cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design, Biological Properties and Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides

Antisense is the term used to describe the application of a nucleic acid of complementary sequence to the sense sequence of a messenger RNA, in order to downregulate gene expression by intervening in translation (Fig. 1). The antisense molecule can itself be an mRNA, and this has been found to occur as a natural regulatory mechanism (Murray, 1992). Or with more relevance to therapeutic approaches, the antisense molecule can be an oligonucleotide, that is synthesized chemically. Because it is easier to synthesize oligodeoxynucleotides than oligoribonucleotides using an automated procedure, these are the derivates that are used for most antisense applications. Since the area of antisense has been widely reviewed (Ghosh and Cohen, 1992; Murray, 1992), this article will contain only a brief introduction to the topic, and will then focus on the delivery of oligonucleotides as antisense compounds.
School racial composition and lifetime non-medical use of prescription painkillers: Evidence from the national longitudinal study of adolescent to adult health.

Abstract Objective To investigate the possible effects of middle and high school racial composition on later reporting of lifetime non-medical use of prescription painkillers (NMUPP) in young adulthood, and to explore whether there is evidence of variability by individual race/ethnicity in such effects. Methods Using data from Wave 1 (1994/5) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we categorized the sample's 52 middle schools and 80 high schools as majority (>50%) non-Hispanic white, majority non-Hispanic black, or neither. We used two-level hierarchical modeling to explore associations between individual- and school-level race at Wave 1 and lifetime prescription painkiller misuse reported at Wave 4. We included a cross-level interaction between individual race and school racial composition to assess variability in school-level associations by race. Results Overall crude prevalence of lifetime NMUPP in majority white schools (17.9%) was over three times that of prevalence in majority black schools (4.8%), and also higher than prevalence in schools neither predominantly black nor predominantly white (12.4%). Lifetime misuse among blacks in majority white schools was more prevalent (5.2%) than among blacks in black schools (2.8%), as was misuse among whites in white schools (19.3%) compared to their white peers in black schools (15.7%). Two-level random intercept Poisson regression results suggest that attendance in a majority black secondary school lowered a participant's risk of lifetime NMUPP (compared to attending a majority white school: RR=0.66, p = 0.03). Compared to blacks in black schools, blacks in white schools had twice the risk of prescription painkiller misuse (p = 0.004) over a decade later, and whites in white schools had 5.5 times the risk (p = 0.01). The risk ratio comparing whites in black schools to whites in white schools was not significant (RR: 1.30; p = 0.37). Conclusions We found evidence of an effect of school racial composition on the risk of misusing prescription painkillers over a decade later, over and above individual race, with higher risk of misuse reported among participants who had attended white schools. Black participants who had attended predominantly white schools were, on average, twice as likely to report lifetime misuse of prescription painkillers compared to blacks who had attended black schools.
Plasticity of UO2 studied and quantified via elevated temperature micro compression testing

Abstract Small scale mechanical testing has many beneficial features including the ability to sample the properties of a single crystal over a wide temperature range. This manuscript presents the results of high temperature, in-situ scanning electron microscope microcompression testing of a single crystal of UO2. Observations indicated that the UO2 microcompression specimens deformed in a ductile fashion at temperatures of 350 °C and above. The slip traces on the micro-compression specimens after deformation appeared on the {100}1/2 system at the temperatures and orientation tested. Lastly, the Peierls stress of UO2 is calculated using the microcompression data.
Are Mast Cells a Biologic Predictor of Outcome in Follicular Lymphoma

Background : The tumor microenvironment is important in the biology of follicular lymphoma (FL). In addition to macrophages, which have been shown to be associated with outcome in FL, mast cells (MCs) have the ability to influence the microenvironment through secretion of numerous biologically active molecules such as growth factors and cytokines/chemokines. Increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating MCs have been suggested as an unfavorable prognostic marker that also supercedes the predictive value of lymphoma-associated macrophages (LAM) in FL patients treated with immunochemotherapy. This study examines the effects of tumor-infiltrating MCs in FL patients at Cleveland Clinic. Design : Tissue microarrays were constructed from 94 newly diagnosed cases of FL from 09/01/1985 to 12/13/2002 that had been previously characterized for CD68+ LAMs and demonstrated that extrafollicular (EF) LAMs (>16.8/high power field) were a poor prognostic marker (Kelley T et al 2007). Immunohistochemistry for tryptase was performed on these microarrays to enumerate MCs per high powered (400x) field. In each core, all available lymphomatous tissue was evaluated (mean of 8.13 hpf/case, range 1–9). The cell counts were compared to the available clinical follow-up data, using overall survival as the measurable outcome. Results: The FL patients (44 women, 50 men) had a mean age at diagnosis of 59 years and a mean follow-up of 95.8 months. The patients were treated heterogeneously; the great majority did not receive immunochemotherapy as initial treatment. MC data was available in 91 patients. The mean MC count was 4.14 MCs/hpf (range 0–17.33). As shown previously, > 16.8 EF LAMs/hpf was a predictor of poor overall survival; hazard ratio of 2.28, 95% CI: 1.22–4.24, P = .009. In the entire cohort, MCs were not associated with overall survival. However, in the subgroup with low LAM (CD68 3.3/hpf) was associated with better overall survival, HR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.16–0.99, P = .049. Conclusion: In our data set, increased LAMs in FL are associated with poor overall survival. Overall, MCs do not appear to predict outcome; however, in the subgroup of patients with low LAMs, increased MCs are associated with a favorable overall survival. This suggests a complex interaction between cellular constituents of the tumor microenvironment that affects patient outcome. The application of immunochemotherapy or other immunomodulatory therapies may alter these interactions and outcomes. Further work is needed to better understand these interactions and to validate biomarkers in therapy specific contexts.
Conflict detection for smart cities services: poster abstract

