cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parent Perceptions of Care Received by Children With an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research in the post-genomic era has provided substantial contributions toward identification of medical, genetic and environmental heritability factors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A specific etiology related to the diagnosis remains unclear, although prevalence statistics continue to rise with profound impact on families and their primary care providers (PCPs). Support professionals encounter significant challenges delivering comprehensive management for this complex neurobehavioral and developmental disorder. Children with ASD experience significantly higher risk for unmet healthcare needs, and parents report less satisfaction with their care although current literature does not fully explain why this issue persists. This study sought parent insight for the missing answers needed to inform practice. Eleven parents of children with an ASD participated in the study. Parent perceptions of care were examined utilizing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and the Measure of Process of Care (MPOC-20) to illuminate and describe their lived experiences raising children with ASD, and interactions with their PCPs. Most parents utilized their child's PCP for general health maintenance, and many felt their PCP was unable to manage issues specifically related to their child's ASD. Most did not have an expectation for support with behavioral management in the home and school setting or identification of community and mental health resources, although many struggled with unaddressed needs in both of these realms. Utilizing parent perceptions to highlight practice deficiencies can build a foundation for care models that are more comprehensive and family centered.
Treatment of Asthma in Children

Asthma is a pulmonary disorder characterized by reversible periods of airway obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and associated airway inflammation (1). Although these features have important implications for the type of medications used in treatment, a comprehensive approach to asthma therapy in children should include assessment of disease severity and scrutiny for exacerbating factors as well as pharmacotherapy. Long-term successful management is clearly linked to education of patients and their parents about asthma, appropriate use of medications, and a plan of action for periods of exacerbation.
Weakly Connected Oscillators

In this chapter we study weakly connected networks $$ \dot X_i = F_i \left( {X_i ,\lambda } \right) + \varepsilon G_i \left( {X,\lambda ,\rho ,\varepsilon } \right),{\text{ i = 1,}} \ldots {\text{,n,}} $$ (9.1) of oscillatory neurons. Our basic assumption is that there is a value of λ ∈ Λ such that every equation in the uncoupled system (e = 0) $$ \dot X_i = F_i \left( {X_i ,\lambda } \right),{\text{ X}}_i \in \mathbb{R}^m , $$ (9.2) has a hyperbolic stable limit cycle attractor γ ⊂ ℝ m The activity on the limit cycle can be described in terms of its phase \( \theta \in \mathbb{S}^1 \) of oscillation $$ \dot \theta _i = \Omega _i \left( \lambda \right), $$ where Ωi(λ) is the natural frequency of oscillations. The dynamics of the oscillatory weakly connected system (9.1) can also be described in terms of phase variables: $$ \dot \theta _i = \Omega _i \left( \lambda \right), + \varepsilon g_i \left( {\theta ,\lambda ,\rho ,\varepsilon } \right),{\text{ i = 1,}} \ldots {\text{,n}}{\text{.}} $$
The Effectiveness of Goal Setting and Accountability in Group-Based Entrepreneurship Initiatives in Creating Entrepreneurial Human Capital and Accelerating Business Growth

This paper explores the effectiveness of goal setting and accountability within group-based entrepreneurship initiatives in creating human capital. The study uses a randomized cluster trial to compare the experimental and control groups of entrepreneurs. The results suggest that frequent goal setting and accountability in group settings provides a greater number of learning experiences and human capital development opportunities available to entrepreneurs than those that did not engage in the same level of goal setting.
Explaining Divided U.S. Senate Delegations, 1788-1996: A Realignment Approach

We maintain that the rise and fall in the number of states with divided Senate delegations can be explained primarily in terms of long-run forces of realignment/dealignment and staggered Senate elections. We test our model with election data from 1788–1996 rather than only the post–World War II period, which was common in previous research. We show that a large number of divided Senate delegations is not new; indeed, the highest percentage occurred in 1830. Exactly as predicted by our model, we find a cyclical pattern in divided Senate delegations that is tied to realigning epochs. Our analysis also calls attention to the recent decline in the number of such delegations, and we argue that this trend may well continue.
Vortex generated sound in cavities

Cavities in which geometric disturbances are present may produce acoustic waves due to the shedding of vortices from the disturbance in the range 300<Re<!04. A simple model is examined which represents a feedback mechanism between the vortex shedding process and the acoustic modes produced by the vortices. It is shown that the growth of acoustic waves is greatest when the characteristic frequency of vortex shedding is commensurate with a natural acoustic frequency of the cavity. For the model assumed, one nonlinear aspect of the phenomenon is the excitation of harmonics of the primary mode. Comparison with experiments are favorable in predicting growth rates.
Peyronie's disease: surgical management: autologous materials

