cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brokering Data: Co-Designing Technology with Latina Teens to Support Communication with Parents: Leveraging Cultural Practices of Latinx Youth through Co-Design

Adolescent Latina emotional health is positively impacted by open communication with caregivers around issues important to teens, with many community health approaches focusing on promoting teen-caregiver communication. However, little research has explored Latina perspectives on the role of technology in framing and promoting such communication. Through a participatory design study with eight Latina teens, a tool and memes that challenge parental assumptions about Latina teen norms and behavior were co-designed. Drawing on analysis of design discussions, memes created, and interviews with eight Latina parents, we find that Latina youth viewed technology as a tool for creative argumentation that enacted certain cultural practices. In turn, Latina parents reflected on the authoritative source of the memes reconciling the subjective argumentation of the teen voice with the perceived objectivity of open data incorporated into the memes. Drawing on theories of brokering and Latina emotional health, we present theoretical and design ideas for supporting Latinas to improve teen-caregiver relationships through digital media creation platforms.
Using Tax Incentives Reduces Construction Costs

Rehabilitation tax credits can save developers a significant amount of money. The author discusses the tests used to lower overall tax liability by renovating older structures. This article is available in Hospitality Review: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/hospitalityreview/vol14/iss1/7 Using Tax Incentives Reduces Construction Costs
Head and Neck Cancer Complications in the Geriatric Population Based on Hospital Case Volume

Objective:To determine whether surgical case volume is a predictive factor of surgical outcomes when managing geriatric patients with head andneck cancer.Methods:A cross-sectional study design was ...
Maker Services in Academic Libraries: A Review of Case Studies.

Makerspaces and maker-centered learning have surged in popularity in higher education and particularly academic libraries in recent years, following trends that initially emerged in primary and sec...
Sol–gel synthesis of iodosodalite precursors and subsequent consolidation with a glass binder made from oxides and sol–gel routes

Radioiodine accumulates in aqueous solutions and off-gas streams during nuclear fuel reprocessing. In addition, radioiodine is highly mobile in geological environments. Most of the radioiodine can be captured during fuel reprocessing in off-gas streams using solid sorbents and scrubbing solutions. Once iodine is captured, it must be stored in a durable form for eventual disposal. Iodosodalite has been investigated as a waste form for radioiodine, however these synthesis processes often result in mixed products and iodine volatilization during consolidation. This paper proposes a novel approach to synthesizing iodosodalite utilizing a sol–gel method followed by heat treatment. This method was chosen to lower processing temperatures and improve product yield. Preliminary experiments conducted to determine the viability of this synthesis method are presented. In addition, consolidation of sol–gel derived iodosodalite with a glass binder was explored using three different methods: (1) incorporating the glass binder during gel preparation using alkoxide precursors; (2) separately preparing the glass binder using a sol–gel method; and (3) separately preparing the glass binder using a melt-quench technique. Glass-bonded iodosodalite was successfully synthesized using these novel sol–gel-based approaches.
Outcomes of Older Patients in the Recent Era of Heart Kidney Transplantation.

Abstract Background and Objective Variable age thresholds are often used at transplant centers for simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation (HKT). We hypothesize that selected older recipients enjoy comparable outcome to younger recipients in the current era of HKT. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of HKT outcomes in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry from 2006 to 2018, classifying patients by age at transplant as ≥ 65 or Results Of 973 patients, 774 (80%) were younger than 65 years (mean 52 ± 10 years) and 199 (20%) were 65 years or older (mean 67 ± 2 years). The older HKT cohort had fewer blacks (22% vs 35%, P = .01) and women (12 vs 18%, P = .04). Fewer older patients received dialysis (30% vs 54%, P Conclusions Our study showed that carefully selected older patients have outcomes similar to those of a younger cohort and argues for comprehensive evaluation of the recipients with age as part of comorbidity assessment rather than use of an arbitrary age threshold for candidacy.
Early Readmissions following NICU Discharges Among a National Sample: Associated Factors and Cost

Background: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) graduates are at increased likelihood of hospital readmission when compared to non-NICU admitted infants, resulting in significant financial and emotional burdens. Some early readmissions following NICU discharge may be preventable. Population-based data identifying factors and costs associated with early readmission are lacking. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis on a cohort of infants admitted to NICUs included in the IBM MarketScan Research Databases. Infants were privately insured, born from 2011-2017 and discharged from NICUs across all 50 states. We examined rates of 7 and 8-30 …
Proactive and reactive metacontrol in task switching

