cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periplasmic Nanobody-APEX2 Fusions Enable Facile Visualization of Ebola, Marburg, and Mĕnglà virus Nucleoproteins, Alluding to Similar Antigenic Landscapes among Marburgvirus and Dianlovirus.

We explore evolved soybean ascorbate peroxidase (APEX2) as a reporter when fused to the C-termini of llama nanobodies (single-domain antibodies, sdAb; variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies, VHH) targeted to the E. coli periplasm. Periplasmic expression preserves authentic antibody N-termini, intra-domain disulphide bond(s), and capitalizes on efficient haem loading through the porous E. coli outer membrane. Using monomeric and dimeric anti-nucleoprotein (NP) sdAb cross-reactive within the Marburgvirus genus and cross-reactive within the Ebolavirus genus, we show that periplasmic sdAb-APEX2 fusion proteins are easily purified at multi-mg amounts. The fusions were used in Western blotting, ELISA, and microscopy to visualize NPs using colorimetric and fluorescent imaging. Dimeric sdAb-APEX2 fusions were superior at binding NPs from viruses that were evolutionarily distant to that originally used to select the sdAb. Partial conservation of the anti-Marburgvirus sdAb epitope enabled the recognition of a novel NP encoded by the recently discovered Mĕngla virus genome. Antibody-antigen interactions were rationalized using monovalent nanoluciferase titrations and contact mapping analysis of existing crystal structures, while molecular modelling was used to reveal the potential landscape of the Mĕngla NP C-terminal domain. The sdAb-APEX2 fusions also enabled live Marburgvirus and Ebolavirus detection 24 h post-infection of Vero E6 cells within a BSL-4 laboratory setting. The simple and inexpensive mining of large amounts of periplasmic sdAb-APEX2 fusion proteins should help advance studies of past, contemporary, and perhaps Filovirus species yet to be discovered.
Disproportionality analysis of bullous pemphigoid adverse events with PD-1 inhibitors in the FDA adverse event reporting system

Objectives: Bullous pemphigoid, an autoimmune dermatological disease, may be associated with the use of a relatively new anti-cancer drug class, PD-1 inhibitors, which includes pembrolizumab and nivolumab. This paper analyzes the signals between PD-1 inhibitors and bullous pemphigoid based upon the reported real-world data. Methods: A pharmacovigilance analysis was performed on the publicly available Adverse Event Reporting System database of Food and Drug Administration. Disproportionality ratios were used to examine a signal between PD-1 inhibitors and bullous pemphigoid. A heat map was generated to depict the signal between PD -1 inhibitor use and skin toxicity adverse events. Results: The analysis indicated that there is a significant signal (PRR = 13.82 [95% CI: 9.99-19.11], Chi-squared with Yates' correction = 420.48) between pembrolizumab use and bullous pemphigoid and that there is a significant signal (PRR = 13.19 [95% CI: 10.57-16.46], Chi-squared with Yates' correction = 869.71) between nivolumab use and bullous pemphigoid. The signals remained statistically significant after stratifying for sex and age for both pembrolizumab and nivolumab. The signal is supported by 35 case reports in which there was evidence of PD-1 inhibitor use and a pemphigoid adverse event. Conclusion: When prescribing PD-1 inhibitors, physicians should monitor closely for symptoms of bullous pemphigoid.
The crime-reducing benefits of a college degree: evidence from a nationally representative U.S. sample

ABSTRACTThis study uses data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine the robustness of the individual-level association between completing a college degree and...
A Linguistic Analysis of Sexual Content and Emotive Language in Contemporary Music Genres

The study examines sexual content and emotive language in contemporary popular music using word count and linguistic inquiry. The study examines the possible connections between sexual content and emotive language in five major genres of popular music by comparing frequency and looking for correlations between these variables. The study uses the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count 2015 program to conduct the basic analysis and then a series of ANOVAs to test for significance and relationships between variables. Results indicate that the genre of Rap/R&B contains significantly higher frequencies of sexual content than other genres and a strong correlation between sexual content and anger. This supports and expands on previous work in the field by examining emotional motivations connected to sexual narratives. Contrary to Rap/R&B, the genre of Rock shows moderate a correlation between sexual content and anxiety, indicating narrative differences in the contextualization of sexual content in the genre. The paper discusses the implications of these findings in the modern era of #MeToo and awareness of domestic violence.
New Routh-Type Table Method for Stability Test of Polynomials and Their Systems