Peyronie's disease in men with satisfactory erectile function but with significant penile curvature is often treated with plaque incision or excision and grafting. The advantages and disadvantages of various grafting materials have long been debated. While artificial materials have been used, the inflammatory reaction from these grafts has produced poor results. Dermal, venous and tunica vaginalis grafts require additional operative time to harvest and their quality varies Packaged grafts of autologous materials provide a readily available, reliable and well-tolerated choice for penile reconstruction for Peyronie's disease. These grafting materials including cadavaric pericardium, mammalian intestinal serosal products and others are easily obtained and provide a resilient yet compliant graft choice that is easy to tailor and suture in place. Host reaction is minimal and the infection risk small. Results of Peyronie's plaque incision/excision and autologous grafting are presented and the surgical procedures employed are outlined. Excellent results can be expected in the hands of the experienced reconstructive surgeon.
Abstract 464: Tumor derived vacuolar ATPase subunit promotes M2 type polarization of macrophages.

Tumors and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) express a unique surface vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) on the plasma membrane. In tumor cells, a 20 kd peptide is cleaved from a2 isoform of V-ATPase and is referred to as a2NTD; it is associated with in vitro induction of pro-tumorigenic properties in monocytes and IL-β secretion. In this study, we evaluated the immuno-modulatory properties of a2NTD in inducing murine peritoneal macrophage polarization and activation of inflammasome components both ex vivo and in vivo. Peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice were stimulated with recombinant a2NTD and the mRNA and protein expression of M1 (CD11c, TNF-α), M2 (Mannose receptor-1, Arginase-1, IL-10) markers, IL-1β and NLRP3 (inflammasome marker) were analyzed using quantitative real time PCR and flow cytometry. Further, mice were injected with a2NTD i.p. and peritoneal cells were analyzed for M1/M2 specific markers. The results of both in vivo and ex vivo analysis showed an elevated population of M2 subtype in a2NTD-treated mice compared to control (P Citation Format: Gajendra K. Katara, Mukesh K. Jaiswal, Alice Gilmam-Sacks, Kenneth D. Beaman. Tumor derived vacuolar ATPase subunit promotes M2 type polarization of macrophages. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 464. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-464
Infinite Families of Nontrivial Trivalent Graphs Which are not Tait Colorable

(1975). Infinite Families of Nontrivial Trivalent Graphs Which are not Tait Colorable. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 82, No. 3, pp. 221-239.
The Fekete-Szeg Inequality for a Subclass of Starlike Functions of Complex Order

In this paper,we introduce a subclass of starlike functions of complex orderS(λ,b,A,B).The Fekete-Szeg inequality for S(λ,b,A,B)is discussed.The accurate results are obtained,which generalize the related results of some authors.And the applications of the inequality of functions with Hadamard convolution are proved.
Inflammatory Mediator Profile in Urine and Bladder Wash Fluid of Patients with Interstitial Cystitis

AbstractInterstitial cystitis is a syndrome of urinary urgency, frequency and suprapubic pain. We investigated the role of inflammatory mediators in 96 patients with histories and symptoms consistent with interstitial cystitis, and 13 controls from The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, University of Washington and University of California at San Diego. Patients were classified into either group A (meets all criteria of the National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases for inclusion in research studies), group B (meets all of these criteria but without glomerulations) or an “other” group. A small number of group A patients had detectable interleukin-6 in the urine. Urinary concentrations of tumor necrosis factor, prostaglandins E2, D2 and F2α, and thromboxane B2 were not different among either patient groups or controls. Urine specimens contained inhibitors of the bioactivity of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factors but no differences between patients or controls were ...
The neurobiological and behavioral overlaps of nicotine and food addiction

Both cigarette smoking and obesity are significant public health concerns and are associated with increased risk of early mortality. It is well established that the mesolimbic dopamine pathway is an important component of the reward system within the brain and is implicated in the development of addiction. Indeed, nicotine and highly palatable foods are capable of altering dopamine release within this system, engendering addictive like responses in susceptible individuals. Although additional research is warranted, findings from animal and human literature have elucidated many of neuroadaptions that occur from exposure to nicotine and highly palatable foods, leading to a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms contributing to these aberrant behaviors. In this review we present the findings taken from preclinical and clinical literature of the known effects of exposure to nicotine and highly palatable foods on the reward related circuitry within the brain. Further, we compare the neurobiological and behavioral overlaps between nicotine, highly palatable foods and obesity. Lastly, we examine the stigma associated with smoking, obesity and food addiction, and the consequences stigma has on the overall health and wellbeing of an individual.
Does a battery-electric truck make a difference? – Life cycle emissions, costs, and externality analysis of alternative fuel-powered Class 8 heavy-duty trucks in the United States

