cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation: Policy Update and the Challenges Ahead

Institution of a Simultaneous Liver Kidney (SLK) policy by the OPTN in 2016 represented the culmination of more than a decade of consensus conferences, public comments, and inter-society cooperation. The debates produced a multi-tiered proposal that established medical eligibility criteria for kidney allocation, a requirement for the regional sharing of a kidney to a MELD 35 medical eligible candidate and creation of a safety net for patients receiving a liver-alone transplant with subsequent kidney failure within the first post transplant year. The stratifications and alterations represented the first time that eligibility requirements have been instituted for allocating a multi-organ combination that is not tracked by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). The provisions for reporting and follow-up of the allocation alteration have been identified and will be reported at regular intervals to the OPTN for public release. Although there are multiple interventions to limit the kidney utilization to those candidates with true medical necessity, it is unknown how this will impact the overall distribution of the kidneys, especially with the safety net now being offered to candidates that would not have met medical eligibility at the time of their transplant. As SLK comprises over 10% of all liver transplants, the requirement change may be significant and would hopefully result in the more efficient use of kidneys without a negative impact on patient survival. Although utilization would be much better monitored, the outcome measures would still be lacking. Even with this landmark change, review of the allocation process that presently favors allocating a kidney to a multi-organ transplant before allocation to a kidney-alone recipient is examined, especially as the prioritization affects pediatric candidates. It is hoped that advancements in this area would bring allocation policies into greater alignment with the intentions of the Final Rule legislation.
Patient-specific optimization of mechanical ventilation for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome using quasi-static pulmonary P-V data

Abstract Quasi-static, pulmonary pressure-volume (P-V) curves were combined with a respiratory system model to analyze tidal pressure cycles, simulating mechanical ventilation of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Two important quantities including 1) tidal recruited volume and 2) tidal hyperinflated volume were analytically computed by integrating the distribution of alveolar elements over the affected pop-open pressure range. We analytically predicted the tidal recruited volume of four canine subjects and compared our results with similar experimental measurements on canine models for the validation. We then applied our mathematical model to the P-V data of ARDS populations in four stages of Early ARDS, Deep Knee, Advanced ARDS and Baby Lung to quantify the tidal recruited volume and tidal hyperinflated volume as an indicator of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). These quantitative predictions based on patient-specific P-V data suggest that the optimum parameters of mechanical ventilation including PEEP and Tidal Pressure (Volume) are largely varying among ARDS population and are primarily influenced by the degree in the severity of ARDS.
Estrogen Receptor Induced DNA Bending

We have examined the ability of the full-length estrogen receptor (ER) and the purified estrogen receptor DNA binding domain to bend DNA on binding to estrogen response element (ERE). Purified ER DNA binding domain (DBD) expressed in E. coli, crude human ER expressed in MCF-7 cells, and partially purified human ER expressed in yeast, bound specifically to a series of circularly permuted ERE-containing DNA fragments. Binding of ER to a single ERE induced a reproducible DNA bend of 56°. This was 1.65 fold greater than the 34° bending angle induced by binding of the ER DNA binding domain. The DNA bending angle induced was the same whether the salt-extracted receptor was unoccupied, occupied by 17β-estradiol, or occupied by trans-hydroxytamoxifen. To determine if proteins associated with ER in MCF-7 cells affect the degree of bending, we examined the ability of partially purified human ER, expressed in yeast, to bend DNA. The degree of bending induced by the partially purified yeast ER, and by the crude MCF-7 cell ER, was the same. When two EREs were present in the DNA fragment, 1.2 and 1.55 fold increases in DNA bending were observed for the full-length ER, and for the ER DNA binding domain, respectively. Our demonstration that binding of human estrogen receptor to the ERE induces DNA bending suggests a role for DNA bending in ER-induced transcription activation.
Probing disorder in pyrochlore oxides using in situ synchrotron diffraction from levitated solids-A thermodynamic perspective.

Pyrochlore, an ordered derivative of the defect fluorite structure, shows complex disordering behavior as a function of composition, temperature, pressure, and radiation damage. We propose a thermodynamic model to calculate the disordering enthalpies for several RE2Zr2O7 (RE = Sm, Eu, Gd) pyrochlores from experimental site distribution data obtained by in situ high temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Site occupancies show a gradual increase in disorder on both cation and anion sublattices with increasing temperature and even greater disorder is achieved close to the phase transition to defect fluorite. The enthalpy associated with cation disorder depends on the radius of the rare earth ion, while the enthalpy of oxygen disordering is relatively constant for different compositions. The experimental data support trends predicted by ab initio calculations, but the obtained enthalpies of disordering are less endothermic than the predicted values. Thermal expansion coefficients are in the range (8.6-10.8) × 10-6 K-1. These new experimental determinations of defect formation energies are important for understanding the stability of pyrochlore oxides and their disordering mechanisms, which are essential in the context of their potential applications in nuclear waste management and other technologies.
Stapling of two PEGylated side chains increases the conformational stability of the WW domain via an entropic effect