It is well known there is no closed form for the roots of general polynomials with degree over four. Thus, in essence, all roots finding algorithms are approximate methods, which may also lead to incorrect results. However, Routh table method is strictly proved method for the root distribution of general polynomials and systems in the complex plane. On the other hand, when the special singular cases happen in the Routh table, the Routh table method may also meet difficulty. This paper presents a new Routh-type table method for all general polynomials and their systems. The proposed method has advantage when the first special case happens and/or both the first and second special cases happen in the Routh table. In these cases, the classical Routh table will give incorrect results and meet dilemma for the root distribution, while other existing methods in the literature had to use complex methods to solve it. The proposed method in this paper is not only easy, but also may reveal the characteristics of polynomial roots and coefficients well. Up to our best knowledge, this proposed new method is the easiest way and simplest method for root distribution analysis of general polynomials in the literature when the special cases happen.
Pressure-induced metallicity and piezoreductive transition of metal-centres in conductive 2-dimensional metal–organic frameworks

Due to their generally poor conductivity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been limited in electrical applications. The highest performing materials are two-dimensionally connected Ni3(hexaiminotriphenylene)2 and Ni3(hexaiminobenzene)2; both feature experimental conductivities exceeding 500 S m-1. From theory, both are predicted to be bulk metals but the former is known to be a semiconductor within a single monolayer. In this work we explore structural deformation as a route to augmenting the electronic properties of these two high performing materials. We show that, under hydrostatic negative pressure, metallicity can be installed in the Ni3(hexaiminotriphenylene)2 monolayer. Further, we predict a unique piezoreduction of metal ions and induced-magnetization in Ni3(hexaiminobenzene)2 due to the shift in energy of metal-ligand bonding and antibonding orbitals. These observations aid in our understanding of how MOFs conduct electricity and may also be used as a design principle in future MOF technologies.
Exploring the Singularity Concept Within Big History

The trend of life’s accelerating increase in complexity throughout its history on Earth suggests that a unique time (a unique or singular event, i.e., the singularity) might be realized soon. At this unique time, the growth trend might display unusual behavior. Debate continues whether the rate of change at the singularity will further accelerate, slow down, or demonstrate other behavior (e.g., flattening, collapse). Very basic questions about this historical trend concern the causes such as mathematical conditions of growth and factors like energy, environment, and information. Further details include determination of indications of the singularity’s behavior (e.g., time, number, type) and the pattern of substructure (e.g., timing, transition characteristics) leading up to the singularity. Finally, possible extensions to the pattern are considered in cosmological history, near-term transition to sustainability, and construction of potential far-future scenarios and implications.
Approximate Closed-Loop Robust Model Predictive Control With Guaranteed Stability and Constraint Satisfaction

The real-time implementation of closed-loop robust model predictive control (MPC) schemes is an important challenge for fast systems, as their solution complexity depends strongly on the system size, control policy parametrization, and prediction horizon. We look to address this problem by approximating the implicitly-defined MPC controller using deep learning. Although the resulting neural network approximation has a small memory footprint and can be efficiently computed, it does not guarantee robust constraint satisfaction or stability. We propose a novel projection-based strategy that is capable of providing a certificate of robust feasibility and input-to-state stability in real-time. We also show how this projection operator can be formulated as a parametric quadratic program that is solvable offline. The advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated on a benchmark case study.
Conceptual Foundations for School Psychology and Child Rights Advocacy

This chapter presents the conceptual foundations for envisioning school psychologists as child rights advocates. Using an ecological-developmental framework (Bronfenbrenner, Measuring environment across the life span: Emerging methods and concepts. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 1999), we depict the child’s ecology as a nested set of systems that influence the child’s development and well-being. The school psychologist is pictured as a central “mesosystem” that facilitates the integration of child rights throughout the ecology. To the macrosystem, we added a meta-macrosystem that represents the all-encompassing influence of child rights on the ecology of the child. The second model is a depiction of child rights-based school psychology, in which we envision the integration of child rights based on the UN (Convention on the Rights of the Child. Available: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm, 1989) Convention on the Rights of the Child (Convention) within professional school psychology. Surrounding the child’s ecology, we portray the key components for professional school psychology that are critical to promotion and advocacy for child well-being: mission, guiding principles, contexts, stakeholders, domains, and roles. Within this model, we integrate child rights and professional ethics as guiding principles for the school psychologist. Finally, we provide an overview of Convention articles and discuss their integration with the mission and standards for international school psychology. This chapter sets the stage for subsequent chapters in the book that address integration of child rights with school psychology.
Hearing and Heeding the Voices of those With Advanced Illnesses

Objectives:To describe the feasibility of a chaplain-led spiritually focused life review interview and the development of a spiritual legacy document (SLD) for patients with advanced diseases and t...
Exenatide extended release in patients with type 1 diabetes with and without residual insulin production

