cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in the detergent-insoluble brain proteome linked to amyloid and tau in Alzheimer's Disease progression

Despite a key role of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), mechanisms that link Aβ plaques to tau neurofibrillary tangles and cognitive decline still remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to quantify proteins in the sarkosyl-insoluble brain proteome correlated with Aβ and tau insolubility in the asymptomatic phase of AD (AsymAD) and through mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and symptomatic AD. Employing label-free mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we quantified 2711 sarkosyl-insoluble proteins across the prefrontal cortex from 35 individual cases representing control, AsymAD, MCI and AD. Significant enrichment of Aβ and tau in AD was observed, which correlated with neuropathological measurements of plaque and tau tangle density, respectively. Pairwise correlation coefficients were also determined for all quantified proteins to Aβ and tau, across the 35 cases. Notably, six of the ten most correlated proteins to Aβ were U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (U1 snRNPs). Three of these U1 snRNPs (U1A, SmD and U1-70K) also correlated with tau consistent with their association with tangle pathology in AD. Thus, proteins that cross-correlate with both Aβ and tau, including specific U1 snRNPs, may have potential mechanistic roles in linking Aβ plaques to tau tangle pathology during AD progression.
Potential Mechanisms underlying the Protective Effect of Pregnancy against Breast Cancer: A Focus on the IGF Pathway

A first full term birth at an early age protects women against breast cancer by reducing lifetime risk by up to 50%. The underlying mechanism resulting in this protective effect remains unclear, but many avenues have been investigated, including lobular differentiation, cell fate, and stromal composition. A single pregnancy at an early age protects women for 30-40 years and this long-term protection is likely regulated by a relatively stable yet still modifiable method, such as epigenetic reprogramming. Long lasting epigenetic modifications have been shown to be induced by pregnancy and to target the IGF pathway. Understanding how an early first full term pregnancy protects against breast cancer and the role of epigenetic reprogramming of the IGF system may aid in developing new preventative strategies for young healthy women in the future.
The Dilemma of Assessment in the US

Assessment is the evaluation of student learning in specific learning outcomes such as integrative thinking, writing, civic engagement, or appreciation of diversity. When conducted well, it produces evidence of learning that should lead to improvements in pedagogy and curriculum. But many educators at American colleges and universities remain suspicious or fearful of assessment. This fear or suspicion of a function so obviously linked to the purpose of education is rooted in the tension between different purposes to which assessment evidence can be put: Assessment can be used positively to encourage thoughtful reflection on pedagogical practice, or negatively to threaten “underperforming” teachers and institutions. This is the dilemma of assessment in American higher education. However, a number of developments in higher education over the past few decades—online learning, the problem of transfer credits, discontent with the credit hour—have their own dilemmas that only quality assessment can address. Assessment is a critical component in moving higher education out of the regimented industrial age into the personalized, flexible learning of the post-industrial twenty-first century.
Update on managing HIV in pregnancy

It's imperative to identify more HIV-infected women earlier in pregnancy through HIV testing and to reduce mother-to-child transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.
Enhancement of multisubband electron mobility in square-parabolic asymmetric double quantum well structure

Abstract We show that higher multisubband electron mobility μ can be achieved in AlxGa1-xAs based hybrid type square-parabolic asymmetric double quantum well (HDQW) compared to that of the symmetric square double quantum well (SDQW) and parabolic double quantum well (PDQW) structures. We show that μ(HDQW) > μ(PDQW) > μ(SDQW). This trend in the enhancement of μ is mostly governed by the change in the ionized impurity scattering potential. The mobility of the HDQW can be enhanced by increasing the well width and also the curvature of the parabolic potential. In addition, μ(HDQW) becomes larger when the parabolic well lies towards the substrate side compared to that of the surface side due to the reduced effect of the interface roughness scattering. The mobility also increases with increase in the surface electron density Ns. The enhancement of μ in HDQW is because of the reduction of the intersubband scattering rate matrix elements due to the asymmetric distribution of the subband wave functions. Our results can be utilized to develop asymmetric double quantum well field effect transistor.
Malaria Genomics in the Era of Eradication

