cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Group Process and Motivation

Camp Sharigan creates a motivational environment in which students find the desire or choose to become motivated, but Camp Sharigan itself, cannot motivate children. You cannot motivate another person. You can create a motivating environment, but you as a teacher, counselor, community leader, or parent cannot actually motivate the student. True motivation must come from within. Motivation involves the internal workings and processes which energize and direct our behavior (Reeve et al. 2003), but the world around us often influences our actions. This is especially true in the classroom because many teachers only use extrinsic motivators (prizes or awards). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are not the same. Intrinsic motivation is an internal desire. Extrinsic motivation is based on a reward (prize) or fear of punishment. Intrinsic motivation enhances psychological well-being (Salovey et al.2000). Extrinsic rewards may actually discourage students rather than offer encouragement because, once the reward is gone, so is the motivation (Thorkildsen 2002). Extrinsic motivators (rewards, prizes, candy, food) do not lead to intrinsic motivation or positive self-efficacy. Rewards or prizes are only substitutes for inner motivation that is lacking. At first, extrinsic motivators seem to work, but actually, extrinsic motivators are merely a form of regulation; they are methods for seeking compliance which often backfire because once the extrinsic motivator is removed, children are sometimes less interested in learning than before you used the extrinsic motivator (Lepper and Greene 1975).
2382. Ceftolozane/Tazobactam for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections in Immunocompromised Patients: A Multi-Center Study

Background Ceftolozane/tazobactam (TOL-TAZ) is a novel cephalosporin antibiotic combined with a known β-lactamase inhibitor. It has activity against some extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRPA). To date, little experience has been published on outcomes with TOL-TAZ for MDRPA infections in immunocompromised patients.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A New Species of the Frogfish Genus Histiophryne Gill (Lophiiformes: Antennariidae: Histiophryninae) from Western and South Australia, with a Revised Key to Congeners

An undescribed species of the frogfish genus Histiophryne, of the teleost order Lophiiformes, family Antennariidae, is described on the basis of 60 specimens collected from shallow inshore waters of Western and South Australia. Previously confused with its morphologically similar congener H. cryptacanthus, it differs from the latter and from all other members of the genus in having the following combination of features: illicium tiny but easily discernible without aid of a microscope; esca present, a small tuft of filaments, easily distinguished from illicium; skin covered with tiny dermal spinules, especially on head, cutaneous filaments and appendages absent; dorsal-fin rays 15–16; pectoral-fin rays 9 (rarely 8); vertebrae 22–23; head, body, and fins typically off white, sometimes peppered with numerous small, close-set ocelli. Genetic divergence from its congeners in the nuclear recombination activation gene-2 (RAG2) and cytochrome oxidase-I (COI) genes is at least 8.9%. The new species is diagnosed, d...
Hospital Quality Metrics: "America's Best Hospitals" and Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke.

Abstract Background: Developing quality metrics to assess hospital-level care and outcomes is increasingly popular in the United States. The U.S. News & World Report ranking of “America's Best Hospitals” is an existing, popular hospital-profiling system, but it is unknown whether top-ranked hospitals in their report have better outcomes according to other hospital quality metrics such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) publicly reported 30-day stroke measures. Methods: The analysis was based on the 2015-2016 U.S. News & World Report ranking of the 50 top-rated hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery and 2012-2014 CMS Hospital Compare Data. We used mixed models adjusted for hospital characteristics and weighted by hospital volume to compare 30-day risk-standardized mortality and readmission between top-ranked and other hospitals. Among the 50 top-ranked hospitals, we determined whether ranking order was associated with the CMS outcomes. Results: Compared with 2737 other hospitals, the 50 top-ranked hospitals had lower 30-day mortality (14.8% versus 15.3%) but higher readmission (14.5% versus 13.3%). These patterns persisted in adjusted analyses with top-ranked hospitals having .72% (95% confidence interval [CI] −1.09%, −.34%) lower mortality and .41% (95% CI .16%, .67%) higher readmission. Among top-ranked hospitals, rank order was not associated with mortality (.05% decrease in mortality with each rank, 95% CI −.10%, .01%) or readmission (.02% increase; 95% CI −.03%, .06%). Conclusion: Admission to a top-ranked hospital for neurology or neurosurgery was associated with lower 30-day risk-standardized mortality but higher readmission after ischemic stroke. There was heterogeneity in outcomes among the 50 top-ranked hospitals.
Intermediate Strain Rate Material Characterization with Digital Image Correlation.

