cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid Implementation of Telehealth Services in a Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic During COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES The coronavirus pandemic created significant, abrupt challenges to the delivery of ambulatory health care. Because tertiary medical centers limited elective in-person services, telehealth was rapidly enacted in settings with minimal previous experience to allow continued access to care. With this quality improvement (QI) initiative, we aimed to achieve a virtual visit volume of at least 75% of our prepandemic volume. We also describe patient and provider experience with telehealth services. METHODS Our QI team identified the primary drivers contributing to low telehealth volume and developed a telehealth scheduling protocol and data tracking system using QI-based strategies. Patients and providers were surveyed on their telehealth experience. RESULTS At the onset of the pandemic, weekly visit volume dropped by 65% (99 weekly visits; historical average of 281). Over the subsequent 3 weeks, using rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, we achieved our goal volume. In surveys, it was indicated that most participants had never before used telehealth (71% of patients; 82% of providers) yet reported high satisfaction (90% of patients; 81% of providers). Both groups expressed concern over the lack of in-person assessments. Most respondents were interested in future use of telehealth. CONCLUSIONS With a QI-based approach, we successfully maintained access to care via telehealth services for pediatric pulmonary patients during the coronavirus pandemic and found high rates of satisfaction among patients and providers. Telehealth will likely continue to be a part of our health care delivery platform, expanding the reach of our services. Further work is needed to understand the effects on clinical outcomes.
Facial Fractures and the National Basketball Association: Epidemiology and Outcomes

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To identify the epidemiology and impact of facial fractures on player performance and return to play (RTP) in the National Basketball Association (NBA). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case-control series METHODS: Fifty-three NBA players who sustained facial fractures between 1984 and 2018 were identified. Players with pre- and postinjury statistics were included in the performance analysis. A control group was matched by age, body mass index (BMI), position, NBA experience, and player efficiency rating. Fisher exact tests and Student t tests were performed to analyze player demographics and performance variables. RESULTS At the time of injury, the average player's age was 26.17 years, BMI was 24.80 kg/m2 , and NBA experience was 4.97 years. Players missed an average of 3.77 games and 18.21 days prior to RTP. Forty-eight players (90.6%) did RTP the subsequent season, whereas 43 of those players (81.1%) met inclusion criteria for performance analysis. There was no significant change in performance between pre- and postinjury seasons. Players managed operatively missed significantly more games (8.15 vs. 1.85; P = .034) and days (51.08 vs. 5.53; P = .003) than players managed nonoperatively, whereas performance was not impacted. Average career length following facial fracture was significantly shorter compared to controls (5.14 vs. 6.42 years; P = .010) and a decrease in three-pointer percentage (P = .004) was observed. CONCLUSIONS The majority of players who suffer facial fractures RTP in the NBA and do not experience significant decline in performance following injury. These results should aid physicians caring for basketball players at any level, and may help inform future guidelines for treatment and injury prevention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3b Laryngoscope, 2020.
Who Speaks for Science

Ironically, flat-Earthers, anti-vaxxers, and climate change naysayers trust in science. Unfortunately, they trust the wrong science. That conundrum lies at the heart of scientific literacy in an age of well-funded commercial and ideological interests and overwhelming digital information. The core question for the citizen-consumer is not philosophically "why trust science?" (Oreskes 2019) but sociologically "who speaks for science?" Teachers can help students learn how to navigate the treacherous territory of inevitably mediated communication and the vulnerabilities of epistemic dependence. Students need to understand the role of science communication practices (media literacy) and the roles of credibility, expertise and honesty and the deceptive strategies used by imitators of science to seem like credible voices for science.
Atomic Bomb Cinema: The Apocalyptic Imagination on Film

Introduction: Vexing questions and atomic bomb cinema 1:1895 to 1945: Prototypical bomb films 2:1945 to 1949: The initial elation after Hiroshima and Nagasaki 3:1950 to 1963: Part I: A complex growth industry 4:1950 to 1963: Part II: Cold war fantasies 5:1964 to 1979: Losing faith in social institutions 6:1980 to 1989: The Reagan era 7:1990 to 2001: The post-cold war years 8:1945 to 2001: Japan's atomic bomb cinema Conclusion: Demonic cinema Notes Selected Bibliography Filmography Index
Thermal-Actuated Paraffin Microvalves

A thermal-actuated microvalving concept using paraffin as the actuator material was developed. A variety of microvalves, including “close-open”, “open-close-open”, “T”, and “toggle” valves, were demonstrated. This microvalving technique has many advantages over most conventional microvalves, including simple design, ease of fabrication and integration into complex microfluidic systems, and low cost. Moreover, this technique is particularly attractive for single-use and disposable microfluidic devices.
Europium valence control in the hydrothermal synthesis of apatites and borosilicates

