cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilirubin acts as an endogenous regulator of inflammation by disrupting adhesion molecule-mediated leukocyte migration

There is a growing body of evidence that bilirubin, which is generated during the physiological breakdown of heme, exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects. Previous work by our group suggests that bilirubin is able to suppress inflammatory responses by preventing the migration of leukocytes into target tissues through disruption of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-dependent cell signaling. As VCAM-1 is an important mediator of tissue injury in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) murine model of inflammatory colitis, we examined whether bilirubin prevents colonic injury in DSS-treated mice. As anticipated, bilirubin-treated animals manifested significantly less colonic injury and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells into colon tissues. We further observed that bilirubin administration was associated with a reduced number of eosinophils and monocytes in the small intestine, with a corresponding increase in peripheral blood eosinophilia, regardless of whether mice received DSS. These findings suggest that bilirubin impairs the normal migration of eosinophils into intestinal tissues, as supported by in vitro experiments showing that bilirubin blocks the VCAM-1-dependent movement of Jurkat cells across human endothelial cell monolayers. Taken together, our findings support that bilirubin ameliorates DSS-induced colitis and disrupts the physiological trafficking of leukocytes to the intestine by preventing transmigration across the vascular endothelium, potentially through the inhibition VCAM-1-mediated signaling. Our findings raise the possibility that bilirubin functions as an endogenous regulator of inflammatory responses.
Wake-Vortex Induced Wind with Turbulence in Aerial Refueling - Part B: Model and Simulation Validation

This paper is the second of a series of two papers. The first paper (Part A) presents the analysis of the data obtained in an automated aerial refueling test flight conducted with a KC-135 as the tanker and a Learjet 25 as the receiver. The purpose of the analysis is to identify the turbulence and wind induced by the tanker wake and their effect on the receiver aircraft. This paper presents the methods used to model (i) prevailing wind, (ii) wake vortex induced wind and (iii) turbulence as the three sources of wind that the aircraft are exposed to and the approach used for incorporating the wind effect into the dynamic simulation of the aircraft. The test flight is simulated in various cases with different turbulence models and flight controllers. The simulation results are analyzed and compared with the flight data in terms of the power spectral densities and mean variations in order to validate the wind and turbulence modeling techniques.
Studies on the Etiology of Marek's Disease. II. Finding of a Herpesvirus in Cell Culture

SummaryDuck embryo fibroblast (DEF) monolayer cultures seeded with whole blood from birds inoculated with the JM strain of Marek's disease (MD) and which showed a cytopathic effect (CPE), also contained intranuclear herpes-like virus particles. Complete virus particles with envelope essential for infectivity of herpesviruses were not found in either the infected cells or the extracellular materials of cultures containing such cells. All cultures showing CPE contained virus particles, and when inoculated into susceptible chicks caused MD. Cytopathic effect and viral synthesis could not be induced in fresh DEF cultures with spent media from infected cultures passed through 450 mμ Millipore filters. The perfect correlation obtained between CPE, presence of virus particles, and reproduction of MD by these cells suggests a cause and effect relationship and circumstantially implicates this virus in the etiology of MD.
A Descriptive Study of Body Pain and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Latino Farmworkers Working on Sweet Potato Farms in Eastern North Carolina

Agricultural work is a physically demanding occupation. The purpose of this project was to describe the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and self-reported pain among Latino farmworkers who work extensively hand harvesting sweet potatoes. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of farmworkers (N = 120) in eastern North Carolina. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to describe personal, work characteristics, and self-reported pain associated with musculoskeletal injuries. Overall, 79% of farmworkers reported any type of pain or discomfort. The highest reported areas of pain were in the back (66%) and shoulder areas (31%). Younger participants experienced more shoulder pain (P = .04) than older workers, and working more than 5 years as a farmworker was significantly associated with back pain (P = .01). Interventions aimed at administrative and engineering controls for reducing risk factors that contribute to WMSDs are warranted.
Association Between Changes in Mammographic Image Features and Risk for Near-Term Breast Cancer Development

