cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flame synthesis of 5 V spinel-LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode-materials for lithium-ion rechargeable-batteries

Abstract The lithium transition metal oxide LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 with an Fd 3 ¯ m space group (SG) structure has shown great potential as a cathode material for 5 V lithium-ion rechargeable-batteries. In this work, a flame-assisted spray technology (FAST) was developed to produce nanostructured LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 powder in a continuous manner. The as-synthesized powder had a uniform morphology, was spherical in shape and had a nanocrystalline structure, as observed by SEM and TEM. The XRD pattern of the as-synthesized powder matched the spectrum of spinel-LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 . The average grain size was about 16 nm, as calculated by XRD. However, XRD also indicated the impurity Mn 2 NiO 4 in the powder. By varying flame temperature, it was possible to show that the impurity was formed due to the high temperature of the flame. While flame temperature was minimized by lowering the H 2 /N 2 ratio, it was not possible to completely eliminate Mn 2 NiO 4 from the as-synthesized powder. After annealing at 800 °C for 2 h, the impurity was eliminated, and the XRD pattern of the powder indicated a pure-phase spinel structure with an Fd 3 ¯ m SG. The electrochemical performance of the flame-synthesized LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 powder was tested in coin-type test batteries that were charged and discharged at constant current under a 5 V potential. The test cells showed the characteristic voltage plateaus of spinel-LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 ( Fd 3 ¯ m SG). The material proved to be electrochemically active as a cathode material for lithium-ion rechargeable-batteries.
Beyond binary retention in HIV care: predictors of the dynamic processes of patient engagement, disengagement, and re-entry into care in a US clinical cohort.

Objectives:Studies examining engagement in HIV care often capture cross-sectional patient status to estimate retention and identify predictors of attrition, which ignore longitudinal patient care-seeking behaviors. We describe the cyclical nature of (dis)engagement and re-entry into HIV care using t
Light and heavy flavor dijet production and dijet mass modification in heavy ion collisions

Back-to-back light and heavy flavor dijet measurements are promising experimental channels to accurately study the physics of jet production and propagation in a dense QCD medium. They can provide new insights into the path length, color charge, and mass dependence of quark and gluon energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma produced in reactions of ultrarelativistic nuclei. To this end, we perform a comprehensive study of both light and heavy flavor dijet production in heavy ion collisions. We propose the modification of dijet invariant mass distributions in such reactions as a novel observable that shows enhanced sensitivity to the quark-gluon plasma transport properties and heavy quark mass effects on in-medium parton showers. This is achieved through the combination of the jet quenching effects on the individual jets as opposed to their subtraction. The latter drives the subtle effects on more conventional observables, such as the dijet momentum imbalance shifts, which we also calculate here. Results are presented in $\mathrm{Pb}+\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=5.02\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ for comparison to data at the Large Hadron Collider and in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ to guide the future sPHENIX program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.
An oxytetracycline bath protocol to eliminate the agent of withering syndrome, Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis, in captive abalone populations

Abstract Abalone (Haliotis spp.) populations are in decline due to overfishing and/or disease in all regions that historically supported important fisheries worldwide. Two species have been federally listed as Endangered in the USA. Recovery plans for these and other highly depleted species typically include outplanting of progeny from captive-reared broodstock, for which maintaining good health is essential to promote gonad development and maturation. In California, USA, the principal disease of concern for abalone is withering syndrome, caused by a gastrointestinal intracellular Rickettsiales-like prokaryote named Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis (Ca.Xc). We report the application of an antibiotic bath exposure method to eliminate the pathogen in captive red abalone (H. rufescens) populations. A series of eight, 24-h baths consisting of 500 ppm oxytetracycline in seawater were delivered over a period of 21 days. Testing of feces by PCR and histology indicated complete elimination of Ca.Xc by day 105 following the first bath treatment. Mean oxytetracycline levels in the digestive gland reached a peak of 670 ppm at the end of the treatment period and remained above 100 ppm for 125 days. Survival rate, body condition index, growth and a measure of foot muscle health were similar between treated and control groups, despite tetracyclines being potentially toxic or immunosuppressive in some animal systems. This method should prove useful for creating Ca.Xc specific-pathogen-free captive abalone populations for land-based production and to prevent pathogen transfer when abalone are introduced to growing regions where the pathogen is not present.
Vanadyl Porphyrin Speciation Based on Submegahertz Ligand Proton Hyperfine Couplings

The speciation of vanadyl (VO2+) porphyrins in crude oil (vanadyl petroporphyrins) is an area of ongoing interest in petroleomics. In this paper, we describe a method for the speciation of vanadyl porphyrins that uses electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), a high-resolution electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic technique. We use 1H ENDOR to measure hyperfine couplings between ligand protons and the paramagnetic vanadyl ion as small as about 0.15 MHz. From the measured hyperfine couplings, we directly determine all vanadium–ligand proton distances up to 8 A. This information differentiates porphyrin ligands by their ring substitution pattern and substituent nature. We demonstrate this using a series of vanadyl porphyrin model compounds. Additionally, we demonstrate that the composition of binary vanadyl porphyrins mixtures can be determined. The ability of ENDOR to differentiate types of ligand protons in vanadyl porphyrin mixtures provides a basis for analyzing more complex mixtures of v...
Full core 3D simulation of the BEAVRS benchmark with OpenMOC

Abstract The Method of Characteristics (MOC) has seen wide interest in reactor physics because of its accuracy and efficiency in computing lattice physics problems. While most of its use has been in solving 2D problems, there has been recent interest in extending MOC to 3D in order to more accurately calculate 3D power distributions in LWRs. While the method is naturally extensible to 3D, it presents significant computational difficulties. OpenMOC, an open source MOC simulator, has been extended from 2D to 3D capabilities. Simulation results are presented in this study for the full core 3D simulation of the BEAVRS benchmark, adequately resolved in space and angle.
Utilization of the Electronic Medical Record to Enhance Value in Bariatric Care

As electronic medical records mature and documentation and compliance requirements continue to increase, the inclusion of quality metrics into the daily workflow of patient care is becoming more important. Various EMR vendors can provide products to facilitate the implementation of care paths and adherence measurements into the medical record. Incorporating key metrics and, in some cases, customized quality measures into the outpatient and inpatient medical record serves to increase adherence to these measures and to drive improvement at the enterprise, department, and physician level. The EMR can also be used to better engage patients and families in their healthcare, improve care coordination, and potentially improve population and public health.
Multiparameter Analysis Identifies Heterogeneity in Knee Osteoarthritis Synovial Responses

OBJECTIVE Synovial membrane inflammation is common in osteoarthritis (OA) and increases cartilage injury. However, synovial fluid and histology studies suggest that OA inflammatory responses are not homogeneous. Greater understanding of these responses may provide new insights into OA disease mechanisms. We undertook this study to develop a novel multiparameter approach to phenotype synovial responses in knee OA. METHODS Cell composition and soluble protein production were measured by flow cytometry and multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in synovium collected from OA patients undergoing knee replacement surgery (n = 35). RESULTS Testing disaggregation conditions showed that aggressive digestion improved synovial cell yield and mesenchymal staining by flow cytometry, but it negatively impacted CD4+ T cell and CD56+ natural killer cell staining. Less aggressive digestion preserved these markers and showed highly variable T cell infiltration (range 0-43%; n = 32). Correlation analysis identified mesenchymal subpopulations associated with different nonmesenchymal populations, including macrophages and T cells (CD45+CD11b+HLA-DR+ myeloid cells with PDPN+CD73+CD90-CD34- mesenchymal cells [r = 0.65, P < 0.0001]; and CD45+CD3+ T cells with PDPN+CD73+CD90+CD34+ mesenchymal cells [r = 0.50, P = 0.003]). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) measured by flow cytometry strongly correlated with IL-6 released by ex vivo culture of synovial tissue (r = 0.59, P = 0.0012) and was highest in mesenchymal cells coexpressing CD90 and CD34. IL-6, IL-8, complement factor D, and IL-10 release correlated positively with tissue cellularity (P = 0.0042, P = 0.018, P = 0.0012, and P = 0.038, respectively). Additionally, increased CD8+ T cell numbers correlated with retinol binding protein 4 (P = 0.033). Finally, combining flow cytometry and multiplex data identified patient clusters with different types of inflammatory responses. CONCLUSION We used a novel approach to analyze OA synovium, identifying patient-specific inflammatory clusters. Our findings indicate that phenotyping synovial inflammation may provide new insights into OA patient heterogeneity and biomarker development.
Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts Shh pathway and primary cilia genes in the mouse neural tube

Abstract Neurulation-stage alcohol exposure (NAE; embryonic day [E] 8-10) is associated with midline craniofacial and CNS defects that likely arise from disruption of morphogen pathways, such as Sonic hedgehog (Shh). Notably, midline anomalies are also a hallmark of genetic ciliopathies such as Joubert syndrome. We tested whether NAE alters Shh pathway signaling and the number and function of primary cilia, organelles critical for Shh pathway transduction. Female C57BL/6J mice were administered two doses of alcohol (2.9 g/kg/dose) or vehicle on E9. Embryos were collected 6, 12, or 24 hr later, and changes to Shh, cell cycle genes, and primary cilia were measured in the rostroventral neural tube (RVNT). Within the first 24 hours post-NAE, reductions in Shh pathway and cell cycle gene expression and the ratio of Gli3 forms in the full-length activator state were observed. RVNT volume and cell layer width were reduced at 12 hr. In addition, expression of multiple cilia-related genes were observed at 6 hr post-NAE. As a further test of cilia gene-ethanol interaction, mice heterozygous for Kif3a exhibited perturbed behavior during adolescence following NAE compared to vehicle-treated mice, and Kif3a heterozygosity exacerbated the hyperactive effects of NAE on exploratory activity. These data demonstrate that NAE downregulates the Shh pathway in a region of the neural tube that gives rise to alcohol-sensitive brain structures and identifies disruption of primary cilia function, or a “transient ciliopathy”, as a possible cellular mechanism of prenatal alcohol pathogenesis.
1001 – REGULATION OF HEMATOPOIETIC PROGENITOR CELL DIVISION: DEVELOPMENT OF THERAPIES FOR ERYTHROPOIETIN- RESISTANT ANEMIAS

Many anemias are not treatable with Epo because CFU-E progenitors are too few in number to maintain sufficient red blood cell production. Treatment requires a drug that acts at an earlier stage to enhance formation of CFU-Es. We showed that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonists, used to treat such anemias despite side effects, increase erythroid output by expanding the number of BFU-E progenitor cells; glucocorticoids stimulate additional BFU-E divisions leading over time to an increase in numbers of CFU-Es and mature red cells. We showed that activation of PPARα by agonists used for dyslipidemia synergizes with the GR to promote BFU-E cell expansion and increase erythrocyte production. In BFU-Es PPARα co-occupies many chromatin sites with the GR and stimulates transcription of an overlapping set of genes essential for self-renewal divisions. We suggest that clinically tested PPARα agonists may improve the treatment of Epo resistant anemias. Inhibitors of TGF-b signaling also induce extra BFU-E divisions and could also be used. BFU-E cells are heterogenous with respect to the sizes of colonies they form. We used single cell RNA sequencing to demonstrate a continuum of transcriptomic states in BFU-Es, concordant with a continuum of their proliferative potentials. Glucocorticoids do not trigger BFU-E self-renewal but reduce the rate of progression along this developmental continuum without changing the rate of cell division. Glucocorticoids drive prolonged expression of genes known to antagonize terminal erythroid differentiation and slow induction of genes that drive terminal differentiation. In both the presence and absence of glucocorticoids, progenitor cell division is largely symmetric as both daughter cells have similar transcriptomes. Thus the rate of progression along the erythroid developmental continuum dictates the absolute number of mature erythrocytes generated from each early BFU-E progenitor. These findings suggest a paradigm for control of the magnitude of cellular output in many other developmental pathways with transcriptional continuums.
Retooling workshops of empire: globalising creative writing with an edge

The creative writing workshop has been questioned as the appropriate, signature pedagogy in the recent years more than ever for various reasons. While the discussions around the workshop reveal to ...
Correlated color temperature: Use and limitations:

Correlated color temperature (CCT) is a one-dimensional metric that aims to quantify the perceived visual quality of nominal white light sources. It is often used as a proxy for the color quality o...
Model-Free Non-Stationary RL: Near-Optimal Regret and Applications in Multi-Agent RL and Inventory Control

We consider model-free reinforcement learning (RL) in non-stationary Markov decision processes. Both the reward functions and the state transition functions are allowed to vary arbitrarily over time as long as their cumulative variations do not exceed certain variation budgets. We propose Restarted Q-Learning with Upper Confidence Bounds (RestartQ-UCB), the first model-free algorithm for non-stationary RL, and show that it outperforms existing solutions in terms of dynamic regret. Specifically, RestartQ-UCB with Freedman-type bonus terms achieves a dynamic regret bound of $\widetilde{O}(S^{\frac{1}{3}} A^{\frac{1}{3}} \Delta^{\frac{1}{3}} H T^{\frac{2}{3}})$, where $S$ and $A$ are the numbers of states and actions, respectively, $\Delta>0$ is the variation budget, $H$ is the number of time steps per episode, and $T$ is the total number of time steps. We further present a parameter-free algorithm named Double-Restart Q-UCB that does not require prior knowledge of the variation budget. We show that our algorithms are \emph{nearly optimal} by establishing an information-theoretical lower bound of $\Omega(S^{\frac{1}{3}} A^{\frac{1}{3}} \Delta^{\frac{1}{3}} H^{\frac{2}{3}} T^{\frac{2}{3}})$, the first lower bound in non-stationary RL. Numerical experiments validate the advantages of RestartQ-UCB in terms of both cumulative rewards and computational efficiency. We demonstrate the power of our results in examples of multi-agent RL and inventory control across related products.
Clock domain crossing (CDC) in 3D-SICs: Semi QDI asynchronous vs loosely synchronous

Abstract 3D Stacked IC (3D-SIC) technology is becoming increasingly popular due to its improved design density and performance. However, single global clock distribution to a 3D-SIC can be very challenging and is far more prone to process and environmental non-idealities, which somewhat limits the scope of 3D-SICs. A possible solution to this problem is to perform inter-logic-layer communication in 3D-SICs using clock domain crossing (CDC) techniques. In this paper, we investigate the two classes of CDC techniques; the semi Quasi Delay Insensitive QDI-based asynchronous and loosely synchronous CDC. In particular, the paper explores the main challenges faced by these CDC techniques in utilizing through-silicon vias (TSVs). Representative designs from each technique are used for performing proof of concept electrical simulations. Our experimental results are expected to facilitate the 3D-SIC logic designers to choose the most appropriate CDC technique for a given design context. For example, one of the key findings of this paper is that although semi QDI-based asynchronous design provides an attractive solution because of its relaxed constraint on clock distribution network, but it has more timing overhead for TSV failures than the counterpart loosely synchronous design.
The Political Economy of U.S. Monetary Policy: How the Federal Reserve Gained Control and Uses It

Mainstream economists explain the Federal Reserve's behavior as (usually failed) attempts to stabilize the economy on a non-inflationary growth path. In contrast, this paper explains it in terms of class and intra-class conflicts, with the class conflict taking the form of a populist movement prior to the New Deal then a movement toward social democracy, while the intra-class conflict at issue here is between the large regional banks and the large New York banks. The paper shows that when these two groups of banks are united, they constitute an unassailable force in the class conflict. However, when the large regional banks are at loggerheads with the large New York banks over the proper role of bank clearinghouses during the populist period and the proper role of the eurodollar market during the social democratic period, then there is an opening for progressive social reforms.
Cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles for drug delivery

Nanoparticles can preferentially accumulate at sites of action and hold great promise to improve the therapeutic index of many drugs. While conventional methods of nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery have focused on primarily synthetic approaches, engineering strategies that combine synthetic nanoparticles with natural biomaterials have recently gained much attention. In particular, cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles are a new class of biomimetic nanoparticles that combine the unique functionalities of cellular membranes and engineering versatility of synthetic nanomaterials for effective delivery of therapeutic agents. Herein, we report on the recent progress on cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for drug delivery. In particular, we highlight three areas: (i) prolonging systemic circulation via cell membrane coating, (ii) cell-specific targeting via cell membrane coating, and (iii) applications of cell membrane coating for drug delivery. The cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticle platform has emerged as a novel delivery strategy with the potential to improve the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of a variety of diseases.
A five-year study of elderly primiparas.

Abstract A study of 277 elderly primiparas delivered at the Methodist Hospital of Brooklyn in the years 1943 to 1947, inclusive, has been presented. A comparison has been made of our findings with those reported in recent similar studies. Our incidence of these patients, 2.46 per cent, was higher than the 1.2 per cent reported by Hawkins and by Waters, and lower than the 2.75 per cent reported by Thompson, the 3.6 per cent reported by Arnot, and the 4.2 per cent reported by Dennen. Our cesarean section rate was practically the same as that reported by Thompson, Hawkins, and Waters, higher than that reported by Arnot, and less than half that reported by Dennen. The similarity in the incidence of elderly primiparas in the City of New York and at the Methodist Hospital has been demonstrated, so that the hospital experience in regard to the number of these patients and their problems may be considered as typical for the city as a whole. As compared with other hospital obstetric patients, elderly primiparas more often seek private care, and they have a cesarean section rate over four times as great, a premature rate half again as great, double the neonatal mortality rate, eight times the incidence of Mongolism, and twice the incidence of toxemia.
Effect of Topography on Gas Flow in Unsaturated Fractured Rock: Concepts and Observations

Two wells located at the crest of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and tapping highly fractured welded tuffs were observed to show substantial air exchange with the atmosphere, both in winter and in summer. During winter, the wells exhaust air almost continuously at relatively high velocity, typically about 3 m s -1 . During summer, the wells alternately intake and exhaust air at much lower velocities, with flow directions typically reversing at least a few times a day. The air exchange arises in part from a topographic effect and in part from a barometric effect. The topographic effect arises from the fact that in an area of topographic relief, the column of air extending from a fractured-rock outcrop on the hillside to the hillcrest will be colder, drier, and hence denser during cold weather than the column of air extending from the hillside outcrop through the highly permeable fractured rock and the well to the same hillcrest altitude. Thus, during winter, air while after the outcrop and migrate through the fractured rock to exhaust out the well. During summer, the circulation pattern should be reversed with the wells taking in air in hot weather. This topographic effect is superimposed on barometrically induced air circulation that arises because air pressure at depth in the formation requires some time to equilibrate with that in the atmosphere following a barometric change whereas the pressure in the well bore equilibrates almost instantaneously. The interplay between topographic and barometric effects appears adequate to explain circulation observed in summer, but the high-velocity nearly continuous air exhaust from the wells observed in winter seems to exceed that can be explained by the two identified mechanisms. Air circulation in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain may result in drying of the rocks in the upper part of Yucca Mountain to a lower moisture content draw than that achieved by gravity drainage alone. Such drying would reduce the potential for deep percolation through the proposed repository horizon.
Transcriptional Regulation in Plants

Transcriptional regulation encompasses all of the events leading up to a change in gene expression status, either activation or repression. Although many of the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation are shared between plants and animals, plants are distinctly different in that they rely more heavily on subtle environmental cues than animals do because they are sessile, and they continue to develop new organs post-embryonically. These unusual features require constant refinement at the transcriptional level to implement large-scale gene expression changes. Many signalling pathways converge at the level of transcription in plants, including hormone-response pathways and light-response pathways, forming complex gene regulatory networks and intricate feed-back loops to control the growth and development of plants. Additionally, alterations to the chromatin such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation and histone modifications can also affect transcriptional regulation and even lead to the formation of epialleles and genomic imprinting. Key Concepts: Transcriptional regulation in plants relies on many of the same mechanisms as transcriptional regulation in animals but with subtle variations. Plant hormones, such as auxin, play a major instructive role in gene expression. Because plants are sessile organisms, environmental cues (e.g. quality and quantity of light) are critical for regulating transcription and affect the timing of developmental decisions. DNA and histone methylation can alter gene expression and contributes to the formation of heritable epialleles and imprinting. Keywords: Transcriptional regulation; gene regulatory networks; epigenetics; feed-back loop; Arabidopsis
An Argument for External World Skepticism from the Appearance/Reality Distinction

In this paper, I argue that arguments from skeptical hypotheses for external world skepticism derive their support from a skeptical argument from the distinction between appearance and reality. This skeptical argument from the appearance/reality distinction gives the external world skeptic her conclusion (i.e., that S doesn’t know that p ) without appealing to skeptical hypotheses and without assuming that knowledge is closed under known entailments. If this is correct, then this skeptical argument from the appearance/reality distinction poses a new skeptical challenge that cannot be resolved by denying skeptical hypotheses or knowledge closure.
Tamaño de muestra en estudios clínicos

Un aspecto fundamental en el diseno de estudios clinicos es la determinacion del tamano de muestra apropiado. Si el tamano de muestra es muy pequeno, el estudio tendra baja potencia estadistica (AMC 49 (4):203-204) y en consecuencia, las estimaciones seran menos precisas y la probabilidad de encontrar diferencias significativas entre tratamientos o grupos sera menor. Por otra parte, si el tamano de muestra es muy grande, se estara haciendo un mal uso de recursos de investigacion y sometiendo a pruebas a mas pacientes de los estrictamente necesarios.
In situ microbial degradation of Prudhoe Bay crude oil in Beaufort Sea sediments

Abstract This study examined the fate of Prudhoe Bay crude oil in nearshore sediments of the Beaufort Sea, in situ, with emphasis on the role of microorganisms in the weathering process. The results indicate that oil is degraded in Arctic sediments very slowly; only after 1 year's exposure was biodegradation evident. Several factors probably contributed to the slow rate of microbial weathering, including: limited populations of hydrocarbon utilising microorganisms; localised high oil concentrations; low temperatures; limiting nutrient concentrations (unfavourable C:N and C:P ratios); low oxygen tensions and limited circulation of interstitial waters in fine-grained sediments. Abiotic weathering of the oil was also slow, with limited loss of low molecular weight aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons during 2 years' exposure. Significant features of the overall weathering process were: lack of initial loss of low molecular weight compounds; aliphatic compounds were not preferentially degraded over aromatic compounds and C17, and lower molecular weight normal alkanes were preferentially degraded over higher molecular weight alkanes. The results of this study indicate that hydrocarbons will persist relatively unaltered for several years if Beaufort Sea sediments are contaminated with petroleum.
A communication‐based perspective on attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction in early acquaintance

>This study examines past conflicting evidence on the relationship of attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction in early acquaintance. The results suggest that the conflict in the findings is due to differences in the communicative environments used in research. In the present study, attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction were positively related only in highly atypical communicative relationships. These results are interpreted as generally supporting a goal‐oriented perspective on the similarity‐attraction association over traditional social validation and balance perspectives.
Community-based training and employment: an effective program for persons with traumatic brain injury.

Occupational entry is an important issue for persons with disabilities, as many become or remain unemployed after their injury. After traumatic brain injury (TBI), individuals exhibit high unemployment rates, especially those persons with injuries of greater severity, a limited premorbid work history and/or persons from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Vocational rehabilitation programs have been developed to improve employability. Traditional vocatio­ nal rehabilnation approaches, based on integrating work skills with cognitive rehabilitation models have proven only minimally effective with TBI. The supported employment model has been demonstrated to be much more effective with this group, as has an approach that combines vocational and psychosocial skills training along with job support. Even with these generally successful approaches, the literature on vocational rehabilitation in clients from economi­ cally disadvantaged environments who are diagnosed with TBI is limited. An approach for the economically disadvantaged, which combines work skills training in a real work community along with supported employment is presented. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Comparison of the molecular size and shape of the extracellular hemoglobins of tubifex tubifex and lumbricus terrestris