Abstract The solid-state chemistry of novel metal silicate and borosilicate crystals containing Eu2+ and Eu3+ in high temperature hydrothermal fluids was investigated. It was found that europium ions could be readily incorporated into a number of crystals using a variety of simple glass-based feedstocks. The hydrothermal growth reactions were performed at nearly 600 °C in 1–5 M NaOH mineralizer fluids, and this was found to be a versatile route to both europium ion oxidation states with Eu acting as either a fundamental structural building block or a dopant ion. Several new single crystals were identified including two new apatites as well as a new europium borosilicate. The apatites crystallize in space group P63/m with a = 9.4619(13) A and c = 7.0054(14) A for Eu10(SiO4)6O2, and a = 9.4413(13) A and c = 6.9087(14) A for NaEu9(SiO4)6O2. The new borosilicate, Eu2SiB2O8, crystallizes in space group Pbcn with a = 13.310(3) A, b = 4.4247(9) A and c = 9.2394(18) A. The investigation of Eu-doped borosilicates demonstrated the strong blue emission generated from 370 nm excitation that was expected for the Eu2+ doped materials, as well as the less intense orange-red emission expected for the Eu3+ dopants. The hydrothermal reactions naturally facilitated a degree of europium reduction in Eu:Ba3Si2B6O16. It was found that the oxidation states of europium in the final product could be further controlled by using hydrazine as a reducing reagent.
Utility of obtaining a serum basic metabolic panel in the setting of a first-time nonfebrile seizure (P6.272)

OBJECTIVE To identify how often serum electrolyte abnormalities are detected in the setting of a first-time afebrile seizure and change immediate management. BACKGROUND New-onset afebrile seizures in an otherwise healthy child are relatively common, affecting 25,000-40,000 US children each year. We hypothesized seizure-provoking electrolyte disturbances such as hyponatremia, hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia are uncommon in well-appearing children. DESIGN/METHODS Over a 5 month period (January 1 2009 to May 31 2009), 358 children ages 29 days to 18 years with a diagnosis code of 780.39 (first-time seizure) were included for potential retrospective review. Because 780.39 also codes for “other convulsions,” children with known epilepsy and febrile seizures were excluded and thus 133 children (37[percnt]) experiencing a first-time seizure were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS Electrolytes were obtained in 13 of 14 (93[percnt]) children with a history suggestive of an underlying abnormality but also in half of children with a reassuring history (62 of 119, 52[percnt]). Importantly, no child with an unremarkable history and exam was found to have electrolyte abnormalities falling below levels most likely to be associated with acute symptomatic seizures (Na <115 mEq/L, glucose < 40 mg/dL, Ca <5 mg/dL). Using even more conservative reference ranges (Na <135 mEq/L, glucose <60 mg/dL and Ca <8.5 mg/dL), 56 of 62 children (90[percnt]) with an unremarkable history and exam had normal results, and abnormal results did not change clinical management for any of these children. CONCLUSIONS Serum electrolytes are unlikely to be abnormal in an otherwise well-appearing child after a first-time afebrile seizure and are unlikely to affect immediate management. This is the first study examining this clinical question exclusively in children without epilepsy or febrile seizures. Disclosure: Dr. Zuccarelli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hall has nothing to disclose.
Inter-relationship of lipids transferred by the lipid-transfer protein isolated from human lipoprotein-deficient plasma

In a previous study we demonstrated that highly purified lipid-transfer protein facilitated the transfer of triglyceride, cholesteryl ester, and phosphatidylcholine between plasma lipoproteins. It remained unclear, however, whether these lipids were transferred by independent sites on the lipid-transfer protein. To address this point, we have studied the protein-mediated transfer of triglyceride, cholesteryl ester, and phosphatidylcholine as a function of the concentration and lipid composition of donor and acceptor lipoproteins. Lipoproteins labeled in vitro, reconstituted lipoproteins of defined lipid composition, and phosphatidylcholine liposomes with or without triglyceride and/or cholesteryl ester have been used to investigate the inter-relationships of lipids transferred by the lipid-transfer protein. In studies of initial (less than or equal to 10-13%) transfer, we found that, although absolute transfer rates were affected, the ratio of cholesteryl ester to triglyceride transferred was independent of donor and acceptor lipoprotein concentrations and acceptor lipoprotein lipid composition. With reconstituted lipoproteins as donor, we demonstrated that this ratio was linearly related to the ratio of cholesteryl ester to triglyceride in the donor particle; the sum of triglyceride and cholesteryl ester transferred remained constant and independent of the lipid composition of the donor. Experiments with intact lipoproteins labeled in vitro and with small unilamellar vesicles in the presence and absence of p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate, confirmed the interdependence of triglyceride and cholesteryl ester transfer. In contrast, under all assay conditions, no correlation was found between the amount of phosphatidylcholine transferred and the transfer of triglyceride and/or cholesteryl ester. We conclude that triglyceride and cholesteryl ester compete for transfer and that the extent of transfer for each lipid is determined by its relative concentration in the donor particle, whereas phosphatidylcholine transfer is independent of triglyceride and cholesteryl ester transfer. The data also strongly support the conclusion that lipid transfer protein promotes both the exchange and net transfer of triglyceride and cholesteryl ester and that the net transfer process proceeds by a reciprocal exchange of triglyceride and cholesteryl ester without net transfer of core lipid between lipoproteins.
A Joint Radio Gamma-ray Variability Study of the Crab Pulsar

