cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of PKC-ζ protein levels in normal and malignant breast tissue subtypes

It is estimated that breast cancer will be the second leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in women in 2018. Previous research has demonstrated that the atypical protein kinase C-ζ (PKC-ζ) is a component of numerous dysregulated pathways in breast cancer, including cellular proliferation, survival, and cell cycle upregulation. The present study investigated the PKC-ζ protein in breast tissue to evaluate its potential as a biomarker for breast cancer invasion, and demonstrated that an overexpression of PKC-ζ protein can be indicative of carcinogenesis. The present study analyzed the expression of PKC-ζ in individuals with no tumor complications and malignant female human breast tissue samples (lobular carcinoma in situ, invasive lobular carcinoma, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma) with the use of western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and statistical analysis (83 samples). The present study also evaluated the invasive behavior of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells following the knockdown of PKC-ζ with a Transwell invasion assay and an immunofluorescent probe for filamentous actin (F-actin) organization. The data demonstrated that PKC-ζ expression was identified to be higher in invading tissues when compared with non-invading tissues. The results also suggest that PKC-ζ is more abundant in ductal tissues when compared with lobular tissues. In addition, the protein studies also suggest that PKC-ζ is a component for invasive behavior through the Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) pathway, and PKC-ζ is required for the F-actin reorganization in invasive cells. Therefore, PKC-ζ should be considered to be a biomarker in the development of breast cancer as well as an indicator of invading tumor cells.
Thermoeconomic analysis of multi-stage recuperative Brayton cycles: Part II – Waste energy recovery using CO2 and organic Rankine power cycles

Abstract Multi-stage gas turbine cycle configurations can greatly contribute to improve the economic and environmental aspects of gas turbine power plants. In the first part of this work, the hybridization of multi-stage recuperative Brayton power cycles with a solar power tower system that used a pressurized air receiver was evaluated. In this work, a detailed thermodynamic and economic analysis was conducted to evaluate the waste energy recovery from a non-solar multi-stage recuperative Brayton cycle configuration that showed the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in the first part. A comparative analysis between different organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) and supercritical CO2 power cycles was conducted for waste energy recovery from both intercooling stages and the exhaust gas. After designing the systems, a transient analysis was conducted to consider the effect of off-design conditions on the cycles thermo-economic performance. The obtained results showed that waste energy recovery using an ORC is the most economical option. By recovering the available heat in intercooling and exhaust gas stages by ORCs that use Isobutane and Toluene as working fluids, respectively, an additional power of 3508 kW was generated. Also, thermal efficiency was increased from 53.6% to 59.9% and the LCOE was reduced from $57.80/MWh to $54.77/MWh. Overall, the results demonstrated that waste energy recovery from intercooling stages and exhaust gas of a multi-stage gas turbine power plant is an attractive option for improving its thermal and economic performance. Also, considering the high price of a solar power tower plant and the technological pressure and temperature limitation of a pressurized air receiver, waste energy recovery is a more practical and beneficial option at current time than hybridization with a solar power tower plant.
Systems Biology: Generating and Understanding Big Data

Systems biology is the study of complex biological systems from a holistic, big-picture view. Advancement in biological research techniques to generate more data efficiently has facilitated a surge in systems biology, which relies on analysis of large datasets to elucidate a cell’s genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome. Large biological datasets are generated from high-throughput experiments, such as microarrays, mass spectrometry, and high-throughput drug screening. Many datasets from previous experiments done by various laboratories and organizations are available in numerous online portals and can provide valuable information. Analysis of data from genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic experiments can elucidate changes caused by perturbations like disease process and therapeutic interventions. Although each type of “omics” dataset on its own can provide important insights, integrating data from multiple omics experiments and dimensions (e.g., genome and proteome) can provide a better understanding of how different dimensions of biology are coordinated with each other. This can lead to comprehensive information on causes and effects of a disease process and effectiveness and resistance to therapies.
Effect of a Residual Biofilm on Release of Transforming Growth Factor β1 from Dentin.

Abstract Introduction Several studies have reported regeneration of the pulp-dentin complex when treating noninfected root canal systems. However, current protocols applied to infected root canal systems are much less predictable for the formation of dentin. Converging lines of evidence implicate residual biofilm as an important factor for these variable histologic outcomes. Here we studied the effect of a residual polymicrobial biofilm on the release of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) from dentin. We hypothesized that the presence of bacterial biofilm attenuates the release of bioactive molecules from dentin. Methods Using bacteria commonly found in infected immature teeth, we developed a multispecies biofilm in an organotypic root canal model. Root segments were then subjected to various irrigation or intracanal medicament protocols. Subsequently, the release of TGF-β1 from dentin was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Our data show that sterile root segments released greater amounts of TGF-β1 when conditioned with 17% EDTA alone (P Conclusions This is the first study to report the detrimental effects of a residual biofilm on dentin conditioning and, therefore, the release of growth factors critical for regenerative procedures.
Mechanisms of the Formation of an Electric Arc of a Helical Shape in an External Axial Magnetic Field