The effort of trying to integrate individual services leads to the increasing potential conflicts across smart city services. This kind of conflicts might cause unsafe environment or degrade the overall performance. In this paper, we mainly focus on conflict detection by exploring the fundamental correlations among services and intend to monitor the city's safety and performance collectively. The key insight is that there is a multi-dimensional dependency in predicted conflicts. Therefore, we propose a novel multitask learning framework to detect various conflicts simultaneously. We evaluate this service conflict detection model with a large-scale real dataset across a few transportation and environment services, including the location and transaction information from the taxi, bus and subway systems. The results show the advantage of our system.
The Effects of Experience and Client-Preferred Outcomes on Accountants' Complex Loss Valuation Judgments

Accounting stakeholders have expressed concern that client preferences unduly influence accountants' judgment. This study involving practicing forensic accountants and auditors examines the effects...
P57 Smoking and primary chronic cutaneous lupus: who are the most vulnerable?

Background/Purpose Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CCLE), including discoid lupus, often leads to scarring and disproportionately afflicts African American (AA) people. Smoking worsens the severity of skin lupus and is highly prevalent in those from disadvantaged groups. We examined sociodemographic disparities in tobacco smoking among patients with CCLE confined to the skin (primary CCLE [pCCLE]). Methods Cross-sectional study of adults with dermatologist-diagnosed pCCLE consented into the Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) Cohort. GOAL is a population-based lupus cohort established in the Southeastern US, where there is a large AA, socioeconomically disadvantaged population. pCCLE were classified as never smokers (NS, Results Among 124 patients (86% females, 82% AA), the prevalence of NS, FS, and CS was 53%, 16%, and 31%, respectively. In multivariate models adjusting for age, sex and dermatology visits (table 1), the odds of CS (vs NS) increased significantly as the DScores increased (OR=3.9 and OR=9.3 for adults with DScores of 2–3 and 4–6 [compared with DS 0–1], respectively). Odds of CS (vs FS) were also higher with higher DScores (OR=6.9 and OR=7.6 for adults with a DS of 2–3 and 4–6 [compared with DS 0–1], respectively). Conclusion Smoking is highly prevalent in patients with pCCLE. DScores were positively associated with CS and inversely associated with FS. Smoking cessation is particularly important for adults with pCCLE, and such efforts should target individuals from the most disadvantaged sociodemographic groups. Acknowledgements The GOAL Cohort is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Grant 1U01DP005119. The content of this research is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Atomic-Level Understanding of Surface Reconstruction Based on Li[NixMnyCo1–x–y]O2 Single-Crystal Studies

The stability of cathode particle surfaces that are directly exposed to the electrolyte is one of the most crucial and determining factors for cathode performance at high operating voltages. Theory...
Centering the Marginalized Student’s Voice Through Autoethnography: Implications for Engineering Education Research

Background: This autoethnography focuses on the voice of a woman of color in her journey becoming an engineering undergraduate. Purpose: Drawing on critical race theory, this counterstory illustrates structural challenges that some underrepresented students face when they pursue STEM degrees. At the same time, drawing on autoethnography, this article challenges engineering education researchers to reconsider how we engage with participants in our work. Design/Method: This collaboratively written autoethnography demonstrates how qualitative engineering education researchers might deploy relational ethics with marginalized participants. Results: This counterstory challenges the deficit-based theorizing prevalent in engineering education research and practice and, instead, shifts to an asset-based theorizing as well as needed systemic changes. Conclusions: We suggest that by collaborating as coresearchers and coauthors, participants gain the opportunity to reflect on lived experiences in unexpected ways and share power in how their stories are told. We also suggest that researchers using this alternative paradigm will recognize participants as holders and creators of knowledge and acknowledge participants as experts of their own experiences.
African American children are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection.

Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the viral etiology of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), was first reported in Wuhan, China in late 2019. Peculiarly, the virus has not caused significant impact on pediatric populations, unlike other coronaviruses (1). Children comprise only 1.7% of COVID‐19 positive cases in the United States (2). Furthermore, children are noted to have a milder disease course (3, 4). However, much is unknown about the age, gender and race risk factors of COVID‐19 among children. There has been recent evidence suggestive of higher rates of COVID‐19 and related fatality rates in African American adult communities around the United States(5). However, there is limited data, to our knowledge, whether any race or ethnicity group is at higher risk for COVID‐19 infection in children.
Behavioral inhibition system sensitivity moderates audio-visual neutral information processing

Abstract Background and objectives Misperception of other people's intention and emotions could cause and worsen interpersonal problems, thereby increasing the likelihood of developing depression and anxiety disorders among individuals who are already at risk for those conditions. Although multisensory emotional information is ubiquitous in the real world, most previous research focused exclusively on processing facial expressions. Addressing this gap, the current study examined the association between behavioral inhibition system (BIS) sensitivity and audio-visual emotional information processing. Sensitive BIS suggests heightened sensitivity to anxiety provoking stimuli and is a known risk factor for developing emotional disorders. We hypothesized that higher BIS levels would be associated with inefficient multisensory emotional processing, which might be pronounced for neutral stimuli. Methods Seventy-six undergraduates (40 women) completed a task while target faces (disgusted, happy, and neutral) were rendered invisible, and a voice (disgusted, happy, and neutral) or no voice was presented simultaneously. Participants' reaction times to indicate the location of the interocularly suppressed faces were measured. Results Individuals with lower BIS levels detected neutral faces faster when accompanied by neutral voices than by no voice; individuals with higher BIS levels, however, did not benefit from congruent auditory information when processing neutral faces. Limitations The current study cannot address whether the finding is due to attentional biases, interpretation biases, or both in individuals who are prone to become anxious. Conclusion Multisensory processing of neutral information is modulated by individuals' propensity to become anxious.
Entrepreneurship in post-Soviet Cuba: self-employed workers and non-agricultural cooperatives

The expansion of entrepreneurial activities is one of the pillars of Cuba's strategy to adopt a less paternalistic, economic model in which the non-state sector is expected to play a larger role. Primarily driven by economic reforms and a desire for greater autonomy from the state, Cuba's self-employed workers and non-agricultural cooperatives have increased significantly since 2010. This has unleashed an unprecedented level of entrepreneurial activities in one of the last bastions of communism in the Western Hemisphere. However, Cuba's self-employed workers and non-agricultural cooperatives face a wide range of institutional and economic barriers that limit their economic contributions and potential for growth. Eliminating these barriers, and drastic changes in state policies towards the emerging non-state sector, are essential requirements for the development and expansion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and for improving the living standards of the Cuban people.
Emergency Department visits for depression following police killings of unarmed African Americans.

Abstract Previous literature on racism and adverse mental health largely focuses on individual-level exposures. We investigate whether and to what extent structural racism, as measured by police killings of unarmed African Americans, affect a severe and acute mental health outcome among African Americans: depression-related Emergency Department (ED) visits. We used police killings of unarmed African Americans as our exposure and depression-related ED visits (per 100,000 population) as our outcome. We examined the relation across 75 counties from five US states between 2013 and 2015 (2700 county-months). Linear fixed effect analyses controlled for time-invariant county-factors as well as the number of hospitals and arrests for violent crimes (per 100,000 population). Police killings of unarmed African Americans correspond with an 11% increase in ED visits per 100,000 population related to depression among African Americans in the concurrent month and three months following the exposure (p
Key metabolism pathways and regulatory mechanisms of high polysaccharide yielding in Hericium erinaceus

Hericium erinaceus, a rare edible and medicine fungus, is widely used in the food and medical field. Polysaccharides from H. erinaceus are the main bioactive compound that exert high bioactive value in the medical and healthcare industries. The genome of H. erinaceus original strain HEA was reported 38.16 Mb, encoding 9780 predicted genes by single-molecule, real-time sequencing technology. The phylogenomic analysis showed that H. erinaceus had the closest evolutionary affinity with Dentipellis sp. The polysaccharide content in the fermented mycelia of mutated strains HEB and HEC, which obtained by ARTP mutagenesis in our previous study, was improved by 23.25 and 47.45%, and a new β-glucan fraction with molecular weight 1.056 × 106 Da was produced in HEC. Integrative analysis of transcriptome and proteomics showed the upregulation of the carbohydrate metabolism pathway modules in HEB and HEC might lead to the increased production of glucose-6P and promote the repeating units synthesis of polysaccharides. qPCR and PRM analysis confirmed that most of the co-enriched and differentially co-expressed genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism shared a similar expression trend with the transcriptome and proteome data in HEB and HEC. Heatmap analysis showed a noticeably decreased protein expression profile of the RAS-cAMP-PKA pathway in HEC with a highly increased 47.45% of polysaccharide content. The S phase progression blocking experiment further verified that the RAS-cAMP-PKA pathway’s dysfunction might promote high polysaccharide and β-glucan production in the mutant strain HEC. The study revealed the primary mechanism of the increased polysaccharide synthesis induced by ARTP mutagenesis and explored the essential genes and pathways of polysaccharide synthesis.
The Ultimate Halo Mass in a LCDM Universe

