cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Infantile and Childhood Retinopathies: Optimized Pediatric Pars Plana Vitrectomy Sclerotomy Nomogram.

Purpose To develop a nomogram based on age and disease type for sclerotomy placement in pars plana vitrectomy for infants and children with congenital and acquired vitreoretinopathies. Design A retrospective, single-center, single-surgeon comparative case series. Participants A total of 171 eyes of 93 patients ranging in age from a postmenstrual age (PMA) of 34 weeks to a chronological age of 23 years with congenital and acquired vitreoretinopathies. Methods The corneal white-to-white diameter and the distance between the ora serrata and surgical limbus (ora-limbus distance) in the nasal, temporal, inferior, and superior quadrants were measured externally in vivo under general anesthesia prior to planned pars plana vitrectomy or laser procedure. The average ora-limbus distance of the quadrants was calculated for each eye (mean ora-limbus distance); and mean ora-limbus distance was evaluated as a function of age and compared among age-matched subjects from control and disease groups. Results were used to create a nomogram for safe sclerotomy placement based on age and disease type. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measure was distance (millimeters) from the ora serrata to the surgical limbus; a secondary measurement was corneal white-to-white distance (millimeters). Results Among all subjects, the ora-limbus distance was greatest in the superior quadrant, followed by the temporal, inferior, and nasal quadrants. A positive logarithmic relationship between ora-limbus distance and age was demonstrated in all groups. Whereas age-adjusted mean ora-limbus distances were similar among the familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and control groups, growth trends differed in patients with coloboma, persistent fetal vasculature, Stickler syndrome and/or myopia, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In ROP, when subjects Conclusions Placement of sclerotomies for pars plana vitrectomy in children requires consideration of ocular development in congenital and acquired vitreoretinopathies; we present an age-based nomogram for sclerotomy placement in infants and children based on analyses of ora-limbus distance in several pediatric ocular conditions.
Progress of novel techniques for lightweight automobile applications through innovative eco-friendly composite materials: A review:

The uncertain climatic changes-related issues in the recent times has led an apprehension for all automotive makers to develop innovative composite materials to reduce vehicle’s fuel consumption. H...
E-133 Body mass index and clinical outcomes in large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke after endovascular therapy: the obesity paradox

Background Obesity has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the general population. However, several reports have described lower mortality rates in overweight or obese patients as compared to normal weight ones. Investigations into this phenomenon, commonly described as the obesity paradox, have yielded mixed results thus far. We sought to determine whether clinical outcomes differ between patients with acute ischemic stroke after endovascular therapy according to their body mass index (BMI). Methods We reviewed our prospectively collected endovascular database at a tertiary care academic institution. All patients that underwent endovascular therapy for acute large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke were categorized according to their BMI into four groups (1) underweight (BMI 30). Baseline characteristics, procedural radiological as well as outcome parameters were compared. Results 926 patients qualified for the study, of which 20 (2.2%) were underweight, 253 (27.3%) had a normal weight, 315 (34%) were overweight and 338 (36.5%) obese. When compared with normal weight (reference) overweight patients had higher rates of dyslipidemia, as well as diabetes, higher baseline glycemic and HbA1c levels. Conversely, obese patients were younger, less often smokers, and had higher rates of hypertension, as well as diabetes and higher baseline glycemic and HbA1c levels. Procedural characteristics including baseline NIHSS and ASPECT scores were comparable between groups. In terms of outcomes, rates of successful reperfusion (mTICI 2b-3), parenchymal hematomas, 90 Day good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin scale, mRS 0–2) and 90 day mortality were comparable between BMI groups. On multivariate analysis, BMI was not associated with good outcomes nor mortality whether as a continuous variables or a categorical variable. Conclusions In stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy, BMI does not significantly impact outcomes. However, patients who are overweight or obese have more co-morbidities which should be individually addressed. Disclosures J. Grossberg: 1; C; Georgia Research Alliance. 4; C; NTI. M. Bouslama: None. D. Haussen: None. M. Frankel: None. R. Nogueira: None.
Emerging principles for health system value improvement programmes

Over recent years, hospitals have increasingly focused on improving value: outcomes achieved per dollar spent.1 Although prior efforts to address costs and overuse in healthcare date back decades,2 the modern movement in hospitals has largely progressed through overlapping stages, focused first on raising awareness and articulating the motivation for addressing costs and healthcare waste in education and care delivery.3–9 Some hospital leaders began exploring the effect of simply providing cost transparency to clinicians, with limited results.10 11 In concert with the launch of the ‘Choosing Wisely’ campaign in the USA in 2012, hospitalists led projects that largely sought to root out individual areas of overuse and ‘things we do for no reason’, ushering in a renewed emphasis on utilisation in hospitals.12 13 Now, we have begun to see results from health systems that have created organisational value improvement programmes for hospitalised patients to simultaneously address both utilisation and costs, while measuring markers of quality and ensuring favourable patient outcomes.14–16 In this issue of BMJ Quality & Safety , Horwitz and colleagues16 describe the impact of a large-scale, hospital value-based management (VBM) programme at New York University Langone Medical Center (NYU). The institution-wide programme began in April 2014 with significant investment in creating joint clinical and operational leadership, data and cost accounting capabilities, a centralised project support staff, and a shared savings programme. The model focused primarily on projects led by clinicians (with a project manager co-lead) to decrease costs across six main domains: operational efficiency, resource utilisation, supply chain management, revenue cycle, outliers (highest cost patients) and corporate services (administrative and overhead costs). Over the first 3 years of the programme, they chartered 74 total projects, and saw a significant 7.7% decrease in adjusted variable costs, without measured changes in markers of quality …
Parent-child interaction and children's learning from a coding application

Abstract Research suggests that children can learn educational concepts from well-designed applications (apps), including foundational science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts. Parents may be important for promoting children's STEM learning from touchscreen apps, as parents can help their children learn from other media. However, little research has explored how parents and children use coding apps together for learning, and whether specific parent-child interactions in these contexts promote children's learning from apps. Therefore, we observed 31 parents and their 4.5- to 5.0-year old children playing a coding app together and coded for spatial talk, question-asking, task-relevant talk, and responsiveness. Results show that parents and children engaged in high-quality interactions during coding app play, with parents and children exhibiting high responsiveness and task-relevant talk, and parents exhibiting a higher proportion of question-asking and spatial talk compared to their children. Importantly, linear regression analyses show that the dyad's ability to stay on task during the coding task predicts children's learning of coding, while question-asking was a negative predictor of children's learning. These results suggest that coding apps may be a rich context for STEM learning, and that specific parent-child interactions can scaffold their children's learning from STEM apps.
Improving Short Answer Grading Using Transformer-Based Pre-training.

Dialogue-based tutoring platforms have shown great promise in helping individual students improve mastery. Short answer grading is a crucial component of such platforms. However, generative short answer grading using the same platform for diverse disciplines and titles is a crucial challenge due to data distribution variations across domains and a frequent occurrence of non-sentential answers. Recent NLP research has introduced novel deep learning architectures such as the Transformer, which merely uses self-attention mechanisms. Pre-trained models based on the Transformer architecture have been used to produce impressive results across a range of NLP tasks. In this work, we experiment with fine-tuning a pre-trained self-attention language model, namely Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) applying it to short answer grading, and show that it produces superior results across multiple domains. On the benchmarking dataset of SemEval-2013, we report up to 10% absolute improvement in macro-average-F1 over state-of-the-art results. On our two psychology domain datasets, the fine-tuned model yields classification almost up to the human-agreement levels. Moreover, we study the effectiveness of fine-tuning as a function of the size of the task-specific labeled data, the number of training epochs, and its generalizability to cross-domain and join-domain scenarios.
Abstract 3120: The novel MEK inhibitor binimetinib decreases cell growth and induces apoptosis in AT/RT

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors are a class of malignant CNS tumors disproportionately affecting children with limited therapeutic options. Our group has previously demonstrated that the MAP kinase pathway is altered in a large proportion of these tumors and the MEK inhibitor selumetinib decreases cell growth and promotes apoptosis of AT/RT cells. One of the major drawbacks of selumetinib is its poor blood-brain barrier penetration. Binimetinib is a novel MEK inhibitor currently in pediatric phase II clinical trials for low grade glioma that is thought to have improved brain penetration. Here we demonstrate nanomolar levels of binimetinib successfully decreases cell proliferation and induces apoptosis (2-3 fold induction of cleaved Parp) in AT/RT cell lines, suggesting binimetinib could offer a potential avenue for treating these deadly tumors. Citation Format: Shubin Shahab, Jeffrey Rubens, Charles Eberhart, Eric Raabe. The novel MEK inhibitor binimetinib decreases cell growth and induces apoptosis in AT/RT [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3120.
An Assessment of the Geographic Distribution and Status of a Rare Dragonfly, Rhionaeschna mutata, at the Northwestern Edge of Its Range

Rhionaeschna mutata (Hagen) (Spatterdock Darner) is a rare North American dragonfly, most widely distributed in the eastern US. In 2009, a reproductive population was found in 2 ponds in eastern Minnesota, establishing a substantial northwestern range expansion. We assessed the geographic distribution of the Spatterdock Darner in the region to inform conservation planning for this species. Using previously defined habitat criteria, we identified potential reproductive ponds in the ecoregion with GIS. In 2015 and 2016, we used multiple methods to survey 25 ponds for Spatterdock Darner nymphs, adults, and exuviae. We found no Spatterdock Darners in the region, despite intensive survey efforts targeted at ponds that met the habitat criteria. The Spatterdock Darner may be present in this water-rich region, but was undetected by our efforts, or a local extirpation may have occurred, possibly linked to recent fish colonization in one of the original reproductive ponds.
Understanding Cancer Cell Behavior Through 3D Printed Bone Microenvironments