The first reference genome assembly for the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite was completed over a decade ago, and the impact of this and other genomic resources on malaria research has been significant. Genomic resources for other malaria parasites are being established, even as P. falciparum continues to be the focus of development of new genomic methods and applications. Here we review the impact and applications of genomic data on malaria research, and discuss future needs and directions as genomic data generation becomes less expensive and more decentralized. Specifically, we focus on how population genomic strategies can be utilized to advance the malaria eradication agenda.
A review of adult asthma and the effectiveness of education programs in reducing symptoms

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in children and adults. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends asthma self-management education to be essential in providing patients with the skills necessary to control asthma and improve outcomes. A number of studies have been conducted to assess the effectiveness of these educational programs in children; however, such studies have not demonstrated efficacy in adult populations. This review explores the epidemiology of asthma, the different categories of asthma based on demographic differences, and environmental triggers of asthma. We also discuss common medical options that are available to treat asthma. We then describe the components of an asthma education program and the effectiveness in improving patient outcomes. The literature review was conducted using the National Library of Medicine Pub Med search engine. Comprehensive reviews were focused on the English literature involving human subjects in the last 5 years. Randomized controlled trials were selected for a citation on each subject when available. The Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3; Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma – Report 2007) was used as the primary reference source for standard of care treatment guidelines. Search terms included asthma, motivational interviewing, irritant-induced asthma, asthma education, home intervention, telemedicine, nitric oxide, asthma action plan, occupational asthma, IgE-mediated asthma, asthma guidelines, asthma prevalence, and asthma treatment.
Individual-Level Interventions: Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Reducing Stress and Improving Performance Among Teachers

This chapter reviews the extant literature on mindfulness-based interventions applied to reducing teachers’ occupational stress and improving job performance, demonstrating the evolution of the field over the past 20 years from very small pilot studies to a recently conducted large cluster randomized controlled trial. The term “mindfulness” refers to a particular kind of attention characterized by intentionally focusing on the present moment with a non-judgmental attitude and is cultivated by engaging in mindful awareness practices. Research on the effects of mindfulness training with adults has shown numerous positive effects including reduced stress and increased self-awareness, empathy, and emotion regulation. The chapter reviews the research on mindfulness-based interventions more broadly, focusing on research involving non-clinical samples and work-related outcomes. The chapter provides an overview of early research on mindfulness-based interventions for teachers and an in-depth discussion and review of the associated research of two widely used mindfulness-based programs for teachers, Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques in Education (SMART) and Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE for Teachers). The chapter concludes with a discussion of the limitations of the reviewed research and recommendations for future research that will address gaps in the literature.
Bullying victimization and perpetration in a community sample of youth with psychotic like experiences.

Abstract Prior studies indicate an association between psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and bullying victimization; however, the most frequent types of bullying victimization and the association with bullying perpetration are unclear. A community sample of 1563 adolescents completed questionnaires examining PLEs and frequency of bullying victimization and perpetration. Compared to adolescents scoring below the psychosis-risk cut-off (n = 1294), those with PLEs (who are putatively at-risk) (n = 269) were more likely to report being the victims of overt, relational, and reputational bullying and to have perpetrated bullying against others. Increased bullying perpetration among youth with PLEs may reflect reactive aggression in response to being bullied.
Molecular Engineering Mechanically Programmable Hydrogels with Orthogonal Functionalization

A unique orthogonally tunable synthetic polymer hydrogel with programmable elasticity is described herein. The temporal modulation of mechanical properties was achieved by an orthogonal sulfonium-containing synthon, acting both as crosslinkable motifs and as functionalizable handles for chemical modification of the gel. The kinetic formation of in-situ covalent cross-linked hydrogels with ionic features enabled time-dependent mechanical behavior over weeks, a critical parameter of biomimetic substrates for cell development. The elasticity of the dynamic hydrogel was approximately 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of the ionically cross-linked sample with constant stiffness. In addition, we achieved on-demand control of the elastic properties of the hydrogels by application of a thermal stimulus of 37 °C, which provides new avenues to regulate cell behavior and fate. Furthermore, sulfonium groups and styrenyl moieties within the network provided covalent attachment sites for molecules of interest via...
A rare fungus on the rise: Candida auris.