In the far future of an accelerating LCDM cosmology, the cosmic web of large-scale structure consists of a set of increasingly isolated halos in dynamical equilibrium. We examine the approach of collisionless dark matter to hydrostatic equilibrium using a large N-body simulation evolved to scale factor a = 100, well beyond the vacuum--matter equality epoch, a_eq ~ 0.75, and 53/h Gyr into the future for a concordance model universe (Omega_m ~ 0.3, Omega_Lambda ~ 0.7). The radial phase-space structure of halos -- characterized at a 10 a_eq when these surfaces merge to create a single zero-velocity surface, clearly defining the halo outer boundary, rhalo, and its enclosed mass, mhalo. This boundary approaches a fixed physical size encompassing a mean interior density ~ 5 times the critical density, similar to the turnaround value in a classical Einstein-deSitter model. We relate mhalo to other scales currently used to define halo mass (m200, mvir, m180b) and find that m200 is approximately half of the total asymptotic cluster mass, while m180b follows the evolution of the inner zero velocity surface for a 3. The radial density profile of all bound halo material is well fit by a truncated Hernquist profile. An NFW profile provides a somewhat better fit interior to r200 but is much too shallow in the range r200 < r < rhalo.
Underutilization of Palliative Care for Patients with Advanced Peripheral Arterial Disease.

ABSTRACT Background Advanced peripheral arterial disease is associated with an overall annual mortality between 20–40%. Amputees are at particularly high risk for perioperative and long-term mortality and may benefit from palliative care programs to improve quality of life and to align medical treatments with their goals of care. As studies of palliative care in vascular patients are scarce, we sought to examine palliative care utilization using below knee amputation (BKA) as a surrogate for advanced peripheral arterial disease. Methods All patients who underwent below knee amputation over a 5-year period at a single large academic medical center were identified through chart review. Demographics, preoperative conditions, intraoperative factors, and perioperative outcomes were recorded. The primary outcome was palliative care consultation at the time of the amputation. The secondary outcomes included one-year mortality and palliative care consultation prior to death. Results The cohort comprised 111 patients (76 men, 35 women) who received BKA for chronic limb threatening ischemia. Three patients (2.7%) received palliative care consultations at the time of their amputation. Of these, one had been obtained remotely for an oncologic condition and the others for surgical decision-making. Follow-up was available for 73 patients. One-year mortality was 21.9% (n = 16) at a mean of 102 ± 86 days after BKA. Among patients who died within 1 year of their amputation, 37.5% (n = 6) received palliative care consultations prior to their death. The median interval between amputation and palliative consultation was 26 (IQR 14–81) days. The median interval between palliative consultation and death was 9 (IQR 4–39) days. Conclusion Palliative care services were rarely provided to patients with advanced peripheral arterial disease. When obtained, consultations occurred closer to death than to amputation suggesting a missed opportunity to receive the benefits of early evaluation. Future studies can be aimed at identifying a cohort of vascular patients who would most benefit from early palliative evaluation and determining if palliative consultations alter health care utilization patterns and outcomes for vascular patients.
Structural genomics and the Protein Data Bank.

The field of Structural Genomics arose over the last 3 decades to address a large and rapidly growing divergence between microbial genomic, functional, and structural data. Several international programs took advantage of the vast genomic sequence information and evaluated the feasibility of structure determination for expanded and newly discovered protein families. As a consequence, structural genomics has developed structure-determination pipelines and applied them to a wide range of novel, uncharacterized proteins, often from "microbial dark matter," and later to proteins from human pathogens. Advances were especially needed in protein production and rapid de novo structure solution. The experimental three-dimensional models were promptly made public, facilitating structure determination of other members of the family and helping to understand their molecular and biochemical functions. Improvements in experimental methods and databases resulted in fast progress in molecular and structural biology. The Protein Data Bank structure repository played a central role in the coordination of structural genomics efforts and the structural biology community as a whole. It facilitated development of standards and validation tools essential for maintaining high quality of deposited structural data.
Re-ranking regular seasons in the National Basketball Association’s modern era : A replication and extension of Pradhan (2018)

The present study serves as a replication and extension of previous work by Pradhan (2018), which effectively ranked the top-100 seasons in the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Modern Era us...
DOAC Therapy in Patients Post Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion or Isolation