Hydrocarbon stapling and PEGylation are distinct strategies for enhancing the conformational stability and/or pharmacokinetic properties of peptide and protein drugs. Here we combine these approaches by incorporating asparagine-linked O-allyl PEG oligomers at two positions within the β-sheet protein WW, followed by stapling of the PEGs via olefin metathesis. The impact of stapling two sites that are close in primary sequence is small relative to the impact of PEGylation alone and depends strongly on PEG length. In contrast, stapling of two PEGs that are far apart in primary sequence but close in tertiary structure provides substantially more stabilization, derived mostly from an entropic effect. Comparison of PEGylation + stapling vs. alkylation + stapling at the same positions in WW reveals that both approaches provide similar overall levels of conformational stability.
Rh(I)-catalyzed ring opening of an IMDAF-derived oxabicyclo cycloadduct as the key step in the synthesis of (+/-)-epi-zephyranthine.

A new strategy for epi-zephyranthine has been developed that is based in part on an extraordinarily facile intramolecular Diels−Alder reaction of a 2-imido-substituted furan. By using a Rh(I)-catalyzed ring opening of the resulting oxabicyclic adduct, the cis-diol stereochemistry of epi-zephyranthine was established.
Assessing the Reliability and Validity of a Brief Measure of Caregiver Quality of Life.

Abstract Context There is a need for brief measurement instruments that do not cause burden to hospice caregivers. The Caregiver Quality of Life Index (CQLI) has been used in several studies, but assessment of its psychometric properties has been minimal. The CQLI-R (revised) instrument was found to have equivalent properties but also has had minimal testing in small samples. Objective This study sought to evaluate the reliability and validity of the CQLI-R. Methods Data were used from three hospice clinical trials. Reliability was assessed using test-retest and an item analysis. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing items to similar items within the same data set. Results Test-rest and item analysis found moderate-to-good reliability. Construct validity found significance in comparison of CQLI-R items with those of similar instruments. Conclusions The CQLI-R is an easy-to-use instrument to assess caregiver quality of life. Despite adequate reliability and construct validity, further evidence is needed to support content validity.
Does fracture obliquity in Weber B fibula fractures correlate with mortise instability

Abstract Background The diagnosis of instability in the apparent, isolated distal fibula fracture can be challenging and often necessitates stress radiography. Danis & Weber classified lateral malleolar fractures based on the level of the fracture in relation to the syndesmosis. While Weber B fractures occur at the level of the syndesmosis, some such injuries present with a long, oblique pattern extending well above the syndesmosis. Given the well-established literature demonstrating that fractures above the syndesmosis correlate with a higher level of concomitant syndesmotic and deltoid ligament injury, we hypothesize that increased fracture obliquity, length and height of Weber B fibula fractures similarly correlates with increased mortise instability. Methods All patients with isolated Weber B fibula fractures who underwent gravity stress radiography met inclusion criteria. Fracture height was measured on mortise radiographs as: (1) the distance from the distal tip of the fibula to fracture apex, (2) the distance to the fracture apex as measured on a line drawn perpendicular to a line parallel to the plafond, (3) an angle subtended by a line drawn parallel to the plafond and a line drawn to the fracture apex and (4) a ratio of the absolute length as compared to fibular width. Results 51 patients were included in the study. The group of 39 patients with stable ankles had a mean medial clear space of 3.12 ± 0.65 mm (range, 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm). The group of 12 patients with unstable ankles had a mean medial clear space of 6.29 ± 3.11 mm (range, 4.1 mm to 14.0 mm). These groups showed no significant difference in fracture angle (p = 0.93), fracture height from plafond (p = 0.49), fracture height from tip of fibula (p = 0.42), and as a ratio of absolute length to fibular width (p = 0.85). Conclusion Increased fracture obliquity, length and height of Weber B fibula fractures did not correlate with a higher incidence of mortise instability. Despite the lack of positive correlation, future studies should continue to investigate and identify radiographic parameters of distal fibula fractures that are most predictive of instability.
A Hamilton-Jacobi Equation for Evaluating EEMI Propagation in a Computing System

