cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The case for an outpatient “approach” for all pediatric tonsillectomies and/or adenoidectomies: A 4-year review of 1419 cases at a community hospital

Abstract Objective: We sought to document the safety and efficacy of approaching all pediatric tonsillectomies and/or adenoidectomies (T/A) as outpatient procedures. Study Design and Setting: We conducted a 4-year retrospective study of 1419 pediatric patients undergoing T/A at an outpatient center with procedures performed by a single group of surgeons. Results: None of the 593 patients undergoing an adenoidectomy and only 5 (0.6%) of those having a tonsillectomy had significant bleeding postoperatively. There were no readmissions for airway problems. Children younger than age 3 were most likely to have complications and to be held for overnight observations. Conclusions: Most children can be safely discharged after T/A. The higher incidence of perioperative complications in children who are younger than 3 years of age paralleled their higher rate of overnight observation. Significance: Children less than 3 years of age require more careful observation, especially after tonsillectomy and more likely will need to be observed overnight than older children. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;127:101-108.)
Position-Based Scanning for Comparative Genomics and Identification of Genetic Islands in Haemophilus influenzae Type b

Bacteria exhibit extensive genetic heterogeneity within species. In many cases, these differences account for virulence properties unique to specific strains. Several such loci have been discovered in the genome of the type b serotype of Haemophilus influenzae, a human pathogen able to cause meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia. Here we report application of a PCR-based scanning procedure to compare the genome of a virulent type b (Hib) strain with that of the laboratory-passaged Rd KW20 strain for which a complete genome sequence is available. We have identified seven DNA segments or H. influenzae genetic islands (HiGIs) present in the type b genome and absent from the Rd genome. These segments vary in size and content and show signs of horizontal gene transfer in that their percent G+C content differs from that of the rest of the H. influenzae genome, they contain genes similar to those found on phages or other mobile elements, or they are flanked by DNA repeats. Several of these loci represent potential pathogenicity islands, because they contain genes likely to mediate interactions with the host. These newly identified genetic islands provide areas of investigation into both the evolution and pathogenesis of H. influenzae. In addition, the genome scanning approach developed to identify these islands provides a rapid means to compare the genomes of phenotypically diverse bacterial strains once the genome sequence of one representative strain has been determined.
The interactive effects of mother's scholling and unsupplemented breastfeeding on child health

Abstract This paper estimates a non-linear relationship between duration of breastfeeding and child height-for-age. For this sample of children, health benefits from unsupplemented breastfeeding differ by mother's education, with children of less educated mothers deriving the most gains. These results suggest that more educated mothers are able to provide wholesome substitutes to breastmilk without producing ill effects. Results are sensitive to the estimation technique used, with 2SLS estimates showing statistical significance and substantial health gains compared to OLS estimates.
Isolation and characterization of revertant cell lines. 3. Isolation of density-revertants of SV40-transformed 3T3 cells using colchicine

Treatment of the SV40 transformed 3T3 cell line SV101 with colchicine permits the isolation of polyploid revertant sublines Which have lower saturation densities than SV101. These low saturation density lines have also reverted to a high serum requirement for growth, and are unable to form colonies in methocel. Normal SV40 has been recovered from these revertants. 3T3 cells are more resistant to colchicine than SV3T3 cells at all cell densities. Colchicine revertants do not display a 3T3-like resistance to colchicine at low density, but do survive colchicine at confluent cell densities, presumably due to their increased contact inhibition.
An experimental study using sodium salicylate to reduce cochlear changes induced by furosemide.

Furosemide is a loop diuretic which has been found to be ototoxic in humans and experimental animals. The ototoxic effects seem to be directed primarily towards the stria vascularis, since its shrinkage and extracellular edema have been observed in correlation with electrophysiologic changes. The present study was designed to examine the interaction of sodium salicylate and furosemide on the cochlear microstructures. Chinchillas weighing 400–600 g were used in all tests performed. The endocochlear potential (EP) was monitored continuously through a microelectrode inserted through the basilar membrane. A control group of animals was injected with 0.5 ml saline intravenously (IV) 30 min before 25 mg/kg furosemide was given. The experimental group of animals was injected with 50 mg/kg sodium salicylate IV 30 min before 25 mg/kg furosemide. The control animals were found to have a mean decrease in EP of 61.1 ±7.0 mV. In contrast, the experimental group had very little alteration of the EP following furosemide injection (18.7±3.9 mV). These findings suggest that sodium salicylate markedly reduces the ototoxic effect of furosemide. This effect may be mediated by an alteration of local or systemic prostaglandin metabolism, or may be due to inhibition of organic acid uptake in the cochlea.
Experimental and Computational Study of the ZnnSn and ZnnSn+ Clusters