Abstract The extracellular hemoglobins of Tubifex tubifex and Lumbricus terrestris have been examined by gel filtration and scanning transmission electron microscopy and a detailed comparison of their morphologies has been performed using digital image processing techniques. The hemoglobins possess identical elution volumes on analytical columns of Sepharose CL-6B and CL-2B. In electron micrographs the overall shape of negatively stained Tubifex and Lumbricus hemoglobins is similar to the two-tiered hexagonal appearance of other annelid extracellular hemoglobins. Tubifex hemoglobin possesses a vertex to vertex diameter of 31.3 nm and a height of 21.1 nm, while the corresponding dimensions of Lumbricus hemoglobin are 31.2 nm and 21.5 nm, respectively. These dimensions are about 25% larger than those obtained by conventional transmission electron microscopy but are consistent with other values obtained by scanning transmission EM (Kapp, O.H., Vinogradov, S.N., Ohtsuki, M. and Crewe, A.V. (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 704, 546–548) and by X-ray diffraction of wet crystals of Lumbricus hemoglobin (Royer, W.E., Broden B.C., Jacobs, H.C. and Loves, W.E. (1981) in Invertebrate Oxygen-Binding Proteins (Lamy, J. and Lamy, J., eds.), 337–341, Marcel Dekker, New York). Comparison of the morphologies of the two hemoglobins by examination of individual pixel lines through their digital projections suggests that the molecules are very similar in overall structure.
Carotid chemoafferent activity is not necessary for all phrenic long-term facilitation following acute intermittent hypoxia.

Abstract Phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF) is a form of respiratory plasticity induced by acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) or episodic carotid chemoafferent neuron activation. Surprisingly, residual pLTF is expressed in carotid denervated rats. However, since carotid denervation eliminates baroreceptor feedback and causes profound hypotension during hypoxia in anesthetized rats, potential contributions of these uncontrolled factors or residual chemoafferent neuron activity to residual pLTF cannot be ruled out. Since ATP is necessary for hypoxic carotid chemotransduction, we tested the hypothesis that functional peripheral chemoreceptor denervation (with intact baroreceptors) via systemic P2X receptor antagonism blocks hypoxic phrenic responses and AIH-induced pLTF in anesthetized rats. Pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS; 100 mg/kg i.v.), a non-selective P2X receptor antagonist, was administered to anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed and ventilated male Sprague–Dawley rats prior to AIH (3, 5 min episodes of 10% O2; 5 min intervals). Although PPADS strongly attenuated the short-term hypoxic phrenic response (20 ± 4% vs. 113 ± 15% baseline; P
Toward a New Project Management Maturity Model

The article consists of a Powerpoint presentation on a new project management (PM) maturity model. The areas discussed include: current PM Concept; seven principles in Strategic Project Leadershipreg; a new organizational culture; project goal categorization: assessing PM style; etc.
Traditional Clinical Versus Simulation in 1st Semester Clinical Students: Students Perceptions After a 2nd Semester Clinical Rotation

Abstract Background Traditional clinical experiences are being supplemented with high-fidelity simulation (HFS) in many nursing programs. The immediate and long-term impact on students' perception of clinical competence is not known. Method Surveys were administered to 1st-year nursing students following their first-semester clinical experiences in either a traditional or an HFS setting. Differences between the two groups were compared by analysis of the results of a survey of perceived clinical competence. The comparison was made again for the cohorts following their second-semester hospital-based clinical experiences. Results Significantly higher scores were reported by the HFS group initially, but this difference was less pronounced following second-semester hospital-based clinical experiences. Conclusions Students with first-semester HFS experiences had initial higher perceptions of competence. Further research is needed to demonstrate the short- and long-term impact of simulated experiences on perceived competence, as well as on clinical performance.
A Systematic Appraisal of Peer Review Guidelines for Special Education Journals.

The evidence-based practice movement in special education has emphasized the use of the scientific process to assist with the identification of effective academic and behavioral strategies. An important but often overlooked aspect of this system is the peer review process in which manuscripts submitted for publication are reviewed by experts to ensure that the most significant and accurate information is being disseminated. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe the prevalence and content of guidelines developed to assist peer reviewers when conducting manuscript evaluations. Results demonstrated that peer review guidelines are commonly used in special education with many referring to similar aspects of submitted manuscripts. Despite these commonalities, however, there was considerable variability observed across guidelines regarding the specific criteria used to assess these common manuscript features. Findings are discussed within the context of the strengths and limitations of the peer r...
Aerosol deposition in a pipe with turbulent airflow