A numerical simulation of an open direct-current arc in an external uniform axial magnetic field is performed. A circuit analog of fluctuations of the temperature of electrons is used for the numerical implementation of the open electric arc column of a helical shape. It randomly generates asymmetry in the temperature distribution of electrons and, consequently, other plasma characteristics. It is shown that the formation of the arc column of a helical shape is due to the asymmetric influence of the Ampere force, which shifts the cross sections of the arc relative to the central discharge axis. Furthermore, the cross sections of the arc rotate around the central axis at different speeds. The rotational speed at the initial part from the side of the cathode decreases downstream and increases upon approaching the anode. Such a character of the convective heat transfer causes the formation of a helical arc. If the direction of the external axial magnetic field coincides with the direction of the electric current, then the spatial orientation of the helical arc as a whole is right-handed. Otherwise, there is a left-handed structure of the arc column. The directions of rotation of the arc sections at the cathode and anode sides are opposite each other. A helical shape of the open arc is not constant in time and is periodically destroyed. Two modes of destruction were revealed: first, as a result of bridging the spiral of the helix and, second, as a result of the transformation of several spirals into one. Apparently, an open arc cannot maintain a stable and constant helical shape in an external axial magnetic field.
In Vivo Demonstration of Photoacoustic Image Guidance and Robotic Visual Servoing for Cardiac Catheter-Based Interventions

Cardiac interventional procedures are often performed under fluoroscopic guidance, exposing both the patient and operators to ionizing radiation. To reduce this risk of radiation exposure, we are exploring the use of photoacoustic imaging paired with robotic visual servoing for cardiac catheter visualization and surgical guidance. A cardiac catheterization procedure was performed on two in vivo swine after inserting an optical fiber into the cardiac catheter to produce photoacoustic signals from the tip of the fiber-catheter pair. A combination of photoacoustic imaging and robotic visual servoing was employed to visualize and maintain constant sight of the catheter tip in order to guide the catheter through the femoral or jugular vein, toward the heart. Fluoroscopy provided initial ground truth estimates for 1D validation of the catheter tip positions, and these estimates were refined using a 3D electromagnetic-based cardiac mapping system as the ground truth. The 1D and 3D root mean square errors ranged 0.25-2.28 mm and 1.24-1.54 mm, respectively. The catheter tip was additionally visualized at three locations within the heart: (1) inside the right atrium, (2) in contact with the right ventricular outflow tract, and (3) inside the right ventricle. Lasered regions of cardiac tissue were resected for histopathological analysis, which revealed no laser-related tissue damage, despite the use of 2.98 mJ per pulse at the fiber tip (379.2 mJ/cm2 fluence). In addition, there was a 19 dB difference in photoacoustic signal contrast when visualizing the catheter tip pre- and post-endocardial tissue contact, which is promising for contact confirmation during cardiac interventional procedures (e.g., cardiac radiofrequency ablation). These results are additionally promising for the use of photoacoustic imaging to guide cardiac interventions by providing depth information and enhanced visualization of catheter tip locations within blood vessels and within the beating heart.
Fiber-based optical thermocouples for fast temperature sensing in extreme environments

We have developed fiber-based optical thermocouples (OTCs) for fast temperature sensing in extreme environments. Our OTCs consist of a thin film of dysprosium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Dy:YAG)—a well-known two-color thermometry phosphor—deposited on the end of a sapphire fiber using pulsed laser deposition. Temperature sensing is achieved by comparing the relative intensities of photoluminescence arising from two closely spaced Dy3 + excited states. Using a combination of time-gated detection and blackbody background subtraction, we are able to measure Dy:YAG’s photoluminescence up to 2033 K, which is one of the highest temperatures obtained in literature. However, we are only able to use the photoluminescence spectra for temperature sensing up to 1773 K due to poor signal-to-noise ratio for higher temperatures. These results suggest the possibility of measuring higher temperatures with time-gated detectors designed for low-light levels. After characterizing the fiber-based OTCs’ temperature response, we next demonstrate their functionality using subsecond pulsed CO2 laser heating using both intensified charge-coupled device detection and a photodiode-based software time-gating technique. In the lab, we have utilized this technique to measure temperatures at rates up to 80 kHz. In addition, we comment on the applicability of OTCs to fast temperature sensing in turbulent flows and estimate rise times on the order of several hundred microseconds for a 1-μm OTC film.
What Drives Opioid Prescriptions After Cardiac Surgery: Practice or Patient?

