophyllin (PPP; Clontech, Mountain View, CA), a selective inhibitor of IGF-IR. PPP induced concentration- and time-dependent decrease in the cell viability and proliferation of CML cells, which was due to apoptosis and G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest. Importantly, these effects led to markedly decreased colony formation in soft agar. Consistent with these findings, PPP induced downregulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, pCdc, cyclin E, pSTAT5, and pAkt, and upregulation of cyclin B1. IGF-IR siRNA confirmed these results. Our findings provide evidence to support an important role for IGF-IR in the pathogenesis of CML. This role appears to be more enhanced during the advanced BP stage of the disease. These results also suggest that targeting IGF-IR could represent a potential therapeutic modality for CML patients, particularly in advanced stages of their disease.
Experimental determination of the equilibria: rutile + magnesite = geikielite + CO2 and zircon + 2 magnesite = baddeleyite + forsterite + 2 CO2

The P - T conditions of both equilibria were determined precisely by reversal experiments in a piston-cylinder apparatus. On the basis of 8 experiments, brackets for the rutile-magnesite-geikielite equilibrium are 7.0–7.1 kbar at 800 ° C, 8.6–8.7 kbar at 850 ° C, and 10.5–10.7 kbar at 900 ° C. On the basis of 9 experiments, brackets for the zircon-magnesite-baddeleyite-forsterite equilibrium are 7.1–7.7 kbar at 800 ° C, 9.2–9.4 kbar at 850 ° C, and 10.7–10.9 kbar at 900 ° C. Considering experimental uncertainties in P (±300 bars) and T (±3 ° C), equilibrium curves calculated from both the Berman and the Holland and Powell databases pass through all brackets. Molar Gibbs free energy of formation from the elements at 1 bar and 298 K for geikielite and zircon, derived from the experiments and consistent with the Berman database, are −1481.94 ± 0.67 kJ and −1917.54 ± 1.25 kJ, respectively. Corresponding values consistent with the Holland and Powell database are −1479.30 ± 0.74 kJ and −1918.47 ± 1.49 kJ. Application of the two equilibria indicate that: (1) the mole fraction of CO2 in fluid was 0.54–1.00 when geikielite and baddeleyite formed during contact metamorphism of siliceous dolomites in the Ballachulish aureole, Scotland; (2) the activity of CO2 could have been as low as 2·10−5 during ultra-high pressure metamorphism of magnesite-bearing ecologites; and (3) the activity of CO2 was <0.18 during one instance of mantle metasomatism. Geikielite (Gk) and baddeleyite (Bd) are common trace minerals in contact metamorphosed siliceous dolomitic limestones that develop during prograde metamorphism at the expense of detrital rutile (Rt) and zircon (Zrn) by the reactions: ![Formula][1] (1) and ![Formula][2] (2) [these and all other abbreviations for minerals follow Kretz (1983)]. Isograds can be mapped in contact aureoles based on reactions 1 and 2, and they … [1]: /embed/tex-math-1.gif [2]: /embed/tex-math-2.gif
Linking Self-Management Procedures to Functional Analysis Results

Self-management procedures typically focus on decreasing an undesirable target behavior or increasing a behavior that is incompatible with an undesirable target behavior. Although it is effective, ...
Presumptive Type 1 Diabetes With Comorbidities and Rapid Progression Despite Numerous Insulin-Positive Islets.

The subject was a 26-year-old African American female diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11 years, treated with insulin injections, who died because of an anoxic brain injury likely secondary to diabetic ketoacidosis. The patient was found with agonal respirations and had acidosis along with severe hyperglycemia on arrival to the emergency department. In the 15 years since being diagnosed with diabetes, she had developed significant signs of cardiovascular disease including …
Re-imagining London

The workings of ‘reflexive modernization’ brought Britain in the 1980s to the experience of ‘Thatcherism’. ‘Politically and Intellectually’, says Fred Inglis, Margaret Thatcher oversaw ‘the most destructive period in our social history’ (2000: 21). In London, the centre piece of her eleven year rule was the Docklands redevelopment at Canary Wharf, ‘an extremely expensive fiasco’, concludes architect Richard Rogers, which produced ‘a chaos of commercial buildings’, ‘without real civic quality or lasting communal benefit’ (1997: 109). Though now roundly condemned in these terms, in the period itself Thatcher’s revolution effectively saw off Labour Party and left opposition; most conspicously in the form of the GLC, banned in 1986 and in the defeat in 1984 of the miners who had stood as the classic representatives of the organized working class. There was, as Margaret Thatcher liked to claim, ‘no alternative’ to her iron-clad laissez-faire economics. The prevailing national mood polarized as one of ostentatious greed and impotent resentment rather than active protest. Under a regime of revamped ‘Victorian values’ the nation’s industrial base eroded and was superseded by an ‘enterprise culture’ of unconstrained commerce and private ownership.
Monte Carlo sampling approach to stochastic programming

