cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ASH 2010 meeting report—Top 10 clinically‐oriented abstracts in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)

The December 2010 American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Orlando, Florida included more than 150 abstracts in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) category. Thirty-six MDS-focused abstracts were presented in 6 oral sessions, and 120 additional abstracts were presented in 3 poster sessions. Although the 2010 ASH annual meeting included relatively little new MDS clinical trial data, with only one large randomized trial presented (the Intergroup E1905 study), it was an exciting conference from the standpoint of molecular discoveries in myeloid neoplasms, as various investigative groups presented results offering novel insights into MDS pathobiology, generated via high-throughput genomic sequencing and other innovative laboratory techniques. Here I summarize and discuss 10 MDS-related abstracts of special interest, which contain information that informs clinical practice. All 10 of these abstracts are published in full in the November 19, 2010 issue of Blood (volume 116, issue 21) and are identified here by their abstract number and title.
Intraocular recurrence of uveal melanoma after proton beam irradiation.

The authors evaluated tumor recurrence as an end point in 1077 uveal melanoma patients treated by proton beam irradiation between 1975 and 1987, with a mean follow-up of 4.0 years. Twenty tumors (1.9%) exhibited definitive growth between 4 months and 66 months after irradiation (median, 19 months): 10 were marginal recurrences, 5 were ring melanomas, 3 were uncontrolled tumors, and 2 were extrascleral extensions. Ten of these eyes were enucleated without further intervention, 2 patients died of metastases soon after the growth was detected, and 8 patients had further conservative therapy. In 5 other patients, tumor growth was suspected but unconfirmed and the eye was enucleated elsewhere; the 5-year probability of local tumor control based on 25 recurrences was 97% ± 1%. There was a nonsignificant increase in the rate of metastases among patients with documented tumor recurrence (adjusted relative risk, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.66 to 3.4). Results suggest that recurrence of uveal melanomas treated by proton beam therapy is uncommon, but that treatment failure may increase risk of death from metastasis.
Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies in Reading Extensions for Kindergarten, First Grade, and High School

The purpose of this article is to describe downward and upward extensions of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) in reading, which was originally developed for Grades 2-6. Extensions have occurred for kindergarten, first grade, and high school. We begin by describing our rationale for the development of PALS. Then we provide an overview of the Grades 2-6 PALS program and illustrate why additional PALS activities were required to address younger and older students' developmental needs. Finally, we describe the PALS extensions.
A method for the removal of rotational remanent magnetization acquired during alternating field demagnetization

Summary Experimental evidence has confirmed the existence of rotational remanent magnetization (RRM), a spurious remanence imparted to rock specimens that have been rotated in a decreasing alternating field. Sediments with low magnetic stability systematically acquired RRM while being demagnetized in fields of 50—200 Oe. Our results were obtained from demagnetization equipment utilizing a four-axis specimen holder. When a demagnetization run was repeated in the same peak field, but with the specimen holder's direction of rotation reversed, RRM was created that was equal and opposite to the RRM of the previous run. The spurious magnetization can be removed by averaging the paleomagnetic vectors obtained from two demagnetization runs carried out with forward and backward rotations of the specimen. Besides removing RRM, doubledemagnetization is desirable because it gives an estimate of the directional dispersion due to random noise in the applied field, and thus provides a check on the reproducibility of the AF treatment.
"Boom" and "Bust" cycles in virus growth suggest multiple selective forces in influenza a evolution

Background Influenza A virus evolution in humans is driven at least in part by mutations allowing the virus to escape antibody neutralization. Little is known about the evolution of influenza in birds, a major reservoir of influenza A.
Nuclear export of signal recognition particle RNA is a facilitated process that involves the Alu sequence domain

The signal recognition particle is a cytoplasmic RNA-protein complex that mediates translocation of secretory polypeptides into the endoplasmic reticulum. We have used a Xenopus oocyte microinjection assay to determine how signal recognition particle (SRP) RNA is exported from the nucleus. Following nuclear injection, SRP RNA accumulated in the cytoplasm while cytoplasmically injected SRP RNA did not enter the nucleus. Cytoplasmic accumulation of SRP RNA was an apparently facilitated process dependent on limiting trans-acting factors, since nuclear export exhibited saturation kinetics and was completely blocked either at low temperature or by wheat germ agglutinin, a known inhibitor of nuclear pore-mediated transport. At least one target for trans-acting factors that promote nuclear export of SRP RNA appears to be the Alu element of the molecule, since a transcript consisting of only the Alu sequence was exported from the nucleus in a temperature-dependent manner and the Alu transcript competed in the nucleus for transport with intact SRP RNA. Although the identities of trans-acting factors responsible for SRP RNA transport are at present unknown, we suggest that proteins contained within the cytoplasmic form of SRP are candidates. Consistent with this idea were the effects of a mutation in SRP RNA that prevented binding of two known SRP proteins to the Alu sequence.
66 HOW GENDER AFFECTS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIABETES MELLITUS, METABOLIC SYNDROME, AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.

