cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Excoriation: What Counselors Need to Know About Skin Picking Disorder

Excoriation is a disorder in which individuals repetitively scratch or pick their skin, resulting in visible tissue damage. The skin lesions that occur from excoriation can lead to physical disfigurement, functional impairment, and emotional distress. Although skin picking is a common behavior that can negatively impact various domains of a person's life, many clinicians are unaware that there are instances in which this condition can be classified a pathological disorder. This article focuses on the prevalence, course, etiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of excoriation. A case scenario is included to demonstrate how a client may present in session, followed by suggested approach to treatment. Implications for clinicians are also discussed.
Stability analysis of networked control systems with unknown inputs

Unknown Input Observers (UIO) use the known plant's inputs and outputs to generate state estimates for plants with unknown inputs. In many cases, the UIO's inputs are transmitted through a communication network, which is a key component in modern Networked Control Systems (NCS). Most of the developed UIOs in the literature are designed for non-networked systems. In this paper, the objective is to study the effect of unknown inputs and network perturbations on state observation and stability using UIOs. Given an UIO design for any non-networked system, we derive the dynamics of the UIO-based NCS, also referred to as Networked Unknown Input Observer (N et UIO). The stability of the N et UIO is analyzed by deriving a stability-guaranteeing bound on the networked-induced perturbation. Numerical simulations are provided to highlight the applicability of the obtained bounds.
Safety of Liver Biopsies in Children with Transfusional Iron Overload.

Secondary iron overload, caused by chronic transfusions, is common among patients who have chronic hemolytic disorders, especially sickle cell disease and thalassemias. Accurate assessment of the hypertransfused patient’s body iron burden is important in deciding when and whether to start chelation therapy in order to prevent iron -related toxicities such as heart failure and endocrine abnormalities. The gold standard to measure iron content is through a liver biopsy. Though shown to be safe, many physicians are still reluctant to use this invasive approach in children to evaluate liver iron content. Study Design: A retrospective chart review of chronically transfused patients at Texas Children’s Hospital (1998–2003) was performed to assess possible biopsy complications, including pain, hemorrhage, bilious peritonitis, puncturing of other organs, and bacterial infections, in patients with hemolytic disorders. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Results: There were 65 biopsies, 43 patients had one biopsy and 11 patients had two biopsies. 56 % were male, 44 % were female; 52% (28/54) were African American, 15 % (8/54) were Oriental/Asian, and 22 % (12/54) were Hispanic. 30 patients (56%) had sickle cell disease, 16 (30%) thalassemias, 5 (14%) other forms of anemia, 1 patient had leukemia, and 1 had lymphoma with the sickle cell trait. Eight of these patients (15%) are not on or have never been on chelation therapy, 11 (20%) used to be on chelation therapy, 35 (65%) are currently on chelation therapy. The average age when the first biopsy was performed was 11 years (range 2 to 18.9 years); and the average age at the time of the second biopsy was 12.7 years (range, 5.8 to 21.1 years). The reasons for their biopsies included possible iron overload due to hypertransfusions, pre-bone marrow transplant evaluation, and elevated liver enzymes. The average serum ferritin level before biopsy was 2681.8 ng/mL ranging from 348 to 35,332 ng/mL, and the average liver iron content (LIC) determined through biopsy was 12,278 ug/g dry wt. Ultrasound guidance was used for all 65 biopsies; 46 (71%) biopsies were done percutaneously, 8 (12%) laparoscopically, and 6 (10%) through an open procedure. There were no complications during the biopsy. There were no major and only 5 minor complications after the biopsy: 3 patients (5%) had transient abdominal pain at the biopsy site which subsided over a couple of days, and 2 (3%) had a fever with other (non-biopsy-related) complications requiring an increased hospital stay. Conclusions: Liver biopsies in the pediatric population are safe and feasible and they should be considered for the accurate assessment of iron content in chronically transfused patients. Certain factors contributing to the success of the biopsies include having an experienced physician, using ultrasound guidance, and fully informing the patient or patient’s parents about the biopsy before the procedure.
An Empirical Investigation of Decision Making in IT-Related Dilemmas: Impact of Positive and Negative Consequence Information

Given the rising IT security and privacy concerns, organizations are increasing their spending to strengthen technical protections. However, the problem of individuals wanting to find ways to gain access to IT resources improperly remains. To gain a better understanding of individuals' intentions to behave unacceptably in IT-related situations with conflicting interests, an information focus approach is adopted and the effects of information regarding possible consequences on their intentions is empirically investigated through a vignette-based survey. The findings not only confirm the deterrent role of information about possible negative consequence in these situations but also reveal that such influence is greater in situations involving software products than in situations involving data and for individuals with a higher level of fundamental concern for the welfare of others. Furthermore, this study reveals how the influence of consequence information on the intention to perform an unacceptable behavior may be dependent on individual factors and situational factors.
Does prior administration of the RBANS influence performance on subsequent neuropsychological testing