Attempting to gain insights from how alternative fuel technologies employed in heavy-duty trucks (HDTs) differ with respect to their life-cycle emissions, costs, and externalities presents an important opportunity to develop a more holistic overall analysis of future HDTs. To this end, this study uses a hybrid life-cycle assessment method to analyze and compare alternative fuel-powered Class 8 HDTs. To account for the uncertainty in the data a Monte Carlo simulation is also applied. The HDTs considered in this analysis (biodiesel (B20), compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid, and BE HDTs) are compared to the diesel HDT (conventional HDT). The results show that BE HDTs outperform all other types of trucks overall, despite their incremental costs and electricity generation-related emissions. Furthermore, if such a BE truck were to run on electricity generated in the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) NERC region, fuel-consumption related GHGs emissions from BE HDTs could decrease by as much as 63 percent. It has also been found that, although there is a slight difference between the life-cycle costs (LCCs) of conventional HDTs and CNG-powered HDTs, the latter emits 33% more GHGs than the former. Moreover, this study concludes that CNG trucks yield no improvements in either HDT's life-cycle environmental impacts or LCCs compared to their conventional counterparts. Providing that electricity is generated from renewable energy sources, the use of BE trucks would significantly improve the life-cycle performance of a truck as well as ambient air quality.
Participatory Evaluation with Youth: Building Skills for Community Action

This article describes an innovative training program that combines youth-adult partnerships, social inquiry, and community action as a method for effective youth engagement. Elements of the training are outlined, and program evaluation results are presented. In addition, several strategies for successful program replication are presented.
Smart Disaster Response Through Localized Short-Term Cooperation

As the information and communication technology (ICT) has advanced, research on smart cities that take advantage of ICT has been extensively conducted to improve resource management and enhance citizen’s quality of life. Disaster management is a critical component in smart cities to secure citizen’s safety. From experiences with recent disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes, we can easily find evidence that shows an urgent need for intelligent disaster management systems. In a disaster situation, a disaster response system must address not only long-term needs that require continuous disaster recovery, but also short-term needs that require ephemeral cooperation between people and smart devices nearby. However, existing disaster-responsive applications have been based on pre-established long-term relationships and focused on communication among human users. To address the limitation of disaster management, in this paper, the smart disaster response system (DRS) is proposed. The Smart DRS allows connectivity among users and sensing devices with short-term relationships based on geographical location within. The approach allows effective sharing of disaster information and immediate cooperation within communities in a manner that reconciles with requirements of security and privacy.
A Comparison of the Plastic-Flow Response of a Powder-Metallurgy Nickel-Base Superalloy Under Nominally-Isothermal and Transient-Heating Hot-Working Conditions

The flow-stress behavior at hot-working temperatures and strain rates of the powder-metallurgy superalloy LSHR was determined under nominally-isothermal and transient-heating conditions. Two conventional methods, compression of right-circular cylinders and torsion of thin-walled tubes, were used for isothermal tests. A direct-resistance-heating technique utilizing torsion of round-bar specimens in a Gleeble® machine was applied for both isothermal and transient-heating conditions. When expressed in terms of effective stress and strain, baseline data determined by the two conventional methods showed good agreement. With the aid of a flow-localization analysis to assess the confounding influence of axial (and radial) temperature gradients on deformation uniformity, the flow stresses determined from nominally-isothermal Gleeble® torsion tests were shown to be broadly similar to those from the conventional tests. With regard to transient phenomena, Gleeble® tests were also useful in quantifying the effect of rapid heating and short soak time on the observed higher flow stress associated with a metastable microstructure. The present work also introduces two new test techniques using direct-resistance-heated torsion specimens. One involves continuous heating under constant-torque conditions, and the other comprises testing an individual specimen at a series of temperatures and strain rates. Using a single specimen, the former method enabled the determination of the apparent activation energy for plastic flow, which was similar to that determined from the series of isothermal tests; the latter provided a low-cost, high-throughput approach to quantify the flow behavior.
Elevated Cyclin D1 (CCND1) Expression in the Plasma Cells of Patients with Systemic AL Amyloidosis at Diagnosis Is Associated with Higher Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Levels, Increased Plasma Cells and Significantly Poorer Survival.

Abstract 2815 Poster Board II-791 Background: The clonal plasma cells in AL can be considered malignant because they contain cytogenetic abnormalities, including t(11;14) in 40% to 50% of cases (Blood 2001;98:2266; 2008;111:4700; Haematologica 2009;94:380). By gene expression profiling (GEP) they are also reported to overexpress CCND1 (Blood 2005;105:794). To assess the frequency and significance of differences in CCND1 expression in plasma cells from AL patients at diagnosis, we evaluated the differences in CCND1 expression in CD138+ plasma cells from newly diagnosed patients. We then correlated these differences with features of both the deposition and clonal plasma cell diseases, and with treatments, outcomes and overall survival. Methods: Newly diagnosed AL patients were evaluated and CD138+ cells selected and used for GEP with Affymetrix U133 PLUS2.0 arrays (Affymetrix; Santa Clara, CA) or qRT-PCR as previously described (JNCCN 2007;5:179; Blood 2008;111:549). qRT-PCR was performed using TaqMAN Gene Expression Assays with CCND1 (Hs00277039_m1) and RPLP0 (Hs99999902_m1) primers and probes (Applied Biosystems; Foster City, CA) and 2 myeloma cell lines as positive and negative controls (KMS-12BM, RPMI 8226) on an Mx 3000P platform and related software (Stratagene; La Jolla, CA). The comparative Ct method was used and the amount of target was normalized to the control (2 -ΔΔCt ) assuming an efficiency of 2. Statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad PRISM (GraphPad; La Jolla, CA). Results: CD138+ cells from 58 newly diagnosed AL patients were evaluated. With GEP (n=16), CCND1 median log e -transformed quantitative expression levels were 11.08 (range, 9.6-11.55) in five versus 4.163 (3.875-5.447) in eleven patients ( P CCND1 expression levels were 4.21 (1.76-17.24) in twenty versus 0.014 (0-0.99) in twenty-two patients ( P P P = 0.06), higher serum free light chain levels (23.3 versus 14mg/dl, P = 0.12) and more kappa clones (6/25 versus 2/33, P = 0.06), and had fewer intact immunoglobulin M-proteins (4/25 versus 22/33, P P = 0.02) and had a risk of death of 2.86 (CI 1.18-6.94). Conclusions: Significant differences in CCND1 expression in the plasma cells of AL patients at diagnosis can be appreciated by GEP and qRT-PCR and clearly define two groups, CCND1+ and CCND1-, that differ in baseline BNP levels and features of the clonal plasma cell disease. Despite similar treatments and initial responses, CCND1+ patients have poorer overall survival, possibly due to asymptomatic cardiac involvement at diagnosis and low-level persistence of clonal plasma cells despite treatment, hypotheses that merit prospective evaluation. Disclosures: Comenzo: Millenium: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Birth Weight and Lung Function in Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Rationale: There is evidence suggesting that birth weight may influence lung function in adulthood, but it is unclear whether it might differentially affect restrictive (FVC) and obstructive (FEV1/FVC) patterns.Objectives: To summarize evidence available on the association of birth weight, weight at 1 year, and weight gain in the first year of life with FVC and FEV1/FVC in adulthood.Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science through January 2015. Data were combined using inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis with random effects models and between-study heterogeneity evaluated. We conducted a priori subgroup or sensitivity analyses by age, country wealth, ethnicity, sex, and smoking. We evaluated risk of bias using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale and reporting bias using funnel plots.Results: Eighteen articles were included in the review and 13 in the meta-analyses. Most studies were from high-income countries, and all had a low risk of bias. W...
Common therapeutic target for both cancer and obesity

Obesity and cancer are two interrelated conditions of high epidemiological need, with studies showing that obesity is responsible for nearly 25% of the relative contribution to cancer incidence. Given the connection between these conditions, a drug that can operate on both obesity and cancer is highly desirable. Such a drug is accomplishable through the development of potent anti-angiogenesis agents due to the shared underlying role of angiogenesis in the development of both diseases. Prior research has demonstrated a key role of type-2 methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP2) for angiogenesis, which has led to the development of numerous of novel inhibitors. Several irreversible MetAP2 inhibitors have entered clinical trials without great success. Though this lack of success could be attributed to off-target adverse effects, the underlying causes remain unclear. More promising reversible inhibitors have been recently developed with excellent pre-clinical results. However, due to insufficient knowledge of the biological functions of N-terminal protein processing, it is hard to predict whether these novel inhibitors would successfully pass clinical trials and thereby benefit cancer and obesity patients. Significantly more efforts are needed to advance our understanding of the regulation of methionine aminopeptidases and the processes by which they govern the function of proteins.
The Role of Aspirational Experiences and Behaviors in Cultivating Momentum for Transfer Access in STEM: Variations Across Gender and Race:

Objective: Although upward transfer in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields represents a prominent national policy concern, community college students’ aspirations for tr...
The Relationship Between Spirituality and Burnout in the Lives of Medical Students

This study addresses medical student burnout, the physical and emotional exhaustion experienced due to chronic stress, which is prevalent among medical students. The relationships between spirituality and personal well-being were assessed across the 4 years of a medical school in southeastern USA using the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey, World Health Organization Quality of Life-Spiritual, Religious, and Personal Beliefs Survey, and the narrative HOPE Spiritual Assessment Tool. The instruments measured exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy pertaining to medical students’ work environment as well as levels of spirituality extracted from facets such as personal practices, sources of hope and strength, and meaning and connection in the world. A significant inverse relationship was found between spirituality and exhaustion as well as spirituality and cynicism. Conversely, spirituality shared a significantly positive relationship with professional efficacy. A significantly higher level of exhaustion and cynicism and lower reported professional efficacy were found in M2 students compared to M4 students. Important sources of student support identified in thematic analysis of narrative were family, friends, a connection to God or a higher power, being part of a religious or spiritual community, prayer/meditation, music, and time spent outdoors. The data suggest that spirituality may be a protective coping tool against burnout in medical students; students nearing the end of pre-clerkship training were in the most need of coping resources. The integration of spirituality into medical school wellness programs may prove beneficial to students specifically before the stressful second year curriculum and can serve students well into their medical profession.
Effects of physical attractiveness on political beliefs

Physical attractiveness is an important social factor in our daily interactions. Scholars in social psychology provide evidence that attractiveness stereotypes and the “halo effect” are prominent in affecting the traits we attribute to others. However, the interest in attractiveness has not directly filtered down to questions of political behavior beyond candidates and elites. Utilizing measures of attractiveness across multiple surveys, we examine the relationship between attractiveness and political beliefs. Controlling for socioeconomic status, we find that more attractive individuals are more likely to report higher levels of political efficacy, identify as conservative, and identify as Republican. These findings suggest an additional mechanism for political socialization that has further implications for understanding how the body intertwines with the social nature of politics.
The Effect of Opioid Use and Mental Illness on Chronic Disease Medication Adherence in Superutilizers.

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to essential chronic medications has been identified as a potential driver of high health care costs in superutilizers of inpatient services. Few studies, however, have documented the levels of nonadherence and factors associated with nonadherence in this high-cost, vulnerable population. OBJECTIVE: To examine the factors associated with nonadherence to essential chronic medications, with special emphasis on mental illness and use of opioid medications. METHODS: This study was a retrospective panel analysis of 2-year baseline data for Medicare Part D beneficiaries eligible for the SafeMed care transitions program in Memphis, Tennessee, from February 2013 to December 2014. The 2-year baseline data for each patient were divided into four, 6-month patient periods. The study included Medicare superutilizers (defined as patients with ≥ 3 hospitalizations or ≥ 2 hospitalizations with ≥ 2 emergency visits in 6 months) with continuous Part D coverage who had filled at least 1 drug class u...
Tumor cell-adipocyte gap junctions activate lipolysis and are essential for breast tumorigenesis

During tumorigenesis, a heterotypic interface exists between cancer and stromal cells that can both support and repress tumor growth. In the breast, studies have demonstrated a pro-tumorigenic role for adipocytes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which breast cancer cells coopt adipocytes remain elusive. Studying breast tumors and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) from several patient cohorts and mouse models, we show that lipolysis and lipolytic signaling are activated in NAT. We investigate the tumor-adipocyte interface and find that functional gap junctions form between breast cancer cells and adipocytes. As a result, cAMP, a critical lipolysis-inducing signaling molecule, is transferred from breast cancer cells to adipocytes and activates lipolysis in a gap junction-dependent manner; a fundamentally new mechanism of lipolysis activation in adipocytes. We find that gap junction formation depends upon connexin 31 (Cx31), and that Cx31 is essential for breast tumor growth and activation of lipolysis in vivo. Thus, direct tumor cell-adipocyte interaction is critical for tumorigenesis and may serve as a new therapeutic target in breast cancer.
Knowing What's Best: A New Look at Self-Determination:

Rationalistic and legalistic influences have diminished the power of self-determination as a guiding principle of social work practice. The authors discuss an approach that places the client's own ...
Sino-Nasal Sarcoidosis

Sino-nasal sarcoidosis is an infrequent but serious complication of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis patients with sino-nasal involvement usually have chronic disease. Involvement of the paranasal sinuses is usually detected by imaging, which can demonstrate destruction of tissue and/or replacement with granulomatous inflammation. Although the diagnosis may be suggested by visualization, biopsy confirmation is highly supportive of the diagnosis. In some cases, local corticosteroids may be sufficient to control inflammation. However, many patients require systemic therapy. While glucocorticoids are first-line therapy, steroid-sparing agents such as methotrexate are often employed to minimize toxicity. In some cases, third-line agents, including the antitumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies such as infliximab, are needed to control the inflammation. Recurrent infections may complicate the management of sino-nasal disease.
A case study examination of exemplary literacy teaching in a cross-linguistic, cross-cultural learning environment