While cognitive control enables the selection of goal-relevant responses, metacontrol enables the selection of context-appropriate control operations. In task switching, metacontrol modulates task-switching efficiency by retrieving the associations between a contextual cue and a particular cognitive control demand. While the automatic retrieval of cognitive control is appealing due to its time and energy efficiency, the effects of different contextual cues have been shown in separate studies and appear to have different characteristics. Here, we devised a single task-switching paradigm to test whether we can observe both list-wide and item-specific metacontrol within subjects. In two experiments, we demonstrated reduced switch costs in lists associated with a high probability of switching as compared with lists with a low probability of switching (i.e., a list-wide switch probability [LWSP] effect). Similarly, we observed an analogous item-specific switch probability (ISSP) effect such that items associated with a high probability of switching incurred smaller switch costs as compared with items associated with a low probability of switching. We also confirmed that both list-wide and item-specific switch probability effects were not dependent on lower-level stimulus–response associations. However, the LWSP and the ISSP effects were uncorrelated, suggesting a lack of dependence. Together, these findings suggest that there are two distinct modes of metacontrol that are deployed in a context-sensitive manner in order to adapt to specific cognitive demands.
Associations of body size and composition with subclinical cardiac dysfunction in older individuals: the cardiovascular health study

BACKGROUND Focused studies in younger to middle-aged populations have demonstrated a relationship between obesity and adverse cardiac mechanics. We examined whether measures of overall and central adiposity are associated with cardiac mechanics, assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography, in an older population without prevalent coronary heart disease or heart failure. METHODS Body composition was measured by anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry among participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort of adults aged 65 years or older. Systolic and diastolic cardiac mechanics were measured with speckle-tracking analysis of echocardiograms. Multi-variable adjusted linear regression models were used to investigate associations of body composition measures and cardiac mechanics. RESULTS Mean age for the 3525 included participants was 72.6 years, 39% were male, and 10% were black. Mean body-mass index (BMI) was 26.3 ± 4.4 kg/m2, waist circumference (WC) was 93.2 ± 12.9 cm, and waist-to-hip ratio was 0.92 ± 0.09. In fully adjusted analyses, all adiposity measures were associated with worse LV longitudinal strain, LV early diastolic strain rate, and left atrial reservoir strain; however, associations were strongest for WC and BMI (p < 0.001). When both BMI and WC were included in the same model, only WC remained associated with each cardiac strain measure. CONCLUSION In this cross-sectional study of older adults, central obesity was most robustly associated with impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic strain as well as left atrial strain. The adverse effects of central obesity appear to extend even into older age.
Presentation of a Multi-User System for Office Based Patient Drug Interaction

As medicine becomes more complexed physicians must use and develop a new skill, “ INFORMATION MANAGEMENT”. Office based Drug Interaction Programs (DIP) are one example of an information management application. This paper presents a DIP and design considerations which when implemented make the resulting programs internationally acceptable.
Ownership, Control and Shareholder Value in Italy: Olivetti's Hostile Takeover of Telecom Italia

I examine ownership structures, minority shareholder rights, and shareholder activism in the context of Olivetti's successful hostile acquisition of Telecom Italia in 1999. Events surrounding the takeover provide mixed evidence of improvements in minority shareholder protections. The story, which gives a fascinating picture of the evolution of Italian corporate governance, is unusual, in that minority shareholders were more willing to stand up for their rights. Moreover, privatization and the introduction of the euro have resulted in shifts in ownership and financing patterns. However, due to the concentration of ownership of listed companies, hostile takeovers in Italy will remain rare.
The future applications of agent-based modeling in marketing

Agent-based modeling (ABM) gives researchers the ability to model, at a natural level, large markets with many interacting components. The agents within ABM can exist at multiple levels, be heterogeneous in both properties and actions, and can even adapt their actions over time. This provides a powerful ability to represent real-world business phenomena at a rich level of detail. Within marketing, ABM has already been successfully used to model the di usion of information and adoption of products, but there are many other areas of interest to marketing researchers that could bene t from an ABM approach. For instance, retail location decisions, inter- rm relationships/strategy/competition, marketing mix models, and servicescape design could all bene t from being analyzed using ABM. In this chapter, we explore this method, potential future applications within marketing, and future research questions in the context of this methodology.
Description of a Normal-Force In-Situ Turbulence Algorithm for Airplanes

A normal-force in-situ turbulence algorithm for potential use on commercial airliners is described. The algorithm can produce information that can be used to predict hazardous accelerations of airplanes or to aid meteorologists in forecasting weather patterns. The algorithm uses normal acceleration and other measures of the airplane state to approximate the vertical gust velocity. That is, the fundamental, yet simple, relationship between normal acceleration and the change in normal force coefficient is exploited to produce an estimate of the vertical gust velocity. This simple approach is robust and produces a time history of the vertical gust velocity that would be intuitively useful to pilots. With proper processing, the time history can be transformed into the eddy dissipation rate that would be useful to meteorologists. Flight data for a simplified research implementation of the algorithm are presented for a severe turbulence encounter of the NASA ARIES Boeing 757 research airplane. The results indicate that the algorithm has potential for producing accurate in-situ turbulence measurements. However, more extensive tests and analysis are needed with an operational implementation of the algorithm to make comparisons with other algorithms or methods.
A computer simulation analysis of the accuracy of partial genome sequencing and restriction fragment analysis in estimating genetic relationships: an application to papillomavirus DNA sequences.

