cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5216: Epigenetic characterization and specific targeting of breast cancer stem cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Metastasis causes 90% of the mortality associated with solid tumors, such as breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis remain poorly understood and no effective approaches are available to cure metastasis. The identification of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of cancer cells with stem cell properties, has brought us a new perspective on cancer, including leukemia and solid tumors. CSCs are proposed to mediate cancer relapse and metastasis due to their resistance to conventional therapies. Our work has demonstrated that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are able to mediate spontaneous lung metastases in human-in-mouse xenograft models. We have also identified that miR-30c, a human breast tumour prognostic marker, regulates both invasion and chemo-resistance, through targeting TWF1, VIM, and downstream IL-11. TWF1 encodes an actin-binding protein and promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). An IL-6 family member, IL-11 was identified as a secondary target of TWF1 in the miR-30c signalling pathway. Expression of miR-30c inversely correlated with TWF1 and IL-11 levels in primary breast tumors and low IL-11 correlated with relapse-free survival in breast cancer patients. Our study demonstrates that miR-30c is transcriptionally regulated by GATA3 in breast tumors. Identification of a novel miRNA-mediated pathway that regulates chemo-resistance in breast cancer will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Future ongoing interactive basic and translational research directions include: (1) to understand CSCs using cutting-edge single cell sequencing technology and functional studies; (2) to image CSCs (their dynamic behavior and interactions with immune cells and non-CSCs) during metastasis using bioluminescence imaging and intravital imaging systems; and (3) to target CSCs with novel therapeutics delivered by nanoparticles. Citation Format: Huiping Liu. Epigenetic characterization and specific targeting of breast cancer stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5216. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5216
TU-A-500-01: Deformable Image Registration, Contour Propagation and Dose Mapping: 101 and 201

Deformable image registration, contour propagation and dose mapping have become common, possibly essential tools for modern image‐guided radiation therapy. Historically, these tools have been largely developed at academic medical centers and used in a rather limited and well controlled fashion. Today these tools are now available to the radiotherapy community at large, both as stand‐alone applications and as integrated components of treatment planning and treatment delivery systems. Unfortunately, the details of how these tools work and their limitations are not generally documented or described by the vendors that provide them. Although “it looks right”, determining that unphysical deformations may have occurred is crucial. Because of this, understanding how and when to use, and not use these tools to support everyday clinical decisions is far from straight forward.The goal of this session will be to present both the theory (basic and advanced) and practical clinical use of deformable image registration, contour propagation and dose mapping. To the extent possible, the “secret sauce” that different vendor use to produce reasonable/acceptable results will be described. A detailed explanation of the possible sources of errors and actual examples of these will be presented. Knowing the underlying principles of the process and understanding the confounding factors will help the practicing medical physicist be better able to make decisions (about making decisions) using the tools available. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the basic (101) and advanced (201) principles of deformable image registration, contour propagation and dose mapping data mapping 2. Understand the sources and impact of errors in registration and data mapping and the methods for evaluating the performance of these tools 3. Understand the clinical use and value of these tools, especially when used as a “black box”
America Watches "Amerika:" Television Docudrama and Political Attitudes

This article reports the results of a panel study examining the impact of the 1987 television miniseries "Amerika" on political attitudes and stereotypes. Viewing the docudrama, which ostensibly depicted life in the Midwest ten years after a Soviet takeover of the United States, was associated with significant changes in attitudes concerning Soviet-American relations. These attitudinal changes were consistently in the direction of greater conservatism (for example, viewers became less tolerant of communism, and voiced more support for enhanced U.S. military strength). The moderating impact of perceived realism, education, and ideology, as well as the independent impact of indirect exposure to the series (that is, informal peer discussion and attention to associated media coverage), were also examined. The implications of the results for research on the political impact of entertainment programming are discussed.
Four-Terminal Relay Design for Improved Body Effect

Previously reported electrostatically actuated four-terminal (4T) relays suffer from a relatively weak body bias effect and undesirable influence of source/drain bias voltages on gate switching voltages. In this letter, an improved 4T relay design is demonstrated to resolve these issues.
Comparing modern and presettlement forest dynamics of a subboreal wilderness: Does spruce budworm enhance fire risk?