Background The objectives of this study were to describe opioid prescribing after hospitalization for elective cardiac operation, to identify factors associated with increased opioid prescriptions, and to develop procedure-specific opioid prescribing guidelines. Methods We analyzed data from all adults (≥18 years) undergoing elective cardiac operation for acquired heart disease from July 2014 to March 2017 at 3 affiliated hospitals. Opioid prescription data were abstracted and converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Multivariable logistic regression was performed with the outcome of top-quartile prescriptions. Results There were 4145 study patients after exclusion of preoperative opioid users (10.5%). Mean ± SD patient age was 63.9 ± 13.2 years, and 68.4% (n = 2835) were male. The operation was the first in 87.3% (3617); the most common operative approach was sternotomy in 91.0% (n = 3773), followed by robot-assisted operation in 4.6% (n = 192). The majority of patients, 72.7%, received an opioid prescription at hospital dismissal, with a median opioid prescription of 200 MME (interquartile range 0 to 375 MME; range 0 to 6400 MME). This varied by hospital, with medians of 150, 450, and 600 MME (P Conclusions Significant variation in opioid prescribing practices after cardiac operation was observed. The primary driver was hospital-centric as opposed to patient specific. Opioid prescribing guidelines were established to standardize posthospital pain management.
Perceived discrimination as legacy: Korean immigrants’ job attitudes and career prospects at Korean multinational enterprises in the USA

In this study, we examine how Korean immigrants employed at co-ethnic multinational enterprises (MNEs) perceive their work experiences based on their past employment in the USA. Using 63 in-depth i...
Design of a Sample Transfer Holder to Enable Air-Free X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Surface analysis of air-sensitive samples is difficult without controlled-environment sample transfer tubes or expensive vacuum transfer suitcases. Through the use of vacuum sealing and commercial ...
Autonomous and Semiautonomous Intersection Management: A Survey

Intersections are a major source of traffic delays and accidents within modern transportation systems. Compared to signalized intersection management, autonomous intersection management (AIM) coordinates the intersection crossing at an individual vehicle level, which provides additional flexibility. AIM can potentially eliminate stopping in intersection crossings due to traffic lights while maintaining a safe separation among conflicting movements. In this article, the state-of-the-art AIM research among various disciplines (e.g., traffic engineering and control engineering) is surveyed from the perspective of three hierarchical layers: corridor coordination layer, intersection management layer, and vehicle control layer. The key aspects of AIM designs are discussed in detail, including conflict detection schemes, priority rules, control centralization, computation complexity, and so on. Potential improvements for AIM evaluation with the emphasis on realistic scenarios are provided. This article serves as a comprehensive review of AIM design and provides promising directions for future research.
The Complications of Cardiac Surgery

While the vast majority of cardiac surgical cases are uncomplicated, understanding the potential complications of cardiovascular surgery is a key point in optimization of patient care. Complications of cardiovascular surgeries can affect all body systems: neurological, pulmonary, cardiac, renal, mesenteric, etc. Some of these complications are specific to the type of surgery, use of invasive monitoring devices during cardiovascular surgery, or to the cardiopulmonary bypass machines. The ability to recognize such wide array of complications would be crucial in early anticipation and prevention or early intervention and management of some of the life-threatening outcomes of cardiac surgery.
The development of advanced mathematical models for continuous glucose sensors

Abstract A series of mathematical models was developed to describe both the steady-state behavior and the electrochemical impedance response of continuous glucose sensors. The models may be considered advanced in following respects: 1) the models use ping-pong kinetics and the law of mass action to account for enzyme kinetics; 2) the chemistry considered includes enzymatic reactions, glucose anomerization, pH-dependent enzyme activity, and dissociation reactions for water, acids, and buffering systems, including phosphate buffered saline and bicarbonate buffers; 3) the physical properties of the sensor and the transport process are also considered, including the effective diffusion coefficients of the species within different films and associated partition coefficients; 4) diffusion into or from the surrounding tissue is considered explicitly; and 5) the model allows simulation of both steady-state and electrochemical impedance response. The models may be used to visualize the influence of the coupling between the homogeneous reactions, heterogeneous reactions, and transport processes. The models can be applied to predict performance of sensor designs and to diagnose sensor failure mechanisms.
Youth Baseball Caregiver Understanding of Safe Pitching Guidelines and Player Injury