ABSTRACTThis case study examined the experiences of one non-Latina bilingual teacher who was nominated as being an exemplary literacy educator of bilingual learners in a cross-linguistic and cross cultural learning environment. Findings demonstrated three characteristics that accompanied the focus teacher’s conventional knowledge of literacy teaching. These characteristics included a) an ongoing and evolving self-reflection on language and culture; b) an unwavering commitment to understanding bilingual identities; and c) a mindset oriented in action and advocacy. The implications for teacher education programs emphasize a focus on guiding students in traversing borders, cultivating quality practices, and building capacity for equity-oriented actions. This research was conducted through sociocultural-constructivist and culturally responsive frameworks with the intent of understanding ways of educating all teachers to be effective in classrooms of culturally and linguistically diverse learners.
Nutrient Signaling Through TOR Kinases Controls Gene Expression and Cellular Differentiation in Fungi

The TOR kinases were first identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the targets of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin. Subsequent studies employing rapamycin as a tool in yeast have given us insight into the structure and function of the TOR kinases, as well as the biological role of the TOR signaling program in transmitting nutrient signals to promote cell growth. One of the major advances from this area has been in defining an unexpected role for TOR signaling in the regulation of transcription. The identification of target genes subject to regulation by TOR has provided a platform for the dissection of the signaling events downstream of the TOR kinases. Studies aimed at understanding TOR-regulated transcription have begun to shed light on how TOR signaling cooperates with other signaling programs. In addition, the TOR pathway regulates the developmental program of pseudohyphal differentiation in concert with highly conserved MAP kinase and PKA signaling programs. Remarkably, rapamycin also blocks filamentation in a number of important human and plant pathogens and the mechanism of rapamycin action is conserved in Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The antimicrobial properties of less immunosuppressive analogs of rapamycin hold promise for the development of an effective antifungal therapy.
SATELLITES AND SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING | GPS Meteorology

The signals of the Global Positioning System (GPS) encounter refraction in the Earth's atmosphere. In ground-based GPS meteorology, GPS signals are observed at a ground station, and the data can be inverted for precipitable water with accuracy and precision of 2%. In GPS radio occultation (RO), GPS signals are observed in low Earth orbit after traversing the atmosphere, and the data can be inverted for profiles of the microwave refractivity, pressure, and temperature. Between 8 and 30 km, the retrieved refractivity is precise to 0.2%. Both ground-based GPS and GPS RO are ideally suited to climate monitoring and numerical weather prediction.
Cystic fibrosis—A challenging masquerader

CF, a generalized dysfunction of the exocrine glands, is an inherited disorder with variable clinical manifestations and prognosis. Because of the multisystem involvement, CF can masquerade as other disorders, including allergy. A high index of suspicion and a knowledge of the variable manifestations of this complex multisystem syndrome are essential for early diagnosis of this challenging masquerader. Quantitative analysis of sweat electrolyte levels after pilocarpine iontophoresis is the cornerstone of the diagnosis of CF. Because respiratory involvement causes most of the morbidity and mortality, aggressive treatment of pulmonary infection and efforts to reduce obstruction of the airways are essential in the treatment of CF. Until the basic defect that causes CF is identified, control or stabilization of the disease and management of its complications, rather than a cure, are the realistic goals of treatment. A comprehensive approach to management includes education of the patient about the disease and its treatment, supportive counseling, dietary supplementation, and aggressive therapy for pulmonary disease.
Chapter 7 – Treatment Management

This chapter provides an overview of the management models of behavioral intervention techniques related to feeding treatment programs for individuals with ASD. A working definition of the role of therapist is given, along with the required proficiencies for nonprofessionals such as parents. Advantages and disadvantages of having a parent as the therapist are explained. The role of supervisor and credentials for this position are discussed. Management models such as direct supervision, within a comprehensive ABA program, direct consultation, and school consultation are delineated. There is a brief section on telemedicine, and how it might be used to assist an otherwise inaccessible client. The pros and cons of electronic communication are cited, including the lack of face-to-face interaction, and the possible noncompliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Treatment design and evaluation are discussed, with cautionary notes regarding the measurement of behavior changes. Reversal design provides some insights.
Photovoltaic donor-acceptor conjugated polymers with minimally substituted acceptor moieties

Abstract A novel family of conjugated donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers designed with comparatively small methyl substituted acceptor units was synthesized for use as donor phase materials in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaic (OPV) applications. These polymers make use of common acceptor moieties thieno [3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD), diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), and isoindigo (iI) with methyl side chains to provide sterically unhindered sites for enhanced interactions with a molecular acceptor (MA), either PC71BM or ITIC in this study. The resulting polymers P(T4-TPD-M), P(T4-DPP-M), and P(T4-iI-M) were utilized in BHJ OPV devices where the highest performing D-A polymer, P(T4-TPD-M), obtained a maximum PCE of 7.5% with PC71BM and 4.0% with ITIC. These results indicate that minimally-sized methyl side chain derivatives of TPD, DPP, and iI can be useful acceptor moieties in D-A polymer systems, and the impact of sterics on the acceptor moiety can be elucidated in future studies through modification of the methyl side chain to bulkier aliphatic substituents.
Detection of Muscle Tension Dysphonia Using Eulerian Video Magnification: A Pilot Study.

