cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practice Variation and Effects of E-mail-only Performance Feedback on Resource Use in the Emergency Department.

Objectives Higher resource utilization in the management of pediatric patients with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea does not correlate consistently with improved outcomes or quality of care. Performance feedback has been shown to change physician practice behavior and may be a mechanism to minimize practice variation. We aimed to evaluate the effects of electronic mail (e-mail) only, provider-level performance feedback on the ordering and admission practice variation of pediatric emergency physicians for patients presenting with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea. Design: We conducted a prospective, quality improvement intervention and collected data over 3 consecutive fiscal years (FY). Setting: Single, tertiary-care pediatric emergency department. Participants: We collected admission and ordering practices data on 19 physicians during baseline, intervention and post-intervention periods. Intervention: We provided physicians with quarterly email-based performance reports during the intervention phase. Main Outcomes Measured: We measured admission rate and created four categories for ordering practices: no orders, laboratory orders, pharmacy orders and radiology orders. Results There was wide (2-3 fold) practice variation among physicians. Admission rates ranged from 15-30%, laboratory orders from 19-43%, pharmacy orders from 29-57%, and radiology orders from 11-30%. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients admitted or with radiology or pharmacy orders placed between pre-intervention, intervention or post-intervention periods (p = 0.58, p = 0.19, and p = 0.75, respectively). There was a significant but very small decrease in laboratory orders between the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods. Conclusions Performance feedback provided only via e-mail to pediatric emergency physicians on a quarterly basis does not seem to significantly impact management practices for patients with undifferentiated vomiting and/or diarrhea. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Epitaxial growth of barium titanate thin films on germanium via atomic layer deposition

Abstract Barium titanate BaTiO 3 (BTO) thin films were epitaxially grown at 225 °C on 2 × 1-reconstructed Ge(001) surfaces via atomic layer deposition (ALD). Approximately 2 nm of BTO film was grown directly on Ge(001) as an amorphous film. Electron diffraction confirmed the epitaxy of the BTO films after post-deposition annealing at 650 °C. Additional BTO layers grown on the crystalline BTO/Ge(001) film were crystalline as-deposited. X-ray diffraction indicated that the epitaxial BTO films had a c -axis out-of-plane orientation, and the abrupt BTO/Ge interface was preserved with no sign of any interfacial germanium oxide. Scanning transmission electron microscopy provided evidence of Ba atoms occupying the troughs of the dimer rows of the 2 × 1-reconstructed Ge(001) surface, as well as preservation of the 2 × 1-reconstructed Ge(001) surface. This study presents a low-temperature process to fabricate BTO/Ge heterostructures.
Investigating Operational Predictors of Future Financial Distress in the US Airline Industry

We investigate the predictive power of operational performance on future financial distress in the context of the US airline industry. We focus on four areas of operational performance: revenue management, operational efficiency, service quality, and operational complexity. Using quarterly data from 1988 through 2013, we find that airlines that have inferior revenue management, lower aircraft utilization, and higher operational complexity face higher future financial distress. Interestingly, average service quality, measured by onâ€ time performance and mishandled baggage rate, is not associated with future financial distress, but extreme service failures, measured by long delays (over two hours) and passenger complaints with the government regarding mishandled bags, have a positive association with future financial distress. Using the association between current operational performance and future financial distress, we build a model to predict financial distress. Outâ€ ofâ€ sample analyses show that our forecasting model outperforms a financial ratioâ€ based benchmark model upâ€ to eight quarters before the measurement of financial distress. Our findings inform firms, regulators, and investors by demonstrating that operational performance metrics contain useful information to predict future financial distress.
Chinese and Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism

Chinese and Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism is an ambitious and promising volume that is exciting for several reasons. In addition to its stated purpose of considering the vast sweep of ritual technologi...
Chattonella subsalsa (Raphidophyceae) growth and hemolytic activity in response to agriculturally-derived estuarine contaminants.

Abstract The potential for toxic contaminants and nutrient pollution to alter natural cycles of estuarine phytoplankton blooms is well known, yet few studies have examined how these combined stressors affect harmful algal species. Here, a robust testing protocol was developed to enable an ecotoxicological assessment of responses to commonly co-occurring estuarine contaminants by harmful algal bloom species. The population growth and toxicity (as cell density and hemolytic activity, respectively) of a cultured strain of the toxigenic raphidiophycean, Chattonella subsalsa, were assessed in two experiments (duration 10 days and 28 days) across a gradient of atrazine concentrations and N:P ratios simulating nutrient-rich versus nutrient-depleted regimes. The response of this large-celled, slowly growing alga to atrazine × nutrients depended on growth phase; atrazine was most inhibitory during early exponential population growth (day 10), whereas nutrient regime was a more important influence during later phases of growth (day 28). Without atrazine, toxicity toward fish was highest in low-P cultures. At atrazine levels >25 μg L−1, hemolytic activity was highest in low-N cultures, and increased with increasing atrazine concentration in all nutrient-limited cultures. Hemolytic activity varied inversely with atrazine concentration in N,P-replete conditions. Overall, atrazine inhibitory effects on population growth of this C. subsalsa strain depended on the growth phase and the nutrient regime; hemolytic activity was higher and further enhanced by atrazine in low N-P regimes; and atrazine inhibited hemolytic activity in nutrient-replete conditions. The data suggest that, depending on the growth phase and nutrient regime, atrazine can help promote toxic C. subsalsa blooms.
Family Planning Strategies for the ’80s