Purpose An overview of the growing health threat posed by the fungus Candida auris is provided, including a review of the literature and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations on C. auris identification, treatment, and infection control. Summary Since C. auris was first identified in Japan in 2009, cases of C. auris infection have been on the rise in several parts of the world, including the United States, where the first case was reported in 2017; as of November 2017, a total of 206 U.S. cases in 10 states had been reported. Risk factors for C. auris infection have been difficult to identify. However, catheterization, hospitalization, and recent surgery appear to be common factors in patients with C. auris infection. Major challenges in the management of C. auris infections include the common misidentification of C. auris using conventional laboratory techniques and the pathogen’s resistance profile, which includes resistance to commonly used antifungals. These challenges may lead to breakdowns in timely implementation of infection-control and prevention measures. Antimicrobial stewardship can play a key role in the management and prevention of C. auris infections. Conclusion C. auris is an emerging fungus that has the potential for causing serious invasive infections. The organism is resistant to commonly used antifungals and is difficult to identify with conventional laboratory techniques. Echinocandins are currently recommended as initial therapy for the treatment of C. auris infections in adults and children at least 2 months of age.
Putting General Relativity to the Test: Twentieth-Century Highlights and Twenty-First-Century Prospects

We review the experimental evidence for Einstein’s general relativity. A variety of high-precision null experiments confirm the Einstein equivalence principle, which underlies the concept that gravitation is synonymous with spacetime geometry and must be described by a metric theory. Solar system experiments that test the weak-field, post-Newtonian limit of metric theories strongly favor general relativity. Binary pulsars test gravitational-wave damping and aspects of strong-field general relativity. The 2015 detection of gravitational waves by the laser interferometric gravitational-wave observatory LIGO provides new tests of the theory in the strong-field, radiative regime. Future efforts using electromagnetic and gravitational-wave astronomy will provide additional tests.
The Internationalization of Indian Pharmaceutical Firms: A Comparison of Entry Mode Theories

The purpose of this paper is to understand and explain the internationalization process of Indian pharmaceutical firms through a variety of entry mode theories. Eight competing theories of entry mode are applied to the case and compared for their relative efficacy in explaining the internationalization process of Indian pharmaceutical firms. Structural equation modeling approach applied to 230 product-market entry mode data points from 20 companies over a five-year period is used to test for competing theories. The results show that resource based theory is the most suitable to explain the internationalization process of Indian pharmaceutical firms.
The Impact of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on Work Status: Implications of Job Characteristics for Staying on the Job

This prospective study tested the contribution of occupational factors to a multifactorial predictive model of work status among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The study recruited a community-wide sample of patients and included cases that were non-occupational as well as occupational in etiology. At baseline and follow-up 18 months later, trained interviewers administered a structured telephone questionnaire to 102 participants, that included items on demographics, medical history, psychosocial, and occupational factors. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that patients presenting with CTS were more likely to continue working if they had modifications to their jobs, worked for employers with fewer than 250 employees, and held jobs not characterized by the frequent use of force. We also found that White (non-Hispanic) patients were more likely to continue working than those from other ethnic groups. Our findings also suggest that job strain may contribute to earlier changes in work status following diagnosis. The receipt of worker compensation was not found to be a significant predictor of work status. Workplace assessment and job modification appear to be important aspects of care for the worker presenting with CTS, regardless of whether the CTS is occupationally caused or not.
Adolescent Victims and Intergenerational Issues in Sexual Abuse

The transitional period of adolescence is characterized by a number of changes and challenges that occur both within and outside the individual. Many developmental events occur during adolescence that have a significant impact on an adolescent’s functioning, including a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social changes. In addition, adolescents may experience a variety of other important events, such as peer group changes, school moves, changes in family structure or functioning, and alterations in societal and community expectations (Hansen, Giacoletti, & Nangle, 1995; Peterson & