cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assent in Pediatric Patients.

AIM To report an analysis of the concept of pediatric assent. BACKGROUND The concept of assent is poorly defined in current literature which may lead to potentially flawed practices in obtaining pediatric assent. DESIGN The Walker and Avant (2011) method is used to provide clarity to the concept of pediatric assent. DATA SOURCES Data were collected from PubMed, Academic Search Premier, PhilPapers, Wikipedia, and Google. REVIEW METHODS Data were collected from 2014 to 2015. Twenty-three sources published between 2011 and 2015, nine sources published between 2003 and 2009, the Belmont Report (1979), and the American Academy of Pediatrics' report (1995) were included for pertinent contributions to this multidisciplinary concept analysis. RESULTS Elements of assent include a patient's thoughtful review of the proposed treatment and rational decision in choosing the best course of action. There may be social, familial, and cognitive development factors influencing this process. CONCLUSION This framework uses nurses' knowledge of cognitive development and ethics to inform practice. Assent is respectful of minor patients and ensures their rights are protected. Policies and procedures can be developed to incorporate assent, researchers have a stronger conceptual base, and educators can train nurses to help pediatric patients develop medical decision making skills.
Arterial blood pressure estimation using ultrasound: Clinical results on healthy volunteers and a medicated hypertensive volunteer

This study presents a non-occlusive and non-invasive ultrasound-based technique to measure blood pressure. Most popular clinically-used arterial blood pressure measurement techniques suffer from important weaknesses including being inaccurate, invasive, or occlusive. In the proposed technique, an ultrasound probe is placed on the patient's carotid artery and the contact force between the probe and the tissue is slowly increased while ultrasound images and contact force data are recorded. From this data, the artery is segmented and the segmentation data is sent into an optimization procedure; after post-processing, blood pressure is displayed to the user. This technique was applied to 24 healthy single-visit volunteers, one multi-visit healthy volunteer, and one multi-visit medicated hypertensive volunteer. Compared to the oscillometric cuff, the accuracy and precision of the algorithm-reported systolic pressure is −2.4 ± 10.2 mmHg, and for diastolic pressure is −0.3 ± 8.2 mmHg. This method has the potential to occupy a clinical middle-ground between the arterial catheter and the oscillometric cuff.
Modeling Controversy within Populations

A growing body of research focuses on computationally detecting controversial topics and understanding the stances people hold on them. Yet gaps remain in our theoretical and practical understanding of how to define controversy, how it manifests, and how to measure it. Since controversy is a complicated social phenomenon, it is difficult to understand what elements make up the controversy. Previous work has attempted to capture controversy algorithmically by studying cues for disagreement and polarity between different stance groups. However, we still lack a systematic understanding of how controversy should be defined and measured. In this paper, we propose a multi-dimensional model of controversy. Specifically, we introduce a model with two minimal dimensions: contention and importance. Our model departs from existing work by viewing controversy as a trait rooted in population. It suggests that controversy should be separately observed in a given population, rather than held as a fixed universal quantity. We model contention and importance within a population from a mathematical standpoint. To validate and evaluate the soundness of our theoretical model, we instantiate the model to algorithms for a diverse set of sources: polling, Twitter, and Wikipedia. We demonstrate that our controversy model holds an explanatory power for observed phenomena but also a predictive power for tasks, such as identifying controversial Wikipedia articles.
Ultrafast dynamics of semiconductor quantum dots relevant to solar fuels production (Conference Presentation)

Artificial conversion of sunlight to chemical fuels has attracted attention for several decades as a potential source of clean, renewable energy. For example, in light-driven proton reduction to molecular hydrogen, a light-absorbing molecule (the photosensitizer) rapidly transfers a photoexcited electron to a catalyst for reducing protons. We recently found that CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and simple aqueous Ni2+ salts in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor form a highly efficient, active, and robust system for photochemical reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen. To understand why this system has such extraordinary catalytic behavior, ultrafast transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy studies of electron transfer (ET) processes from the QDs to the Ni catalysts were performed. CdSe QDs transfer photoexcited electrons to a Ni-dihydrolipoic acid (Ni-DHLA) catalyst complex extremely fast and with high efficiency: the amplitude-weighted average ET lifetime is 69 ± 2 ps, and ~90% of ultrafast TA signal is assigned to ET processes. Interestingly, under high fluence, sufficient to create on average almost 2 excitons per QD, the relative fraction of TA signal due to ET remains well over 80%, and depopulation from exciton-exciton annihilation is minimal (6%). We also found that increasing QD size and/or shelling the core CdSe QDs with a shell of CdS slowed the ET rate, in agreement with the relative efficiency of photochemical H2 generation. The extremely fast ET provides a fundamental explanation for the exceptional photocatalytic H2 activity of the CdSe QD/Ni-DHLA system and guides new directions for further improvements.
2017 Decade Award Invited Article Reflections on the 2017 Decade Award: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Financial Crisis

This essay reflects on my 2007 article, “Why Would Corporations Behave in Socially Responsible Ways? An Institutional Theory of Corporate Social Responsibility,” which received the 2017 Academy of ...
Development of a Hybrid Course on Wheelchair Service Provision for clinicians in international contexts.