AIMS To test whether a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist would improve glucose control in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to determine whether the presence of residual beta cell function would affect the response. In addition, we sought to determine whether the drug would affect beta cell function. METHODS We performed a randomized placebo-controlled trial of exenatide extended release (ER) in participants with T1D with and without detectable levels of C-peptide. Seventy-nine participants were randomized to exenatide ER 2 mcg weekly, or placebo, stratified by the presence or absence of detectable C-peptide levels. The primary outcome was the difference in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels at 24 weeks. Participants were followed for another 6 months off study drug. RESULTS At week 24, the time of the primary outcome, the least squares (LS) mean HbA1c level was 7.76% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.42, 8.10) in the exenatide ER group versus 8.0% (95% CI 7.64, 8.35) in the placebo group (P = 0.08). At week 12 the LS mean HbA1c levels were 7.71% (95% CI 7.37, 8.05) in the exenatide ER group versus 8.05% (95% CI 7.7, 8.4) in the placebo group (P = 0.01). The improvement at week 12 was driven mainly by those with detectable levels of C-peptide. Those treated with exenatide ER lost weight at 12 and 24 weeks compared to those treated with placebo (P <0.001 and P = 0.007). The total insulin dose was lower, but not when corrected for body weight, and was not affected by residual insulin production. Adverse events were more frequent with exenatide ER, but hypoglycaemia was not increased. CONCLUSION Treatment with exenatide ER may have short-term benefits in some individuals with T1D who are overweight or who have detectable levels of C-peptide, but short-term improvements were not sustained.
Confronting the Local Land Checkerboard

Local governments own vast amounts of land. Some of these properties serve civic purposes—as the site of city halls and municipal courts; parks and schools; transit centers and convention facilities. But much of the land is vacant or underutilized, acquired piecemeal by the government entity and tertiary to its public purpose. A key characteristic of surplus public land is its fragmented nature, driven by a legal framework that encourages diffuse public ownership. Underutilized government properties are often intermingled among privately-owned residences and businesses—but crucially, while rarely explored, they are also intermingled with underutilized properties owned by other government entities. Surplus city properties are found in the same neighborhoods as surplus county, school district, and land bank properties. The result is an ineffectual checkerboard of fragmented public land. Two adjacent vacant lots may both be publicly-owned yet subject to different management regimes, development visions, and disposition policies. For local governments, fragmentation imposes costs and inefficiencies upon financially-strapped entities. For residents of the community, meanwhile, fragmentation threatens spaces of collective stewardship and fosters an inequitable imbalance of local power. This Article offers a pragmatic solution to checkerboard local public property: land exchanges between governmental entities. It advocates specifically for assembled land exchanges—which can involve more than two parties and may occur over a period of time—as an adaptive approach to tackling fragmentation while also promoting values of collaboration and shared governance. At the federal level, land exchanges serve as an effective mechanism for consolidating public land holdings. Yet at the local level, a government’s ability to conduct land exchanges is muddled by state law, confused by courts, and ultimately plagued by doctrinal inconsistency. In examining these barriers, this Article highlights the problem of opaque local power, an issue that breeds governance gaps between the power a local government was intended to hold—and arguably should or might hold—and the government’s ability to wield that power in practice. The Article concludes by proposing elements of the federal land exchange regime that could be applied at the local level.
Agreement of nasal swabs, guarded nasopharyngeal swabs, and bronchoalveolar lavage relative to transtracheal wash for the diagnosis of viral and bacterial pathogens in dairy calves with bovine respiratory disease

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is common in dairy calves, with 21.3% of mortality in preweaned calves and 50.4% of mortality in weaned heifers attributed to BRD (USDA NAHMS, 2002). Four sampling methods are used for antemortem identification of respiratory pathogens: the nasal swab (NS), guarded nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), transtracheal wash (TTW), and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Each method has advantages and disadvantages. The TTW bypasses contamination from the nasopharynx, but the procedure is invasive and requires technical skill. The BAL and TTW directly sample the lower airways, but BAL, NS, and NPS can be contaminated by nasopharyngeal flora. Compared to NS, NPS provides a guarded sample of the pharyngeal recess, which maybe more representative of BRD pathogens. To our knowledge, no published study has compared the results of all four of these methods in cattle with clinical BRD. The objective of this study was to compare the agreement of results obtained by NS, NPS, or BAL with those obtained by TTW for isolation of BRD pathogens in dairy calves with acute undifferentiated BRD.
Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Consultation Service: A tool to improve inpatient care of adults patients with chronic medical conditions admitted to a children's hospital

Goals: With recent advances in medicine, patients with chronic medical diseases of childhood, such as congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease, have had significant decreases in both morbidity and mortality and live past childhood. As these patients live into adulthood, it presents a challenge to providers to establish whether a pediatric or “adult” hospital would be bested suited to care for them. Some institutions have age “cut-offs” in which patients over a certain age will be admitted to an adult hospital automatically, which other pediatric …
Improving QSAR Modeling for Predictive Toxicology using Publicly Aggregated Semantic Graph Data and Graph Neural Networks