Background Determination of genetic relatedness among microorganisms provides information necessary for making inferences regarding phylogeny. However, there is little information available on how well the genetic relationships inferred from different genotyping methods agree with true genetic relationships. In this report, two genotyping methods – restriction fragment analysis (RFA) and partial genome DNA sequencing – were each compared to complete DNA sequencing as the definitive standard for classification.
Suppression of Memory CD8 T Cell Generation and Function by Tryptophan Catabolism

Dendritic cell-derived indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) suppresses naive T cell proliferation and induces their apoptosis by catalyzing tryptophan, and hence is essential for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. However, it is not known whether memory T cells are subject to the regulation by IDO-mediated tryptophan catabolism, as memory T cells respond more rapidly and vigorously than their naive counterparts and are resistant to conventional costimulatory blockade. In this study, we present the evidence that memory CD8+ T cells are susceptible to tryptophan catabolism mediated by IDO. We found that overexpression of IDO in vivo attenuated the generation of both central memory CD8+ T cells (T(CM)) and effector memory CD8+ T cells (T(EM)) while suppressing IDO activity promoted their generation. Moreover, IDO overexpression suppressed the effector function of T(CM) cells or T(CM) cell-mediated allograft rejection as well as their proliferation in vivo. Interestingly, T(CM) cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by tryptophan catabolism. However, IDO overexpression did not suppress the effector function of T(EM) cells or T(EM) cell-mediated allograft rejection, suggesting that T(EM) cells, unlike T(CM) cells, do not require tryptophan for their effector function once they are generated. This study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of memory T cell responsiveness and has clinical implications for vaccination or tolerance induction.
How Feasible is Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)? Simulations of School AYP "Uniform Averaging" and "Safe Harbor" under the No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires that schools make “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) towards the goal of having 100 percent of their students become proficient by year 2013-14. Through simulation analyses of Maine and Kentucky school performance data collected during the 1990s, this study investigates how feasible schools would have met the AYP targets if the mandate had been applied in the past with “uniform averaging (rolling averages)” and “safe harbor” options that have potential to help reduce the number of schools needing improvement or corrective action. Contrary to some expectations, the applications of both options would do little to reduce the risk of massive school failure due to unreasonably high AYP targets for all student groups. Implications of the results for the NCLB school accountability system and possible ways to make the current AYP more feasible and fair are discussed.
Mental Ghosts and the Process of Grief.

Abstract Grieving the death of a loved one is an experience that many people will face at least once in their lifetime, but the lack of widely accepted guidelines as to what constitutes “normal” grieving results in mourning being a common experience with little universality. Memories may keep the deceased alive in the minds of the survivor and may even interfere with the formation of new relationships. This article considers the process of grieving the loss of a spouse and some of the individual factors, such as age, sex, and personal beliefs, that may account for variability in grief experiences. While several modeh detailing the grief process are discussed, the inappropriateness of establishing expectations for the nature and duration of grief is argued for.
Propylthiouracil (PTU) Hepatoxicity in Children and Recommendations for Discontinuation of Use

Propylthiouracil (PTU) was introduced for clinical use in July 1947 for Graves' disease (GD) treatment. Over the 60 years that this medication has been used, reports of PTU-related liver failure and death have accumulated. On October 28, 2008, an expert panel evaluated PTU drug safety in children at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) It is estimated that about 4000 pediatric patients per year with GD are being treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs) in the United States, and up to 30% of pediatric patients with GD are being treated with PTU. The risk of severe PTU-induced liver failure is estimated as 1 in 2000–4000 children. The number of children developing reversible PTU-induced liver injury is estimated to be at least 1 in 200. Routine biochemical surveillance of liver function and hepatocellular integrity is not useful in identifying children who will develop liver failure. Children appear to be at higher risk for PTU-induced liver injury than adults. PTU should not be used as first line therapy for the treatment of GD in children. Current PTU use in children taking this medication should be stopped in favor of alternate therapies.
The history and development of academic library consortia in the United States: an overview

L'article retrace l'histoire des consortia de bibliotheques aux Etats-Unis, et specialement des bibliotheques de l'enseignement superieur. La notion de cooperation entre bibliotheques fait son apparition des la fin du 19eme siecle et s'epanouit dans les annees 60 et 70 autour de l'idee de partage des ressources, notamment au moment ou les bibliotheques commencent a s'automatiser. Les motivations sont principalement economiques. Aujourd'hui les consortia modernes conservent beaucoup des attributs de leurs predecesseurs, mais leurs types et leurs objectifs se sont diversifies. Ils sont devenus des acteurs incontournables dans le secteur des bibliotheques, en particulier dans les relations avec les editeurs de ressources electroniques. On assiste aujourd'hui au regroupement de ces consortia et meme a l'apparition de super-consortia.
Analogy between the Lorenz strange attractor and a bistable stochastic oscillator

