cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding Communication Intervention for Young Children with Autism and Their Parents: Mixing Behavioral and Social Validity Findings

We retrospectively analyzed data from a pilot study that examined the impact of the Internet-based Parent-implemented Communication Strategies (i-PiCS) program (Meadan et al. in Journal of Early Intervention, 2016) on two families whose children primarily used unaided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The purpose of this analysis was to explore possible explanations for discrepant findings between behavioral data and social validity data in single-case research. These divergent findings were revealed when we attempted to mix two methods to make assertions about intervention effectiveness. Guided by two hypotheses, we recoded the original pilot study video recordings by introducing new dependent variables that were linked to information gleaned from the social validity assessment (i.e., self-reports by the parents and interventionist). After assessing these new dependent variables, we found support for improvement produced by the i-PiCS program that had not been identified in the original observational recording. We present the methods and results of this secondary analysis and discuss the potential value of using mixed methods to combine observational behavioral data with self-report social validity data in behavioral research.
Complexity, Adaptability and Flexibility in Infrastructure and Regional Development: Insights and Implications for Policy Analysis and Planning

The concept of order is a powerful and appealing inspiration for the planning and development of urban infrastructure. Those engaged in the planning process derive professional identity and satisfaction from the notion that they are somehow working out or contributing to the realization of order.
Models of Immunity

This chapter provides a thorough discussion of the naturally occurring immune response to chlamydial infection of the genital tract, respiratory tract, and conjunctiva, including the events leading to resolution of infection, the mechanisms involved in resolution, and the events and mechanisms participating in the immune response to reinfection. The chapter addresses the ongoing development of a chlamydial vaccine including a review of vaccine studies, potential immunogens, and strategies of immunization. Unquestionably, there is a strong immune response in humans resulting from genital, ocular, or respiratory infection with relevant species of Chlamydia. As with many infections, immunity is seldom an all-or-none matter; therefore, a section explores some of the potential parameters which contribute to the resistance or susceptibility to reinfection. In addition, since immunity, particularly in adolescents, appears to be short-lived, any vaccine that is developed must do better than the natural infection, which is something that has proven to be extremely difficult. The chapter further reviews attempts at immunization with different immunogens or forms of immunogens, as well as the effect of the immunization route. Finally, the chapter discusses the potential immunization strategies, based on one's knowledge of the immune response and disease pathogenesis. In evaluating possible vaccine strategies for chlamydial disease, it is important to remember that we are dealing with the prevention of different disease entities. It is unlikely that a single vaccination protocol will be effective against trachoma, genital disease, pneumonia, coronary artery disease, and veterinary diseases.
The Story of Alcoa: The Enduring Questions of Market Power, Conduct, and Remedy in Monopolization Cases

This chapter from the forthcoming Antitrust Stories book deals with United States v. Aluminum Company of America which remains one of the standard chestnuts of American antitrust law. It appears in one form or another in virtually every antitrust law casebook and industrial organization economics textbook. Alcoa represents a lens in which we see what we want to see in the area of unilateral conduct, a reasonably efficient and innovative firm that created an entire industry or an aggressive monopolist preserving its position through a web of carefully constructed entry barriers including exclusive contracts, participation in international cartels, relentless expansion, and complete vertical integration. This chapter reviews the history of aluminum, its commercialization in the late 19th century, the colorful cast of players, and the many legal issues that led to nearly fifty years of government antitrust enforcement efforts against Alcoa. Alcoa became one of the first cases to crystallize thinking about Section 2 of the Sherman Act and the hard questions about how to define a market, what conduct of a monopolist should be prohibited, and what remedy should be imposed to best restore competition, questions that all continue to be debated today.
Penetration depth in tissue-mimicking phantoms from hyperspectral imaging in SWIR in transmission and reflection geometry

We explored the depth penetration in tissue-mimicking intralipid-based phantoms in SWIR (800-1650 nm) using a hyperspectral imaging system composed from a 2D CCD camera coupled to a microscope. Hyperspectral images in transmission and reflection geometries were collected with a spectral resolution of 5.27 nm and a total acquisition time of 3 minutes or less that minimized artifacts from sample drying. Michelson spatial contrast was used as a metric to evaluate light penetration. Results from both transmission and reflection geometries consistently revealed the highest spatial contrast in the wavelength range of 1300 to 1350 nm.
Recent Progress in Catalytic C-H Aminations

This mini review focuses on the recent progress in catalytic C-H amination reactions. The preparation of amine derivatives by catalytic C-H amination reactions would be extremely attractive, given the fact that the majority of the synthetic methods involve a multi step reaction sequence based on the reaction of a nitrogen-based nucleophile with an appropriate carbon electrophile. Selected examples from recent literatures will be described with a brief mechanistic insight.
Nature versus nurture: A systematic approach to elucidate gene–environment interactions in the development of myopic refractive errors