Insect disturbance is often thought to increase fire risk through enhanced fuel loadings, particularly in coniferous forest ecosystems. Yet insect disturbances also affect successional pathways and landscape structure that interact with fire disturbances (and vice- versa) over longer time scales. We applied a landscape succession and disturbance model (LANDIS-II) to evaluate the relative strength of interactions between spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) outbreaks and fire disturbances in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in northern Minnesota (USA). Disturbance interactions were evaluated for two different scenarios: presettlement forests and fire regimes vs. contemporary forests and fire regimes. Forest composition under the contemporary scenario trended toward mixtures of deciduous species (primarily Betula papyrifera and Populus spp.) and shade-tolerant conifers (Picea mariana, Abies balsamea, Thuja occidentalis), with disturbances dominated by a combination of budworm defoliation and high-severity fires. The presettlement scenario retained comparatively more ''big pines'' (i.e., Pinus strobus, P. resinosa) and tamarack (L. laricina), and experienced less budworm disturbance and a comparatively less-severe fire regime. Spruce budworm disturbance decreased area burned and fire severity under both scenarios when averaged across the entire 300-year simulations. Contrary to past research, area burned and fire severity during outbreak decades were each similar to that observed in non-outbreak decades. Our analyses suggest budworm disturbances within forests of the BWCA have a comparatively weak effect on long-term forest composition due to a combination of characteristics. These include strict host specificity, fine-scaled patchiness created by defoliation damage, and advance regeneration of its primary host, balsam fir (A. balsamea) that allows its host to persist despite repeated disturbances. Understanding the nature of the three-way interaction between budworm, fire, and composition has important ramifications for both fire mitigation strategies and ecosystem restoration initiatives. We conclude that budworm disturbance can partially mitigate long-term future fire risk by periodically reducing live ladder fuel within the mixed forest types of the BWCA but will do little to reverse the compositional trends caused in part by reduced fire rotations.
Understanding Chemical Reaction Kinetics and Equilibrium with Interlocking Building Blocks

Chemical reaction kinetics and equilibrium are essential core concepts of chemistry but are challenging topics for many students, both at the high school and undergraduate university level. Visualization at the molecular level is valuable to aid understanding of reaction kinetics and equilibrium. This activity provides a discovery-based method to help students visualize a simple reaction at the molecular level using small, plastic brick interlocking building blocks to represent atoms and molecules. By performing and observing model synthesis, decomposition, and competing reactions, the students gain a deeper understanding of bimolecular and unimolecular kinetics, as well as the dynamic state of equilibrium. This activity allows students to dispel some of the common misconceptions about equilibrium and chemical reactions and encourages discussion to facilitate understanding. This flexible activity using building blocks is an appropriate activity for both high school and undergraduate general chemistry stud...
ℋ︁2 suboptimal estimation and control for nonnegative dynamical systems

Linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) provide a powerful design framework for linear control problems. In this paper, we use LMIs to develop ℋ2 (sub)optimal estimators and controllers for nonnegative dynamical systems. Specifically, we formulate a series of generalized eigenvalue problems subject to a set of LMI constraints for designing ℋ2 suboptimal estimators, static controllers, and dynamic controllers for nonnegative dynamical systems. The resulting ℋ2 suboptimal controllers guarantee that the closed-loop plant system states remain in the nonnegative orthant of the state space. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Energy-efficient forwarding strategies for geographic routing in lossy wireless sensor networks

Recent experimental studies have shown that wireless links in real sensor networks can be extremely unreliable, deviating to a large extent from the idealized perfect-reception-within-range models used in common network simulation tools. Previously proposed geographic routing protocols commonly employ a maximum-distance greedy forwarding technique that works well in ideal conditions. However, such a forwarding technique performs poorly in realistic conditions as it tends to forward packets on lossy links. We identify and illustrate this weak-link problem and the related distance-hop trade-off, whereby energy efficient geographic forwarding must strike a balance between shorter, high-quality links, and longer lossy links. The study is done for scenarios with and without automatic repeat request (ARQ).Based on an analytical link loss model, we study the distance-hop trade-off via mathematical analysis and extensive simulations of a wide array of blacklisting/link-selection strategies; we also validate some strategies using a set of real experiments on motes. Our analysis, simulations and experiments all show that the product of the packet reception rate (PRR) and the distance traversed towards destination is the optimal forwarding metric for the ARQ case, and is a good metric even without ARQ. Nodes using this metric often take advantage of neighbors in the transitional region (high-variance links). Our results also show that reception-based forwarding strategies are more efficient than purely distance-based strategies; relative blacklisting schemes reduce disconnections and achieve higher delivery rates than absolute blacklisting schemes; and that ARQ schemes become more important in larger networks.
Research Themes, Authors, and Future Directions in the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences

This paper examines the major research themes and contributors which have appeared during the first ten volumes of the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. A total of 24 thematic categories emerged from the analysis. From these, the following three were found to be the most predominant: (1) reliability and validity studies of intelligence, personality and achievement tests, (2) studies pertaining to acculturation anid adaptation of Hispanics, and (3) research papers on bilingual/ language issues. It was also found that most of the research was conducted with Mexican origin subiject populations. In addition, inost of the articles in the journal are empirically based reports. Invisible Colleges formed around central figures and institutions which have made outstanding contributions to the HJBS are identified. Among these, the work of researchers from the following institutions are highlighted: (1) the Spanish Speaking Mental Health Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, (2) the Sp...
Incrementally-Deployable Security for Interdomain Routing

