cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repeat pelvic osteotomy in cloacal exstrophy: applications and outcomes.

Abstract Purpose Pelvic osteotomies have been shown to enhance success rates for classic exstrophy patients when closed primarily or secondarily after initial failure. Primary closure of cloacal exstrophy also benefits from osteotomy but this has yet to be shown for re-closure of cloacal exstrophy failures. This study looks at the applications, complications, and long-term success rates in this very select group of patients. Methods We extracted from an institutionally approved exstrophy database 15 patients who had undergone repeat pelvic osteotomy and analyzed patient history, complications and orthopedic outcomes. Results All patients who underwent reclosure at our institution remain closed. Major complications were seen in two patients and minor complications in four patients. Urinary continence was achieved in 10 patients with augmentation and continent stoma formation, urinary diversion was performed in two patients and three patients await a continence procedure. Conclusions Repeat pelvic osteotomy in cloacal exstrophy is successful and the complication rate is low. Pelvic osteotomy is associated with enhanced success rates of primary and secondary closure with better cosmesis of the abdominal wall and genitalia. Intrasymphyseal plates along with gradual reduction of the extreme diastasis utitlizing an external fixation device can be beneficial prior to further genitourinary surgery.
Response word frequency in paired-associates learning

The influence of normative-response word frequency upon paired-associates performance was studied. An unmixed-list design was employed in contrast to earlier reports which employed mixed-list designs. The results indicated that performance on high response frequency pairs was significantly superior to performance on low response frequency pairs, thus paralleling previous findings with mixed-list designs. The effect is therefore not simply due to priority habits. A replication experiment with unmixed-lists confirmed the results of the earlier experiment.
An Innovative Technique for Bi-Material Interface Toughness Research

A material configuration of central importance in microelectronics, optoelectronics, and thermal barrier coating technology is a thin film of one material deposited onto a substrate of a different material. Fabrication of such a structure inevitably gives rise to stress in the film due to lattice mismatch, differing coefficient of thermal expansion, chemical reactions, or other physical effects. Therefore, in general, the weakest link in this composite system often resides at the interface between the thin film and substrate. In order to make multi-layered electronic devices and structural composites with long-term reliability, the fracture behavior of the material interfaces must be known. Unfortunately, none of the state-of-theart testing methods for evaluating interface fracture toughness is fully conformed to fracture mechanics theory, as is evident from the severe scatter in the existing data, and the procedure dependence in thin film/coating evaluation methods. This project is intended to address the problems associated with this deficiency and offers an innovative testing procedure for the determination of interface fracture toughness applicable to thin coating materials in general. Phase I of this new approach and the associated bi-material fracture mechanics development proposed for evaluating interface fracture toughness are described herein. The effort includes development of specimen configuration and related instrumentation setup, testing procedures, and postmortem examination. A spiral notch torsion fracture toughness test (SNTT) system was utilized. The objectives of the testing procedure described are to enable the development of new coating materials by providing a reliable method for use in assessing their performance.
On Helmholtz's theorem in multiply-bounded and multiply-connected regions☆

Abstract The splitting of a continuous vector function into a gradient plus a curl is possible in an infinite number of ways. The present paper is basically concerned with two particular uniquely determined splittings called electric and magnetic.Eigenvector expansions suitable for these splittings are examined, and the application of these expansions to the calculation of the various terms of the splitting is considered.
Does the operating point of a series-parallel network of monotone resistors satisfy all resistor ratings?

An important issue in circuit design is whether every element operates within its rated values. For the particular case of a series-parallel network of monotone resistors (i.e., one ports) whose characteristic curves are continuous and monotonically increasing, at least within the ranges between their rated values, we present a rapid procedure for resolving this question. If at least one resistor operates outside of its ratings, our procedure will reveal this fact without having to determine the operating point of the entire network, or even of that resistor alone. On the other hand, if all elements operate within their ratings, our procedure ascertains that as well, while again avoiding a computation of the operating point of the entire network. This procedure can also be applied to series-parallel subnetworks N/sub SP/ of an arbitrary network N/sub S/P but now it can only reveal whether N cannot have a within-ratings operating point because N/sub SP/ does not have one.
REASON AND CULTURE IN COSMOPOLITAN EDUCATION

In this essay, Leonard Waks reviews three recent books on cosmopolitan education: Kwame Anthony Appiah's Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers; Neil Burtonwood's Cultural Diversity, Liberal Pluralism, and Schools: Isaiah Berlin and Education; and Thomas Popkewitz's Cosmopolitanism and the Age of School Reform: Science, Education and Making Society by Making the Child. Each of the three books challenges cosmopolitan universalism. Appiah argues that universal principles do not help us understand how members of distinct cultural groups can flourish in close proximity. Burtonwood adds that the expression of these principles in conflict situations can offend and humiliate illiberal groups and render them culturally reactive, inventing restrictive ideals of cultural “purity” that block cosmopolitan harmony. Popkewitz argues that the cosmopolitan premise of enlightenment for all imposes civilizing disciplines on those the dominant groups perceive as “others,” disciplines that render them abject. Taken together, the three books provide important planks in a comprehensive critique of cosmopolitan universalism as a philosophy of education.
Observer-based control of an active suspension

An observer that decouples nonlinearity and disturbances is developed for state estimation in an active suspension. A sliding surface control law using the estimated states is implemented on a full-scale half-car suspension test rig. Control using the estimated states is shown to yield good force tracking and significant ride quality improvement at 1 Hz. >
Library Publishing is Special: Selection and Eligibility in Library Publishing

Traditional publishing is based on ownership, commerce, paid exchanges, and scholarship as a commodity, while library activities are based on a service model of sharing resources and free exchange. I believe library publishing should be based on those values and should not duplicate or emulate traditional publishing. University presses have mixed views of library publishing, and libraries should not adopt those attitudes. Library publishers are not gatekeepers; their mission is dissemination. Libraries need to publish because traditional publishing suffers from high rejection rates, required surrender of intellectual property, long production schedules, high cost of products, and limited dissemination. Nebraska’s Zea Books is a response to these needs. Miscellaneous advice for library publishers is offered and selection and eligibility criteria are outlined. A suggestion is made for a cooperative ebook distribution network.
Final Report on Connecticut's State Employees Retirement System and Teachers' Retirement System

The report’s key findings are:• Connecticut’s pension systems for state employees and teachers face large unfunded liabilities, despite recent efforts by the State to fund.• A significant source of the problem is the "legacy debt" built up before the State began pre-funding its pensions in the 1970s.• Since pre-funding began, inadequate contributions from the State and low investment returns have added to the problem.• One way to address the problem is through a two-step approach:1. separately finance the legacy debt over multiple generations; and2. fund ongoing benefits using a level-dollar amortization method over a reasonable rolling period; and reduce the long-term assumed return.
Eliminating health disparities in unintended pregnancy with long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)

Significant public health disparities exist surrounding teen and unplanned pregnancy in the United States. Women of color and those with lower education and socioeconomic status are at much greater risk of unplanned pregnancy and the resulting adverse outcomes. Unplanned pregnancies reduce educational and career opportunities and may contribute to socioeconomic deprivation and widening income disparities. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including intrauterine devices and implants, offer the opportunity to change the default from drifting into parenthood to planned conception. LARC methods are forgettable; once placed, they offer highly effective, long-term pregnancy prevention. Increasing evidence in the medical literature demonstrates the population benefits of use of these methods. However, barriers to more widespread use of LARC methods persist and include educational, access, and cost barriers. With increasing insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act and more widespread, no-cost coverage of methods, more and more women are choosing intrauterine devices and the contraceptive implant. Increasing the use of highly effective contraceptive methods may provide one solution to the persistent problem of the health disparities of unplanned and teen pregnancies in the United States and improve women's and children's health.
The Return of the Longue Durée. An Anglo-American Perspective

Since the 1970s, most historians in the anglophone world have worked on time-scales of between five and fifty years. This narrow focus represented a retreat from the longer periods generally covered before the late twentieth century and served not only to cut them off from wider reading publics but also to deprive them of the influence on public policy and global governance they had once had. This article surveys the causes and the consequences of this retreat and proposes a solution for the crisis of confidence and of relevance it has created. A return to what Fernand Braudel classically termed the longue duree in the Annales in 1958 is now both imperative and feasible: imperative, in order to restore history’s place as a critical social science; feasible, due to the increased availability of large amounts of historical data and the digital tools necessary to analyze them.
Tension on JAM-A activates RhoA via GEF-H1 and p115 RhoGEF

Junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A) is a broadly expressed adhesion molecule that regulates cell-cell contacts and facilitates leukocyte transendothelial migration. The latter occurs through interactions with the integrin LFA-1. Although we understand much about JAM-A, little is known regarding the protein's role in mechanotransduction or as a modulator of RhoA signaling. We found that tension imposed on JAM-A activates RhoA, which leads to increased cell stiffness. Activation of RhoA in this system depends on PI3K-mediated activation of GEF-H1 and p115 RhoGEF. These two GEFs are further regulated by FAK/ERK and Src family kinases, respectively. Finally, we show that phosphorylation of JAM-A at Ser-284 is required for RhoA activation in response to tension. These data demonstrate a direct role of JAM-A in mechanosignaling and control of RhoA and implicate Src family kinases in the regulation of p115 RhoGEF.
Evaluation of Response to Pecan Scab Pathogen Race Using a Detached Leaflet Protocol