Various stochastic programming problems can be formulated as problems of optimization of an expected value function. Quite often the corresponding expectation function cannot be computed exactly and should be approximated, say by Monte Carlo sampling methods. In fact, in many practical applications, Monte Carlo simulation is the only reasonable way of estimating the expectation function. We discuss converges properties of the sample average approximation (SAA) approach to stochastic programming. We argue that the SAA method is easily implementable and can be surprisingly efficient for some classes of stochastic programming problems.
Centers of Excellence Management within Multinational Corporations

As organizations expand geographically, and especially when expanding globally, they often find it necessary, or more effective, to develop Centers of Excellence (CoE). If properly structured these centers can reduce cost, improve efficiency, leverage organizational assets, and often improve levels of organizational innovation. This is the next installment in a series of articles started in the first issues of the JMI exploring these very challenging issues (Coughlan & Bernstein, 2015). In this installment the authors will specifically address issues surrounding leadership, integrated governance model, standardization, continuous improvement, business continuity, and managing through hard target metrics.┬a This article assumes that the CoE is past its initial startup phase and it operating at a full level of scale. In addition, this paper is focused on multi-national corporations (MNCs) where CoEs are internally operated ΓCo not outsourced to third parties - and more specifically on knowledge based CoEs.
Topical Naltrexone Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Standard Treatment of Diabetic Wounds

Objective: Diabetes affects more than 29 million individuals in the United States, resulting in healthcare costs approaching $245 billion. Approximately 15% of these individuals will develop a chronic, non-healing foot ulcer (diabetic foot ulcer [DFU]) that, if untreated, may lead to amputation. The current treatments for DFU are expensive, have significant side-effects, and often result in non-compliance. A new topical treatment is described that accelerates cutaneous wound repair and is disease modifying by targeting underlying aberrant diabetic pathways. Approach: The efficacy of naltrexone (NTX), an opioid receptor antagonist, and Regranex® was compared in preclinical studies using type 1 diabetic rats. Dorsal cutaneous wounds were treated topically with 0.03% NTX, Regranex, or moisturizing cream alone. Wound closure, DNA synthesis, and cytokine production were monitored. Results: Wound closure rates with topical NTX in type 1 diabetic rats were comparable to Regranex. Topical NTX accelerated DNA synt...
Abstract 026: Development and Validation of an Electronic Health Record Model for Predicting 30-Day Readmissions in Acute Myocardial Infarction: the AMI READMITS Score

Background: Readmissions after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are common, but the few available risk prediction models have poor predictive ability and are not readily usable...
Anesthesia for the 21st century.

Anesthesiology is on the verge of a major evolution that will involve newer, more specific, and better anesthetic agents and newer, safer, and simpler techniques to deliver these agents. Why we need new drugs is the first question. We need them because the drugs we have today can cause damage and even death if given incorrectly. We need better and safer anesthetics. Our patients should be demanding such agents. So what will anesthetics of the future be like? One possibility is a collection of what we call “magic bullets” (1, 2). These agents are very specific for certain receptors and/or neurotransmitters in the body (3–6). They may, in fact, use the body's own proteins and peptides (7, 8). We are entering into an era within which doctors can create or mimic the proteins and peptides that our bodies make. At least some of these agents will be endogenous substances that have high safety margins. It is possible that we may be administering agents that are chemicals using physical forces (energies) that stimulate the body's own neurotransmitters nonchemically and/or receptors noninvasively.
Uncertainty aggregation and reduction in structure–material performance prediction

An uncertainty aggregation and reduction framework is presented for structure–material performance prediction. Different types of uncertainty sources, structural analysis model, and material performance prediction model are connected through a Bayesian network for systematic uncertainty aggregation analysis. To reduce the uncertainty in the computational structure–material performance prediction model, Bayesian updating using experimental observation data is investigated based on the Bayesian network. It is observed that the Bayesian updating results will have large error if the model cannot accurately represent the actual physics, and that this error will be propagated to the predicted performance distribution. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel uncertainty reduction method by integrating Bayesian calibration with model validation adaptively. The observation domain of the quantity of interest is first discretized into multiple segments. An adaptive algorithm is then developed to perform model validation and Bayesian updating over these observation segments sequentially. Only information from observation segments where the model prediction is highly reliable is used for Bayesian updating; this is found to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of uncertainty reduction. A composite rotorcraft hub component fatigue life prediction model, which combines a finite element structural analysis model and a material damage model, is used to demonstrate the proposed method.
Abstract IA14: Targeting human endogenous retroviruses for epigenetic therapy