ABSTRACTMyopia is the most common eye disorder and major cause of visual impairment worldwide. As the incidence of myopia continues to rise, the need to further understand the complex roles of molecular and environmental factors controlling variation in refractive error is of increasing importance. Tkatchenko and colleagues applied a systematic approach using a combination of gene set enrichment analysis, genome-wide association studies, and functional analysis of a murine model to identify a myopia susceptibility gene, APLP2. Differential expression of refractive error was associated with time spent reading for those with low frequency variants in this gene. This provides support for the longstanding hypothesis of gene–environment interactions in refractive error development.
The Role of Grape Powder in Emotional Well-Being and Memory Improvement

Natural products including table fruits are reported to have beneficial effects on human health. Recently, grapes have received considerable attention, and their medicinal properties have been attributed to their high antioxidant content. Grapes have been suggested to be beneficial for cardiovascular and psychological health. In this chapter we discuss research findings that are suggestive of a protective role of grapes in emotional well-being as well as learning and memory improvement.
Chest Wall Bulge in 19-day-old Premature Infant

A premature infant (twin 2) presents with a palpable, protruding bulge in the chest wall at age 19 days (Fig 1; Video). Video: Please click here or on video to view premature infant with chest wall bulge. Figure 1. Premature infant with chest wall bulge. ### Prenatal and Birth Histories ### Presentation Twin 2 was diagnosed postnatally with a coarctation of the aorta and underwent repair of this coarctation and a patent ductus arteriosus ligation at age 11 days. Postoperatively, he required a left chest tube, which was removed on postoperative day 1. He was recovering well at 18 days of age, receiving 3 L oxygen via high-flow nasal cannula, with a fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2) of 0.25, and intermittent tachypnea. His inotropic support had been discontinued and he was tolerating trophic feedings. However, on examination, a well-demarcated bulge overlying the fourth intercostal space of the left upper anterior hemithorax was detected. ### Vital Signs
Policy Initiatives, Programs, and Praxis

This chapter ties together the previous chapters and situates them in broader policy-based and applied contexts. First, the chapter details major policy debates regarding the large-scale effects of selective mobility and social disorganization discussed in Chap. 7. Since these policies influence programs and interventions at the neighborhood level, community- and school-based initiatives designed to facilitate postmove adjustment for mobile families are discussed. Lastly, the chapter identifies targeting and intervention strategies for social workers and other practitioners working with mobile and highly mobile families.
k-Protected Routing Protocol in Multi-hop Cognitive Radio Networks

In cognitive radio networks (CRNs), the established communication sessions between secondary users (SUs) may be affected or even get interrupted because the SUs need to relinquish the spectrum when the licensed users (PUs) appear and reclaim the spectrum/channel. On detecting PU activities, the SUs on the affected links either switch to another available idle spectrum using the same link or the SUs seek for an alternative path/link. In either approach, the ongoing session is destined to experience delay or even gets interrupted, which is intolerable to quality of service-sensitive applications such as multimedia streaming or audio/video conferencing. In this paper, we study the problem of establishing k-protected routes in CRNs. A k-protected route consists of a set of main links with preassigned backup spectrum and backup paths and is guaranteed to sustain from k PU appearances without being interrupted. For a CRN, we find a k-protected route for each session request and maximize the number of sessions that can be supported. We propose both centralized and distributed k-protected routing algorithms for this problem. Simulation results show that our k-protected routing protocol outperforms existing opportunistic spectrum switching approaches in terms of delay and interruption rate.
Comparative performance evaluation of multi-GPU MLFMA implementation for 2-D VIE problems

We compare multi-GPU performance of the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) on two different systems: A shared-memory IBM S822LC workstation with four NVIDIA P100 GPUs, and 16 XK nodes (each is employed with a single NVIDIA K20X GPU) of the Blue Waters supercomputer. MLFMA is implemented for solving scattering problems involving two-dimensional inhomogeneous bodies. Results show that the multi-GPU implementation provides 794 and 969 times speedups on the IBM and Blue Waters systems over their corresponding sequential CPU executions, respectively, where the sequential execution on the IBM system is 1.17 times faster than on the Blue Waters System.
The evolution of menopause

Why do women undergo the menopause? Much has been made of recent claims that non-reproducing females help their daughters to rear their grandchildren, but a new report indicates that this is not the case. By studying olive baboons and lions, one group has found that the presence of a non-reproducing mother makes no difference to the size of a female's litter or the survival of her offspring. The authors suggest that menopause is, in fact, non-adaptive, and that it occurs owing to senescence.
Existence of the Equilibrium Distribution

In Section 5 we introduced the notion of capacity of a body B in ℝ3 as follows: the capacity of B equals the amount of charge which, when distributed on B so as to produce equilibrium, yields a potential which is identically 1 on B. In other words, choose a measure µo on B such that Uµ o = 1 on B. Then the capacity of B = µo(B).
Dynamic Representations and Escaping Local Optima: Improving Genetic Algorithms and Local Search