screening Abstract. A detached leaflet protocol was developed for the evaluation of resistance to Fusicladium effusum in a seedling pecan population segregating for resistance. Leaflets at half to full expansion were detached from seedling trees, sprayed with a conidial suspension (isolate De-Tif-3), placed in a polyethylene bag in a growth chamber, and evaluated microscopically 7 and 14 days after inoculation. The percentage germinated conidia producing subcuticular hyphae was the best determinant of susceptibility with genotypes producing more than 15% subcuticular hyphae considered susceptible. Leaflets at half expansion had higher percentages of subcuticular hyphae and gave a clearer separation between susceptible and resistant genotypes than leaflets at full expansion. An evaluation period of 14 days was preferable to 7 days to allow slower reacting genotypes tobebetterevaluated.Thedetachedleafletprotocolwasevaluatedincontrasting environments and was found to be robust to differences in shading and leaflet wetness. Detached leaflet tests gave similar results to field inoculations but were superior in consistently detecting susceptible genotypes. This protocol will be useful in evaluating the inheritance of pecan leaf scab resistance in breeding progenies.
Torsion of the testis: techniques of assessment.

SUMMARY Results of treatment of torsion of the testicle can be measured only by determining the rate of testicular salvage, which has been low but has improved in recent years. The Doppler instruments and the technique of scrotal imaging with the gamma camera provide noninvasive and rapid diagnostic aids with a high degree of accuracy. There is evidence that these techniques will aid in the differential diagnosis of equivocal cases, and thus lower the incidence of delay in the diagnosis of torsion, a cause of lower than optimal salvage rates in the past. Fluorescein staining can also be used in the operating room if there is a question of testicular viability. The availability of these new modalities, however, is no substitute for early evaluation. Quick referral from primary physicians and a high awareness of torsion as a cause of acute scrotal pain and swelling are extremely important. Reviews clearly indicate that improved salvage rates are achieved with early evaluation and treatment. Therefore the urologist has a continuing responsibility to educate pediatricians, family practitioners, and emergency room physicians in the urgency of diagnosis and treatment in cases of testicular torsion. Although new diagnostic aids are useful, only early surgical exploration can save a torsive testis.
Building a Better Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QAC): Branched Tetracationic Antiseptic Amphiphiles

Bacteria contaminate surfaces in a wide variety of environments, causing severe problems across a number of industries. In a continuation of our campaign to develop novel antibacterial quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) as useful antiseptics, we have identified a starting material bearing four tertiary amines, enabling the rapid synthesis of several tris- and tetracationic QACs. Herein we report the synthesis and biological activity of a series of 24 multiQACs deemed the "superT" family, and an investigation of the role of cationic charge in antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity, as well as toxicity. This class represents the most potent series of QACs reported to date against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) as low as 0.25 and 25 μm, respectively. Based on the significant cell-surface-charge differences between bacterial and eukaryotic cells, in certain cases we observed excellent efficacy-to-toxicity profiles, exceeding a 100-fold differential. This work further elucidates the chemical underpinnings of disinfectant efficacy versus toxicity based on cationic charge.
Kinase inhibitor-responsive genotypes in EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinomas: moving past common point mutations or indels into uncommon kinase domain duplications and rearrangements

The most frequent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations found by traditional or comprehensive molecular profiling of lung adenocarcinomas include indels of exon 19 (the exon 19 deletion delE746_A750 being the most common) and the exon 21 L858R point mutation. The current approval labels for first line palliative gefitinib 250 mg/day, erlotinib 150 mg/day and afatinib 40 mg/day for advanced lung cancers require the presence of the aforementioned classical/sensitizing EGFR mutations. Other gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib sensitizing mutations include exon 18 indels, G719X, exon 19 insertions, A763_Y764insFQEA, S768I and L861Q; for which off-label EGFR kinase inhibitor use is generally agreed upon by thoracic oncologists. The main biological mechanism of resistance to approved first line EGFR inhibitors is the selection/acquisition of EGFR-T790M that in itself can be inhibited by osimertinib 80 mg/day, a 3(rd) generation EGFR inhibitor that is bypassed by EGFR-C797X mutations. Another class of de novo inhibitor insensitive mutation includes EGFR exon 20 insertions. More recently, the dichotomy of only point mutations or indels explaining aberrant kinase activation of EGFR plus inhibitor response has been shattered by the discovery of uncommon (<0.5% of all EGFR mutations) genomic events involving exon 18-25 kinase domain duplications (KDD) and rearrangements (EGFR-RAD51 or EGFR-PURB). The latter lead to oncogene addiction, enhanced sensitivity to kinase inhibitors in vitro and clinical responses to approved EGFR inhibitors. The enhanced landscape of EGFR inhibitor-responsive genotypes highlights that comprehensive molecular profiling may be necessary to maximize the identification of all cases that can benefit from precision oncology.
Palliative Care in Critical Care Settings: A Systematic Review of Communication-Based Competencies Essential for Patient and Family Satisfaction.

Background:There is an emerging literature on the physician competencies most meaningful to patients and their families. However, there has been no systematic review on physician competency domains...
1×2 MOEMS switch based on silicon-on-insulator and polymeric waveguides

A new planar optical switch concept based on a silicon-on-insulator microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure with post-processed polymeric waveguides is reported. The actuation voltage is 20 to 50 V, and the switching time as low as 30 µs. A crosstalk of −32 dB has been measured.
Predictive Value of Rothman Index in Patients That Develop Febrile Neutropenia

Background: Febrile Neutropenia (FN) in cancer patients is associated with a high mortality rate yet identifying patients with FN at highest risk for short term morbidity and mortality remains challenging. The Rothman Index (RI) is a real-time composite measurement of a patient9s condition using 26 clinical variables sensitive to signs of patient clinical decline. RI has been shown to predict intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospital readmission and short term mortality among inpatients. A prior study from our institution demonstrated that hospitalized patients with hematological malignancies and RI Methods: Chart records of all patients with hematological malignancies and FN who were hospitalized at Yale Cancer Center between February of 2013 and July of 2014 were reviewed. Clinical variables collected included demographics, malignancy type, comorbidities, admission condition and microbiological data related to the FN episode. The primary outcome measure was a composite of in-hospital mortality and discharge to hospice care. Variables associated with the primary outcome in univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model for analysis. Results: Of 308 patients with hematological malignancies, 180 (58.4%) developed FN during their admission and 38 (12.3%) died during the admission or were discharged to hospice. A total of 85 (27.6%) patients had a RI 80. Controlling for malignancy type, major medical comorbidities and microbiologically confirmed bacterial infection, RI Conclusion: RI is an objective measure that can independently predict poor outcomes among inpatients with FN. RI can guide clinicians caring for patients with FN in both prognostication and identifying high risk patients with an RI Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Are Graduating Students Ready for Financial Aspects of Social Work Practice

ABSTRACTGraduating students must be prepared with knowledge and skills for the financial aspects of social work practice. This study examines graduating students’ attitudes and perceptions about client finances, as well as their financial knowledge. Internet survey results (n = 116) of BSW and MSW graduating students indicate that respondents (a) perceive a limited function for discussing client financial circumstances in practice, (b) understand the relevance, however, of client finances, (c) are unprepared to address this aspect, and (d) are supportive of integrating this content into required policy and practice courses. Teaching and curricular implications, along with programmatic recommendations, are included.
Prion-Associated Toxicity is Rescued by Elimination of Cotranslational Chaperones

The nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) is a highly conserved but poorly characterized triad of proteins that bind near the ribosome exit tunnel. The NAC is the first cotranslational factor to bind to polypeptides and assist with their proper folding. Surprisingly, we found that deletion of NAC subunits in Saccharomyces cerevisiae rescues toxicity associated with the strong [PSI+] prion. This counterintuitive finding can be explained by changes in chaperone balance and distribution whereby the folding of the prion protein is improved and the prion is rendered nontoxic. In particular, the ribosome-associated Hsp70 Ssb is redistributed away from Sup35 prion aggregates to the nascent chains, leading to an array of aggregation phenotypes that can mimic both overexpression and deletion of Ssb. This toxicity rescue demonstrates that chaperone modification can block key steps of the prion life cycle and has exciting implications for potential treatment of many human protein conformational disorders.
Adaptive pitch control of wind turbine for load mitigation under structural uncertainties

Abstract In this research, a new adaptive control strategy is formulated for the pitch control of wind turbine that may suffer from reduced life owing to extreme loads and fatigue when operated under high wind speed and internal structural uncertainties. Specifically, we aim at making a trade-off between the maximum energy captured and the load induced. The adaptive controller is designed to both regulate generator speed and mitigate component loads under turbulent wind field when blade stiffness uncertainties exist. The proposed algorithm is tested on the NREL offshore 5-MW benchmark wind turbine. The control performance is compared with those of the gain scheduled proportional integral (GSPI) control and the disturbance accommodating control (DAC) that are used as baselines. The results show that with the proposed adaptive control the blade root flapwise load can be reduced at a slight expense of optimal power output. Moreover, the blade load mitigation performance under uncertain blade stiffness reduction is improved over the baseline controllers. The control approach developed in this research is general, and can be extended to mitigating loads on other components.
Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP/SLC10A1) ortholog in the marine skate Leucoraja erinacea is not a physiological bile salt transporter

The Na+-dependent taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP/SLC10A1) is a hepatocyte-specific solute carrier, which plays an important role in maintaining bile salt homeostasis in mammals. The ...
Liquid polymeric materials for optical nano-bio sensing