Cancer is a significant health problem worldwide and forms through orchestrated and highly complex biological processes. This process is mediated through biophysical and biochemical signals that develop from within the tumor microenvironment. Although two-dimensional culture systems of established breast cancer cell lines are the most widely used model for cancer biology and preclinical drug assessments, it poorly mimics the behavior of cancer cells in vivo and fails to reproduce the in vivo tumor microenvironment, and accordingly, the data it produces is not always predictive. Effective therapeutic strategies require a cost-efficient in vitro model that can more accurately resemble the in vivo tumor microenvironment, thus permitting a variety of in vitro studies. Rapid prototyping (RP) is one of the most promising techniques for designing and producing three-dimensional (3D) systems (hydrogels, scaffolds) for drug efficacy analysis, developing drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering applications. The application of 3D bioprinting in engineering a cancer cell microenvironment will be the focus of this chapter. We will describe previous model systems used to understand cancer cell behavior. In particular, bioprinting methods and strategies that emphasize recreation of a cancer microenvironment that promotes cultured cancer cells to express a more relevant phenotype will be examined. Our focus will be on the 3D bioprinted models that serve as a predictive model for understanding mechanisms leading to cancer cell metastasis, permit real-time study of cell–cell interactions, enable the analysis of growth factors and cytokine expression that supports tumor cell growth or survival, and the molecular cross-talk between tumor and stromal cells. The chapter will conclude with an assessment of the current state-of-the-art and future prospects.
РАДИКАЛЬНЫЙ БИХЕВИОРИЗМ ПРОТИВ ПРАГМАТИЗМА

Some behaviorists consider positivism to be an obsolete scientific philosophy and advocate for pragmatism or a tenet thereof, contextualism, as the appropriate philosophical world view for the study of behavior. I argue that pragmatism is just as flawed as positivism and for essentially the same reason: they both stem from the same source - British empiricism. I distinguish between empirical and empiricism, the former, the inductive experimental approach put forth by Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and exemplified in the work of B. F. Skinner; the latter, a problematic epistemology founded by John Locke (1632-1708) leading to ambiguity and confusion about the connection between sensation and material reality, and eventually to the proliferation of mentalistic/cognitive constructs that appear in the behavioral literature today. I also examine the ambivalent role of Ernst Mach’s philosophy of science, one that strongly influenced such notable scientists as Einstein and Skinner but also had the retrograde effect of establishing positivism as a school of philosophy. Finally, I argue that the term radical behaviorism should be replaced with behavioral materialism as the designation for the scientific philosophy underlying behaviorology, a philosophy that is aligned with scientific materialism, not with pragmatism or contextualism.
Advanced Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging Improves Arousal Recovery Prediction in Comatose Survivors of Cardiac Arrest (2848)

Objective: NA Background: Cardiac arrest (CA) survivors are often comatose and their arousal recovery is dependent on the extent of hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII). Long-term neurologic outcomes are variable, difficult to predict, and biased by withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) remain the gold standard for predicting arousal potential, but is not broadly available. We hypothesized that early hi-resolution MRI may help assess arousal recovery potential as predicted by electrophysiologic outcome. Design/Methods: Comatose survivors of cardiac arrest admitted to an ICU between June 2015 and January 2018 who underwent SSEP and advanced diffusion imaging were retrospectively identified. Manual rating of HII volume on 3D-FLAIR sequences and semi-automated region-of-interest (ROI) tools in MIPAV to assess DWI region intensity were used to measure HII burden. Subjects with advanced imaging sequences went through a diffusion pre-processing pipeline for evaluation of diffusion kurtosis maps. Our outcome of interest was SSEP findings classified in two prognostic categories: indeterminate (bilaterally present N20s or unilateral presence of N20s) and poor prognosis (bilaterally absent N20s). We used paired t-tests to compare presence of manually rated signal abnormality as well as voxel-based unpaired t-tests of each individual DKI image (FA, MD, MK) to compare prognostic group differences. Results: 42 consecutive CA survivors (mean age of 51.3, 31% female) were included. No significant differences were noted in baseline characteristics or clinical exam at 72 hours post-rewarming between groups. Nineteen (45%) had poor prognosis. Manual rating of FLAIR HII extent and ROI intensities did not predict SSEP status. Decreases in mean diffusivity with associated increases in mean kurtosis were found in posterior cortical white matter structures (p = 0.01). Conclusions: In comatose survivors of cardiac arrest, higher B-values and kurtosis imaging may improve the ability of quantitative diffusion MRI to accurately measure the extent and critical regions for hypoxic-ischemic injury and predict arousal recovery potential. Disclosure: Dr. Jaffa has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zhuo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Raghavan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Parikh has nothing to disclose.
Biocultural pathways linking periodontal disease expression to food insecurity, immune dysregulation, and nutrition.