The objective of this study was to determine whether administration of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) prior to other neuropsychological testing improves performance on subsequent measures due to practice effects. Participants completed the RBANS and related neuropsychological measures of the same cognitive domain in one of two counterbalanced orders. A MANOVA and follow-up independent t-tests were used to examine whether or not completing one set of measures prior to the other was associated with score differences. Prior administration of the RBANS did not impact performance on subsequent testing. However, a significant effect of test order administration was found such that the group administered the RBANS second performed worse on RBANS delayed memory measures. This finding was likely due to proactive interference, given that items from initially administered memory measures presented as intrusions on subsequently administered memory measures. Current results indicate that the practice of administering the RBANS as a screener prior to administration of additional tests will not impact performance on the subsequent tests. Although practice effects were not found, clinicians and researchers administering memory measures with similar designs (e.g., verbal list-learning tasks) within a single testing session should be aware of the potential of interference effects.
Meaningful Makers: Stuff, Sharing, and Connection in STEAM Curriculum

In March 2013, Art Education editor Robert Sweeny (2013) published an editorial titled “Ten Ways of MAKING” focused on capturing the mounting zeitgeist of the concept of making. By November, Edward...
The Cooling of Electronic Components with Flat Plate Heat Sinks

Flat rectangular plate heat sinks are often used to cool large electronic components by the combined effects of natural convection and thermal radiation. There is, however, a paucity of rational design techniques for these devices. Thus, a systematic program to investigate the use of flat, rectangular plate heat sinks with surface coatings to enhance the net radiative exchange with the surroundings has been undertaken.
Buckling of Elastically Restrained Columns

The problem of increasing the buckling load of a 114-ft long reinforced concrete column by introducing various elastic restraints is studied. General expressions are derived and graphs are presented applicable to any elastic column covering the full range of variation of the parameters. In addition, the effect of the weight of the column in the reduction of the critical load is shown to be substantial depending on the conditions of end support. A general method is presented to account for this effect. Graphs are also presented to facilitate the determination of the net critical load for the most practical cases. Two illustrative examples are examined at length to show the application of the methods.
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Rapamycin in Patients With Facial Angiofibromas Secondary to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: The TREATMENT Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Facial angiofibromas occur in approximately 75% of individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), causing substantial morbidity and disfigurement. Current therapies are partially effective, uncomfortable, produce scarring, and need repeating to treat recurrence. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical rapamycin for TSC-related facial angiofibromas. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial with 6 monthly clinic visits enrolled 179 patients with TSC-related facial angiofibromas not treated within 6 months from May 2012 to March 2014 in 9 clinical sites in the United States and 1 in Australia. Interventions Patients were randomized (1:1:1) to topical formulation containing 0.3 g per 30 g (1%) rapamycin, 0.03 g per 30 g (0.1%) rapamycin, or vehicle alone. Participants applied 1.0 mL to designated areas daily at bedtime. Main Outcomes and Measures Angiofibroma Grading Scale (AGS) change from baseline scored from photographs by independent masked dermatologists. Safety analyses included adverse events (AEs) and serum rapamycin levels. Results All 179 patients randomized (99 [55.3%] female) comprised the primary analysis population (59 in the 1% rapamycin group, 63 in the 0.1% rapamycin group, and 57 in the vehicle-only group). The mean age was 20.5 years (range 3-61 years). Clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in facial angiofibromas was observed for both 1% and 0.1% rapamycin relative to the vehicle-only control group, and for 1% vs 0.1% rapamycin, with most of the improvement realized within the first month. At 6 months, AGS mean improvement for 1% rapamycin was 16.7 points compared with 11.0 for 0.1% rapamycin and 2.1 points for vehicle only ( P P Conclusions and Relevance Topical rapamycin appears effective and safe for treatment of TSC-related facial angiofibromas. In this trial, the preferred dose was 1% once daily. Future studies are needed to evaluate prophylactic, early, and long-term use of topical rapamycin, durability of response, and combination therapy with oral mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT01526356
Principles for developing comprehensive network visibility

We argue that for both defending against attacks and apprehending the scope of attacks after they are detected, there is great utility in attaining views of network activity that are unified across time and space. By this we mean enabling operators to apply particular analyses to both past and future activity in a coherent fashion, and applied across a wealth of information collected from a variety of monitoring points, including across administratively independent sites. We outline the core design goals necessary for building systems to develop such visibility in an operationally viable way.
Transparent Displays Using Strain-Engineered Nanopillar Light-Emitting Diodes