Vitamin C deficiency is found in patients with cancer and might complicate various therapy paradigms. Here we show how this deficiency may influence the use of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) for treatment of hematological neoplasias. In vitro, when vitamin C is added at physiological levels to low doses of the DNMTi 5-aza-29-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR), there is a synergistic inhibition of cancer-cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. These effects are associated with enhanced immune signals including increased expression of bidirectionally transcribed endogenous retrovirus (ERV) transcripts, increased cytosolic dsRNA, and activation of an IFN-inducing cellular response. This synergistic effect is likely the result of both passive DNA demethylation by DNMTi and active conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) by ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes at LTR regions of ERVs, because vitamin C acts as a cofactor for TET proteins. In addition, TET2 knockout reduces the synergy between the two compounds. Furthermore, we show that many patients with hematological neoplasia are markedly vitamin C deficient. Thus, our data suggest that correction of vitamin C deficiency in patients with hematological and other cancers may improve responses to epigenetic therapy with DNMTis. Citation Format: Peter A. Jones. Targeting human endogenous retroviruses for epigenetic therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA14.
Low CD25 on autoreactive Tregs impairs tolerance via low dose IL-2 and antigen delivery.

Abstract Dendritic cell (DC)-mediated T cell tolerance deficiencies contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Delivering self-antigen to dendritic-cell inhibitory receptor-2 (DCIR2)+ DCs can delay but not completely block diabetes development in NOD mice. These DCIR2-targeting antibodies induce tolerance via deletion and anergy, but do not increase islet-specific Tregs. Because low-dose IL-2 (LD-IL-2) administration can preferentially expand Tregs, we tested whether delivering islet-antigen to tolerogenic DCIR2+ DCs along with LD-IL-2 would boost islet-specific Tregs and further block autoimmunity. But, surprisingly, adding LD-IL-2 did not increase efficacy of DC-targeted antigen to inhibit diabetes. Here we show the effects of LD-IL-2, with or without antigen delivery to DCIR2+ DCs, on both polyclonal and autoreactive Treg and conventional T cells (Tconv). As expected, LD-IL-2 increased total Tregs, but autoreactive Tregs required both antigen and IL-2 stimulation for optimal expansion. Also, islet-specific Tregs had lower CD25 expression and IL-2 sensitivity, while islet-specific Tconv had higher CD25 expression, compared to polyclonal populations. LD-IL-2 increased activation and expansion of Tconv, and was more pronounced for autoreactive cells after treatment with IL-2 + islet-antigen. Therefore, LD-IL-2 therapy, especially when combined with antigen stimulation, may not optimally activate and expand antigen-specific Tregs in chronic autoimmune settings.
Closed-loop Neural Recording Amplifier Design Techniques

As previously described, in order to accommodate weak neural signals, we need sufficient amplification and signal conditioning at the front-end of a neural-recording system. Specifically, the requirements on the front-end amplifier can be summarized as below: Input-referred noise voltage < 10 μ V Midband gain ≌ 40 dB Input impedance ≥ a few MΩs at 1 kHz Pass-band compatible with the desired signals (see Table 2.1). AC-coupled input in order to block DC offsets. Small silicon area and no off-chip components. CMRR, PSRR ≥ 60 dB Power dissipation ≪ 100 μ W/channel
ESTIMATION AND PREDICTION OF TIME-VARYING PARAMETER ECONOMIC MODELS

Abstract Methods commonly employed to estimate the structural coefficients in an economic model assume that those coeffients are fixed constants. However, econometricians have argued that at least some of the coefficients in an econometric model are not constants, but instead, vary stochastically over time. Of the numereous time-varying parameter models that have been discussed in the literature on model building, one that is of particular interest in the context of econometric models is the Kalman filter model. The Kalman filter model was first used in stochastic control theory, but with some suitable interpretations this model can be written in the form of a simultaneous-equation model in which the coefficient vector follows a first-order Markoff process. This paper suggests procedures for estimation of a regression model with non-stationary output where the coefficient vector of the regressors is a weekly stationary stochastic process. Once the regression model is estimated by this method, the predictive ability of this model will be compared with other standard econometric estimation methods, such as Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Three Stage Least Squares (3SLS) methods.
A Damage Localization Algorithm for Nonlinear Structures

This paper addresses some aspects of the problem of detecting and localizing damage in nonlinear structures using changes in modal parameters. The subject is important because the majority of structures exhibit some degree of material or geometric nonlinearity, depending upon the magnitude of the excitation and loading. Previous works have detected and localized damage in structures either via solutions of sensitivity equations in the time or frequency domain [1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7], or via the use of some form of indicator function [8],[9],[10]. Not only have the methods been applied almost exclusively to linear structures, the extent to which the methods are applicable to nonlinear or time-variant structures has not been rigorously investigated.
A THERMODYNAMIC STUDY OF THE HYDROLYSIS OF CYTIDINE 2',3'-CYCLIC PHOSPHATE.