Detecting, counting, and sizing nanoparticles is a key problem in biomedical, environmental, and materials synthesis fields. Here we demonstrate a cost-effective and high-performance approach that uses wide-field microscopy enabled by the combination of inline lensfree holography, pixel super-resolution, and vapor-condensed nano-scale lenses (nanolenses). These nanolenses are composed of liquid polyethylene glycol (PEG) that self-assembles in situ around particles of interest. A nanolens around each particle generates a more substantial phase shift than the native object alone, making it more easily detectible in the imaging system. This latest generation of lensfree holographic microscope incorporates more precise temperature control and utilizes a hermetically sealed chamber allowing for a controlled, repeatable environment for simultaneous hologram measurements and nanolens formation. To further enhance the sensitivity of our system, we have compared the performance of two different pixel super-resolution algorithms: shiftand- add and gradient descent. It was found that the gradient descent approach provides the highest resolution. Detection and localization results for 1 μm, 400 nm, and 100 nm particles are presented.
On the Continuity of Biological Membranes

Thirty years ago, Gunter Blobel of the Rockefeller University published a short paper entitled “Intracellular Protein Topogenesis,” which laid the conceptual foundations for our understanding of how cells build membranes. To serve their functions, peripheral and integral proteins must be inserted into the right membrane with the correct orientation, and most of the article focused on the manner in which this may be achieved. But it also underscored two startling implications of the proposed procedure: first, that every membrane must be derived from a pre-existing membrane; and second, that all extant biological membranes are descendants of the plasma membrane of the first primordial cell.
Intrinsic and Instrumental Value

In environmental ethics, value is characterized dichotomously as (1) intrinsic and (2) instrumental. An entity has intrinsic value if it is an end in itself and not merely or solely a means to another entity’s ends. The instrumental value of an entity is the value it has as a means to another entity’s ends, purposes, or goals. The major issue concerning intrinsic value in environmental philosophy is the intrinsic value of nature. The major issue in environmental philosophy concerning instrumental value is the types of instrumental value that nature has in respect to human ends, purposes, and goals.
THU0008 Mast cells show a reprogrammed transcriptional signature following repeated igg stimulations

Background Mast cell numbers are increased in the rheumatoid arthritis joint. We have previously shown that mast cells can be activated by IgG-ACPA leading to the production of proinflammatory cytokines. However, not much is known about the resulting function when mast cells would repeatedly engage IgG, a likely scenario given the long life span of mast cells (up to a year) and the perpetual presence of IgG-ACPA in the joints. We have recently shown that mast cells triggered repeatedly through their Ig Fc epsilon receptor undergo a reprogramming of their responses (Suurmond et al. JACI, 2016 by expressing de-novo transcribed genes in the antigen presentation and pathogen defence response pathways. Objectives The aim of the current work was to determine whether mast cells show similar changes in their response mode following repeated interactions with IgG. Methods Human cord blood-derived mast cells were treated for 2 weeks with plate-bound IgG. The expression profile of naive or treated mast cells was measured through RNA sequencing, quantitative RT-PCR, flow cytometry. Protein secretion was measured with ELISA and Luminex assays. Metabolic changes were measured using HPLC mass-spectrometry. Results Similar to our previous work on Fc Epsilon receptor, we observe a dampening of the normal IgG responses with a set of novel genes upregulated. Interestingly, de-novo expressed genes consisted of DHCR7 and DHCR24, key enzymes in the cholesterol pathway. Pathway analysis confirms an enrichment of genes in this pathway following repeated IgG triggering. Preliminary data on metabolic profiling reveals a decrease in phospholipid levels in repeatedly activated mast cells. Conclusions Our study provides evidence that mast cells are reprogrammed upon repeated IgG triggering. In contrast to repeated Fc Epsilon Receptor triggering, different pathways are affected, implying stimulus-specific effects. Our work has important implications for the understanding the role of mast cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Disclosure of Interest None declared
CONSUMER WILLINGNESS TO PAY A PREMIUM FOR A FUNCTIONAL FOOD IN GHANA

Interest in functional foods has been growing in sub-Saharan Africa due to consumer concerns with diet and nutrition. This paper analyses consumer awareness, perceptions and effects of the determinants of consumer willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for Moringa bread in Ghana. An ordered probit model is employed. The empirical results indicate that consumer knowledge of the nutritional and health benefits of Moringa bread is what matters most to consumers in respect of their WTP a higher premium for the product. Consumers with knowledge on Moringa products are more willing to pay above 50% price premiums for Moringa bread. Fruitful policy recommendations are made in the paper. JEL code: D12
The Relationship of Age and Postoperative Pain in Women after Surgery for Breast Cancer.