Using local strain engineering, we fabricated monolithically integrated and individually addressable RGB pixels and showed feasibility for a transparent microdisplay. © 2019 The Author(s)
Differential Function of MHC LD and SD Determinants

Publisher Summary The mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) assays have served as two in vitro models of the allograft reaction. Results obtained with these tests have been useful in dissecting the components of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The chapter reviews the lymphocyte defined-serologically detectable (LD-SD) in its relationship to the cellular response in the context of primary MLC and CML reactions. The chapter presents data obtained recently with respect to differential function of and collaboration between MHC LD and SD components in “secondary” MLC and CML assays and in in vivo experiments. The chapter also discusses the separation of LD and SD, which is based primarily on studies using mice carrying recombinant chromosomes that allow a dissection of LD and SD components. It illustrates a schematic representation of the cellular events that account for the primary and secondary MLC-CML systems discussed as well as fitting the in vivo data.
Malonic aciduria in Maltese dogs: Normal methylmalonic acid concentrations and malonyl-CoA decarboxylase activity in fibroblasts

A family of Maltese dogs with malonic aciduria is reported. The propositus presented at 3 years of age with episodes of seizures and stupor with hypoglycaemia, acidosis, and ketonuria. Urinary organic acid assays showed elevated malonic acid without elevation of methylmalonic acid. Cultured fibroblasts had normal malonyl-CoA decarboxylase activity. Treatment with frequent feedings of a low-fat diet high in medium-chain triglycerides resulted in normalization of clinical signs and a resolution of the malonic aciduria. Two full siblings of the propositus had died at a young age of undiagnosed metabolic and neurological disease. Urine organic acid assays were performed on other family members. A half-sister showed mild malonic aciduria and other organic acid changes similar to the propositus, while the mother and half-brother showed mildly elevated ketone bodies. This family suggests further genetic and clinical heterogeneity in the malonic acidurias.
Development of a Risk-stratified Approach for Follow-up Imaging After Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Sporadic Stage One Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Abstract Objective To analyze risk factors and patterns of RCC recurrence following percutaneous ablation for stage 1 tumors and develop risk-stratified follow-up imaging protocols. Method Biopsy-proven sporadic stage 1 RCC patients treated with percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) or cryoablation (CA) from 2002 to 2017 were included. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate local and distant recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival and metastatic-free survival. Multivariable models were used to identify risk factors associated with recurrence. Results A total of 256 patients with stage 1 RCC (215 T1a, 41 T1b) were treated with percutaneous MWA (178 subjects) or CA (78 subjects). Recurrence was identified in 23 patients (16 local, 7 distant). Clinical T stage (HR 2.46, 95% CI 1.06-5.72, P = .04) and tumor grade (HR 4.17, 95% CI 1.17-14.76, P = .03) were independent predictors of recurrence. Recurrence was not associated with Nephrometry score, cystic tumors, ablation modality (CA vs MWA) or gender. Five-year cancer-specific survival, and metastatic-free survival were 98.6% and 97.4%, respectively. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: reduced risk stage 1 (no risk factors) or elevated risk stage 1 (≥1 risk factor). Recurrence risk was higher in the elevated-risk group (HR = 3.19, 95% CI 1.35-7.53, P = .008). Five-year overall recurrence-free survival (local + distant) was higher in reduced-risk vs elevated-risk cohorts, 88% vs 69%, P = .005. Conclusion High nuclear grade or T1b tumors have increased recurrence risk following percutaneous thermal ablation for stage 1 RCC. Current postablation follow-up protocols may be modified for individual recurrence risk to allow more frequent imaging for elevated-risk patients, while enabling less frequent imaging for reduced-risk patients.
A 0.5 nW Analog ECG Processor for Real Time R-wave Detection Based on Pan-Tompkins Algorithm

Noninvasive ubiquitous health-monitoring applications necessitate real-time, accurate, and energy-efficient computation of health-related parameters. R-waves are critical features for cardiac health assessment using ECG. In this paper, an energy-efficient application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor for real-time R-wave detection based on the Pan-Tompkins algorithm is presented. R-wave detection through processing in the analog domain is demonstrated using simulation results. The processor is designed in a 65 nm CMOS technology and consumes 0.5 nW from a 1 V supply. Based on simulation results using the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database, the processor achieves average R-wave detection sensitivity and positive predictive values of 98.98% and 98.9%, respectively.
Pediatric Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring prompt, accurate diagnosis and timely management. More common in children than previously thought, pediatric PE is associated with significant mortality (2.2%) and morbidity, including recurrent thrombosis (8.1%) and postphlebitic syndrome (12.4%) [3]. This chapter reviews clinical presentation, up-to-date imaging techniques, and characteristic radiologic findings of pulmonary embolism in the pediatric population to avoid delay in diagnosis and optimize pediatric patient care.
5210 Kids! using Technology to Teach Healthy Habits to Kids

5-2-1-0 Kids! Using Technology to Teach Kids Healthy Habits Purpose: 5-2-1-0 Kids! app was designed to make the concept of lifestyle changes “fun”, inspire young children to engage in healthy behaviors, and foster conversation with parents about healthy habits. The app was created by a multi-disciplinary childhood wellness team of pediatric physicians, a nutritionist, a behavior change researcher, and healthcare professionals. The animated games with customizable, personal avatars go beyond just introducing concepts. All the elements of the app are intentionally designed to illustrate how to put …
Rethinking Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct laws are an amalgamation of a number of common law offenses aimed at protecting the public order, peace, and tranquility. Like their common law antecedents, modern day disorderly conduct laws proscribe behaviors such as breach of the peace, physical fighting, and fighting words, and might also criminalize behavior falling within the domain of criminal offenses such as riot, unlawful assembly, and trespass. Contrary to common legal conceptions, the criminalization of disorderly conduct is not only about policing behavior that threatens to disrupt public order or even the public’s peace and tranquility, but also reflects and reinforces deeply rooted discriminatory understandings about what kinds of behavior — and which persons — violate community norms. By relying on a false dichotomy between “order” and “disorder,” disorderly conduct laws construct and reinforce a hierarchy of normative behaviors that are imbued with racism, sexism, and ableism. Disorderly conduct laws “otherize” certain non-conforming behaviors, de-legitimizing them through the label of “disorderly,” and in doing so exclude certain historically marginalized groups from normative conceptions of community. They do all this in part by prohibiting a wide range of behavior and conferring vast amounts of discretion to law enforcement and private citizens to target individuals for behavior regulation, physical removal, and community exclusion. In this way, disorderly conduct laws delineate and police the normative boundaries of communities. Moreover, these laws also often determine access to shared community spaces resulting in the exclusion of historically marginalized groups within these purportedly “public” spaces. Despite these harms, disorderly conduct laws persist even given the lack of concrete evidence as to the precise nature of the social harm to be prevented in each case. The article’s critique demonstrates how disorderly conduct laws define and construct boundaries of communities. Viewed in this light, the article is situated within ongoing discussion within criminal legal scholarship on the broader question of role of “the community” in criminal law and criminal justice reform. This critique of disorderly conduct offers a site for problematizing unitary models of community in criminal law. The article concludes by identifying pathways to reforming the harms of the disorderly conduct regime by offering a set of reforms that rely less on consensus-driven models and more on contestatory models of democratic participation in criminal justice reform efforts that better account for the multiplicity of communities impacted by criminal law enforcement.
Effects of heat treatment and build orientation on the evolution of ϵ and α′ martensite and strength during compressive loading of additively manufactured 304L stainless steel

Abstract The effect of heat-treatment and build orientation on martensitic phase transformation in additively manufactured (AM) 304L stainless steel is studied and compared with conventionally produced wrought material. The relationships between observed martensitic transformations and material microstructures and their effects on mechanical strength are established through experimental observations. In situ high-energy X-ray powder diffraction measurements were performed to monitor the evolution of ϵ and α′ martensite during compressive loading of stainless steel. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to provide insight on initial grain morphology, crystallographic misorientation within grains, and crystallographic texture. Heat treatment alters the microstructure of AM samples creating different initial conditions. This difference in starting microstructure resulted in variability in martensitic transformation during compressive deformation. The rate of martensitic transformation decreased for AM samples treated with temperatures up to 1100∘C, after which the AM microstructures recrystallized, resulting in increased rate of martensitic transformation for those samples treated at higher temperatures. It was also observed that aligning the axis of compression with the AM build direction resulted in a lower rate of strain-induced martensite formation as opposed to aligning the compression axis perpendicular to it. More favorable distribution of crystal orientations in the latter loading orientation promoted martensitic transformation. These and additional experimental observations from EBSD in terms of kernel average misorientation, mean grain orientation spread, and mean crystallite size reveal strong microstructural effects on strength of additively manufactured metallic materials.
Systematic Integration of Artificial Intelligence Toward Evaluating Response of Materials and Structures in Extreme Conditions