In order to understand pulsar emission, and coherent emission processes in general, it is important to assess the relationship between high energy and radio emission. Gamma-ray radio correlations can be used to test whether observed radio variability is solely the result of modifications to the radio emission processes (e.g., non-linear wave propagation [1]) or associated with bulk changes in the pulsar magnetosphere and charged particle flow (e.g., [2] and [3]). In the former case, gamma-ray emission would not be correlated with radio variability, but in the latter case, a pronounced correlation between gamma-rays would be expected. Giant radio pulses from the Crab pulsar [4] provide the best opportunity to study this relationship because they occur relatively frequently and provide a non-stationary signal which can be correlated against the high energy emission.
Glass Composition‐TCLP Response Model for Waste Glasses

A first-order property model for normalized Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) release as a function of glass composition was developed using data collected from various studies. The normalized boron release is used to estimate the release of toxic elements based on the observation that the boron release represents the conservative release for those constituents of interest. The current TCLP model has two targeted application areas: (1) delisting of waste-glass product as radioactive (not mixed) waste and (2) designating the glass wastes generated from waste-glass research activities as hazardous or non-hazardous. This paper describes the data collection and model development for TCLP releases and discusses the issues related to the application of the model.
A multiclade DNA/Ad vaccines for AIDS: the present and next generation

Development of an effective vaccine against HIV has proven to be particularly challenging to the scientific community in the absence of naturally occurring, protective immune responses. Current vaccine candidates target multiple internal and external gene product. Next generation vaccines will need to enhance the immunogenicity of the envelope (Env), with the goal of improving the breadth of the neutralizing antibody response while concurrently stimulating cell-mediated immunity. However, the envelope's genetic diversity and multiple mechanisms for evading the human immune system have made it difficult to design successful candidates. Efforts at the Vaccine Research Center have centered on the use of genetic and structural biological information to improve Env immunogen design. The genetic approach has focused on the conserved regions and conserved subdomains of variable regions. To target such conserved domains, site-specific mutagenesis has been employed to generate and analyze variant and chimeric Env proteins. Immunization studies suggest that the V3 region plays a dominant role in eliciting neutralization of viruses from different clades, and some breadth of reactivity among V3 regions is observed. The status of the structure-based immunogen design effort and the status of the current human multiclade and multigene vaccine candidate will be reviewed.
First-principles study of the contractive reconstruction of gold and silver monolayers on gold, silver and aluminum

Using first-principles calculations in conjunction with modeling techniques, the author has investigated the structures of Au and Ag monolayers on a number of metal surfaces. Au(100) has a c(26 {times} 68) surface unit cell and the reconstruction has been interpreted as the top layer transforming to a contracted hexagonal-close-packed layer, superimposed on the square lattice of the underlying substrate atoms. Similar reconstructions have been observed on the 5d fcc metals Ir and Pt, but not in the 4d Rh, Pd, and Ag. The author studied the energetics of a monolayer of Au and Ag using first-principles calculations. The author found that it is energetically favorable for both Au and Ag to transform from a square to hexagonal arrangement and to contract to a higher surface density, but Au gains substantially more energy than Ag. This is true both for a monolayer in isolation as well as on top of a jellium surface. The author also calculated the mismatch energy (energy loss when the top layer loses registry with the substrate) for Au and Ag, and found that Ag has a slightly higher mismatch energy. The first-principles results thus offer a strong indication that Au(100) can reconstruct but Ag will not.more » The reconstruction is further studied with a 2 dimensional Frenkel-Kontorowa model, with parameters extracted from the total energy calculations. The author found that it is indeed energetically favorable for the top layer of Au(100), but not for Ag, to transform to a hexagonal-close-packed structure and contract. 85 refs., 34 figs., 8 tabs.« less
A simple method for the determination of qPlus sensor spring constants.

qPlus sensors are widely used to measure forces at the atomic scale, however, confidence in these measurements is limited by inconsistent reports of the spring constant of the sensor and complications from finite tip heights. Here we combine a numerical investigation of the force reconstruction with an experimental characterization of the flexural mechanics of the qPlus sensor. Numerical studies reveal significant errors in reconstructed force for tip heights exceeding 400 μm or one sixth of the cantilever length. Experimental results with a calibrated nanoindenter reveal excellent agreement with an Euler–Bernoulli beam model for the sensor. Prior to the attachment of a tip, measured spring constants of 1902 ± 29 N/m are found to be in agreement with theoretical predictions for the geometry and material properties of the sensor once a peaked ridge in the beam cross section is included. We further develop a correction necessary to adjust the spring constant for the size and placement of the tip.
Comparative Energy Flow Analysis on Dairy Farms in North Carolina and Malawi