Anticoagulation for systemic disease–based risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the cornerstone of stroke prevention therapies. Limitations with contemporary anticoagulation therapies have provided a very attractive substrate for the development of alternative approaches to reduce stroke rates in patients with AF. When an intracardiac source of stroke is identified in patients with atrial fibrillation, the left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most common location. LAA closure systems compared to vitamin K antagonists lower total stroke rates, but do not reduce or may slightly increase risk of embolic strokes. Anticoagulation is critical post implantation to reduce device-related thrombus and in patients with residual leaks. Even after a successful implantation, long-term antiplatelet therapy is needed. The type of antithromboic therapy, duration of therapy, and in what combination to use is not well studied for preferential benefit. The studies that provide some evidence have relied on an endpoint of symptomatic stroke, which is a myopic view of the spectrum of brain injuries in patients with AF, and more research is needed to understand how LAA closure impact long-term risk of these many potential injuries. Finally, there remains a critical need to systematically explore the role of different long-term antithrombotic strategies in patients that receive an LAA closure device.
Soybeans as a non-Bt refuge for Helicoverpa zea in maize-cotton agroecosystems

Abstract Geospatial models are crucial for identifying likely ‘hot-spots’ of Bt resistance evolution in Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), thereby improving regional insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies and planted refuge compliance. To characterize H. zea distributions in relation to land use, we used historical trapping data collected from 2008 to 2019 in North Carolina to model the spatial and temporal abundance of H. zea populations across Bt-dominated landscapes. Helicoverpa zea abundance was standardized across site-year observations, and candidate landscape composition and configuration predictors of H. zea abundance were obtained. Spatiotemporal Bayesian hierarchical models were developed to make posterior predictions of H. zea abundance from environmental covariates, and results were used to generate interpolation prediction maps to visualize H. zea abundance across the sampled region. Our results suggest inverse distance weighted (IDW) soybeans is the most important predictor of H. zea abundance through time in row crop agroecosystems in North Carolina. Soybeans in North Carolina and southeastern U.S. likely serves as a critical non-Bt refuge for delaying H. zea resistance to Bt toxins in landscapes dominated by Bt maize and cotton. Moreover, soybean abundance can be used to predict the spatial abundance of H. zea in this region. Results can be applied to understand population dynamics of H. zea in landscapes dominated by genetically engineered (GE) crops expressing Bt toxins and will enable the development of sound insect resistance management strategies of H. zea populations to GE toxins targeting noctuid pests of maize and cotton. This work will also drive future geospatial studies investigating environmental predictors of resistance evolution in arthropod pests to GE technologies in crop production systems.
Over Hill and Dale in Pursuit of the Russian Fox: 3rd Contribution to the Forum about Jeffrey Brooks’ The Firebird and the Fox

Jeffrey Brooks’ book The Firebird and the Fox presents a synthetic account of Russian cultural history from the middle of the nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth. Brooks describes culture as an “ecosystem,” persistent across seeming moments of historical rupture such as the revolutions of 1917, animated by certain overarching thematic concerns, and uniting readers and writers across a broad spectrum of levels of social life, from the newly literate popular masses to the educated elites, and forms of media, from prestigious belles lettres to popular illustrated weeklies, satirical journals and children’s literature. Drawing on the theoretical description of historiographical writing offered by Hayden White, this essay examines Brooks’ book in terms of its formal patterning as a comedic narrative and its poetic basis in the trope of synecdoche, which undergird its analytical efforts to integrate material across seeming historical and social divides.
Bosonic Mechanism for High Temperature Superconductors

The temperature-dependent angle-resolved photoemission data of D.S. Dessau et al 1 on Bi 2212 show strong modulations in the superconducting state when compared to the normal state. These are similar to those seen historically in standard tunneling experiments in lower temperature superconductors. We have analyzed the Dessau data using Nambu-Eliashberg theory assuming some (as yet unknown) boson exchange as the primary mechanism for the superconductivity.2 The derived α 2 F’s, λ’s and μ*’s show features which resemble those derived from inversions of other low-temperature superconductors, albeit that λ here for (110) data is about 8.67 and μ* is approximately 0.15. Several Bosonic mechanisms are considered.
Dynamic camouflage by Nassau groupers Epinephelus striatus on a Caribbean coral reef

This field study describes the camouflage pattern repertoire, associated behaviours and speed of pattern change of Nassau groupers Epinephelus striatus at Little Cayman Island, British West Indies. Three basic camouflaged body patterns were observed under natural conditions and characterized quantitatively. The mean speed of pattern change across the entire body was 4.44 s (range = 0.97-9.87 s); the fastest pattern change as well as contrast change within a fixed pattern occurred within 1 s. Aside from apparent defensive camouflage, E. striatus used camouflage offensively to approach crustacean or fish prey, and three successful predation events were recorded. Although animal camouflage is a widespread tactic, dynamic camouflage is relatively uncommon and has been studied rarely in marine teleosts under natural conditions. The rapid changes observed in E. striatus suggest direct neural control of some skin colouration elements, and comparative studies of functional morphology and behaviour of colour change in other coral-reef teleosts are likely to reveal new mechanisms and adaptations of dynamic colouration.
Nutrition Algorithms for Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome; Birth through the First Interstage Period