In this paper, we present a theoretical framework for modeling the empirically observed cascading of software failures on a complicated computing system exposed to extreme electromagnetic interference (EEMI). Our approach is to treat the temporal evolution of the electromagnetic coupling and the resultant cascading series of electromagnetic-induced faults as the “flow” in a dynamic fluid-mechanical system and thereby utilize aspects of the Navier Stokes and Hamilton-Jacobi equations to predict the rate of this flow. Therefore, inspired by the concepts of fluid dynamics [1], we include a diffusion term in the Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs (HJI) equation. We have considered two approaches. In one we apply a Taylor expansion to the optimality principle and consider additional terms; in the other scenario, we simply add a diffusion term in the form of a Laplacian applied to the cost function $H(\mathbf{x},\ldots)$ and some constant $\mathbf{c}$ , as it is present in the Navier-Stokes equation for incompressible flow. We provide numerical comparisons for both approaches with respect to the original HJI equation where the dynamical vector field corresponds to analytical models of a NOR logic gate. This model is a second-order differential equation that describes the behavior of the gate that incorporates a new term accounting for EEMI injection.
Supercritical fluid-assisted crystallization of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite films

Abstract Crystallization of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite films was performed in supercritical carbon dioxide with and without organic cosolvents. Post deposition crystallization of the films was performed in a binary, single phase supercritical fluid at constant conditions (45 ℃ , 1200 psi) but with varying cosolvent volume fractions up to 2 %. Organic cosolvents with varying polarity, propensity for hydrogen bonding and strength of solvation were used and the resulting perovskite film morphology, crystal structure and optical absorption spectra were measured. It was determined that the cosolvents can provide selective interactions with one or both of the perovskite precursor compounds resulting in different film morphologies ranging from uniform films containing large grains to films exhibiting large cubic or hexagonal crystals or preferential crystallographic orientations. The use of supercritical fluids to enhance or tune crystallization in solid-state thin films could have broad applications toward the realization of high efficiency photovoltaic devices.
Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly of Coil–Comb-Shaped Polypeptoid Block Copolymers: Solution Morphology and Self-Assembly Pathways

Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) of amphiphilic polymers into well-defined nanoscopic structures with different morphologies and functionalities has attracted increasing attention. Here,...
The University of Illinois Band Clinics 1930–1954:

The purpose of this study was to trace the development and growth of the University of Illinois Band Clinics during their twenty-five-year history (1930–1954). Founded by A. Austin Harding, Directo...
Evidence for electron-tunneling-limited Knudsen diffusion of mercury in phosphor layers and coatings of fluorescent lamps

Recent experimental studies and modelling of the mercury loss (i.e. the mercury consumption) in fluorescent lamps yield diffusion coefficients of mobile mercury in phosphor layers and coatings, which are several orders of magnitude smaller than expected for a gas diffusion in a situation in which the mean free path of the diffusing particles is restricted by the pore radius in those materials (Knudsen diffusion). In the present work it is shown that the transition of mercury ions from the plasma to the Knudsen diffusion regime may be one reason for this observation. Another possibility is that only discharged ions from the plasma form the mercury oxide as which mercury is deposited in the phosphor layer and coating, from the investigation of which the diffusion coefficient of mobile mercury is concluded by fitting the model to the experiment.
On the equations ϕ(n) = ϕ(n + k) and ϕ(p − 1) = ϕ(q − 1)

We prove that there exists positive even integer k such that ϕ(n) = ϕ(n + k) holds for infinitely many n. We also prove various estimates on number of solutions to ϕ(p − 1) = ϕ(q − 1) for distinct ...
Diabetes education in pediatrics: How to survive diabetes

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is the most common abnormal carbohydrate metabolism disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by hyperglycemia as a result of s-cell destruction or dysfunction by both genetic and environmental factors. Over time chronic hyperglycemia leads to microvascular (i.e., retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) and macrovascular (i.e., ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease) complications of diabetes. Diabetes complication trials showed the importance of achieving near-normal glycemic control to prevent and/or reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. There is a staggering rate of increased incidence of diabetes in youth, raising concerns for future generations’ health, quality of life and its enormous economic burden. Despite advancements in the technology, diabetes management remains cumbersome. Training individuals with diabetes to gain life-long survival skills requires a comprehensive and ongoing diabetes education by a multidisciplinary team. Diabetes education and training start at the time of diagnosis of diabetes and should be continuous throughout the course of disease. The goal is to empower the individuals and families to gain diabetes self-management skills. Diabetes education must be individualized depending on the individual's age, education, family dynamics, and support. In this article, we review the history of diabetes, etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children as well as adolescents. We then focus on diabetes management with education methods and materials.
CT-derived sarcopenia should not preclude surgical stabilization of traumatic rib fractures