The Internet’s interdomain-routing system is extremely vulnerable to accidental failure, configuration errors, and malicious attack. Any successful approach to improving interdomain-routing security must satisfy two requirements for incremental deployability: backwards compatibility with the existing routing protocol and installed base of routers and incentive compatibility with the desire of each domain to improve its part of the routing system even if other domains have not taken similar steps. We propose an incrementally deployable approach based on a Routing Control Platform (RCP) that makes routing decisions on behalf of the routers in a domain, without requiring changes to the routers or protocols. The RCP runs anomaly-detection algorithms that identify, and avoid, suspicious routes, allowing a domain (or a small group of cooperating domains) to significantly improve interdomain routing security.
Combined buoyancy and viscous effects in liquid–liquid flows in a vertical pipe

This paper presents experimental and numerical results of interfacial dynamics of liquid-liquid flows when an immiscible core liquid is introduced into a continuous liquid flow. The fully developed flow model predicts multiple solutions of the jet diameter over a range of dimensionless numbers: flow rate ratio, viscosity ratio, Bond and Capillary numbers. Experiments have been carried out using Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) and Canola oil to investigate the realizability of the three possible solutions predicted by the fully developed flow model. The measured values of inner fluid radii agree very well with the lower branch of the three branched solution while deviating from the top branch beyond a critical flow ratio value. This deviation is attributed to the fact that the flow develops a non-axisymmetric solution at this critical point. Computational fluid dynamics simulations have also been performed to examine the developing core annular flow and to compare the analytical solution results of liquid jet radius. The results predicted by numerical simulations agree very well with both the lower and upper branches of solution predicted by the analytical theory.
Pretending Not to Pray?: A Historical Overview of Moment of Silence Legislation and Why Illinois' Statute Clearly Violated the Lemon Test

Decades ago, the issue of having students and teachers take a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day would have been a non-issue. This would have been true even if the implicit (or explicit) reason for the moment was to allow for prayer. Individual and corporate prayer, Scripture readings, and the like was fairly commonplace in American public schools during the first half of the 20th century. In the decades that would fol- low, many of these practices would come under close scrutiny; some were challenged by plaintiffs who argued that such practices were violative of the Establishment Clause's protections.While some practices have been almost uniformly overturned (such as required daily vocal prayer, for example) the constitutionality of other practices remain in question. One such grey area is the practice of allowing, or in most cases requiring, a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. While the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Alabama's moment of silence legislation in Wallace v. Jaffree, the Circuit courts remain largely divided in their analysis of whether other states' statutes fail similarly under the Establishment Clause. Despite this, moment of silence statutes have, and continue to be, popular pieces of legislation enacted by many state legislatures. The vast majority of states (thirty-two) have enacted moment of silence legislation in their state legislatures at one point or another.This paper analyzes Illinois' moment of silence statute, recently overturned by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in light of previous caselaw and state statutory language. First, this article provides a brief historical review of school-sponsored speech and Establishment Clause litigation. Section two addresses previous moment of silence cases, including the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Jaffree and subsequent Circuit court decisions. The paper concludes with an analysis of Illinois' law in light of previous and current moment of silence litigation, and provides an overview of the recent District Court decision.
Heating and the Distribution of Total and Heme Iron Between Meat and Broth

The effect of heat on movement of total and heme iron from meat to broth was investigated. Total iron by a wet ash method was nearly identical to the sum of heme iron plus nonheme iron. The total amount of nonheme iron increased with cooking temperature (r = 0.98), as did the amount of nonheme iron in the broth (r = 0.93). Leaching of heme pigments into the broth was greatest at 60°C. Boiling (97°C) rapidly coagulated the meat pigments and minimized the leaching of heme pigments into the broth. More total iron (85.3%) was retained in boiled (97°C) meat than in meat heated 1 hr at 60°C (81.6%), 77°C (78.2%) or autoclaved (77.5%).
Restricted water intake influences male reproduction in two strains of house mice (Mus musculus)

Males from two strains of house mice (Mus musculus) were subjected to ten weeks of simulated drought in the laboratory. Water availability was reduced to 50% of ad lib intake for 5 weeks, then further restricted to 25% of ad lib consumption for an additional 5 weeks. Individuals of the highly inbred (CF1) strain were generally unaffected by water restriction. Testicular and epididymal mass of restricted CF1 animals did not change relative to control mice with ad lib access to water. Seminal vesicle mass decrease in water restricted CF1 males, but spermatogenesis was not significantly influenced. Body mass was reduced 25.4% after water restriction. In contrast, male F4 progeny of wild-caught Mus substantially reduced reproductive organ mass after limited water intake. Spermatogenesis was significantly diminished, but no animals became completely aspermatic. Body mass declined 12.6% in water restricted wild-strain Mus as compared to animals with ad lib water availability. These results are discussed in terms of their possible ecological significance.
Swelling-driven rolling and anisotropic expansion of striped gel sheets