Zinc sulfide clusters produced by direct laser ablation and analyzed in a time-of-flight mass-spectrometer, showed evidence that clusters composed of 3, 6, and 13 monomer units were ultrastable. The geometry and energies of neutral and positively charged ZnnSn clusters, up to n = 16, were obtained computationally at the B3LYP/6-311+G* level of theory with the assistance of an algorithm to generate all possible structures having predefined constraints. Small neutral and positive clusters were found to have planar geometries, neutral three-dimensional clusters have the geometry of closed-cage polyhedra, and cationic three-dimensional clusters have structures with a pair of two-coordinated atoms. Physical properties of the clusters as a function of size are reported. The relative stability of the positive stoichiometric clusters provides a thermodynamic rationale for the experimental results.
Contribution of Collagen Fiber Undulation to Regional Biomechanical Properties Along Porcine Thoracic Aorta

As major extracellular matrix components, elastin, and collagen play crucial roles in regulating the mechanical properties of the aortic wall and, thus, the normal cardiovascular function. The mechanical properties of aorta, known to vary with age and multitude of diseases as well as the proximity to the heart, have been attributed to the variations in the content and architecture of wall constituents. This study is focused on the role of layer-specific collagen undulation in the variation of mechanical properties along the porcine descending thoracic aorta. Planar biaxial tensile tests are performed to characterize the hyperelastic anisotropic mechanical behavior of tissues dissected from four locations along the thoracic aorta. Multiphoton microscopy is used to image the associated regional microstructure. Exponential-based and recruitment-based constitutive models are used to account for the observed mechanical behavior while considering the aortic wall as a composite of two layers with independent properties. An elevated stiffness is observed in distal regions compared to proximal regions of thoracic aorta, consistent with sharper and earlier collagen recruitment estimated for medial and adventitial layers in the models. Multiphoton images further support our prediction that higher stiffness in distal regions is associated with less undulation in collagen fibers. Recruitment-based models further reveal that regardless of the location, collagen in the media is recruited from the onset of stretching, whereas adventitial collagen starts to engage with a delay. A parameter sensitivity analysis is performed to discriminate between the models in terms of the confidence in the estimated model parameters.
Metabolism of anabolic steroids and their relevance to drug detection in horseracing

The fight against doping in sport using analytical chemistry is a mature area with a history of approximately 100 years in horseracing. In common with human sport, anabolic/androgenic steroids (AASs) are an important group of potential doping agents. Particular issues with their detection are extensive metabolism including both phase I and phase II. A number of the common AASs are also endogenous to the equine. A further issue is the large number of synthetic steroids produced as pharmaceutical products or as 'designer' drugs intended to avoid detection or for the human supplement market. An understanding of the metabolism of AASs is vital to the development of effective detection methods for equine sport. The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge of the metabolism of appropriate steroids, the current approaches to their detection in equine sport and future trends that may affect equine dope testing.
Design of a tunable inductor for applications of contactless couplers

This paper presents a systematic methodology to design a tunable inductor for potential applications of contactless couplers. The design applies the Ansoft software tool HFSS (High Frequency Structure Simulator) in conjunction with Microsoft Visual C++ programming to optimize an inductor's dimensions, e.g., number of trace turns, diameter of the wire, and diameter of the ferrite core. The proposed methodology was successfully applied to design a 200nH inductor at the frequency of 300 MHz.
Uncertainty in Structural Engineering

Structural engineering design is replete with uncertainties, some of which are obvious and some of which many engineers may never have considered. This paper is an examination of the uncertainties facing structural engineers and the ways that engineers have developed to handle those uncertainties. Uncertainty can be separated into two categories: Aleatory, related to luck or chance, and epistemic, related to knowledge. This breakdown has an impact on how we handle the various types of uncertainty. Uncertainty has a range of sources; we consider five broad sources: time, statistical limits, model limits, randomness, and human error. These five sources will be examined using examples from structural engineering, particularly with respect to the allowable stress design and LRFD code formats. Some uncertainties are explicitly dealt with in design codes, some are dealt with through quality control measures, and some are dealt with in implicit ways that we often do not think much about, e.g., heuristics. Design codes can deal with uncertainties caused by randomness, statistical limits, some aspects of time, and modeling. Other uncertainties such as human error must be dealt with using quality control methods, such as peer reviews and construction inspection.
Prognosis in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma.

Survival data on 78 children with rhabdomyosarcoma indicated that age, histology, primary site, extent of disease, and treatment each had a significant influence on prognosis. The best survival occurred in patients with sarcoma botryoides, the poorest with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and the intermediate with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Tumors of the orbit had the best prognosis and tumors of other structures of the head and neck had the worst prognosis. Children under 7 years of age had better survival curves than those older than 7 years. The median duration of survival for the entire group was 19.2 months (5-year survival rate of 35%). The median duration of survival among 54 children with localized disease was 53.3 months; none of the 24 children with extensive or metastatic disease at diagnosis survived as long as 30 months.
Conservation of Expression and N-Terminal Sequences of the Pasteurella haemolytica 31-Kilodalton and Pasteurella trehalosi 29-Kilodalton Periplasmic Iron-Regulated Proteins