Objectives In this article, we test theoretical pathways leading to and resulting from periodontal disease to better understand how periodontal disease, which is measurable in both past and present populations, integrates biocultural context and affects whole-body physiology. Methods We use data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004 and logistic and linear regressions to test pathways linking psychosocial stress to periodontal disease, and periodontal disease to serum vitamin C levels. We then use causal mediation analysis to test the role of mediating variables in these pathways (n = 1853 individuals). Results Food insecurity was positively associated with periodontal disease and negatively associated with serum counts of C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophils. Neither CRP nor neutrophils significantly mediated the relationship between food insecurity and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease was negatively associated with serum vitamin C levels and positively associated with neutrophil counts. Neutrophils may mediate the relationship between periodontal disease and vitamin C. Conclusions We identify two main findings: (a) periodontal disease contributes to and may result from immune dysregulation, particularly of neutrophils, and (b) an immune response to chronic infection such as periodontal disease is metabolically expensive for the body to maintain and likely depletes serum micronutrient levels. Both micronutrient status and serum neutrophil counts affect multiple skeletal and physiological phenotypes and thus position periodontal disease in whole-body context.
The Effectiveness of Depression Treatment for Adults with ESKD: A Systematic Review

Adults with dialysis-dependent ESKD experience higher rates of depression than the general population, yet efficacy of depression treatments in this population is not well understood. We conducted a systematic review of the benefits and harms of depression treatment in adults with ESKD. We searched multiple data sources through June 2020 for English-language, controlled trials that compared interventions for depression in adults with ESKD to another intervention, placebo, or usual care, and reported depression treatment–related outcomes. Observational studies were included for harms. Two investigators independently screened all studies using prespecified criteria. One reviewer abstracted data on study design, interventions, implementation characteristics, and outcomes, and a second reviewer provided confirmation. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality and resolved any discords through discussion or a third reviewer. Strength of evidence (SOE) was assessed and agreed upon by review-team consensus. We qualitatively analyzed the data and present syntheses in text and tables. We included 26 RCTs and three observational studies. SSRIs were the most studied type of drug and the evidence was largely insufficient. We found moderate SOE that long-term, high-dose vitamin D3 is ineffective for reducing depression severity. Cognitive behavioral therapy is more effective than (undefined) psychotherapy and placebo for depression improvement and quality of life (low SOE), and acupressure is more effective than usual care or sham acupressure in reducing depression severity (low SOE). There is limited research evaluating treatment for depression in adults with ESKD, and existing studies may not be generalizable to adults in the United States. Studies suffer from limitations related to methodologic quality or reporting. More research replicating studies of promising interventions in US populations, with larger samples, is needed. Systematic Review registry name and registration number: PROSPERO, CRD42020140227
Efficacy of Attention Bias Modification Training for Depressed Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background This study examined the efficacy of attention bias modification training (ABMT) for the treatment of depression. Methods In this randomized clinical trial, 145 adults (77% female, 62% white) with at least moderate depression severity [i.e. self-reported Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR) ⩾13] and a negative attention bias were randomized to active ABMT, sham ABMT, or assessments only. The training consisted of two in-clinic and three (brief) at-home ABMT sessions per week for 4 weeks (2224 training trials total). The pre-registered primary outcome was change in QIDS-SR. Secondary outcomes were the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRSD) and anhedonic depression and anxious arousal from the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (MASQ). Primary and secondary outcomes were administered at baseline and four weekly assessments during ABMT. Results Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that, relative to assessment-only, active ABMT significantly reduced QIDS-SR and HRSD scores by an additional 0.62 ± 0.23 (p = 0.008, d = -0.57) and 0.74 ± 0.31 (p = 0.021, d = -0.49) points per week. Similar results were observed for active v. sham ABMT: a greater symptom reduction of 0.44 ± 0.24 QIDS-SR (p = 0.067, d = -0.41) and 0.69 ± 0.32 HRSD (p = 0.033, d = -0.42) points per week. Sham ABMT did not significantly differ from the assessment-only condition. No significant differences were observed for the MASQ scales. Conclusion Depressed individuals with at least modest negative attentional bias benefitted from active ABMT.
Measuring Attitudes About Genomic Medicine: Validation of the Genomic Orientation Scale (GO Scale)