Introduction Wheelchair users worldwide are at high risk of developing secondary health conditions and premature death due to inappropriate wheelchair provision by untrained providers. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) has developed a Hybrid Course based on the World Health Organization’s Wheelchair Service Training Package—Basic Level. The Hybrid Course leverages online modules designed for low-bandwidth internet access that reduces the in-person training exposure from five to three and a half days, making it less expensive and more convenient for both trainees and trainers. Methods The Hybrid Course was designed using a systematic approach guided by an international group of stakeholders. The development followed the Quality Matters Higher Educational Rubric, web design guidelines for low bandwidth, experts’ opinions, and the best practices for blended course design. A quasi-experimental approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hybrid Course taken by six graduate students in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh by measuring pre- and post knowledge using the validated ISWP Wheelchair Service Provision—Basic Test. The outcome measure was assessed using a paired sample t-test between pretest and posttest scores. The quality of the Hybrid Course was evaluated by three external reviewers using the Quality Matters Higher Educational Rubric who were blind to each others’ evaluation and the results of the training intervention. Results Hybrid Course participants reported significant increases in scores on the ISWP Wheelchair Service Provision—Basic Test after participating in the training, with an average increase of 10.84±5.42, p = 0.004, Cohen’s d = 1.99. In addition, the Hybrid Course met the Quality Matters Standards in two out of three evaluations and reported a percentage of agreement between evaluators of 84%. Conclusions The Hybrid Course met quality standards and proved to be effective in increasing basic level wheelchair knowledge in a group of Rehabilitation Science graduate students.
Random Flow and Its Spectra

After a short introduction to probability and to random fields, we shall define homogeneous random flow, its energy, vorticity and dissipation spectra, and its Fourier transform.
Redundant Implementations of Discrete-Time Linear Time-Invariant Dynamic Systems

This chapter discusses fault tolerance in discrete-time linear time-invariant (LTI) dynamic systems [Hadjicostis and Verghese, 1997; Hadjicostis and Verghese, 1999; Hadjicostis, 1999]. It focuses on redundant implementations that reflect the state of the original system into a larger LTI dynamic system in a linearly encoded form. In essence, this chapter restricts attention to discrete-time LTI dynamic systems and linear coding techniques, both of which are rather standard and well-developed topics in system and coding theory respectively. Interestingly enough, the combination of linear dynamics and coding reveals some novel aspects of the problem, as summarized by the characterization of the class of appropriate redundant implementations given in Theorem 5.1. In most of the fault-tolerance schemes discussed, error detection and correction is performed at the end of each time step, although examples of non-concurrent schemes are also presented [Hadjicostis, 2000; Hadjicostis, 2001].
Syndromes of premature aging.

The premature aging syndromes are rare hereditary disorders with features resembling those commonly observed in normal individuals of advanced age. This article reviews progeria, acrogeria, me tage ria, Werne r's syndrome, Rothm undThomson syndrome, and Cockayne's syndrome, with emphasis on their cutaneous findings. At the present time, despite many clinical and laboratory-based observations, no pathogenetic mechanisms have been elucidated.
Differentiation of Predominantly Solid Enhancing Lipid-Poor Renal Cell Masses by Use of Contrast-Enhanced CT: Evaluating the Role of Texture in Tumor Subtyping

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a panel of texture features extracted from clinical CT in differentiating benign from malignant solid enhancing lipid-poor renal m...
A wholesome new world

Today's consumers are increasingly concerned about how their food is produced. In some cases, consumers also want to know where their food was produced, who produced it, and when it was sent to the market relative to when and where they are purchasing and consuming the product.
Proceedings of the 2014 international symposium on Memory management

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 ACM International Symposium on Memory Management. This year the call for papers attracted 22 submissions from around the world, representing research from academia and industry. The program committee selected 11 of these papers for presentation and publication in the conference. The acceptance rate is similar to prior years and reflects the generally high quality of submissions to ISMM. We encourage participants to attend the opening keynote by Tony Printezis: • Use of the JVM at Twitter: A Bird's Eye View, Tony Printezis, Twitter, Inc. Tony spent 10 years at Sun Microsystems (now Oracle) working on garbage collection and virtual machine technology, on both the research side and product side. Now at Twitter, Tony will talk about the special demands placed on VMs and memory managers by the Twitter infrastructure and how his team is addressing them.
High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin After Cardiac Stress Test: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background The recent introduction of high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs‐cTn) assays has allowed clinicians to measure hs‐cTn before and after cardiac stress testing, but the hs‐cTn release patt...
Supplemental cracked corn or wheat bran for steers grazing endophyte-free fescue pasture : Effects on live weight gain, nutrient quality, forage intake, particulate and fluid kinetics, ruminal fermentation, and digestion

Two experiments were conducted with beef steers (Exp. 1, average BW of 580 kg; Exp. 2, average BW of 247 kg) to evaluate the use of no supplements (CON) or daily supplementation with (OM basis) .34% of BW of cracked corn (CORN), .34% of BW of wheat bran (WBBW), or .48% of BW of wheat bran (WBISO; calculated to be isocaloric to CORN) on digestive responses (Exp. 1) and live weight gain (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, type of supplement did not affect (P > .10) the dietary fiber or N constituents, but in vitro OM disappearance of the forage differed (P .10) by supplementation. Ruminal NH3 N concentration showed (P .10) among supplemented steers. Molar proportions of acetate were lower (P = .01) in supplemented steers than in CON steers and were greater (P = .03) in WBBW steers than in WBISO steers. Butyrate molar proportions were lower (P < .05) in CON steers than in supplemented steers and differed (P < .10) with type and quantity of supplement supplied. In situ forage NDF disappearance at 6, 9, and 24 h after feeding and rate of disappearance were greater (P < .05) in CON steers than in supplemented steers. In Exp. 2, CON steers weighed less (P = .01) than supplemented steers, CORN steers weighed more (P = .08) than wheat bran-supplemented steers, and WBISO steers weighed more (P = .02) than WBBW steers; ADG for 90 d followed a similar response. Results suggest that supplementation of wheat bran rather than corn did not seem to stop the reduction in forage intake or OM digestion associated with corn supplementation.
Social Identity in Sociology

Abstract Social identities are definitions of self based on claimed membership in a social category. They incorporate not only cognitive meanings but also emotional significance and motivational implications. Important features of social identification include their multiplicity, the possibilities of change over time, and the range of behavioral consequences that are linked to the endorsement of an identity. Additionally, social identities serve as an important conceptual link between individual psychological processes and the situational and structural features of society.
Transport Properties and Upper Critical Field of Single Crystal Non-Magnetic LuxY1-xNi2B2C and Magnetic LuxGd1-xNi2B2C

The in-plane resistance of single crystal non-magnetic LuxY1-xNi2B2C and magnetic LuxGd1-xNi2B2C samples as a function of the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field and temperature have been measured. The superconducting upper critical field Hc2(T) is anisotropic for both. A positive curvature in Hc2(T) near Tc(x) is clearly observed only for the non-magnetic impurity. At low temperature Hc2(T) for the sample with magnetic impurities is strongly reduced. Thermopower, thermal conductivity and resistivity as a function of temperature are also reported for LuxGd1-xNi2B2C.
Interferon-α-Associated Acquired Factor VIII Inhibitor.

Abstract Introduction: Development of an acquired inhibitor to factor VIII (acquired hemophilia) is a rare autoimmune phenomenon that has been associated with a variety of medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, malignancies, drugs like penicillin and postpartum state. It often presents with acute, life-threatening hemorrhage. Interferon alpha (IFN) is an immune system modulator that is widely used for the treatment of hepatitis C and various malignancies. It is known to stimulate or exacerbate autoimmune diseases and has been described in four separate reports to be associated with the development of inhibitors to factor VIII. All but one of these four cases represented patients with underlying malignancy or congenital hemophilia A. Case Report: Our patient is a 55-year old non-hemophiliac with no prior diagnosis of cancer who developed new-onset bruising while on IFN therapy for hepatitis C. This was not evaluated or treated further at that time. Six months after completing IFN therapy, he presented to the emergency room with respiratory distress. On examination, he was found to have a large supraglottic hematoma and underwent an urgent tracheostomy for impending respiratory failure. This was followed by severe postoperative bleeding which the otolaryngologists were unable to control surgically. Laboratory testing showed a prolonged activated prothrombin time and infusion of fresh frozen plasma failed to achieve hemostasis. A hematology consultation was obtained and the patient was treated with activated recombinant factor VII (rVIIa) which resulted in prompt cessation of bleeding. Existence of factor VIII inhibitor was confirmed by abnormal mixing studies (no correction), low factor VIII activity (2.1%) and high inhibitor titer (42 Bethesda Units/ml [BU]). Following hospital discharge, inhibitor titers slowly declined to less than 1 BU after immunosuppressive therapy with steroids, alkylating agents and rituximab given sequentially over a period of nine months. The factor VIII activity has also increased to 15%. The patient has since had occasional mild to moderate soft tissue bleeding which responded well to rVIIa. Conclusion: One previous report has described a patient without a history of hemophilia or cancer who developed factor VIII inhibitor while being treated with pegylated IFN for hepatitis C. Our patient represents only the second such report and adds to the slowly growing body of literature pointing to this association. Although this data is anecdotal, we believe that the potential for such inhibitors to produce serious and even life threatening hemorrhage warrants awareness of and attention to this possibility by clinicians treating patients with IFN. Simple clinical vigilance along these lines may help identify and address this condition in a timely fashion before it has a chance to produce catastrophic bleeding.
Infiltration of Benign Meningioma into Sagittal Sinus and Subsequent Metastasis to Lung: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background Meningioma is an intracranial tumor frequently encountered in the neurosurgical setting. Extracranial disease is a rare occurrence, with a reported incidence in 0.1% of cases. Metastasis is associated with previous craniotomy, venous sinus invasion, local recurrence, and World Health Organization (WHO) grade III tumor. Metastasis of a benign, grade I meningioma is extraordinarily rare. Case Description We report a case of a 41-year-old with a WHO grade I intracranial meningioma that had invaded and occluded the superior sagittal sinus. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed pulmonary nodules, which were biopsied and confirmed benign meningioma. The metastatic meningiomas were found before resection of the primary tumor, suggesting direct seeding through the venous system versus iatrogenic seeding. Thirteen years later, an additional lung mass was found incidentally on abdominal CT scan for workup of a sarcoidosis. Biopsy and subsequent resection confirmed benign meningioma. A retrospective review of earlier chest CT scans revealed a small lesion that corresponded to the larger lesion found 13 years later. Conclusions This a rare case of a WHO grade I meningioma involving the sagittal sinus with direct seeding of the pulmonary vascular bed leading to multiple meningioma metastases. The report highlights an increased risk of distant metastases for a benign meningioma with invasion of dural sinuses.
Renal anomalies and microtia: Determining the clinical utility of screening affected children.

Abstract Objectives Microtia is a congenital ear anomaly that hinders quality of life. Microtia patients, both syndromic and in isolation, may be at-risk for significant renal anomalies that can go undetected at the time of birth. The goal of this study was to characterize the prevalence of renal anomalies among microtia patients at our institution in order to guide optimal patient management. Current guidelines suggest performing a renal ultrasound when there is presence of preauricular pits and ear anomalies in association with dysmorphic features, but not in cases of isolated microtia and atresia. Design A retrospective review of 237 children with microtia was conducted from 2001 through 2018 at our tertiary-care pediatric institution, of which 98 also had a documented renal ultrasound. Patients were identified as syndromic or non-syndromic. Data endpoints included renal ultrasounds performed, structural anomalies found, and follow-up. Results Among the 237 patients, 98 had received renal ultrasounds. 12% of the total cohort was found to be syndromic, the most common being Goldenhar. Structural anomalies were detected in 24% of the 98 patients that underwent ultrasound and included disorders such as pelviectasis, renal ectopia, duplicated collecting systems, and renal agenesis. A third of patients with anomalies required follow-up with nephrology for chronic kidney disease or renal failure. Of note, 21% of non-syndromic patients and 43% of syndromic patients screened had an abnormality on ultrasonography. Conclusions Children with microtia are at a significant risk of structural renal abnormalities, even when isolated outside of a genetic syndrome. We recommend the strong consideration of performing a screening renal ultrasound in all patients with microtia. Prospective data would be helpful in developing future clinical guidelines regarding the utility of screening ultrasonography.
The number of random restarts required to identify all solutions to a nonlinear system: applications to global stochastic optimization

We consider the question of identifying the set of all solutions to a system of nonlinear equations, when the functions involved in the system can only be observed through a stochastic simulation. Such problems frequently arise as first order necessary conditions in global simulation optimization problems. A convenient method of "solving" such problems involves generating (using a fixed sample) a sample-path approximation of the functions involved, and then executing a convergent root-finding algorithm with several random restarts. The various solutions obtained thus are then gathered to form the estimator of the true set. We investigate the quality of the returned set in terms of the expected Hausdorff distance between the returned and true sets. Our message is that a certain simple logarithmic relationship between the sample size and the number of random restarts ensures maximal efficiency.
Are You In or Are You Out? Provider Note Sharing in Pediatrics.

Background The OpenNotes initiative launched an international movement aimed at making health care more transparent by improving communication with, and access to, information for patients through provider note sharing. Little has been written either on provider note sharing in pediatric and adolescent populations or on the impact of system default settings versus voluntary provider note sharing. Objective We describe our journey as a pediatric integrated delivery network to default share notes in ambulatory specialty practices not only with parent proxies but also with teens and discuss the methods that led to a successful implementation. Methods Retrospective analysis of every ambulatory shareable medical provider note written in pediatric subspecialty clinics within an integrated pediatric delivery network from April 2017 through March 2019. Results From April 2017 to February 2018, a total of 221,655 notes were shareable based on organizational policies, yet only 224 (0.1%) were actually shared with patients and families. After implementing a system of default release of notes from March 2018 to January 2019, a total of 224,960 notes were shareable, of which 191,379 (85%) were shared. Conclusion Requiring providers to take an action to share notes (opt-in) results in few notes being shared while requiring providers to take an action to not share notes (opt-out) results in high levels of note sharing. We demonstrate that default release of notes in pediatric organizations to both proxies and teens is not only achievable but also likely to lead to increased provider note sharing with patients without obvious negative impact on providers or the organization.
Possible Origins for the 12μ Emission Lines in the Solar Spectrum

Braut and Noyes (1982,1983) have reported the detection of about 40 unidentified emission lines near 12u in the solar spectrum. The strongest lines, at 811.578 cm”1 and 818.062 cm-1, respectively, appear as broad, shallow absorption lines, less than 3% deep, with central, emission reversals projecting 5–10% above the continuum. The emission lines strengthen at the limb and over spot penumbrae but seem to be absent over spot umbrae. The full width at half-intensity of the emission lines is about 5 km/sec, but the absorption widths are more than 10 times as broad. Over spot penumbrae, the Zeeman splitting of the emission lines is striking. The lines have the appearance of a Zeeman triplet; the central component is nearly absent at the center of the disk but is very strong near the limb where the field is viewed perpendicularly to the line of sight. The splitting over spot penumbrae is about 10 times the width of the central component, and is consistent with that of a spectral line with a Lande g-factor of unity in a magnetic field of 1500 gauss. Braut and Noyes (1982, 1983) point out that the 12μ lines are a potentially powerful tool for magnetic field measurements in stars. Further observational details will be found in their referenced papers.
Clinical Evaluation and Utilization of Multiple Molecular In Vitro Diagnostic Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives To evaluate the clinical performance of 3 molecular assays for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods We used 184 nasopharyngeal swab specimens to compare Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 (Abbott ID NOW), DiaSorin Molecular Simplexa COVID-19 Direct (DiaSorin Simplexa), and Roche cobas 6800 SARS-CoV-2 (Roche cobas) assays. In a separate analysis, 3 specimens (nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and nasal) were collected from 182 unique patients presenting to the emergency department with suspicion of coronavirus disease 2019 and were tested utilizing Abbott ID NOW. To further characterize each assay, relative limits of detection were evaluated utilizing positive nasopharyngeal patient samples. Results The positive percent agreement was 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.97) for Abbott ID NOW and 100% (95% CI, 0.90-1.00) for DiaSorin Simplexa and Roche cobas. The negative percent agreement was 100% (95% CI, 0.98-1.00) for all 3 assays. All swab types tested with the Abbott assay produced concordant results. Polymerase chain reaction assays had approximately 10 to 100 times lower limits of detection than Abbott ID NOW. Conclusions Based on these evaluations, a multiplatform testing approach is proposed, depending on patient population and assay sensitivity, to address testing needs during a public health emergency.
Predicting phenoconversion in pure autonomic failure

Objective To determine predicting factors and frequency of phenoconversion from pure autonomic failure (PAF) into a synucleinopathy with motor or cognitive involvement of multiple system atrophy (MSA), Parkinson disease (PD), or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients with PAF from 2001 to 2011 evaluated at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Clinical follow-up and patient telephone calls were used to assess for development of symptoms and diagnosis of MSA, PD, or DLB. Clinical and laboratory variables were extracted with factors predictive of evolution assessed using group comparison, odds ratio, and logistical regression. Results Among 275 patients with PAF at presentation, 67 (24%) phenoconverted to a synucleinopathy with motor or cognitive involvement; 34 met criteria for MSA, while 33 met criteria for PD or DLB. Age at onset was younger in MSA phenoconverters. Clinical features at presentation influenced phenoconversion: severe bladder symptoms were more common in MSA phenoconverters; subtle motor signs were more frequent in MSA and PD/DLB phenoconverters. MSA phenoconverters were more likely to have higher supine norepinephrine levels and preganglionic pattern of anhidrosis. Presentation variables predicting MSA phenoconversion included subtle motor signs, supine norepinephrine levels, severe bladder symptoms, and dream enactment behavior. Presentation variables predictive of PD/DLB phenoconversion included subtle motor signs, dream enactment behavior, and constipation. Conclusions Our findings suggest that at least a quarter of patients with PAF phenoconvert to MSA, PD, or DLB. Presentation features determine patients at risk for evolution with specific patterns indicative of phenoconversion to MSA vs PD/DLB. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that several presentation variables including subtle motor signs, severe bladder symptoms, and dream enactment behavior are associated with an increased risk of developing a synucleinopathy with motor or cognitive involvement.
Review of Seismic Risk Mitigation Policies in Earthquake-Prone Countries: Lessons for Earthquake Resilience in the United States

This article reviews the current state of practice in seismic risk mitigation, focusing on policies in ten of the most earthquake-prone countries around the world. In particular, the review compare...
Backscattering limit of nanoscale heat conduction

Being able to achieve extremely low thermal conductivities is of fundamental importance as well as of practical interest for thermal energy conversion and storage materials. By incorporating backscattering effects on thermal phonon transport, here we introduce a new lower limit for the thermal conductivities of nanoscale engineered materials. Our formulation shows that surface backscattering allows to reach a minimum limit for thermal energy transport at the nanoscale, achieving thermal conductivities which are orders of magnitude smaller than those obtained with classical approaches.
Stage One: Group Preservation