This study examined the conservation of expression of a 31-kDa iron-regulated protein by serotypes of Pasteurella haemolytica and Pasteurella trehalosi associated with pasteurellosis of cattle and sheep. A polyclonal antibody prepared against the purified 31-kDa periplasmic iron-regulated protein from P. haemolytica serotype A1 showed that all P. haemolytica serotypes expressed similar 31-kDa proteins with identical N-terminal sequences, whereas P. trehalosi serotypes expressed immunologically different 29-kDa proteins with a different N-terminal sequence. Antibody to the 31-kDa iron-regulated protein was a useful tool to distinguish similarities and differences of the iron-regulated proteins of P. haemolytica and P. trehalosi.
On the use of propensity scores in principal causal effect estimation

We examine the practicality of propensity score methods for estimating causal treatment effects conditional on intermediate posttreatment outcomes (principal effects) in the context of randomized experiments. In particular, we focus on the sensitivity of principal causal effect estimates to violation of principal ignorability, which is the primary assumption that underlies the use of propensity score methods to estimate principal effects. Under principal ignorability (PI), principal strata membership is conditionally independent of the potential outcome under control given the pre-treatment covariates; i.e. there are no differences in the potential outcomes under control across principal strata given the observed pretreatment covariates. Under this assumption, principal scores modeling principal strata membership can be estimated based solely on the observed covariates and used to predict strata membership and estimate principal effects. While this assumption underlies the use of propensity scores in this setting, sensitivity to violations of it has not been studied rigorously. In this paper, we explicitly define PI using the outcome model (although we do not actually use this outcome model in estimating principal scores) and systematically examine how deviations from the assumption affect estimates, including how the strength of association between principal stratum membership and covariates modifies the performance. We find that when PI is violated, very strong covariate predictors of stratum membership are needed to yield accurate estimates of principal effects.
In Vivo Monitoring of Natural Killer Cell Trafficking during Tumor Immunotherapy

Natural killer (NK) cells are a crucial part of the innate immune system and play critical roles in host anti-viral, anti-microbial, and anti-tumor responses. The elucidation of NK cell biology and their therapeutic use are actively being pursued with 200 clinical trials currently underway. In this review, we outline the role of NK cells in cancer immunotherapies and summarize current noninvasive imaging technologies used to track NK cells in vivo to investigate mechanisms of action, develop new therapies, and evaluate efficacy of adoptive transfer.
Dealing with Difficulties in Transjugular Kimray-Greenfield Filter Insertion — Case Histories:

Problems in placement of the Kimray-Greenfield inferior vena cava filter are best averted by taking a venacavogram before attempts at insertion and by using an intravascular retrieval basket for the difficult to move, difficult to place, or misplaced filter.
Bringing smiles to faces: Evidence-based guidelines for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder and the third most common muscular dystrophy after Duchenne dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy. The FSHD Guideline addresses the diagnosis, evaluation and management of FSHD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Using the Wii Fit as a tool for balance assessment and neurorehabilitation: the first half decade of “Wii-search”

The Nintendo Wii Fit was released just over five years ago as a means of improving basic fitness and overall well-being. Despite this broad mission, the Wii Fit has generated specific interest in the domain of neurorehabilitation as a biobehavioral measurement and training device for balance ability. Growing interest in Wii Fit technology is likely due to the ubiquitous nature of poor balance and catastrophic falls, which are commonly seen in older adults and various disability conditions. The present review provides the first comprehensive summary of Wii Fit balance research, giving specific insight into the system’s use for the assessment and training of balance. Overall, at the time of the fifth anniversary, work in the field showed that custom applications using the Wii Balance Board as a proxy for a force platform have great promise as a low cost and portable way to assess balance. On the other hand, use of Wii Fit software-based balance metrics has been far less effective in determining balance status. As an intervention tool, positive balance outcomes have typically been obtained using Wii Fit balance games, advocating their use for neurorehabilitative training. Despite this, limited sample sizes and few randomized control designs indicate that research regarding use of the Wii Fit system for balance intervention remains subject to improvement. Future work aimed at conducting studies with larger scale randomized control designs and a greater mechanistic focus is recommended to further advance the efficacy of this impactful neurorehabilitation tool.
Effect of Selected Movement Skills on Positive Self-Concept

36 boys and 36 girls in 4 fourth grades were exposed to basketball movement conditions which included the skills of dribble, chest pass, lay-up, pivot, guarding, and two-hand set shot. Eight 1/2-hr. treatment periods were spread evenly over 4 wk. and took place within the regularly assigned school physical education period. Two class groups, which included 9 boys and 9 girls each, were randomly assigned by class to an experimental group which received treatment while two class groups were assigned by class to the control group. No differences between changes in self-concept as estimated by the Piers-Harris scale for treatment and control conditions were significant.
Interactive deformable registration visualization and analysis of 4D computed tomography

This paper presents a new interactive method for analyzing 4D Computed Tomography (4DCT) datasets for patient care and research. Deformable registration algorithms are commonly used to observe the trajectories of individual voxels from one respiratory phase to another. Our system provides users with the capability to visualize these trajectories while simultaneously rendering anatomical volumes, which can greatly improve the accuracy of deformable registration.
Romania by Taxi. A Play.