There is growing inertia to integrating modern technologies in disaster management, civil or structural engineering application. One such technology is that associated with data intelligent analytics, also known as machine learning commonly is artificial intelligence (AI). With the hope of highlighting positive integration of AI, this chapter presents development of AI techniques capable of tracing response of construction materials and civil infrastructure at elemental and systemal levels once exposed to extreme loadings. This chapter develops an AI-powered decision-making tool that can aid engineers and relevant decision-making authorities in predicting expected magnitude of damage in infrastructure once subjected to fire, wind and flooding. All developed tools implicitly take into consideration event-dependent phenomena (i.e., creep, spalling) and hence do not necessitate input of material properties nor dedicated computing platforms.
The Race That Space Makes: The Power of Place in the Colonial Formation of Social Categorizations:

The author takes a social argument—that spaces can be racialized—and asks whether the directionality of the association between space and race reflects a limitation of extant scholarship and an und...
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Phenols induce authophagy and apoptosis in human bladder cancer cell lines depending on tumor progression

Epidemiological evidences indicate that there is an inverse association between olive oil intake and bladder cancer risk and several data suggest that a key role to support these beneficial effects is played by its phenolic fraction. Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in Western countries. In particular, the transitional cell carcinoma histotype shows an aggressive behavior and the current therapies are ineffective. The anti-proliferative effects of an Extra Virgin Olive Oil phenolic Extract (EVOOE) has been investigated on RT112 and J82, two human bladder cancer cell lines employed as models of superficial and invasive bladder cancer, respectively.EVOOE reduces cell viability in both cell lines triggering different processes. In RT112 cells, EVOOE triggers a non-protective autophagic response, evidenced by vacuoles formation and LC-3 lipidation (45%) causing a delay in cell growth (132microg/ml induces 30% reduction). Instead, in J82, the invasive transitional cell carcinoma, EVOOE treatment induces a rapid and remarkable decrease of cell viability (33 microg/ml for 24 h induces 40% reduction) triggering an apoptotic process, evidenced with Annexin V positivity and the increased activity of caspases 3 and 9. EVOOE exerts an antioxidant activity in both cell lines reducing ROS (30% in J82 and 15% in RT112) and increasing GSH level (20% in J82 and 40% in RT112). However, comparing the effects of EVOOE with those of other well-known antioxidants, the absence of correlation between antioxidant effects and reduced cell viability was evidenced. Moreover, using an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, we demonstrated that EVOOE acts independently from GSH modulation.Data presented show that EVOOE possesses pleiotropic activities that intercept different pathways resulting in anti-proliferative effects independently of its antioxidant property
Ras-p53 genomic cooperativity as a model to investigate mechanisms of innate immune regulation in gastrointestinal cancers

Despite increasingly thorough mechanistic understanding of the dominant genetic drivers of gastrointestinal (GI) tumorigenesis (e.g., Ras/Raf, TP53, etc.), only a small proportion of these molecular alterations are therapeutically actionable. In an attempt to address this therapeutic impasse, our group has proposed an innovative extreme outlier model to identify novel cooperative molecular vulnerabilities in high-risk GI cancers which dictate prognosis, correlate with distinct patterns of metastasis, and define therapeutic sensitivity or resistance. Our model also proposes comprehensive investigation of their downstream transcriptomic, immunomic, metabolic, or upstream epigenomic cellular consequences to reveal novel therapeutic targets in previously "undruggable" tumors with high-risk genomic features. Leveraging this methodology, our and others' data reveal that the genomic cooperativity between Ras and p53 alterations is not only prognostically relevant in GI malignancy, but may also represent the incipient molecular events that initiate and sustain innate immunoregulatory signaling networks within the GI tumor microenvironment, driving T-cell exclusion and therapeutic resistance in these cancers. As such, deciphering the unique transcriptional programs encoded by Ras-p53 cooperativity that promote innate immune trafficking and chronic inflammatory tumor-stromal-immune crosstalk may uncover immunologic vulnerabilities that could be exploited to develop novel therapeutic strategies for these difficult-to-treat malignancies.
Chronic Kidney Disease – Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD)

Declining kidney function results in mineral and hormonal imbalances that trigger a maladaptive feedback loop favoring the oversecretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). As kidney disease progresses, chronic hyperphosphatemia, elevated parathyroid hormone and fibroblast grown factor-23, low 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, hypocalcemia, and metabolic acidosis can collectively result in disordered bone turnover and vascular calcifications. The term chronic kidney disease – mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) – is used to describe these imbalances and the increased risk of fracture, cardiovascular events, and mortality they confer. Preventing or delaying the progressive metabolic, vascular, and bone complications associated with CKD-MBD is essential. We provide a summary of how to assess and manage the mineral and bone disorders associated with advanced CKD.
Mathematics Teacher Education and Technology

Various applications of electronic technology have contributed to the field of mathematics teacher education, but the array of tools now available to teacher educators in developed countries can be somewhat daunting. In this chapter, the authors present an overview of some of these tools and the ways that they are being used. In addition, they address issues surrounding the development and applications of digital technology in teacher education programs in a number of countries. In particular, they present recent applications of videotapes, multimedia resources, internet-based communities, and tutorial conferencing facilities in pre-service and in-service education of mathematics teachers. As professionals who have used technology in teacher education, the authors blend their own insights into this review of technological tools and relevant issues.
Characterization, localization, and sequence of F transfer region products: the pilus assembly gene product TraW and a new product, TrbI.