The mechanical response of a material under dynamic load is typically different than its behavior under static conditions; therefore, the common quasistatic equipment and procedures used for material characterization are not applicable for materials under dynamic loads. The dynamic response of a material depends on its deformation rate and is broadly categorized into high (i.e., greater than 200/s), intermediate (i.e., 10−200/s) and low strain rate regimes (i.e., below 10/s). Each of these regimes calls for specific facilities and testing protocols to ensure the reliability of the acquired data. Due to the limited access to high-speed servo-hydraulic facilities and validated testing protocols, there is a noticeable gap in the results at the intermediate strain rate. The current manuscript presents a validated protocol for the characterization of different materials at these intermediate strain rates. Strain gauge instrumentation and digital image correlation protocols are also included as complimentary modules to extract the utmost level of detailed data from every single test. Examples of raw data, obtained from a variety of materials and test setups (e.g., tensile and shear) is presented and the analysis procedure used to process the output data is described. Finally, the challenges of dynamic characterization using the current protocol, along with the limitations of the facility and methods of overcoming potential problems are discussed.
Short-term changes in summer and winter resident bird communities following a high severity wildfire in a southern USA mixed pine/hardwood forest

Abstract High severity forest fires are increasing in large areas of the southern and western United States as the climate becomes warmer and drier. Given their strong roles in ecosystem dynamics, documenting the response of bird communities to wildfires is important for improving our understanding and management of post-wildfire ecosystems. However, because wildfires are unplanned events, relatively few studies have been conducted to assess local-scale impacts on forest bird communities. In this study, we had the opportunity to use a before-after, control-impact (BACI) approach to assess the response of resident birds to high severity wildfires that occurred in the Lost Pines ecoregion of Texas in September and October 2011. We replicated a previous study using point count surveys to assess summer and winter bird community changes ca. 1 year after the wildfires. We found that total number of detected individuals did not change following the wildfires, but winter bird species richness increased in burned habitat. Changes were apparent at the foraging guild-level for the winter bird community, with an increase in aerial insectivores and decrease in bark insectivores. Summer and winter bird community composition changes were apparent at the species-level and generally agreed with species-specific habitat preferences. For example, species such as eastern bluebirds and chipping sparrows that prefer open woodlands were positively associated with burned habitat. Our results provide quantitative evidence that high severity forest fires increased habitat suitability for many resident bird species. At the landscape-scale, fire-induced increases in habitat heterogeneity could result in higher bird diversity in the Lost Pines ecoregion. We expect bird community composition will be dynamic in the Lost Pines ecoregion over the next few decades as the burned habitat continues to change through successional processes and post-fire management actions.
Mechanisms that regulate morphogenesis of a highly branched neuron in C. elegans

The shape of an individual neuron is linked to its function with axons sending signals to other cells and dendrites receiving them. Although much is known of the mechanisms for axonal outgrowth, the striking complexity of dendritic architecture has hindered efforts to uncover pathways that direct dendritic branching. Here we review the results of an experimental strategy that exploits the power of genetic analysis and live cell imaging of the PVD sensory neuron in C. elegans to reveal key molecular drivers of dendrite morphogenesis.
End-to-end vision-based detection, tracking and activity analysis of earthmoving equipment filmed at ground level

Abstract This paper presents a new benchmark dataset for validating vision-based methods that automatically identifies visually distinctive working activities of excavators and dump trucks from individual frames of a video sequence. Our dataset consists of 10 videos of interacting pairs of construction equipment filmed at ground level with accompanying ground truth annotations. These annotations consist of per-equipment and per-frame equipment bounding boxes that also have associated identities and activity labels. Our videos depict an excavator interacting with 1 or more dump trucks. We also propose a deep learning-based method for detecting and tracking objects based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The tracking trajectories are fed into a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) that automatically discovers and assigns activity labels for any observed object. Our HMM method leverages trajectories to train a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) with which we estimate the probability density function of each activity using Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers. The proposed HMM also models activity duration and the transition between activities. We show that our method can accurately distinguish between individual equipment working activities. Results show 97.43% detection Average Precision (AP) for excavators and 75.29% AP for dump trucks, as well as cross-category tracking accuracy of 81.94% and tracking precision of 87.45%. Separate experiment results show activity analysis results of 86.8% accuracy for excavators and 88.5% for dump trucks. Our results show that our method can accurately conduct activity analysis and can be fused with methods that detect motion trajectories to scale to the needs of practical applications.
History and Evolution of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is a combination of specialized techniques, instruments, and technology for performing operations with less disruption of the adjacent tissues that surround the spine than traditional, open approaches. Three surgical objectives have driven the evolution of MISS: minimize tissue disruption, achieve bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach, and achieve indirect neural decompression. MISS began with the treatment of herniated lumbar intervertebral discs and has evolved tremendously since to be applicable to the treatment of a variety of spinal pathologies involving the entirety of the spinal column, including foraminotomies, fusion procedures, tumor resections, and fixation of traumatic fractures. The key elements of MISS include a small access approach to limit exposure-related tissue damage, magnification and illumination with the use of a microscope or endoscope, supplemental localization such as computer-assisted navigation, and surgical instruments that facilitate minimal access to the relevant spinal anatomy, all contributing to the goal of leaving the smallest possible operative footprint while achieving good clinical outcomes. The rapid advancement in technology has allowed the field to evolve significantly, such that traditional procedures that previously required larger exposures with increased morbidity are being effectively and efficiently performed in a minimally invasive fashion. In this chapter, the authors present a review of the history and evolution of MISS.
Human intestinal enteroids as a model of Clostridioides difficile -induced enteritis.