A Romanian writer and professor now a US citizen returns with her son to her native country on a fellowhsip after many years, in the mid 2000s. This article was submitted to the European Journal of Life Writing on 6 January 2015 and published on 15 December 2015.
Congressional De-Authorization of War and the Presidential Veto: 'The Catch-22 of the Iraq War'

There are some who continue to believe that Congress can recapture its war power by refusing to pass future supplemental appropriations to support the war but such a view is pure fantasy if we simply go on as we have and conclude that the President is the 'decider' because Congress has given to the President the authority to be the 'decider' on the question of war and peace. The power of the purse is not likely to be effective as a limit on the Chief Executive so long as he is exercising his duty to 'enforce law.' The other tried but failed alternative of enactment of supplemental appropriations with a legislative rider calling for a date certain for the recall of all troops from Iraq is also highly problematic. The problem is that the President has vetoed the legislation and there is no two-thirds majority needed to override. Even if Congress could override a presidential veto the President is still not likely to go along with it; he will argue that he alone has the authority to determine how troops should be deployed during war. It is the presidential claim to apparent constitutional authority to wage war that ultimately ties the hands of Congress on the war. Appropriation measures are an indirect means for expressing disapproval of a war because it sends a misleading and potentially damaging message - Congress doesn't want to support the troops, but it is unwilling to stop the war. It would be better if Congress faced up to its constitutional responsibility it ducked when it authorized the war in 2002. Indeed, forthright action of by Congress on the war issue might galvanize public opinion in support of congressional action. The question that has been ignored but until now is whether the 2002 AUMF that purported to give President Bush the power to start a war against Iraq was a legally effective authorization. This Article seeks to make a contribution to the war powers debate by expanding on an argument once made by the late John Hart Ely for support of the view that the 2002 AUMF fails to satisfy the constitutional test for a valid war authorization.
Abstract 440: Wnt signaling regulates neuropilin-2 (NRP2) expression and contributes to cancer cell invasiveness in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)

Progression to CRPC represents a major challenge for treatment of advanced PCa. However, underlying mechanisms of this process remain largely unknown. We found that androgen deprivation in mice bearing PCa patient-derived tumors and in PCa LNCaP cells resulted in increased expression of wnt transcriptional factors: TCF4 and LEF1, as well as c-myc and NRP2. Using GenBank and MatInspector software, we identified five potential binding sites for TCF4 in the 5′ flanking promoter region spanning from –3891 to +108 base pairs of the NRP2 gene. Treatment of LNCaP cells with Wnt3a and Wnt 5a conditioned medium increased NRP2 mRNA expression; and inhibition of Wnt signaling by overexpression of secreted Wnt antagonists (WIF1 and Frzb/sFRP3) in two CRPC cell lines: C4-2B and PC3 down-regulated the expression of NRP2 in both in vitro cell cultures and in in vivo xenograft tumors. Chromatin immunoprecipitation/real-time PCR a! nalysis revealed that both WIF1 and Frzb/sFRP3 expression decreased the in vivo binding of TCF4 and beta-catenin to the NRP2 promoter at five predicted sites. Knock-down of NRP2 by short-hairpin RNA in CRPC cell lines markedly reduced cellular invasiveness and migration capacity. Furthermore, we analyzed gene microarray data sets from the UCI SPECS project. The total of 204 samples from 82 patients include 66 tumors, 65 tumor-adjacent stromas, 28 far stromas and 45 normal prostate samples. The mRNA expression levels of the genes of interest were normalized to the average expression levels of these genes from the normal prostate samples. We showed that the percentage of samples with WIF1 down-regulation progressively increased from far stroma to adjacent stroma and tumors. Strikingly, the levels of NRP2 mRNA are up-regulated in all tested adjacent stroma and most of tumor samples. Furthermore, the expression levels of NRP2 in far and adjacent stroma and tumors are inversely related to WIF1 mRNA levels (correlation coefficients are –0.6918, –0. 2349 and –0.5931; Ps Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 440. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-440
Mediated and moderated effects of neurocognitive impairment on outcomes of treatment for substance dependence and major depression.