Local search algorithms often get trapped in local optima. Algorithms such as tabu search and simulated annealing ’escape’ local optima by accepting nonimproving moves. Another possibility is to dynamically change between representations; a local optimum under one representation may not be a local optimum under another. Shifting is a mechanism which dynamically switches between Gray code representations in order to escape local optima. Gray codes are widely used in conjunction with genetic algorithms and bit-climbing algorithms for parameter optimization problems. We present new theoretical results that substantially improve our understanding of the shifting mechanism, on the number of Gray codes accessible via shifting, and on how neighborhood structure changes during shifting. We show that shifting can significantly improve the performance of a simple hill-climber; it can also help to improve one of the best genetic algorithms currently available.
Spectrum of Chronic Complications Related to Silicone Leakage and Migration

Abstract Background Medical silicone is widely used as implants and free injections, but the spectrum of complications related to migration or embolization of silicone remains unclear. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 79 patients with silicone migration as confirmed on pathology between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2016. The presenting clinical and imaging features, diagnostic testing, treatment, and outcome were assessed. Results Nearly all patients were women, and 43% had a history of breast cancer. Sixty-three cases (80%) consisted of localized silicone granulomas, including 1 patient who developed severe hypercalcemia related to the granulomatous reaction. The remaining 16 cases (20%) involved migration of silicone to regional lymph nodes or distant tissue and included 1 case of chronic silicone pneumonitis. These complications were detected many years (median, 22 years; range, 1-40 years) after initial silicone placement. Only magnetic resonance imaging, dual-energy computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonography demonstrated specificity for detection of silicone in lymph nodes and soft tissues. Other modalities including positron emission tomography, single-energy CT, and mammography detected only nonspecific abnormalities. Excisional biopsy of symptomatic lymphadenopathy or masses usually led to resolution of symptoms. The patient with silicone pneumonitis improved with corticosteroid therapy. Conclusions Chronic complications related to silicone extravasation and migration can present with local or distant manifestations, typically encountered many years after the original silicone placement. Magnetic resonance imaging, dual-energy CT, and ultrasonography are helpful for noninvasive diagnosis.
Marketing Literacy, A First Approximation

What should every student know before receiving a degree with a major in marketing? There are no universal guidelines for checking marketing knowledge. A call for such a guideline was made in 1993 at the Southern Marketing Association conference. A suggested start on such a guideline is presented in this paper.
N-terminal extension in cardiac myosin-binding protein C regulates myofilament binding.

Abstract Rationale Mutations in the gene encoding the sarcomeric protein cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C) are a leading cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Mouse models targeting cMyBP-C and use of recombinant proteins have been effective in studying its roles in contractile function and disease. Surprisingly, while the N-terminus of cMyBP-C is important to regulate myofilament binding and contains many HCM mutations, an incorrect sequence, lacking the N-terminal 8 amino acids has been used in many studies. Objectives To determine the N-terminal cMyBP-C sequences in ventricles and investigate the roles of species-specific differences in cMyBP-C on myofilament binding. Methods and results We determined cMyBP-C sequences in mouse and human by inspecting available sequence databases. N-terminal differences were confirmed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Cosedimentation assays with actin or myosin were used to examine binding in mouse, human and chimeric fusion proteins of cMyBP-C. Time-resolved FRET (TR-FRET) with site-directed probes on cMyBP-C was employed to measure structural dynamics. LC-MS/MS supported the sequencing data that mouse cMyBP-C contains an eight-residue N-terminal extension (NTE) not found in human. Cosedimentation assays revealed that cardiac myosin binding was strongly influenced by the presence of the NTE, which reduced binding by 60%. 75% more human C0-C2 than mouse bound to myosin. Actin binding of mouse C0-C2 was not affected by the NTE. 50% more human C0-C2 than mouse bound to actin. TR-FRET indicates that the NTE did not significantly affect structural dynamics across domains C0 and C1. Conclusions Our functional results are consistent with the idea that cardiac myosin binding of N-terminal cMyBP-C is reduced in the mouse protein due to the presence of the NTE, which is proposed to interfere with myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) binding. The NTE is a critical component of mouse cMyBP-C, and should be considered in extrapolation of studies to cMyBP-C and HCM mechanisms in human.
Masters Program Hernia Pathway: Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is among the most common procedures performed today by general surgeons. There is increasing data that laparoscopic surgery has the advantage of decreased postoperative pain and quicker return to normal daily activities, and it may even afford better visualization of a challenging anatomic region. However, there is considerable variety among general surgeons regarding the operative technique for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.
Fumigants alone or in combination with herbicide for weed management in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Abstract Weed management is a significant challenge faced by pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) growers in the Southeastern United States. Field experiments were implemented to study the combined effects of soil fumigants with supplemental metam potassium or S-metalochlor on weed control and bell pepper growth and yield. Experiments were designed as a completely randomized split plot with primary soil fumigant (PF) as the main plot factors and supplemental weed management (SWM) as the subplot factors. The PF included a nontreated control, 396 kg ha−1 dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) + Chloropicrin (Pic) (79:21 w/w), and 336 kg ha−1 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) + Pic (40:60 w/w). The SWM included a nontreated control, 475 kg ha−1 metam potassium, and 1.06 kg ha−1 S-metolachlor. PF and SWM treatments independently affected weed densities with no significant interactions occurring. At 12 weeks after transplanting (WATP), DMDS + Pic significantly reduced purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) density in areas where the plastic mulch was removed after transplant to evaluate weed control, whereas 1,3-D + Pic did not significantly reduce purple nutsedge density. Neither 1,3-D + Pic nor DMDS + Pic significantly reduced broadleaf and grassy weed densities compared to the nontreated control at the end of the growing season. Metam potassium reduced purple nutsedge density by 48% compared to the nontreated control at 2 WATP but nutsedge densities did not differ at subsequent dates. S-metolachlor reduced purple nutsedge density by 50 and 69% at 4 and 6 WATP in areas where the mulch was removed after transplant compared to nontreated control. At 12 WATP, metam potassium and S-metolachlor reduced grassy weed density by 80 and 49%, respectively, and reduced broadleaf weed density by 55 and 67% compared to the nontreated control, respectively. Overall, we conclude that DMDS + Pic was more effective at reducing purple nutsedge density as compared to 1,3-D + Pic. Supplemental applications of metam potassium or S-metolachlor following the fumigation of 1,3-D + Pic or DMDS + Pic enhanced the control of purple nutsedge, broadleaves, and grasses. The evaluated treatments did not promote or adversely affect bell pepper growth or yield.
Cultural Underpinnings of Gender Development: Studying Gender Among Children of Immigrants