Abstract The traW gene of the Escherichia coli K-12 sex factor, F, encodes one of the numerous proteins required for conjugative transfer of this plasmid. We have found that the nucleotide sequence of traW encodes a 210-amino-acid, 23,610-Da polypeptide with a characteristic amino-terminal signal peptide sequence; in DNA from the F lac traW546 amber mutant, the traW open reading frame is interrupted at codon 141. Studies of traW expression in maxicells in the presence and absence of ethanol demonstrate that the traW product does undergo signal sequence processing. Cell fractionation experiments additionally demonstrated that mature TraW is a periplasmic protein. Electron microscopy also showed that F lac traW546 hosts do not express F pili, confirming that TraW is required for F-pilus assembly. Our nucleotide sequence also revealed the existence of an additional gene, trbI, located between traC and traW. The trbI gene encodes a 128-amino-acid polypeptide which could be identified as a 14-kDa protein product. Fractionation experiments demonstrated that TrbI is an intrinsic inner-membrane protein. Hosts carrying the pOX38-trbI::kan insertion mutant plasmids that we constructed remained quite transfer proficient but exhibited increased resistance to F-pilus-specific phages. Mutant plasmids pOX38-trbI472 and pOX38-trbI473 expressed very long F pili, suggestive of a pilus retraction deficiency. Expression of an excess of TrbI in hosts carrying a wild-type pOX38 plasmid also caused F-pilus-specific phage resistance. The possibility that TrbI influences the kinetics of pilus outgrowth and/or retraction is discussed.
Development of an in-home standardized end-of-life treatment program for pediatric patients dying of brain tumors

Purpose To evaluate an end-of-life (EOL) program related to specific outcomes (i.e., number of hospitalizations and place of death) for children with brain tumors. Design and Methods From 1990 to 2005, a retrospective chart review was performed related to specified outcomes for 166 children with admission for pediatric brain tumors. Results Patients who received the EOL program were hospitalized less often (n = 114; chi-square = 5.001 with df = 1, p <.05) than patients who did not receive the program. Practice Implications An EOL program may improve symptom management and decrease required hospital admissions for children with brain tumors.
Development of next generation computing elements fabricated with emerging technologies

Revolutionary developments in the electronics industry have enabled rapid and unprecedented advances in modern systems. This has been achieved in part due to an aggressive push towards technological developments by the semiconductor industry. The electronics technology has sustained this steep trend, however, the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) that assesses future technology requirements, has identified several fundamental challenges of scalability, speed, energy and reliability that can severely limit the ability of CMOS devices to continue to maintain the sharp developmental curve. These challenges, and the discovery of new physics effects and materials, have ushered in several efforts dedicated to researching new technologies that can help support the aggressive technological roadmap. The emerging technologies bring novel capabilities for computing, however, there are large gaps in our understanding of these new technologies and how to build circuits with them. This thesis focuses on evaluating the computing potential of two promising, emerging technologies: Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) and Spintronics. Both technologies differ in their device physics and capabilities from electronic MOSFET devices, and pose novel challenges for integration into current computing systems. The devices from the NEMS technology are extremely power-efficient, however they have a high mechanical delay. To allow the NEMS devices to serve as effective digital switches, a novel logic design technique called 'weighted area logic' that addresses the fundamental delay challenge of the devices has been proposed. Devices from the Spintronics technology are based on magnetic effects and do not directly replace the switch-based electronic transistors. Their singular characteristics necessitate novel ideas to enable logic operations. Some of the differences of the devices from CMOS devices affect fundamental abilities that computing circuits are generally founded on. These include input-output signal compatibility, scalability of logic circuits and composability. Circuit designs and techniques that address these three challenges are proposed using the spintronic devices of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs). Design and evaluation of a novel completely spintronic MTJ-based logic circuit, a Spintronic Logic In Cache unit and an 8-function 1-bit spintronic arithmetic and logic unit have been proposed.
Phase transitions: jumping between liquid states

First-order phase transitions are common in crystalline solids (such as between graphite and diamond) and non-crystalline materials. But for a long time the idea of a first-order phase transition between two liquids was scoffed at. Now, a direct structural study of liquid phosphorus under high pressure provides evidence for just such a transition.
The Rucksack War: U.S. Army Operational Logistics in Grenada, 1983, by Edgar F. Raines