Milk is a major nutrient source in many Western diets, but in developing countries like Malawi, milk intake is low; increasing its availability from local sources could significantly improve nutrie...
A Moment's NoticeTime Politics across Cultures

. Moment's Notice: Time Politics across Cultures, by Carol J. Greenhouse. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1996.
Minimally Invasive Total Knee Replacement with the Quadriceps-Sparing Subvastus Approach

The subvastus approach to the knee offers several distinct advantages when applied to minimally invasive total knee replacement. With minor modifications to the technique as described by Hoffman, the subvastus approach becomes an exposure that is optimized for minimally invasive surgery (MIS).1, 2, 3 The MIS-optimized subvastus approach provides excellent exposure through a small incision, preserves all four attachments of the quadriceps to the patella, does not require patella eversion, minimizes disruption of the suprapatellar pouch, and facilitates rapid and reliable closure of the knee joint at the conclusion of the procedure. With the MIS-optimized subvastus approach, the patella and distal portion of the extensor mechanism are retracted into the lateral gutter of the knee where they remain out of the way to allow visualization of the distal femur during surgery. Additionally, the broad, triangular tendinous attachment of the vastus medialis to the patella is preserved with this approach and provides an ideal region to place retractors without damaging the quadriceps muscle itself. Those advantages have made the MIS-optimized subvastus approach the exposure of choice for both small incision (4 in. to 5 in.) and very small incision (2.5 in. to 3.5 in.) total knee replacement for the two authors.
Reaction of cobalt in SO2 atmospheres at elevated temperatures

The reaction rate of cobalt in SO2 argon environments was measured at 650 C, 700 C, 750 C and 800 C. Product scales consist primarily of an interconnected sulfide phase in an oxide matrix. At 700 C to 800 C, a thin sulfide layer adjacent to the metal is also observed. At all temperatures, the rapid diffusion of cobalt outward through the interconnected sulfide appears to be important. At 650 C, the reaction rate slows dramatically after five minutes due to a change in the distribution of these sulfides. At 700 C and 750 C, the reaction is primarily diffusion controlled; values of diffusivity of cobalt (CoS) calculated from this work show favorable agreement with values of diffusivity of cobalt (CoS) calculated from previous sulfidation work. At 800 C, a surface step becomes rate limiting. Previously announced in STAR as N83-35104
Inner- and Outer-Sphere Metal Coordination in Blue Copper Proteins

Blue copper proteins (BCPs) comprise classic cases of Nature's profound control over the electronic structures and chemical reactivity of transition metal ions. Early studies of BCPs focused on their inner coordination spheres, that is, residues that directly coordinate Cu. Equally important are the electronic and geometric perturbations to these ligands provided by the outer coordination sphere. In this tribute to Hans Freeman, we review investigations that have advanced the understanding of how inner-sphere and outer-sphere coordination affects biological Cu properties.
Designing Effective Knowledge Transfer Practices to Improve IS Security Awareness and Compliance

Institutions of higher education capture, store and disseminate information that is protected by state and federal regulations. As a result, IS security policies are developed and implemented to ensure end user compliance. This case study investigates end user knowledge of their university's IS security policy and proposes a new approach to improve end user compliance. The results of this study suggest that users may be contributors to the transfer of IS security policies when provided with an opportunity to participate in the development of an IS security awareness and training program.
The Noncentrality Parameter for the "F" Distribution, Mean Squares, and Effect Size: An Examination of Some Mathematical Relationships.

Relationships among the noncentrality parameter for the F distribution, mean square between and within groups, and effect size are examined.
Looking Back, for a Change: A Story of Directions in Child and Adolescent Development.

Over the past quarter century, the study of child and adolescent development has made important progress by using its theoretical insights to address the common problems of growing up. In light of findings generated by this empirical activity, it is now time to take a new look at the field's theoretical base to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding all the processes implicated in children's development, from the neural to the cultural.
Is anti-intellectualism a personality trait? A Response to Howley

Howley's critique of Eigenberger and Sealander's recent report on the development of a scale for anti-intellectualism is addressed. Arguments are made for measuring anti-intellectualism in higher education.
Left Ventricular Performance Following Correction of Free Aortic Regurgitation

Left ventricular (LV) myocardial contractility, or inotropic state, was characterized in terms of the instantaneous relations between velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (VCF), determined cineangiographically, and LV wall tension (hoop stress), calculated from LV dimensions and pressure, in five patients before and 7 to 10 mo after aortic valve replacement for free aortic regurgitation. Preoperatively the cardiac index was reduced or the LV end-diastolic pressure was markedly increased (or both occurred) in four patients, in each of whom depression of inotropic state was documented by a reduced VCF at maximum wall tension, ranging from 0.13 to 1.07 circumferences (circ)/sec (normal, > 1.40 circ/sec) at wall tensions of 318 to 464 g/cm2 (normal, 178 to 417 g/cm2). In one patient in whom LV end-diastolic pressure and cardiac index were normal preoperatively, VCF was 1.66 circ/sec at a maximum tension of 440 g/cm2. Following operation, LV end-diastolic pressure fell in the four patients with depress...
Are Deportable Aliens a Unique Threat to Public Safety? Comparing the Recidivism of Deportable and Nondeportable Aliens

Research Summary: The study compared the recidivism of 517 deportable and 780 nondeportable aliens released from the Los Angeles County Jail over a 30-day period in 2002. The results of our analyses revealed no difference in the rearrest rate of deportable and nondeportable aliens in terms of its occurrence, frequency, or timing. Policy Implications: The results lend no support to the ubiquitous assertion that deportable aliens are a unique threat to public safety. These findings undermine one common justification offered for the current crackdown on deport-able aliens within the country. More research is needed to determine whether these results can be replicated generally and with subtypes of deportable aliens.
Birth, kind and naïve biology

Much recent debate concerning the acquisition of naive theories of biology and of race has turned on the claim that even preschoolers understand biological inheritance. At issue is what is implied by the belief that offspring will have the characteristic features of their kind. The present paper argues that such an essentialist belief in innate potential need not indicate a domain-specific understanding of the biological inheritance of human kinds (or race). In Study 1, preschoolers in a Switched-at-birth task were found to be as likely to judge an adopted girl to resemble her birth parents on the color of their shirts as on their race. In Study 2, a variant on the task, 4-year-olds were found to be more likely to judge the girl to resemble her adoptive parents, suggesting that the concept of birth origin was not central to their reasoning. Though the results are consistent with the claim that preschoolers reason about human kinds in an essentialist manner, they undermine the broader claim that such reasoning is anchored by a naive theory of biology. The finding is of cultural as well as cognitive consequence.
Determination by photoreduction of flip-flop kinetics of spin-labeled stearic acids across phospholipid bilayers

Abstract Spin-labeled stearic acid derivatives ( N -DS) can be used to determine the rate at which lipid-derived drugs can cross a phospholipid bilayer (flip-flop). The flip-flop rate of N -DS (where N =5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16), was measured using vectorial photoreduction of nitroxides to their corresponding hydroxylamine by FMN, a charged, membrane-impermeable flavin, by hydrogen atom transfer from EDTA. From the time difference in the photoreduction rates of N -DS located in the outer and inner half of the bilayer, the flip-flop rate of N -DS across the bilayer can be determined. The results show that at pH 8.0 or lower, the photoreduction of 5-DS on one side of the membrane by FMN is slower than the flip-flop rate of 5-DS across phospholipid bilayers. For 5-DS at pH 7.0, this rate is at least 33.8±4.24 s or faster. Stearic acids with the spin label at different positions along the acyl chain ( N =5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12) have similar flip-flop rates in the liposomes at pH 7.0 although 16-DS is slower, probably due to the inaccessibility of the nitroxide moiety to FMN. It is most likely that the fast distribution of 5-DS in cells is due to the fast movement of acidic form, but not the salt form, of 5-DS across membrane bilayers. The oxazolidine (nitroxide moiety) does not seem to affect the p K a (∼8.3) of stearic acid at air–water interface. Thus, N -DS are good probes for studying the distribution kinetics of stearic acid derivatives in biological systems.
Use of filgrastim for stem cell mobilisation and transplantation in high-dose cancer chemotherapy

Myeloablative or high-dose chemotherapy regimens utilise doses that are significantly greater than those used in standard treatments. The neutropenia caused by these high-dose therapies can be associated with an increased incidence of bacterial and fungal infections and remains an important clinical issue among patients with advanced-stage cancers. Filgrastim is approved for stem cell mobilisation in both chemotherapy-treated patients and normal donors. Harvested peripheral blood progenitor cells have been used effectively in allogeneic and autologous transplantation, increasing the speed and extent of neutrophil and platelet recovery. Accelerated haematopoietic recovery is associated with a significantly shorter hospital stay and, therefore, leads to a reduction in treatment costs. The contribution of filgrastim to the acceleration of haematopoietic recovery after peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant has been assessed in a number of prospective clinical trials after high-dose chemotherapy. Controversy remains over whether growth factors should be administered shortly after stem cell infusion or after several days. The recently approved, once-weekly form of filgrastim, pegfilgrastim, has been shown to have efficacy comparable to that of the native molecule and can be expected to enhance patient quality of life through the need for fewer injections. This article will review the role of filgrastim for stem cell mobilisation and transplantation in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy.
Effects of Temperature and Salinity upon Larval Growth, Survival and Development in Hatchery Reared Southern Atlantic Surfclams Spisula solidissima similis