This article addresses the historical divide between gender development researchers and developmental researchers working with immigrant populations, advocating for the benefits gained by bridging research approaches and interests. For gender researchers, the immigrant context allows for the examination of how children embedded in multiple cultures navigate the potentially conflicting information about appropriate gendered behaviors and attitudes. Furthermore, research focusing on immigrant development can move beyond examining gender differences and benefit from understanding the ways in which gender differences develop. This bridging seems particularly relevant in middle childhood, given (a) the exposure to multiple contexts which increase the salience of cultural differences between home and outside-of-home environments and (b) greater awareness and internalization of collective identities (i.e., gender, ethnicity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
The utility of HCC screening among cirrhotics

15108 Background: Screening known cirrhotics for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) has long been a contentious topic. Studies to date have failed to conclusively prove or disprove the validity of AFP and...
Program-mandering: Quantitative Privilege Separation

Privilege separation is an effective technique to improve software security. However, past partitioning systems do not allow programmers to make quantitative tradeoffs between security and performance. In this paper, we describe our toolchain called PM. It can automatically find the optimal boundary in program partitioning. This is achieved by solving an integer-programming model that optimizes for a user-chosen metric while satisfying the remaining security and performance constraints on other metrics. We choose security metrics to reason about how well computed partitions enforce information flow control to: (1) protect the program from low-integrity inputs or (2) prevent leakage of program secrets. As a result, functions in the sensitive module that fall on the optimal partition boundaries automatically identify where declassification is necessary. We used PM to experiment on a set of real-world programs to protect confidentiality and integrity; results show that, with moderate user guidance, PM can find partitions that have better balance between security and performance than partitions found by a previous tool that requires manual declassification.
A ten year record of nitrate retention and solute trends in a Wisconsin sand plains stream: temporal variation at multiple scales

Nitrate retention is an important ecosystem service provided by streams which reduces nitrogen loads to downstream ecosystems. However, most inferences about nitrate retention and uptake in streams are based on measurements at sub-annual scales. Our objective was to evaluate variation in nitration retention and solute concentrations at weekly to decadal time scales. We measured nitrate and chloride concentration, nitrate flux and nitrate retention in Emmons Creek, a groundwater-dominated, nitrate-rich stream in central Wisconsin during a 10-year period. We used a two-station mass balance approach to measure nitrate retention while accounting for groundwater inputs. Surface water nitrate concentration, nitrate yield and nitrate retention exhibited strong seasonal variation. Seasonal Kendall tests revealed positive trends for surface water discharge, nitrate and chloride concentrations and groundwater chloride concentration, but not nitrate retention. Generalized additive mixed models (GAMM), accounting for serial autocorrelations, also indicated positive trends in surface water nitrate and chloride concentrations but no trend for nitrate retention. Nitrate retention averaged 370 mg NO3-N m−2 d−1 (± 316 SD) and was highest during the spring (512 mg NO3-N m−2 d−1 ± 319), followed by summer (460 ± 322), fall (340 ± 281) and winter (165 ± 212). Nitrate retention rates in Emmons Creek were relatively high compared to most published estimates. However, our results suggest that Emmons Cr. may have saturated its capacity to retain nitrate during a period when nitrate yield from its watershed increased, which is an important finding given the increases in N availability in many regions of earth.
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Web-Based Dietary Intervention with Text Messages for Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Trial.