The first stage of population behavior centers on group preservation. The compact group, those individuals immediately and directly affected by the unfolding hazard, is motivated by the desire to preserve life and reach safety. Group preservation progresses through two identifiable sub-stages: (1) information-seeking and (2) group preservation actions. Throughout this stage, there are also visceral and immediate emotional responses to the hazard. Emotional responses and information-seeking behavior unfold in a systematic fashion to maximize the survival of the compact group in the face of an evolving disaster. Emotional response motivates individuals and groups to seek out more information about the current predicament, while information in turn guides rational actions to alleviate the threat. Group preservation actions implement knowledge gained during information-seeking and aim to ensure the safety and evacuation of the compact group [1].
Apoptotic death induced by TMZ and MX is due to apoptotic signals emanating from mitochondria DNA damage

1540 The importance of the mitochondria in DNA damage agent induced apoptosis has become increasingly apparent, due to the fact that mitochondrial DNA is a critical target for damage from chemicals and oxidants and they are the central regulator of apoptosis. We have previously reported that methoxyamine potentiate cytotoxicity of temozolomide through the its ability to bind AP sites produced after removal of TMZ-induced abnormal bases, such as N7mG or N3mA, by DNA methylpurine glycosylase, leading to interruption of BER. In this study, we examined the impact of mitochondrial DNA damage on cell killing effect of TMZ and MX by measuring the formation N7mG DNA adducts and AP sites that are the DNA damages for BER. We also assayed the reduction of AP sites by MX that indicates the blockage of BER. N7mG DNA adducts were detected by HPLC in both mtDNA and nuclear DNA respectively after cells (colon cancer cell lines: HCT116 and SW480) were treated with TMZ (0-1500 μM) and with/without MX (12 mM) for 4 hr. The levels of N7mG DNA adducts were increased proportionally with the concentration of TMZ, however, the levels of N7mG were 3-5 fold higher in mtDNA than that in nuclear DNA. The combination of TMZ with MX did not affect the formation of N7mG adducts. AP site assay by ARP, which has similar reactivity to MX to bind AP sites, showed that MX reduced AP sites by 3-fold of AP sites generated by TMZ alone in either mtDNA and nuclear DNA. These data suggest that TMZ induces high levels of mtDNA damages and MX is able to blocking BER in mitochondria. Thus, mtDNA is the target for TMZ and MX. Decreased expression of Bcl-2 was observed 24 h after treatment with TMZ and MX, indicating the onset of apoptotic death mediated by Bcl-2, however, we suggest that the apoptotic signals are emanating from mitochondria DNA damages.
Scope and abstraction: two criteria for localized planning

Localization is a general-purpose representational technique for partitioning a problem into subproblems. A localized problem-solver searches several smaller search spaces, one for each subproblem Unlike most methods of partitioning, however, localization allows for subproblems that overlap - 1 e multiple search spaces may be involved in constructing shared pieces of the overall plan. In this paper we focus on two criteria for forming localizations scope and abstraction. We describe a method for automatically generating such localizations and provide empirical results that contrast their use in an office-building construction domain.
Systems Theoretic Approach to Formal Theory of Problem Solving

Objective of my presentation is to give an outline or rather a “synopsis” for mathematical theory of problem solving based on systems theoretic concepts and viewpoints, in particular what I call (mathematical) general systems theory.
Region Specific Effects of Maternal Immune Activation on Offspring Neuroimmune Function

Growing evidence suggests that maternal immune activation has a significant impact on the immuno-competence of the offspring. The present study aimed to characterize region-specific effects of maternal immune activation on the offspring’s neuroimmune function. The offspring born to dams treated with saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at gestational day 18 was stimulated with saline or LPS at postnatal day 21, and the mRNA expression of various inflammatory genes in different brain regions of the offspring was analyzed. The offspring born to saline-treated dams exhibited a typical neuroimmune response with elevated levels of cytokines and chemokines following LPS stimulation in all four brain regions examined. In contrast, the offspring born to LPS- treated dams exhibited significantly reduced mRNA induction of cytokines and chemokines following LPS stimulation in the prefrontal cortex but not in the brainstem when compared with pups born to saline-treated dams. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of LPS-induced I-κBζ was significantly attenuated in the prefrontal cortex when compared with pups born to saline-treated dams. These results suggest that maternal LPS may have differential effects on the neuroimmune function in different regions of the offspring brain, and highlight the importance of maternal milieu in the development of neuroimmune function in the offspring.
Structural Studies of Superionic Conduction

EXAFS data on the normal and superionic phases of AgI and the cuprous halides have been analyzed using four structural models: harmonic oscillator, displaced site, anharmonic oscillator, and excluded volume. The most satisfactory description is obtained with the last model, based upon a softened hard-sphere pair potential. The results indicate that the tetrahedral locations in the halogen lattice are preferred by the mobile cations, but that at elevated temperatures substantial cation density also occurs at bridging trigonal sites, yielding the conduction path. Potential energy barrier heights are obtained. Finally, by modeling the conducting cations as a Boltzmann gas in the presence of the potential deduced from the EXAFS data, the temperature-dependent DC ionic conductivity is calculated.
DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A NATIONAL SET OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES: THE MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY LEARNING OBJECTIVES PROJECT