There are many theories to predict turbulent aerosol deposition in a pipe. Experimental data are available only for small pipes (Dp < 3 in.) and low Reynolds Numbers (Re < 100,000). The purpose of this work was to experimentally measure the deposition of micron-size particles on the wall of a 6-in. pipe in which an aerosol was moving under turbulent flow conditions. Turbulent flow was completely developed, and Reynolds Numbers were as high as 367,000. A wind tunnel was constructed to establish completely developed turbulent flow in a 6-in. pipe. Homogeneous, monodispersed aerosols of Uranine-Methylene Blue at charge equilibrium were produced by a spinning disc aerosol generator. Experiments were performed with spherical aerosols ranging in size from 0–44 to 2–16 μm projected area diameter. The aerosol was introduced into the wind tunnel, and both average and centerline mass and number concentrations were measured at the point of aerosol deposition onto a 1-in. annulus of the wind tunnel. At the site of deposition, the deposition flux, based on both particle mass and number, was determined. In order to theoretically calculate deposition flux, airflow conditions and aerosol characteristics were measured upstream of the deposition site. Initial problems with the aerosol charge equilibrium system led to the conclusion that electrically charged aerosol may increase deposition by a thirtyfold factor, even when an aluminum pipe is grounded. Existing theories underpredicted deposition of an aerosol in charge equilibrium under turbulent flow conditions by factors as high as 10,000. Independent measurements during the same experiment differed by factors no larger than 2 or 3, thus ruling out experimental errors as the source of discrepancies between theory and experiment. It was concluded that: (1) Present theories underpredict aerosol deposition for completely developed turbulent flow. (2) Particle dimensionless deposition velocity is strongly dependent upon Reynolds Number. (3) Particle dimensionless deposition velocity is not strongly correlated with particle dimensionless relaxation time. (4) Additional experimental data related to aerosol deposition under conditions of turbulent flow are needed.
Etanercept for the Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Psoriatic Arthritis

Etanercept may play an important role in modulating the inflammatory activity and progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. We report the case of a 45-year-old homosexual man with a CD4 cell count of less than 0.05 × 10 9 /L and an HIV viral load of 4200 copies/mL (while receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy) who developed extensive psoriatic plaques, 4.5-kg weight loss, onychodystrophy, and psoriatic arthropathy with severe periarticular bone demineralization. The arthritis progressed despite the use of several disease-modifying medications, including corticosteroids, hydroxy chloroquine, and minocycline. Because of uncontrolled, progressive, and disabling arthritis and resulting profound disability, he was treated with etanercept. Within 3 weeks, his psoriasis had improved dramatically and his joint inflammation had stabilized. For the next 4 months, immunologic and viral parameters remained stable, but his clinical course was complicated by frequent polymicrobial infections. Etanercept was thus discontinued despite continued improvements in his psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and functional status. While both cutaneous and joint manifestations of psoriasis improved dramatically, the experience with this patient dictates that caution and careful follow-up must be exercised when prescribing etanercept in the setting of HIV infection.
Professional Development and the Informal Curriculum in End-of-Life Care

Although professionalism has emerged as a key competency for today’s physicians, there exists little insight into how best to teach medical students the relevant skills or instill in them the commitment required to practice according to the highest professional standards. Ten UCSF medical students were interviewed at three time points (second, third, and fourth years of school). Interviews focused on students’ learning and development regarding end-of-life care (EOLC). Students described varying steps in their professional development from their second to fourth years of school, including feeling confused about the definition of professionalism and integrating their personal and professional identities. In addition to professional development, four other themes contributed to the development of medical student understanding of how to provide EOLC as a professional: (1) curricular discordance, (2) role models, (3) the tightrope between trained versus human reactions, and (4) ethical dilemmas. These five themes represent dilemmas that students often learned how to respond to over the course of school. Professional development in EOLC required the acquisition of skills necessary to balance the tension between and navigate conflicting messages present in medical student training.
Challenges and opportunities for next-generation sequencing in companion diagnostics.

The rapid decline in sequencing costs has allowed next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays, previously ubiquitous only in research laboratories, to begin making inroads into molecular diagnostics. Genotypic assays – DNA sequencing – include whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, focused assays that target only a handful of genes. Phenotypic assays comprise a broader spectrum of options and can query a variety of epigenetic modifications of DNA (such as ChIP-seq, bisulfite sequencing, DNase-I hypersensitivity site-sequencing, Formaldehyde-Assisted Isolation of Regulatory Elements-sequencing, etc.) that regulate gene expression-related processes or gene expression (RNA-sequencing) itself. To date, the US FDA has only cleared 12 DNA-based companion diagnostic tests, all in cancer. Although challenges exist for NGS in companion diagnostics, the wide-ranging capabilities of NGS offer extraordinary opportunities for the development and implementation of NGS-based companion diagnostics to probe oncogene...
Pain Terminology as it Applies to Animal Experiments

T he Focus article by Drs. Chaplan and Sorkin appropriately calls attention to a problem in pain medicine and pain research, the difficulty in defining and agreeing to pain terminology. Some of the particular issues that were raised by the authors or by members of the pain research community who were surveyed by the authors are (1) the use of words that might be regarded as jargon; (2) the use of words that do not correspond to what is currently known about the neural systems or mechanisms of a particular pain state; (3) the officialization of terms by scientific organizations; (4) the so-far poor dispersion of recently defined terms among clinicians, patients, and research personnel, including prominent members of the pain research community and even journal editors; (5) overt hostility by some users toward particular terms; (6) a lack of operational utility of some terms; (7) the need for a clear terminology that can be used for diagnostic coding to allow reimbursement for treatment of pain; (8) the idea that terms should be informative and not seem pejorative to patients; and (9) the need for correspondence between words describing clinical states and words applied by basic researchers to animal models of disease. Presumably, other Commentaries will discuss the use of pain terminology in a clinical setting. As my laboratory is engaged in basic, rather than clinical, research, this Commentary emphasizes the use of pain terms in animal experiments.
Role of brainstem thyrotropin-releasing hormone-triggered sympathetic overactivation in cardiovascular mortality in type 2 diabetic Goto–Kakizaki rats