Rib fractures are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) can be performed to mitigate complications. Sarcopenia is in general known to be associated with poor clinical outcomes. We investigated if sarcopenia impacted number of days of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and total hospital stay in patients who underwent SSRF. A retrospective single institutional review was performed including patients who underwent SSRF (2009–2017). Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was semiautomatically calculated at the L3 spinal level on computed tomography (CT) images and normalized by patient height. Sarcopenia was defined as SMI < 55 cm2/m2 in males and < 39 cm2/m2 in females. Demographics, operative details, and postoperative outcomes were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Of 238 patients, 88 (36.9%) had sarcopenia. There was no significant difference in number of days of mechanical ventilation (2.8 ± 4.9 versus 3.1 ± 4.3, p = 0.304), ICU stay (5.9 ± 6.5 versus 4.9 ± 5.7 days, p = 0.146), or total hospital stay (13.3 ± 7.2 versus 12.9 ± 8.2 days, p = 0.183) between sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic patients. Sarcopenic patients demonstrated increased modified frailty index scores (1.5 ± 1.1 versus 0.9 ± 0.9, p < 0.001) compared to nonsarcopenic patients. For patients who underwent SSRF for rib fractures, sarcopenia did not increase the number of days of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, or total hospital stay. Sarcopenia should not preclude the utilization of SSRF in these patients.
Tech Talent Crisis? The Impact of IT Human Capital and Decision-Making Authority on IT Project Performance

The continuing problem of the poor performance of IT projects could be exacerbated by the tech talent crisis that organizations are facing. Most of the prior research on IT project management at the organizational level has focused on maturity in organization-wide processes, such as the Capability Maturity Model Integration. To the best of our knowledge, however, prior literature has largely overlooked the role of IT employees’ human capital or decision-making authority in project management. This research aims to investigate how human capital and decision-making authority affect the time and cost performance of IT projects. Drawing upon diverse literature on human and social capital, we hypothesize the effect of IT employees’ education attainment, context-specific work experience, external work experience, and decision-making authority on IT project performance. We test our hypotheses with the U.S. federal government data obtained from multiple sources. We find that context-specific work experience measured by tenure is associated with lower time and cost overruns. Further, external work experience outside the federal government improves project time performance. We also find that the decision-making authority level of IT professionals in the federal government enhances IT project performance. Finally, the educational attainment levels of IT employees are found to be significantly associated with improved project performance. We discuss the implications of the findings for theory and practice.
FGGY carbohydrate kinase domain containing is expressed and alternatively spliced in skeletal muscle and attenuates MAP kinase and Akt signaling

Abstract Skeletal muscle atrophy can result from a range of physiological conditions, including denervation, immobilization, hindlimb unweighting, and aging. To better characterize the molecular genetic events of atrophy, a microarray analysis revealed that FGGY carbohydrate kinase domain containing (Fggy) is expressed in skeletal muscle and is induced in response to denervation. Bioinformatic analysis of the Fggy gene locus revealed two validated isoforms with alternative transcription initiation sites that we have designated Fggy-L-552 and Fggy-S-387. Additionally, we cloned two novel alternative splice variants, designated Fggy-L-482 and Fggy-S-344, from cultured muscle cells suggesting that at least four Fggy splice variants are expressed in skeletal muscle. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed using RNA isolated from muscle cells and primers designed to distinguish the four alternative Fggy transcripts and found that the Fggy-L transcripts are more highly expressed during myoblast differentiation, while the Fggy-S transcripts show relatively stable expression in proliferating myoblasts and differentiated myotubes. Confocal fluorescent microscopy revealed that the Fggy-L variants appear to localize evenly throughout the cytoplasm, while the Fggy-S variants produce a more punctuate cytoplasmic localization pattern in proliferating muscle cells. Finally, ectopic expression of Fggy-L-552 and Fggy-S-387 resulted in inhibition of muscle cell differentiation and attenuation of the MAP kinase and Akt signaling pathways. The identification and characterization of novel genes such as Fggy helps to improve our understanding of the molecular and cellular events that lead to atrophy and may eventually result in the identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of muscle wasting.
Representation and Reconstruction of Image-Based Structural Patterns of Glaucomatous Defects Using only Two Latent Variables from a Variational Autoencoder

Glaucoma can result in both diffuse and regional patterns of retinal neuron loss due to damage to their axons at the optic nerve head. However, most quantitative estimates of glaucomatous progression use a global average and do not capture underlying spatial patterns. Motivated by the need for quantitative methods for describing and visualizing the spatial patterns of neuron loss in glaucoma, we evaluate the feasibility of spatial modeling of macular ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness maps using a deep learning variational autoencoder (VAE). More specifically, after training from optical coherence tomography based mGCIPL thickness maps of glaucoma and normal subjects, our VAE model was able to (1) succinctly represent the pattern of mGCIPL thickness maps with only two latent variables (using the encoder part of the VAE), and (2) reconstruct individual mGCIPL thickness maps given just two latent variable values. Based on evaluation of reconstruction errors on the mGCIPL thickness maps from an independent testing set of glaucoma and normal eyes, our results demonstrate the promise of the VAE model for a succinct representation of patterns of glaucomatous damage as well as use of the latent space for visualizing these patterns.
Social support and outcomes in older adults with lung cancer.