Author(s): Worley, Matthew J; Tate, Susan R; Granholm, Eric; Brown, Sandra A | Abstract: ObjectiveNeurocognitive impairment has not consistently predicted substance use treatment outcomes but has been linked to proximal mediators of outcome. These indirect effects have not been examined in adults with substance dependence and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. We examined mediators and moderators of the effects of neurocognitive impairment on substance use among adults in treatment for alcohol or drug dependence and major depression (MDD).MethodParticipants were veterans (N = 197, mean age = 49.3 years, 90% male, 75% Caucasian) in a trial of 2 group interventions for alcohol/drug dependence and MDD. Measures examined here included intake neurocognitive assessments and percent days drinking (PDD), percent days using drugs (PDDRG), self-efficacy, 12-step affiliation, and depressive symptoms measured every 3 months from intake to the 18-month follow-up.ResultsGreater intake neurocognitive impairment predicted lower self-efficacy, lower 12-step affiliation, and greater depression severity, and these time-varying variables mediated the effects of impairment on future PDD and PDDRG. The prospective effects of 12-step affiliation on future PDD were greater for those with greater neurocognitive impairment. Impairment also interacted with depression to moderate the effects of 12-step affiliation and self-efficacy on PDD. Adults with greater impairment and currently severe depression had the strongest associations between 12-step affiliation/self-efficacy and future drinking.ConclusionsGreater neurocognitive impairment may lead to poorer outcomes from group therapy for alcohol/drug dependence and MDD due to compromised change in therapeutic processes. Distal factors such as neurocognitive impairment can interact with dynamic risk factors to modulate the association between therapeutic processes and future drinking outcomes.
EPIC: NPSE Analysis of Hypersonic Crossflow Instability on Yawed Straight Circular Cone

The purpose of this paper is to provide nonlinear parabolized stability equation (NPSE) analysis of stationary crossflow vortices within a hypersonic boundary layer. EPIC is a new NPSE capability developed within the Computational Stability and Transition Laboratory at Texas A&M. Results for the 7 half-angle straight cone geometry at 6 angle of attack are presented in this paper. Comparisons with the experimental results of Craig & Saric (2014) in the Texas A&M Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel are provided. Techniques for modeling stationary crossflow vortex paths and the evolution of spanwise wavenumber derived solely from the basic state solution are presented and verified via the DNS solution of Balakumar & Owens (2010).
Fusion of depth, skeleton, and inertial data for human action recognition

This paper presents a human action recognition approach by the simultaneous deployment of a second generation Kinect depth sensor and a wearable inertial sensor. Three data modalities consisting of depth images, skeleton joint positions, and inertial signals are fused by utilizing three collaborative representation classifiers. A database consisting of 10 actions performed by 6 subjects is put together to carry out two types of testing of the developed fusion approach: subject-generic and subject-specific. The overall recognition rates obtained from both types of testing indicate recognition improvements when fusing all the data modalities compared to the situations when data modalities are used individually.
Tifinagh and consonantal writing systems

Gelb (1963) famously claimed that the seemingly consonantal West Semitic script is a syllabary with CV signs in which the vowel is unspecified (or zero). Others have argued for a more straightforward approach that assumes consonants directly, but both approaches are empirically adequate for Semitic. The Tifinagh script for Tuareg shows more definitively that individual signs in a script can truly denote just consonants, since an initial vowel is unwritten even when that vowel constitutes the entire syllable. The script is further sensitive to the contextual realization of a high vocoid as a vowel or glide.
Analysis between simulation and measurement of commissioning tests on UHV system

Series of commissioning tests are needed before UHV transmission system putting into operation. In this paper, with the characteristics of Huainan-Shanghai 1000kV transmission system, electromagnetic transient simulation results and experimental data portion commissioning tests were compared and analyzed. Three typical experiments were studied, including the switching capacitor of low-voltage side test, artificial single-phase transient short-circuit ground test, closing no-load transformer. In conclusion, preliminary research works on electromagnetic transient predicted over-voltage and over-current during the test. The above work ensured the safety commissioning. Through comparison and analysis between the measured data and simulated data, the simulation results were consistent with and actual values.
Abstract LB-060: A phosphoproteomic comparison of BRAF(V600E) and MKK1/2 inhibition in melanoma

Inhibitors of oncogenic B-RAF(V600E) and MKK1/2 have yielded remarkable responses in B-RAF(V600E)-positive melanoma patients. However, the efficacy of these inhibitors is limited by the inevitable onset of resistance. Despite the fact that these inhibitors target the same pathway, combination treatment with B-RAF(V600E) and MKK1/2 inhibitors has been shown to improve both response rates and progression-free survival in B-RAF(V600E) melanoma patients. To provide insight into the molecular nature of the combinatorial response, we used quantitative mass spectrometry to characterize the inhibitor-dependent phosphoproteome of human melanoma cells treated with the B-RAF(V600E) inhibitor PLX4032 (vemurafenib) or the MKK1/2 inhibitor AZD6244 (selumetinib). In three replicate experiments, we quantified changes at a total of 23,986 phosphosites on 4,722 proteins. This included 1,317 phosphosites that reproducibly decreased in response to at least one inhibitor. Phosphosites that responded to both inhibitors grouped into networks that included the nuclear pore complex, growth factor signaling, and transcriptional regulators. While the majority of phosphosites were responsive to both inhibitors, we identified 16 sites that decreased only in response to PLX4032, suggesting rare instances where oncogenic B-RAF signaling occurs in an MKK1/2-independent manner. Only two phosphosites were identified that appeared to be uniquely responsive to AZD6244. When cells were treated with the combination of AZD6244 and PLX4032 at subsaturating concentrations (30 nM), responses at nearly all phosphosites were additive. We conclude that AZD6244 does not substantially widen the range of phosphosites inhibited by PLX4032 and that the benefit of the drug combination is best explained by their additive effects on suppressing ERK1/2 signaling. Comparison of our results to another recent ERK1/2 phosphoproteomics study revealed a surprising degree of variability in the sensitivity of phosphosites to MKK1/2 inhibitors in human cell lines, revealing unexpected cell specificity in the molecular responses to pathway activation. Citation Format: Scott Stuart, Natalie Ahn, Stephane Houel, William Old. A phosphoproteomic comparison of BRAF(V600E) and MKK1/2 inhibition in melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-060. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-060
Very High Frequency IVR for Small Portable Electronics With High-Current Multiphase 3-D Integrated Magnetics