Introduction Diabetets mellitus (DM) is considered a coronary risk equivalent, although the independent significance of the metabolic syndrome is controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender affects the relationship of DM and CAD and the relationship between DM and the metabolic syndrome. Methods This study included 469 patients with no known history of CAD who presented for elective cardiac catheterization, including 277 men (mean age 60 ± 11 years) and 192 women (mean age 63 ± 10 years). Patients were evaluated for presence (M+) or absence (M−) of metabolic syndrome using the NCEP-ATP III criteria. DM was defined as FBS ≥ 126 or DM Rx; CAD was defined as the presence of at least 70% stenosis in one of the three major coronary vessels or one of their significant branches, or 50% stenosis in the left main coronary artery. Relationships were assessed by using the Pearson chi-square test. Results Metabolic syndrome was present in 233 of 468 patients and was found in a significantly higher percentage of women (118/191 women vs 114/277 men, p DM+ was associated with a significantly higher incidence of CAD in both men and women. Comparing gender groups, DM+ men had a similar %CAD as DM+ women (62% vs 45%, p = NS). There was a trend toward DM+ women being more likely to have M+ than DM+ men (90% vs 75%, p = .06). DM− women were significantly more likely to have M+ than DM− men (52% vs 28%, p Conclusion DM is a risk factor for obstructive coronary artery disease in both men and women. Despite a higher incidence of M+, DM− women have a significantly lower %CAD than DM− men.
Analysis of the Measles Outbreak in Huaming Primary School Huadu Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Objective To investigate the infectious status and epidemiological characters of measles outbreaks in Huaming primary school of Huadu district, Guangzhou, in 2004. Method The outbreak of measles in Huaming primary school had been analyzed by epidemiological method. Results The measles attack rates of Huaming primary school was 8.66% which was 29.48% of the total cases in the district. The diagnosis of the cases was confirmed by the standard measles diagnosis. Conclusions The prevalence of measles can be controlled in time by early discovering, case reporting, urgent vaccination campaign and integrate measures. Strengthening the EPI for the immigrated children is an important means to prevent and control the outbreak.
A constitutive equation for the S–N fatigue behavior of metal single crystals and validation by the physical definition of fatigue endurance limit

Abstract A phenomenological constitutive equation for the stress–life (S–N) fatigue behavior of metal single crystals is presented and is validated on the basis of physical definition of fatigue endurance limit. The constitutive equation is developed here on the basis of probabilistic arguments for fatigue fracture in cyclic loading. The physical endurance limit for fatigue is taken as the stress amplitude corresponding to the critical resolved shear stress for dislocation slip initiation in ductile single crystals. It is shown that the constitutive equation is surprisingly compact and very flexible to accurately describe a wide range of S–N behaviors, as found in fatigue of nickel-based superalloy single crystals as well as in Fe and Zn single crystals. The S–N constitutive equation is also expanded by the superposition of the mean stress effect and the cyclic effect in fatigue. A remarkable outcome of this is a master S–N fatigue equation that yields S–N curves for any mean stress, on the basis of the S–N parameters for fully reversed fatigue behavior. The application of the presented equations to characterize the S–N behavior of polycrystalline materials is quite promising.
Transport Mechanism of the EIIC Glucose Superfamily of Transporters

Carbohydrate transporters of the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system are crucial for sugar uptake in bacteria; however, little is known concerning how these proteins recognize and transport carbohydrates across the cell membrane. Here we report the 2.55 A structure and functional characterization of a maltose transporter, bcMalT. The bcMalT structure is in an outward-facing conformation, in contrast with the previous structure of an N-diacetylchitobiose transporter in an inward-facing conformation. These structures identified a mobile transport domain that may undergo a roughly 20 A rigid-body movement to provide alternating access to the bound substrate from either side of the membrane. Crosslinking of pairs of cysteine residues that are distant in the crystal structures but are predicted to move close to each other in the alternate conformation provides further support for the large-scale movement of the transport domain. Potential pathways for substrate release from the inward- and outward-facing conformations are also described, including the movement of a conserved cytoplasmic loop that may control substrate access from the cytoplasmic side. These results provide a mechanistic framework for understanding substrate recognition and translocation.
Electrical characterization of Al/AlOx/molecule/Ti/Al devices

We report experimental electrical characterization of Al/AlOx/molecule/Ti/Al planar crossbar devices incorporating Langmuir–Blodgett organic monolayers of eicosanoic acid, ‘fast blue’, or chlorophyll-B. Current–voltage and capacitance–voltage measurements on all three molecular device structures exhibited controllable switching hysteresis. Control devices containing no molecules showed no evidence of switching. A model of interface trapped charge mediating electronic transport appears consistent with all of the data. This data illustrates the importance of considering the complete device system (consisting of the molecules, the electrodes, and the interfaces) when analyzing its electrical behavior.
Target tracking and pointing for arrays of phase-locked lasers