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a new computerized model for predicting near-term breast cancer risk based on quantitative assessment of bilateral mammographic image feature variations in a series of negative full-field digital mammography (FFDM) images. The retrospective dataset included series of four sequential FFDM examinations of 335 women. The last examination in each series ("current") and the three most recent "prior" examinations were obtained. All "prior" examinations were interpreted as negative during the original clinical image reading, while in the "current" examinations 159 cancers were detected and pathologically verified and 176 cases remained cancer-free. From each image, we initially computed 158 mammographic density, structural similarity, and texture based image features. The absolute subtraction value between the left and right breasts was selected to represent each feature. We then built three support vector machine (SVM) based risk models, which were trained and tested using a leave-one-case-out based cross-validation method. The actual features used in each SVM model were selected using a nested stepwise regression analysis method. The computed areas under receiver operating characteristic curves monotonically increased from 0.666±0.029 to 0.730±0.027 as the time-lag between the "prior" (3 to 1) and "current" examinations decreases. The maximum adjusted odds ratios were 5.63, 7.43, and 11.1 for the three "prior" (3 to 1) sets of examinations, respectively. This study demonstrated a positive association between the risk scores generated by a bilateral mammographic feature difference based risk model and an increasing trend of the near-term risk for having mammography-detected breast cancer.
Determination of Glycyrrhizic Acid in Sulfonamide-glycyrrhiza Mixture by RP-HPLC

OBJECTIVE:To establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of glycyrrhizic acid in sulfonamideglycyrrhiza mixture METHODS:Lichrosorb RPC18 analytical column was used The mobile phase was composed of methanol-(CH)4NH4OH(65∶35) The pH of the mobile phase was adjusted to 6 5 with 10% phosphoric acid Detection wavelength was 254nm RESULTS:Linearity was good in the range of 0 5～50μg/ml(r=0 9 996);the average recovery was 99 75%,RSD=1 87% CONCLUSION:The method is simple and convenient
Learning From Experience: Improving Early Tracheal Extubation Success After Congenital Cardiac Surgery*

Objectives:The many advantages of early tracheal extubation following congenital cardiac surgery in young infants and children are now widely recognized. Benefits include avoiding the morbidity associated with prolonged intubation and the consequences of sedation and positive pressure ventilation in
Diagnostic imaging in parasitic infections.

Imaging may play a major role in diagnosis when the clinical condition suggests a parasite, it may often be useful in confirming a diagnosis and assessing the results of treatment, and it may provide the first indication of parasitic infection when the symptomatology is vague. This article presents guidelines for reviewing diagnostic images for pediatricians looking for the diagnosis or the differential diagnosis of their patient’s ill health when parasitic infection is suspected.
Industry Financial Relationships in Plastic Surgery: Analysis of the Sunshine Act Open Payments Database.

BACKGROUND Limited data exist regarding industry financial relationships in plastic surgery. The Sunshine Act Open Payments Database currently represents the largest repository of these data, but is limited primarily to queries of individual providers. The purpose of this study was to analyze these data and present them in a manner that better delineates these relationships, and to compare plastic surgery with other surgical subspecialties. METHODS A review of the Open Payments Database was performed for the period from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014. These data were analyzed with respect to types of payments, characteristics of plastic surgeons and companies, and comparison with other surgical subspecialties. RESULTS A total of 49,053 payments from 274 companies were identified that were made to 4812 plastic surgeons (475 academic and 4337 private practice). The total value of payments was $17,091,077. Food and beverage represented the most common type of payment (82.2 percent). Royalties and licensing represented the highest valued type of payment (35.7 percent), but were received by only a minority of plastic surgeons (0.5 percent). No significant differences were identified between academic and private practice plastic surgeons in the value or quantity of payments. Plastic surgery (54.5 percent) exhibited the lowest prevalence of industry financial relationships compared with otolaryngology (57.9 percent), orthopedics (62.4 percent), neurosurgery (87.8 percent), and urology (63.1 percent) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Approximately half of all plastic surgeons have industry financial relationships. The prevalence of these relationships is comparatively less than in other surgical subspecialties.
From Faculty to Chair

According to Dr. Hargrove, the key to your success and achievements in any of the three areas: teaching, research, and service will depend on your ability to “Lead.” This chapter goes into depth in discussing how the leadership quadrant can be utilized to assess where a person is in their present location and how to determine where they want to be and what level of responsibilities they want to have. In addition, it provides practical steps on how to identify two or three initiatives or career drivers that are important to you in teaching, research, or service to the university. Finally, it demonstrates how to grow as a leader using the career drivers coupled with one’s initiatives.
Does Student–Teacher Racial/Ethnic Match Impact Black Students’ Discipline Risk? A Test of the Cultural Synchrony Hypothesis

Blake and colleagues utilize a unique panel dataset of over 900,000 students to test the Cultural Synchrony Hypothesis, which asserts that negative evaluations of Black students are influenced by media-driven stereotypes of Black adults. These stereotypes are thought to subconsciously shape educators’ perceptions of Black students. By examining the degree to which the faculty of a school mirrors the student body’s racial demographics, their analysis shows that the higher the student–teacher racial/ethnic congruence, the lower the risk of encountering school discipline. These findings are particularly robust for females and students of color. Given these results, they suggest a concerted effort to recruit teachers of color. Further, the authors propose professional development targeting cultural competency to prevent teachers from misperceiving the behavior of students of color.
Discrete Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Systems in Neutral and Oxidized States: Implications toward Molecular Design for High Contrast Electrochromics