As today's small portable electronics (smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc.) becomes lighter, thinner, quicker, and smarter, the voltage regulator for the processor is expected to be efficient, miniaturized, integrated, and placed closer to the processor. In this paper, a concept of a very high frequency [tens of megahertz (MHz)] three-dimensional integrated voltage regulator (IVR) for small portable electronics is proposed. The magnetic characterization technique at tens of MHz is investigated, and the issues of and solutions for permeability and loss measurement are demonstrated. The LTCC and NEC flake materials are characterized and compared for the IVR inductor development. Both single-phase and five-phase integrated inductors are designed, fabricated, and experimentally tested at 20 MHz, featuring a simple single-via winding structure, small size, ultralow profile, ultralow DC resistance (DCR), high current-handling ability, air-gap-free magnetics, multiphase integration within one magnetic core, and lateral nonuniform flux distribution.
Challenges for Social Policy in a Less Favorable Macroeconomic Context

Over the last decade and a half Latin America and the Caribbean have made notable advances in reducing poverty and improving social outcomes. Extreme poverty fell by more than a third from 19.3 % in 2002 to 12.0 % in 2014; and inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, fell from 0.56 to 0.51. In parallel, child mortality fell from 32 to 18 deaths per 100,000 children from 2000 to 2013 (see UN IGME 2014). By 2013, school attendance rates among 6–11-year-olds reached 98 %, and among 12–17-year-olds rose to 87 %. Although gaps remain across income and demographic groups, the biggest advances in reducing chronic malnutrition and improving school age-attendance profiles occurred for children from the lowest socioeconomic groups.
CHAPTER 20 – Menopause and the Skin

Numerous changes occur in the skin of menopausal women. These include dryness, increased sweating, wrinkling, general sagging of the skin (including breast ptosis), altered barrier function, thinning of the skin, and decreased wound healing. Skin appendages are also influenced and excess facial hair and thinning scalp hair are signs of the relative hyperandrogenism that accompanies menopause. Hormone replacement therapy has been demonstrated to enhance skin thickness and this is likely to be secondary to its effects on the structural proteins, collagen, and elastin. Hormone replacement therapy has also been correlated with improved wound healing and tissue resilience. These positive changes support the concept that in the absence of contraindicating factors, hormone replacement therapy should be strongly considered to help maintain skin integrity in menopausal women. Although local reactions to topical administration have occurred, these have generally been mild; topical hormone replacement therapy appears to be a convenient and useful way to provide hormone therapy to menopausal women in a safe and effective manner.
Interpreting the relationships between TOEFL iBT scores and GPA: Language proficiency, policy, and profiles:

This study examines the predictive validity of the TOEFL iBT with respect to academic achievement as measured by the first-year grade point average (GPA) of Chinese students at Purdue University, a large, public, Research I institution in Indiana, USA. Correlations between GPA, TOEFL iBT total and subsection scores were examined on 1990 mainland Chinese students enrolled across three academic years (N2011 = 740, N2012 = 554, N2013 = 696). Subsequently, cluster analyses on the three cohorts’ TOEFL subsection scores were conducted to determine whether different score profiles might help explain the correlational patterns found between TOEFL subscale scores and GPA across the three student cohorts. For the 2011 and 2012 cohorts, speaking and writing subscale scores were positively correlated with GPA; however, negative correlations were observed for listening and reading. In contrast, for the 2013 cohort, the writing, reading, and total subscale scores were positively correlated with GPA, and the negative co...
Thermal Stresses: A Survey

I want to thank the organizers of this Congress for asking me to present the opening lecture. I thought it would be appropriate if I were to start with a rapid review of the field of thermal stresses and give some thoughts regarding an assessment (although necessarily a very personal one) of the present state of the field, and finally include guesses as to what the future might bring.
Differential Intraocular Pressure Measurements by Tonometry and Direct Cannulation After Treatment with Soluble Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors.