From the Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (Received for publication, March 17, 1965) Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease catalyzes the hydrolysis of cytidine 2’,3’-cyclic phosphate according to the following equa- tion (1): Cytidine 2’ ,3’-cyclic phosphate + Hz0 --t cytidine 3’-phosphate (1) This reaction is generally considered to be a model for the second step of the biphasic hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid and conse- quently has been subjected to considerable scrutiny in recent years. A number of kinetic studies have been made of this reaction (2-5). The over-all reaction is generally stated to be “irreversible” (2, 3, 6, 7); however, no estimates of the equilib- rium constant have appeared in the literature. In fact, very little thermodynamic data related to cytidine 2’,3’-cyclic phos- phate and cytidine 3’-phosphate are available although the usefulness of such data is readily apparent. In the present study, the equilibrium constant of the hy- drolysis reaction has been determined by two independent methods. The first method utilizes the thermodynamic cycle librium constant utilizes radioactive tracers: is added to a solution of cytidine 3’-phosphate-%, and, after equilibrium has been est.ablished, the concentration of cytidine 2’,3’-cyclic phosphate-% present. is determined by the isotope dilution technique. From a knowledge of the equilibrium constant and the steady state kinetic parameters of the forward reaction some of the steady state kinetic parameters characterizing the reverse re- action can be calculated.
The GABA receptor-chloride ion channel protein complex.

The majority of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system involves γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as the neurotransmitter (1). The signal transduction mechanism at the majority of GABA synapses involves a ligand-gated chloride channel; binding of GABA to its receptor increases postsynaptic membrane chloride conductance and inhibits the target cell (2). This GABA receptor, called GABAA, is defined pharmacologically by sensitivity to the agonist muscimol ana the antagonist bicuculline (3). At least one other type of GABA receptor exists, GABAB, defined as insensitive to bicuculline and sensitive to baclofen; GKBAB receptors are coupled to GTP-binding proteins for a variety of signal transduction mechanisms (4). GABAA receptor function is also modulated by at least three classes of centrally active drugs, the picrotoxin-like convulsants, that inhibit GABA function, and the benzodiazepines and the barbiturates, both of which enhance GABA function (5).
Forest Hydrology : An Introduction to Water and Forests, Third Edition

Due to its height, density, and thickness of crown canopy; fluffy forest floor; large root system; and horizontal distribution; forest is the most distinguished type of vegetation on the earth. In the U.S., forests occupy about 30 percent of the total territory. Yet this 30 percent of land area produces about 60 percent of total surface runoff, the
Nanobody immunostaining for correlated light and electron microscopy with preservation of ultrastructure

Morphological and molecular characteristics determine the function of biological tissues. Attempts to combine immunofluorescence and electron microscopy invariably compromise the quality of the ultrastructure of tissue sections. We developed NATIVE, a correlated light and electron microscopy approach that preserves ultrastructure while showing the locations of multiple molecular moieties, even deep within tissues. This technique allowed the large-scale 3D reconstruction of a volume of mouse hippocampal CA3 tissue at nanometer resolution.
Tumor Heterogeneity as a Predictor of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Abstract Background Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is the standard of care for locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the rectum, but it is currently unknown which patients have disease that will respond. This study tested the correlation between response to nCRT and intratumoral heterogeneity using next-generation sequencing assays. Patients and Methods DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy samples from a cohort of patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (T3/4 or N1/2 disease) who received nCRT. High read-depth sequencing of > 400 cancer-relevant genes was performed. Tumor mutations and variant allele frequencies were used to calculate mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH) scores as measures of intratumoral heterogeneity. Response to nCRT was pathologically scored after surgical resection. Results Biopsy samples from 21 patient tumors were analyzed. Eight patients had disease noted to have complete response, 2 moderate, 4 minimal, and 7 poor. Higher MATH scores correlated with poorer response to treatment, demonstrating significantly increased tumor heterogeneity compared to complete response (P = .039). Conclusion The application of MATH scores as a measure of tumor heterogeneity may provide a useful biomarker for treatment response in locally advanced rectal cancer.
For Interfaith Engagement to Succeed, White Religiosity Must Seek Solidarity with People of Color