Clostridioides difficile is an important nosocomial pathogen that produces toxins to cause life-threatening diarrhea and colitis. Toxins bind to epithelial receptors and promote the collapse of the actin cytoskeleton. C. difficile toxin activity is commonly studied in cancer-derived and immortalized cell lines. However, the biological relevance of these models is limited. Moreover, no model is available for examining C. difficile-induced enteritis, an understudied health problem. We hypothesized that human intestinal enteroids (HIEs) express toxin receptors and provide a new model to dissect C. difficile cytotoxicity in the small intestine. We generated biopsy-derived jejunal HIE and Vero cells, which stably express LifeAct-Ruby, a fluorescent label of F-actin, to monitor actin cytoskeleton rearrangement by live-cell microscopy. Imaging analysis revealed that toxins from pathogenic C. difficile strains elicited cell rounding in a strain-dependent manner, and HIEs were tenfold more sensitive to toxin A (TcdA) than toxin B (TcdB). By quantitative PCR, we paradoxically found that HIEs expressed greater quantities of toxin receptor mRNA and yet exhibited decreased sensitivity to toxins when compared with traditionally used cell lines. We reasoned that these differences may be explained by components, such as mucins, that are present in HIEs cultures, that are absent in immortalized cell lines. Addition of human-derived mucin 2 (MUC2) to Vero cells delayed cell rounding, indicating that mucus serves as a barrier to toxin-receptor binding. This work highlights that investigation of C. difficile infection in that HIEs can provide important insights into the intricate interactions between toxins and the human intestinal epithelium.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this article, we developed a novel model of Clostridioides difficile-induced enteritis using jejunal-derived human intestinal enteroids (HIEs) transduced with fluorescently tagged F-actin. Using live-imaging, we identified that jejunal HIEs express high levels of TcdA and CDT receptors, are more sensitive to TcdA than TcdB, and secrete mucus, which delays toxin-epithelial interactions. This work also optimizes optically clear C. difficile-conditioned media suitable for live-cell imaging.
Other-repetition in conversation across languages: Bringing prosody into pragmatic typology

In this article, I introduce the aims and scope of a project examining other-repetition in natural conversation. This introduction provides the conceptual and methodological background for the five language-specific studies contained in this special issue, focussing on other-repetition in English, Finnish, French, Italian, and Swedish. Other-repetition is a recurrent conversational phenomenon in which a speaker repeats all or part of what another speaker has just said, typically in the next turn. Our project focusses particularly on other-repetitions that problematise what is being repeated and typically solicit a response. Previous research has shown that such repetitions can accomplish a range of conversational actions. But how do speakers of different languages distinguish these actions? In addressing this question, we put at centre stage the resources of prosody—the nonlexical acoustic-auditory features of speech—and bring its systematic analysis into the growing field of pragmatic typology—the comparative study of language use and conversational structure. (Repetition, conversation, prosody, pragmatics, typology)*
All in the timing: how fruit nutritional content influences the timing of fruit consumption of two invasive shrubs

The functional role that invasive species occupy within their new range is of significant interest for those concerned about invasive species management. Of particular importance is the distribution mechanisms of invasive plants. Viburnum dilatatum and Viburnum sieboldii are considered invasive species in New Jersey forest understories. We have observed that while the fruit of both species ripens at the same time, there is a difference in how long fruit persists. To better understand the temporal pattern, we examine fruit phenology and consumption, as well as energy density, percentage crude fat, and antioxidant capacity. We hypothesized that the difference in the timing of fruit consumption in these species is largely driven by nutritional content and that fruit with higher energy and fat content are eaten during migration. Our results indicate that V. sieboldii fruit is depleted in the fall, while V. dilatatum fruit persists into winter. In addition, we found that V. sieboldii fruit had higher energy density and 4.4 times as much crude fat compared to that of V. dilatatum fruit. However, V. dilatatum fruit had 9.5 times greater antioxidant capacity than V. sieboldii fruit. We also found that V. sieboldii fruit is mainly consumed by gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) during the fall migration and the primary avian consumer of V. dilatatum fruit are American robins (Turdus migratorius) in the winter when birds are more sedentary. We suspect a mutualistic relationship has developed between these two invasive viburnum species and native avian frugivores. What remains to be seen is what effect different fruiting strategies have on seed dispersal.
Redesigning Photonic Interconnects with Silicon-on-Sapphire Device Platform for Ultra-Low-Energy On-Chip Communication

Traditional silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform based on-chip photonic interconnects have limited energy-bandwidth scalability due to the optical non-linearity induced power constraints of the constituent photonic devices. In this paper, we propose to break this scalability barrier using a new silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) based photonic device platform. Our physical-layer characterization results show that SOS based photonic devices have negligible optical non-linearity effects in the mid-infrared region near 4m, which drastically alleviates their power constraints. Our link-level analysis shows that SOS based photonic devices can be used to realize photonic links with aggregated data rate of more than 1 Tb/s, which recently has been deemed unattainable for the SOI-based photonic on-chip links. We also show that such high-throughput SOS-based photonic links can significantly improve the energy-efficiency of on-chip photonic communication architectures. Our system-level analysis results position SOS-based photonic interconnects to pave the way for realizing ultra-low-energy (
The effect of extended conjugation on electrocatalytic CO2 reduction by molecular catalysts and macromolecular structures

Abstract Homogenous molecular catalysts have shown significant promise for the selective reduction of CO2 to single products. However, their practical application in emerging CO2 reduction technologies is hindered by their limited solubility and stability in aqueous solutions, their diffusion-dependent kinetics, and their poor recyclability. Incorporating discrete molecular catalysts into macromolecular architectures such as covalent organic frameworks is one solution to these limitations that allows for the synthesis of heterogeneous materials with increased activity and stability but that still maintain the selectivity and active-site tunability of discrete molecular catalysts. Forming such macromolecular materials necessarily extends the ligand π-conjugated network, which can have important effects on the electrocatalytic activity. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the effect of extended π-conjugation on the catalytic activity of molecular catalyst and extended macromolecular architectures, with an emphasis on how activity is influenced by charge delocalization, electrostatic effects, and electronic coupling between active sites.
Limiting the priming dose of a SARS CoV-2 vaccine improves virus-specific immunity

Since late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic that has infected 128 million people worldwide. Although several vaccine candidates have received emergency use authorization (EUA), there are still a limited number of vaccine doses available. To increase the number of vaccinated individuals, there are ongoing discussions about administering partial vaccine doses, but there is still a paucity of data on how vaccine fractionation affects vaccine-elicited immunity. We performed studies in mice to understand how the priming dose of a SARS CoV-2 vaccine affects long-term immunity to SARS CoV-2. We first primed C57BL/6 mice with an adenovirus-based vaccine encoding SARS CoV-2 spike protein (Ad5-SARS-2 spike), similar to that used in the CanSino and Sputnik V vaccines. This prime was administered either at a low dose (LD) of 10 6 PFU or at a standard dose (SD) of 10 9 PFU, followed by a SD boost in all mice four weeks later. As expected, the LD prime induced lower immune responses relative to the SD prime. However, the LD prime elicited immune responses that were qualitatively superior, and upon boosting, mice that were initially primed with a LD exhibited significantly more potent immune responses. Overall, these data demonstrate that limiting the priming dose of a SARS CoV-2 vaccine may confer unexpected benefits. These findings may be useful for improving vaccine availability and for rational vaccine design.
A Pilot Study Examining the Efficacy of Delivering Colorectal Cancer Screening Messages via Virtual Health Assistants.

Introduction Patients are more likely to complete colorectal cancer screening when recommended by a race-concordant healthcare provider. Leveraging virtual healthcare assistants to deliver tailored screening interventions may promote adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines among diverse patient populations. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the efficacy of the Agent Leveraging Empathy for eXams virtual healthcare assistant intervention to increase patient intentions to talk to their doctor about colorectal cancer screening. It also examines the influence of animation and race concordance on intentions to complete colorectal cancer screening. Methods White and Black adults (N=1,363) aged 50–73 years and not adherent to colorectal cancer screening guidelines were recruited from Qualtrics Panels in 2018 to participate in a 3-arm (animated virtual healthcare assistant, static virtual healthcare assistant, attention control) message design experiment. In 2020, a probit regression model was used to identify the intervention effects. Results Participants assigned to the animated virtual healthcare assistant (p Conclusions Animated virtual healthcare assistants were efficacious compared with the static virtual healthcare assistant and attention control conditions. The influence of race concordance between source and participant was inconsistent across conditions. This warrants additional investigation in future studies given the potential for virtual healthcare assistant‒assisted interventions to promote colorectal cancer screening within guidelines.
The Costs of Emergency Certification: A Solution or Dilemma for School Leaders?