Abstract Purpose: To validate the increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) caused by soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) inhibitors and determine reasons behind variation in IOP measurements performed by tonometry. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were administered DMSO solubilized sAC inhibitors (KH7 or LRE-1) by intraperitoneal injection. Two hours post-treatment, mice were anesthetized with avertin or ketamine/xylazine/acepromazine (KXA). IOP was measured by a rebound tonometer or direct cannulation of the anterior chamber. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure anterior chamber depth and corneal thickness in live mice. Outflow facility was measured in perfused, enucleated mouse eyes. Results: Compared with DMSO controls, KH7 treatment caused an increased IOP in avertin- and KXA-anesthetized mice when measured by direct cannulation [avertin: 14.4 ± 2.1 mmHg vs. 11.1 ± 1.0 mmHg (P = 0.003); KXA: 14.4 ± 1.0 mmHg vs. 11.3 ± 0.8 mmHg (P < 0.001)] and tonometry [avertin: 10.8 ± 1.4 mmHg vs. 7.4 ± 0...
Acoustic Footprint of Snowmobile Noise and Natural Quiet Refugia in an Alaskan Wilderness

ABSTRACT: Snowmobiling in Congressionally designated Wilderness (CW) in Alaska is a contentious issue in the arena of appropriate use of public lands. The 1980 Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act allows snowmobiling in CW for traditional activities. Conversely, the 1964 Wilderness Act prohibits motor vehicles in CW to preserve its naturalness and opportunities for solitude. These conflicting mandates challenge the ability of managers to preserve CW character. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (KENWR) manages 534,300 ha of CW, where 253,200 ha are open to snowmobiling. Snowmobile noise degrades CW character whereas natural quiet is indicative of naturalness and offers opportunities for solitude. We determined the acoustic footprint of snowmobile noise and areas of natural quiet refugia in CW by recording the soundscape at 27 locations inside, and 37 locations outside, KENWR CW. We calculated soundscape power (normalized watts/kHz) from 59,598 sound recordings and generated spatially explicit ...
Dual Residents: A Sur-Reply to Zelinsky

In this article, we respond to Professor Zelinsky’s criticism of our arguments regarding the constitutionality of New York’s tax residence rule. We argue that the Supreme Court’s decision in Wynne requires reconsideration of the New York Court of Appeal’s decision in Tamagni.
Andrology: Ibuprofen and hypogonadism - bench to bedside to misinterpreted hype?

A recent study suggests modulation of luteinizing hormone signalling within the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and downstream transcriptional effects caused by sustained ibuprofen use. However, this study cannot be used to draw any clinical conclusions regarding effects of ibuprofen on male androgenic or reproductive health. Thus, the andrological effects of its use remain unclear and would benefit from further investigation.
Assessing security risk for wireless sensor networks under cyber attack

A common deployment strategy for wireless sensor networks is to position sensors according to a probabilistic distribution. Some sensor distributions offer advantages in redundancy, which helps ensure network survivability even with the loss of multiple sensor nodes to cyber attack. Properly selecting an initial sensor deployment distribution mitigates the threat of a denial of service (DoS) attack. While it is clear that some distributions are superior to others, it is not clear how to select the best sensor distribution as a defensive measure. Current strategies rely on mathematical analysis and are restricted to a subset of possible distributions. This paper examines the problem from an experimental perspective. We propose a novel method for evaluating how a given sensor deployment pattern may withstand a DoS attack based on agent-based simulation. We have implemented a first prototype of our model and illustrate its feasibility as part of a future decision support system.
The anxiolytic effect of probiotics: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical and preclinical literature

Background Probiotics have generated intensive research interest in recent years as a novel mode of treatment for physical and mental illness. Nevertheless, the anxiolytic potential of probiotics remains unclear. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical and preclinical (animal model) evidence regarding the effect of probiotic administration on anxiety. Methods The PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were reviewed for preclinical and clinical studies that met the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The effects of probiotics on anxiety-like behavior and symptoms of anxiety were analyzed by meta-analyses. Separate subgroup analyses were conducted on diseased versus healthy animals, specific preclinical probiotic species, and clinical versus healthy human samples. Results Data were extracted from 22 preclinical studies (743 animals) and 14 clinical studies (1527 individuals). Overall, probiotics reduced anxiety-like behavior in animals (Hedges’ g = -0.47, 95% CI -0.77 –-0.16, p = 0.004). Subgroup analyses revealed a significant reduction only among diseased animals. Probiotic species-level analyses identified only Lactobacillus (L.) rhamnosus as an anxiolytic species, but these analyses were broadly under-powered. Probiotics did not significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety in humans (Hedges’ g = -0.12, 95% CI -0.29–0.05, p = 0.151), and did not differentially affect clinical and healthy human samples. Conclusions While preclinical (animal) studies suggest that probiotics may help reduce anxiety, such findings have not yet translated to clinical research in humans, perhaps due to the dearth of extant research with clinically anxious populations. Further investigation of probiotic treatment for clinically relevant anxiety is warranted, particularly with respect to the probiotic species L. rhamnosus.
Performance Evaluation Metrics