Swelling of spatially patterned gel films promises many new opportunities for understanding and exploiting differential growth as a means to define three-dimensional (3D) configurations of thin sheets. Here, we consider the swelling-driven deformation of sheets patterned with alternating parallel strips of material with high and low equilibrium extents of swelling, and the dependence of this process on film thickness, strip width, and swelling contrast. Temperature-responsive, photo-crosslinkable hydrogels are prepared from poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAm) copolymers with pendent benzophenone groups that allow the degree of crosslinking to be programmed by the dose of UV light. Photo-patterned multi-strips deform by rolling around the axis perpendicular to the interface between high- and low-swelling regions, due to a balance between stretching energy in the transition region and bending of the entire sheet. However, when the strip width falls below a critical size proportional to the film thickness, the patterned sheets instead remain flat, undergoing greater expansion along the direction normal to the interfaces than in the direction parallel. This configuration suggests possibilities for patterning anisotropic growth, and also provides fruitful information on the contrast in modulus between the regions.
Informatics for Glycans

Databases and informatics tools are central to rapid acceleration in the progress of the genomics and proteomics fields. Glycomics, an emerging paradigm in the age of postgenomics, involves understanding the structure–function relationship of glycans in fundamental biological processes. In comparison with genomics and proteomics, the advancement of glycomics has faced unique challenges in the pursuit of developing tools, biological readouts, and an informatics platform to investigate glycan structure–function relationships. These challenges are because of the structural diversity and heterogeneity in glycans that develops from their complex nontemplate biosynthesis. This review focuses on areas of technologies for sequencing glycans and the importance of developing a bioinformatics platform to integrate the diverse data sets generated using the different technologies to allow a systems approach to glycan structure–function relationships. Although aspects of glycan analysis and integration of glycomics data sets have been covered in earlier reviews, this review brings these aspects together for both linear and branched glycans.
Integrated simulation for rapid development of autonomous underwater vehicles

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) integrated simulator has been designed to support complete scientific visualization of AUV vehicle performance. High-resolution 3D graphics workstations can provide real-time representations of vehicle dynamics, control system behavior, mission execution, sonar processing and object classification. Use of well-defined, user-readable mission log files as the data transfer mechanism allows consistent and repeatable simulation of all AUV operations. Examples of integrated simulation are provided using the Naval Postgraduate School AUV, an eight-foot, 387-pound untethered robot submarine designed for research in adaptive control, mission planning, mission execution, and post-mission data analysis. >
MYC amplification in multiple marker chromosomes and EZH2 microdeletion in a man with acute myeloid leukemia

The role of MYC and EZH2 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis is poorly understood. Herein we present a case of AML with MYC amplification in marker chromosomes and a microdeletion of chromosome 7 below cytogenetic resolution. The karyotype of the patient's bone marrow aspirate showed three to five marker chromosomes in all dividing cells without other structural or numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a probe specific for the human MYC gene revealed amplification of the oncogene localized to the marker chromosomes. Using whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray analysis, an approximately 4.4 Mb amplicon containing the MYC gene was identified with an estimated amplification of about 30 copies per leukemic cell and, thus, an average of about 8 copies per marker chromosome. A 6.4 Mb hemizygous microdeletion of chromosome 7 within band q36.1 was also found by SNP microarray analysis in a cellular-equivalent dosage of 50%. The microdeletion spans multiple genes, including EZH2 , a gene with well-known cancer association. No mutation was found in the remaining EZH2 allele by next generation gene sequencing. The combination of MYC amplification and EZH2 deletion, which has not been described previously in AML, may suggest a synergistic role of the two oncogenes in the pathogenesis of the patient's acute leukemia.
Thermal decomposition of dawsonite

X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal methods of analysis were used to resolve conflicting statements in the literature on the thermal decomposition of dawsonite INaAI(OH),CO"J. By 350'C the dawsonite structure collapses and water equivalent to the hydroxyl group and a large portion of the carbonate COs are lost. This decomposition product then gradually loses the remainder of the COa and remains amorphous until crystalline NaAlOg is formed at approximately 670"C.
Oral contraceptives and the red blood cell.