.– Parameters associated with optimum larval-rearing conditions are important in developing the culturing protocol of potential aquacultural species, and have yet to be addressed in terms of water temperature and salinity for Spisula solidissima similis, the southern Atlantic surfclam. Hatchery spawned S. s. similis larvae were reared to late pediveliger stage in five simultaneously conducted water temperature and salinity treatments. This larval growth and survival experimentation consisted of three salinity treatments (15, 25 and 30 ppt) in conjunction with a water temperature of 20 C, and two water temperature treatments (15 and 25 C) in conjunction with a salinity of 25 ppt. In the 20 C temperature treatment, significantly higher larval survival and greater growth occurred (both, P < 0.0001) as compared to the 15 C and 25 C treatments by day 22. Complete larval mortality occurred in the 20 C, 15 ppt salinity treatment by day 4. No significant differences in larval survival occurred between the 25 ppt, 20 C and 30 ppt, 20 C treatments by day 22 (P = 0.714). However, significantly greater larval growth occurred in the 25 ppt, 20 C compared to the 30 ppt, 20 C treatment (P = 0.009). The optimum rearing temperature and salinity for hatchery spawned S s. similis larvae to late pediveliger stage are 20 C and 25 ppt, respectively, within the temperatures and salinities tested.
Multi-Object Control of Active Suspension Subject to Parameter Uncertainties under Non-Stationary Running

Based on the building of non-stationary road surface excitation mode, a study on the active suspension control under non-stationary running condition was conducted using control, state feedback control strategy for linear systems with time-domain hard constraints was propose. The proposed approach was applied to design active suspension systems on the basis of a two-degree-of-freedom quarter car mode, Simulation results show that the proposed constrained controller can achieve a promising improvement on ride comfort, while keeping dynamic suspension deflections, dynamic tire loads and control forces within given bounds, even non-stationary running.
Comparing dental utilization of U.S. Army soldiers with their employed civilian cohorts

In fall 1992, a random, worldwide sample of 5474 enlisted and 4036 officer, active duty, U.S. Army personnel was surveyed on dental utilization. Overall survey response rate was 62%. After weighting the data to reflect the population, dental utilization rates of military personnel were compared with their employed civilian cohorts in the U.S. population. Results show that, regardless of race or gender, over 80% of U.S. Army personnel have seen a dentist within the past year. Controlling for age, gender, and race, active duty U.S. Army personnel have dental utilization rates that greatly exceed their employed civilian cohorts. The results suggest that access barriers to dental care present in the civilian population, especially for minorities, are greatly diminished in the U.S. Army. The results suggest that access to free care may be a potent stimulus to utilization of dental services among military or civilian personnel. Further, access to free denial care should be emphasized in recruiting and retaining U.S. military personnel.
Partner-Provided Social Support Influences Choice of Risk Reduction Strategies in Gay Male Couples

We investigated the influence of partner-provided HIV-specific and general social support on the sexual risk behavior of gay male couples with concordant, discordant, or serostatus-unknown outside partners. Participants were 566 gay male couples from the San Francisco Bay Area. HIV-specific social support was a consistent predictor for reduced unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with both concordant outside partners (all couple types) and outside partners of discordant or unknown serostatus (concordant negative and discordant couples). General social support was associated with increased UAI with concordant outside partners for concordant negative and concordant positive couples (i.e., serosorting). Our findings suggest that prevention efforts should target couples and identify the level of HIV-specific support that partners provide. Partner-provided support for HIV-related behaviors could be an additional construct to consider in gay male relationships, akin to relationship satisfaction and commitment, as well as an important component of future HIV prevention interventions.
The application of social exchange to commitment bonds of pro-union employees: cognitive calculations of reciprocity

Abstract Relying on the concept of commitment bonds proposed by Klein, Molloy, and Brinfield (2012), the model presented herein suggests that, due to changes in the union's power status, pro-union employees will have to re-calculate their cognitive equations of reciprocity with the union and organization when the union is decertified, or right-to-work legislation is passed, or pro-union employees are unsuccessful in winning a union certification election. The norm of reciprocity (Gouldner, 1960) provides the basis for understanding social exchange in the workplace, suggesting that with a diminution or absence of union power, the union's ability to provide support is reduced, resulting in a lowering of felt obligation to the union. The model suggests that exchange ideology will mediate the relationship between felt obligation and commitment bond to explain how employees' relationships to the union and organization change as a union's power status declines.
Studying Membrane Protein Thermodynamics Using a Steric Trap