When there are teacher shortages, emergency certification allows individuals with a bachelor’s degree to enter the profession without having undergone formal education training or preservice prepar...
Impact of gender on in-hospital mortality and 90-day readmissions in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair: Analysis from the National Readmission Database

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) carry a high risk of rehospitalization due to disease, procedure, patient, hospital, and system related factors. AIMS We aimed to explore the impact of gender on in-hospital mortality and 90-day readmissions in patients undergoing TEER. METHODS We utilized the National Readmission Database from 2012 to 2018 to identify individuals who underwent TEER for mitral regurgitation. Gender-based differences in in-hospital mortality and 90-day readmissions were explored using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS Between 2012 and 2018, an estimated 21,415 TEER procedural hospitalizations were identified, of which 9893 (46.2%) were in women and 11,522 (53.8%) were in men. Compared with men, women were older, from a lower socioeconomic status but had a lower co-morbidity burden. In-hospital mortality rate during the index hospitalization was similar in women and men (2.1% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.908). Ninety-day all-cause and heart failure readmission rates were significantly higher in women compared to men (30.2% vs. 25.4%; p < 0.001 and 28.1% vs. 23.9%; p = 0.020 respectively). In a multivariable analysis, women had 36% greater odds of 90-day readmission compared to men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.36, 95% CI: 1.22-1.52; p < 0.001). Trend analysis revealed no significant improvement in rates of 90-day readmission during the observation period for men or women (p = 0.245, p = 0.429, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Following TEER, there has been no significant improvement in 90-day readmission rates between 2012 and 2018. Female gender is associated with higher 90-day all-cause and heart failure readmission rates.
Domain-general ability underlies complex object ensemble processing.

When seeing groups of objects, various features can be extracted to form an ensemble representation, including low-level features such as orientation and higher-level features like facial expression. Past research proposed distinct abilities for ensemble coding of high-level versus low-level visual features, but the only complex objects used were faces. Here, we examine evidence for a shared ability supporting ensemble representations for complex objects from different object categories. In 2 experiments, participants completed an ensemble mean judgment task for an array of 4 objects, including planes and birds (Experiment 1) or cars and birds (Experiment 2). We also measured and controlled for domain-specific recognition ability. Across the 2 experiments, performance on ensemble judgments with different objects were correlated, even after controlled for domain-specific recognition abilities. These findings provide the strongest evidence to date of a domain-general ability involved in complex object ensemble coding. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Are high-protein foods economically efficient?: The case of soy-fortified wheatflour in Ecuador

Abstract The author presents a technique for analyzing the economic efficiency of high-protein products, and other new foods. By using linear programming to construct a ‘least-cost’ diet for those in Quito, Ecuador, he determines the circumstances under which soyfortified wheatflour would or would not be adopted. It is found that this particular high-protein product is not an economically sound replacement for ordinary wheatflour, and therefore not appropriate as a nutrition intervention.
Quadruplet pregnancy: Diagnosis at seventeen weeks of gestation

Abstract 1. 1. Quadruplet pregnancy occurs about once in 550,000 pregnancies. 2. 2. This case reported was correctly diagnosed at approximately 17 weeks of gestation, by a combination of clinical and x-ray findings, apparently the earliest diagnosis on record. 3. 3. Delivery of small, premature infants of a multiple pregnancy can usually be accomplished through the pelvic canal. Uterine inertia and cervical dystocia from postoperative scar tissue necessitated delivery by cesarean section in this case, apparently the second on record. 4. 4. The survival rate of quadruplets is low. These infants are living and thriving. They were under incubator care for their first several weeks of life. 5. 5. The pregnancy consisted of a single fetus (male), and identical triplets (females).
The Unlawful Conduct Defense in Legal Malpractice

A variety of developments threaten to close the courthouse doors to plaintiffs in an expanding range of legal malpractice cases. On the one hand, tort law in general has increasingly recognized an unlawful conduct defense which denies judicial relief in a wide range of suits to persons who have engaged in unlawful conduct. Those principles are potentially applicable to legal malpractice actions, and have already played a role in medical malpractice litigation. On the other hand, courts have recognized during the past two decades a variety of other obstacles to legal malpractice claims. Many states now hold that an action relating to criminal defense work is barred unless the plaintiff can prove that he or she was exonerated after conviction or can establish innocence of the charged offense. Other cases have relied on nebulous concepts of 'in pari delicto,' 'unclean hands,' and 'proximate causation' to deny relief in actions against attorneys. These various developments reflect the increased, and sometimes undisciplined, recognition of unlawful conduct as defense in the field of legal malpractice. This article is the first work to critically examine the unlawful conduct defense, in all of its permutations, as it applies to legal malpractice. The article considers recent statutory and common law developments. The work then explores those developments in the context of the current widespread endorsement of comparative negligence and comparative fault, and charts a course for future development (and limitation) of the unlawful conduct defense in malpractice actions against attorneys.
Resource monitoring and management in metacomputing environments