The relation between the aperiodic solution of the Lorenz model and that of a stochastic anharmonic oscillator is explored. The stochastic oscillator is constructed by replacing z(t) in the Lorenz model by a stochastic variableζ(t) of specified statistics. The resulting system is of course not isomorphic to the Lorenz model, but does share with it a number of statistical properties. Thus, within the confines of these measures the two systems are physically very similar.
Structural studies of N-terminal mutants of Connexin 32 using 1H NMR spectroscopy

The amino terminus of gap junction proteins, connexins, plays a fundamental role in voltage gating and ion permeation. We have previously shown with 1H NMR that the structure of the N-terminus of functional connexin molecules contains a flexible turn around G12 (Arch. Biochem. Biophys.490:9,2009) allowing the N-terminus to form a portion of the channel pore near the cytoplasmic entrance. The mutants of nonfunctional connexin molecules G12S and G12Y were found to prevent this turn. Previous functional studies of loci at which Cx32 mutations cause a peripheral neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, have shown that G12S is not plasma membrane inserted. Presently, we solve the structure of nonfunctional Connexin 32 mutants W3D and Y7D which do not appear to be membrane inserted. Using 2D 1H NMR, we report that similar to G12S and G12Y, alterations in hydrophobic sidechain interactions disrupt (Y7D) or constrain (W3D) the flexible turn around G12. The alteration in the open turn around residue 12, observed in all nonfunctional mutants G12S, G12Y, W3D and Y7D correlates with loss of function. We propose that loss of the open turn causes the N-terminus to extend out of the channel pore and this misfolding may target mutants for destruction in the endoplasmic reticulum.
An Evaluation of the Iosipescu Specimen for Composite Materials Shear Property Measurement

A detailed evaluation of the suitability of the Iosipescu specimen tested in the modified Wyoming fixture is presented. An experimental investigation using conventional strain gage instrumentation and moire interferometry is performed. A finite element analysis of the Iosipescu shear test for unidirectional and cross-ply composites is used to assess the uniformity of the shear stress field in the vicinity of the notch, and demonstrate the effect of the nonuniform stress field upon the strain gage measurements used for the determination of composite shear moduli. From the test results for graphite-epoxy laminates, it is shown that the proximity of the load introduction point to the test section greatly influences the individual gage readings for certain fiber orientations but the effect upon shear modulus measurement is relatively unimportant. A numerical study of the load contact effect shows the sensitivity of some fiber configurations to the specimen/fixture contact mechanism and may account for the variations in the measured shear moduli. A comparison of the strain gage readings from one surface of a specimen with corresponding data from moire interferometry on the opposite face documented an extreme sensitivity of some fiber orientations to eccentric loading which induced twisting and yielded spurious shear stress-strain curves. In the numerical analysis, it is shown that the Iosipescu specimens for different fiber orientations have to be modeled differently in order to closely approximate the true loading conditions. Correction factors are needed to allow for the nonuniformity of the strain field and the use of the average shear stress in the shear modulus evaluation. The correction factors, which are determined for the region occupied by the strain gage rosette, are found to be dependent upon the material orthotropic ratio and the finite element models. Based upon the experimental and numerical results, recommendations for improving the reliability and accuracy of the shear modulus values are made, and the implications for shear strength measurement discussed. Further application of the Iosipescu shear test to woven fabric composites is presented. The limitations of the traditional strain gage instrumentation on the satin weave and high tow plain weave fabrics is discussed. Test results of a epoxy based aluminum particulate composite is also presented. A modification of the Iosipescu specimen is proposed and investigated experimentally and numerically. It is shown that the proposed new specimen design provides a more uniform shear stress field in the test section and greatly reduces the normal and shear stress concentrations in the vicinity of the notches. While the fabrication and the material cost of the proposed specimen is tremendously reduced, it is shown the accuracy of the shear modulus measurement is not sacrificed.
Ion separation on a thread

Preliminary trials indicate that the sensitivity of separation by solvent extraction may be improved by concentrating the extracts upon a thread. Chromatographic separation may be added to simplify the identification of the metals.
Design of a Safer Tracheostomy Tube

During a tracheotomy, the surgeon makes an incision through the front of the patient’s neck (the incision is known as a tracheostomy) to access the trachea and insert a tracheostomy tube (see Figure 1), which serves as an alternative airway to the mouth or nose. After insertion, a balloon is inflated to the diameter of the trachea, which fixes the tracheotomy tube in place, allows for positive pressure ventilation, and creates a seal to the walls of the trachea.
Indomethacin (i.c.v.) reverses the inhibitory action of peptides on gastric secretion.