Despite renewed efforts to engage religious diversity in higher education over the last two decades, interfaith engagement remains a relatively fringe interest on many campuses. The reason could be...
Workplace Bullying and Newly Licensed Registered Nurses: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis:

Workplace bullying (WPB) among nurses, especially newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs), negatively affects nurse, patient, and organizational outcomes. Despite empirical evidence addressing the prevalence and impact of WPB, the behavior continues to persist within nursing work environments. Increased conceptual clarity of WPB is needed for interventions to be developed, executed, and evaluated. The purposes of this concept analysis, in which we used Rodgers' evolutionary method, were to obtain a clearer understanding of WPB, to differentiate the concept from other forms of workplace violence, and to describe a definition of WPB consistently used in the literature. Three attributes specific to WPB included negative behaviors directed toward an individual who perceives themselves to be a target, a time frame of experiencing these negative behaviors (e.g., daily or weekly) for a prolonged period (e.g., several weeks), and the inclusion of a power gradient or hierarchy between the bully and target. Antecedents identified for WPB included a scarcity of resources and poor leadership and management. Consequences associated with WPB included adverse nurse, patient, and health care organizational outcomes. WPB was conceptually defined as any negative behavior, exhibited by a nurse of either perceived or actual power, that was repeatedly (i.e., daily or weekly) and persistently directed toward NLRNs who have difficulty defending themselves against the behavior. Implications for researchers, health care organizations, nurse leaders, and nurses are included.
Secondary Science Teachers' Reported Practices and Beliefs on Teaching and Learning from a Large National Sample in the United States.

ABSTRACTRecent adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) across the United States has prompted teacher educators to reexamine effective strategies to improve science teaching practic...
Introduction to Hilbert Space Multi-Dimensional Modeling

This chapter provides a brief introduction to procedures for estimating Hilbert space multi-dimensional (HSM) models from data. These models, which are built from quantum probability theory, are used to provide a simple and coherent account of a collection of contingency tables. The collection of tables are obtained by measurement of different overlapping subsets of variables. HSM models provide a representation of the collection of the tables in a low dimensional vector space, even when no single joint probability distribution across the observed variables can reproduce the tables. The parameter estimates from HSM models provide simple and informative interpretation of the initial tendencies and the inter-relations among the variables.
PRECONCEPTION COUNSELING IN WOMEN WITH DIABETES BY PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS AND PERCEIVED BARRIERS TO INITIATING THIS DISCUSSION.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the frequency that women with diabetes mellitus seen by a primary care provider receive preconception counseling; to identify barriers to preconception counseling; and to determine differences between family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in which medical records were reviewed to determine if preconception counseling was done. An electronic survey evaluated how often preconception counseling was provided and identified perceived barriers to preconception counseling. Characteristics of those who received preconception counseling and those who did not, and survey responses between disciplines, were compared. Results: Women that met inclusion criteria: 577 (18.9% of whom received preconception counseling). A total of 88.7% of primary care providers indicated that preconception counseling was important, but only 39.2% reported that they regularly provide preconception counseling. Conclusion: Women with diabetes mellitus do not regularly receive preconception counseling by primary care providers. Lack of time and knowledge were the most commonly identified barriers to providing preconception counseling. Abbreviations: DM = diabetes mellitus; FM = family medicine; HbA1c = hemoglobin A1c; IM = internal medicine; LVHN = Lehigh Valley Health Network; Ob/Gyn = obstetrics/gynecology; PC = preconception counseling; PCP = primary care provider
Septo-Hippocampal Activity and Learning Rate

This paper presents the results of experiments investigating the relationships between hippocampal unit and slow wave activity and classical conditioning of the nictitating membrane (NM) response in rabbits. In Experiment 1, a strong, predictive correlation was found between frequency components of slow wave activity and the rate of acquisition of a conditioned response. Animals displaying higher proportions of 2–8 Hz hippocampal EEG learned more quickly, while those with more 8–22 Hz activity required more trials to reach asymptotic criterion. These groups also showed opposite acrosstraining changes in EEG: the faster group shifted towards higher frequencies, and the slower group towards lower frequencies. Significant differences in the responsiveness of hippocampal multiple unit activity to the conditioning stimuli were also observed between the two groups. It was concluded that the state of the hippocampal EEG prior to training predicts both cellular responsiveness and the rate of behavioral learning.
Novel Measurements and Analysis for Thermoelectric Devices