It may well be the case that no topic is more intensely debated in the evaluation community than the topic of evaluation metrics. For every advocate of a particular metric there will be those who are equally critical. Why such a debate? The debate concerns substantive issues about the choice of appropriate discount rates and appropriate procedures for dealing with mathematical complexities, such as multiple rates of return, that can obscure economic interpretations. We have chosen to leave the debate outside the scope of our inquiry, and instead discuss three performance evaluation metrics used by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST has “standardized” on three performance evaluation metrics, and those three metrics are discussed in this chapter: the internal rate of return, the implied rate of return or adjusted internal rate of return, and the ratio of benefits-tocosts. A fourth metric, net present value, is readily derived from the information developed for the benefit-to-cost ratio.
Outdoor manufacture of UV-Cured plastic linings for storm water culvert repair: Chemical emissions and residual.

Abstract Storm water culverts are integral for U.S. public safety and welfare, and their mechanical failure can cause roadways to collapse. To repair these buried assets, ultraviolet (UV) light cured-in-place-pipes (CIPP) are being installed. Chemical emission and residual material left behind from the installation process was investigated in New York and Virginia, USA. Samples of an uncured resin tube and field-cured styrene-based resin CIPPs were collected and analyzed. Also collected were air and water samples before, during, and after installations. Chemicals were emitted into air because of the installation and curing processes. Particulates emitted into the air, water, and soil contained fiberglass, polymer, and contaminants, some of which are regulated by state-level water quality standards. The uncured resin tube contained more than 70 chemical compounds, and 19 were confirmed with analytical standards. Compounds included known and suspected carcinogens, endocrine disrupting compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and other compounds with little aquatic toxicity data available. Compounds (14 of 19 confirmed) were extracted from the newly installed CIPPs, and 11 were found in water samples. Aqueous styrene (2.31 mg/L), dibutyl phthalate (12.5 μg/L), and phenol (16.7 μg/L) levels exceeded the most stringent state water quality standards chosen in this study. Styrene was the only compound that was found to have exceed a 48 h aquatic toxicity threshold. Newly installed CIPPs contained a significant amount volatile material (1.0 to > 9.0 wt%). Recommendations provided can reduce chemical emission, as well as improve worksite and environmental protection practices. Recommended future research is also described.
Ginseng constituent interactions in the ability of ginseng and ginsenosides to inhibit human breast cancer MCF-7 cell proliferation

5549 Ginseng consists of over twenty different ginsenosides and ginseng polysaccharides. We hypothesized that ginseng′s recognized ability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation may be due to the net effect of its major bioactive constituents. First we determined the anti-cancer role of ginseng′s major constituents by testing the effects of a ginsenoside or ginseng polysaccharide extract, alone or in combination, on MCF-7 cell proliferation in vitro. We next examined the effects of ginsenoside combinations on MCF-7 proliferation and determined cellular mechanisms of action. Powdered root of Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) was subjected to 48 hr of methanol extraction (ginsenoside fraction), followed by hot water extraction (polysaccharide fraction) and purity was verified. We determined that ginseng root contains approximately 15% ginsenosides and 10% total ginseng polysaccharides by weight. After 6 days of treatment, MCF-7 cell proliferation was inhibited by either the ginsenoside fraction (IC50=0.18 μg/μl) or the polysaccharide fraction (0.12 μg/μl), in a more potent manner than a crude ginseng extract that contains both ginsenosides and polysaccharides (0.6 μg/μl), suggesting an antagonism between the two fractions at the cellular level. When MCF-7 cells were then co-treated with the ginseng polysaccharide fraction + ginsenoside Rb1, the major ginsenoside found in ginsenoside fraction. efficacy of the polysaccharide fraction was reduced (IC50= 0.28 vs 0.13 μg/μl), indicating that Rb1 may be responsible, in part, for the antagonism between the ginsenoside and polysaccharide fractions. Several ginsenosides have been identified that exhibit anti-cancer activity, including ginsenosides Rc, Rg3 and Rh2. When MCF-7 cells were treated with an IC50 dose of Rc (50μM), co-treatment with another major ginsenoside, Rg1 (25μM), completely prevented the ability of Rc to inhibit cell proliferation. However, Rb1, Rg3 and Rh2 enhanced the efficacy of Rc on MCF-7 cells. In fact, combining three anti-cancer ginsenosides in sub-therapeutic concentrations [Rc(10μM):Rg3(10μM):Rh2 (20μM)] produced a synergistic inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation. Mechanistic studies revealed that this ginsenoside ′cocktail′ potently inhibited pRb and arrested cell cycle progression at the G1/S phase, while producing a >4-fold increase in the pro-apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio when compared to ginsenoside alone. Together, these data show that interactions exist between ginsenosides and ginseng polysaccharides that can contribute to or attenuate ginseng′s anti-cancer activity, and may be responsible for the ′net′ effect of ginseng on breast cancer cells. Finding ginseng components that work together to prevent breast cancer progression has potential therapeutic value in breast cancer treatment. (funded by grant # CA121074)