To determine whether a clinically significant folate deficiency exists in users of oral contraceptives data was analyzed from 3726 women of high socioeconomic status tested at the Kaiser-Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Facility in 1969. 1083 current users (within 30 days) 1079 past users and 1574 never users comprised the group. Among menstruating women pill users for 5 or more years pill users for less than 5 years and nonusers had successively higher menstrual blood losses the last group having a markedly higher loss. After adjusting for menstrual blood loss and age oral contraceptors and noncontraceptors showed slight but significant differences in some parameters: in oral contraceptors mean cell volume mean cell hemoglobin and mean cell hemoglobin concentration were increased while hemoglobin hematocrit and red blood cell count were decreased. While the effects were more marked in users for more than 5 years the effects were unrelated to dose or pill composition. The observed differences suggest a folate and/or Vitamin-B12 deficiency. Though the differences are slightly statistically significant they may have little clinical importance. No macrocytic anemia was seen in contraceptors which may be related to the fact that the women were of high socioeconomic level.
Welcome to the Editorship of the Journal of Poverty

As we start the new volume of the Journal of Poverty, we would like to officially welcome Dr. Llewellyn J. Cornelius, the Donald Lee Hollowell Distinguished Professor of Civil Rights and Social Jus...
Magnetic resonance force detection using a membrane resonator

The availability of compact, low-cost magnetic resonance imaging instruments would further broaden the substantial impact of this technology. We report highly sensitive detection of magnetic resonance using low-stress silicon nitride (SiNx) membranes. We use these membranes as low-loss, high-frequency mechanical oscillators and find they are able to mechanically detect spin-dependent forces with high sensitivity enabling ultrasensitive magnetic resonance detection. The high force detection sensitivity stems from their high mechanical quality factor Q∼10(6)[1,2] combined with the low mass of the resonator. We use this excellent mechanical force sensitivity to detect the electron spin magnetic resonance using a SiNx membrane as a force detector. The demonstrated force sensitivity at 300K is 4fN/Hz, indicating a potential low temperature (4K) sensitivity of 25aN/Hz. Given their sensitivity, robust construction, large surface area and low cost, SiNx membranes can potentially serve as the central component of a compact room-temperature ESR and NMR instrument having spatial resolution superior to conventional approaches.
The Problem of Question Form in the Measure of Sales by Consumer Interviews

range between types undoubtedly is the consequence of the distributive price control statutes of California. Most important are the Unfair Practices Act, which prohibits loss leaders and sales below costs, and the Desmond Act, which authorizes the Director of Agriculture to fix minimum wholesale and retail prices for fluid milk. The Fair Trade Law affects the food trade only slightly.7 In San Francisco at the time the prices were collected the minimum mark-up required for retail food products under the Unfair Practices Act was o1 per cent over wholesale cost. The outstanding fact, of course, was that the two big staples, milk and bread, not only were not being used as leaders but were priced uniformly between stores.
ARRHYTHMIAS AND CARDIOGENIC SHOCK AS A PRESENTATION OF HYPERTHERMIA

The incidence of exertional heat illness is rising in the United States. It is a rare cause of arrhythmias, direct myocardial injury and distributive shock, and carries a high rate of mortality if not treated promptly. A 45 years-old gentleman was admitted for altered mental status after he was
Irradiated paragangliomas of the head and neck : CT and MR appearance

PURPOSE To present the spectrum of CT and MR findings of glomus tumors of the head and neck successfully treated with radiation therapy. METHODS The patient charts and all CT and MR studies of 24 patients (25 tumors) who had been successfully treated with radiation therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Eighteen patients had pre- and posttreatment imaging studies. Tumor size, internal morphology, enhancement pattern, visualization of flow voids, and bone erosion were evaluated before and after radiation therapy. Statistical evaluation of the presence of flows voids and tumor size was performed using the Fischer Exact Test. RESULTS All patients had residual tumor after radiation therapy. Sixty-one percent of tumors demonstrated a reduction in size. Only one tumor with pretreatment bone destruction demonstrated healing of the bone. MR findings after radiation therapy included variable alteration in T2 signal, decreased heterogeneous enhancement, and a reduction in flow voids. There was a significant difference in the presence of flow voids based on tumor size. CONCLUSIONS Successfully irradiated paragangliomas demonstrate residual masses, the presence of which does not by itself indicate treatment failure. Stabilization or reduction in size, decreased enhancement, diminished flow voids, and reduced T2 signal after radiation therapy are a result of therapy and are indicative of local control. Persistent bone demineralization and erosion without progression is commonly seen in successfully controlled tumors. Paragangliomas are relatively homogeneous in internal morphology except for areas of flow void. Flow voids are not a reliable criterion for diagnosis in lesions less than 2.5 cm.
Cephalometry by real-time imaging: a critical evaluation.

Real-time imaging is generating a wave of enthusiasm among professionals engaged in the assessment of fetal health by biophysical means. In this report the reproducibility and accuracy of biparietal diameters (BPD’s) obtained by real-time imaging are examined in depth. In addition, comparisons are made between BPD’s obtained by real time and by both gray-scale and B-scan sonography. It is shown that BPD’s obtained by real-time imaging correlate with true BPD’s of neonates (delivered by cesarean section) only if (1) the width of skull tables on Polaroid photographs are 3 to 5 mm. and (2) the measurements are obtained from the outer aspects (O-O) of the cephalic contour traced on Polaroid photographs. BPD’s measured from the outer to the inner (O-I) cephalic points are smaller than the true BPD’s of neonates by an average of 3.8 mm.—the difference is statistically significant, P
How Do Undergraduate Students Conceptualize Acid–Base Chemistry? Measurement of a Concept Progression

We developed and validated a new instrument, called Measuring Concept progressions in Acid–Base chemistry (MCAB) and used it to better understand the progression of undergraduate students’ understandings about acid–base chemistry. Items were developed based on an existing learning progression for acid–base chemistry. We used the Rasch rating scale model for validation and to gain understanding of how students at different ability levels conceptualize the topic. We then used latent class analysis (LCA) to place students into concept classes. We found that three concept classes were sufficient to describe students’ various response patterns and that these concept classes described a progression of understanding related to acid–base chemistry. All items fit well with the Rasch model. The final 33-item instrument measured students along a continuous scale with a reliability of 0.74 and categorized students with a precision of 0.89. All students possessed nonscientific understandings of pH and the pH scale. However, even the most novice students displayed basic scientific understandings about how acid–base indicators work and the Arrhenius model of acids and bases. We discuss the utility of Rasch and LCA procedures for analysis of learning progression-based assessments and suggest a simple algorithm that can be used to help chemistry instructors diagnose students’ misconceptions.
Retrieval Analysis of 2nd Generation HXLPE Used in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Introduction: First generation highly crosslinked polyethylenes (HXPLEs) have proven successful in lowering both penetration and osteolysis rates. However, 1 st generation annealing and remelting thermal stabilization have been associated with in vivo oxidation or reduced mechanical properties. Thus, 2 nd generation HXLPEs were developed to improve oxidative stability while still maintaining material properties. Little is known about the in vivo clinical failure modes of these 2 nd generation HLXPEs. The purpose of this study was to assess the revision reasons, wear, oxidative stability, and mechanical behavior of retrieved sequentially annealed Vitamin E diffused HXLPE in THA and TKA. Methods: 251 2 nd Generation HXLPE hip and knee components were consecutively retrieved during revision surgeries and continuously analyzed in a prospective, IRB approved, multicenter study. 123 acetabular liners (Implanted 1.2y; Range 0–5.0y) and 117 tibial inserts (Implanted 1.6y; Range 0–5.8y) were highly crosslinked and annealed in 3 sequential steps (X3). Five acetabular liners (Implanted 0.6y; Range 0–2.0y) and six tibial inserts (Implanted 1.3y; Range 0.5–1.8y) were diffused with Vitamin E (E1). Patient information was collected from medical records (Table 1). Linear penetration of liners was measured using a calibrated digital micrometer (accuracy: 0.001 mm). Surface damage of tibial components was assessed using the Hood method. Thin sections were taken from the acetabular liners (along the superior/inferior axis) and the tibial components (along the medial condyle and central spine) for oxidation analysis and analyzed according to ASTM 2102. Mechanical behavior was assessed via the small punch test (ASTM 2183). Results: The liners and tibial components fabricated from both HXLPEs were revised predominantly for loosening, instability, and infection (Figure 1). The average penetration rate for the Sequentially Annealed group was low (PR = 0.045 mm/yr). Pitting, scratching and burnishing were the predominant damage mechanisms of the tibial inserts within both material groups, with no evidence of delamination. Oxidation indices were low (Mean OI≤0.3) and similar between liners and inserts of the Sequentially Annealed components at the bearing and backside surface (Figure 2, p ≥ 0.15). Oxidation was positively correlated with implantation time at the bearing surface of the Sequentially Annealed groups (Rho > 0.29, p Discussion: This study evaluated the properties of 2 nd generation HXLPEs used in THA and TKA. Sequentially Annealed liners had penetration rates comparable with 1 st generation HXLPEs. While oxidation was low for both sequentially annealed and Vitamin E HXLPEs, we were able to detect regional variations in the oxidative in the sequentially annealed cohort. Longer-term retrievals are necessary to fully assess the oxidative stability of Vitamin E diffused HXLPE used in TKA and THA.
Imatinib Therapy for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: An Experience From Eastern India.