Abstract Objectives Assessing public attitudes about genomic medicine is critical for anticipating patient receptivity to clinical applications of genomics. Although scholars have highlighted the importance of assessing stakeholder opinions and views regarding advances in clinical genomics, to date there has not been a robust tool for measuring these attitudes. We designed a study to evaluate the validity of an instrument we developed for measuring attitudes about genomic medicine. Methods We used psychometric methods to validate the Genomic Orientation Scale (GO Scale). Our goal was to create an easy-to-use tool for evaluating positive and negative attitudes about genomic medicine. Results We describe the validation testing of the GO Scale in a nationally representative sample of 1536 individuals residing in the United States. We report results from convergent and divergent validity testing and Rasch modeling analysis. The study produced a 26-item scale with 2 dimensions—optimism and pessimism. Conclusions The GO Scale may be used to characterize attitudinal perspectives among patients, clinicians, and the public. The GO Scale may also be useful in evaluating shifts in attitude over time, for example, following educational interventions, which has not been feasible to date.
Secondary Crash Identification using Crowdsourced Waze User Reports

Secondary crashes are crashes that occur as a result of the nonrecurrent congestion originating from primary crashes, and always have a greater impact on safety and traffic than a single crash. A b...
A RARE CASE REPORT OF PARATESTICULAR RHABDOMYOSARCOMA IN AN ADULT PATIENT

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignancy of mesenchymal tissue origin typically occurring in childhood and adolescence, with an incidence rate of of 4.3 patients per million population per anum. Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of para-testicular origin is an infrequent condition, making up to 7% of all the cases of rhabdomyosarcoma tumors in children and adolescents. Here we describe a case of a 25 years old man with left paratesticular solid mass. He underwent left sided orchiectomy with histopathology revealing paratesticuler embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. He underwent definitive chemo-radiotherapy and orchidopexy with complete remission and is on active surveillance for 4 years.
Project Success: What is the Role of Project Team Morale and How It Can Be Boosted?

This research presents and validates a model of project team morale and its influence on project success. We operationally define morale in project-based work as a multi-faceted variable encompassi...
The Role of Gay Identity in Gay Consumers’ Evaluations of Gendered Brands

In an attempt to understand individuals’ evaluations of and reactions to products, researchers have tried to identify the influence of gender identity congruity on their perceptions (cf Allison et al.1979; Alreck et al. 1982; Gentry et al. 1977.) Following the logic of sex-role research established in psychology by such researchers as Bem (1974), past research has found that most products are perceived to have gender, and that most products have sex-typed identities as masculine or feminine (Allison et al. 1979; Alreck et al. 1982; Golden et al. 1977; Iyer and Debevec, 1986a, 1986b, 1989.) Research findings indicate the positive influence of congruency between an individuals' gender and the perceived gender of a product or brand on choice (Fry 1971; Vitz and Johnston 1965, Gentry and Doering 1977) and perceptions (Allison et al. 1979; Alreck et al.1982; Gentry and Haley 1984; Golden et al. 1977). Gender identity congruity refers to the extent to which structural correspondence is achieved between the configuration specified by a consumer’s gender schema or beliefs and the entire configuration of a gender image of a brand or product (Orth & Holanova, 2004). In this research we extend this line of research to examine the effect of gender congruity on brand evaluations of gay and lesbian consumers. Specifically, this research considers the potential “gender bending” role of gay identity in gay consumers’ evaluations of gendered brands.
Future ate: perspectives & requirements

Some of the claims that have concerned ATE related fields include: open architecture testers, the impact of contract manufacturing (outsourcing) o the approach to buying test time vs. testers, the impact of DFT in targeting “old” depreciated testers, the attractive cost vs. long term utilization of reduced feature or “DFT testers,” the role of niche instrumentation in future ATE form, the ability of ATE to provide value given that DFT works to curb the need for tester resources, whether or not the traditional ATE industry can continue to exist – if not, what could it look like and, of course, nobody likes paying for ATE
Volutin granules in Zoogloea ramigera.

Zoogloea ramigera, agram-negative bacterium foundinactivated sludge, formed volutin granules whenexcess orthophosphate wasaddedtoaphosphate-starved culture. These volutin granules werestainable byhydrogen sulfide after lead acetate treatment andextractable byN-perchloric acidbutwerenotadsorbed by activated charcoal. Theyappeared toconsist ofinorganic polyphosphate. Optimum granule formation inthearginine broth required 10gofglucose, 3mgofphosphate, and1to20mgofmagnesium perliter ofmedium. AtanMgeconcentration of 1mg/liter, verylarge granules appeared whichoften appeared tofill thecell. An excess ofglucose, orthophosphate, ormagnesium reduced granule formation. In theabsence ofsulfate, moderate granulation occurred inarginine broth before the addition ofexcess orthophosphate; granulation didnotincrease after theaddition ofphosphate. Increased useoffertilizers anddetergents has resulted inlarge amountsofphosphorus being present inourwastewaters. Thepresence ofthis element inamountsexceeding 0.5mg/liter results inbursts ofalgal growth inlakes orstreams receiving wastewater effluent fromatreatment plant (11). Activated sludge, amixture ofmanymicroorganisms, provides aneffective meansofridding wastewater ofitsorganic matterbut, underthe usual conditions oftreatment, doeslittle torelieve itofitsphosphorus content. However, workin this laboratory hasshownthatbiological phosphorus uptake fromsewagebysludge canbe
Grain Scale Crystal Plasticity Model with Slip and Microtwinning for a Third Generation Ni‐Base Disk Alloy