Summary Objective To determine whether Eulerian Video Magnification software is useful in diagnosis of muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Study Design Prospective. Methods Adult patients scheduled in a tertiary care laryngology practice for evaluation of dysphonia were recruited between November 2016 and March 2017. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from patient charts. Diagnosis of MTD was confirmed with videostroboscopic and physical exam and by a speech-language pathologist. Eighteen MTD patients were video recorded while at rest and with phonation. Five patients without MTD also were analyzed as controls. Videos were analyzed using Eulerian Video Magnification software (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to assess change in blood flow at the forehead, infrahyoid muscles, and sternocleidomastoid muscles, while using the values of the background wall as a control value. Results Patients with MTD demonstrated little change in perfusion to the infrahyoid muscles of the neck while phonating (+1% ± 55%). Control subjects demonstrated an increase in perfusion to the infrahyoid muscles while phonating (+102% ± 164%), with this change being significant when comparing the two groups (P = 0.04, t = 2.189, df = 21). A change in perfusion of 0% or less to infrahyoid muscles was 75% sensitive and 70% specific for diagnosis of MTD. No differences in perfusion were found between other regions assessed. Patient age and gender did not correlate with any change in perfusion between rest and phonation. Conclusion Our data suggest that Eulerian Video Magnification can be used in the diagnosis of MTD by focusing on the difference in perfusion to the infrahyoid muscles between rest and phonation.
Expressed Symptoms and Attitudes Toward Using Twitter for Health Care Engagement Among Patients With Lupus on Social Media: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

Background: Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat. It is estimated that at least 5 million Americans have lupus, with more than 16,000 new cases of lupus being reported annually in the United States. Social media provides a platform for patients to find rheumatologists and peers and build awareness of the condition. Researchers have suggested that the social network Twitter may serve as a rich avenue for exploring how patients communicate about their health issues. However, there is a lack of research about the characteristics of lupus patients on Twitter and their attitudes toward using Twitter for engaging them with their health care. Objective: This study has two objectives: (1) to conduct a content analysis of Twitter data published by users (in English) in the United States between September 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018 to identify patients who publicly discuss their lupus condition and to assess their expressed health themes and (2) to conduct a cross-sectional survey among these lupus patients on Twitter to study their attitudes toward using Twitter for engaging them with their health care. Methods: This is a mixed methods study that analyzes retrospective Twitter data and conducts a cross-sectional survey among lupus patients on Twitter. We used Symplur Signals, a health care social media analytics platform, to access the Twitter data and analyze user-generated posts that include keywords related to lupus. We will use descriptive statistics to analyze the data and identify the most prevalent topics in the Twitter content among lupus patients. We will further conduct self-report surveys via Twitter by inviting all identified lupus patients who discuss their lupus condition on Twitter. The goal of the survey is to collect data about the characteristics of lupus patients (eg, gender, race/ethnicity, educational level) and their attitudes toward using Twitter for engaging them with their health care. Results: This study has been funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science through a Clinical and Translational Science Award. The institutional review board at the University of Southern California (HS-19-00048) approved the study. Data extraction and cleaning are complete. We obtained 47,715 Twitter posts containing terms related to “lupus” from users in the United States published in English between September 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018. We included 40,885 posts in the analysis. Data analysis was completed in Fall 2020. Conclusions: The data obtained in this pilot study will shed light on whether Twitter provides a promising data source for garnering health-related attitudes among lupus patients. The data will also help to determine whether Twitter might serve as a potential outreach platform for raising awareness of lupus among patients and implementing related health education interventions.
Interdependencies of lithium mining and communities sustainability in Salar de Atacama, Chile

Abstract Demand for clean technologies has increased global lithium (Li) production. However, the potential impacts of lithium extraction, especially on frontline communities, have not been studied holistically. This research assesses the community sustainability in Salar de Atacama, Chile. We developed a coupled natural-social systems framework to analyze the interdependencies of the lithium extraction and its impacts. Using data from the Chilean census, company sustainability reports, remote sensing, and media archives, we investigate the temporal dynamics of water availability, labor influx, employment, social activism, and corporate social responsibility. Our study finds that between 2002 and 2017, the total water storage declined at a rate of 1.16 mm/year. Compared to other uses, water consumption from Li-mining was higher by two orders of magnitude. Mining played a crucial role in creating greater migration impacts, as indicated in a high migration effectiveness index of 85% and 90%, respectively. Labor influx increased 2.3 times, whereas the role of local labor in mining decreased from 52% to 18%. Local social activism increased both in intensity and scale. Our interdependency framework and analyses show that Li-mining and local communities are closely linked at both local and regional scale through the sharing of water resources, economic opportunities, and resource governance.
Ambient particle radioactivity and gestational diabetes: A cohort study of more than 1 million pregnant women in Massachusetts, USA.