Abstract Central administration of diverse peptides, such as dermorphin (100 ng), salmon calcitonin (250 ng), human-corticotropin-releasing-factor (10 μg) and human-calcitonin-gene-related-peptide (10 μg) inhibited gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. With the exception of salmon calcitonin this suppressive effect was significantly reversed by the central administration of 400 μg indomethacin. These data suggest that the gastric inhibitory effect of dermorphin, human-corticotropin-releasing-factor and human-calcitonin-gene-related-peptide might be mediated by the central synthesis of a cyclooxygenase product(s).
The S.U.V. model of citizenship: floating bubbles, buffer zones, and the rise of the “purely atomic” individual

Abstract Recent United States Supreme Court decisions concerning protest outside health clinics that provide abortions, coupled with a new wave of “aggressive panhandling” ordinances being adopted by American cities, indicate that Courts and lawmakers are creating a new model of citizenship. This model is marked by a radical individualism and extreme libertarianism based on transformed property relations. Courts are finding that individuals have an innate “right to be left alone” in public space – a strong departure from early jurisprudence which restricted that right to be left alone to private property. These recent decisions and laws suggest the development of a model of citizenship quite at odds with the cosmopolitan, associational citizenship theorized and promoted by many political theorists.
Estradiol modulates neural responses to song in a seasonal songbird

Social behaviors such as courtship, parenting, and aggression depend primarily on two factors: a social signal to trigger the behavior, and a hormonal milieu that facilitates or permits it. Gonadal steroids may alter the valence or perceived context of the signal so that the same pheromone, vocalization, or visual display may elicit very different responses depending on the receiver's plasma hormone level. The neural processes underlying this phenomenon, however, are not well understood. Here, we describe how hormones modulate neural responses to social signals in female white-throated sparrows listening to recordings of male song. While manipulating levels of the ovarian steroid estradiol, we mapped and quantified sound-induced expression of the immediate early gene egr-1 in nine brain regions that constitute a social behavior network in vertebrates. In most regions of interest, hearing male song induced more expression than hearing tones or silence, and this selectivity for song was seen only in birds with estradiol levels typical of the breeding season. In females with regressed ovaries and no exogenous estradiol, neural responses were selective for song over tones only in the lateral portion of the ventromedial hypothalamus, not in the rest of the network. Because the effects of hormone treatment on neural responses are not identical in each region, the overall pattern of activation across the network changes with estradiol level and thus with season and breeding context. Our results demonstrate a possible mechanism by which gonadal steroids may alter the processing of social signals and affect social decision-making. J. Comp. Neurol. 511:173–186, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Terrestrial and marine trophic pathways support young-of-year growth in a nearshore Arctic fish

River discharge supplies nearshore communities with a terrestrial carbon source that is often reflected in invertebrate and fish consumers. Recent studies in the Beaufort Sea have documented widespread terrestrial carbon use among invertebrates, but only limited use among nearshore fish consumers. Here, we examine the carbon source and diet of rapidly growing young-of-year Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis) using stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) from muscle and diet analysis (stomach contents) during a critical and previously unsampled life stage. Stable isotope values (δ15N and δ13C) may differentiate between terrestrial and marine sources and integrate over longer time frames (weeks). Diet analysis provides species-specific information, but only from recent foraging (days). Average δ13C for all individuals was −25.7 ‰, with the smallest individuals possessing significantly depleted δ13C values indicative of a stronger reliance of terrestrial carbon sources as compared to larger individuals. Average δ15N for all individuals was 10.4 ‰, with little variation among individuals. As fish length increased, the proportion of offshore Calanus prey and neritic Mysis prey increased. Rapid young-of-year growth in Arctic cisco appears to use terrestrial carbon sources obtained by consuming a mixture of neritic and offshore zooplankton. Shifts in the magnitude or phenology of river discharge and the delivery of terrestrial carbon may alter the ecology of nearshore fish consumers.
A New Strategy To Determine the Actual Protein Content of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Microspheres

Bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, and trypsin inhibitor were first encapsulated into poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) microspheres and then a new strategy was used to quantitate the actual levels of proteins in the microspheres. The proper combination of water-miscible dimethyl sulfoxide and 0.05 N-NaOH containing 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) made it possible to solubilize both PLGA microspheres and proteins in a single phase. A total protein assay conveniently provided accurate information on the amount of protein encapsulated into the microspheres. In contrast to conventional techniques making use of acetonitrile, dichloromethane, and SDS extraction methods, this new method did not necessitate polymer precipitation, filtration, and protein extraction into other phases. These features were a great advantage in recovering proteins without any loss due to experimental processes. As a consequence, the new method reported in this study provided accurate data for the actual level of protein in PLGA microspheres, regardless of the pattern of protein distribution inside microspheres or the characteristics of microspheres. The experiment relying on the use of a radiolabeled protein also validated the reliability of this new method.
Development of banded afferent compartments in the inferior colliculus before onset of hearing in ferrets.