Background: Diet is associated with colorectal cancer survival. Yet, adherence to nutrition guidelines is low among colorectal cancer survivors. Methods: We conducted a pilot trial among colorectal cancer survivors to evaluate a 12-week remote dietary intervention. Participants received print materials and were randomized (1:1) to intervention (website, text messages) or wait-list control. Primary outcomes included feasibility and acceptability. We also explored change in diet from 0 to 12 and 24 weeks and change from 0 to 12 weeks in anthropometry and circulating biomarkers (Trial Registration: NCT02965521). Results: We randomized 50 colorectal cancer survivors (25 intervention, 25 control). Retention was 90% at 12 weeks and 84% at 24 weeks. Participants had a median age of 55 years and were 66% female, 70% non-Hispanic white, and 96% had a college degree. The intervention arm responded to a median 15 (71%) of 21 text messages that asked for a reply [interquartile range (IQR) = 8, 19] and visited the website a median of 13 (15%) days (IQR = 1, 33) of the 84 study days. Conclusions: We developed a Web-based dietary intervention for colorectal cancer survivors. Our pilot results suggest that colorectal cancer survivors may engage more with text messages than a study website. Research to improve tailoring of text messages, while maintaining scalability, is needed. Impact: Remote dietary interventions using text messages may be feasible for colorectal cancer survivors. See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, “Modernizing Population Science.”
A novel method of sacral nerve stimulation for colonic inflammation.

Background Vagal nerve stimulation has been reported to treat inflammation with promising results. The aims of our study were to optimize sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) methodologies for colonic inflammation in a rodent model of colitis and to investigate autonomic and cytokine mechanisms. Methods Three major efforts were made in optimizing SNS: (a) to determine the best stimulation duration: SNS-0.5h daily, SNS-1h daily, and SNS-3h daily with the parameters set at 5 Hz, 10 seconds on, 90 seconds off; (b) to determine the best stimulation position: bilateral, bipolar, and unipolar stimulation; (c) to determine the best stimulation parameters: our 5 Hz intermittent stimulation vs 14 Hz-210 μs continuous stimulation. Inflammatory responses were assessed by the disease activity index (DAI), histological analyses, and the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Levels of inflammatory cytokines, norepinephrine (NE), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) in both plasma and colon tissues were assessed. Key results Both SNS-1h and SNS-3h significantly ameliorated intestinal inflammation; SNS-1h was superior to SNS-3h. Bipolar but not bilateral or unipolar stimulation improved the inflammation in colitis. SNS with 5 Hz intermittent stimulation but not the 14 Hz continuous SNS was better for treating colitis in rats. SNS with the optimized stimulation parameters increased vagal activity and decreased sympathetic activity. CONCLUSION & INFERENCES: Bipolar stimulation for 1 hour daily using intermittent 5 Hz parameters is most effective in improving colonic inflammation in TNBS-treated rats by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines via the modulation of the autonomic function.
The Impact of Metastable Lutetium-177 on a Nuclear Medicine Department

3021 Objectives: In the United States, Lutetium-177 is being used to treat patient’s with gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with the FDA approved radiopharmaceutical Lutathera, which is manufactured by Advanced Accelerator Applications. In addition, Radiomedix, is manufacturing Lutetium-177-PSMA to treat patients with metastatic prostate cancer as part of a phase III clinical trial which is run by Endocyte. Each company uses a different process to manufacture the Lutetium, one of which adds a small amount of metastable Lutetium-177 which has a 160.4 day half-life. Without the metastable component, Lutetium-177 has a 6.65 day half-life. The difference in manufacturing methods may lead to differences in handling and disposing of the radioactive material. The purpose here is to share a single institution’s experience, OHSU, with Lutetium-177 from different manufacturers. Methods: After administration of the radionuclide therapy, any radioactive waste is stored in a secure area to decay in storage. With a half-life of 6.65 days, our process is to check for any residual activity at approximately 65 days or 10 half-lives. After this decay period, we compared residual activity in multiple vials between manufacturer’s which had the same calibration date or were within one or two days of each other. To do this comparison, we measured the vial in a dose calibrator and also withdrew 1cc from each vial and measured the counts per minute in a Perkin Elmer Wizard well counter. Results: When comparing waste from each manufacturer which had the same calibration date or were within one or two days of each other, we noticed that measured counts per minute from the well counter were 200% higher for vials from AAA. This phenomenon is consistent across all vials that were compared. We believe this is directly correlated to the metastable component that can be found in Lutetium-177 from AAA. The prolonged presence of radioactivity in the vials from AAA have required us to use a third-party company for disposal of this radioactive waste, which has led to increase in space needed for decay in storage and an additional operating cost to properly handle this material. Conclusion: In summary, Lutetium-177 has become a vital tool for radionuclide therapy, however, there are important considerations for decay and disposal of the radioactive waste which will vary based on the method of production. Having this information available when starting new programs and service lines is critical to long term success and compliance with regulatory agencies.
Understanding AAC Usage and Needs through a Web Survey with Device Users and Families