Abstract Abstract 4498 Background: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia(CML) is an myloproliferative disorder characterized by the expansion of clone of hematopoietic cells that carries the Philadelphia chromosome(Ph).The Ph chromosome results from a reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosome 9 and 22,t(9;22) (q34;q11).The molecular consequence of this translocation is a fusion gene. Imatinib inhibits constitutively active BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).This is a novel molecule, which inhibits the protein product of this fusion gene and hence has been used in the treatment of CML. We are now report 51 months of median follow-up data and focus on 645 number of patients who received Imatinib as a primary treatment from 2002 to 2010. Materials and Methods: We included total 645 patients of CML during the period of January 2002 to June 2010.The age range was 02–87 years with median age being 36±11.6 years. Among 645 patient 366 was male and 280 female. A total 645 patients 608was in chronic phase, 31 in accelerated phase and 5 patients had blast crisis at the time of presentation. At present the molecular status of the disease has been detected by RT PCR, Flowcytometry (By Fluorescence Activated Cell sorter, FACS), Karyotyping and FISH.As a runtime protocol we have used Imatinib as 400 mg/day as standard dose at chronic phase, 600 mg/day in accelerated phase and 800 mg/day in blast crisis.We have studied a comparative analysis of Hematological parameter values. Result: The best observed average rate of complete hematological response was 97%, complete cytogenetic response was 50%, complete molecular response 35% with partial response in 45% and poor response in 15%.After 1 year levels of BCR-ABL transcripts had fallen in 52% patients and after 4 years levels had fallen in 79%. Conclusion: At 51 months of median follow-up in our study, comparative analysis of haematological parameters like haemoglobin, Total Count, Platelet Count between patient and normal population revels that pre-treatment value against normal value is very significant. The post treatment value of the haematological parameters is very close to the normal values and hence it can be proved that Imatinib therapy is effective. We observed that Imatinib drug is tolarence in case of 90% patients and resistance in about 10 % patient. So, we can conclude that Imatinib is an effective and safe drug for CML patient. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Mapping membrane activity in undiscovered peptide sequence space using machine learning.

There are some ∼1,100 known antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which permeabilize microbial membranes but have diverse sequences. Here, we develop a support vector machine (SVM)-based classifier to investigate ⍺-helical AMPs and the interrelated nature of their functional commonality and sequence homology. SVM is used to search the undiscovered peptide sequence space and identify Pareto-optimal candidates that simultaneously maximize the distance σ from the SVM hyperplane (thus maximize its “antimicrobialness”) and its ⍺-helicity, but minimize mutational distance to known AMPs. By calibrating SVM machine learning results with killing assays and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we find that the SVM metric σ correlates not with a peptide’s minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), but rather its ability to generate negative Gaussian membrane curvature. This surprising result provides a topological basis for membrane activity common to AMPs. Moreover, we highlight an important distinction between the maximal recognizability of a sequence to a trained AMP classifier (its ability to generate membrane curvature) and its maximal antimicrobial efficacy. As mutational distances are increased from known AMPs, we find AMP-like sequences that are increasingly difficult for nature to discover via simple mutation. Using the sequence map as a discovery tool, we find a unexpectedly diverse taxonomy of sequences that are just as membrane-active as known AMPs, but with a broad range of primary functions distinct from AMP functions, including endogenous neuropeptides, viral fusion proteins, topogenic peptides, and amyloids. The SVM classifier is useful as a general detector of membrane activity in peptide sequences.
Regioselective Carbyne Transfer to Ring-Opening Alkyne Metathesis Initiators Gives Access to Telechelic Polymers

Regioselective carbyne-transfer reagents derived from (3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-yn-1-yl)benzene give access to functionalized ring-opening alkyne metathesis polymerization (ROAMP) initiators [R-C6H4C≡Mo(OC(CH3)(CF3)2)3] featuring electron-donating or -withdrawing substituents on the benzylidyne. Kinetic studies and linear free-energy relationships reveal that the initiation step of the ring-opening alkyne metathesis polymerization of 5,6,11,12-tetradehydrobenzo[a,e][8]annulene exhibits a moderate positive Hammett reaction constant (ρ = +0.36). ROAMP catalysts featuring electron-withdrawing benzylidynes not only selectively increase the rate of initiation (ki) over the rate of propagation (kp) but also prevent undesired intra- and intermolecular chain-transfer processes, giving access to linear poly-(o-phenylene ethynylene) with narrow molecular weight distribution. The regioselective carbyne transfer methodology and the detailed mechanistic insight enabled the design of a bifunctional ROAMP-reversible additi...
Molecular Pathology of Acute Myeloid Leukemias

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a family of hematopoietic neoplasms characterized by proliferation of myeloid-lineage blast cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and/or extramedullary sites. Appropriate classification and subclassification of these neoplasms is necessary to ensure appropriate therapy. This classification is increasingly based upon the underlying genetic abnormalities of these diseases, and evaluation for these abnormalities has become standard of care in the diagnosis and treatment of acute leukemias. The current WHO classification incorporates a combination of clinical features, morphologic features, immunophenotype, karyotype, and molecular testing to precisely subclassify these diseases [1]. This is considered a work in progress, and, as more abnormalities are identified, they will be incorporated into novel diagnostic and prognostic subgroups. In addition, at least some of these mutations are being incorporated into minimal residual disease testing and some are targeted for directed therapy.
FcγR and SCD alloimmunization: a nonclass(ical) act.