Abstract Background Exposure to ionizing radiation increases the risk of chronic metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Internal ionizing radiation from inhaled radioactive aerosol may contribute to the associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods We used the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records to study 1,061,937 pregnant women from 2001 to 2015 with a singleton pregnancy without pre-existing diabetes. Gross β activity measured by seven monitors of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's RadNet monitoring network was utilized to represent ambient particle radioactivity (PR). We obtained GDM status from birth certificates and used logistic regression analyses adjusted for socio-demographics, maternal comorbidities, PM2.5, temperature and relative humidity. We also examined effect modification by smoking habits. Results Ambient particle radioactivity exposure during first and second trimester of pregnancy was associated with higher odds of GDM (OR: 1.18 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.22). Controlling for PM2.5 did not substantially change the effects of PR on GDM. In women that reported being former or current smokers, the association between PR and GDM was null. In the full cohort, the overall effect of PM2.5 on GDM without adjusting for PR was not significant. Conclusion This is the first population-based study to examine the association between particle radioactivity and gestational diabetes mellitus - one of the most common pregnancy-related diseases with lifelong effects for the mother and the fetus. This finding has important public health policy implications because it enhances our understanding about the toxicity of PR, a modifiable risk factor, which to date, has been considered only as an indoor and occupational air quality risk.
Ambient Illumination Influence on Photuris Firefly Larval Surface Movements is not Mediated by the Stemmata

Movements of fireflies visible on the surface of soil were measured under controlled laboratory conditions consisting of high and low ambient illumination. High illumination approximating the intensity of light prior to sunset constituted our light condition. Low illumination was consistent with ambient light levels after civil sunset, which we referred to as our dark condition. Surface movements were significantly more frequent during dark conditions compared to light conditions. Stemmata are the larval form of the insect eye and were the only identified visual organs present in Photuris larvae. We investigated whether stemmata provided larvae with the sensory information facilitating the light dependency of surface movements. We disrupted transmission of visual information from the larval eyes to the brain by severing the optic nerves. The amount of surface movement was compared between larvae with intact and severed optic nerves, under light and dark conditions. Light dependency of surface movements was preserved in larvae with cut optic nerves. The presence of the light dependency after cutting the optic nerves indicated that an alternative, extrastemmatal sensory pathway must be providing light intensity information to the animal. Light dependency was abolished upon removal of the head. Thus, these results suggested that the extraocular system providing light intensity information for regulating the frequency of surface movement was located in the head. The precise location of the suggested extraocular receptor and the nature of the associated sensory system remains unknown.
Thromboembolic Events and Role of Point of Care Ultrasound in Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients Needing Intensive Care Unit Admission.

Background:Covid-19 associated coagulopathy (CAC) is associated with prothrombotic state and thromboembolism. However, true incidence of thromboembolic events is difficult to determine in the ICU s...
Improving cycle stability of Si anode through partially carbonized polydopamine coating

Abstract In this study, we report the first investigation of the effectiveness of the partially converted carbon coating from polydopamine (PODA) to improve the cycle stability of Si anode for Li-ion batteries. It is hypothesized that by converting PODA to a partial carbonization condition, the resulting coating could have a higher electrical conductivity than PODA without carbonization, and at the same time may still contain some organic bonds and thus mechanical flexibility to accommodate the volume expansion of Si during lithiation. The results show that such a partial carbonization state can be obtained by carbonization of PODA at 400 °C. Furthermore, the partially converted carbon coating can offer sufficient electrical conductivity for lithiation and delithiation of Si anode while drastically reducing the charge transfer resistance for the redox reactions. In addition, the partially-converted‑carbon coated hollow Si nanospheres exhibit excellent cycle stability when the volume expansion of Si anode is not very large (~88%) even though this volume expansion is significantly larger than the engineered void space (47% of the Si volume) available inside the partially-converted‑carbon coated hollow Si nanospheres, unambiguously confirming the good tolerance of the partially converted carbon coating in withstanding some tensile strain without fracture. This study offers a new direction for systematic studies in the future as a means to provide a coating on Si material with sufficient electrical conductivity along with capability to withstand some tensile strain during the volume expansion of Si, thereby improving the cycle stability of Si anodes.