An understanding of the molecular forces that specify a protein's structure is essential for many of the central quests of structural biology. While there has been a larger effort to understand soluble protein folding, we know very little about membrane protein folding energetics. We are developing a novel method to study the forces that stabilize membrane proteins in lipid bilayers, which we termed the ‘Steric Trap method.’ The steric trap method couples protein unfolding to a measurable binding event by exploiting steric repulsion and the high affinity of the streptavidin/biotin interaction. To do this, we introduce two biotin tags on a target protein that are close in space and employ monovalent streptavidin (mSA) as our steric trap. A single mSA can bind without steric hindrance to the folded protein, but a second mSA can only bind when the protein unfolds due to steric overlap. Thus, the binding affinity of the second streptavidin provides a measure of unfolding free energy because binding is coupled to unfolding. We have developed this method on the water-soluble protein, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). When two biotin-labeling sites were rationally designed to be close to one another in space and near the enzyme active site of DHFR, enzymatic activity was reversibly abolished upon incubation with a molar excess of monovalent streptavidin. Incubation with a stabilizing ligand shifted streptavidin binding curves, confirming that the steric trapping can quantitatively detect changes in protein stability. Results on our application of the steric trap method to membrane proteins will be presented. The steric trap method could be a powerful tool for measuring protein association affinities, studying unfolding energetics and investigating membrane protein unfolded states in the context of membrane environments.
Outpatient Management of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Background: Renal dysfunction (RD) is common in heart failure (HF) and is an important predictor of mortality in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. Evaluation of renal function in LVAD candidates is generally accomplished via serum creatinine (Cr) based estimates. This is problematic since Cr level is influenced not only by renal function but also the amount of Cr produced by skeletal muscle. Since cardiac cachexia is common in HF, it is unclear to what degree reduced muscle mass and Cr production will affect estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Hypothesis: We hypothesized that, in patients referred for LVAD placement, Cr production would be significantly lower than predicted resulting in a significant underestimation of the burden of RD in these patients. Methods: Consecutive adult patients who underwent LVAD placement with 24-hour Cr collections available were studied (n562). Cr production was determined using the 24 hour cumulative Cr excretion; measured Cr clearance was calculated using the standard clearance equation. Renal function was also estimated from the serum Cr using the Cockgroft-Gault (CG) equation and the CKD-EPI equation. All parameters of renal function were indexed to a BSA of 1.73 m. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 54.5 6 14.6 years, 74.3% (n546) were male and 51.6% (n532) were African American. Despite an elevated BMI of 29.9 6 8.06 kg/m, the mean 24 hour Cr excretion was only 12796 474 mg (compared to a predicted value in this cohort of 19386 615 mg, p!0.001) confirming marked sarcopenia. Overall, less than 30% of patients’ Cr excretion was in the normal range after accounting for age and BSA. Significant preLVAD RD was present with a mean measured Cr clearance of 49.5 6 22.3 ml/min/ 1.732. Both the CG and the CKD-EPI equation overestimated GFR with a median error of 22.3% (10.9-34.0%) and 19.8 % (10.4-31.2%) respectively. This translated into 25.8% of the patients being misclassified using CKD-EPI and 35.5% being misclassified by CG into a greater CKD stage than indicated by measured Cr clearance. Conclusions: HF patients undergoing LVAD placement exhibit decreased Cr production likely as a result of significant cardiac cachexia. Since GFR estimation equations assume normal Cr production, this led to significant overestimation of GFR and misclassification of patients into higher CKD stages. Further research is necessary to determine if non-creatinine based metrics of renal function could improve preLVAD evaluation of RD.
Activation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla is required for glucose-induced sympathoexcitation

Energy expenditure is determined by metabolic rate and diet-induced thermogenesis. Normally, energy expenditure increases due to neural mechanisms that sense plasma levels of ingested nutrients/hormones and reflexively increase sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Here, we investigated neural mechanisms of glucose-driven sympathetic activation by determining contributions of neuronal activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and activation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Glucose was infused intravenously (150 mg/kg, 10 min) in male rats to raise plasma glucose concentration to a physiological postprandial level. In conscious rats, glucose infusion activated CRF-containing PVN neurons and TH-containing RVLM neurons, as indexed by c-Fos immunofluorescence. In α-chloralose/urethane-anesthetized rats, glucose infusion increased lumbar and splanchnic SNA, which was nearly prevented by prior RVLM injection of the CRF receptor antagonist astressin (10 pmol/50 nl). This cannot be attributed to a nonspecific effect, as sciatic afferent stimulation increased SNA and ABP equivalently in astressin- and aCSF-injected rats. Glucose-stimulated sympathoexcitation was largely reversed during inhibition of PVN neuronal activity with the GABA-A receptor agonist muscimol (100 pmol/50 nl). The effects of astressin to prevent glucose-stimulated sympathetic activation appear to be specific to interruption of PVN drive to RVLM because RVLM injection of astressin prior to glucose infusion effectively prevented SNA from rising and prevented any fall of SNA in response to acute PVN inhibition with muscimol. These findings suggest that activation of SNA, and thus energy expenditure, by glucose is initiated by activation of CRF receptors in RVLM by descending inputs from PVN.
Esophageal cancer preoperative chemotherapy--can we justify what we do?