Thermoelectric power generation is the premiere solid-state energy conversion technology for two very interesting niche applications: (1) low-temperature, ΔT < ~ 700 K, conversion of heat energy into electrical energy and (2) extremely small geometrical form factor cooling and refrigeration. However, evaluation, interpretation, and analysis of thermoelectric (TE) devices are not straightforward. In this work, we introduce two new methods of analyses that provide new simple experimental methods to obtain validation of TE device performance. For cooling devices, we introduce a new test where small ΔT divergence from room temperature (ΔT< 20 K) is determined in the range where ΔT changes linearly with respect to current. The test compares ΔT and the transient cooling/heating with theoretical predictions based on measured properties and thus can confirm materials’ measurements with very high accuracy. The second new analysis and empirical test allow for directly determining and, hence, validating TE figure of merit ZTmax. The significance of this new method is that it provides fast experimental method to confirm the validity of basic materials’ measurements. The measured conversion efficiency is used to extract TE device ZTmax which can be compared to individual material ZTmax measurement claims. Therefore, this approach minimizes systemic error. We demonstrate the efficacy of this method by three cases of thermoelectric power generation modules (TEGs) fabricated from different materials: low-cost module produced by the former Alphabet Energy that demonstrates ZT = 0.4, commercial module from Marlow that shows ZT = 0.7, and specialty module made by NASA JPL that has ZT = 0.95.
Designing for Trust-Building Interactions in the Initiation of a Networked Improvement Community

Networked Improvement Community (NICs) are increasingly recognized as a social innovation for orchestrating sustained change in education. NICs are one type of a research-practice partnership that provides a model for researchers and educators to bring insights about what works locally to scale. A critical aspect of NIC success is the emergence of relational trust across the participant network. At initiation, therefore, NIC leaders must create the conditions for long-term development of relational trust, which can be operationalized to be the existence of reciprocated, help-based interactions. To understand how NIC leaders foster these reciprocated, help-based interactions, this paper leverages social network and qualitative data to explore how the core activities of a NIC might foster help-based interactions amongst participants. This paper is a case study of how social network and qualitative data analysis might be applied to the design and development of NICs, and social innovation more broadly. We explore the context of the Personalization in Practice - Networked Improvement Community, which brought together 21 educators from five schools around a common challenge. Our analysis highlights how collaborative design activities created the conditions for relational trust to emerge: sparking interactions around shared practices, creating situations for participants to ask for help, and encouraging reciprocated, help-based interactions. Our findings demonstrate how specific collaborative design activities can foster the kinds of trust-building networks necessary for NIC success. This paper presents an applied case of using analytic research methods for the design of social innovation. The triangulation of social network and qualitative data provided insight into the internal dynamics of the partnership and has implications for development measures of network health. We found that the social network data described that interaction changed, but did not indicate which activities led to these changes. This case contributes to emerging research on how to measure the effects Networked Improvement Communities on participants and their practices. We demonstrate, on a practical level, how social network and qualitative data might be used to generate network-level data for improvement, and we contribute theoretical insight into the way collaborative design creates the conditions for the long-term development of relational trust.
Synthesis and Analysis of Zinc Copper Indium Sulfide Quantum Dot Nanoparticles

Nanoparticle Zn2xCu1–xIn1–xS2 is a promising and safer alternative to lead- and cadmium-containing quantum dots. Students prepare Zn0.44Cu0.78In0.78S2 quantum dots in a one-pot synthesis without an...
The Prospects for Debunking Non-Theistic Belief

According to The Debunking Argument, evidence from the cognitive science of religion suggests that it is epistemically inappropriate to persist in believing in the theistic God. In this paper, I focus on a reply to this argument according to which the evidence from cognitive science says nothing about the epistemic propriety of belief in the theistic God, since God may have chosen to create human beliefs in God by means of precisely the systems identified by cognitive scientists. I argue that this reply can be extended to a variety of non-theistic contexts, and consequently that if the reply is sound, then the scope of The Debunking Argument is surprisingly limited.
Non-Linear Feature Selection for Prediction of Hospital Length of Stay

Patient length of stay (LOS) is commonly used as an important factor for optimizing medical resource consumption, managing hospital expenses, and improving the quality of hospital services. An accurate prediction of LOS can lead to increased hospital efficiency. In this study, we identify the most significant features for predicting LOS of patients undergoing different surgical procedures. We incorporate a non-linear feature selection method based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) and develop a predictive model for accurate prediction of LOS using the selected features. The performance of the model on different patient categories indicates that the non-linear feature selection method can effectively reduce the number of features and improve the accuracy of the prediction.
Detailed balance efficiencies for luminescent solar concentrators with aligned semiconductor nanorods: the benefits of anisotropic emission