Sharing of computational resources across multiple administrative domains (sometimes called grid computing) is rapidly gaining in popularity and adoption. Resource sharing middleware must deal with ownership issues, heterogeneity, and multiple types of resources that include compute cycles, data, and services. Design principles and software approaches for monitoring and management tools in such environments are the focus of this paper. A basic set of requirements for resource administration tools is first proposed. A specific tool, the GUI for the H2O metacomputing substrate is then described. Initial experiences are reported, and ongoing as well as future enhancements to the tool are discussed.
Advancing return on investment analysis for government information technology

The Center for Technology in Government (CTG) in collaboration with SAP, the business software solutions provider to public sector organizations, conducted a research project focusing on improving government's ability to assess public returns on IT investments. The work conducted for this project and presented in this poster will be of particular interest to dg.o attendees since the project was based in part on five government case studies involving e-government initiatives in North America, Austria, and Israel. The public value framework developed in the project offers a useful resource to both academics and practitioners interested in better understanding, assessing, and communicating both tangible and intangible costs and benefits of government IT investments.
Case Management with a Diabetes Team Using Home Telemedicine: Acceptance of Treatment Recommendations by Primary Care Providers in IDEATel

Abstract Background: The Informatics for Diabetes Education and Telemedicine (IDEATel) project demonstrated that a telemedicine intervention can improve glycemic, lipid, and blood pressure control. The focus of the current study was to evaluate factors associated with primary care providers' (PCPs') decision on whether to follow recommendations from the remote diabetes team in Upstate New York. Materials and Methods: In the intervention group, diabetes educators videoconferenced with patients monthly to download and review glucose and blood pressure readings, diabetes-related issues, and laboratory data. These were reviewed with an endocrinologist, and recommendations to change therapy were sent to the PCPs. At annual visits, participants completed the Diabetes Symptom Checklist-Type 2 symptom severity score and Impact of Telemedicine surveys. Results: Factors that increase the acceptance rate of IDEATel recommendations included longer time in the study (p=0.0052), changing medication dose as opposed to s...
Lactose-Reduced Formulas for the Treatment of Persistent Diarrhea

To the Editor.— Intestinal lactase activity in childhood can be reduced transiently by several diseases. In developing countries, the most common of these diseases are protein-energy malnutrition and persistent diarrhea. Under these conditions, the use of microbial β-galactosidase for predigestion of dietary lactose is being used as a means of reducing lactose intake while maintaining the quality of the therapeutic diets. In a report by Penny et al, 1 the effects of intact and lactose-hydrolyzed formulas on stool output and nutrient absorption in 63 Peruvian children with >4 days of postenteritis diarrhea were compared.
Systematic chemical synthesis and n.m.r. spectra of methyl α-glycosides of isomalto-oligosaccharides and related compounds

Abstract Acid-catalyzed thiophenolysis of 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-β- d -glucopyranose and acetylation of the resulting phenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-α- d -glucopyranoside (4) gave phenyl 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-α- d -glucopyranoside (5). Reaction of 5 with chlorine gave, stereospecifically, the corresponding β-glycosyl chloride, which was treated with 4 in the presence of silver perchlorate and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine to afford phenyl O-(6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α- d -glucopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-α- d -glucopyranoside (17). Crystalline O-(6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α- d -glucopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-β- d -glucopyranosyl chloride, readily obtainable in a stereo-specific manner from 17 by treatment with chlorine, was used as the key glycosyl (isomaltosyl) donor in the blockwise synthesis of methyl glycosides of isomalto-oligosaccharides, up to and including the octasaccharide. The methyl α-glycoside of isomaltotetraose fluorinated at C-6 of the terminal d -glucopyranosyl group was prepared by using SnCl2-activated 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-6-fluoro-α,β- d -glucopyranosyl fluoride as the glycosyl donor, a suitably protected methyl α-isomaltotrioside as the nucleophile, and silver perchlorate as the promoter. The n.m.r. spectra (1H- and 13C-) of numerous synthetic intermediates were analyzed and completely assigned by a variety of two-dimensional homo- and hetero-nuclear n.m.r.-spectroscopic techniques, and the final deprotected title oligosaccharides were characterized by 13C-n.m.r. data. Silver perchlorate-mediated glycosylation reactions involving β-glycosyl chlorides were high-yielding and showed high stereo-selectivity for the formation of an α-(cis)-glycosidic linkage. The practical limitation of obtaining high isomalto-oligosaccharides in this way appears to lie solely in the separation technique applied for the resolution of the crude products formed.
Stories from the Cage Autoethnographic Sensemaking of Workplace Bullying, Gender Discrimination, and White Privilege