Donor–acceptor systems are ubiquitous redox-active materials in electrochromic devices, making the study of their neutral and charged state characteristics expedient for the design of materials with improved properties. In this paper, we explore the absorption properties of the neutral and oxidized states of two dioxythiophene- and benzothiadiazole-containing penta- and hepta-heterocycles (EPBPE, EPPBPPE) having a monodisperse, well-defined π-conjugated structure, using electrochemistry, optical absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, spectroelectrochemistry, and microscopy. The molecules and their precursors were obtained via a direct (hetero)arylation coupling strategy that exploits stoichiometric control to obtain well-defined ter- and penta-heterocycles from bifunctional heteroarenes. Both molecules show intense and narrow dual-band absorptions in the visible region, reflecting the discrete nature of their π-systems, leading to strongly colored neutral states. The electron-r...
Medical Words from Various Languages

Although most medical terms in use today came from ancient Greek or Latin, many are derived from other, more modern, languages. We use words from French, such as rales; from Persian, such as bezoar; and even from South American Quechua languages, coca and quinine. In the language of Ghana, kwashiorkor—very appropriately—means “deposed child.” What are the origins of our words bruit, alcohol, hashish, and kala-azar? Of agar and botulism? Chapter 4 tells their sources and the stories behind them.
Civic Engagement as an Adaptive Coping Response to Conditions of Inequality: An Application of Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST)

In this chapter we use Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (P-VEST) to consider civic engagement as a coping response to systems of inequality faced by racial minority children. After a brief introduction we present a historical and theoretical overview of civic engagement with regard to children and adolescents and racially marginalized communities. We then introduce the P-VEST framework and examine civic engagement as a proactive reactive coping method to counteract the vulnerability and stress of systematic racial injustice. Following a discussion of the current empirical literature we explore the utility of civic engagement programs (e.g., Youth Participatory Action Research) as interventions to support positive development of minority youth. We conclude with policy implications and future directions for research to leverage civic engagement as a coping strategy for the positive development of minority children and their communities.
Feasibility of Intraoperative Breast MRI and the Role of Prone Versus Supine Positioning in Surgical Planning for Breast-Conserving Surgery.

We assessed the feasibility of supine intraoperative MRI (iMRI) during breast-conserving surgery (BCS), enrolling 15 patients in our phase I trial between 2012 and 2014. Patients received diagnostic prone MRI, BCS, pre-excisional supine iMRI, and postexcisional supine iMRI. Feasibility was assessed based on safety, sterility, duration, and image-quality. Twelve patients completed the study; mean duration = 114 minutes; all images were adequate; no complications, safety, or sterility issues were encountered. Substantial tumor-associated changes occurred (mean displacement = 67.7 mm, prone-supine metric, n = 7). We have demonstrated iMRI feasibility for BCS and have identified potential limitations of prone breast MRI that may impact surgical planning.
Outcomes of second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

6540 Background: Disease relapse is the major cause of failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Treatment options for these pat...
Colombian Journalists on Twitter: Opinions, Gatekeeping, and Transparency in Political Coverage

This article examines how the 100 most followed Colombian journalists on Twitter cover a controversial politician, former president Alvaro Uribe. Utilizing a social media analysis platform that applies a supervised-machine algorithm along with manual content analysis, this study shows that journalists not only negatively evaluated Uribe’s comeback to the Colombian political arena but also profusely offered opinions about the politician on Twitter, following historical patterns that entangle journalism and politics in the Colombian context. It also reveals that journalists who work for elite-traditional media tend to be more in accord with some journalistic norms than nonelite reporters. The most followed journalists on Twitter seem to understand the new dynamic of social media as they have moved away from their traditional position by linking external media, and not only their own outlets, in their tweets. Finally, elite reporters offer more transparency than their nonelite counterparts.
Conceptual Elements: A Detailed Framework to Support and Assess Student Learning of Biology Core Concepts.

The authors break down the Vision and Change core concepts into elements that transcend biological subdisciplines and scales in a new learning framework. The Conceptual Elements Framework can be us...
Emerging MS-based platforms for the characterization of tumor-derived exosomes isolated from human biofluids: challenges and promises of MudPIT.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles of endosomal origin that are produced and released by several type of cells. These vesicles contain different macromolecules: proteins, mRNA, miRNA, mitochondrial DNA, and lipids. Exosomes play an important role in cell-to-cell communication, also promoting cancer progression.Areas covered: Various proteomic approaches have been applied to study exosomes isolated from different human biofluids in search of possible cancer biomarkers. The results of these studies are reported, and pros and cons of each employed technique are described. Gel-free and gel-based mass spectrometry systems are discussed, giving particular emphasis on the innovative multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT).Expert commentary: Proteomic studies on exosomes as candidate cancer biomarkers from urine and other body fluids in cancer have shown the potential of MS-based techniques. In particular, MudPIT is a promising tool to be applied in clinical proteo...
A new stem odontocete from the late Oligocene Pysht Formation in Washington State, U.S.A.