Abstract This prospective randomized controlled trial compared surgery alone, to preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery for treatment of localized adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Inclusion criteria were documented carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction, with or without locoregional lymph node metastases. Exclusion criteria included locally advanced disease, or distant metastases. Patients were staged with computed tomography, upper gastrointestinal radiography, and routine examination and laboratories. Patients with tumors of the upper third of the esophagus also received bronchoscopy. Endoscopic ultrasonography was not routinely performed. Two hundred and thirteen patients (adjuvant group) were assigned to receive three cycles of preoperative Cisplatinum and 5-FU, followed by surgery, followed by three additional cycles of chemotherapy. Two hundred and twenty-seven patients were assigned to esophagectomy alone (surgery-alone group). Patients were followed for a median of 55.4 months. The median survival was 14.9 months for the adjuvant group and 16.1 months for the surgery-alone group ( p = 0.53). One, two, and three-year survival rates were 59%, 35%, and 23% for the adjuvant group, and 60%, 37%, and 26% ( p = nonsignificant, for all comparisons) for the surgery-alone group. No benefit was seen in adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma subtypes. Weight loss of more than 10% of body weight was the only independent predictor of survival.
Thermomechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of a Ni(Pd)-rich Ni24.3Ti49.7Pd26 high temperature shape memory alloy

Abstract The effect of thermomechanical cycling on a slightly Ni(Pd)-rich Ni24.3Ti49.7Pd26 (near stochiometric Ni–Ti basis with Pd replacing Ni) high temperature shape memory alloy was investigated. Aged tensile specimens (400 °C/24 h/furnace cooled) were subjected to constant-stress thermal cycling in conjunction with microstructural assessment via in situ neutron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), before and after testing. It was shown that in spite of the slightly Ni(Pd)-rich composition and heat treatment used to precipitation harden the alloy, the material exhibited dimensional instabilities with residual strain accumulation reaching 1.5% over 10 thermomechanical cycles. This was attributed to insufficient strengthening of the material (insufficient volume fraction of precipitate phase) to prevent plasticity from occurring concomitant with the martensitic transformation. In situ neutron diffraction revealed the presence of retained martensite while cycling under 300 MPa stress, which was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy of post-cycled samples. Neutron diffraction analysis of the post-thermally-cycled samples under no-load revealed residual lattice strains in the martensite and austenite phases, remnant texture in the martensite phase, and peak broadening of the austenite phase. Texture developed in the martensite phase was composed mainly of those martensitic tensile variants observed during thermomechanical cycling. Presence of a high density of dislocations, deformation twins, and retained martensite was revealed in the austenite state via in-situ TEM in the post-cycled material, providing an explanation for the observed peak broadening in the neutron diffraction spectra. Despite the dimensional instabilities, this alloy exhibited a biased transformation strain on the order of 3% and a two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) strain of ∼2%, at relatively high actuation temperatures.
Limitation of a wedged etalon for high-resolution linewidth measurements.

The finesse of a wedged etalon is calculated numerically and is found to be approximately half that of a Fabry–Perot etalon. The calculated finesse agrees well with the experimental values obtained by using pulsed and cw CO2 lasers. It is also concluded that the wedged etalons may not be used for high-resolution linewidth measurements.
HEARING RESULTS IN SURGERY FOR PRIMARY PETROUS APEX LESIONS

Hearing preservation is a frequently mentioned phrase in the growing field of skull base surgery. Many authors have attempted to identify prognostic factors for successful hearing preservation, and many have suggested alternative procedures for preserving serviceable hearing. Few have mentioned hearing improvement with skull base surgical procedures. In this article we present the hearing results of 25 surgical procedures for primary petrous apex lesions. These include 13 cholesterol granulomas, 5 cholesteatomas, 4 mucoceles, and 3 eosinophilic granulomas. Surgical approaches included 14 transmastoid/infralabyrinthine, 6 transphenoid, 3 suboccipital, and 2 transmastoid/translabyrinthine. Hearing was maintained in 14 patients (56%), improved in 9 patients (36%), and worse in 1 patient with nonserviceable hearing before surgery (4%); 1 patient had profound hearing loss before surgery (4%). Results of this review should have significant implications on the choice of surgical approach for petrous apex lesions. Additionally, the standard method of determining salvageable hearing for most skull base procedures may not apply for this specific group of lesions. Implications for future treatment plans will be discussed in detail.
The Impact of a Technology Coordinator's Belief System upon Using Technology to Create a Community's History

As it has been shown that teachers of social studies content are less likely than teachers of other content areas to utilize technology in their classroom, this study focuses on one instructional technology coordinators’ beliefs towards technology, instruction, and students and how these beliefs impacted how technology was utilized during a technology-enriched community history project with a group of fourth-grade students. It was determined that the instructional technology coordinators’ beliefs included the following: (a) technology should serve as a tool and should be seamlessly integrated into the curriculum; (b) the teacher should construct meaningful experiences that allow students to become engaged in the learning process; however, before guiding student discovery, the teacher needs to explicitly teach basic technological skills; (c) and all students are able to learn and are capable of engaging in independent problem solving and critical thinking at some level. Her beliefs manifested themselves da...