Failure to thrive is common in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and its variants and those with poor growth may be at risk for worse surgical and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The etiology of growth failure in this population is multifactorial and complex, but may be impacted by nutritional intervention. There are no consensus guidelines outlining best practices for nutritional monitoring and intervention in this group of infants. The Feeding Work Group of the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative performed a literature review and assessment of best nutrition practices from centers participating in the collaborative in order to provide nutritional recommendations and levels of evidence for those caring for infants with single ventricle physiology.
Effects of deviant child behavior on parental distress and alcohol consumption in laboratory interactions

Levels of adult distress and ad lib alcohol consumption following interactions with child confederates were investigated in parents of children with no diagnosable psychiatric disorders. Sixty parents (20 married couples and 20 single mothers) interacted with boys trained to enact behaviors characteristic of either normal children or "deviant" children with externalizing behavior disorders--attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Relative to the normal child role, interactions with deviant confederates were rated as significantly more unpleasant, resulted in feelings of role inadequacy, and produced significantly more anxiety, depression, and hostility. After the interactions, parents were given the opportunity to drink as much of their preferred alcoholic beverage as they desired while anticipating a second interaction with the same child. The participants consumed more alcohol following exposure to deviant as opposed to normal confederates.
Mapping the stars in early America

Since the earliest days of the Republic, people in the United States have been fascinated by events in the sky and have followed the paths of the Moon, planets, and stars. Although Europeans set the standard for celestial cartography, many of its elements took root in America during the period between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. A number of books and atlases were printed that oriented people to the heavens, which contributed to the early popularity of astronomy in the United States and its later emergence as a world leader in astronomical observation and science. There were many threads that led to this development, starting with the almanacs.
Rasch analysis of functional assessment scales: An example using pain behaviors

Abstract Functional assessments associated with rehabilitation frequently rely on scoring systems based upon a limited set of categorical values, arranged in order and intended to represent an underlying performance continuum. Making sense of data generated by these scales is a challenge well met by the Rasch measurement model, which allows detailed investigation of how individuals are likely to perform on a given occasion and indicates whether changes in performance occur in orderly patterns over repeated occasions. Additionally, the Rasch measurement model allows study of the quality of measurement and the degree to which the scoring adequately reflects the underlying, but not directly measurable, continuum. Data gathered at admission and discharge from 330 patients attending a rehabilitation program for chronic low back pain were evaluated using the Rasch measurement model, and the results were contrasted with those from the best available nonparametric technique, ridit analysis.
Subunit Recycling during Translation in a Reticulocyte Cell-free System

Abstract 32P-Labeled reticulocyte polyribosomes were prepared and added to a lysate cell-free system which was linear in protein synthetic activity for 40 min at 31°. All of the large and small ribosomal subunits were exchanging with polyribosomes within the first 3 to 4 min of incubation. There was no detectable exchange of large or small ribosomal subunits with monoribosomes.
Flight Control Design using Nonlinear Inverse Dynamics

Aircraft in extreme flight conditions such as stalls and spins experience nonlinear forces and moments generated from high angles of attack and high angular rates. Flight control systems based upon nonlinear inverse dynamics offer the potential for providing improved levels of safety and performance in these flight conditions over the competing designs developed using linearizing assumptions. Inverse dynamics are generated for specific command variable sets of a 12-state nonlinear aircraft model to develop a control system that provides satisfactory response over the entire flight envelope. Detailed descriptions of the inertial dynamic and aerodynamic models are given, and it is shown how the command variable sets are altered as functions of the system state to add stall prevention features to the system. Simulation results are presented for various mission objectives over a range of flight conditions to confirm the effectiveness of the design.
An Unusual Challenge in Performing Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block with Enlarged Coronoid Process: Jacob's Disease

Objectives Sphenopalatine ganglion block for the treatment of cluster headache has been well-described for medically refractory cases. Technical challenges in performing this procedure via the mandibular notch can be found in patients with elongation of the coronoid process. Objectives include correlation of physical exam findings and computed tomography (CT) imaging, followed by recommendations for future treatment. Methods Case report. Results Patient had a history of cluster headache and a 35 mm interincisal opening. Initially, sphenopalatine ganglion block could not be performed via standard mandibular notch approach due to the inability to advance past superficial tissues. Subsequent CT scan revealed a congenitally enlarged coronoid process with a shortened ramus. Usage of a bite block facilitated completion of the sphenopalatine block on subsequent visit. Conclusions Patients with diminished oral interincisal opening and deviation of the jaw to one side are consistent with Jacob's disease. Using a bite block in these patients may be critical to completion of the procedure.
Comparison of computed tomographic and standard radiographic determination of tibial torsion in the dog.