Abstract Background: In the past, elderly women with breast cancer were not offered surgery because of beliefs that they would experience serious complications from comorbidities and increased chronological age. Today the decision to offer surgery is based on a woman's fitness rather than her age. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the experience of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), anxiety, and reported pain levels in women who represent four different age groups after breast cancer surgery. This study employed a prospective comparative design. A large women's hospital which houses a Comprehensive Breast Care Program. Women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and scheduled for surgical resection. Methods: Postoperative pain was measured in the postanesthesia care unit using an 11-point verbal pain scale, PONV was measured categorically, and if present, severity of nausea was assessed. Anxiety was measured preoperatively by the short-form Profile of Mood States. Findings: A total of 97 women aged 37-78 participated in this study. Overall, 35% of all women experienced PONV; only two women (18%) in the highest age range (70-79) experienced PONV, yet they reported significantly more pain than women in the other age groups. Understanding the difference in postoperative symptoms experienced by older woman after surgery for breast cancer will support the development of age-specific strategies.
Barrett’s Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: How Common Are They Really?

Since the early 1970s, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) has increased dramatically in most Western populations while the incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has decreased. As a result, EA has become the predominant subtype of esophageal cancer in North America and Europe and is an important contributor to overall cancer mortality. Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a metaplastic columnar epithelium of the distal esophagus, is the known precursor lesion for EA. EA and BE occur more frequently in white men over 50 years old, as well as in people with frequent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, in smokers, and in people who are obese. Conversely, EA and BE are less common in persons using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in person with Helicobacter pylori infection. The 5-year survival rate for patients with EA, although generally poor, has improved during the past decade, and long-term survival is increasingly possible for patients with early or locally advanced disease. This review combines a synthesis of published studies with an analysis of data from the United States National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program to discuss the change in incidence of EA and summarize current knowledge of risk factors.
Abstract 253: Gnetin C as a candidate for targeted chemopreventive and therapeutic measures in prostate cancer

Overexpression of chromatin modifier protein, metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) in prostate cancer contributes to tumor aggressiveness and metastasis. MTA1 ChiP-Seq analysis identified downstream targets that are transcriptionally regulated by MTA1 and suggested a link between MTA1 and ETS2. The effects of ETS2 in cancer are context-dependent and both oncogenic and tumor suppressive functions have been described. We have shown that there is a positive correlation between MTA1 and ETS2 using loss of function studies and various preclinical models of prostate cancer. Our conclusion that MTA1 functions as a co-activator for regulating ETS2 expression in prostate cancer leading to promotion of prostate cancer progression, prompted us to look for pharmacological inhibitors of MTA1/ETS2 axis. In our previous studies, we reported inhibition of MTA1 by resveratrol and its potent analog pterostilbene in vitro and in vivo. We have demonstrated that pterostilbene treatment blocks the progression of PIN and adenocarcinoma in xenografts and transgenic mouse models by inhibiting MTA1 expression and signaling. Here, we found that Gnetin C, double-resveratrol, has more potent inhibition of MTA1/ETS2 axis than other stilbenes. Gnetin C, a resveratrol dimer, is found abundantly in melinjo plant widely cultivated in Southeast Asia; its seeds and fruits are common ingredients in Indonesian culinary. As resveratrol and pterostilbene, Gnetin C has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity, however it has not been considered as chemopreventive agent in prostate cancer. Using two prostate cancer cell lines, namely DU145 and PC3M cells, we found that Gnetin C shows significant inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, more potent effects in colony formation and wound healing assays than resveratrol or pterostilbene. Importantly, Gnetin C specifically and strongly downregulates MTA1 and ETS2 expression in prostate cancer cells. Taken together, our findings implicate the potential of Gnetin C in MTA1/ETS2-mediated chemoprevention and therapy in prostate cancer. Citation Format: Urvi Kolhatkar, Kshiti Dholakia, Gabriela Sikorska, Avinash Kumar, Luis A. Martinez, Anait S. Levenson. Gnetin C as a candidate for targeted chemopreventive and therapeutic measures in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 253.
Confrontation: a new dimension in nutrition counseling.

For a dietitian to confront clients honestly requires courage and willingness to take risks.
Hydrotropic solubilization of paclitaxel: analysis of chemical structures for hydrotropic property.