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have been studied for decades as an alternative to conventional lens-based optical concentrators for improving the performance and lowering the cost of high-efficiency photovoltaic solar converters. However, the Stokes shift from luminophores that comprise the LSC entails that the strategy cannot achieve the well-known Shockley–Queisser conversion efficiency limit of 33.7%, even theoretically. We show how aligned semiconductor nanorods with anisotropic dipolar photoluminescence can partially overcome losses due to the Stokes shift. We also outline LSC designs with conversion efficiency >33.7 % and highlight how nanorods relax the demands on solar trackers in these proposals. Our analysis predicts efficiency increases even when nonradiative loss is comparable to current GaAs cells and when our models incorporate the experimentally measured anisotropy of colloidal dot-in-rod CdSe/CdS nanoparticles that we synthesized for this study. Fundamentally, these improvements result from the angular redistribution of light energy provided by the anisotropic, Stokes-shifted nanorod luminescence.
Postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients presenting with very high HCG levels

Abstract Purpose Choriocarcinoma germ cell tumors are rare and usually present with significantly elevated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. When curable, it is felt to be largely a result of chemotherapy. We sought to determine the histologic characteristics for those undergoing postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) and compare them with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) patients with similarly elevated hCG levels. Methods We reviewed medical records of men undergoing PC-RPLND between 1988 and 2017 with postorchiectomy, preinduction chemotherapy hCG levels greater than 50,000 mIU/ml. They were stratified by primary tumor histology: Pure choriocarcinoma and mixed NSGCT. Clinical, pathologic, and serologic data were reported and logistic regression was used to assess for predictors of necrosis in the PC-RPLND specimen. Results Our cohort consisted of 108 men. The mixed group (n = 91) had a median hCG of 165,177 mIU/ml, a postchemotherapy node size of 4.7 cm, of whom 19.8% also received salvage chemotherapy prior to RPLND. The pure choriocarcinoma group (n = 17) had a median hCG of 170,267 mIU/ml, a node size of 5.1 cm, of whom 17.6% received salvage chemotherapy. 88.2% of patients with choriocarcinoma had necrosis in the PC-RPLND specimen compared with 29.7% of the mixed NSGCT group (P = Conclusion While PC-RPLND is appropriate in patients with residual masses after chemotherapy, patients with pure choriocarcinoma presenting with significantly elevated hCG levels represent a unique patient population where necrosis is found more often than anticipated.
Quantitative Classification of 3D Collagen Fiber Organization From Volumetric Images

Collagen fibers in biological tissues have a complex 3D organization containing rich information linked to tissue mechanical properties and are affected by mutations that lead to diseases. Quantitative assessment of this 3D collagen fiber organization could help to develop reliable biomechanical models and understand tissue structure-function relationships, which impact diagnosis and treatment of diseases or injuries. While there are advanced techniques for imaging collagen fibers, published methods for quantifying 3D collagen fiber organization have been sparse and give limited structural information which cannot distinguish a wide range of 3D organizations. In this article, we demonstrate an algorithm for quantitative classification of 3D collagen fiber organization. The algorithm first simulates five groups, or classifications, of fiber organization: unidirectional, crimped, disordered, two-fiber family, and helical. These five groups are widespread in natural tissues and are known to affect the tissue’s mechanical properties. We use quantitative metrics based on features such as preferred 3D fiber orientation and spherical variance to differentiate each classification in a repeatable manner. We validate our algorithm by applying it to second-harmonic generation images of collagen fibers in tendon and cervix tissue that has been sectioned in specified orientations, and we find strong agreement between classification from simulated data and the physical fiber organization. Our approach provides insight for interpreting 3D fiber organization directly from volumetric images. This algorithm could be applied to other fiber-like structures that are not necessarily made of collagen.
Comprehensive Renal Scintillation Procedures in Spinal Cord Injury: Comparison with Excretory Urography

A 131iodine orthoiodohippurate comprehensive renal scintillation procedure was performed and compared to results of excretory urography in 200 spinal cord injury patients. No severe urographic abnormalities were undetected by the comprehensive renal scintillation procedure. Only 1.4 per cent of renal units had greater than minimal pyelocaliectasis or ureterectasis in the presence of a normal radionuclide examination. A relatively large number of abnormalities were detected on the renal scintillation procedure when the excretory urogram was normal. Serial followup will be required to determine the significance of these findings but present data suggest that a comprehensive renal scintillation procedure and a plain film of the kidneys, ureters and bladder may be used for screening upper urinary tract abnormalities in lieu of an excretory urogram. This is particularly advantageous for the spinal cord injury population, since there have been no toxic or allergic reactions reported, no bowel preparation or dehydration is required and there is relatively low radiation exposure.
Social Distancing with Portable Chest Radiographs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Assessment of Radiograph Technique and Image Quality Obtained at 6 Feet and Through Glass