The past two decades have witnessed widespread acceptance of the concept of family planning as well as innovative integrations for the delivery of information and services (1–3). Substantial declines in fertility have occurred in countries where effective family planning programs have been implemented. Achievements in this sector, however, have been far from uniform either across countries or within countries. At present there is a substantial unmet need for family planning and the number of couples of reproductive age is expected to increase by 70 percent between 1980 and 2000. During the coming decades, programs will have to address the quantitative challenge of an increased target population and the qualitative challenge of responding appropriately to the needs of this group.
Purification and characterization of guanylate cyclase from Caulobacter crescentus.

Abstract Guanylate cyclase has been purified 60-fold from cell extracts of the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus . It has a molecular weight of approximately 140,000 and is dependent upon Mn 2+ for activity. Enzymic activity is unaffected by cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP or N 6 ,O 2′ -dibutyryl cyclic AMP but is stimulated by N 2 ,O 2′ -dibutyryl cyclic GMP. The partially purified preparation of guanylate cyclase does not contain detectable adenylate cyclase activity.
The Möbius Strip

At one time a famous mathematical curiosity, later a source of inspiration for artists, the strange properties of the Mobius strip have fascinated professionals and laymen alike ever since its discovery in 1865. Named after its creator, the German mathematician and astronomer August Ferdinand Mobius (1790–1868), it was the embryo of an entirely new branch of mathematics known as topology, the study of those properties of a surface which remain invariant when the surface undergoes a continuous deformation.
Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity by Veteran Status 1996-2011

The Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity (KIEA) is a leading indicator of new business creation in the United States. Capturing new business owners in their first month of significant business activity, this measure provides the earliest documentation of new business development across the country.The percentage of the adult, non-business owner population that starts a business each month is measured using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). This research brief presents new data on entrepreneurship rates by veteran status. Previously, the KIEA reports have presented estimates of entrepreneurship rates by gender, race, nativity, age group, education level, industry, state, and metropolitan statistical area (MSA), but have not presented results by veteran status. New data extracts for every month of CPS data from 1996 to 2011 were downloaded and compiled to create estimates of entrepreneurship rates by veteran status.
Cell Polarity in Drosophila Retina

Apical–basal cell polarity is crucial for the development of multicellular organisms and for the diverse functions of epithelial cells in diverse organs. Cell polarity in epithelial cells is characterized by differential distributions of protein components in the apical and basolateral membrane domains as well as the asymmetric distributions of intracellular materials. The cell polarity is mainly regulated by evolutionary conserved genes, which are Crumbs (Crb) complex of Crb, Stardust (Sdt), Pals-1-associated tight junction protein (Patj), and partitioning-defective (Par) complex of Par-3 (Bazooka, Baz), Par-6, and atypical protein kinase C (aPKC). These cell polarity complexes play fundamental roles in initial cell polarity establishment and its maintenance and regulation. Recently, the roles of these cell polarity genes and their regulations were identified in Drosophila retina development. Here, we review recent discoveries of the roles of Crb and Par complexes and their regulators in morphogenesis and organogenesis of Drosophila retina.
Defining Types and Determining Risk Factors for Vascular Surgery Readmissions.