# Background As more athletes participate in youth baseball, there has been an associated increase in upper extremity injuries. Knowledge of baseball injury prevention guidelines continues to be developed and defined as throwing-related injuries rise. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how knowledgeable youth baseball caregivers were about safe pitching guidelines and secondarily determine pitching practices which may be associated with increased risk of player injury. # Methods A twenty-two question survey comprised of demographic data, knowledge of overhead throwing guidelines, pitching history, presence of risk factors associated with overhead throwing and pitching habits was distributed to the caregivers of youth baseball pitchers in North Central Florida. # Results Eighty-three percent (81/98) of those polled were unaware of the existence of safe pitching guidelines, regardless of the pitcher’s playing experience (p > 0.05). Those who pitched more than six months out of the year were significantly more prone to experience throwing arm pain after a performance (p < 0.05). Fifty-two percent (51/98) of the caregivers recalled their child having throwing arm pain as a direct result of pitching, with twenty-six percent (25/98) of pitchers having to miss either a game or a pitching appearance. Twenty-seven percent (26/98) of all players went on to seek medical evaluation for arm discomfort due to pitching. Pitchers 13 years of age and older were more likely to throw curveballs and miss games because of throwing arm pain (p < 0.05). # Conclusion Despite implementation and accessibility of safe pitching guidelines, a large portion of those surveyed were unaware or noncompliant with these established recommendations. Given the results of this study, further measures need to be taken to improve caregivers’ understanding of current guidelines to help increase compliance and protect youth pitchers. # Level of Evidence Cross-sectional survey study, 3b
Human amnion membrane as a substratum for axonal elongation in vitro and in vivo.

Publisher Summary Human amnion membrane (HAM) has recently been found to promote axonal growth in vitro and in vivo , and fetal tissue grafts have been the most successful as bridges for regenerating CNS neurons. This chapter describes the role of human amnion membrane as a substratum for axonal elongation in vitro and in vivo . The basement membrane surface of HAM acts as a substratum for growing neurites of cultured chick ciliary ganglion motor neurons and of axotomized cholinergic medial septa1 neurons. The advantages of HAM include: (1) its availability in large quantities, (2) its easy manipulation prior to implantation, and (3) unlike fetal grafts, and the absence of ethical problems. Regardless of the exact mechanism underlying the growth observed, all animals with HAM implants show growth onto the HAM and into the previously denervated hippocampus. However, further studies are required to investigate the behavioral and electrophysiological recovery of function, and retrograde tracer studies to confirm the origin of the hippocampal fibers.
Characterization of Surfaces in Wear Tests

Models for the abrasive wear of polymers have identified several surface topography parameters which significantly influence the wear process: the average slope of the asperities, the peak curvature, the bearing area curve, and the autocorrelation length. Because the values of these parameters depend on the profile length and the reference used for the height data, there is no unique set of values for the parameters which describe a surface. For each surface which will be used in contact with another, the dimension of the contact area in the direction of sliding must be determined. The profile length should be set equal to this dimension.
Performance of DCE RPC

The report focuses on the performance of the Open Software Foundation's Distributed Computing Environment (OSF/DCE) remote procedure call (RPC). We test the performance of DCE RPC with no security over the connectionless datagram protocol on IBM RS/6000s running AIX 3.2.4 connected with 10 Mbps Ethernet, and report the round trip time and throughput as measures of the overall performance of DCE RPC. We also investigate the effect of using application level DCE threads for improving the throughput. Our experiments measure the average completion time of various steps of single inter-machine RPCs. The results tell us exactly where time is spent in DCE RPC. Not all RPC steps performed by the client, server, or the network contribute to the round trip time of the RPC; we show those that do contribute to the round trip time for RPCs with various data sizes. The close match between the sum of the completion times of these steps and the measured round trip time validates our measurements. The measurements provide the groundwork for modeling the performance of DCE RPC as part of a larger goal of developing performance models of distributed systems. >
DOD and NGOs in Haiti ‐ A Successful Partnership

The 2010 Haiti Earthquake was the deadliest single disaster in this Hemisphere, ever. International Aid Organizations and Governments rushed to assist the survivors. Among these, the US Department of Defense played a significant role. Alongside DoD however were a large number of NGO volunteers onboard the USNS Comfort hospital ship, which provided critical specialty skills. This partnership, DoD and NGOs, has already demonstrated significant benefit in lives saved and suffering mitigated. Various lessons learned are noted and recommendations for improvement in the way NGOs are sourced and integrated for these missions. However, the greatest benefit could be in future disaster response when synergies developed from combined training and exercises allow DoD and NGOs to respond seamlessly and effectively to another major disaster, together.
Digital Archiving: A FEDORA-based Infrastructure to Preserve Electronic Journal Articles, Summary of a Presentation by Ronald Jantz

Ronald Jantz, is Data Librarian at Rutgers University Libraries. He spends a good deal of time working on digital libraries, digital repositories and digital preservation. ...
Questions Related to Economic Growth

In this chapter, we shall turn our attention to economic growth.1 There are obviously a variety of ways that economic growth can be defined, but the definition that shall be used in this chapter is an increase in income per capita.
Boundary mixing in a small stratified lake