In this issue of Blood, Meinderts et al1 found a protective association of a genetic variant in the FCGR gene locus with decreased risk of red cell (RBC) alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). If validated in a larger study, the identified polymorphism may be used as a prognostic marker to predict in advance patients with SCD at lower risk of alloimmunization, with implications for transfusion management in this patient population.
A mouse model for hepatitis C virus infection: are we there yet?

Collectively, viral hepatitis remains a global epidemic causing an estimated 1.4 million deaths per year, of which hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause (1). Despite the availability of new antivirals that are capable of effective cure, the number of HCV infections and re-infections continue to rise worldwide. In addition to progressive liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), HCV is associated with metabolic disorders and co-morbidities including obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, mixed cryoglobulinemia among others (2-4)—all adding to the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. HCV continues to be a challenge to control, due, at least in part, to the lack of a tangible animal model. Chimpanzees are susceptible to HCV and played a major role in understanding the natural history of the disease. But with limitations on the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research and an attenuated disease course, a tangible animal model could provide information on several gaps in HCV knowledge such as viral pathogenesis and persistence, immune correlates of protection, and importantly vaccine development and testing.
Art and Imagination: Implications of Cognitive Science for Moral Education

When the fine philosopher Iris Murdoch says that “teaching art is teaching morals,” she is at once in agreement with the poets Shelley and Yeats as well as with John Dewey. She is also radically, even dangerously, susceptible to misunderstanding. She does not mean that the arts, or a study of them, will police a change in behavior, or even contribute to a discussion between Kantian and utilitarian points of view. She does not mean that virtue may be inculcated in the unsuspecting by books of virtues, stories selected to tell you what virtue is, and why you have to do it that way. Rather, she means something much deeper, something close to the heart of morality and of education. She says that art is good for the soul.
Development of an Optimization Tool for Calibrating Crack Growth Material Models

Crack growth models are typically calibrated using experimental data prior to conducting damage tolerance analyses of aircraft structures. This process can be trivial for crack growth models that only have a few fitting parameters. However, other models, such as the FASTRAN crack growth equation with the analytical crack-closure model, include several model parameters that make calibration challenging. To simplify the calibration process and improve the accuracy of crack growth simulations, an automated crack growth model optimization tool was developed. This tool also aims at improving the robustness of crack growth models by reducing their dependency on loading spectra and specimen geometries. To achieve this, numerical optimization is used to minimize the discrepancy between experimental data and analytical crack growth. To demonstrate this approach, material model parameters were calibrated for P-3/CP-140 aircraft applications using the FASTRAN crack growth equation with the analytical crack-closure model. The optimization tool was found to be very effective at fitting crack growth simulation results to experimental data by changing the values of selected parameters. It was, however, observed that the automated calibration process could find multiple sets of FASTRAN parameter values that provide equivalent correlations with experimental data. In an attempt to develop a more robust material model, multiple test configurations with different geometries and loading spectra were used to determine an optimal trade-off model that maximizes the correlation for multiple test configurations. The conducted tests demonstrated that this approach is viable and could be used to improve the robustness of crack growth simulations.
Sensitive Issues in Surveys: Reducing Refusals While Increasing Reliability and Quality of Responses to Sensitive Survey Items

It is generally understood that surveys on sensitive topics are more difficult, both because of the reluctance of respondents to participate in such surveys and the likelihood that respondents will not answer questions honestly due to embarrassment. This chapter first defines sensitive topics and survey populations that are susceptible to such topics so that authors of surveys can be aware of whether their surveys will be perceived as threatening. Several methods of reducing the effect of sensitive topics on survey measurement error are discussed. Researchers are urged to adopt methods that increase privacy, anonymity, and confidentiality while making respondents feel comfortable with the interviewer. Also, questions can be written in a way to reduce the threat associated, by making the behaviors seem more normal or common and therefore less embarrassing.
A Smooth Multivariate Interpolation Algorithm

This brief paper introduces an algorithm for smooth interpolation of a multivariate function. The input data for the algorithm consists of a set of function values and derivatives up to order r on a finite set of points E. The algorithm utilizes the Voronoi diagram of E to construct a partition of unity that isolates the points of E. Averaging locally defined functions with the partition of unity yields the interpolating function. There are no special cases; the algorithm treats all input data uniformly. The paper describes a test problem, the computation of a surface that is defined as the level set of a function of three variables. This test demonstrates that the algorithm produces approximations whose order corresponds to the degree of the derivatives in the input data.