In October 1983, the United States embarked on its first military intervention since the Vietnam War by invading the small southern Caribbean nation of Grenada. This intervention, called Operation ...
Immigration and trade creation for the US: The role of immigrant occupation

This paper highlights that the immigrants' effect on trade is not identical across all types of immigrants but it varies with the immigrants' occupation. Using a sample of 63 U.S. trading partners which are also big immigrant sending countries over the years 1991 - 2000 this paper finds that the immigrant trade elasticity for the no occupation group is similar in magnitude to the immigrant effect on trade estimated in the literature. However, this does not capture the full extent of the effect of immigrant network on trade. Share of professional immigrants in comparison to immigrants with no occupation significantly increase the trade elasticity for Rauch's referenced price and differentiated commodities and this effect is strongest for the differentiated goods. This paper establishes that immigrants' occupation is an important indicator of the quality and effectiveness of immigrants' network in trade creation with the home-country.
TONOMETRY IN QUESTION: CAN VISUAL SCREENING TESTS PLAY A MORE DECISIVE ROLE IN GLAUCOMA DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT?

Chronic open-angle glaucoma is a disease in which characteristic changes occur in optic nerve morphology and in ganglion cell function. The utility of intraocular pressure readings in the diagnosis and ongoing management of glaucoma patients is pragmatically considered in the light of the availability of potentially more sensitive means of glaucoma monitoring. Conservative appraisal of the literature suggests that traditional clinical tonometry has low diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The majority of new cases of glaucomatous visual field loss are most likely to arise from the normotensive population. Clinical studies to determine the correlation between intraocular pressure reduction and the preservation of visual function have repeatedly yielded a much weaker association between these two variables than is perhaps generally assumed. Newer psychophysical methods may have greater potential for rapidly identifying and subsequently monitoring glaucoma patients, but still require refinement and more widespread clinical evaluation. One prerequisite for the eventual adoption of such methods is that clinicians fully appreciate the limitations inherent in tonometry as a glaucoma screening and monitoring technique.
Regulation of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in bipolar cells by divalent cations and polyamines.

Ca2+plays a key role in intracellular signal transduction in neurons but in excess it can lead to cell death. Thus its entry into cells is highly regulated by both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms. Little is known of the regulation of Ca2+entry into retinal neurons. Here we describe the role of divalent cations and polyamines as intrinsic modulators of Ca2+entry into retinal bipolar cells. Cone-dominant (small) bipolar cells of the white bass retina were studied using whole cell patch clamp techniques. With biophysical and pharmacological tools it was determined that these cells expressed a Ca2+current similar to an L-type current. This current was very susceptible to blockage by divalent cations including Ca2+. In addition, when tested with the polyamines, spermine, spermidine and putrescine, only spermine effectively inhibited the current. When the dose response curve was fit with the Hill function we found an EC50of 28.tM and a Hill-coefficient of about 2. Our results indicate that divalent cations and the polyamine, spermine, are effective modulators of calcium entry into cone-dominated bipolar cells. The in vivo regulation of the concentrations of these molecules provides an exquisitely sensitive mechanism for regulating Ca2+entry into bipolar cells under different conditions.
Risk factors for emergence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in cystic fibrosis

The number of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) whose sputum culture has yielded Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has increased in the last 5 years at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. We conducted a case-control study to determine risk factors for recovery of S. maltophilia in respiratory secretions from patients with CF. We reviewed the outpatient and inpatient records of patients colonized with S. maltophilia between 1993 and 1997, and of age-matched (at time of initial recovery of S. maltophilia) control patients with CF who had never had a positive sputum culture for S. maltophilia. Variables included age at time of CF diagnosis, gender, severity of CF (based on Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) scores and spirometry), frequency of hospitalizations, use of oral, intravenous, or inhaled antibiotics, and use of oral or inhaled corticosteroids in the 2 years prior to the first isolation of S. maltophilia from respiratory secretions. Statistical methods included stepwise logistic regression to determine risk factors for acquisition of S. maltophilia. During the study period, 58 patients with CF had a positive sputum or deep throat culture for S. maltophilia. The distribution of S. maltophilia acquisition by year increased from 7 patients in 1993 (incidence, 2.8%) to 16 in 1997 (incidence, 6.2%). Patients positive for S. maltophilia were found to have significantly worse growth parameters, S-K score, and spirometric values than S. maltophilia-negative CF controls (P < 0.05). Stepwise logistic regression demonstrated that treatment with long-term antibiotics (P = 0.0016) and number of days of intravenous antibiotic therapy (P = 0.035) were significant risk factors for S. maltophilia colonization in our group of CF patients. We conclude that patients with CF whose respiratory secretions yield S. maltophilia have an overall worse clinical status at the time of initial S. maltophilia isolation than noncolonized patients, and that preceding treatment with antibiotics may have predisposed them to the acquisition of this bacterium in their respiratory secretions.
Melatonin inhibits expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase in murine macrophages: role of inhibition of NFκB activation