Abstract Axonal projections from the lateral superior olivary nuclei (LSO), as well as from the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) and dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL), converge in frequency-ordered layers in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (IC) where they distribute among different synaptic compartments. A carbocyanine dye, 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), was used as a tracer to study the postnatal development of axonal projections in the ferret IC. The results indicated that projections from all three nuclei are present at birth, but are not segregated into bands. During the postnatal week between approximately postnatal days 4 and 12 (P4–P12), axons from LSO proliferate in IC, become more branched, and segregate into a series of bands composed of densely packed fibers and endings. LSO projections in these afferent bands course parallel to IC layers and are separated by intervening regions with few endings. A modest fit of a sine curve ( R 2 >0.15) to the pattern of spacing of LSO projections in IC indicated that regularly spaced bands are forming by P7. Similarly, banded patterns of DCN and DNLL projections to IC have developed by the end of the first postnatal week. Thus, well before hearing onset in ferret (P28–30), three different afferent projections have segregated into banded compartments along layers in the central nucleus of the ferret IC. Possible mechanisms in circuit development are discussed.
Using early childhood developmental portfolios in the identification and education of young, economically disadvantaged, potentially gifted students∗

In this article, we present a rationale for and describe the format and use of the Early Childhood Developmental Portfolios developed in Project Synergy at Teachers College, Columbia University. We discuss the utility of portfolios for purposes of identification, curriculum development, and placement, and we argue that they are particularly appropriate for use in the field of the education of the gifted. We then describe the components of the Early Childhood Developmental Portfolios, which are designed to document the growth of young potentially gifted children with reference to developmental theory in specific domains. The article closes with a brief discussion of the implementation and evaluation of this portfolio approach.
The Effect of an On-Site Vision Examination on Adherence to Vision Screening Recommendations.

Vision screenings are intended to efficiently identify students with possible visual impairment and initiate a referral for diagnosis and treatment. In many cases, at-risk students do not access the recommended care or experience delays in receiving care. The purpose of this article is to report the effect on adherence to vision screening recommendations by providing the eye examination at the students' school and at no cost. Of the 1,306 students screened, 382 (29.2%) were identified with possible visual impairment. Parental consent for examination was obtained for 198 (51.8%) students. Our vision screening and examination program yielded similar adherence to follow-up as stand-alone vision screening programs. Future program considerations should address perceptual barriers that may be contributing to parental nonadherence to vision screening recommendations.
Tendon Cell Array Isolation Reveals a Previously Unknown Fibrillin-2-Containing Macromolecular Assembly

Within tendon, between collagen fascicles, cells are organized in linear arrays surrounded by a specialized environment of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are largely unidentified. Our goal was to identify interfascicular, pericellular ECM components and provide additional resolution to the organization of the pericellular matrix. To this end, we employed a combination of enzymatic digestion, mechanical disruption, and differential sedimentation to demonstrate for the first time that it possible to liberate living linear tendon cell arrays from whole tendon. Here, we identify type VI collagen, versican, and fibrillin-2 as components of the immediate pericellular ECM of linearly arrayed tendon cells. Additionally, a unique fibrillin-2-containing macromolecular assembly is described in detail for the first time. This new structure is unlike any previously described fibrillin-containing macromolecular assembly. Having a largely constant diameter, it runs axially along tendon cell arrays and can exceed 1000 microm in length.
Phase-I/II Study of Bortezomib in Combination with Carboplatin and Bevacizumab as First-Line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background This study aimed to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of weekly bortezomib in combination with fixed standard doses of carboplatin and bevacizumab, and to estimate the efficacy (response rate and progression free survival [PFS]) and safety of combination therapy with carboplatin, bortezomib, and bevacizumab as first-line therapy in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Patients were assigned to three dose levels of weekly bortezomib with the fixed standard doses of carboplatin AUC 6 and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) every 3 weeks using a standard phase-I design. Bortezomib doses were 1.3 mg/m 2 , 1.6 mg/m 2 , and 1.8 mg/m 2 weekly on day 1 and day 8 of every 3-week cycle. A maximum of six cycles was administered. Patients with complete, partial response or stable disease were continued on single-agent bevacizumab (15 mg/kg every 3 weeks) as maintenance therapy. In phase II, either level III or MTD was administered to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination in first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. Results Sixteen patients were enrolled (three, four, and nine patients in dose level I, II, and III, respectively). There was no predefined dose limiting toxicity in cycle 1 in all 16 patients. The recommended phase-II dose is bortezomib 1.8 mg/m 2 weekly on day 1 and day 8 in combination with carboplatin AUC 6 and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg on every 21-day cycle. Totally 9 patients were treated at the recommended phase-II dose level. The most common treatment related grade-3/4 toxicities during the subsequent cycles were thrombocytopenia (58%), lymphopenia (25%), neutropenia (12%), and diarrhea (25%). The grade-1/2 neuropathy was seen in 7 out of 16 patients (44%). The response rate, PFS, and overall survival in all patients were 37.5% (95%CI 13.8%–61.2%), 5.0 months (95%CI: 3.1–8.4), 9.9 months (95% CI: 8.2–14.1), and among the 9 patients in phase-II portion are 44% (95%CI 15.3%–77.3%), 5.5 months (95%CI: 3.1–2.2) and 10.9 months (95%CI: 8.0–14.1). Conclusion The recommended phase-II dose for this combination is: carboplatin AUC 6, bevacizumab 15 mg/kg on day 1 and bortezomib 1.8 mg/m 2 on day 1 and day 8 on every 21-day cycle. The regimen was very well tolerated with interesting clinical activity in first-line treatment of NSCLC.
Risks and Adequacy of an Optimized Surgical Approach to the Primary Surgical Management of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Treated During 1999–2006