Purpose. To identify hydrotropic agents that can increase aqueous paclitaxel (PTX) solubility and to study the chemical structures necessary for hydrotropic properties so that polymeric hydrotropic agents can be synthesized.
Correlations Between Hospitals’ Social Media Presence and Reputation Score and Ranking: Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background: The US News and World Report reputation score correlates strongly with overall rank in adult and pediatric hospital rankings. Social media affects how information is disseminated to physicians and is used by hospitals as a marketing tool to recruit patients. It is unclear whether the reputation score for adult and children’s hospitals relates to social media presence. Objective: The objective of our study was to analyze the association between a hospital’s social media metrics and the US News 2017-2018 Best Hospital Rankings for adult and children’s hospitals. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the reputation score, total score, and social media metrics (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) of hospitals who received at least one subspecialty ranking in the 2017-2018 US News publicly available annual rankings. Regression analysis was employed to analyze the partial correlation coefficients between social media metrics and a hospital’s total points (ie, rank) and reputation score for both adult and children’s hospitals while controlling for the bed size and time on Twitter. Results: We observed significant correlations for children’s hospitals’ reputation score and total points with the number of Twitter followers (total points: r=.465, P<.001; reputation: r=.524, P<.001) and Facebook followers (total points: r=.392, P=.002; reputation: r=.518, P<.001). Significant correlations for the adult hospitals reputation score were found with the number of Twitter followers (r=.848, P<.001), number of tweets (r=.535, P<.001), Klout score (r=.242, P=.02), and Facebook followers (r=.743, P<.001). In addition, significant correlations for adult hospitals total points were found with Twitter followers (r=.548, P<.001), number of tweets (r=.358, P<.001), Klout score (r=.203, P=.05), Facebook followers (r=.500, P<.001), and Instagram followers (r=.692, P<.001). Conclusions: A statistically significant correlation exists between multiple social media metrics and both a hospital’s reputation score and total points (ie, overall rank). This association may indicate that a hospital’s reputation may be influenced by its social media presence or that the reputation or rank of a hospital drives social media followers.
Dysrhythmias caused by histamine release in guinea pig and human hearts.

Histamine is released into the systemic circulation during anaphylaxis, by drugs and by surgical procedures. Studies in animal models have conclusively demonstrated that released cardiac histamine is a major mediator of arrhythmias that occur during anaphylaxis and following the administration of histamine-releasing drugs. Several lines of evidence suggest a similar arrhythmogenic role for cardiac histamine in humans: (1) The human heart is rich in histamine; (2) cardiac histamine can be readily released from human heartin vitro by therapeutic concentrations of drugs; (3) histamine has potent arrhythmogenic effects on the human heartin vitro.
Phagocytes and humoral immunity to pneumonic plague.

Immunity to pneumonic plague is conferred to the host by the production of antibodies targeting LcrV, a component of the Yersinia pestis type III secretion system machinery. To achieve adequate protection, antibodies must be administered early during infection. In order to extend this period of time and better understand the mechanism of humoral immunity toward disease, we have been identifying host factors that contribute to the antibody-mediated clearance of bacteria. Anti-LcrV antibodies not only inhibit effector protein translocation into host cells, but also opsonize bacteria for uptake by phagocytes. Thus, we examined the protective efficacy of anti-LcrV antibodies in mice deficient for phagocyte recruitment and effector function. We have previously shown that mice deficient in neutrophil recruitment and activation cannot be protected by antibody treatment, indicating that this cell population is essential in clearing opsonized bacteria. Although anti-LcrV antibodies cannot protect these mice from challenge, an initial inhibition in bacterial replication and a delay in the time to death are observed. Thus, we hypothesized here that additional phagocyte populations and/or functions mediate early protection from disease in the presence of protective antibodies. We show that mice lacking monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) are deficient in their ability to clear infection. Similar results are seen in mice lacking CCR2, the receptor for MCP-1. To examine phagocyte effector functions that may be contributing to direct killing of the organism, we tested mice lacking 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme that mediates phagocytosis and inflammatory cell recruitment, and found it was dispensable for antibody protection. We also examined mice deficient in monocyte, macrophage, and granulocyte autophagy and found similar results. Taken together, the data suggest that humoral immunity to pneumonic plague requires activation of specific pathways of recruitment and activation of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes.
Flesh of the World: The Art and Practice of Dunya McPherson

Literature, music, the passions, but also the experience of the visible world are... the exploration of an invisible and the disclosure of a universe of ideas. The difference is simply that this invisible, these ideas... cannot be detached from the sensible appearances and be erected into a second positivity. (on Proust, p. 149)
Measuring DNA content in live cells by fluorescence microscopy.