[1] Field measurements in a small stratified lake were conducted to investigate the existence of a turbulent benthic boundary layer on a uniform sloping boundary. High levels of energy dissipation at the sloping boundaries indicate energy is drained from the internal waves so that turbulent fluxes are driven above these boundaries. Although the transitional value of the turbulent Reynolds number of Ret > 15 has been used to assess the capacity of stratified flow to sustain turbulent fluxes, the laboratory and field data presented in this study reveal turbulence activity in the range of Ret > 1. A scaling analysis indicates the turbulent boundary layer thickness depends on four parameters: the dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy, the strength of stratification, the length of the sloping boundary, and the angle of inclination of the sloping boundary. A proposed model of the boundary layer thickness is in good agreement with the laboratory and field measurements.
Hans Reichenbach Remembered

Hans Reichenbach’s far-ranging and influential contributions to epistemology and the philosophy of science will be acknowledged and appraised in many contexts on the occasion of the one-hundredth anniversary of his birth. The following pages, however, are simply meant to record some personal recollections of Reichenbach as he affected one of his many students.
Accelerator waveform synthesis and longitudinal beam dynamics in a small induction recirculator

A recirculating induction accelerator requires accelerating waveforms that produce current amplification and provide bunch length control throughout the acceleration process. Current amplification occurs because of both an increase in the beam velocity and a shortening of the length of the beam bunch. The pulsed acceleration and control waveforms seen by the beam change as the pulse duration shortens. For one acceleration cycle of the small recirculator, each accelerating gap is driven by a burst of 15 pulses. As the beam gains velocity, the time interval between pulses shortens from approximately 20 to 10 /spl mu/sec. A zero-dimensional design code REC is used to develop the accelerator waveforms. An envelope/fluid code CIRCE and a 3-D particle code WARP3d are used to confirm the REC design and study the effects of errors. We find that acceleration errors can lead to space-charge waves launched at the bunch ends that strongly affect or even destroy the current pulse shape. The relation between the rate of longitudinal compression and the velocity of space charge waves is studied.
Repeat Sales as a Matching Estimator

The most common approaches for constructing house price indices—hedonic price functions and the repeat sales estimator—focus on changes over time in mean prices. Though the hedonic approach is less wasteful of data than the repeat sales estimator, it relies on an accurate specification of the underlying econometric model. I suggest using a matching estimator as an alternative to the hedonic and repeat sales approaches. Like the repeat sales approach, a matching estimator uses pairs of sales from different dates to estimate the mean difference in sales prices over time. The matching approach preserves much larger sample sizes than the repeat sales estimator while requiring less preimposed structure than the hedonic approach. The matching approach makes it easy to characterize changes in the full distribution of house prices.
Characterization of the mouse transforming growth factor-beta 1 promoter and activation by the Ha-ras oncogene.

Abstract We have cloned and sequenced a mouse genomic transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) DNA fragment that includes the 5' untranslated and regulatory regions of the gene. High-sequence homology with the human TGF-beta 1 gene (66% nucleotide identity in 2.7 kb of DNA upstream of the translational start site) suggested evolutionary conservation of transcriptional regulation for TGF-beta 1. The absence of TATA or CAAT box sequences but the presence of several Sp1-binding and AP-2-like sequences in the promoter region was noted, as previously reported for the human gene. Two transcriptional initiation sites separated by 290 bp were identified by S1 nuclease analysis; these corresponded to transcripts with 866 and 576 nucleotides of 5' untranslated leader sequence. S1 analysis of different mouse tissues indicated that the two transcripts were present in the same ratio even though the total level of TGF-beta 1 mRNA transcripts varied between tissues. Promoter activity adjacent to both transcriptional start sites was demonstrated by using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase fusion genes assayed in mouse AKR-2B fibroblast cells. Transcriptional activation of the promoter by the Ha-ras oncogene was also demonstrated. The minimal promoter constructs (113 and 104 bp 5' of the first and second transcriptional start sites, respectively) were sufficient for induction by Ha-ras. These studies characterize the 5' structure and basal promoter activity of the mouse TGF-beta 1 gene as well as the transcriptional activation of TGF-beta 1 by the Ha-ras oncogene.
THE EFFECTS OF OVERDOMINANCE ON LINKAGE IN A MULTILOCUS SYSTEM

Computer simulations were performed with overdominant multiple alleles among tightly linked multiple loci under a multiplicative fitness model. The quantity X2/N(n — 1) was introduced as a new measure of linkage disequilibrium which, unlike previously available measures, can be applied to multiple allele models, where N is the sample size, and n is the number of alleles at the locus possessing fewest alleles. Simulations showed that (1) With multiple (three or four) alleles, the approach to stable disequilibrium is slower and the amount of disequilibrium established is weaker than in a two allele system. (2) The number of complementary chromosomes is a function of number of alleles and of population size. (3) As population size increases, the rate of the approach to stable disequilibrium is slower. (4) There is an optimum selection coefficient which minimizes the transient fixation probability of alleles when linkage is present. (5) The absence of linkage disequilibrium is in most cases not a practical method of testing the hypothesis of balancing selection of genetic polymorphisms because it depends strongly on population size in determining linkage disequilibria.
Authors’ Reply: Commentaries on Wood & Eagly’s (2015) “Two Traditions of Research on Gender Identity”

We are pleased that the thoughtful commentaries on Wood and Eagly’s (2015) review accepted our distinction between gender identity research involving personality traits and research involving self-categorization into female or male groups. Although Schmader and Block (2015) argued that self-categorization is the clearer, more fundamental approach, we maintain instead that gender identities encompass both explicit categorization of self and the less explicit endorsement of gender-typical traits. In essence, the trait and categorization analyses are two sides of the same gender identity coin. We also largely agree with Keener’s (2015) and Mehta’s (2015) illustrations of the highly multidimensional and contextualized nature of gender identity.
An occult finding in heparin drip order set

AbstractBackground: In 1998, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) noted that the American healthcare system had many problems. A major concern was the pervasiveness of medical errors. Electronic medical records (EMR) were introduced for myriad of reasons, one being to reduce these errors. Within the EMR, order sets have been shown to reduce variation in clinical practice and improve the quality of care. However, the lack of standardization in these sets enables peculiar orders, such as fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the heparin drip order set at our hospital, to be surprisingly included. Our study was conducted to evaluate the consequences associated with having FOBT in this order set. Methods: A retrospective study of 898 adult hospitalized patients over a 6-month period, who had a heparin drip ordered at a single academic center, was conducted. The main focus of our study was the 130 patients for whom the FOBT was sent. Results: Fifteen percent (n = 130) of patients started on IV heparin had FOBT sent, of...
Effects of cystine or glutamine restriction on human diploid fibroblasts in culture

Amino-acid restriction was studied using a strain of human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) isolated from fetal skin. HDF populations were maintained at reduced proliferation rates by lowering cystine or glutamine concentrations of Eagle's MEM. Effects of this treatment on mean cell diameters, total cell protein and specific activity of acid phosphatase were assessed. Threshold levels of cystine required for maintenance were found to be markedly influenced by type and/or batch of serum used irrespective of their free cystine content. A 96-hr exposure of passage 25 cells to medium 0.01 or 0.005mm in cystine resulted in an increased mean cell diameter and a greater heterogeneity of cell size. This was accompanied by an increase in the total cellular protein. A 48-hr exposure, followed by return to control serial cultivation, induced persistent change in mean cell diameter without affecting the total life span (49 passages over 165 days). The mean size of untreated cells increased with serial passage reaching a size similar to treated cells only at passage 44. Acid-phosphatase specific activities were higher in cells maintained under conditions restrictive in cystine. None of the above changes were observed when glutamine concentrations were reduced to 0.0025mm, a level required to inhibit division rates. The possible relevance of these findings to the phenomenon of in vitro cell senescence is discussed.
Concentration Distribution in a Turbulent Shear Flow

Abstract This paper describes a diffusion model for a flow with uniform shear in which the diffusivity tensors are expressed in terms of the statistical correlation tensor of the Lagrangian velocity field by extending Riley and Corrsin's study (1974). The solution of the diffusion equation with these diffusivity tensors cab be expressed as a multinormal distribution function. The asymptotic behavior of the Lagrangian quantities allows the dispersion tensor to be related to the Eulerian turbulent quantities. With these simplifications, the average concentration distribution for intermediate and long times can be predicted. Comparison with laboratory data from a continuous point source in a simulated atmospheric surface layer is found to be favorable.
Moving Beyond Genome-Wide Association Studies

The sequencing of the human genome1 and the subsequent completion of the human haplotype mapping (HapMap) project2 have led to unparalleled research into the structure and biology of the genome. These milestones held the promise of revolutionizing our understanding of the genetic basis for human disease, with the hope that population research would quickly lead to improved screening and diagnosis, along with targeted medical treatment. The advent of new genotyping technology and collaborative scientific efforts allowed for extensive scans across the genome to uncover genetic associations with various complex diseases and traits using genome-wide association (GWA) studies. At the end of 2010, the catalogue of published GWA studies compiled by the National Human Genome Research Institute (www.genome.gov/gwastudies) listed more than 700 published GWA studies and associations with nearly 4000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), providing new insights into the genetic architecture underlying disease.3 For the most part, however, the identified variants explain a relatively small proportion of the overall genetic variance of a given trait or disease,4 and the promise of a revolution in disease risk prediction and personalized genomic medicine has not yet been realized. Instead, what has occurred has been a revolution in biology rather than clinical medicine. Genetic studies have revealed a much greater complexity underlying the genomic basis for disease than scientists originally hypothesized. To maximize our understanding of these new biological mechanisms that may lead to advancements in the science of medicine, there is a need to follow up on GWA studies using multiple experimental methods and techniques with collaboration between different scientific disciplines. Many significant associations discovered by GWA studies have not been within previously known candidate genes, thus identifying critical gaps in our knowledge and providing new clues to the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, when it comes to …
Breast papillomas with atypical ductal hyperplasia: a clinicopathologic study