Intense disease surveillance and frequent lymph node metastases (LNMs) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) have resulted in increased locoregional recurrences. We examined the safety and efficacy of an optimized surgical approach including preoperative ultrasonograpy (US), bilateral thyroidectomy, routine compartment VI dissection, and lateral neck dissection for LNM. During 1999–2006, a total of 420 patients underwent optimized primary surgery; 291(69%) females, median age 46 years; follow-up 98%, median 4.4 years. Patients were reviewed for tumor characteristics, pattern of LNM, staging, and outcomes. Total or near-total thyroidectomy was performed in 212 (51%) and 208 (49%) patients, respectively. Tumors were multicentric, 40% (average 1.7 cm); were bilateral, 30%; and showed extrathyroidal extension, 17%. Overall, 223 (53%) patients had LNMs: 213 (51%) were central and 85 (20%) were lateral jugular. pTNM staging: I, 258 (61%); II, 35 (8%); III, 88 (21%); IV, 39 (9%). AGES (age, grade, extension, and size—thyroid tumor; and MACIS (metastasis, age, completeness of resection, invasion, and size) prognostic scores were low risk in 362 (86%) and 352 (84%), respectively. Relapse developed in 57 (14%) patients: LNM in 44, soft tissue local recurrence (LR) in 5, distant metastases (DM) in 8. Hypoparathyroidism occurred in 5 (1.2%) patients and 1 had unintentional laryngeal nerve damage. Relapse with LNM occurred in previously operated fields in 19 (5%) patients, 11(3%) from disease virulence (LR or DM), preoperative false-negative (FN) US in 12 (3%), and combination of FN-US and recurrence in the operated field in 5 (1%) patients. Recurrence was limited to 5% of patients when the extent of disease was accurately defined and potentially curable. This optimized surgical strategy is relatively safe.
The Virtual Lens

We describe a new type of feedback display based upon ocular accommodation, called the virtual lens, that maintains a focused projection of a CRT image on the retina independent of changes in accommodation, and that replaces the optical image-processing action of the crystalline lens with an arbitrary computable image transform. We describe some applications of the virtual lens in visual psychophysics and virtual environments.
Picosecond time delay fluorimetry using a jitter-free streak camera

Abstract A streak camera driven with picosecond accuracy by a laser-activated cryogenic Si-switch has been used to measure the decay time of malachite green in water by a pulse fluorimetry technique. The single shot timing accuracy of the streak camera (a few ps) corresponds to ∼10% of the optical pulsewidth. The overall stability of the system allows the averaging of hundreds of laser shots without image translation improving both the signal to noise ratio and timing accuracy of the measurements.. The subpicosecond timing accuracy afforded by shot averaging has enabled us to measure a 2 ps fluorescence decay time for a low quantum yield sample with a 20 ps excitation pulse.
Comparative toxicity of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion to Escherichia coli

The toxicity of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide radical anion to Escherichia coli was investigated as a basis for understanding the effects of hydrogen peroxide when it is injected into the subsurface for in situ bioremediation or in situ chemical oxidation. Hydrogen peroxide toxicity was evaluated by maintaining its steady state concentration at a series of concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 3.0 mM in the presence of E. coli. Hydroxyl radical toxicity was studied by conducting parallel reactions of equal steady state concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, but using an iron (III)–nitrilotriacetic acid complex to decompose hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals. Superoxide was also generated from equal steady state concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, but with the addition of pyrolusite (manganese oxide) to catalyze its decomposition to superoxide radical. Hydrogen peroxide was toxic to E. coli at all concentrations investigated. The generation of hydroxyl radicals in hydrogen peroxide solutions showed no increase in toxicity relative to hydrogen peroxide toxicity, indicating minimal additional toxicity of the hydroxyl radicals. Hydrogen peroxide solutions of equal concentrations in which superoxide was generated showed less toxicity relative to hydrogen peroxide systems. The results indicate that toxicity of hydrogen peroxide to microorganisms may be lower when it is injected to subsurface systems containing high manganese oxide contents. � 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Concentration and Mnemonic Training in Elderly Subjects With Memory Complaints: A Study of Combined Therapy and Order Effects