Arrays of phase-locked lasers are envisioned for planetary defense and exploration systems. High-energy beams focused on a threatening asteroid evaporate surface material, creating a reactionary thrust that alters the asteroid’s orbit. The same system could be used to probe an asteroid’s composition, to search for unknown asteroids, and to propel interplanetary and interstellar spacecraft. Phased-array designs are capable of producing high beam intensity, and allow beam steering and beam profile manipulation. Modular designs allow ongoing addition of emitter elements to a growing array. This paper discusses pointing control for extensible laser arrays. Rough pointing is determined by spacecraft attitude control. Lateral movement of the laser emitter tips behind the optical elements provides intermediate pointing adjustment for individual array elements and beam steering. Precision beam steering and beam formation is accomplished by coordinated phase modulation across the array. Added cells are incorporated into the phase control scheme by precise alignment to local mechanical datums using fast, optical relative position sensors. Infrared target sensors are also positioned within the datum scheme, and provide information about the target vector relative to datum coordinates at each emitter. Multiple target sensors allow refined determination of the target normal plane, providing information to the phase controller for each emitter. As emitters and sensors are added, local position data allows accurate prediction of the relative global position of emitters across the array, providing additional constraints to the phase controllers. Mechanical design and associated phase control that is scalable for target distance and number of emitters is presented.
Interband and intraband relaxation dynamics in InSb based quantum wells

We utilize pump/probe spectroscopy to determine the interband and intraband relaxation dynamics in InSb based quantum wells. Using non-degenerate pump/probe techniques, we observed several time scales for relaxation. One time scale τ3 ranging from 2 ps to 5 ps is due to the intraband relaxation dynamics. Here, both the emission of LO phonons (within the Γ valley) and carrier scattering between the X, L, and Γ valleys contribute to the relaxation. An observed longer relaxation time, τ2 ≈ 20 ps, is attributed to electron–hole recombination across the gap (the interband relaxation time). Finally, using a mid-infrared (MIR) degenerate pump/probe scheme, we observed a very fast relaxation time of ∼1 ps, which is due to the saturation of the band-to-band absorption. Our results are important for developing concepts for InSb devices operating in the THz or MIR optical ranges with the endless need for faster response.
Abstract 306: Proinflammatory Prostaglandin E Impairs Adrenergic Contractility in Animal Hearts

Introduction: Inflammation is a major risk factor for heart failure; inflammatory prostaglandin E is elevated in myocardium, and has been associated with development of heart failure via cardiac LV remodeling, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that proinflammatory prostaglandin signaling might affect Left ventricular contractility by directly impairing β-adrenergic (βAR) signaling. Methods and Results: Pretreatment with Prostaglandin E impairs intracellular PKA phosphorylation of substrates in myocardium and cardiac contractile responses under β-adrenergic stimulation. Both prostaglandin E and β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol induce intracellular cAMP activities in myocytes. However, the cAMP signal under prostaglandin stimulation is confined along the plasma membrane whereas the cAMP signal under isoproterenol stimulation is distributed throughout the cells, including the intracellular sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), a calcium storage compartment critical for myocyte calcium signaling and contractile response. Interestingly, the prostaglandin E-induced cAMP signal is sufficient for PKA activation, leading phosphorylation and activation of phosphodiesterase 4 on the plasma membrane, a group of enzymes associated with membrane βARs for cAMP degradation. Moreover, pretreatment of prostaglandin E prevents dissociation of phosphodiesterase 4 from βAR induced by isoproterenol, a step necessary for cAMP diffusion from the plasma membrane to the intracellular SR. Together, prostaglandin E induces activation of phosphodiesterase 4 in βAR complex and prevents the cAMP diffusion from the plasma membrane to the SR under isoproterenol stimulation, and inhibits calcium signaling and contractile response in myocytes and animal hearts. Conclusions: This study provides a novel mechanism underlying the phosphodiesterase-mediated signaling crosstalk between two neurohormonal stimulation in myocardium under chronic conditions, and suggests that proinflammatory prostaglandin signaling may impair β-adrenergic contractile in the development of heart failure.
Flow instabilities due to the interfacial formation of surfactant-fatty acid material in a Hele-Shaw cell.

We present an experimental study of pattern formation during the penetration of an aqueous surfactant solution into a liquid fatty acid in a Hele-Shaw cell. When a solution of the cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride is injected into oleic acid, a wide variety of fingering patterns are observed as a function of surfactant concentration and flow rate, which are strikingly different than the classic Saffman-Taylor (ST) instability. We observe evidence of interfacial material forming between the two liquids, causing these instabilities. Moreover, the number of fingers decreases with increasing flow rate $Q$, while the average finger width increases with $Q$, both trends opposite to the ST case. Bulk rheology on related mixtures indicates a gel-like state. Comparison of experiments using other oils indicates the importance of pH and the carboxylic head group in the formation of the surfactant--fatty acid material.
Increasing connectivity between metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology.

Metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology aim to understand how spatial structure influences ecological processes, yet these disciplines address the problem using fundamentally different modeling approaches. Metapopulation models describe how the spatial distribution of patches affects colonization and extinction, but often do not account for the heterogeneity in the landscape between patches. Models in landscape ecology use detailed descriptions of landscape structure, but often without considering colonization and extinction dynamics. We present a novel spatially explicit modeling framework for narrowing the divide between these disciplines to advance understanding of the effects of landscape structure on metapopulation dynamics. Unlike previous efforts, this framework allows for statistical inference on landscape resistance to colonization using empirical data. We demonstrate the approach using 11 yr of data on a threatened amphibian in a desert ecosystem. Occupancy data for Lithobates chiricahuensis (Chiricahua leopard frog) were collected on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR), Arizona, USA from 2007 to 2017 following a reintroduction in 2003. Results indicated that colonization dynamics were influenced by both patch characteristics and landscape structure. Landscape resistance increased with increasing elevation and distance to the nearest streambed. Colonization rate was also influenced by patch quality, with semi-permanent and permanent ponds contributing substantially more to the colonization of neighboring ponds relative to intermittent ponds. Ponds that only hold water intermittently also had the highest extinction rate. Our modeling framework can be widely applied to understand metapopulation dynamics in complex landscapes, particularly in systems in which the environment between habitat patches influences the colonization process.
Legacy effects of a regional drought on aboveground net primary production in six central US grasslands

Global climate models predict increases in the frequency and severity of drought worldwide, directly affecting most ecosystem types. Consequently, drought legacy effects (drought-induced alterations in ecosystem function postdrought) are expected to become more common in ecosystems varying from deserts to grasslands to forests. Drought legacies in grasslands are usually negative and reduce ecosystem function, particularly after extended drought. Moreover, ecosystems that respond strongly to drought (high sensitivity) might be expected to exhibit the largest legacy effects the next year, but this relationship has not been established. We quantified legacy effects of a severe regional drought in 2012 on postdrought (2013) aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in six central US grasslands. We predicted that (1) the magnitude of drought legacy effects measured in 2013 would be positively related to the sensitivity of ANPP to the 2012 drought, and (2) drought legacy effects would be negative (reducing 2013 ANPP relative to that expected given normal precipitation amounts). The magnitude of legacy effects measured in 2013 was strongly related (r2 = 0.88) to the sensitivity of ANPP to the 2012 drought across these six grasslands. However, contrary to expectations, positive legacy effects (greater than expected ANPP) were more commonly observed than negative legacy effects. Thus, while the sensitivity of ANPP to drought may be a useful predictor of the magnitude of legacy effects, short-term (1-year) severe droughts may cause legacy effects that are more variable than those observed after multiyear droughts.
Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior Lesions

SLAP tears are commonly identified injuries in the overhead throwing athlete, but also occur in the non-athlete population. Identifying and treating them appropriately is important for shoulder and sports surgeons.
Acid-Catalyzed O-Glycosylation with Stable Thioglycoside Donors

Two classes of thioglycoside, 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-butenylthioglycosides (MBTGs) and 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-pentenylthioglycosides (MPTGs), undergo acid-catalyzed O-glycosylations with a range of sugar and nonsugar alcohols at 25 °C. Electron density at the styrene alkene is critical for reactivity while sugar protecting group patterns have a minimal effect. In contrast with most methods for thioglycoside activation, acid-catalyzed activation of MBTGs is compatible with electroneutral alkenes.
Building a Data System for LCLS-II

The volume of data generated by the upcoming LCLS-II upgrade will present a considerable challenge for data acquisition, data processing, and data management. According to current estimates, one instrument could generate instantaneous data rates of hundreds of GB/s. In this highthroughput regime, it will be necessary to reduce the data on-thefly prior to writing it to persistent storage. Even with data compression, it is expected that operating all four new instruments will produce an estimated 100 PB of data in the first year alone. We present a description of the envisioned LCLS-II Data System, which provides a scalable data acquisition system to acquire shot-by-shot data at repetition rates up to 1 MHz, an inline data reduction pipeline that provides a configurable set of tools including feature extraction, data compression, and event veto to reduce the amount of data written to disk, an analysis software framework for the timely processing of this data set, and an expanded data management system for accessing experiment data and meta-data.
Automatic IQ estimation using stylometry methods.