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) modeling is the most common computational technique for predicting chemical toxicity, but a lack of methodological innovations in QSAR have led to underwhelming performance. We show that contemporary QSAR modeling for predictive toxicology can be substantially improved by incorporating semantic graph data aggregated from open-access public databases, and analyzing those data in the context of graph neural networks (GNNs). Furthermore, we introspect the GNNs to demonstrate how they can lead to more interpretable applications of QSAR, and use ablation analysis to explore the contribution of different data elements to the final models9 performance.
Is More Parental Leave Always Better?: An Analysis of Potential Employee Protection for Leave Offered Outside the FMLA

In the past few years, many large companies, including Netflix, Amazon and Facebook have implemented expanded-and very generous-parental leave policies. While on the surface these policies seem employee-friendly and even big-hearted, when one explores the potential consequences of taking such leave, the policies are fraught with potential dangers for employees. In a groundbreaking new study, researchers have found that employers view time off or flexible work arrangements made for an employee's personal reasons as negatively reflecting on an employee's work commitment. But what happens if a company decides to terminate an employee because they have taken leave and are viewed as less dedicated to the firm? Are any legal protections available for an employee in that position? This Article is the first to explore this timely and relevant topic. As it turns out, any legal protections an employee may have vary by state and, consequently, are largely inconsistent. Even where a cause of action is recognized, the contours of the protections vary greatly by the actual wording of the policies. This Article reviews such protections and suggests new theories under which employees could be protected from adverse consequences stemming from using a company's parental leave. Ultimately, this Article concludes that viewing the policy as a type of unilateral contract potentially provides the most comprehensive protection for employees in this circumstance.
Lubrication–Contact Interface Conditions and Novel Mixed/Boundary Lubrication Modeling Methodology

Under severe conditions, solid contacts take place even when parts are lubricated. Precise mathematical conditions are needed to describe the interior interface between fluid lubrication and solid-contact zones. In order to distinguish the conditions for this interface from conventional lubrication boundary conditions, they are named lubrication–contact interface conditions (LCICs). In this work, mathematical LCICs are derived with local flow continuity from the continuum mechanics point of view and pressure inequality across the interface. Numerical implementations are developed and tested with problems having simple geometries and configurations, and they are integrated into a new mixed/boundary elastohydrodynamic lubrication solver that uses a new method to determine solid-contact pressures. This solver is capable of capturing film thickness and pressure behaviors involving solid contacts.
Epidermal Nevi: What Is New

This article reviews the clinical findings of epidermal nevi and their associated syndromes and provides an update on their pathogenic genetic changes as well as targeted therapies detailed to date.
A US regulatory perspective on multilayer food contact articles

Food packaging and other articles that contact food are collectively referred to as food contact articles (FCAs). Most FCAs on the market today are constructed of more than one structural component, and many of these FCAs can be categorized as multilayer materials. There are several regulations in 21 CFR 175–178, as well as effective FCNs, that pertain specifically to multilayer materials. In the present context, multilayer materials primarily include FCAs that contain coatings or are multilaminate constructs. This chapter will discuss the US regulations in the context of multilayer materials.
High carbon use efficiency in soil microbial communities is related to balanced growth, not storage compound synthesis

Abstract The efficiency with which microbes use substrate (Carbon Use Efficiency or CUE) to make new microbial biomass is an important variable in soil and ecosystem C cycling models. It is generally assumed that CUE of microbial activity in soils is low, however measured values vary widely. It is hypothesized that high values of CUE observed in especially short-term incubations reflect the build-up of storage compounds in response to a sudden increase in substrate availability and are therefore not representative of CUE of microbial activity in unamended soil. To test this hypothesis, we measured the 13CO2 release from six position-specific 13C-labeled glucose isotopomers in ponderosa pine and pinon-juniper soil. We compared this position-specific CO2 production pattern with patterns expected for 1) balanced microbial growth (synthesis of all compounds needed to build new microbial cells) at a low, medium, or high CUE, and 2) synthesis of storage compounds (glycogen, tri-palmitoyl-glycerol, and polyhydroxybutyrate). Results of this study show that synthesis of storage compounds is not responsible for the observed high CUE. Instead, it is the position-specific CO2 production expected for balanced growth and high CUE that best matches the observed CO2 production pattern in these two soils. Comparison with published studies suggests that the amount of glucose added in this study is too low and the duration of the experiment too short to affect microbial metabolism. We conclude that the hypothesis of high CUE in undisturbed soil microbial communities remains viable and worthy of further testing.
Promoting Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Learning to Use Formative Assessment for Life Science Instruction

To support elementary students’ learning of core, standards-based life science concepts highlighted in the Next Generation Science Standards, prospective elementary teachers should develop an understanding of life science concepts and learn to apply their content knowledge in instructional practice to craft elementary science learning environments grounded in students’ thinking. To do so, teachers must learn to use high-leverage instructional practices, such as formative assessment, to engage students in scientific practices and connect instruction to students’ ideas. However, teachers may not understand formative assessment or possess sufficient science content knowledge to effectively engage in related instructional practices. To address these needs, we developed and conducted research within an innovative course for preservice elementary teachers built upon two pillars—life science concepts and formative assessment. An embedded mixed methods study was used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on preservice teachers’ (n = 49) content knowledge and ability to engage in formative assessment practices for science. Findings showed that increased life content knowledge over the semester helped preservice teachers engage more productively in anticipating and evaluating students’ ideas, but not in identifying effective instructional strategies to respond to those ideas.
Systolic time intervals reconsidered. Reevaluation of the preejection period: absence of relation to heart rate.