Background Insufficient social support is associated with increased mortality among older adults. Lung cancer is primarily a disease of older adults and is the leading cause of all cancer deaths. We assessed the association of social support with outcomes among older adults with lung cancer. Materials and methods Adults age 65 and older with lung cancer with a completed geriatric assessment (GA) were assessed. Emotional social support (ES) and tangible (material, instrumental) support (TS) measures and patient characteristics were obtained from the GA. The electronic health record was used to extract clinical variables. Simple linear regression models evaluated the association between social support scales with patient and clinical factors. Results 79 adults were assessed. White race was positively associated with ES score (p=.04), while higher BMI (p=.03), depression (p=.03) and anxiety (p=.02) were associated with worse ES. Higher BMI was associated with higher/better TS score (p=.02) while living alone was associated with lower/worse TS score (p=.03). Completion of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy with immunotherapy as planned was associated with higher ES scores (p=.02) and higher TS scores (p=.02). Disease progression was associated with lower ES scores (p=.03). Conclusion Social support may influence clinical outcomes in older adults with lung cancer. As lung cancer often portends to poor prognosis, social support may be an important prognostic indicator.
High density microwave packaging program

Although the HDMP program has limited financial resources, it is expected to result in considerable progress toward development of advanced T/R module and multi-chip assembly manufacturing procedures that are low cost but provide high quality performance. The manufacturing processes being developed are applicable to DoD phased array radar implementations as well as to a number of potential commercial applications such as transmission of entertainment to aircraft from satellite sources. In the future, programs such as the new Microwave and Analog Front End Technology (MAFET) program will augment the efforts begun under HDMP funding to provide additional computer aided design resources and to extend the development, assembly, and test of advanced MCAs to other frequency ranges and other applications. >
Outcome Prediction in Chest Injury by a Mathematical Search and Display Program

Objective This study applies a stochastic or probability search and display model to prospectively predict outcome and to evaluate therapeutic effects in a consecutively monitored series of 396 patients with severe thoracic and thoracoabdominal injuries. Study design Prospective observational study of outcome prediction using noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring by previously designed protocols and tested against actual outcome at hospital discharge in a level 1 trauma service of a university-run, inner-city public hospital. Methods Cardiac index (CI), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (Spo 2 ), transcutaneous oxygen tension (Ptco 2 ), and transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (Ptcco 2 ) were monitored beginning shortly after admission to the emergency department. The stochastic search and display model with a decision support program based on noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring was applied to 396 severely ill patients with major thoracic and thoracoabdominal trauma. The survival probability (SP) was calculated during initial resuscitation continuously until patients were stabilized, and compared with the actual outcome when the patient was discharged from the hospital usually a week or more later. Results The CI, Spo 2 , Ptco 2 , and MAP were appreciably higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors. HR and Ptcco 2 were higher in the nonsurvivors. The calculated SP in the first 24-h observation period of survivors of chest wounds averaged 83 ± 18% (± SD) and 62 ± 19% for nonsurvivors. Misclassifications were 9.6%. The relative effects of alternative therapies were evaluated before and after therapy, using hemodynamic monitoring and SP as criteria. Conclusions Noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring with an information system provided a feasible approach to early outcome predictions and therapeutic decision support.
Confidentiality for Multithreaded Programs via Bisimulation

Bisimulation has been a popular foundation for characterizing the confidentiality properties of concurrent programs. However, because a variety of bisimulation definitions are available in the literature, it is often difficult to pin down the “right” definition for modeling a particular attacker. Focusing on timing- and probability-sensitive confidentiality for shared-memory multithreaded programs, we clarify the relation between different kinds of bisimulation by proving inclusion results. As a consequence, we derive the relationship between scheduler-specific, scheduler-independent, and strong confidentiality definitions. A key result justifying strong confidentiality is that it is the most accurate (largest) compositional indistinguishability-based confidentiality property that implies scheduler-independent confidentiality.
RIP1 comes back to life as a cell death regulator in TNFR1 signaling

Cell death induction by tumor necrosis factor has been an intensively studied area for the last two decades. Although it may appear that the skeleton should have been picked clean by now, new secrets about tumor necrosis factor death signaling are still being uncovered. In particular, the recent evidence that ubiquitination of the death kinase receptor-interacting protein 1 regulates its participation in apoptotic and necrotic cell death is opening up unexplored avenues in the catacombs of tumor necrosis factor death signaling. In this minireview, we focus on two major cell-death checkpoints that determine whether receptor-interacting protein 1 functions as a pro-survival or pro-death molecule.
Evaluating strategies for inclusion of environmental literacy in the elementary school classroom