Stylometry is a study of text linguistic properties that brings together various field of research such as statistics, linguistics, computer science and more. Stylometry methods have been used for historic investigation, as forensic evidence and educational tool. This thesis presents a method to automatically estimate individual’s IQ based on quality of writing and discusses challenges associated with it. The method utilizes various text features and NLP techniques to calculate metrics which are used to estimate individual’s IQ. The results show a high degree of correlation between expected and estimated IQs in cases when IQ is within the average range. Obtaining good estimation for IQs on the high and low ends of the spectrum proves to be more challenging and this work offers several reasons for that. Over the years stylometry benefitted from wide exposure and interest among researches, however it appears that there aren’t many studies that focus on using stylometry methods to estimate individual’s intelligence. Perhaps this work presents the first in-depth attempt to do so
Counternarratives of Youth Participation Among Black Girls

In this article, we examine diverse forms of youth participation among Black girls through an analysis of 390 application responses for a leadership and empowerment conference. Using a counternarra...
Renormalization-group study of the many-body localization transition in one dimension

Using a new approximate strong-randomness renormalization group (RG), we study the many-body localized (MBL) phase and phase transition in one-dimensional quantum systems with short-range interactions and quenched disorder. Our RG is built on those of Zhang et al. [Phys. Rev. B 93, 224201 (2016)] and Goremykina et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 040601 (2019)], which are based on thermal and insulating blocks. Our main addition is to characterize each insulating block with two lengths: a physical length and an internal decay length $\ensuremath{\zeta}$ for its effective interactions. In this approach, the MBL phase is governed by a RG fixed line that is parametrized by a global decay length $\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\zeta}}$, and the rare large thermal inclusions within the MBL phase have a fractal geometry. As the phase transition is approached from within the MBL phase, $\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\zeta}}$ approaches the finite critical value corresponding to the avalanche instability, and the fractal dimension of large thermal inclusions approaches zero. Our analysis is consistent with a Kosterlitz-Thouless-like RG flow, with no intermediate critical MBL phase.
Re-printing, Re-citing, and Re-circulating Romanticisms and the Question of Commitment

Literary history is comprised of a sweeping panorama of aesthetic practices and historical contexts that coalesce imprecisely into historical periods and literary movements. Romanticism, most schol...
Missed psychosocial risk factors during routine preoperative evaluations are associated with increased complications after elective cancer surgery

Abstract Background Certain behavioral traits and inadequate social support are known risk factors for complications after cancer surgery. Despite their importance, it is unclear whether conventional patient preoperative evaluation captures them. This study was conducted to assess concordance between documentation and patient survey of selected risk factors and to determine whether failure to document affected postoperative outcomes. Methods Adult patients at a tertiary academic medical center were surveyed before abdominal cancer surgery to assess 6 psychosocial risk factors. Risk factors were also assessed by retrospective chart review and compared with survey results through concordance measures. Thirty-day postoperative complications were abstracted by chart review. Rates of major complications for those with and without clinically missed risk factors were compared. Results Comparisons between chart review and screening survey revealed poor-to-moderate positive agreement (0%–47%) for 5 risk factors and strong negative agreement (82%–99%) among all risk factors. Kappa analysis demonstrated poor-to-fair agreement among 5 risk factors (κ = 0.112–0.423). The overall complication rate was 36%. The complication rate for patients with at least 1 clinically missed risk factor was 49% vs 24% in those without (P = .021), with a similar effect replicated for each individual risk factor. Conclusion This study shows a high level of discordance between formal screening and routine clinician documentation in a preoperative setting for psychosocial risk factors. There is a significant association between missing these risk factors and worse postoperative outcomes. Future work should examine whether structured screening of psychosocial risk factors may improve preoperative risk stratification through proactive interventions.
Technology in Physical Education Teacher Education: A Call to Action

Teacher education programs have been tasked with the responsibility to develop educators who can successfully infuse technology into their teaching. Despite standards-based expectations, a plethora...
COMPUTING ILL-POSED TIME-REVERSED 2D NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS, USING A STABILIZED EXPLICIT FINITE DIFFERENCE SCHEME MARCHING BACKWARD IN TIME.

This paper constructs an unconditionally stable explicit finite difference scheme, marching backward in time, that can solve an interesting but limited class of ill-posed, time-reversed, 2D incompr...
Determining nurse practitioner core competencies using a Delphi approach.

Background Competency-based education (CBE) has been recommended for nurse practitioner (NP) education. To implement CBE, existing NP core competencies need to be reduced in number and refined. Purpose This study refined and reduced redundancy in the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) NP core competencies through the consensus of experts in NP practice. This study used the current NP Core Competencies (NONPF, 2017), the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006), and the Common Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Doctoral-Level Competencies (AACN, 2017a) because these documents are the competencies-accredited NP programs commonly used in curriculum development. The primary aim of this study was to refine and reduce redundancy of these competencies; a secondary aim was to ensure that the final competencies were clear and measurable. Methods A Delphi approach was used to reach consensus among an expert panel who reviewed the core competencies via an online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate median and interquartile ranges; content analysis was conducted with qualitative data. Results Consensus was reached after 3 rounds and resulted in 49 final core competencies. Implications for practice This study provides the NP community with a manageable list of relevant, clear, and measurable competencies that faculty members can use to implement CBE in their programs.
Exploring Optimal Control Strategies for Enhanced Grid Frequency Regulation