Abstract Within limits, systolic time intervals are reliable reflectors of cardiac status and responses to physiologic and pharmacologic challenges, with various functional correlates. That heart rate (HR) is an important determinant of the duration of systole is well accepted, owing to its effect on left ventricular ejection time (LVET). An independent rate effect on preelection period (PEP) is disputed. Some studies in pooled normal subjects at rest showed some degree of HR-PEP covariance, leading to wide-spread rate correction in practical use. However, although right atrial pacing showed the expected HR-LVET relation, it consistently failed to show an HR-PEP relation. Systolic time intervals were examined from echocardiograms of a deliberately heterogenous group comprising 50 consecutively appearing persons with sinus rhythm. There was no HR-PEP covariance (r = 0.23; p = not significant). However, our subjects were otherwise comparable to those of other investigators, in that all other relations in these subjects were as expected from studies in both pooled and paced subjects: HR with LVET (r = -0.74; p
Realization of a SOI-like III-V platform based on the integration of GaAs with silicon

We demonstrate the integration of gallium arsenide with silicon to create a SOI-like platform capable of exploiting the optical properties of III-V materials. We fabricate nanoscale waveguides and design Bragg gratings on this new platform.
Does body mass index differ between patients with Barrett’s oesophagus and patients with chronic gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease?

Background Obesity has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for the development of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Aim To perform a prospective cohort study to determine whether there was a difference in body mass index (BMI) between patients with GERD and patients with Barrett’s oesophagus (BE). Methods We prospectively enrolled patients undergoing endoscopic evaluation for GERD and collected information regarding BMI, tobacco and/or alcohol use, and family history of GERD. Patients with non-erosive reflux disease underwent confirmatory 24-h pH testing. Results Seven hundred and fifty one patients with GERD (mean ± s.d. age of 55.4 ± 14.2 years, 74% male) entered the study, and BE was present in 165 (22%, 90% male, 79% Caucasian) patients. The mean GERD symptom duration was 10.3 ± 0.4 years (range 1–62 years) with a mean body mass index of 27.8 ± 0.2 kg/m2 (range 15–55) Compared with patients having GERD alone, patients with BE were more likely to be older (P = 0.001), male (P < 0.001), current or prior tobacco users (P = 0.002), and with greater duration of GERD symptoms (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the BMI for patients with and without BE. Conclusions While obesity is a risk factor for both GERD and BMI, patients with BE did not demonstrate increased BMI compared with patients having chronic GERD.
Modeling Gliomagenesis with Somatic Cell Gene Transfer using Retroviral Vectors

Modeling brain tumor formation in experimental animals with somatic cell gene transfer has a long history. In the early experiments naturally occurring retroviruses were used to induce primary brain tumors in a variety of test animals. The subsequent identification of the v-srconcogene within RSV and other cellular proto-oncogenes encoded by other retroviruses moved the field of oncology into the molecular age. Recombinant retroviruses were originally used to infect cells in vitro followed by transplantation. Since then, retroviral vectors have been used to generate glioma formation in vivo via intracerebral injection of neonatal mice. In the most recent models, primary brain tumors can be induced by injecting avian recombinant retroviruses containing different oncogenes, individually or in combination, into transgenic mice genetically engineered for susceptibility to retroviral gene transfer targeting specific cell types in the brain. Animal modeling experiments have contributed substantially to the understanding of the etiology leading to gliomagenesis. The current models provide tumors, which are genetically and histologically similar to their human counterparts, making them attractive to use in drug discovery for treatment of gliomas.
Recursive Reconstruction of Sparse Signal Sequences

In this chapter we describe our recent work on the design and analysis of recursive algorithms for causally reconstructing a time sequence of (approximately) sparse signals from a greatly reduced number of linear projection measurements. The signals are sparse in some transform domain referred to as the sparsity basis and their sparsity patterns (support set of the sparsity basis coefficients) can change with time. By “recursive", we mean using only the previous signal’s estimate and the current measurements to get the current signal’s estimate. We also briefly summarize our exact reconstruction results for the noise-free case and our error bounds and error stability results (conditions under which a time-invariant and small bound on the reconstruction error holds at all times) for the noisy case. Connections with related work are also discussed. A key example application where the above problem occurs is dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for real-time medical applications such as interventional radiology and MRI-guided surgery, or in functional MRI to track brain activation changes. Cross-sectional images of the brain, heart, larynx or other human organ images are piecewise smooth, and thus approximately sparse in the wavelet domain. In a time sequence, their sparsity pattern changes with time, but quite slowly. The same is also often true for the nonzero signal values. This simple fact, which was first observed in our work, is the key reason that our proposed recursive algorithms can achieve provably exact or accurate reconstruction from very few measurements.
Gross anatomy videos: Student satisfaction, usage, and effect on student performance in a condensed curriculum

Anatomy educators are being tasked with delivering the same quantity and quality of material in the face of fewer classroom and laboratory hours. As a result they have turned to computer-aided instruction (CAI) to supplement and augment curriculum delivery. Research on the satisfaction and use of anatomy videos, a form of CAI, on examination performance continues to grow. The purpose of this study was to describe the usage and effect on examination scores of a series of locally produced anatomy videos after an 11% curriculum reduction. First-year medical students (n = 40) were given access to the videos and the prior year's students (n = 40) were used as historical controls. There was no significant difference in demographics between the two groups. The survey response rate was 85% (n = 34) in the experimental group. The students found the videos to be highly satisfying (median = 5 on a five-point Likert scale, interquartile range = 1) and used them on average 1.55 times/week (SD ± 0.77). Availability of the videos did have a statistically significant effect (4% improvement) on the final laboratory examination (p = 0.039). This suggests that the videos were a well-received form of CAI that may be useful in bridging the gap created by a reduction in gross anatomy course contact hours.
Use of prehospital fluids in hypotensive blunt trauma patients.

Objective. To compare the outcomes of blunt trauma victims with systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg who received prehospital fluids with the outcomes of those who did not receive prehospital fluids. Methods. This matched-pairs case-control study used records of blunt trauma patients with scene systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg obtained from the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. Patients who received >500 mL prehospital fluids (n = 75) were matched by Injury Severity Score (ISS) and systolic blood pressure on scene with those who did not receive any prehospital fluids (n = 75). Outcomes compared included change in systolic blood pressure, survival to discharge, and length of hospital stay. Results. Those who received fluids were more likely to have an increase in systolic blood pressure at arrival to the emergency department [odds ratio for fluid use = 2.41; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.02, 5.73; p = 0.046]. There was no significant difference in survival to discharge (odds ratio for fluid use ...
Integrated switch for mode-division multiplexing (MDM) and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)

We demonstrate the first integrated switch for mode-division multiplexing (MDM) and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). We show on-chip routing of four 10 Gb/s channels with <-20 dB crosstalk and 0.5–1.4 dB power penalty.
The UCLA Young Autism Project: A Reply to Gresham and MacMillan:

Gresham and MacMillan's (1997) article contains numerous misunderstandings about the UCLA Young Autism Project (Lovaas, 1987) and, more generally, about early intervention for children with autism....
Integrating spot short-term measurements of carbon emissions and backward dietary energy partition calculations to estimate intake in lactating dairy cows fed ad libitum or restricted

The objective of this study was to use spot short-term measurements of CH4 (QCH4) and CO2 (QCO2) integrated with backward dietary energy partition calculations to estimate dry matter intake (DMI) in lactating dairy cows. Twelve multiparous cows averaging 173±37d in milk and 4 primiparous cows averaging 179±27d in milk were blocked by days in milk, parity, and DMI (as a percentage of body weight) and, within each block, randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: ad libitum intake (AL) or restricted intake (RI=90% DMI) according to a crossover design. Each experimental period lasted 22d with 14d for treatments adaptation and 8d for data and sample collection. Diets contained (dry matter basis): 40% corn silage, 12% grass-legume haylage, and 48% concentrate. Spot short-term gas measurements were taken in 5-min sampling periods from 15 cows (1 cow refused sampling) using a portable, automated, open-circuit gas quantification system (GreenFeed, C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) with intervals of 12h between the 2daily samples. Sampling points were advanced 2h from a day to the next to yield 16 gas samples per cow over 8d to account for diurnal variation in QCH4 and QCO2. The following equations were used sequentially to estimate DMI: (1) heat production (MJ/d)=(4.96 + 16.07 ÷ respiratory quotient) × QCO2; respiratory quotient=0.95; (2) metabolizable energy intake (MJ/d)=(heat production + milk energy) ± tissue energy balance; (3) digestible energy (DE) intake (MJ/d)=metabolizable energy + CH4 energy + urinary energy; (4) gross energy (GE) intake (MJ/d)=DE + [(DE ÷ in vitro true dry matter digestibility) - DE]; and (5) DMI (kg/d)=GE intake estimated ÷ diet GE concentration. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) and Fit Model procedure in JMP (α=0.05; SAS Institute Inc.). Cows significantly differed in DMI measured (23.8 vs. 22.4kg/d for AL and RI, respectively). Dry matter intake estimated using QCH4 and QCO2 coupled with dietary backward energy partition calculations (Equations 1 to 5 above) was highest in cows fed for AL (22.5 vs. 20.2kg/d). The resulting R(2) were 0.28 between DMI measured and DMI estimated by gaseous measurements, and 0.36 between DMI measured and DMI predicted by the National Research Council model (2001). Results showed that spot short-term measurements of QCH4 and QCO2 coupled with dietary backward estimations of energy partition underestimated DMI by 7.8%. However, the approach proposed herein was able to significantly discriminate differences in DMI between cows fed for AL or RI.
Catalytic Mechanisms of Fe(II)- and 2-Oxoglutarate-dependent Oxygenases