Although elementary school may be a prime stage for building environmental literacy, elementary school teachers face significant barriers to including it in their instruction. Several studies have identified teachers’ limited ecological science content knowledge and heavy emphasis on state standards and testing as common constraints to environmental literacy instruction. However, few of these studies have measured actual (versus perceived) ecological knowledge or focused on how teachers are successful in including environmental literacy instruction despite constraints of standards and testing. The present exploratory study surveyed 627 randomly selected elementary school teachers in North Carolina to begin addressing this gap. We found ecological knowledge levels were high (89.9% average score). Lack of instructional time was the most oft-listed barrier to environmental literacy instruction (76.7%), followed by lack of resources (53.4%), whereas lack of content knowledge was rarely mentioned (21.6%). Respondents identified access to environmental literacy-related lesson plans, activities that integrate children’s literature, and access to and training in published environmental education curricula as the resources needed to be more successful in inclusion of environmental literacy concepts in the elementary school classroom. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kathryn Stevenson, Jordan 4125,
Squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil managed by conventional surgery and postoperative radiation

Background The purpose of this study was to report the long-term outcome of patients with squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the tonsil managed by surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Methods Eighty-eight patients treated between 1985 and 2005 were analyzed. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were determined by the Kaplan–Meier method. Factors predictive of outcome were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Forty-eight percent of patients had T3 to T4 disease and 75% had a positive neck. Five-year OS, DSS, and RFS were 66%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. The status of the neck was not predictive of outcome (DSS 80% for N0 vs 82% for N+; p = .97). Lymphovascular invasion was an independent predictor of OS, DSS, and RFS on multivariate analysis. Conclusion Lymphovascular invasion but not pathological stage of the neck is an independent predictor of outcome in patients with tonsillar SCC. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 800–807, 2015
Expected white blood cell counts and differentials in a rat model of peritoneal dialysis.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to establish baseline dialysate white blood cell (WBC) counts and differentials in noninfected rats on peritoneal dialysis (PO).DesignSixteen male Sprague-Oaw...
Toward a deliberative standard: rethinking participation in policymaking

In contrast to communitarian and pluralist approaches to participation, the following article develops a deliberative model of participation in rulemaking at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This deliberative model is distinguished by its concern for the emergence of publics and for the speaking and listening capacities of policymakers and publics alike. The model focuses both on spaces for collective discussion as well as translation between sites of discussion. Embracing a complex view of civil society, and stressing the principle of inclusion, a deliberative model corresponds to a form of legitimacy that extends beyond the boundaries of conventional administrative procedure.
Immune Cell Phenotyping Using Flow Cytometry

Fluorescent immunophenotyping uses fluorescently-conjugated antibodies to identify, characterize and quantify distinct subpopulations of cells within heterogeneous single-cell populations, either in the context of tissue (using fluorescence and imaging microscopy) or in a single-cell suspension (using multiparameter imaging microscopy, imaging cytometry, and/or flow cytometry). Flow cytometry is an optical, laser-based technology which analyzes the physical and fluorescent properties of cells in suspension in real-time as they flow through the instrument. This approach has a number of advantages over other techniques that can be used for characterizing cell populations in single-cell suspensions, in that it can nonsubjectively interrogate up to millions of cells and acquire data on the presence of different cell subpopulations and phenotypical changes within these populations in seconds. This unit describes basic procedures for the direct and indirect immunofluorescent staining of surface and intracellular proteins that are expressed by lymphoid cells which have been isolated from tissues or blood. Protocols for the resolution of dead cells and for the fixation of cells are also included. This unit also provides essential information relating to the selection and titration of antibodies, fluorochrome choice, spectral overlap and compensation, the use of controls, and the standardization of data acquisition and analysis. It also highlights new technologies and platforms that can be used to interrogate the presence of cell subpopulations and their phenotype to an even greater depth.
Beliefs about weight gain and attitudes toward relapse in a sample of women and men with obesity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine beliefs regarding reasons for weight gain, likely responses to weight loss relapse, notions of reasonable weight loss, and correlations between beliefs and attitudes in a large nonclinical sample of men and women with obesity. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 3,394 white women (n= 1,674) and men (n = 1,720) with obesity who had responded to a survey about body image and eating behaviors conducted by Consumer Reports magazine. Results: Women and men indicated that the most important reasons for their weight gain were lack of exercise and enjoying eating; the least important reason was a need to avoid social or sexual situations. Both groups reported that their most likely response to relapse is to start watching food intake, whereas their least likely response is to ask a friend, spouse, or family member for help. Women rated depression, stress, low self-esteem, and need to avoid situations as more important reasons for their weight gain than did men, and women were more likely to feel terrible and regain as a response to relapse. There was no relationship between an individual's beliefs about weight gain, responses to relapse, or notions of reasonable weight loss. Discussion: Implications of these findings for the treatment of obesity are discussed.
Simulation training improves resident performance in operative hysteroscopic resection techniques