Objective— To compare the effect of internal tibial rotation on the computed tomographic (CT) and standard radiographic assessment of tibial torsion (TT) in dogs. Study Design— In vitro study. Sample Population— Cadaveric canine hind limbs (6 pairs). Methods— The cranial cruciate ligament was transected, and caudo-cranial radiographic and transverse CT images were obtained with the femur and tibiae in a neutral position, and after 15° internal tibial rotation. Radiographic TT was determined by measuring the distance (d) between the calcaneus and the sulcus of the talus. CT determination of TT was performed using the proximal transcondylar and the distal cranial tibial axes. The distance (d) in the 2 groups and the difference in the CT determination of TT between groups were compared with a hypothetical mean value of 0 mm and 0°, respectively. Results— The mean distance (d) for the neutral radiographic group was not significantly different from 0 (P=.473); however, for the 15° group it was significantly different (P<.0001). The difference in the CT determination of TT did not differ from 0 (P=.317). Conclusion— The standard radiographic technique does not discriminate between internal TT and internal rotation of the tibia. Thus, dogs with normal tibial conformation can be depicted by radiography as torsed, whereas dogs with TT may be misinterpreted as normal because of arbitrary positioning. Clinical Relevance— Lateral displacement of the medial border of the calcaneus on a caudo-cranial radiograph should not be used as the sole arbiter of TT before surgical correction.
Identification of MEN1 Mutations in Sporadic Enteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors by Analysis of Paraffin-embedded Tissue

Gastrinomas and other gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors may occur sporadically or as part of the inherited syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Mutations in the recently identified MEN1 gene have been described in sporadic gastrinomas and insulinomas. This study describes techniques used to identify mutations in the MEN1 gene in DNA extracted from paraffin-preserved tissue. Two novel mutations are identified in the MEN1 gene from nine archived paraffin-embedded neuroendocrine tumors, demonstrating that retrospective genetic analysis can be used to identify mutations in the MEN1 gene from preserved tissue. Conditions are provided by which paraffin-embedded tissue can be used as a source of genetic material for sequence information of sufficient quality for mutational studies of the MEN1 gene. It should also be possible to apply this retrospective genetic analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue to other disease models.
Microstructure-critical current relationships in hard superconductors

The pinning of the flux line lattice (FLL) by crystal lattice defects gives rise to a critical current density Jc for hard superconductors. The volume pinning force density Fp = ‖BXJc‖ however, depends both on the elementary interaction force fp between a single defect and the FLL and on the nature of the summation of these many fp’s. The latter will depend on the spatial arrangement of defects and on the elastic and plastic deformation properties of the FLL. For localized defects the fp is a strong function of defect “size”, reaching a maximum when the size is approximately the coherence length, and is approximately proportional to Hc 2(T) (1−h) where Hc is the thermodynamic critical field and h is the reduced magnetic field H/Hc2. The summation model must give a Fp which obeys the following empirical rules: 1) Fp has a maximum at a reduced field hp which decreases with increasing defect density ρ and f . 2) Fp at h > hp is structure insensitive while Fp at h < hp is structure sensitive. 3) A scaling law is obeyed if T is changed, i.e., Fp = Hc2(T)m .f(h), where m is ∿2.5 andf(h) is only a function of reduced field and microstructure. Experimental evidence for these generalizations is presented and a model which predicts these results is outlined and quantitatively tested.
L X-ray intensity ratios for proton impact on selected rare-earth elements

Abstract L X-rays excited by 75–300 keV protons impacting thick targets of Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb were measured with a high-resolution Si(Li) detector equipped with an ultra-thin window. The intensities of the Lα(L3M4,5) and Lβ2,15(L3N4,5) X-rays relative to the Ll(L3M1) X-rays were compared with theoretical predictions. Discrepancies in the results are attributed to multiple vacancy production by various mechanisms. M4,5 and N4,5 ionization probabilities in these collisions are deduced from the results.
A Parametric Investigation of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycles With Carbon Capture

IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) technology is being developed to enable electricity to be generated at high efficiency and low emissions. Continuous improvement is essential to make IGCC reliable and cost-effective. As environmental concerns over carbon emissions escalate, development of a practical carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has become an important issue. Combining IGCC and CCS has become a promising technology to reduce the cost of CCS. This study investigates the pros and cons of different methods used to put together an approximately 250 MW IGCC plant with and without CCS by using the commercial software Thermoflow. Seven different IGCC plants have been designed with various parameters examined, including: oxygen-blown vs. air-blown, with/without integration, with/without CCS, sour vs. sweet water shift for carbon capture, and dry- vs. slurry-fed. This study is based on technologies that are commercially available or close to commercialization. The results show that:(a) integration between the gas turbine and the air separation unit (ASU) can boost the cycle efficiency about 4.5% (1.6 percentage points);(b) dry-feeding increases the CO content, the syngas heating value (19%), and the efficiency about 11% (4.7 percentage points);(c) carbon capture reduces the power output by 2.7% and efficiency by 10% (or 4.5 percentage points) and the slurry-fed system takes a heavier toll on power output and efficiency than the dry-fed system;(d) air-blown systems do away with the ASU, resulting in syngas with a 50% lower heating value and a small reduction in efficiency, but harvesting savings on reduced capital, operating, and maintenance costs;(e) for CO2, sweet water shift results in 5.5% (2 percentage points) higher cycle efficiency than sour shift.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Replication of the effect of SLC2A9 genetic variation on serum uric acid levels in American Indians.