ABSTRACTOdontocetes first appear in the fossil record during the early Oligocene and soon after show a near-worldwide distribution. However, little is still known of their early diversity, especially in the North Pacific Region. A new taxon of stem odontocete with heterodont dentition, Olympicetus avitus, gen. et sp. nov., is described herein from the upper Oligocene Pysht Formation in Washington State, U.S.A. The material consists of two partial skulls belonging to a juvenile and a neonate and includes part of the dentition and a tympanic bulla. Olympicetus shares many similarities with the Oligocene odontocetes Simocetus rayi and Ashleycetus planicapitis but displays a combination of characters that distinguish it from these and other coeval taxa. A phylogenetic analysis shows Olympicetus in a polytomy with Xenorophidae, a clade of early high-frequency-hearing odontocetes mainly known from the western Atlantic. Furthermore, Olympicetus displays characters that can be considered as structural proxies for...
Accuracy directly controlled fast direct solutions of general h 2 -matrices

The dense matrix resulting from an integral equation (IE) based solution of Maxwell's equations can be compactly represented by an H2-matrix. Given a general H2-matrix, existing fast direct solutions involve approximations whose accuracy cannot be directly controlled. In this work, we propose new accuracy-controlled direct solution algorithms, including both factorization and inversion, for solving general H2-matrices, which does not exist prior to this work. Different from existing direct solutions, where the cluster bases are kept unchanged in the solution procedure thus lacking an explicit accuracy control, the proposed new algorithms update the cluster bases and their rank level by level based on prescribed accuracy, without increasing computational complexity. Zeros are also introduced level by level such that the size of the matrix blocks computed at each tree level is small, being the rank at that level. The proposed new direct solution has been applied to solve electrically large volume IEs. A complexity of O(NlogN) in factorization and inversion time, and a complexity of O(N) in storage and solution time are both theoretically proven and numerically demonstrated. Rapid direct solutions of millions of unknowns can be obtained on a single CPU core with directly controlled accuracy.
Nocturnal swallowing and arousal threshold in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury.

Nocturnal swallowing is common in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and is associated with frequent arousals from sleep. The lower arousal threshold during sleep in SCI may contribute ...
Moving toward a Shared Understanding of the U.S. Shrinking City

Scholarly work on “shrinking” cities grew following the 2010 census, resulting in a diverse body of popular and academic literature. However, this has not produced a widely accepted definition of t...
Capacity Without Legitimacy: The Limits of International Ties

International resources have played an invaluable role in the creation of NGOs in contemporary China, mainly through financial support and human resource training. However, contrary to some views, the cases presented in this book show that international resources may not necessarily contribute to the political legitimacy of China’s NGOs. In fact, optimal utilization of international resources by China’s NGOs may require the prior establishment of state linkages and media connections to ensure an NGO’s political legitimacy and its ability to access state resources that are necessary to realize the objectives of the NGO. In addition, the cases presented here show that state linkages and media connections may play a direct role in helping China’s NGOs acquire international resources. These observations suggest that aspiring Chinese NGO entrepreneurs should not view international ties as the ultimate solution to their needs, but instead should invest considerable resources to developing state linkages and media connections.
Atmospheric Deposition Processes

Dry, wet, and occult (cloud drop) deposition all contribute to the removal of compounds from the atmosphere. Many atmospheric species undergo chemical and physical transformations which affect their removal rates. Deposition rates depend on the nature of both the compounds and the surfaces at which they deposit. Both dry and occult deposition depend strongly on the nature of the surface, leading to variations in deposition fluxes over small distances. Wet deposition depends less on fine surface structure. Predictions of wet fluxes are complicated, however, by variability in cloud microphysical conditions which govern precipitation growth and, ultimately, the efficiency of pollutant scavenging by precipitation in clouds. While knowledge of the relative importance of the different deposition pathways has improved significantly for many inorganic compounds, much uncertainty remains in describing surface sinks for most organic species.
Effect of Implementing Quantitative Blood Loss Assessment at the Time of Delivery