Background Vascular surgery patients typically have numerous comorbidities, which puts them at higher risk for postoperative readmissions. This study aims to investigate the risk factors for and appropriately categorize the various types of vascular surgery readmissions. Methods Nine hundred seventy-two patients were retrospectively reviewed. Readmissions were classified into 3 separate groups: readmissions that occurred between 0 and 30 days (30-day readmissions), 31–90 days (3-month readmissions), and 91–365 days (1-year readmissions). Each readmission was then assigned to 1 of the 4 categories based on whether they were related to the index procedure and whether they were planned. Univariate tests were performed for demographic variables based on their type of readmission, and logistic regressions were then performed to identify predictors of each unplanned, related readmissions. Results The overall 30-day readmission rate was 21.9% (n = 213). The unplanned, related readmission cohort (n = 83) had the highest readmission rate of 8.5%. The related, planned readmission rate was 5.9% (n = 58), while the unrelated, unplanned readmission rate was 5.6% (n = 55). In contrast, the overall 1-year readmission rate was 40.0% (n = 389), with the largest category being unplanned, unrelated readmissions at 19.7% (n = 191). The unplanned, related readmission rate was 8.7% (n = 85), whereas the planned, related readmission rate was 5.7% (n = 55). Compared with other types of readmissions, unplanned, related readmissions tended to affect patients who were younger, had poor glycemic control, and had higher body mass indexes (BMIs). Multivariate predictors of unplanned, related readmissions were poor glycemic control at 3 months (odds ratio [OR]: 2.16, P = 0.03), and BMI at 30 days (OR: 1.06, P = 0.04) and 1 year (OR: 1.05, P = 0.04). Conclusions Readmissions have varying risk factors depending on their category; targeting glycemic control and obesity may reduce unplanned, related readmissions.
All-optical nonlinear activation function for photonic neural networks [Invited]

With the recent successes of neural networks (NN) to perform machine-learning tasks, photonic-based NN designs may enable high throughput and low power neuromorphic compute paradigms since they bypass the parasitic charging of capacitive wires. Thus, engineering data-information processors capable of executing NN algorithms with high efficiency is of major importance for applications ranging from pattern recognition to classification. Our hypothesis is, therefore, that if the time-limiting electro-optic conversion of current photonic NN designs could be postponed until the very end of the network, then the execution time of the photonic algorithm is simple the delay of the time-of-flight of photons through the NN, which is on the order of picoseconds for integrated photonics. Exploring such all-optical NN, in this work we discuss two independent approaches for implementing the optical perceptron’s nonlinear activation function based on nanophotonic structures exhibiting i) induced transparency and ii) reverse saturated absorption. Our results show that the all-optical nonlinearity provides about 3 and 7 dB extinction ratios for the two systems considered, respectively, and classification accuracies of an exemplary MNIST task of 97% and near 100% are found, which rivals that of software based trained NNs, yet with ignored noise in the network. Together with a developed concept for an all-optical perceptron, these findings point to the possibility of realizing pure photonic NNs with potentially unmatched throughput and even energy consumption for next generation information processing hardware.
“The edTPA took away from my student teaching experience”: The impact of the edTPA on student teaching experiences:

This colloquium brings forward the “inside” voices of early childhood student teachers in order to critically examine the impact of the edTPA (Educative Teacher Performance Assessment) on student t...
Epidemiology of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: New Considerations Regarding the Influence of Red Blood Cell Transfusions and Anemia

This article summarizes available evidence on the relationship between red blood cell transfusion and anemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We review recent studies that highlight the uncertainty of the effect of red blood cell transfusion on NEC and the potential role of anemia. We also discuss potential pathophysiologic effects of both red blood cell transfusion and anemia and highlight strategies to prevent anemia and red blood cell transfusion. We also discuss ongoing randomized trials that are likely to provide important new evidence to guide red blood cell transfusion practices.
Using Machine Learning to Derive Just-In-Time and Personalized Predictors of Stress: Observational Study Bridging the Gap Between Nomothetic and Ideographic Approaches.

Background: Investigations into person-specific predictors of stress have typically taken either a population-level nomothetic approach or an individualized ideographic approach. Nomothetic approaches can quickly identify predictors but can be hindered by the heterogeneity of these predictors across individuals and time. Ideographic approaches may result in more predictive models at the individual level but require a longer period of data collection to identify robust predictors. Objective: Our objectives were to compare predictors of stress identified through nomothetic and ideographic models and to assess whether sequentially combining nomothetic and ideographic models could yield more accurate and actionable predictions of stress than relying on either model. At the same time, we sought to maintain the interpretability necessary to retrieve individual predictors of stress despite using nomothetic models. Methods: Data collected in a 1-year observational study of 79 participants performing low levels of exercise were used. Physical activity was continuously and objectively monitored by actigraphy. Perceived stress was recorded by participants via daily ecological momentary assessments on a mobile app. Environmental variables including daylight time, temperature, and precipitation were retrieved from the public archives. Using these environmental, actigraphy, and mobile assessment data, we built machine learning models to predict individual stress ratings using linear, decision tree, and neural network techniques employing nomothetic and ideographic approaches. The accuracy of the approaches for predicting individual stress ratings was compared based on classification errors. Results: Across the group of patients, an individual’s recent history of stress ratings was most heavily weighted in predicting a future stress rating in the nomothetic recurrent neural network model, whereas environmental factors such as temperature and daylight, as well as duration and frequency of bouts of exercise, were more heavily weighted in the ideographic models. The nomothetic recurrent neural network model was the highest performing nomothetic model and yielded 72% accuracy for an 80%/20% train/test split. Using the same 80/20 split, the ideographic models yielded 75% accuracy. However, restricting ideographic models to participants with more than 50 valid days in the training set, with the same 80/20 split, yielded 85% accuracy. Conclusions: We conclude that for some applications, nomothetic models may be useful for yielding higher initial performance while still surfacing personalized predictors of stress, before switching to ideographic models upon sufficient data collection.
Interpretation of protein structure and dynamics from the statistics of the open and closed times measured in a single ion-channel protein