This autoethnography examines white privilege and systemic discrimination within contexts of my experiences as a white woman encountering workplace bullying, presented and examined on three levels. In sections marked “Then,” I integrate my own memories of my employment at AAA. In sections titled “Now,” I analyze my experiences through three interpretive lenses: first workplace bullying, then cultural enactments of gender discrimination, and finally white privilege theory to reinterpret the organizational dynamics that took place at AAA. In a section called “Next Time,” I present descriptions of what I would do differently given what I know now in the form of two letters. Throughout, I engage in self-investigation and self-implication. In short, through weaving together the past, present, and future of my experiences, sense-making, and theoretical prose, I examine the intersections of race, class, and gender in workplace bullying behaviors, to make sense of my experiences and to help others.
The insulin-like growth factor axis in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis consists of two IGFs and six IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) that regulate proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. Malnutrition and inflammation alter the IGF axis. The authors evaluated circulating IGFs and IGFBPs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at the time of presentation and compared them with values obtained during remission. METHODS: Seventeen newly diagnosed pediatric IBD patients were studied on presentation and during remission. Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI) and serum protein assay. The Lloyd-Still and Green IBD clinical scoring system was used. IGF-I and IGF-II levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, and IGFBP-3 levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay. IGFBPs were quantified on ligand blots with a PhosphorImager. RESULTS: Body mass index and IBD clinical scores improved after treatment: 18.7 +/- 3.0 versus 21.3 +/- 3.0 kg/m (P = 0.023) and 74.6 +/- 16.7 versus 93.1 +/- 7.4 (P< 0.001), respectively. Protein changes were insignificant. IGFBP-3 levels increased from time of first evaluation to remission: 3,470 +/- 850 versus 4,700 +/- 473 ng/mL (P< 0.001). The ratio of IGFBP-3 to IGFBP-2 increased from first evaluation to remission: 1.7 +/- 1.9 versus 3.9 +/- 1.9 (P= 0.003). IGF-I and IGF-II levels also increased: 139 +/- 167 versus 223 +/- 118 ng/mL (P= 0.011) and 307 +/- 111 versus 386 +/- 73 ng/mL (P= 0.007), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating IGFBP-3 levels were low during active IBD and increased at remission in parallel with the IGF-I levels. The IGFBP-3 to IGFBP-2 ratio was altered in the presence of active disease in a manner that would reduce IGF-I action. This abnormality improved after treatment.
Human ultrasociality and the invisible hand: foundational developments in evolutionary science alter a foundational concept in economics

Advances in the study of social behavior require a revision in the economic concept of the invisible hand, which states that self-interested behavior leads to well-functioning societies without individuals having the welfare of the society in mind. Evolutionary theory shows that self-interest does not robustly benefit the common good because behaviors that are “for the good of the group” seldom maximize relative fitness within the group. The evolution of group-level functional organization requires a process of group-level selection. Species that have become highly adaptive at the group level are called ultrasocial. The idea that an invisible hand leads to social harmony is valid primarily for ultrasocial species, where selection at the group level results in individual-level behaviors that produce group-beneficial outcomes. Individuals do not necessarily have the welfare of the group in mind, but neither do their behaviors or underlying proximate mechanisms resemble the economic concept of self-interest. Evolutionary science therefore provides a valid concept of the invisible hand, but one that is different from the received version, with far-reaching implications for economics, politics, and public policy.
Global environmental impacts of agricultural expansion: The need for sustainable and efficient practices

Abstract The recent intensification of agriculture, and the prospects of future intensification, will have major detrimental impacts on the nonagricultural terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the world. The doubling of agricultural food production during the past 35 years was associated with a 6.87-fold increase in nitrogen fertilization, a 3.48-fold increase in phosphorus fertilization, a 1.68-fold increase in the amount of irrigated cropland, and a 1.1-fold increase in land in cultivation. Based on a simple linear extension of past trends, the anticipated next doubling of global food production would be associated with approximately 3-fold increases in nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization rates, a doubling of the irrigated land area, and an 18% increase in cropland. These projected changes would have dramatic impacts on the diversity, composition, and functioning of the remaining natural ecosystems of the world, and on their ability to provide society with a variety of essential ecosystem services. The largest impacts would be on freshwater and marine ecosystems, which would be greatly eutrophied by high rates of nitrogen and phosphorus release from agricultural fields. Aquatic nutrient eutrophication can lead to loss of biodiversity, outbreaks of nuisance species, shifts in the structure of food chains, and impairment of fisheries. Because of aerial redistribution of various forms of nitrogen, agricultural intensification also would eutrophy many natural terrestrial ecosystems and contribute to atmospheric accumulation of greenhouse gases. These detrimental environmental impacts of agriculture can be minimized only if there is much more efficient use and recycling of nitrogen and phosphorus in agroecosystems.
A study of kinetic effects due to using microfibrous entrapped zinc oxide sorbents for hydrogen sulfide removal