Augmentative and alternative communication devices (AAC) can help support communication for millions of people who have differences in speech and language abilities. Existing commercial devices do not meet all the diverse needs of some individuals. Interviews and surveys were conducted with individuals who have speech or language challenges (n=4 interviews; n=15 survey respondents), or their loved ones (n=9 interviews, n=49 survey respondents). Summaries of communication practices, usage preferences, and ratings of hypothetical devices are shown. We consolidate and present qualitative feedback on user difficulties and likes for types of available commercial devices. The collected quantitative data has been de-identified and published and may be useful for others working with AAC devices and users. Building on our results, we discuss how three directions for impactful AAC development – customizable input, context-aware output, and personalized devices – could help meet the needs expressed by survey respondents in the context of technological advancements and research in the field.Clinical Relevance— The presented results and attached quantitative survey dataset could be useful for others developing and modifying AAC technologies for real-world use.
Youth (In)Formation

Chapter 2, “Youth (In)Formation,” explores how young people in advanced capitalist societies exist as both a state of becoming and a site of data mining. To achieve this, young people’s psychosocial formation, as well as the privatization and differential valuing of their information, is considered in relation to their everyday engagements with digital media and networked technologies. In-depth interviews with youth are excerpted and analyzed to offer a snapshot in time of the experiences of young New Yorkers during a stage of their development most concerned with articulating identities and establishing social boundaries. Interviewees also reveal an intimate, if partial, knowledge of a historical moment when smartphones and social media were beginning to unsettle social, economic, and geographic boundaries writ large.
Wireless Sensor Node Powered by Unipolar Resonant Capacitive Power Transfer

Sensors are a major component of any automated system. In particular, wireless monitoring of sensors has become increasingly important to reduce the complexity and electrical points of failure as the number of sensors in a system increase. Wireless communication has provided a more scalable approach as compared to serial communication, eliminating the wires that would be used for data monitoring. Similarly, wireless or quasi-wireless power transfer approaches can help reduce the complexity and points of failure when powering these devices. In this paper, we present wireless and quasi-wireless methods for resonant capacitive power transfer that can be used in a system to power Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor monitoring devices.
Abstract LB213: ACTL6A (Actin-like Protein 6A) enhances the cancer phenotype

Epidermal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an extremely common, invasive and metastatic cancer. ACTL6A, an important protein subunit of the SWI/SNF epigenetic regulatory complex, is frequently overexpressed in cancer cells. In the present study, we show that ACTL6A drives SCC cell proliferation, invasion, migration and tumor formation, and that this aggressive phenotype is markedly reduced in ACTL6A knockdown cells. Expression of ACTL6A is associated with reduced p21Cip1 level and treatment with ACTL6A-siRNA results in a marked increase in p21Cip1 and attenuation of the cancer phenotype. Molecular studies reveal that ACTL6A suppresses p21Cip1 promoter activity to reduce mRNA and p21Cip1 protein and that loss of p21Cip1 expression appears to be biologically meaningful, as p21Cip1 knockdown enhances the aggressive phenotype. ACTL6A suppression of p21Cip1 expression requires the p53 and Sp1 transcription response elements in the p21Cip1 gene promoter. In addition, ACTL6A knockdown results in increased p53 tumor suppressor expression. These studies show that ACTL6A facilitates an aggressive cancer phenotype by reducing p53 and p21Cip1 mRNA and protein and suggests that ACTL6A contributes to an aggressive cancer phenotype in epidermal squamous cell carcinoma. Citation Format: Suruchi Shrestha, Gautam Adhikary, Wen Xu, Sivaveera Kandaysamy, Richard L. Eckert. ACTL6A (Actin-like Protein 6A) enhances the cancer phenotype [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr LB213.
Conjugal Plasmid Transfer in Bacillus Thuringiensis

Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is a gram-positive, sporeforming bacterium distinguished by its ability to produce parasporal protein crystals. These proteins, collectively known as δ-endotoxins, are toxic to a number of lepidopteran insects of economic importance as well as to certain dipterans which are important vectors of human disease (7). Over 20 different varieties of B. thuringiensis are currently recognized on the basis of flagellar antigens (6) and immunological (19) and toxicity (8) properties of the parasporal crystals.
Guinea Pig Lymphocyte-Derived Macrophage Aggregation Factor: Its Separation from Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor

Lymphocytes from guinea pigs having delayed hypersensitivity to horse-radish peroxidase (HRPO) when cultured in vitro with HRPO produce a large m.w. factor (τ; 100,000 daltons) that causes peritoneal macrophages from nonimmune animals to aggregate. The macrophage aggregation factor (MAF) can be separated from macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) by gel filtration of active lymphocyte supernatants on Sephadex G-150. MAF is heat stable (56°C for 30 min) but inactivated by trypsin. These data suggest that aggregation of macrophages in vitro by lymphokine-rich culture supernatants is not due to MIF but is caused by a separate large m.w. factor.
Arduino controlled brewing

This paper details experiences in making an automated brewing system. Specifically, it focusses on the initial brewing stage of mashing grains to achieve saccharification of the starches by enzymes, How can we build a system to aid brewing, specifically to control the saccharification stage? This paper provides background on temperatures used in the beer brewing process, then introduces a low-cost control architecture for automatically raising and holding temperatures, based on the Arduino. This system has been used over 50 times for a variety of beers.
Training Methods and Association with Worker Injury on Colorado Dairies: A Survey

Abstract The goals of this study were to define the current methods for training entry-level workers on Colorado dairies, to measure the relationship of training methods to the incidence of work-related injuries on those operations, and to characterize the nature and cause of injuries reported by participating workers. Seventy-two workers from 15 dairies from Weld, Morgan, Larimer and Yuma counties volunteered to be interviewed privately in the language of their choice. Training methods were classified by content (task training versus safety training), method of delivery (on-the-job verbal instruction, on-the-job demonstration, on-the-job supervision, classroom-based, and / or reading materials); and instructor (supervisor and/or co-worker). The majority (84.7%) of interviewed workers were Mexican-born, Spanish-speaking males. Most workers reported the training to be a combination of verbal instruction, demonstration and supervision. Twenty-nine of 72 (40.3%) of all participants suffered at least one work...
Rab7 plays a B cell-intrinsic and critical role in T-dependent and T-independent antibody responses by mediating AID expression and class switch DNA recombination (IRM8P.706)

Rab7 is a small GTPase that mediates endosomal functions and regulates T cell homeostasis. Here, we have addressed the B cell-inherent role of Rab7 in antibody responses and underlying mechanisms by constructing Igh+/Cγ1-cre Rab7fl/fl mice. These mice displayed normal B cell and T cell development and survival, and were knocked-out of the Rab7 gene specifically in B cells activated to undergo IgH germline Iγ1-Sγ1-Cγ1 transcription. This transcription process is induced by IL-4 plus a primary CSR-inducing stimulus, and is required for antibody switching from IgM to IgG1, but not to other Ig isotypes. Igh+/Cγ1-cre Rab7fl/fl mice had virtually abrogated levels of IgG1, but normal levels of IgM and other switched Ig isotypes, and failed to mount specific IgG1 responses to T-dependent or T-independent antigens. They showed markedly reduced IgG1+ B cells and antibody-forming cells, with unaltered B cell proliferation, survival and differentiation into germinal center B cells and plasma cells. Purified naive B cells from these mice were defective in CSR to IgG1, despite normal proliferation and plasma cell differentiation. These together with the unaltered germline transcription but significantly decreased expression of AID (essential for CSR and SHM) demonstrate that B cell Rab7 mediates CSR and, therefore, the antibody response by upregulating AID, likely by regulating intracellular membranes that facilitate signal transduction for activation of specific transcription factors.
Faculty Development Centers and the Role of SoTL

This chapter discusses ways that faculty development and teaching centers can foster the practice of SoTL and create a campus culture where SoTL is recognized as important scholarly work.
Social Foundations of National Anthems: Theorizing for a Better Understanding of the Changing Fate of the National Anthem of China

A national anthem is arguably one of the most powerful symbols for a nation-state, with impact beyond its ceremonial purposes. One source of its power lies in the lyrical content, bearing imprints of the past and texts for potentially guiding future behavior. In this paper we study the social foundations of national anthems with the Chinese national anthem as a case by analyzing its production through two changing texts—the lyrics of the anthem and key political documents from the period of 1949–2005. The current national anthem, “March of the Volunteers,” adopted in 1949, was forbidden during the Cultural Revolution, and was restored in 1978, albeit with a new set of lyrics, and used until 1982 when the original lyrics were restored. Drawing upon the literature on collective focus (as defined by Cerulo) and social relations (as informed by Weber), we build a theoretical model for understanding the changes in the Chinese national anthem. According to this model, the creation of collective memory in the form of a national anthem is conditioned by the cognitive and social context in terms of the type of collective focus (singular or multiple) and the kind of top-bottom social relation (rational or traditional). The changing fate of the Chinese national anthem illustrates the efficacy of the theoretical model.
Strategic business planning for internal medicine