Ion channels are proteins in the lipid cell membrane. They spontaneously fluctuate between conformational shapes that are open or closed to the passage of ions. The ionic currents through an individual channel can be resolved by the patch clamp technique. Thus, the time sequence of open and closed conformational states can be measured in one channel molecule. The probability density function of the dwell times in the open and closed states displays scaling functions that may arise from: (1) a large number of conformational substates having a continuous distribution of activation energy barriers, (2) time-dependent changes in the energy barriers between states, or (3) local interactions that constrain local structures which interact hierarchically to form global structure.
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

CWP is a disease distinct and separate from silicosis. Simple CWP is clearly related to the amount of dust deposited within the lungs. Complicated CWP (PMF) results from dust deposition plus other factors. Immunologic and local cellular factors may contribute to the development of this form of the disease. Studies of lung cell response and function may further elucidate mechanisms and mediators of lung dust reaction. Complicated CWP (PMF) is clearly associated with alterations in ventilatory, mechanical, and vascular function of the lungs. These abnormalities in PMF contribute to the observed premature morbidity and mortality of this disease.63 references.
Social Media and the Dissemination of Prepublication Data in Surgical Fields

Background This review investigates the use of social media at surgical conferences and possible effects of prepublication data release in surgical fields. Potential risks include patient harm by the preliminary application of research that lacks sufficient peer review, infringements on intellectual property, and loss of "research novelty." Methods A literature review of the current use of social media in dispersion of prepublication data was performed. Current submission guidelines for surgical conferences and journals were analyzed for data release embargos and social media use policies. Results Conference abstract guidelines mentioned data embargos half of the time and the use of social media less than one third of the time. Eighty percentage of journal instructions to authors contained guidelines on both. Conclusions In nonsurgical fields, the appropriateness of the use of social media to release prepublication data is increasingly being discussed. Little guidance exists on how surgical conference attendees should use social media while at conferences. Given the potential for patient harm and negative impact on intellectual property and attribution, further discussion is warranted. Introduccion Esta critica investiga el uso de las redes sociales en las conferencias quirurgicas y los efectos posibles de los datos pre-publicados en cirugia. Los riesgos probables incluyen: dano al paciente causado por la aplicacion prematura de las investigaciones sin bastante analisis, violacion de la propiedad intelectual, y perdido de "novedad de investigacion." Metodologia Un repaso fue hecho sobre el rol de las redes sociales en la propagacion de los datos pre-publicados. Las normas actuales para la entrega de las conferencias y los periodicos quirurgicos claves fueron analizadas por las reglas gobernando el uso de las redes sociales y los embargos del lanzamiento de datos. Resultados Las reglas generales sobre la entrega de abstractos para las conferencias mencionaron los embargos de datos la mitad del tiempo mientras que estas mismas reglas mencionaron el uso de las redes sociales menos que un tercio el tiempo. 80% de las instrucciones de los periodicos dirigidas a los autores tuvieron las reglas generales sobre los dos: los embargos de datas y las redes sociales. Conclusiones En las especialidades non-quirurgicas, la pertinencia del uso de las redes sociales para lanzar el dato pre-publicado es discutida con mas frecuencia. No existen normas sobre como se usan las redes sociales durante las conferencias. Dado el dano potencial al paciente y el impacto negativo en la propiedad y la atribucion intelectuales, mas discusion esta obligatoria.
EBG Antenna for Automotive Applications

This paper presents a design of an electro-magnetic bandgap (EBG) antenna for automotive applications. The proposed single antenna consists of stacked patches, coupled feeding and EBG structure, which operates from 26.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz for 5G communications. The realized gains of the single antenna range from 7.6 to 8.1 dBi in operating frequencies. The proposed 1 × 8 array antenna has maximum gain of 15.2 dBi at 28 GHz and beam steering angle of ± 55 °. To evaluate the beam coverage of proposed array antenna, the radiation pattern on an automobile was simulated through a ray-tracing framework. The frontal beam coverage of the antenna is 103 °, which is 25 ° wider than the beam coverage of the array antenna without the EBG structure.
Perceptions, Characteristics, and Behaviors of Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Use among Pregnant Smokers.

Abstract Introduction Smoking during pregnancy is a primary risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. Although electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased, reasons for and behaviors of use are not fully understood. The purpose of this study, composed exclusively of pregnant current smokers, was to describe perceptions of health risks associated with e-cigarette use among pregnant women, describe the use patterns of pregnant dual users (defined as those who simultaneously use conventional/combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes), and examine smoking-related behaviors between conventional-only (defined as those smoking combustible cigarettes but not e-cigarettes) and dual users. Methods Cross-sectional data from a larger study of pregnant conventional-only and dual users were analyzed. A brief survey measured perceptions of prenatal e-cigarette use and smoking behaviors. Analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and logistic and linear regression analysis. Results Among 176 pregnant smokers (38% dual users), more than one-half of participants believed e-cigarettes were harmful to women (56%) and posed harm to the fetus (53%). Among dual users, 41% used their e-cigarette daily, on average eight times per day. Eleven percent of dual users smoked a pack of cigarettes per day, compared with 5% of conventional-only smokers, and dual users scored significantly higher (p = .026) on the Penn State Cigarette Dependence Index. The most common e-cigarette liquid flavor was fruit (64%), and the most frequently reported e-cigarette nicotine concentration was 1–6 mg. Conclusions Characterizing perceptions and behaviors of e-cigarette use during pregnancy is foundational for future research to explore the association between product use and maternal and infant outcomes.
A Systematic Review of Academic Discourse Interventions for School-Aged Children With Language-Related Learning Disabilities

Purpose This systematic review synthesized a set of peer-reviewed studies published between 1985 and 2019 and addressed the effectiveness of existing narrative and expository discourse interventions for late elementary- and middle school-aged students with language-related learning disabilities. Method A methodical search of the literature for interventions targeting expository or narrative discourse structure for students aged 9-14 years with group experimental designs identified 33 studies, seven of which met specific criteria to be included in this review. Results An 8-point critical appraisal scale was applied to analyze the quality of the study design, and effect sizes were calculated for six of the seven studies; equivocal to small effects of far-transfer outcomes (i.e., generalizability to other settings) and equivocal to moderate near-transfer outcomes (i.e., within the treatment setting) were identified. The most effective intervention studies provided explicit instruction of expository texts with visual supports and student-generated learning materials (e.g., notes or graphic organizers) with moderate dosage (i.e., 180-300 min across 6-8 weeks) in a one-on-one or paired group setting. Greater intervention effects were also seen in children with reading and/or language disorders, compared to children with overall academic performance difficulties. Conclusions A number of expository discourse interventions showed promise for student use of learned skills within the treatment setting (i.e., near-transfer outcomes) but had limited generalization of skills (i.e., far-transfer outcomes). Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12449258.
Agency Engagement with Stakeholder Collaborations, in Wildfire Policy and Beyond

Political discourse suggests that federal officials in Washington D.C. manage Western lands and resources with little regard for local interests. This narrative is inconsistent with theory and practice alike. A central tenet of socio-ecological systems theory is that land and resources are inherently interconnected with local peoples and economies. Decades of federal land management also reflects the importance of localized inputs into law and policy. Legal scholars have, however, yet to provide a comprehensive account of the modern processes through which agencies engage localized considerations in land and resource decisions. To fill this void, the Administrative Conference of the United States (“ACUS”) hired the Author as an Academic Consultant to construct a longitudinal account of agencies’ engagement with stakeholder collaborations. The Author identified hundreds of relevant laws and regulations, conducted dozens of interviews, and constructed case studies in Alaska, Arizona, and Maine. This Article presents that research — providing a robust, empirically informed descriptive account of agencies’ engagement with local constituencies to create law and policy. The resulting account reveals that stakeholder collaborations are widely used. They play a vital role in agency decision-making — particularly for the most pressing, controversial issues. For example, agencies are using collaborations to mitigate ex ante wildfire risk. This Article presents a case study of the Forest Service working with a particular collaboration to execute vital wildfire mitigation measures. This account highlights how collaborations facilitate negotiations among competing local interests to guide agency action on thorny issues. The case study is but one of thousands of stakeholder collaborations that exist in practice. Numerous statutes, regulations, and executive orders require the thirteen federal agencies to use stakeholder collaborations to manage various public land and natural resources. This Article maps the legal landscape of this widely used, but little-known, governance mechanism.
The first statewide, open access dataset tracking public records requests in New Jersey