Grid resources for which discrete power modulation is the only available control mechanism are currently underutilized in addressing the grid frequency regulation problem. Enabling such resources to participate in grid frequency regulation has potential for improving power system stability. This work addresses the problem from two directions. The first approach investigates the optimal discrete pulse input of a controller which injects power into the system with the goal of minimizing the frequency deviation. The input sequence is characterized by three parameters which determine its start-time, end-time, and magnitude. An interior-point optimization algorithm is applied to find the optimal pulse input. Contour and level set plots for fixed values of the pulse magnitude are also examined. The second approach examines an optimal control strategy for minimizing frequency deviation. An optimal control framework for the frequency regulation problem is presented which also includes a discussion of the linearized model. The optimal control problem is solved using a forward-backward sweep method, and a quantization algorithm is used to discretize the solution. The results of the optimal control strategies show a clear potential for discrete power modulation in grid frequency regulation which demonstrates that optimal control is an effective framework for investigating such strategies.
High Prevalence of Erythrasma in Patients with Inverse Psoriasis: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Inverse psoriasis is characterized by erythematous nonscaly plaques in intertriginous regions. Similarly, erythrasma, a superficial infection caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum (C. minutissimum), is also found in skin folds with red-brown lesions, making the distinction between psoriasis and erythrasma difficult. No studies have previously determined whether these two clinically similar cutaneous disorders can occur concurrently. METHODS: Thirty patients with inverse psoriatic plaques were examined using a standard Wood's lamp to visualize porphyrins associated with C. minutissimum. RESULTS: Just over half (56.6%) of patients with inverse psoriatic plaques showed evidence of this bacterium. Specifically, 45.5 percent of inverse psoriatic lesions were found to be positive for C. minutissimum, with the highest prevalence of erythrasma located in the gluteal cleft. CONCLUSION: Clinical suspicion for C. minutissimum should be high in patients with inverse psoriasis due to the organism's potential to trigger or exacerbate psoriatic lesions. Further studies are indicated to determine the response to treatment in patients with this combination.
Digitale Teilhabe im Alter: Aktivierung oder Diskriminierung?

Die Teilhabe an der digitalen Lebenswelt gilt oft als Versprechen fur altere Menschen, Begleiterscheinungen des Alterwerdens zu kompensieren. Onlinebanking und Online Shopping sichern bei Immobilitat die Inanspruchnahme von basalen Dienstleistungen. Digitale soziale Netzwerke lindern die durch die zunehmende Morbiditat geforderte Isolation. Doch diese vielversprechenden Kompensationen der negativen Aspekte des physischen und kognitiven Alterungsprozesses durch neue Technologien oder ‚Ambient (& Active) Assisted Living Systeme‘ fuhren nicht nur zu einem Autonomiegewinn im Leben alterer Menschen. Der erlebte Autonomieverlust, neue Technologien aufgrund von physischen und kognitiven Einschrankungen nicht oder nicht mehr bedienen zu konnen, kann zu Alterszuschreibungen fuhren, die dem normativ vorherrschenden ‚jungen‘ und ‚aktiven‘ Altersbild nicht oder nicht mehr entsprechen. Auch die Selbstverortungen alterer Menschen im Spektrum des Altseins werden nicht zuletzt durch die Erfahrungen der Uberforderung, der Abhangigkeit von der Unterstutzung – zumeist jungerer – Dritter und des Ausschlusses von den Nutzungsmoglichkeiten digitaler Medien beeinflusst, vor allem dann, wenn der Autonomieverlust aufgrund der Einschrankungen des Altwerdens den Alteren ihr tatsachliches Alter vor Augen halt. Diese Ambivalenz zwischen dem sich noch ‚jung fuhlen‘ und dem ‚aktiv sein‘ alterer Menschen sowie den zunehmenden Grenzsetzungen aufseiten der Digitalisierung ihrer Lebenswelt mochte dieser Beitrag anhand empirischer Befunde kritisch gegenuberstellen.
Racial Differences in Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders among Pediatric Surgical Patients in the United States.

Background: Very few studies have investigated the racial differences in do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders in children, and these studies are limited to oncological cases. We aim to characterize the ...
Tremor Research Group Essential Tremor Rating Scale (TETRAS): Assessing Impact of Different Item Instructions and Procedures.