A relatively simple grain scale crystal plasticity model is developed for the third generation Ni-base disk superalloy ME3. The constitutive model embeds both microtwinning and octahedral and cube slip without explicitly modeling ' precipitates and matrix. The average size and volume fraction of ' precipitates as well as the average grain size and crystallographic orientation are incorporated to embed sub-grain microstructural effects. Additionally, microtwinning is incorporated to specify the slip system shearing rate contribution via an Orowan equation, with kinetics based on diffusional reordering. The constitutive model is calibrated to straincontrolled cyclic histories and constant load creep experimental data for two supersolvus microstructures at 704 ◦ C and 760 ◦ C.
Sociodemographic Characteristics of Families of Children with Down Syndrome and the Economic Impacts of Child Disability on Families

Abstract This chapter reviews the research examining the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of families of children with Down syndrome as well as how Down syndrome and other disabilities impact the economic situations of families. Two consistent demographic patterns are found. First, parents of children with Down syndrome on average are older than parents of other children. Second, families of children with Down syndrome are more likely to have social advantages in terms of parental education, income, and race/ethnicity status relative to families of children with other intellectual or developmental disabilities, consistent with a “Down syndrome advantage.” In addition, most US studies find that live-born infants with Down syndrome are more likely to be born to Hispanic parents and less likely to have a Black or African American parent than other infants. Financial impacts on families with a child with disabilities such as Down syndrome can result from high out-of-pocket expenditures and reduced parental employment and earnings. Studies differ in terms of specific results as to whether employment effects of child disability are greater among two-parent or one-parent families and whether fewer mothers of children with disabilities are in the paid work force or part-time employment is substituted for full-time employment. Reductions in maternal employment appear to be a function of the severity of the medical condition or disability and the time requirements for care. As children age, the effect of child disability on current maternal employment appears to decline, but a permanent reduction in earnings capacity and household savings can result from altered career trajectories. Many families of children with disabilities experience financial stress, in part as a result of underinsurance. Public programs, notably Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, can help to buffer the financial impact of caring for a child with a serious disability.
γ3 Gene-Disrupted Mice Selectively Deficient in the Dominant IgG Subclass Made to Bacterial Polysaccharides Undergo Normal Isotype Switching After Immunization with Polysaccharide-Protein Conjugate Vaccines

Bacterial polysaccharides (PS) are T-independent type 2 Ags that elicit restricted Ab responses of IgM and IgG3 in mice and IgM and predominantly IgG2 in humans. Immunodeficiency in the dominant IgG subclass made to PS is associated with chronic sinus and pulmonary infections with PS-encapsulated bacteria. To elucidate the biologic role of the dominant IgG subclass in the immune response to PS and to make an animal model of human IgG subclass deficiency, we generated mice with a targeted disruption of the exon encoding the CH1 domain of the gamma 3 heavy-chain constant region gene. Homozygotes had no detectable serum IgG3, and their splenocytes did not produce IgG3 after LPS stimulation. IgG3(-/-) mice immunized with PS from Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS O-side chain or Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F capsule did not produce any IgG3 anti-PS Abs, in contrast to wild-type mice in which IgG3 was the major IgG subclass. Immunizing both wild-type and IgG3(-/-) mice with 19F PS-protein conjugate elicited IgG1 Abs. We conclude that IgG3(-/-) mice have a selective deficiency in the dominant murine IgG subclass made to T-independent type 2 Ags and may be a useful animal model of IgG subclass deficiency. In addition, we show that the anti-PS Ab class switching to IgG1 that occurs when mice are immunized with a PS-protein conjugate vaccine does not require sequential Ig expression or an intact, upstream gamma 3 heavy-chain gene.
Time and cost-efficient modeling and generation of large-scale TPCC/TPCE/TPCH workloads

Large-scale TPC workloads are critical for the evaluation of datacenter-scale storage systems. However, these workloads have not been previously characterized, in-depth, and modeled in a DC environment. In this work, we categorize the TPC workloads into storage threads that have unique features and characterize the storage activity of TPCC, TPCE and TPCH based on I/O traces from real server installations. We also propose a framework for modeling and generation of large-scale TPC workloads, which allows us to conduct a wide spectrum of storage experiments without requiring knowledge on the structure of the application or the overhead of fully deploying it in different storage configurations. Using our framework, we eliminate the time for TPC setup and reduce the time for experiments by two orders of magnitude, due to the compression in storage activity enforced by the model. We demonstrate the accuracy of the model and the applicability of our method to significant datacenter storage challenges, including identification of early disk errors, and SSD caching.
Playing tennis with the cerebellum.