Sympathetic hyperactivity has an important role in cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-containing fibers innervate autonomic motor and premotor nuclei of the brainstem and spinal cord that regulate cardiovascular functions. We compared cardiovascular responses to application of TRH-analog in the brainstem of Wistar and T2D Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. GK rats exhibited basal systolic hypertension (152±2 mm Hg) and had a significantly potentiated, dose-related hypertensive response to intracisternal (i.c.) injection of the TRH-analog RX77368 (10-60 ng). In GK rats only, i.c. RX77368 (30-60 ng) markedly increased heart rate (HR; +88 b.p.m.) and induced acute cardiac mortality (100%), concurrent with extreme hyperglycemia (>26 mmol l(-1)), increased plasma H(2)O(2) and 8-isoprostane, and enhanced heart expression of NADPH oxidase 4 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 mRNAs. GK rats also had elevated basal plasma epinephrine, higher adrenal gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DβH), and greater plasma catecholamine and adrenal DβH responses to i.c. TRH-analog, compared with Wistar rats. In GK rats, hexamethonium blocked i.c. RX77368-induced hypertensive and tachycardic responses, and reduced mortality by 86%, whereas phentolamine abolished the hypertensive response but enhanced tachycardia (+160 b.p.m.), and reduced mortality by 50%. The angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist irbesartan prevented i.c. RX77368-induced increases in blood pressure, HR and mortality. In conclusion, sympathetic overactivation triggered by brainstem TRH contributes to the mechanism of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in T2D, which involves heightened cardiac inflammation and peripheral oxidative stress responses to sympathetic drive, and a mediating role of the renin-angiotensin system.
The substrate-associated protein p5 of porcine endothelial cells: Multiple isoforms, cytoskeletal-like properties and induction by hyperoxic stress

Abstract 1. 1. Cultured mesenchymal cells respond to hyperoxic (hyper-O 2 ) stress with increased cell flattening/substrate adhesion and overall 47–69% reductions in total matrix-associated (i.e. saponinresistant [SAP fraction]) protein. 2. 2. Electrophoretic analysis revealed a selective hyper-O 2 -related 2.7- to 4-fold increase in SAP and cytoskeletal fraction deposition of the protein p 45 beginning early (within 12 hr) after inital exposure of porcine endothelial cells to hyper-O 2 and increasing over a 48 hr period. 3. 3. p 45 consisted of 8 distinct isoforms differing only in pI; hyper-O 2 -augmented matrix deposition of p 45 involved all 8 isofonns with the more basic subtypes exhibiting slightly greater net increases. 4. 4. Both the specificity and time course of p 45 induction, relative to the onset of hyper-O 2 cytoarchitectural remodeling, indicate that p 45 up-regulation constitutes an early aspect of the hyper-O 2 Adaptive response.
Status of Science Education in Illinois Elementary Schools, 1987.

What is the status of science education in Illinois public elementary schools? A research survey of elementary teachers was conducted in 1987 to help answer this question. Among the areas of science teaching assessed were types of instructional programs utilized, preparation for science teaching, science in-service, obstacles to science teaching, and administrative and community support for science education. Results were compared with those gathered in a similar survey conducted ten years earlier and with other state and national surveys. Findings indicate that science instruction at the elementary level remains dependent on textbooks in spite of research that indicates the efficacy of hands-on science. Teachers are frustrated by lack of time, equipment, facilities and the low priority science has in their school districts. Many of the teachers fall short of meeting the minimum standards for science teacher preparation as suggested by the National Science Teachers Association. In spite of recent reform efforts, it is clear that science instruction has not yet become a priority. This report discusses the implications of these findings and makes suggestions for future studies.
Reading, Writing, and Understanding: An Analysis of the Construction of Meaning

This article focuses on ways in which school-age children “make meaning” when they are involved in reading and writing activities. An Analysis of Meaning Construction procedure was developed to describe the knowledge sources, specific strategies, and monitoring behaviors of 67 third-, sixth-, and ninth-grade children when they read and wrote stories and reports. Each student participated in either a think-aloud or retrospective self-report activity during (or after) reading and writing four story and report passages. The resulting transcripts were segmented into communication units and analyzed using the meaning analysis system. Comparisons were made between genres (story and report), domains (reading and writing), and ages (grades 3, 6, and 9). Findings indicate that meaning-making behaviors (1) are complex and varied, (2) change with age and difficulty, and (3) vary consistently between reading and writing. Although reading and writing are related language activities in that they tap similar underlying ...