In 1998, the American Physiological Society (APS) and the Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology (ACDP) began collaboration on a project to develop a set of physiology learning objectiv...
Detection of endotoxemia with the Limulus test: Preliminary studies in severely malnourished children

Eighteen Peruvian children with protein-calorie malnutrition were studied to evaluate the usefulness of theLimulus assay for endotoxin in detecting gram-negative sepsis. Nine of the children had at least one positive Limulus assay, and eight of this group had bacteriologic cultures indicative of gram-negative infection. Four of these nine children with positive Limulus assays died, whereas only one of the nine children with negativ assays died. This preliminary study suggests the usefulness of the Limulus assay as an adjunct to bacteriologic cultures in the early detection of significant gram-negative infection in severely malnourished children.
The Role of Solvent Permittivity in Estimation of Electrolyte Activity Coefficients for Systems with Ion Pairing on the Basis of the Mean Spherical Approximation

Mean ionic activity coefficient for aqueous solutions of CdCl 2 , CuCl 2 , MgCl 2 , Na 2 SO 4 , MgSO 4 and CdSO 4 , systems for which dielectric relaxation data have recently been obtained, can be estimated accurately on the basis of a modified version of the mean spherical approximation (MSA) for electrolyte solutions with consideration of ion pairing. The modification makes use of the actual solution permittivity rather than the permittivity of the pure solvent. Reasonable ion pairing association constants, K as , have been determined by fitting the theoretically determined mean ionic activity coefficients to experimentally measured values in the range of concentration for which the dielectric permittivity data exist using one additional adjustable parameter, namely, the restricted diameter for all species involved.
Chicken feet: Part two

This article is the second part of the story of a trip taken by the author toGuatemala, Central America in 1996. It was a part of Operation Kids, which is sponsored by the Christian Children's Fund in Richmond, VA. The author and her fellow medical staff represented the Plastic Surgery Division of the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals.
Binding of [14C]DDT and [14C]dicyclohexylcarbodi‐imide to a lipoprotein of the membrane sector of mitochondrial ATpase

Intact mitochondria, isolated from red coxal muscle of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana L.), were incubated in the presence of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chloro[14C]phenyl)ethane ([14C]DDT) to isolate a suspected binding site for DDT in the membrane sector of the mitochondrial ATPase. The requirements for the binding of DDT were compared with those for the binding of dicyclohexyl[14C]carbodi-imide([14C]DCCD), a potent inhibitory probe of mitochondrial ATPase activity. [14C]DDT appeared to bind to a proteolipid of the membrane sector, which also binds [14C]DCCD. Exchange experiments, with [14C]DCCD, [14C]DDT and unlabelled DDT at different concentrations, indicated that DDT and DCCD may be acting on a similar protein. This protein may act as the energy transducing protonophore required for the synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP in coupled mitochondria. Inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase activity may be a consequence of DDT and DCCD binding to this proteolipid protonophore, resulting in the disruption of energy transduction in muscle and nerve.
Ten-year follow-up in patients with combined heart and kidney transplantation

Abstract Background Combined heart and kidney transplantation has been documented, although data regarding immunosuppression, rejection episodes, and graft or patient survival have not been detailed. We evaluated our experience and more than 10-year outcome with patients selected for combined heart and kidney transplantation. Methods Eight patients aged 29 to 59 years were selected for combined heart and kidney transplantation. The indications were end-stage heart disease and underlying renal pathology, or secondary renal insufficiency, or renal failure. Six patients were dialysis dependent before transplantation. There were 7 simultaneous procedures and 1 staged procedure. The heart was transplanted first in all cases. All patients were maintained after transplantation on azathioprine (2 mg · kg −1 · d −1 ) and whole-blood monoclonal cyclosporine levels at greater than 200 μg/L; prednisone was not decreased to less than 10 mg/d. Results Seven (87.5%) patients have survived a mean duration of 100.4 months (range, 51-144 months), and each allograft has continued to function. The only death was due to pulmonary emboli and was not related to allograft rejection or failure. Only 4 cardiac and 4 kidney allograft rejections have occurred. Five patients have been free of kidney rejection, 1 patient has been rejection free for more than 8 years, and no patient has had simultaneous rejection. Conclusions In select patients, combined heart and kidney transplantation can provide long-term graft function and patient survival. The low rates of rejection support our current approach to immunosuppression. Our experience indicates that end-stage failure of either heart or kidney does not necessarily preclude dual-organ transplantation.
Optomechanical characterization of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells

Nafion ® is widely used as the polymer electrolyte in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The properties that make the Nafion ® membrane indispensable are the combination of good water uptake, ion-exchange capacity, proton conductivity, gas permeability, and excellent electrochemical stability. The amount of water sorbed in the Nafion
Non-B DNA structure-induced genetic instability and evolution