Increased serum uric acid (SUA) or hyperuricemia, a risk factor for gout, renal and cardiovascular diseases, is caused by either increased production or decreased excretion of uric acid or a mix of both. The solute carrier protein 2 family, member 9 (SLC2A9) gene encodes a transporter that mediates urate flux across the renal proximal tubule. Genome-wide association studies have consistently shown the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in this gene with SUA in majority populations. American Indian participants of the Strong Heart Family Study, belonging to multigenerational families, have high prevalence of hyperuricemia. We conducted measured genotype analyses, based on variance components decomposition method and accounting for family relationships, to assess whether the association between SUA and SLC2A9 gene polymorphisms generalized to American Indians (n=3604) of this study. Seven polymorphisms were selected for genotyping based on their association with SUA levels in other populations. A strong association was found between SLC2A9 gene polymorphisms and SUA in all centers combined (P-values: 1.3 × 10−31–5.1 × 10−23) and also when stratified by recruitment center; P-values: 1.2 × 10−14–1.0 × 10−5. These polymorphisms were also associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate and serum creatinine but not albumin–creatinine ratio. In summary, the association of polymorphisms in the uric acid transporter gene with SUA levels extends to a new population of American Indians.
THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE KINETICS OF BOUND-RUBBER FORMATION ON SURFACE-MODIFIED SILICA

ABSTRACT Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has been used to study the kinetics of bound-rubber formation on the surface of silica modified with a bi-functional alkoxysilane coupling agent (CA) over the temperature range of 110 to 150 °C. The bound-rubber formation is attributed to the direct binding of a polymer chain with a number of nonpolar interactive sites provided by the CA molecules on the silica surface. A kinetic model developed for the reaction process suggests that the bound-rubber morphology is altered at temperatures above 110 °C.
A multi-station packet-radio network

Abstract A new structure for packet-radio networks, called the multi-station network, is suggested and analyzed. We describe the salient features of this structure that consists of a large number of nodes and several stations. We then focus on one of the main problems within the suggested structure, the problem of forwarding packets from the nodes to the stations through a shared radio channel. Two basic forwarding schemes are investigated and compared. The classical slotted ALOHA is considered as an access scheme to the shared channel.
Low protein diet mediated renoprotection in remnant kidneys: Renal autoregulatory versus hypertrophic mechanisms

Low protein diet mediated renoprotection in remnant kidneys: Renal autoregulatory versus hypertrophic mechanisms. Background The mechanism of low protein diet conferred renoprotection in the ablation model remains controversial. Blockade of glomerular hypertrophy, reduced preglomerular vasodilation, and preserved autoregulation have all been postulated. The potential differential impact of calcium channel blockers on these mechanisms and glomerulosclerosis was examined. Methods Rats with 5/6 renal ablation received either a 25% standard protein diet, an 8% low protein diet and a low protein diet with either verapamil or amlodipine. Renal autoregulatory and morphometric studies were performed at 3 weeks before the development of significant injury, and the assessment of glomerulosclerosis after 7 weeks of continuous blood pressure radiotelemetry in additional rats. Results The preserved renal autoregulation in low protein rats was abolished by both calcium channel blockers, with the impairment being either comparable to (low protein + verapamil) or greater than the standard protein rats (low protein + amlodipine). Neither calcium channel blocker blocked the inhibitory effects of low protein diet on renal blood flow, kidney weight, and glomerular volume. Results (mean ± SE) for glomerular volume (μm -3 × 10 -6 ): low protein ( N = 11), 1.6 ± 0.1; low protein + verapamil ( N = 10), 1.7 ± 0.1; low protein + amlodipine ( N = 12), 1.7 ± 0.2; versus standard protein ( N = 10), 2.2 ± 0.1; P P N = 15) as compared to standard protein ( N = 14) rats (9%± 3% versus 28%± 6% glomerulosclerosis; P N = 14, 32%± 7%) and low protein + amlodipine rats ( N = 16, 27%± 7%). Conclusions Preservation of renal autoregulation and not inhibition of hypertrophy is the critical component in low protein diet-conferred glomeruloprotection.