Introduction: The Tremor Research Group Essential Tremor Rating Scale (TETRAS) is a well-validated instrument to assess essential tremor. However, similar to all other tremor rating scales, specific instructions for individual tasks are based mostly on expert opinion and tradition. Several tasks have multiple possible variations that have never been compared to determine if they impact score. Methods: Using blinded, randomized videotapes, a group of tremor experts evaluated multiple ET patients to determine: 1. whether assessments of spirals and writing samples are similar if the rater only sees the end result as opposed to actually watching the task, 2. whether arm tremor ratings (postural and wing-beating) are similar if the subjects hold both hands out concurrently vs. if they only hold one arm out at a time, 3. whether heal to shin tremor scores vary between supine and sitting, and 4. compared cursive vs script writing samples. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were excellent (>0.95) for all arm assessments. Writing tremor was rated worse if only rating the spiral/writing photos (p Discussion: Minor procedure differences when administering the TETRAS can significantly alter results.
Psychological distance in mobile telepresence

Abstract We compared psychological distance in a mock job interview that was conducted either in-person or via mobile telepresence. In the mobile telepresence setting, the interviewers communicated through a telepresence robot. In one of the first explorations of how mobile telepresence affected psychological distance, we analyzed use of pronouns that suggested distance or closeness, and we also analyzed interviewer behavior (backchanneling) across the conditions. In addition, we analyzed stories told as part of the interview. We looked at elements of the stories as well as how interviewees interacted with physical objects on a table in front of them. We found that mobile telepresence disrupts conversational processes and content and amplifies psychological distance. There were fewer backchannels in the mobile telepresence setting and changed story elements. Interviewees also made use of objects differently in the mobile telepresence setting. Pronoun use went against our hypotheses, but can be interpreted as a response to psychological distance. Taken together, the evidence suggests that in-person interviews are more grounded and interactive than interviews via mobile telepresence robots.
Cellular localizations of AMPA glutamate receptors within the basal forebrain magnocellular complex of rat and monkey

The cellular distributions of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors within the rodent and nonhuman primate basal forebrain magnocellular complex (BFMC) were demonstrated immunocytochemically using anti-peptide antibodies that recognize glutamate receptor (GluR) subunit proteins (i.e., GluR1, GluR4, and a conserved region of GluR2, GluR3, and GluR4c). In both species, many large GluR1-positive neuronal perikarya and aspiny dendrites are present within the medial septal nucleus, the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca, and the nucleus basalis of Meynert. In this population of neurons in rat and monkey, GluR2/3/4c and GluR4 immunoreactivities are less abundant than GluR1 immunoreactivity. In rat, GluR1 does not colocalize with ChAT, but, within many neurons, GluR1 does colocalize with GABA, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and parvalbumin immunoreactivities. GluR1- and GABA/GAD-positive neurons intermingle extensively with ChAT-positive neurons. In monkey, however, most GluR1-immunoreactive neurons express ChAT and calbindin-D28 immunoreactivities. The results reveal that noncholinergic GABAergic neurons, within the BFMC of rat, express AMPA receptors, whereas cholinergic neurons in the BFMC of monkey express AMPA receptors. Thus, the cellular localizations of the AMPA subtype of GluR are different within the BFMC of rat and monkey, suggesting that excitatory synaptic regulation of distinct subsets of BFMC neurons may differ among species. We conclude that, in the rodent, BFMC GABAergic neurons receive glutamatergic inputs, whereas cholinergic neurons either do not receive glutamatergic synapses or utilize GluR subtypes other than AMPA receptors. In contrast, in primate, basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are innervated directly by glutamatergic afferents and utilize AMPA receptors.
Chronic low back pain: new perspectives and treatment guidelines for primary care: Part I.

Low back pain is a leading cause of work-related disability and has important socioeconomic consequences. Although there is little evidence to determine the optimal treatment of chronic low back pain, treatment goals can be established. Primary care providers should focus simultaneously on pain management, improvement of activity and functional level, and fostering a greater understanding of chronic low back pain. This two-part article summarizes consensus guidelines developed by practitioners with expertise in pain management, family medicine, internal medicine, physical therapy, rheumatology, and managed care and provides direction for primary care providers on a multidisciplinary approach to the patient with chronic low back pain. This part examines pharmacologic methods.
Call Auctions with Contingent Orders

We introduce a new mechanism for call auctions which are widely used in stock exchanges. By incorporating contingent claims (buy stock A, if selling stock B) into the price discovery process, we achieve a higher liquidity in call auctions and lower volatility after opening call auctions. We also show that present call auctions and the proposed mechanism have similar incentive properties.
Influence of attitudes, normative beliefs, and situational variables on physicians' use of pharmacists as drug information consultants

The Fishbein Behavioral Intention Model was used as a conceptual framework to explain physicians' use of pharmacists as drug information consultants (DICs) at a Midwest teaching hospital. Questionnaires based on the Fishbein model were mailed to 405 physicians practicing in a teaching hospital. The questionnaire explored the effects of situational variables and of physicians' attitudes and normative beliefs on the use of pharmacists as DICs. The response rate was 22.9%. Regression analysis showed the principal determinant of a physician's intention to use a DIC was the presence of a situation involving an adverse drug reaction. Physicians sought DIC services strictly for their functional benefits. The findings indicated that physician acceptance of DICs can be increased by documenting the benefits of DIC services, and by increasing pharmacist accessibility in the patient-care setting. Comprehensive theroretical frameworks with the Fishbein model can be used to explain and predict physician interaction with DICs and to develop strategies for altering physician behavior.
Homing Devices: The Poor as Targets of Public Housing Policy and Practice by Marilyn M. Thomas-Houston and Mark Schuller