Repetitive DNA motifs are abundant in the genomes of various species and have the capacity to adopt non-canonical (i.e., non-B) DNA structures. Several non-B DNA structures, including cruciforms, slipped structures, triplexes, G-quadruplexes, and Z-DNA, have been shown to cause mutations, such as deletions, expansions, and translocations in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Their distributions in genomes are not random and often co-localize with sites of chromosomal breakage associated with genetic diseases. Current genome-wide sequence analyses suggest that the genomic instabilities induced by non-B DNA structure-forming sequences not only result in predisposition to disease, but also contribute to rapid evolutionary changes, particularly in genes associated with development and regulatory functions. In this review, we describe the occurrence of non-B DNA-forming sequences in various species, the classes of genes enriched in non-B DNA-forming sequences, and recent mechanistic studies on DNA structure-induced genomic instability to highlight their importance in genomes.
Parallel professionalism in an era of standardisation

Today’s American educational context is characterised by increasing standardisation coupled with heightened accountability. While some view standardisation as a lever for equity, many view it as problematic for the work of teachers. Efforts to improve student achievement by focusing on the activities of teachers have resulted in an over-riding sense that teachers have lost control over their work and that teachers’ professional identities are being worn away by the changes asked of them. Research has demonstrated the ways in which understandings of teachers’ professionalism have changed over time. Here, I argue that not only have views of professionalism changed over time, but that different teachers or here different groups of teachers, experience and understand professionalism differently. In this article, I first look at teachers’ professionalism across two decades using data from a large national database and then focus on how different generations of teachers experience professionalism in a context o...
Temperature acclimation and its influence on the electrical activity of the nervous system in three species of cockroaches

Abstract Three species of cockroaches, Periplaneta americana, Leucophaea maderae and Blaberus craniifer, were acclimated at different temperatures. P. americana and L. maderae were acclimated at 10 or 12, 20, and 30°C whereas B. craniifer was acclimated at 12 and 30°C. Action potential extinction temperatures were determined as the intact nerve cord and isolated metathoracic ganglia were cooled. These values were compared to the chill-coma temperatures of the acclimated animals. It was found that all three species acclimate to temperature as evidenced by their different chill-coma temperatures. It has also been shown that both the intact nerve cord and isolated ganglion have electrical activity below the chill-coma temperature. This indicates that a failure of the nerve cord is not a direct cause of chill-coma in the three species. Possible causes for the onset of chill-coma are discussed.
Safety of procedural sedation and analgesia in children less than 2 years of age in a pediatric emergency department

Although young age is considered a risk factor for adverse events related to procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA), data in very young children (<2 years of age) are lacking. The main objective of our study is to describe PSA in children <2 years of age in an inner city tertiary care pediatric emergency department (PED). We conducted a retrospective chart review from January 2005 to June 2007 of children <2 years of age who received PSA in our PED. We collected demographic variables, indication for and medications used for PSA, adverse events (AE) related to PSA, and interventions performed to treat them. Of the children who received PSA, 14.5% (180/1,235) were <2 years of age of whom 173 were included for the analysis; 73% (126/173) of the study subjects were between 1 and 2 years of age, 54.3% (94/173) were male, and 96.5% (167/173) belonged to American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1. Incision and drainage (45.0%, 78/173) and laceration repair (32.4%, 56/173) were the two most common indications for PSA. Ketamine and midazolam was the most common combination medication used for PSA (62.4%, 108/173). Sedation was deemed ineffective in 5.8% (10/173) of the children. There were only two failed sedations; 5.8% (10/173) of the children experienced AE with most being minor [oxygen desaturations 1.7% (3/173), emesis 2.3% (4/173), and others 1.2% (2/173)]. One child experienced serious AE in the form of apnea and bradycardia requiring intubation. Our data suggest that children under 2 years of age can be sedated effectively without increased risk of AE in a PED.
The occurrence and gene expression of vegetative storage proteins and a Rubisco Complex Protein in several perennial soybean species

Vegetative storage proteins (VSPs) have been extensively studied in Glycine max, but not in perennial relatives of the cultivated soybean. The occurrence and gene expression of VSPs and a Rubisco Complex Protein (RCP) in several Glycine species was investigated by mRNA blot hybridization and protein immunoblotting. RCP had a developmental pattern of gene expression that closely paralleled that of VSP. The RCP gene was also induced by depodding, methyljasmonate treatment, wounding, and to a lesser extent by nitrogen fertilization, as was previously found for the VSPs. VSP in leaves of 13 perennial soybeans was heterogeneous in apparent size and number of bands detected by immunoblotting following SDS-PAGE. In contrast, RCP was detected as a single band of nearly identical mobility in all species. Both proteins were most abundant in young leaves of the perennials, and methyljasmonate and wounding induced both VSP and RCP gene expression in perennial soybeans. These results suggest that the VSPs in perennial soybeans function as storage reserves, as they do in G. max.