Objective To evaluate the ability of estimated blood loss (EBL) and quantitative blood loss (qBL) to predict need for blood transfusion in women with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Study Design This is a retrospective chart review that identified women with PPH (>1,000 mL for vaginal or cesarean delivery) between September 2014 and August 2015, reported by EBL (n = 92), and October 2015 and September 2016, reported by qBL (n = 374). The primary metric was the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for blood transfusion. Results The rate of PPH by EBL and qBL was 2.8 and 10.8%, respectively (p Conclusion The rates of PPH increased with the implementation of qBL. Overall, qBL did not perform better than EBL in predicting the need for blood transfusion.
Aggregate Asset Growth and Expected Stock Returns

This paper suggests a novel approach for predicting aggregate stock returns at quarterly and annual frequencies. Weak return predictability of macroeconomic and financial variables is consistent with the view that expected returns are time-varying and highly persistent. Taking a first difference of returns nearly cancels out expected returns. A variable that is correlated with innovations in expected returns can be used to forecast changes in returns. Using aggregate asset growth (growth of household net worth) as a predictive variable delivers better out-of-sample forecasts for aggregate stock returns compared to other predictors, suggesting that the variable contains information regarding these innovations.
Cyclooxygenase inhibition does not impact the pressor response during static or dynamic mechanoreflex activation in healthy decerebrate rats.

Passive limb movement and limb muscle stretch in humans and animals are common experimental strategies used to investigate activation of the muscle mechanoreflex independent of contraction-induced ...
Temporal Dynamics of Host Use by Drosophila suzukii in California's San Joaquin Valley: Implications for Area-Wide Pest Management.

A major challenge to the area-wide management of Drosophila suzukii is understanding the fly’s host use and temporal dynamics, which may dictate local movement patterns. We determined D. suzukii’s seasonal host use in California’s San Joaquin Valley by sampling common crop and non-crop fruits in a temporal sequence of fruit ripening. We then evaluated the suitability of selected fruits as hosts. Drosophila suzukii emerged from both intact and damaged cherries during the cooler, early season period. Fly density remained low through the hot spring–summer period and re-surged as temperatures lowered in fall when the fly did not cause damage to intact peach, nectarine, plum, pear, grape, pomegranate, apple, persimmon and citrus (in order of ripening) but did emerge from the damaged fruits of these crops. The fly also emerged from two ornamental fruits (loquats and cactus) but was not found on wild plum and two endemic wild fruits (buckthorn and bitter berry). Drosophila suzukii completed development (egg to adult) on cactus, mandarin carpel, pomegranate seed, wild plum and buckthorn at survival rates similar to cherry (51.2–68.8%), whereas it had a lower survival rate on bitter cherry (33.2%), table grape (31.5%), raisin grape (26.5%), and wine grape (4.5%). The high acidity levels of grapes negatively affected the fly’s fitness. Among 10 cherry cultivars, survival rate was not affected by sugar content, but it decreased with increasing egg density per gram of fruit. Results suggest that in California’s San Joaquin Valley, the early season crops are most vulnerable, summer fruits ripen during a period of low pest pressure, and late season fruits, when damaged, serve to sustain D. suzukii’s populations in this region.
Slowly but surely: Interpreting facilitates L2 morphological anticipation based on suprasegmental and segmental information

Native speakers use suprasegmental information to predict words, but less is known about segmental information. Moreover, anticipatory studies with non-native speakers are scarce and mix proficiency with anticipatory experience. To address these limitations, we investigated whether Spanish monolinguals and advanced English learners of Spanish use suprasegmentals (stress: oxytone, paroxytone) and segmentals (syllabic structure: CVC, CV) to predict word suffixes, and whether increased anticipatory experience acquired via interpreting will facilitate anticipation in non-interpreting L2 situations. Eye-tracking data revealed that: (1) the three groups made use of the linguistic variables, and L2 groups did not anticipate in CV paroxytones; (2) everybody anticipated better with the less frequent conditions (oxytones, CVC) having fewer lexical competitors; (3) monolinguals anticipated earlier than L2 learners; and (4) interpreters anticipated at a faster rate in some conditions. These findings indicate that less frequent suprasegmental and segmental information and anticipatory experience facilitate native and non-native spoken word prediction.
Abstract 5402: Inhibition of RET via BLU-667 in an in vitro model of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Despite aggressive treatment, outcomes in patients with high-risk disease remains poor and new therapeutics are needed to address their needs. Rearranged during Transfection (RET) is a tyrosine kinase that is a known oncogenic driver of multiple human tumors. RET is expressed on neural crest derived cells, including neuroblastoma cells, and has been shown to play a role in neuroblastoma proliferation and survival as well. Recent studies have shown RET inhibition to be a promising new therapeutic target in neuroblastoma. BLU-667 is a selective RET inhibitor with a higher potency and specificity for RET than the current inhibitors that have been previously tested. We hypothesize that this increased potency and specificity will result in greater efficacy against neuroblastoma in preclinical models with fewer off target effects. Thus, to investigate this we evaluated BLU-667 at different concentrations against a panel of established human neuroblastoma cell lines to assess its effects on neuroblastoma cell proliferation, differentiation, and viability. We found that inhibition of RET resulted in a significant decrease in cell proliferation and viability in vitro. Further, given the increased specificity of BLU-667 to RET, we hope to use western blot protein analysis to establish the specific downstream pathways through which RET inhibition leads to decreased neuroblastoma cell survival, potentially revealing further therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Jessica Gutierrez, Sean Flynn, Yuchen Huo, Jacqueline Lesperance, Peter Zage. Inhibition of RET via BLU-667 in an in vitro model of neuroblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5402.
Unplanned emergency department visits and hospital admissions of older adults under treatment for cancer in the ambulatory/community setting.