Marilyn M. Thomas-Houston and Mark Schuller, Homing Devices: The Poor as Targets of Public Housing Policy and Practice (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2006).The role of government in public policy is...
Partial binary decision diagrams

Decision diagrams provide compact representations for discrete functions. There are some functions for which binary decision diagrams reach exponential size. Presented here is a method of representing Boolean functions as multiple partial decision diagrams.
GEPI: genetically engineered proteins for inorganics as molecular erectors in nanotechnology and bio-technology

Controlled binding and assembly of proteins onto inorganics is at the core of biological materials science and engineering with wide ranging applications. Biological tissues are models for technological systems as they have excellent combination of physical and chemical properties due to their highly controlled surface chemistry, structures, dimensions and morphologies. A common denominator in all biological tissues is the presence of proteins, which may be enzymes, nucleators, habit modifiers, functional units, and scaffolds, and control intricate nano and microstructures of biocomposites hierarchically through specific biochemical interactions with other organic and inorganic structures. For developing truly biomimetic, reliable, and robust hybrid (inorganic/organic) materials systems for practical applications, we must use proteins that are designed, selected, or engineered to have specific affinity to functional inorganics. Using combinatorial biological techniques, i.e., phage display and cell-surface display, we isolate polypeptides (and further engineer them) with specific recognition elements for inorganic surfaces, including those not realized by natural proteins, in the absence of apriori prediction of necessary structures. We show that these Genetically Engineered Proteins for Inorganics (GEPI) are can be used as molecular erector sets for nanoassembly of functional materials including inorganics and synthetic polymers. The GEPIs could have significant potential applications by providing self-assembled functional molecular substrates in nano and biotechnologies. We hybridize GEPI with synthetic monomers that self-assemble onto selected substrates for nanoelectronics. We also demonstrate controlled, directed assembly of target molecules (protein or DNA) onto probes genetically fused to GEPI resulting in potential molecular substrates for utility in genomics and proteomics. Supported by a DURINT project through US-ARO.
Molecular dynamics simulations of hydrophobic associations in aqueous salt solutions indicate a connection between water hydrogen bonding and the Hofmeister effect.

Although the often profound effects of neutral salts on protein solubility were first identified over a century ago by Hofmeister, a general molecular explanation of these effectscapable of accounting even for salts with highly anomalous behaviorhas yet to be established. As one way toward developing such an explanation, we aim here to quantify how eight simple monovalent salts alter the association thermodynamics of hydrophobic solute-pairs in a series of 1 μs explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations. For both methane−methane and neopentane−neopentane associations, the salt-induced strengthening of the hydrophobic interaction observed in the simulations is found to be highly correlated with corresponding experimental solubility data; the computed changes in interaction free energy are also found to be quantitatively predictable using the preferential interaction formalism of Timasheff (Timasheff, S. N. Adv. Protein Chem. 1998, 51, 355−432). From additional simulations of 20 different pure salt sol...
An airway phantom to standardize CT acquisition in multicenter clinical trials.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the use of a phantom to standardize low-dose chest computed tomographic (CT) protocols in children with cystic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Spiral chest CT scans of a Plexiglas phantom simulating airway sizes (internal diameter, 1.1-16.4 mm; wall thickness, 0.4-4.6 mm) in children with cystic fibrosis were obtained using two multidetector CT (MDCT) scanners (GE VCT and Siemens Sensation 64). Quantitative airway measurements from both scanners were compared with micro-CT airway measurements over a range of doses (0.2-1.8 mSv) to evaluate bias and variance of measurements. The effective doses for CT protocols were estimated using the ImPACT CT Patient Dosimetry Calculator. RESULTS Both MDCT scanners were able to accurately measure airway sizes down to 3 mm internal diameter and 1.3 mm airway wall thickness, with errors of <3.5%. ImPACT estimates of effective dose were different for the MDCT scanners for a given peak tube voltage and product of tube current and exposure time. Accuracy and precision were not found to be associated with dose parameters for either machine. Bias in all measurements was strongly associated with airway diameter (P values < .00001), but the magnitude of bias was small (mean, 0.07 mm; maximum, 0.21 mm). Differences between machines in error components were on the order of a few micrometers. CONCLUSIONS The use of a standard airway phantom confirms that different MDCT scanners have similar results within dose ranges planned for potential future clinical trials. Standardized protocols can be developed that adjust for differences in radiation exposure for different MDCT scanners.