Breast papillomas with areas of atypical proliferation reminiscent of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) are rare, but pose considerable diagnostic difficulty when encountered. The clinicopathologic features of 20 women 27 to 78 years of age with papillomas having atypical proliferations are reviewed. They presented with palpable masses or nipple discharge. Histologically, parts of all lesions had features of papillomas with a biphasic proliferation of benign epithelial cells and myoepithelial (ME) cells. Part of the lesion in each papilloma also had an expansile proliferation of larger uniform cells having evenly spaced, round nuclei and a solid to subtle cribriform growth pattern, similar to ADH or DCIS. These lesions tended to be large, complex or multiple. Twelve patients had 4 to 20 years of follow-up after biopsy only. One each had concurrent and previous contralateral breast carcinoma. Two developed invasive carcinoma of the contralateral breast in 15 and 18 years, respectively. Two developed DCIS on the same side in 2 and 8 years. Six had recurrent papillomas with (5) or without (1) ADH in 1 to 7 years all of whom had no further problems. Only 3 of 12 patients are event free. In contrast, only 8 recurrent papillomas, and 1 ipsilateral invasive carcinoma and 2 contralateral carcinomas occurred in 60 patients with papillomas without ADH in 4 to 18 years. Thus, the patients having ADH within papillomas seem to have greater likelihood of subsequent disease such as recurrences or overt neoplasia, but the length of follow-up and number of patients are not large enough to provide definitive answers. Because none of the patients developed invasive carcinoma on the same side, conservative management with close observation similar to that following a diagnosis of ADH seems to be appropriate.
A Statistical Prediction Interval for Availability

A statistical prediction interval and predictor are presented for the availability of a repairable unit during future failure and repair cycles where there are data from previous cycles. These results are based on the assumption that times to failure and times to repair are all statistically independent and exponentially distributed.
Abstract LB-246: Recurrent inactivating mutations in SPOP define a molecular subset of prostate cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Considerable evidence exists that prostate cancer is driven by cardinal genetic alterations that activate oncogenes and inactivate tumor suppressors. Recently, recurrent fusions involving members of the ETS transcription factor family have been implicated in the majority of prostate cancer. In addition, several studies have shown that prostate cancers can be classified by genome-wide analysis of somatic copy-number aberration, or transcriptome-wide analysis of gene expression profiles. These discoveries raise the possibility that prostate cancer may soon transition from a poorly understood, clinically heterogeneous disease to a collection of homogenous subtypes identifiable by molecular criteria. However, the limited number of known driver alterations in prostate cancer currently limits this effort. Here, we report the presence of recurrent mutations in human prostate cancer in SPOP, the substrate-recognition component of an E3-ubiquitin ligase. Recurrent missense mutations in SPOP were discovered by whole genome DNA sequencing (DNA-seq) and whole transcription RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). SPOP mutations were found in approximately 10% of prostate cancers in multiple independent patient cohorts. All mutations were heterozygous, and were found exclusively in the structurally-defined substrate-binding cleft of SPOP. Structural analysis suggests that these mutations inactivate SPOP function by disrupting SPOP-substrate interaction, and loss of SPOP function in prostate cell lines resulted in increased invasion. Prostate cancers harboring SPOP mutations displayed characteristic somatic genomic aberrations. However, all tumors with SPOP mutations lacked both ERG rearrangement and deletion of PTEN, two of the most common genetic alterations in human prostate cancer. We conclude from these results that recurrent mutations in SPOP define a distinct molecular subclass of prostate cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-246. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-246
Pediatric inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression and prognosis.

Background Pediatric inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is rare, with unpredictable clinical behavior. Recently, it has been associated with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression. Methods Patients under age 16, treated for IMT between 1976 and 2000 were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 8 years (range 1 month–22 years). Results Eight children had IMT, with a mean age of 6 years (range, 11 months–14 years) and female to male ratio of 3:1. Tumor location was lung (four patients), abdomen (two patients), lung and abdomen (one patient), and abdomen, head, and neck (one patient). Presenting symptoms included anemia (seven patients), fever (six patients), and dyspnea (four patients). Laboratory results included thrombocytosis (six patients), hypergammaglobulinemia (four patients), elevated sedimentation rate (four patients), and leukocytosis (three patients). Immunohistochemistry revealed ALK expression in four of eight tumors. Four children had complete resection and are alive. Two of these children had ALK-positive tumors. Four patients had incomplete resection, and two had recurrences treated successfully with resection and radiotherapy; the other two died of disease. For the incomplete resection patients, those that were ALK-positive lived, and those that were ALK-negative did not. Conclusions Eight children were treated for IMT over a 15-year period. ALK expression was found in half the tumors. Prognosis was improved with ALK expression and complete surgical resection. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Civil Society and Peace Negotiations: Confronting Exclusion