This study aims to identify the incidence and risk/protective factors for (1) unplanned emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions (HA) and (2) nausea/vomiting/dehydration (NVD) at time of treatment in older adults under treatment for cancer. This is a exploratory retrospective cohort study of adults (60 and older) with cancer. Adults were included if they had a new cancer diagnosis and were being treated with chemotherapy. Study outcomes included the number of ED visits and HA (cycles 1–4) and NVD at the time of receiving chemotherapy (cycles 2–4). Repeated measures, Poisson regression was used to obtain risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals for independent predictors of outcomes. Of 402 study participants, 20% experienced an ED visit, and 18% experienced a HA. Common reasons for ED visits were pain (23.5%) and NVD (20.4%). Common reasons for HA were infection (34.4%) and NVD (22.2%). Multivariate analysis showed risk factors for ED visits included chemotherapy cycle 1, having esophageal cancer, being treated with ≥ 3 chemotherapy agents, and increasing levels of functional impairment. Risk factors for HA included chemotherapy cycle 1, increasing levels of functional impairment, intravenous fluids between treatment, and being prescribed antiemetics for home use. Predictors of NVD at time of chemotherapy treatment included Hispanic ethnicity, insurance status, cancer type, chemotherapy emetic potent, treatment frequency, intravenous fluids between cycles, and number of home antiemetics. Unplanned ED visits and HA occur in older adults under treatment for cancer due to numerous treatment-related side effects. Helping older adults identify and manage side effects early may reduce the number of unplanned admissions.
Association between secondhand marijuana smoke and respiratory infections in children.

Background Little is known about the effects of secondhand marijuana smoke on children. We aimed to determine caregiver marijuana use prevalence and evaluate any association between secondhand marijuana smoke, childhood emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) visitation, and several tobacco-related illnesses: otitis media, viral respiratory infections (VRIs), and asthma exacerbations. Methods This study was a cross-sectional, convenience sample survey of 1500 subjects presenting to a pediatric ED. The inclusion criteria were as follows: caregivers aged 21-85 years, English- or Spanish-speaking. The exclusion criteria were as follows: children who were critically ill, medically complex, over 11 years old, or using medical marijuana. Results Of 1500 caregivers, 158 (10.5%) reported smoking marijuana and 294 (19.6%) reported smoking tobacco. Using negative-binomial regression, we estimated rates of reported ED/UC visits and specific illnesses among children with marijuana exposure and those with tobacco exposure, compared to unexposed children. Caregivers who used marijuana reported an increased rate of VRIs in their children (1.31 episodes/year) compared to caregivers with no marijuana use (1.04 episodes/year) (p = 0.02). Conclusions Our cohort did not report any difference with ED/UC visits, otitis media episodes, or asthma exacerbations, regardless of smoke exposure. However, caregivers of children with secondhand marijuana smoke exposure reported increased VRIs compared to children with no smoke exposure. Impact Approximately 10% of caregivers in our study were regular users of marijuana. Prior studies have shown that secondhand tobacco smoke exposure is associated with negative health outcomes in children, including increased ED utilization and respiratory illnesses. Prior studies have shown primary marijuana use is linked to negative health outcomes in adults and adolescents, including increased ED utilization and respiratory illnesses. Our study reveals an association between secondhand marijuana smoke exposure and increased VRIs in children. Our study did not find an association between secondhand marijuana smoke exposure and increased ED or UC visitation in children.
Positive and Negative Dysphotopsias: Causes, Prevention, and Best Strategies for Treatment