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether a simulated training scenario improved resident performance in operative hysteroscopic resection. Study Design An interventional cohort study evaluated the ability of a hysteroscopic simulation model to improve resident performance in hysteroscopy. Residents were evaluated on operative hysteroscopy before training and at 1 and 6 months after training. Two physician graders, who were blinded to training status, evaluated the residents' performances. Statistical analyses included the χ 2 and the t test, as appropriate. Results Hysteroscopic simulation training was associated with a reduction in operative times (11.8 minutes vs 7.4 minutes; P P P Conclusion Training that used a simulation hysteroscopic model improved resident performance.
Coded phase-reversal LiNbO 3 modulator with bandwidth greater than 20 GHz at 1.3μm wavelength

An LiNbO3 travelling-wave optical modulator at 1.3μm wavelength with an aperiodic {+ + - +} Barker code phase-reversal electrode pattern is demonstrated. An optical insertion loss of 3.3 dB, half-wave drive voltage of 11 V and a photodetector-limited bandwidth in excess of 20 GHz are achieved.
Thoughtpiece: Measuring self‐esteem through reflective writing: essential factors in workforce development for inner‐city adults

This paper analyzes the influence of self‐esteem on the professional success of inner‐city adults in the workplace. The study used processes of reflective learning, particularly mentoring and reflective writing or journaling, as the research method to assess levels of self‐esteem in students attending a workforce certification program at Columbia University, USA. These narratives focus on how students balance their personal and professional lives in an intensive technology training program which leads to subsequent employment in large corporations. The model used to measure self‐esteem was the Inner‐City Workplace Literacy Arc, a rubric researchers use to chart program participants' progress through assessments of their journal narratives. Specifically, this paper addresses one participant's trajectory on the Arc over 16 months, demonstrating how it charts students' cognitive growth necessary for workforce success. Daniel, the male student discussed in this paper, started the workforce certification progr...
The effects of performance and team cohesion on attribution: a longitudinal simulation

Abstract Prior attribution research has found that firm managers attribute good firm performance to sound management, and bad firm performance to external, uncontrollable factors. However, this research has relied mainly on content analysis of annual report text and has not considered the impact of team processes and temporal factors on attribution. The current study examined the effects of team cohesion and relative firm performance on attributions using 81 teams of undergraduate seniors that managed mock firms within a complex strategic management simulation for 11 weeks. Superior firm performance was attributed to the team, whereas inferior firm performance was attributed to external factors. Team cohesion was positively associated with internal attributions, regardless of relative firm performance. Interestingly, team cohesion did not strengthen the relationship between superior firm performance and team-serving attributions.
Resonance Raman spectra of the b- And c-type cytochromes of succinate-cytochrome c reductase

Abstract 1. Resonance Raman spectra excited by laser photons in resonance with the α and β electronic transitions of the reduced forms of cytochrome b 5 and c were recorded and used as model systems to distinguish the “ b ”- and “ c ”-type Cytochromes of succinate-cytochrome c reductase. 2. The scattering intensity of a particular cytochrome depends on the proximity of the laser excitation to the electronic transition which is involved in the resonance enhancement; thus, exciting at different wavelengths provides a method of selectively investigating one hemoprotein in a mixture of several. 3. The spectra of the reduced succinate-cytochrome c reductase excited at 514.5-nm laser light were due to both c - and b -type Cytochromes in agreement with the position of their respective electronic absorption bands. Spectra excited at 568.2 nm were due mostly to b -type cytochromes because of the proximity of the excitation wavelength to the position of their α absorption bands. 4. The identification of the individual cytochromes is aided by the set of characteristic vibrational bands recorded at each excitation wavelength. 5. A possible explanation of the differences in number of bands and frequency of normal modes, involving the strong interaction between the vinyl side groups and porphyrin ring, is suggested. 6. Comparison of spectra of purified cytochrome b 5 with the b cytochromes of the reductase preparations shows vibrational bands of protoheme in different hemeproteins which are sensitive to the particular protein environment.
Pyrene fluorescence in premicellar solutions: The effects of solvents and temperature

Abstract The fluorescence of pyrene in premicellar solutions of Triton X-45 has been measured at a range of temperatures. The results are compared with those of pyrene in cyclohexane, n -hexane, ethanol, benzene and pure water. Only benzene causes both a spectral shift and a temperature dependent I 1 / I 3 ratio change, both arising from π-electron interactions. The pyrene fluorescence behavior in TX-405 suggests that premicellar aggregates are fairly stable, and could possibly nucleate around dissolved pyrene. Excitation energy transfer from premicellar TX-405 to associated molecules of pyrene is also shown to occur. The donor-acceptor separation is 81.5 A.
Natural history and management of iliac aneurysms