State freedom of information laws are vital mechanisms for providing public access to government records and supporting civic engagement through the effectuation of a public policy of transparency at the state level within the United States, not unlike their federal counterpart, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). New Jersey state law facilitates public access to government records under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). Codified at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., OPRA applies to state, county and local public authorities but exempts the judicial and legislative branches from its disclosure requirements. Since OPRA took effect in 2002, it has been difficult to track the full extent of law's impact across New Jersey's 21 counties, 565 municipalities, and numerous state agencies, school districts and independent authorities, all of which must individually respond to requests under the law. To the best of the author's knowledge, no official source has compiled detailed metadata tracking the content and disposition of OPRA requests at the state, regional and municipal levels within New Jersey using individual requests, and authorities rarely proactively disclose their responses to requests they receive, necessitating further data collection to support research into the impacts of this law. This article presents the OPRAmachine dataset: data containing detailed metadata on public records requests submitted to state & local public authorities in New Jersey since October 2017 collected through the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate the freedom of information request process. The data was collected using an open-source web interface that allowed users to submit an OPRA request to public authorities, with responses stored in a database and made available via the internet. After their request received a response, users were asked to answer a single survey question describing the status of their request, with their answer used to classify the request. Descriptive statistics, tables and frequencies were produced for the dataset and are included in this article. These data will assist state policymakers and other interested parties with assessing trends in OPRA requests across multiple types of public authorities & geographic regions. These data can inform more efficient government records management procedures, foster civic engagement by increasing government transparency and can inform the development of possible reforms to the OPRA law by showing trends in requests & responses that can be used to evaluate the law's implementation throughout the state.
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) administration shifts the hepatic proteome and augments dietary outcomes related to hepatic steatosis in mice.

Abstract Hepatic steatosis increases risk of fatty liver and cardiovascular disease. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent, bio-accumulative pollutant that has been used in industrial and commercial applications. PFOS administration induces hepatic steatosis in rodents and increases lipogenic gene expression signatures in cultured hepatocytes. We hypothesized that PFOS treatment interferes with lipid loss when switching from a high fat diet (HFD) to a standard diet (SD), and augments HFD-induced hepatic steatosis. Male C57BL/6 N mice were fed standard chow diet or 60% kCal high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks to increase body weight. Then, some HFD mice were switched to SD and mice were further divided to diet only or diet containing 0.0003% PFOS, for six treatment groups: SD, HFD to SD (H-SD), HFD, SD + PFOS, H-SD + PFOS, or HFD + PFOS. After 10 weeks on study, blood and livers were collected. HFD for 14 weeks increased body weight and hepatic steatosis, whereas H-SD mice returned to SD measures. PFOS administration reduced body weight in mice fed a SD, but not H-SD or HFD. PFOS administration increased liver weight in H-SD + PFOS and HFD + PFOS mice. PFOS increased hepatic steatosis in H-SD and HFD groups. Hepatic mRNA expression and SWATH-MS proteomic analysis revealed that PFOS induced lipid and xenobiotic transporters, as well as metabolism pathways. Overall, the findings herein suggest that PFOS treatment did interfere with lipid loss associated with switch to a SD and similarly augmented hepatic lipid accumulation in mice established on an HFD.
Acquiescence is Not Agreement: The Problem of Marginalization in Pediatric Decision Making.

Although parents are the default legal surrogate decision-makers for minor children in the U.S., shared decision making in a pluralistic society is often much more complicated, involving not just p...
Ventral Tegmental Area GABA, glutamate, and glutamate‐GABA neurons are heterogeneous in their electrophysiological and pharmacological properties

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains dopamine neurons intermixed with GABA-releasing (expressing vesicular GABA transporter, VGaT), glutamate-releasing (expressing vesicular glutamate transporter 2, VGluT2), and glutamate-GABA co-releasing (co-expressing VGluT2 and VGaT) neurons. By delivering INTRSECT viral vectors into the VTA of double vglut2-Cre/vgat-Flp transgenic mice, we targeted specific VTA cell populations for ex vivo recordings. We found that VGluT2+ VGaT- and VGluT2+ VGaT+ neurons on average had relatively hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, greater rheobase, and lower spontaneous firing frequency compared to VGluT2- VGaT+ neurons, suggesting that VTA glutamate-releasing and glutamate-GABA co-releasing neurons require stronger excitatory drive to fire than GABA-releasing neurons. In addition, we detected expression of Oprm1mRNA (encoding µ opioid receptors, MOR) in VGluT2+ VGaT- and VGluT2- VGaT+ neurons, and that the MOR agonist DAMGO hyperpolarized neurons with these phenotypes. Collectively, we demonstrate the utility of the double transgenic mouse to access VTA glutamate, glutamate-GABA, and GABA neurons to determine their electrophysiological properties. SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT: Some physiological properties of VTA glutamate-releasing and glutamate-GABA co-releasing neurons are distinct from those of VTA GABA-releasing neurons. µ-opioid receptor activation hyperpolarizes some VTA glutamate-releasing and some GABA-releasing neurons.
Tribalism: Where George Orwell leads us and where an understanding of existential–relational positions extends us:

The chaos of our current times raises both concern and interest in tribalism. We look at three types of tribalism. Reflecting the thoughts of George Orwell, we discuss nationalism and patriotism. W...
Relational, Emotional, and Pragmatic Attributes of Ethics Consultations at a Children’s Hospital

BACKGROUND: Pediatric ethics consultations are important but understudied, with little known about consultations’ contextual attributes, which may influence how ethically problematic situations are perceived and addressed. METHODS: We analyzed data regarding 245 pediatric clinical ethics consultations performed between 2013 and 2018 at a large children’s hospital. Prespecified data elements included 17 core problematic issues that initiate consultations, 9 ethical considerations identified by the consultation service, and 7 relational, emotional, and pragmatic contextual attributes of the consultation. The main process measure was the cumulative consultation process, ranging from one-on-one discussions with the requestor, to meeting with the clinical team, separate meetings with the patient or family and the clinical team, or combined meeting with the patient or family and the clinical team. RESULTS: The most-prevalent core problematic issues were intensity or limitation of treatment (38.8%) and treatment adherence and refusal (31%). Common pertinent ethical considerations were best interest (79.2%), benefits versus harms of treatment (51%), and autonomy and decision-making (46.5%). A total of 39.2% of consults culminated with a meeting with the clinical team, 9.4% with separate meetings, and 8.2% with a meeting with all parties. Common contextual attributes were discord (43.3%), acknowledged dilemma (33.5%), and articulate disagreement (29.8%). In exploratory analyses, specific contextual attributes were associated with the core problematic issue that initiated the consultation and with how the consultative process culminated. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric ethics consultations have contextual attributes that in exploratory analyses are associated with specific types of problems and, to a lesser degree, with the cumulative ethics consultation process.
TRIC-A regulates intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes.

Trimeric intracellular cation (TRIC) channels have been identified as monovalent cation channels that are located in the ER/SR membrane. Two isoforms discovered in mammals are TRIC-A (TMEM38a) and TRIC-B (TMEM38b). TRIC-B ubiquitously expresses in all tissues, and TRIC-B−/− mice is lethal at the neonatal stage. TRIC-A mainly expresses in excitable cells. TRIC-A−/− mice survive normally but show abnormal SR Ca2+ handling in both skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. Importantly, TRIC-A mutations have been identified in human patients with stress-induced arrhythmia. In the past decade, important discoveries have been made to understand the structure and function of TRIC channels, especially its role in regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. In this review article, we focus on the potential roles of TRIC-A in regulating cardiac function, particularly its effects on intracellular Ca2+ signaling of cardiomyocytes and discuss the current knowledge gaps.
NOC/oFQ activates PKC and generates superoxide to impair hypotensive cerebrovasodilation after hypoxia/ischemia.

Background Previous studies have observed that hypotensive pial artery dilation was blunted following global cerebral ischemia in the piglet. In unrelated studies, superoxide (O-2) contributed to impaired hypotensive cerebrovasodilation following traumatic brain injury in the rat while the opioid nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOC/oFQ) generated O-2 via activation of protein kinase C in the piglet. This study determined the contribution of NOC/oFQ, PKC activation and O-2 generation in hypoxic ischemic hypotensive cerebrovasodilation impairment. Material/methods Anesthetized newborn pigs equipped with a closed cranial window were used. Global cerebral ischemia was produced via elevated intracranial pressure. Hypoxia, via inhalation of nitrogen, decreased PO2 to 34I3 mmHg. Results Topical NOC/oFQ (10-10M), the CSF concentration following hypoxia/ischemia, had no effect on pial artery diameter by itself but attenuated hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure decrease of 44I2%) induced pial artery dilation (33I1 vs 19I2%). Coadministration of the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (10-7M) or the O-2 scavenger polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase and catalase (SODCAT) with NOC/oFQ (10-10M) partially prevented hypotensive pial dilation impairment (34I2 vs 28I1% for SODCAT). Hypotensive pial artery dilation was blunted by hypoxia/ischemia but such dilation was partially protected by the NOC/oFQ receptor antagonist [F/G] NOC/oFQ (1-13) NH2 (10-6M), chelerythine or SODCAT (34I1 vs 7I2 vs 21I2% for sham, H/I and H/I + SODCAT, respectively). Conclusions These data show that PKC activation and generation of O-2 contributes to hypoxia/ischemia impairment of hypotensive pial artery dilation. These data suggest that NOC/oFQ activates PKC and generates O-2 to impair hypotensive cerebrovasodilation after hypoxia/ischemia.
Planning for component-based configurations