Mononuclear non-heme Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenases comprise a large family of enzymes that utilize an Fe(IV)-oxo intermediate to initiate diverse oxidative transformations with important biological roles. Here, four of the major types of Fe(II)/2OG-dependent reactions are detailed: hydroxylation, halogenation, ring formation, and desaturation. In addition, an atypical epimerization reaction is described. Studies identifying several key intermediates in catalysis are concisely summarized, and the proposed mechanisms are explained. In addition, a variety of other transformations catalyzed by selected family members are briefly described to further highlight the chemical versatility of these enzymes.
Rutgers University case study: a guide to non-routine high dose rate procedures for biomedical facilities.

Non-routine potentially high dose rate procedures occasionally present themselves at biomedical facilities. Lacking significant operational experience, many biomedical facilities decide to contract out the work to consulting firms without seriously considering doing the work themselves. This study shares the University's experiences during a non-routine procedure to extract a 60 Co irradiation source from an underground storage facility and relocate it to an above-ground shielded storage cask.
Individual differences in response to cognitive training: Using a multi-modal, attentionally demanding game-based intervention for older adults

The effectiveness of a game-based cognitive training intervention on multiple abilities was assessed in a sample of 39 older adults aged 60-77. The intervention task was chosen based on a cognitive task analysis designed to determine the attentional and multi-modal demands of the game. Improvements on a measure of attention were found for the intervention group compared to controls. Furthermore, for the intervention group only, initial ability scores predicted improvements on both tests of attention and spatial orientation. These results suggest cognitive training may be more effective for those initially lower in ability.
Activism as a Career, Calling, and Way of Life

In this article, I use life histories of progressive activists to examine the class-inflected nature of activist identities. These life histories reveal three different conceptions of activist identity based primarily on the class origins of the narrators. Middle-class activists define their activism as a career, and their narratives depict a sequential and linear path to a new somewhat professionalized identity. Working-class activists conceive of their activism as a calling, and their narratives move backwards and forwards to an activism that links to and reinvents their working-class roots. Low-income activists make little distinction between their nonactivist and activist lives. They regard their activism as a way of life, and their related narratives combine episodes of collective action with stories of economic deprivation. Overall, this study demonstrates the utility of a more discursive understanding of identity talk, particularly for rethinking processes of recruitment to and participation in soc...
Adopting Commodities: A Burkean Cluster Analysis of Adoption Rhetoric

Despite legal recognition of adoptive families as legitimate families, research suggests that adoptive families face societal stigma because of their adoptive status. Although the research clearly identifies this stigma, the interesting question involves why this stigma persists. Researchers acknowledge that language surrounding adoption is negative but do not pursue what that language is or where it appears. This article seeks to determine how the public discusses adoption. I analyzed 3 newspapers and 11 magazines published over 10 years using cluster analysis to uncover the clusters that infuse adoption meaning; this article addresses the cluster of the commodification of adoption.
Comparison of Model Misspecification Diagnostics Using Residuals from Least Mean of Squares and Least Median of Squares Fits

Abstract This article explores model misspecification diagnostics based on least squares and least median of squares fits. It shows that in some circumstances, least median of squares methods (or any other estimator with the exact fit property) fail to reveal an incorrectly specified mean function, but least squares methods succeed.
Carotid-subclavian arterial reconstruction: concomitant ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy increases risk of perioperative stroke.