Fifty-five patients with 72 aneurysms of the iliac vessels were evaluated retrospectively during a 12-year period (1972 to 1985). Atherosclerotic vascular disease was found in all aneurysms. Marked male predominance (5:1) and advanced age (mean 74.6 years) characterized this population group. Two thirds of them harbored multiple aneurysms and isolated aneurysms were found primarily to involve the internal iliac artery (12 of 18 patients). Although symptomatic presentation varied with anatomic location and presence of rupture, most patients were either asymptomatic (45%) or had such nonspecific complaints (11%) that diagnosis was often delayed or erroneous. A mass detected during abdominal, rectal, or vaginal examination was found in 39 patients (70%). Aneurysm size ranged from 2.5 to 18 cm (mean 5.5 cm) for the entire group. Internal iliac aneurysms tended to be larger (7.7 cm) yet demonstrated no increased risk of rupture, which was encountered in 33% of patients. Elective operative management was undertaken in 26 patients with a mortality rate of 11%. When repair had to be performed as an emergency procedure mortality increased to 33%. Aneurysm ligation, resection, or endoaneurysmorrhaphy coupled with graft interposition when necessary did not seem to influence patient survival. Eleven patients treated nonoperatively demonstrated enlargement in three, rupture in one, and progressive ureteral obstruction in one patient. Iliac aneurysms demonstrate expansile growth with eruptive and erosive complications and therefore should be managed aggressively under elective circumstances.
A domain-reduction approach to bridging-scale simulation of one-dimensional nanostructures

We present a domain-reduction approach for the simulation of one-dimensional nanocrystalline structures. In this approach, the domain of interest is partitioned into coarse and fine scale regions and the coupling between the two is implemented through a bridging-scale interfacial boundary condition. The atomistic simulation is used in the fine scale region, while the discrete Fourier transform is applied to the coarse scale region to yield a compact Green's function formulation that represents the effects of the coarse scale domain upon the fine/coarse scale interface. This approach facilitates the simulations for the fine scale, without the requirement to simulate the entire coarse scale domain. After the illustration in a simple 1D problem and comparison with analytical solutions, the proposed method is then implemented for carbon nanotube structures. The robustness of the proposed multiscale method is demonstrated after comparison and verification of our results with benchmark results from fully atomistic simulations.
Surveillance Strategies and Impact of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcal Colonization and Infection in Critically Ill Patients

First identified in 1986, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) has rapidly become one of the leading causes of nosocomial infection in U.S. hospitals. 1–4 A recent 12-month survey of 49 hospitals in the United States identified 419 enterococcal bacteremias and reported that 17% were caused by vancomycin-resistant strains. 5 The prevalence of VRE colonization varies widely among hospitals. The highest rates, up to 53%, have been reported in the large teaching hospitals in the northeastern states. 6–8 Once colonized, a person has a 5- to 10-fold increased risk of developing infection. 9 These infections lead to an increased death rate and higher costs. 9,10 Targeted infection control interventions aimed at reducing VRE colonization depend largely on identifying colonized patients to allow isolation and cohorting. 11–13 VRE surveillance strategies have not been tested to determine the optimal frequency or anatomical sites used for VRE surveillance cultures. Accordingly, we sought to identify an efficient strategy for VRE surveillance that would minimize the time to identification of colonization, and therefore the time to effective patient isolation and cohorting, and provide an early warning of possible future VRE infection.
Fitness and survival in logistic models

Abstract The concepts of fitness and survival in logistic models are shown to be independent if we follow certain intuitive definitions for these concepts. This conclusion follows from a simple topological analysis of the function f b ( x ) = bx (1− x ), which is just the standard form of the logistic growth equations.
Gas sensing properties of graphene synthesized by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract The gas sensing properties of graphene synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method are investigated. Synthesis of graphene is carried out on a copper substrate using a methane and hydrogen gas mixture by a CVD process at the atmospheric pressure. The graphene films are transferred to different substrates after wet etching of the copper substrates. The Raman spectra reveal that the graphene films made on SiO 2 /Si substrates are of high quality. The reflectance spectra of graphene were measured in UV/Visible region of the spectrum. Theoretically calculated reflectance spectra based on Fresnel's approach indicates that the CVD graphene has a single layer. The gas sensing properties of graphene were tested for different reducing gasses as a function of measurement temperature and gas concentration. It is found that the gas sensing characteristics such as response time, recovery time, and sensitivity depend on the target gas, gas concentration, test temperature, and the ambient gas composition. The cross sensitivity of few combinations of reducing gasses such as, NH 3 , CH 4, and H 2 was also investigated.