In a study of a cognitive retraining program for the elderly, subjects received a combination of two types of training designed to reduce the memory impairment associated with normal aging. Concentration training (CT) consisted of techniques to improve selective and sustained attention. Mnemonic training (MT) involved an associative imagery technique designed to enhance the organization and retrieval of information. Order effects were examined using two groups of subjects. One group received CT followed by MT whereas the other group received MT before CT. It was hypothesized that the CT-MT sequence would improve immediate and delayed serial recall more than the reverse sequence. This hypothesis was supported and transfer effects were found on a paired-associates learning task. The findings suggest a need for further research on potential interactions and sequencing effects among different forms of cognitive training.
Sequence-Dependent Stability of DNA-Modified Gold Nanoparticles

The binding affinity of deoxynucleosides (dA, dG, dC, and dT) to gold nanoparticles was studied using a colorimetric assay to determine if nucleobase sequence may play a role in binding alkanethiol-capped oligonucleotides to gold nanoparticles. These data indicate that the deoxynucleoside dT has a much lower binding affinity to the gold nanoparticle surface than the deoxynucleosides dG, dC, and dA. These data can be correlated with a previous study in our lab which indicated that alkanethiol-capped oligonucleotides containing (dT)20 spacers have a significantly higher surface coverage than oligonucleotides containing (dA)20 spacers. To probe the physical consequences of this phenomenon, gold nanoparticles were loaded with alkanethiol-capped poly dT, dA, and dC oligonucleotide sequences of 5−20 bases in length, and the stabilities of the particles in electrolytic media were measured by monitoring a colorimetric change associated with particle agglomeration. The gold nanoparticles loaded with alkanethiol-ca...
Cognitive imitation in 2-year-old children (Homo sapiens): a comparison with rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Here we compare the performance of 2-year-old human children with that of adult rhesus macaques on a cognitive imitation task. The task was to respond, in a particular order, to arbitrary sets of photographs that were presented simultaneously on a touch sensitive video monitor. Because the spatial position of list items was varied from trial to trial, subjects could not learn this task as a series of specific motor responses. On some lists, subjects with no knowledge of the ordinal position of the items were given the opportunity to learn the order of those items by observing an expert model. Children, like monkeys, learned new lists more rapidly in a social condition where they had the opportunity to observe an experienced model perform the list in question, than under a baseline condition in which they had to learn new lists entirely by trial and error. No differences were observed between the accuracy of each species’ responses to individual items or in the frequencies with which they made different types of errors. These results provide clear evidence that monkeys and humans share the ability to imitate novel cognitive rules (cognitive imitation).
CHARACTERIZATION OF CYTOKINE-PRODUCING CELLS IN MUCOSAL EFFECTOR SITES : CD3+ T CELLS OF TH1 AND TH2 TYPE IN SALIVARY GLAND-ASSOCIATED TISSUES

The major purpose of this study was to elucidate Th1 [interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2] and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6) cytokine-producing CD3+ T cells in salivary glands, which are the major mucosal effector tissues in the oral region. Thus, CD3+ T cells were isolated from salivary gland-associated tissues (SGAT) which consist of the submandibular gland (SMG: approximately 46%), the periglandular lymph node (PGLN: approximately 72%), and the cervical lymph node (CLN: approximately 90%). When SMG CD3+ T cells were examined by Th1 and Th2 cytokine-specific ELISPOT and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay, high levels of both cytokine-specific spot-forming cells (SFC) and mRNA for IFN-gamma, and for IL-5 and IL-6 were noted as representative Th1 or Th2 cytokines, respectively. Following stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A), SMG CD3+ T cells expressed mRNA and produced lymphokines for an array of Th1 (IFN-gamma and IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6) cytokines. In comparison to the SMG CD3+ T cells, PGLN and CLN contain lower numbers of IFN-gamma-, IL-5 and IL-6-producing T cells. When these two tissues were compared, PGLN CD3+ T cells contained higher numbers of cytokine-secreting cells than CLN. Further, IL-2 and IL-4 SFC and mRNA were also noted in addition to IFN-gamma, IL-5 and IL-6 after Con A activation. These findings showed that CD3+ T cells in SGAT, especially the SMG, are programmed to produce IFN-gamma, and IL-5 and IL-6 as Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively in vivo, although these cells are capable of producing other Th1 and Th2 cytokines after receiving appropriate T cell activation signals.
Chromatic confocal microscopy using supercontinuum light

We report on a novel chromatic confocal microscope system using supercontinuum white light generated from a photonic crystal fiber. The chromatic aberration of a pair of singlet lenses is employed to focus the different spectral components of the supercontinuum at different depth levels. An effective depth scanning range of 7 μm is demonstrated. The corresponding depth resolution is measured to be less than 1 μm (FWHM).