The Scenario-based Engineering Process (SEP) is a novel approach to developing complex systems (Haddock & Harbison 1994). SEP builds new application systems through a selection process that groups primitive components into application specific components. The selection of primitive components and the construction of interfaces among components in an application system is currently a tedious manual undertaking. The automation of this process will require a configuration system that can support the complex interactions of the components, the dynamic requirements of users, and the capabilities of providing multiple viewpoints and managing extensive domains.
Dynamika ruchu fotela odrzucanego względem samolotu w locie symetrycznym

A relative motion of an ejection seat with respect to an airplane in a level flight and G-load flight was considered with rolling of the seat taken into account. It was assumed that the ejection seat after gettimg off from the guide tranlates and rotates. The corrections for calculations were found of the ejection seat motion trajectory with the effect of G-load on the airplane and the seat taken into account during the ejection in a curvilinear motion. Aerodynamic characteristics of the ejection seat have been taken from literature. The numerical calculations were performed by the use of a program in FORTRAN IV for R-32 computer.
Fabrication and characterization of thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy for high-density magnetic recording

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) was first observed in thin films of cobalt-chromium alloys in 1974, and perpendicular magnetic recording was proposed in 1977. After less than ten years, a new technology for high-density magnetic recording is firmly established. This breakthrough of the science and technology of magnetic recording has been made possible mainly through the ingenuity and concerted efforts of Iwasaki and other researchers. The preparation, characterization, and application of the Co-Cr films featuring PMA have been extensively studied. This paper reviews the large number of reports on PMA films with emphasis in three areas: (1) processing of PMA films; (2) correlation of magnetic properties and microstructures of PMA films; and (3) state-of-the-art techniques for fabricating PMA films.
The role of focused ion beams in physical failure analysis (ICs)

Focused ion beam (FIB) techniques are used to both remove and add metallization on integrated circuits for use in failure analysis. Localized sputtering is used to electrically isolate circuits and open holes to allow direct access to lower-lying levels. FIB induced deposition is used to wire the defective device for specific test conditions. The authors concentrate on the electrical analysis capabilities of this technique. Failure analysis on submicron lines and features on integrated circuits can be carried out with the help of FIB. Circuits and devices can be isolated by clean, localized cuts in metal lines and lands, and connections to other circuits or to the outside world can be made using FIB-induced deposition of a conducting material. FIB techniques are precise, relatively noninvasive, and often the only feasible way to perform many types of electrical analysis. >
The salt‐sensitive structure and zinc inhibition of Borrelia burgdorferi protease BbHtrA

Summary HtrA serine proteases are highly conserved and essential ATP-independent proteases with chaperone activity. Bacteria express a variable number of HtrA homologues that contribute to the virulence and pathogenicity of bacterial pathogens. Lyme disease spirochetes possess a single HtrA protease homologue, Borrelia burgdorferi HtrA (BbHtrA). Previous studies established that, like the human orthologue HtrA1, BbHtrA is proteolytically active against numerous extracellular proteins in vitro. In this study, we utilized size exclusion chromatography and blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) to demonstrate BbHtrA oligomeric structures that were substrate independent and salt sensitive. Examination of the influence of transition metals on the activity of BbHtrA revealed that this protease is inhibited by Zn2+ > Cu2+ > Mn2+. Extending this analysis to two other HtrA proteases, E. coli DegP and HtrA1, revealed that all three HtrA proteases were reversibly inhibited by ZnCl2 at all micro molar concentrations examined. Commercial inhibitors for HtrA proteases are not available and physiologic HtrA inhibitors are unknown. Our observation of conserved zinc inhibition of HtrA proteases will facilitate structural and functional studies of additional members of this important class of proteases.
PREPOSITIONS AND PICTURES IN THE ENGLISH LEARNING MATERIALS

This paper explores the types of prepositions and the common picture types used to teach these prepositions found in English textbooks commonly used in primary schools. The results showed that the types of pictures may be problematic for presenting spatial relations due to an ambiguity the pictures may create and so as may affect the understanding and use of prepositions. Ideally all accompanying pictures should play an active and effective role in supporting learning.
Severe gingival recession and early loss of teeth in a child with chronic graft versus host disease: a case report.

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) oceurs after a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) when the donors immune system rejects the recipienfs body, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Increased numbers of chronic GVHD (c-GVHD) patients are likely to be seen by dental professionals because of the advances made in transplantation. The oral cavity may be the primary or the only site of c-GVHD and may have persistent lesions after resolution has oceurred in other areas. Approximately 80% of patients with extensive c-GVHD present some type of oral involvement, including xerostomia, oral pain and lesions. Dental and oral care can be challenging for these patients. This paper discusses the manifestations and treatment of oral c-GVHD and presents the case history of a 15-month-old girl who developed severe oral GVHD with an unusual periodontal presentation and early loss of primary teeth.