A functional imaging study in which subjects tracked different targets with eye movements and a joystick provides evidence that the cerebellum is involved in eye–hand coordination. The data suggest that internal models used for motor control may also be involved in cognition.
Determinants of Responsiveness to 5-Fluorouridine in Transplantable Murine Leukemias

The antineoplastic agent 5-fluorouridine was therapeutically effective against only the murine leukemias which contained low levels of uridine phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.3). In such cell lines, degradation of 5-fluorouridine to 5-fluorouracil by uridine phosphorylase was insignificant. The selective toxicity of 5-fluorouridine was enhanced by this enzymatic deletion, since degradation to the less potent 5-fluorouracil is thereby prevented. 5-Fluorouridine, unlike 5-fluorouracil, is highly toxic to the host. Resistance to fluorouridine was characterized by the deletion of uridine kinase (EC 2.7.1.48), not by barriers to transport. On a molar basis, fluorouridine was more than 50 times as effective as fluorouracil in the inhibition of deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA by Leukemia P388 cells.
Rural Nursing in Africa: Acts of Mercy

This summer provided a chance to go to Uganda to serve a community by providing screening and simple interventional care. Community service is not an unfamiliar experience of this acute care nurse because colleagues at The University of Alabama, church fellowship, and Greater Birmingham Nursing chapter are active in efforts to address healthcare disparity in the United States. However, this journey into international community needs engaged not only nursing expertise, but also misconceptions about global health needs. Working alongside nineteen colleagues was a moment to make a difference. Friends have asked “How were you changed by this time in another part of the world?” The following paragraphs are three stories that explain some of the paradigm shifts that occurred.
A Means of Establishing and Justifying Binary Ethanol/Water Mixtures as Simulating Solvents in Extractables Studies.

Ethanol/water mixtures are frequently used as simulating solvents in extractables studies. However, the basis for determining and justifying the right ethanol proportion in a simulating solvent for a particular drug product or solution has not been previously established. A solvent strength model has been developed in this study, based on the correlation between the levels of a model compound, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), extracted from a reference source material, plasticized poly-(vinyl chloride) (PVC) resin, and the proportion of ethanol in ethanol/water extractions solvents. This model was established by experimentally investigating DEHP leaching and takes the form: If the level of DEHP extracted from the standard source PVC resin by a drug product is measured, then the level can be input into the above equation and the proper ethanol content of the appropriate simulating solvent can be determined. The model has been applied to certain drug products and additives used in drug products, and the proper ethanol/simulating solvents for these products have been established. Additionally, the leaching behavior revealed in this study has been established to be consistent with previously published research and a mechanism for the observed behavior has been proposed. LAY ABSTRACT: Although ethanol/water mixtures are frequently used as simulating solvents in extractables studies, it is difficult to establish and justify what the right proportion of ethanol is for a particular drug product. A solvent strength model has been developed based on the leaching behavior of a model compound, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), from a reference source material, plasticized poly-(vinyl chloride) (PVC). By measuring the level of DEHP leached into a drug product from the reference source material, one can use the model to calculate the correct ethanol proportion in the simulating solvent. Using this approach, ethanol/water proportions have been obtained for certain drug products. Additionally, the leaching profiles for DEHP obtained in this study were noted to be consistent with such profiles for other extractables from the PVC reference source material and with other investigations of ethanol/water as model stimulants.
A polarization-independent athermal electro-optic bulk modulator using a unique sandwich configuration

In this paper, a unique polarization-independent athermal electro-optic modulator using lithium niobate (LiNbO3) and/or lithium tantalite (LiTaO3) crystals is presented. The modulator uses a unique sandwich configuration, in which a pair of lithium niobate crystals are bonded together and an embedded electrode is sandwiched in between them. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 36: 157–160, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10707
Student Achievement and Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior: Hand Raising.

Workbook reading achievement of five second-grade girls was assessed under two teacher-contact contingencies. Under one contingency, teacher contacts were made during on-task behavior. Under the other contingency, differential reinforcement of an incompatible behavior (DRI) was in effect, with teacher contacts contingent on students' hand-raising behavior. Both reading achievement and time on task were greater under the on-task contingency than under DRI for hand raising.
Measurements of the electronic transition moment of the A 2 Pi-X 2 Pi system of ClO

The electronic transition moment of the A 2 Pi-X 2 Pi band system of ClO has been determined from spectral emission measurements behind incident shock waves in Cl2-O2 mixtures. The temperature of the radiating gas was typically 3500 K. Narrow bandpass radiometers were used to obtain absolute measurements of the ClO emission from which electronic transition moments were derived by a synthetic spectrum analysis. Absolute measurements of the O2 Schumann-Runge system and the photo-dissociation cross section of ClO are also reported.
Target-Independent Specification of Proprioceptive Sensory Neurons