To explore the etiology and incidence of pseudophakic positive dysphotopsia (PD) and negative dysphotopsia (ND) and summarize strategies to prevent and treat its occurrence. PD is managed with intraocular lens (IOL) exchange for lower refractive index or treated edge lenses or by use of photochromic contact lenses. PD related to presbyopia-correcting IOL designs is prevented with patient screening and education and mitigated post-operatively by optimizing visual acuity, treating ocular surface disease, and facilitating neuroadaptation through virtual augmentation. Consider IOL exchange if these measures fail. ND is managed with manipulation of the optic and the anterior nasal capsule through multiple surgical and procedural techniques. New IOL design and peripheral ring contact lenses are promising treatments. Pseudophakic PD and ND are unique entities presenting independently of one another and demanding individualized prevention and treatments. A multifaceted approach will cater itself to the best treatment per patient.
Levodopa Induced Dyskinesias in Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation due to a Heterozygous Mutation in C19orf12. (P6.088)

Objective: To describe a case of levodopa-induced dyskinesias in a man with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) due to a heterozygous mutation in C19orf12. Background: NBIA is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by mutations in genes involved in iron metabolic pathways, phospholipid metabolism, and lysosomal function. The NBIAs present at variable ages with a combination of movement disorders, cognitive decline, and other symptoms that usually do not respond to levodopa. Mutations in C19orf12 have recently been identified in patients with an NBIA phenotype [1]. This gene codes for a mitochondrial membrane protein, hence the term “mitochondrial membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration” (MPAN). In reported cases of MPAN, levodopa response is variable and no levodopa-induced dyskinesias have been documented. Design/Methods: This proband of a large family with similar phenotype has been evaluated with detailed neurological and neuropsychological assessment, imaging, and sequential videos. Whole exome sequencing showed mutation in C19orf12 (to be reported separately). Results: This 34-year-old man with a family history of neurodegenerative disorders presented with one-year history of progressive slowness, stiffness, gait imbalance, action tremors, and cognitive decline. On examination, he had generalized rigidity, bradykinesia, mild action tremors in both hands, and a parkinsonian gait. MRI brain showed increased iron uptake in the left globus pallidus. Dopamine transporter scan revealed severe loss of dopaminergic neuronal function in the bilateral dorsal striata. Carbidopa/levodopa provided symptomatic improvement in his parkinsonism with development of motor fluctuations and peak-dose dyskinesias. Conclusions: Defects in C19orf12 are the cause of MPAN, a form of NBIA. Our patient with documented familial MPAN presented with progressive parkinsonism that responded well to carbidopa/levodopa therapy, but was associated with motor fluctuations and levodopa-induced dyskinesias. MPAN should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young-onset parkinsonism. Disclosure: Dr. Savitt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jankovic has nothing to disclose.
CONDITIONS FOR ABSOLUTE STABILITY OF SALT GRADIENT SOLAR PONDS

Salt-gradient-stabilized solar ponds normally consist of three zones, a convective surface layer, a nonconvective gradient zone, and a second convective layer at the bottom. The behavior of the convective-nonconvective zone boundaries determines the durability in thickness of the gradient zone and hence the reliability of the pond. Observations presented indicate that for any given convective zone temperatures and salinities there exists an absolutely stable gradient zone of some equilibrium thickness. These observations are discussed in terms of a qualitative description of the processes determining boundary position.
A Specification-Based Methology for Testing Concurrent Programs

This paper presents and evaluates a specification-based methodology for testing concurrent programs. This methodology requires sequencing constraints, which specify restrictions on the allowed sequences of synchronization events. Sequencing constraints for a concurrent program can be derived from the program's formal or informal specification. Details of the proposed testing methodology based on the use of CSPE (Constraints on Succeeding and Preceding Events) are given. How to achieve coverage and detect violations of CSPE constraint for a concurrent program, according to deterministic and nondeterministic testing of this program, are described. A coverage criterion for CSPE-based testing is defined and analyzed. The results of our empirical studies of CSPE-based testing for two concurrent problems are reported. Our results indicate that the use of sequencing constraints for specification-based testing of concurrent programs is a promising approach.
High-Resolution TEM Imaging

Spatial resolution is important for any microscopy. This chapter presents the theory, technique, and examples of achieving the ultimate resolution of a transmission electron microscope with the method of “high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.” Recall (Sect. 2.3.3) that the HRTEM image is an interference pattern between the forward-scattered and diffracted electron waves from the specimen. Interference patterns require close attention to the phases of the waves. While the ray optics approach is useful for a few geometrical arguments, the most important issues in HRTEM are best understood in terms of the phase of the electron wavefront and how this phase is altered by the specimen and by the objective lens. The specimen itself is approximated as an object that provides phase shifts to the electron wavefront, sometimes in proportion to its scattering potential. The method of HRTEM also demands close attention to the performance of the objective lens and other characteristics of the microscope.
Stem cells of the melanocyte lineage

Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells responsible for coloration of skin and hair. Studies using mouse models have allowed identification of putative melanocyte stem cells within the hair follicle and understanding of hair graying caused by abnormal melanocyte stem cell maintenance. The malignant transformation of melanocytes results in melanoma, the sixth most common cancer in the United States. Recent studies have offered compelling evidence for the existence of cancer stem cells in numerous tumor types, including melanoma. In this review we provide an overview of some of the current findings on follicular melanocyte stem cells, the genetic pathways involved in their regulation and maintenance, and discuss recent studies that support the existence of cancer stem cells in melanoma.
Let’s Get Physical: Sexual Orientation Disparities in Physical Activity, Sports Involvement, and Obesity Among a Population-Based Sample of Adolescents

Objectives. We examined sexual orientation disparities in physical activity, sports involvement, and obesity among a population-based adolescent sample.Methods. We analyzed data from the 2012 Dane County Youth Assessment for 13 933 students in grades 9 through 12 in 22 Wisconsin high schools. We conducted logistic regressions to examine sexual orientation disparities in physical activity, sports involvement, and body mass index among male and female adolescents.Results. When we accounted for several covariates, compared with heterosexual females, sexual minority females were less likely to participate in team sports (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.37, 0.53) and more likely to be overweight (AOR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.62) or obese (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.43, 2.48). Sexual minority males were less likely than heterosexual males to be physically active (AOR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.46, 0.83) or to participate in team sports (AOR = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.20, 0.32), but the 2 groups d...
The distribution of eggs per host in a herbivorous insect − intersection of oviposition, dispersal and population dynamics

1. The dynamics of parasitic organisms depend critically upon the frequency distribution of parasite individuals per host. However, the processes giving rise to this frequency distribution have rarely been modelled and tested for organisms with complex host selection behaviour. 2. In this study Microrhopala vittata, a chrysomelid beetle, was used to investigate how oviposition behaviour, movement and density of host plants interact in shaping the frequency distribution of egg clusters per host in the field. 3. Enclosures were stocked with two different host species and different beetle densities and various stochastic process models were fitted to egg cluster count data obtained from these enclosures. The different models were derived considering different scenarios, in particular whether or not plant density limits oviposition rate, whether or not ovipositing females actively seek out the most attractive plant within their perception radius and whether a female's oviposition rate is determined by plant intrinsic factors, the plant's egg cluster load or the surrounding beetle density. 4. The model parameters fitted to cage data were used to describe the frequency distribution of egg cluster counts obtained in a release experiment in the field. A total of 220 beetle pairs were released at five locations in a field where this beetle was not observed previously. Each release point was at a border between the two host species. 5. One model predicted for the preferred host species the egg cluster count frequencies in the field from parameters estimated in the cages. This model assumed that egg clusters present on a plant increased subsequent oviposition on this plant. All other models could not describe the distribution of egg cluster counts for either of the two host species. 6. The results suggest that females seek out attractive hosts actively and the attractiveness of a plant increases with its egg cluster load. This behaviour creates a frequency distribution of egg clusters per host that depends only on beetle density but not on plant density. This conclusion has important implications for modelling insect-plant interactions.
Responses in Area V4 Depend on the Spatial Relationship Between Stimulus and Attention

1. We studied the spatial interaction between stimulus and attention in macaque area V4. Monkeys were required to fixate a small spot while continuously attending to a ring-shaped target within a large array of identical rings. Meanwhile, the response of the V4 cell under study was tested by flashing behaviorally irrelevant bar stimuli in the cell's classical receptive field (CRF). The location of the attended ring was varied across four positions surrounding the CRF, and the location of the bar stimulus was varied across five positions spanning the CRF. 2. Response strength depended on two aspects of the spatial relationship between the stimulus driving the cell (the bar) and the position of attention (the target ring). First, for 49% of the cells studied, responses were greater for bar stimuli near the attended ring; i.e., the receptive field profile shifted toward the attentional focus. Second, for 84% of the cells, the overall response level depended on the direction in which attention lay relative to the stimulus in the CRF (e.g., to the left, right, above, or below). 3. This study confirms a key prediction of spatial models of attention, which postulate enhanced processing of all stimuli near the attentional focus. It also introduces the novel finding that responses are influenced by the relative direction of attention. This result indicates that area V4 carries information about the spatial relationship between visual stimuli and attention.
Experience with a fourth-generation language system for software development: an educator's perspective

Abstract The author taught software engineering for many years before practicing it in a “real world” project. The project used Paradox, a fourth-generation language system for PCs. This article describes the project and why it is considered “software development,” although it used a packaged data base system. Included are insights derived from the experience, emphasizing those things that were surprising, the things for which the author was not prepared by just studying and teaching the classic software engineering papers and textbooks.