The internal medicine generalist is at market risk with expansion of managed care. The cottage industry of Academic Departments of internal medicine should apply more business tools to the internal medicine business problem. A strength, weakness, opportunity, threat (SWOT) analysis demonstrates high vulnerability to the internal medicine generalist initiative. Recommitment to the professional values of internal medicine and enhanced focus on the master clinician as the competitive core competency of internal medicine will be necessary to retain image and market share.
A Taxonomy and Comparison of Remote Voting Schemes

Remote voting has been an active research field for application of cryptographic techniques in the last two decades with many schemes and systems in publication. In this paper we present an overview of recent efforts in developing voting schemes and security models that involve a variety of real world constraints to ensure election integrity. We classify voting schemes based on their primary cryptographic techniques. We analyze recent typical schemes and systems against the basic and counter attack requirements with brief description. Such analysis shows difference among these security requirements and aids in design of future schemes. Our conclusion is provided regarding suitability of a particular voting system/scheme under various conditions. Keywords—Remote voting, Cryptography, Privacy, Electronic voting scheme, Protocol
Zero-order release of micro- and macromolecules from polymeric devices: the role of the burst effect

A mathematical analysis is presented to elucidate the role of the burst effect in an essentially zero-order controlled release coated hemispherical polymeric device containing a single, small orifice in its center face. Asymptotic solutions of the model show that the burst effect is controlled by the solubility of the drug in the release medium and by the drug diffusion coefficient. The effect of the above mentioned parameters on the cumulative drug released from coated hemispherical devices was also studied. It was shown that as drug solubility increased, the drug released faster and the velocity of the interface between dissolved and dispersed drug is higher. The model solutions established that the burst behavior could be manipulated by using different initial drug distributions. Using the model, conditions under which the burst effect could be minimized/maximized were established. The model predictions were compared to experimental studies of sodium salicylate release from polyethylene hemispheres and bovine serum albumin release from ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer hemispheres.
iPod handwriting application intervention shows promise for children with developmental disabilities, but additional research is warranted

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Lorah, E. R., & Parnell, A. (2014). The acquisition of letter writing using a portable multi-media player in young children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10882-014-9386-0Source of funding and disclosure of interest: Sources of funding were not reported nor disclosures of interests.
Noninvasive Assessment of Antenatal Hydronephrosis in Mice Reveals a Critical Role for Robo2 in Maintaining Anti-Reflux Mechanism

Antenatal hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) are common renal tract birth defects. We recently showed that disruption of the Robo2 gene is associated with VUR in humans and antenatal hydronephrosis in knockout mice. However, the natural history, causal relationship and developmental origins of these clinical conditions remain largely unclear. Although the hydronephrosis phenotype in Robo2 knockout mice has been attributed to the coexistence of ureteral reflux and obstruction in the same mice, this hypothesis has not been tested experimentally. Here we used noninvasive high-resolution micro-ultrasonography and pathological analysis to follow the progression of antenatal hydronephrosis in individual Robo2-deficient mice from embryo to adulthood. We found that hydronephrosis progressed continuously after birth with no spontaneous resolution. With the use of a microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration, we demonstrated that antenatal hydronephrosis in Robo2-deficient mice is caused by high-grade VUR resulting from a dilated and incompetent ureterovesical junction rather than ureteral obstruction. We further documented Robo2 expression around the developing ureterovesical junction and identified early dilatation of ureteral orifice structures as a potential fetal origin of antenatal hydronephrosis and VUR. Our results thus demonstrate that Robo2 is crucial for the formation of a normal ureteral orifice and for the maintenance of an effective anti-reflux mechanism. This study also establishes a reproducible genetic mouse model of progressive antenatal hydronephrosis and primary high-grade VUR.
Do trauma centers have the capacity to respond to disasters

BACKGROUND:: Concern has been raised about the capacity of trauma centers to absorb large numbers of additional patients from mass casualty events. Our objective was to examine the capacity of current centers to handle an increased load from a mass casualty disaster. METHODS:: This was a cross-sectional study of Level I and II trauma centers. They were contacted by mail and asked to respond to questions about their surge capacity as of July 4, 2005. RESULTS:: Data were obtained from 133 centers. On July 4, 2005 there were a median of 77 beds available in Level I and 84 in Level II trauma centers. Fifteen percent of the Level I and 12.2% of the Level II centers had a census at 95% capacity or greater. In the first 6 hours, each Level I center would be able to operate on 38 patients, while each Level II center would be able to operate on 22 patients. Based on available data, there are 10 trauma centers available to an average American within 60 minutes. Given the available bed capacity, a total of 812 beds would be available within a 60-minute transport distance in a mass casualty event. CONCLUSIONS:: There is capacity to care for the number of serious non-fatally injured patients resulting from the types of mass casualties recently experienced. If there is a further continued shift of uninsured patients to and fiscally driven closure of trauma centers, the surge capacity could be severely compromised. Language: en