Live-cell fluorescence microscopy (LCFM) is a powerful tool used to investigate cellular dynamics in real time. However, the capacity to simultaneously measure DNA content in cells being tracked over time remains challenged by dye-associated toxicities. The ability to measure DNA content in single cells by means of LCFM would allow cellular stage and ploidy to be coupled with a variety of imaging directed analyses. Here we describe a widely applicable nontoxic approach for measuring DNA content in live cells by fluorescence microscopy. This method relies on introducing a live-cell membrane-permeant DNA fluorophore, such as Hoechst 33342, into the culture medium of cells at the end of any live-cell imaging experiment and measuring each cell’s integrated nuclear fluorescence to quantify DNA content. Importantly, our method overcomes the toxicity and induction of DNA damage typically caused by live-cell dyes through strategic timing of adding the dye to the cultures; allowing unperturbed cells to be imaged for any interval of time before quantifying their DNA content. We assess the performance of our method empirically and discuss adaptations that can be implemented using this technique. Presented in conjunction with cells expressing a histone 2B-GFP fusion protein (H2B-GFP), we demonstrated how this method enabled chromosomal segregation errors to be tracked in cells as they progressed through cellular division that were later identified as either diploid or polyploid. We also describe and provide an automated Matlab-derived algorithm that measures the integrated nuclear fluorescence in each cell and subsequently plots these measurements into a cell cycle histogram for each frame imaged. The algorithm’s accurate assessment of DNA content was validated by parallel flow cytometric studies. This method allows the examination of single-cell dynamics to be correlated with cellular stage and ploidy in a high-throughput fashion. The approach is suitable for any standard epifluorescence microscope equipped with a stable illumination source and either a stage-top incubator or an enclosed live-cell incubation chamber. Collectively, we anticipate that this method will allow high-resolution microscopic analysis of cellular processes involving cell cycle progression, such as checkpoint activation, DNA replication, and cellular division.
Health-Related Quality of Life of Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Mixed Methods Study.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of female children with CAH as reported by children and their caregivers. Design and methods A convergent mixed methods design was selected whereby quantitative and qualitative results were merged to provide a comprehensive understanding of HRQOL of children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 child-caregiver dyads. The full sample of child-caregiver dyads (N = 25) completed KINDL-R questionnaires, which provided a quantitative measure of children's HRQOL. Results Children and their caregivers reported good overall HRQOL. Children scored significantly lower on the KINDL-R School subscale compared to their caregivers. Associations were observed between the HRQOL score from one graphic rating scale item and the child's other health issues and child's diagnosis. Themes emerging from the child and caregiver interviews were health-related quality of life, impact of stigma on psychological well-being, information-sharing and disclosure of CAH, and improving the quality of life of children with CAH. Conclusion This mixed methods study provided evidence to understand the health and complex needs of children with CAH. Implications Clinicians may better support children and caregivers by expanding the focus beyond medication management to include: 1) psychological support and resources (i.e., developmentally appropriate coping and adaptation strategies); 2) continuous education for clinical staff, school nurses, emergency medical transport staff, and providers; and 3) public awareness beyond the clinic and hospital settings.
Voting Can Be Hard, Information Helps:

Many U.S. elections provide voters with precious little information about candidates on the ballot. In local contests, party labels are often absent. In primary elections, party labels are not usef...
The ‘Social’ De-Duplicated: On the Aadhaar Platform and the Engineering of Service

India’s programme for biometric registration, Aadhaar, is organised through engineering concept work that depends upon three distinctive claims for the ‘social’ as human condition: (1) the social a...
Bodily Signals Entrainment in the Presence of Music

As a user listens to music, his bodily biorhythms can entrain with the music's rhythms. This work describes a human computer interface used to characterize the evolution of the stochastic signatures of physiological rhythms across the central and the peripheral nervous systems in the presence (or absence) of music. We track the heart, EEG and kinematics' variability under different music-driven conditions to identify the parameter manifold and context with maximal signal to noise ratio as well as to identify regions of maximal and minimal statistical co-dependencies of present events from past events.
Developing a Shared Mental Model in the Context of a Center Initiative

Effective team functioning and performance relies to a large extent on having a shared identity across team members. This shared identity usually is based on a shared mission and goals and is greatly facilitated by the development of a shared mental model of the research endeavor. In the pages that follow, we will outline the successful development of a shared mental model in one center of a transdisciplinary team-based initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health and highlight the value of the model to the development and implementation of the research initiative.
Ruptured tuboovarian abscess.

Abstract This report is concerned with 41 consecutive cases of ruptured tuboovarian abscess encountered on the Tulane Unit, Charity Hospital, during the period from Jan. 1, 1952, to March 1, 1956. Each case was treated by surgery which is in direct contrast to the therapeutic regimen previously utilized by our group. Miller 1,2 emphasized the very high mortality rate found in this condition at Charity Hospital, while Vermeeren and Te Linde 3 demonstrated that a low survival rate was not peculiar to any one locale and that there was always a high death rate where a purely medical regimen or timid surgical approach was employed. Furthermore they reported that the institution of an active surgical attack in cases of intra-abdominal rupture of pelvic abscess resulted in lowering "the mortality from 90 to 12 per cent at the Johns Hopkins Hospital."
Comparing Outcomes of Competitive Athletes Versus Nonathletes Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Background:A growing number of studies have examined return to sport in competitive athletes after undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS); however, few have eva...