The role of melatonin as an immunomodulator is well established. Recent reports showed that melatonin exerts protective effects in septic and hemorrhagic shock and in inflammation. The expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) makes an important contribution to the pathophysiology of shock and inflammation. We studied, in cultured murine macrophages, the role of melatonin in the regulation of the expression of iNOS and defined the mode of melatonin's action. Our results show that melatonin, at 1 microM-1 mM, decreased the production of nitrite/nitrate (the breakdown products of NO) as well as the production of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (the major stable breakdown product of prostacyclin) in macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (10 microg/ml). We observed that melatonin reduces iNOS steady-state mRNA levels and iNOS protein expression in the same concentration range (1 microM-1 mM). Melatonin, up to 10 mM, exerted only a slight direct inhibitory effect on iNOS activity. Using iNOS promoter-luciferase constructs, we found that melatonin inhibits iNOS promoter activation. Inhibition of iNOS expression was associated with inhibition of activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB). We conclude that melatonin inhibits NO production in immunostimulated macrophages mainly by inhibiting the expression of iNOS. This is due to inhibition of iNOS transcription, in part through inhibition of NFkappaB activation. Inhibition of iNOS-derived NO production by melatonin may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of this pineal secretory product.
The complex action of major solutes on radiation induced swelling of Fe-Cr-Ni austenitic alloys

The radiation-induced swelling of simple Fe-Cr-Ni austenitic alloys is sensitive to solute additions. It is shown in this paper that three of the most common solute elements (P,Si,Mo) exert a very complex and often non-monotonic influence on swelling with increasing solute level. The complexity of this influence and its dependence on other variables appears to be the result of a closely balanced competition between two or more roles played by each solute in its interaction with both vacancies and interstitials. This competition yields a variety of different swelling behaviors in response to changes in solute or solvent composition, displacement rate, and irradiation temperature.
Human germ line editing—roles and responsibilities

The mere idea of altering the human germ line has caused excitement as well as fears since decades. The good and, in particular, the dubious motives for such interventions and the anticipated troublesome outcomes have been a recurring theme in literature, art, movies. Until recently, these were merely science fiction scenarios. Yet, considerations about the impact of potential future alteration of the human germ line played a prominent role already in debates ahead of the first clinical trials with somatic gene therapy in 1985 (Anderson, 1985; Fletcher, 1985). Now, three decades later, human germ line modification has become a scientific reality with the experiment on CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in human-tripronuclear-zygotes by Liang et al., as published in this journal (Liang et al., 2015).
Religious Groups as a Force in Party Politics

This paper delineates the position of American religious groups in modern party politics. We first outline two different models of religious politics, the ethnoreligious and the religious restructuring model. We then use a number of data sets to reconstruct the contribution that religious groups have made to party coalitions from the New Deal era to the present, considering both theoretical perspectives. We test the influence of religious factors against other factors on party identification, including region, social class and gender during the 1960s, the 1980s and the contemporary era. Finally, we explore the role that religious influences play in the contemporary ideological polarization between the Republican and Democratic parties.
Accurate Homogeneous Electron Gas Exchange-Correlation Free Energy for Local Spin-Density Calculations

An accurate analytical parametrization for the exchange-correlation free energy of the homogeneous electron gas, including interpolation for partial spin polarization, is derived via thermodynamic analysis of recent restricted path integral Monte Carlo (RPIMC) data. This parametrization constitutes the local spin density approximation (LSDA) for the exchange-correlation functional in density functional theory. The new finite-temperature LSDA reproduces the RPIMC data well, satisfies the correct high-density and lowand high-T asymptotic limits, and is well behaved beyond the range of the RPIMC data, suggestive of broad utility. The homogeneous electron gas (HEG) is a fundamentally important system for understanding many-fermion physics. In the absence of exact analytical solutions for its energetics, high-precision numerical results have been critical to insight. Recently published [1] restricted path integral Monte Carlo (RPIMC) data for the HEG over a wide range of temperatures and densities open the opportunity to obtain closed form expressions for HEG thermodynamics, in particular, the exchange and correlation (XC) contributions. Such expressions extracted from Monte Carlo data are well known for the zero-T HEG, where they have played a major role in understanding inhomogeneous electron-system behavior. We provide the corresponding thermodynamical expressions for wide temperature and density ranges.