A modified portable chest radiography technique with increased distancing between the radiographic unit and detector provided diagnostic quality images with a similar radiation dose to the patient ...
Glycolysis and Lactate Dehydrogenase A in Iron-Mediated Suppression of Osteoblast Function

Background/Objective: An estimated 37 million Americans have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a condition in characterized by gradual decline in kidney function1. Patients with CKD are often afflicted with skeletal fractures, increasing morbidity and mortality. CKD has also shown a strong correlation with iron-deficiency anemia. The underlying mechanisms of how iron-deficiency anemia of CKD affects bone loss are not well understood. Based on RNA-sequencing results, we hypothesize that lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) may play a role in iron-deficiency mediated suppression of osteoblast differentiation and function. Methods: Mouse Progenitor Cells (MPC2) were incubated in osteogenic media along with deferoxamine (DFO) to induce differentiation in chronic iron deficiency; samples were collected after 7 and 14 days. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to validate LDHA mRNA and protein levels in DFO treated MPCs versus control cells. RNA levels of osteoblast genes and LDHA were also assessed in a pre-clinical mouse model of CKD. Results: In vitro, MPCs cultured in DFO media showed a significant increase of LDHA mRNA at 7 days (p=0.015) and returned to near control levels by day 14. Western blots showed a slight increase of total LDHA protein in DFO treated MPCs at 7 days and a large increase of protein at the 14-day mark (p=0.051). In vivo, CKD bone marrow showed a reduction in osteoblast gene expression (osteocalcin and type 1 collagen; p<0.05). LDHA mRNA expression was increased in CKD mice bone marrow when compared to wild-type mice (p=0.051), suggesting an inverse relationship. Conclusion and Potential Impact: Inappropriate activation of glycolysis and LDHA appears to play a role in iron-deficiency mediated suppression of osteoblast function in relation to CKD, both in vitro and in vivo. Further exploration of this relationship could be critical to the development of improved treatment options to maintain bone homeostasis during CKD.
Sixth-Graders' Paintings for the U.S. Food Conservation Effort: A Qualitative Study

In this article, a research project is discussed that examines the political messages within the paintings commissioned by the U.S. Food Administration to cause civilians during World War I to donate food for the war effort. Sixth grade students in my research project analyzed the paintings commissioned by the U.S. Food Administration and then created their own painting based on arguments in Hoover’s Food in War Speech on why U.S. civilians should donate for the food conservation effort. They also wrote a metacognitive writing piece through a Director’s Cut explaining the political messages in their painting to cause U.S. civilians to donate for the food conservation effort during World War I. I analyzed the sixth grade students’ paintings and Director’s Cuts. The findings from five students’ paintings and Director’s Cuts are provided. Finally, I close the article with a discussion section to examine takeaways from how my research study potentially adds to the body of literature on teaching with visual primary sources that contain political messages.
Percutaneous liver venous deprivation: outcomes in heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Abstract Background To evaluate liver venous deprivation (LVD) outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) heavily pretreated with systemic and hepatic arterial infusion pump (HAIP) chemotherapies that had an anticipated insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) hypertrophy after portal vein embolization (PVE). Methods PVE was performed with liquid embolics using a transsplenic or ipsilateral transhepatic approach. Simultaneously and via a trans-jugular approach, the right hepatic vein was embolized with vascular plugs. Liver volumetry was assessed on computed tomography before and 3–6 weeks after LVD. Results Twelve consecutive CRLM patients that underwent LVD before right hepatectomy or trisectionectomy were included, all previously treated with systemic chemotherapy for a mean of 11.9 months. Six patients had additional HAIP. After embolization, FLR ratio increased from 28.7% ± 5.9 to 42.2% ± 9.0 (P Conclusion In heavily pretreated patients, LVD safely stimulated a rapid and effective FLR hypertrophy, with a resultant high rate of resection.
Cardiovascular screening in college athletes.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of death in college athletes during sports [(1)][1]. Pre-participation examinations are required in college athletes, although the best screening protocol to identify cardiovascular diseases known to cause SCD is debated. The purpose of this study was
Simulated retinal center/surround artificial neuroprocessing using analog VLSI

We designed an array of CMOS circuits to realize part of a model of a biological retina that acts as a preprocessing stage in a Boundary Contour System/Feature Contour System1. The basis for the circuitry is a shunting neuron equation. The “membrane” voltage of this silicon neuron hyperpolarizes as a function of the surround excitation and depolarizes as a function of the center excitation. The electronics approximates a Difference of Gaussians operator for edge enhancement. That quantity is scaled by an approximation to a Sum of Gaussians operator. Thus, the output reports on contrast that is normalized by the image’s absolute intensity in a local region.