Previous studies in the chick embryo have shown that sensory neurons fail to innervate muscle in the absence of motor neurons. Instead, motor neuron deletion causes more sensory axons to project to the skin. We used this experimental paradigm to determine when sensory neurons are specified to become proprioceptive afferents. Experimental embryos were treated with either saline or exogenous neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) to promote the survival of proprioceptive afferents. In saline-treated embryos, motor neuron deletion caused an increase in sensory neuron apoptosis on the deleted side, an effect reversed by NT3. Motor neuron deletion also eliminated the sartorious muscle nerve, as previously reported. In NT3-treated embryos, this altered nerve pattern was accompanied by the enlargement of the adjacent cutaneous nerve. These embryos were further analyzed by using immunohistochemistry for trkC (a receptor for NT3) retrograde and transganglionic labeling. Our results show that, following motor neuron deletion, more trkC+ afferents project in cutaneous nerves on the deleted side of NT3-treated embryos. Transganglionic labeling demonstrated that at least some of these neurons made spinal projections that are typical of proprioceptive afferents. These results therefore indicate that the proprioceptive phenotype is specified prior to target innervation and that these neurons can retain their identity despite projecting to inappropriate (cutaneous) targets.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA: PHOTOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM TO DYNAMIC AND STATIC IRRADIANCES

The kinetics of xanthophyll-cycle pigment switching and fluorescence quenching dynamics in the marine diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum were determined in the context of dynamic and static growth light. Cultures were grown in a modified photobioreactor capable of producing dynamic light fields which exhibited attenuation characteristics similar to that of water; these cultures were pre-acclimated to high and low, static and dynamic, growth-light regimes for at least three days, and then examined under high, static and dynamic light. Pigment pools varied markedly. The two static light cultures had pigment complements that were very similar to “traditional” high and low-light static cultures. The dynamic-light grown cultures had pigment complements, which were very similar to each other but different from the static-grown cultures. The maximum xanthophyll-cycle pigment de-epoxidation state attainable under saturating light was equal for all four treatments. Induction of fluorescence quenching was significantly faster in the static-grown cultures, while xanthophyll-cycle de-epoxidation rates did not show as much variation. Minimum irradiances for xanthophyll-cycle induction were correlated to average growth irradiance. Taken as a whole, the results from this work suggest that dynamic light-grown phytoplankton have a unique photosynthetic functionality that is different from static light-grown phytoplankton. The significance of these observations in the context of realistic light fields, and the photosynthetic response capabilities of algae grown under them will be discussed.
Polyphyletic Emergence of Linezolid-Resistant Staphylococci in the United States

Since the year 2000, linezolid has been used in the United States to treat infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant Gram-positive cocci. At present, linezolid-resistant (Linr) Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains are rare and the diversity of their genetic backgrounds is unknown. We performed sequence-based strain typing and resistance gene characterization of 46 Linr isolates that were collected from local and national sources between the years 2004 and 2007. Resistance was found to occur in at least three clonal complexes (CCs; lineages) of S. aureus and in at least four subclusters of a predominant, phylogenetically unstable CC of S. epidermidis. New candidate resistance mutations in 23S rRNA and the L4 riboprotein were identified among the S. epidermidis isolates. These findings suggest that linezolid resistance has emerged independently in multiple clones of S. aureus and with a variety of ribosomal mutations in multiple clones of S. epidermidis.
Solutions of half-space and half-plane contact problems based on surface elasticity

Analytical solutions for the problems of an elastic half-space and an elastic half-plane subjected to a distributed normal force are derived in a unified manner using the general form of the linearized surface elasticity theory of Gurtin and Murdoch. The Papkovitch–Neuber potential functions, Fourier transforms and Bessel functions are utilized in the formulation. The newly obtained solutions are general and reduce to the solutions for the half-space and half-plane contact problems based on classical linear elasticity when the surface effects are not considered. Also, existing solutions for the half-space and half-plane contact problems based on simplified versions of Gurtin and Murdoch’s surface elasticity theory are recovered as special cases of the current solutions. By applying the new solutions directly, Boussinesq’s flat-ended punch problem, Hertz’s spherical punch problem and a conical punch problem are solved, which lead to depth-dependent hardness formulas different from those based on classical elasticity. The numerical results reveal that smoother elastic fields and smaller displacements are predicted by the current solutions than those given by the classical elasticity-based solutions. Also, it is shown that the out-of-plane displacement and stress components strongly depend on the residual surface stress. In addition, it is found that the new solutions based on the surface elasticity theory predict larger values of the indentation hardness than the solutions based on classical elasticity.