Joseph F. Wagner

A Transfer-in-Pieces Consideration of the Perception of Structure in the Transfer of Learning.

Many approaches to the transfer problem argue that transfer depends on the recognition of the same or similar abstract structure in 2 different situations. However, mainstream cognitive perspectives and contrasting Piagetian constructivist accounts differ in their conceptualizations of structure. These differences, not clearly articulated in the literature, have significant implications for accounts of transfer. Using interview data involving undergraduates learning elementary principles of probability and statistics, and Wagners (2006) transfer-in-pieces perspective, I extend existing constructivist accounts of transfer in at least 2 ways. First, I show how the notion of a concept projection (diSessa & Wagner, 2005; Wagner, 2006) reveals fine-grained mechanisms of transfer that demonstrate how people structure situations and that elaborate on the Piagetian processes of assimilation and accommodation. Second, I examine how what experts consider a single mathematical concept or principle may come to be recognized through a variety of assimilatory cognitive resources whose usefulness is influenced by contextual factors. That is, an individual might structure 2 contextually dissimilar situations differently while perceiving the same mathematical principle at work in both. Similarly, 2 or more individuals may agree on the relevance of a particular mathematical concept in a situation, even though each structures the situation differently.

Representation issues: Using mathematics in upper-division physics

Upper-division students must learn to apply sophisticated mathematics from algebra, limits, calculus, multivariable and vector calculus, linear algebra, complex variables, and ordinary and partial differential equations. The presenters in this session will discuss how the representations that we choose may affect whether students are able to use this mathematics spontaneously and correctly, whether they can move smoothly between representations, and the extent to which their understanding of the mathematics enhances their understanding of the physics. The discussant will incorporate the perspective of research in undergraduate mathematics education as it applies to the representations that have been presented.

Abstract 2369: Molecular profile of a GM-CSF overexpressing breast cancer whole-cell vaccine with systemic anti-tumor activity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF STUDY: The allogeneic whole-cell cancer vaccine BriaVax(TM) (formerly SV-BR-1-GM) is an ER/PR negative, HER2/neu positive breast cancer cell line (SV-BR-1) we engineered to stably overexpress GM-CSF. BriaVax, rendered proliferation incompetent by irradiation, has thus far been applied to 4 advanced stage cancer patients (3 subjects with breast cancer, 1 subject with ovarian cancer). One breast cancer subject responded to BriaVax with complete remission of a measurable lung lesion and near complete remission of multiple breast lesions after only 3 inoculations. Nevertheless, she relapsed 3 months after completing the protocol, with brain metastases as well as multiple breast lesions. We obtained FDA permission to resume vaccinations, and, upon doing so, all metastatic sites responded with a prompt tumor regression after only 3 inoculations. To prospectively identify patients with a high likelihood of benefiting from BriaVax therapy we began a program to identify molecular factors of diagnostic potential. Here, we describe a gene expression signature that might both be informative about BriaVax’ mechanism of action and helpful for developing diagnostic or monitoring biomarkers. METHODS: To prospectively identify patients with tumors responsive to BriaVax we began a molecular analysis of both the BriaVax cell line and cells obtained from the special clinical responder9s blood. BriaVax gene expression profiles were obtained through Illumina BeadArray and NanoString nCounter technologies and compared to gene expression data sets publically available through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO; National Center for Biotechnology Information) portal. RESULTS: BriaVax expresses a gene signature consistent with a mechanism of action involving not only the activation of cytotoxic T cells but also the induction of a humoral response. In addition, BriaVax expresses known cancer antigens. Notably, blood-derived cells of the special clinical responder expressed genes complementing BriaVax’ gene expression signature, thus possibly explaining the unusually prompt and robust clinical response to BriaVax. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that BriaVax exerts its therapeutic effects via multiple modes. We identified both candidate immunogens overexpressed in BriaVax compared to normal breast cells and unraveled a potential mechanism of action explaining the encouraging clinical response observed. Citation Format: Markus Daniel Lacher, Charles L. Wiseman, Joseph Wagner. Molecular profile of a GM-CSF overexpressing breast cancer whole-cell vaccine with systemic anti-tumor activity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2369.

Abstract 551: Identification of gene-expression biomarkers in urine pathology specimens for the detection of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer recurrence screening is typically managed with a combination of urine cytology and cystoscopy, each with its inherent caveats. Cystoscopy is generally considered the gold standard for diagnosing bladder cancer and can yield a valuable biopsy, but is too invasive and expensive for routine screening and surveillance. Voided urine cytology is inexpensive and readily available, but lacks the desired level of sensitivity. Furthermore, up to 20% of urine cytology specimens fall into one of two indeterminate categories that require follow-up testing, typically in the form of an invasive cystoscopy procedure. With the goal of developing a urine-based molecular test for bladder cancer recurrence surveillance, we examined gene expression biomarkers in urine cytopathology specimens. 90 patient urine samples were analyzed: 45 high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HG-UC) and 45 benign samples. All patient samples were submitted to the Johns Hopkins Cytopathology Department for evaluation for bladder cancer via urine cytology. The samples represent patients undergoing bladder cancer recurrence screening and patients without a prior history of bladder cancer presenting with hematuria. The urine sediments were stored in liquid based cytology solution at 4°C for a period of 7 - 10 days, during which time the cytopathology diagnosis was determined from a portion of the sample. Post-diagnosis, the pathology sample “leftover” was analyzed for gene expression. RNA was extracted, amplified and microarray analysis was performed and a panel of molecular biomarkers was identified. Individual genes in this panel discriminate between HG-UC and benign in this training set with an average ROC of 0.86 (p Citation Format: Karen B. Chapman, Liqun Qiu, Jennifer Kidd, Aparna Baxi, Markus D. Lachter, Joseph Wagner, Dorothy L. Rosenthal, Matthew T. Olson. Identification of gene-expression biomarkers in urine pathology specimens for the detection of bladder cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 551. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-551