The fact that civil society groups play important roles in post-conflict peacebuilding has entered the mainstream of international conflict resolution dogma. Rarely do local civil society groups get a seat at the negotiation table for peace accords. Although the exclusion of civil society from peace negotiations may streamline the process, the absence of civil society voices and interests at the negotiating table can negatively impact the sustainability of a peace agreement during peacebuilding. Surveying a wide variety of different peace processes, a strong correlation was found between active civil society participation in peace negotiations and the durability of peace during the peacebuilding phase. Cases in which civil society groups actively engaged in peace negotiations seemed to enjoy more sustained peace in the peacebuilding phase. This holds true also for cases in which civil society groups did not have a direct seat at the table, but did exercise significant influence with the negotiators because they were democratic actors. War resumed in many cases not characterized by direct or indirect civil society involvement in the peace negotiations. No claim of causality is made; the sustainability of peace surely rests on causes as complex and dynamic as the initiation of war does. However, these findings do call attention to the need for further research to understand the special impact that civil society inclusion at the peace table may have.
Children with dyslexia: Not necessarily at risk for elevated internalizing symptoms

The risk for internalizing disorders in children with learning disabilities is frequently debated in the research community and empirical responses are equivocal. For educators and clinicians, the frequent assumption is that children with dyslexia also have at least subtle emotional problems. In this study, school-age children with reading problems and their siblings (N ¼ 79) were referred for neuropsychological evaluation. As part of the assessment process, parents, teachers, and the child were asked to rate the child's level of internalizing symptoms on several behavior rating scales. Results from analyses of the data, using both discrepancy and reading cut scores for diagnosis of dyslexia, suggest that children with dyslexia are not at elevated risk for behaviors related to anxiety, depression, and somatization. Additionally, chil- dren at the lowest end of the reading distribution were no more likely to have signifi- cant internalizing symptoms than children with less impaired reading.
Postnatal maturation of GABAergic transmission in the rat basolateral amygdala.

Many psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and autism spectrum disorders, have early ages of onset and high incidence in juveniles. To better treat and prevent these disorders, it is important to first understand normal development of brain circuits that process emotion. Healthy and maladaptive emotional processing involve the basolateral amygdala (BLA), dysfunction of which has been implicated in numerous psychiatric disorders. Normal function of the adult BLA relies on a fine balance of glutamatergic excitation and GABAergic inhibition. Elsewhere in the brain GABAergic transmission changes throughout development, but little is known about the maturation of GABAergic transmission in the BLA. Here we used whole cell patch-clamp recording and single-cell RT-PCR to study GABAergic transmission in rat BLA principal neurons at postnatal day (P)7, P14, P21, P28, and P35. GABAA currents exhibited a significant twofold reduction in rise time and nearly 25% reduction in decay time constant between P7 and P28. This corresponded with a shift in expression of GABAA receptor subunit mRNA from the α2- to the α1-subunit. The reversal potential for GABAA receptors transitioned from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing with age, from around −55 mV at P7 to −70 mV by P21. There was a corresponding shift in expression of opposing chloride pumps that influence the reversal, from NKCC1 to KCC2. Finally, we observed short-term depression of GABAA postsynaptic currents in immature neurons that was significantly and gradually abolished by P28. These findings reveal that in the developing BLA GABAergic transmission is highly dynamic, reaching maturity at the end of the first postnatal month.
Protein, lipid and glycogen stores in newly-hatched turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) poults as affected by post-hatch stressors and holding time

Abstract The effects of post-hatch Stressors (commercial hatchery services which included cloacal inspection to determine sex, snood removal, and beak and toe trimming) and length of holding without feed or water (24 or 48 hr) on carcass and yolk sac contents of moisture, protein, and lipid in turkey poults were studied. In a separate experiment, the effects of the above Stressors and holding (48 hr) on carcass glycogen were measured. Both Stressors and holding reduced carcass weight and absolute moisture content. The per cent carcass moisture declined with holding in stressed but not in non-stressed poults. Stressors lowered the absolute amount of carcass protein but not carcass lipid. Holding lowered absolute amounts of both carcass protein and lipid. Stressors had no effect on absolute amounts of nutrients in yolk. Yolk weight and total protein, lipid, and moisture declined with holding, but the changes were such that percentage moisture was higher at 48 hr. Both glycogen concentration and total glycogen in carcass declined with 48 hr holding, but Stressors were without effect.