Background Carotid-subclavian bypass (CSB) and carotid-subclavian transposition (CST) have excellent long-term patency with low perioperative mortality and morbidity. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is necessary for severe ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis in a small subset of these patients. CEA can be performed as a combined or separate procedure. This study was undertaken to delineate the results of CSB and CST at our institution and to determine if concomitant CEA with CSB or CST is safe. Methods We evaluated the outcome of 36 patients with symptomatic subclavian artery stenosis treated surgically at a single institution during a 22-year period. Outcomes of patients undergoing CSB or CST with concomitant CEA were compared with those of patients undergoing CSB or CST alone. Available literature was reviewed to compare the rate of perioperative stroke following CSB or CST with concomitant CEA versus CSB or CST alone. Results Twenty-one patients underwent CST and 15 patients underwent CSB. There were 2 (5.6%) deaths and 2 (5.6%) strokes within 30 days of surgery. Concomitant CEA was performed in 6 CST patients and 2 CSB patients. Both perioperative strokes occurred in patients who had concomitant CEA. There were no strokes in the CST or CSB alone group ( P = .044). In a collected review of 12 evaluable studies plus our experience, the rate of perioperative stroke was 0.32% in 617 patients who underwent CSB or CST alone versus 4.73% in 148 patients who had concomitant CEA with CSB or CST ( P Conclusions Both CSB and CST are safe and effective for symptomatic subclavian artery stenosis, with excellent long-term results. In patients also requiring CEA, the rate of perioperative stroke is significantly higher with a combined procedure. Consideration should be given to performing CEA separately from CSB or CST.
An analysis of the dependence of the quantum yields of photochemical coupling reactions on the light intensity

Abstract If a product is formed by the coupling of two photochemically generated intermediates then the quantum yield for the appearance of the product may be intensity dependent. The quantum yields of a generalized photochemical coupling reaction were examined with the goal of elucidating the limitations and restrictions that apply in the use of this rule. For the general reaction pathway it was found that the quantum yield Φ of product formation will be directly proportional to I when k12/k2 is much greater than φI and Φ will be constant (with a value of φ 2 ) when k12/k2 is much less than φI. Other values of k12/k2 lead to quantum yields that are intensity dependent but not directly proportional to I. If Φ is to be experimentally determinable then k12/k2 must be no greater than 104φ2I.
Propofol for procedural sedation in children

Abstract Propofol (Diprivan; Astra Zeneca, Wilmington , DE) is a potent anesthetic/sedative agent characterized by rapid onset of sedation and short recovery time. Because of these pharmacologic qualities. propofol has become popular for use during short diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in outpatient settings for hotly adults and children. For induction of sedation, propofol is slowly administered intravenously as a bolus of 1 to 3 followed by either repeated boluses or a continuous infusion of 50 to 160 μ/kg/min. Because propofol is a pure Sedative the administration of an analgesic agent during painful procedures is recommended. Children sedated with propofol may dot clop arterial oxygen desaturation and/ow a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure. These adverse effects ,try usually transient and Most will resolve when the infusion is discontinued. The current experience of nonanesthesiologist using propofol in the pediatric emergency department is very limited. Although emergency physicians are well qualified in managing airway emergencies, further studies are needed to show the safety profile of propofol in this setting.
Virtual home energy auditing at scale: Predicting residential energy efficiency using publicly available data

Abstract In this study we model and examine the energy efficiency profile of individual single-family houses from Gainesville, Florida, in our sample ( n = 7091). For this we use Princeton Scorekeeping Method (PRISM) which processes historical weather data and monthly utility usage data as inputs using an iterative regression approach to compute three energy efficiency parameters: (1) baseload consumption for end-uses which do not change with weather, e.g., lighting, refrigerator, water heater; (2) heating/cooling slope which is a function of the building shell insulation and the efficiency of the heating/cooling unit; (3) reference temperature, i.e., the outside temperature at which the house turns on heating/cooling. These parameters make up the normalized annual consumption (NAC). We then proceed to regress these parameters against the publicly available data to study the extent we can extract statistical insight for residential energy efficiency profiling using publicly available information ( n = 5243). These regression models are to pave a path to creating energy efficiency “reservoir maps” across individual homes and reducing the information barrier to energy efficiency adoption.
Improved transfer of two-dimensional crystals from the air/water interface to specimen support grids for high-resolution analysis by electron microscopy.

Abstract Electron crystallographic analysis of two-dimensional crystals grown on lipid layers at the air/water interface has been limited by loss or damage during transfer of the crystals to an electron microscope support grid. Two methods of transfer are described which are applicable on a small scale (10 μ1 of protein solution) and which give greatly improved results for streptavidin crystals on biotinylated lipid layers. In the first method, a hydrophobic grid surface was produced by coating a carbon support film with a thin layer of SiO2, followed by alkylation with dimethyloctadecylchlorosilane. The transfer efficiency of protein crystals approached 50% coverage of the alkylated grid surface. The degree of order of crystals transferred to the alkylated grid surface and preserved in negative stain was significantly improved over that of crystals transferred directly to a carbon support film. In the second method, crystals at the air/water interface were transferred to a holey carbon support film. The efficiency of transfer across the holes was virtually 100%, as nearly every hole was completely covered with crystals. After preservation of the crystals in 1% glucose and cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature, electron diffraction was obtained that extended to 1/2.8 A-1 resolution. This result demonstrates that two-dimensional crystals grown on lipid layers at the air/water interface can be sufficiently well-ordered, even after transfer to a support grid, to yield high-resolution structural information.