Abstract A modified Amundson model was proposed to characterize breakthrough curves during gas phase desulfurization using fixed bed reactors. It contains two characteristic variables: saturation time ( τ ) and shape factor (lumped K ). The model has been verified experimentally at 400 ∘ C . Combined with mass transfer correlations, the model was utilized to investigate kinetic influences due to using microfibrous entrapped sorbent (MFES) with high void volume fraction. Because of the utilization of nanosize ZnO grains supported on highly porous SiO 2 particles (100– 200 μ m ), the intra-particle diffusion resistance of MFES was minimized resulting in a saturation capacity near the theoretical value. The microfibrous entrapment and the use of small sorbent particles enhanced the external mass transfer rate; the high void volume fraction reduced the capacity density resulting in increased overall lumped K. As a result, MFES demonstrated a longer breakthrough time, a sharper breakthrough curve, and higher ZnO utilization than ZnO extrudates tested at equivalent conditions. Moreover, MFES can be optimally used as a polishing layer at the downstream end of a packed bed to maximize the overall desulfurization performance.
Soft Real-Time Scheduling on Performance Asymmetric Multicore Platforms

This paper discusses an approach for supporting soft real-time periodic tasks in Linux on performance asymmetric multicore platforms (AMPs). Such architectures consist of a large number of processing units on one or several chips, where each processing unit is capable of executing the same instruction set at a different performance level. We discuss deficiencies of Linux in supporting periodic real-time tasks, particularly when cores are asymmetric, and how such deficiencies were overcome. We also investigate how to provide good performance for non-real-time tasks in the presence of a real-time workload. We show that this can be done by using deferrable servers to explicitly reserve a share of each core for non-real-time tasks. This allows non-real-time tasks to have priority over real-time tasks when doing so will not cause timing requirements to be violated, thus improving non-real-time response times. Experiments show that even small deferrable servers can have a dramatic impact on non-real-time task performance
Ascending visceral regulation of cortical affective information processing

Over a century ago, William James proposed that strong emotions represent the perceptual consequences of somato-visceral feedback. Although the strong form of this conception is no longer viable, considerable evidence has accumulated indicating a range of visceral influences on higher neurobehavioural processes. This literature has only recently begun to consolidate, because earlier reports generally remained at the demonstration level, and pathways and mechanisms for such influences were uncertain. Recently, specific effects of visceral feedback have become apparent on cortical activity, cerebral auditory-evoked responses, anxiety, memory and behavioural aspects of immunological sickness. Moreover, considerable progress has been made recently in determining the specific neural pathways and systems underlying these actions, especially the role of noradrenergic projections from the nucleus of the tractus solitarius and the locus coeruleus to the amygdala in memory processes, and to the basal forebrain in the processing of anxiety-related information. The present paper highlights selected recent findings in this area, and outlines relevant structures and pathways involved in the ascending visceral influence on higher neurobehavioural processes.
A measure of food seeking in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Background Individuals with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), a chromosome 15 genetic disorder, often have a significant preoccupation with food and problem behaviour related to food seeking is often prevalent. Methods In the present study, we compared how individuals with PWS responded on a survey regarding the acceptability of food in various locations that varied according to degree of appropriateness for human consumption (e.g. food on a plate, food in a garbage can). For a subgroup of participants, we observed how they actually responded when placed in a room with food items placed in the same locations depicted in the survey. In the first part of the study, three groups (25 typically developing individuals, 7 individuals with intellectual disability (ID), and 19 individuals with PWS) responded to a visual survey to determine the degree of acceptability of food items in various locations (e.g. on a table near a hairbrush, on the floor behind a toy box, in a trash can). In the second part of the study, these food items (popcorn, jelly beans) were placed in the 12 locations described above. Nine individuals diagnosed with PWS (deletion type) and three individuals with ID were given some break time in the room for 15 min. The amount of food consumed, the time spent food seeking, and time spent interacting with materials were measured. Results Results of the survey indicated that the PWS group differed significantly with regard to how they responded on the survey from the typically developing group, but did not differ significantly from the ID group. Results of the food seeking observations indicated that only three individuals with PWS ate a significant number of items. The three individuals did not differ from the rest of the group according to IQ or compulsivity score; however, they had significantly lower body mass index (BMI) scores and were younger than the other participants. Conclusions The findings from the survey indicate that individuals with PWS are able to discriminate the appropriateness of eating items in more or less contaminated areas; however, the amount of time spent seeking food and the amount of food covertly consumed appeared to depend more directly on age and BMI.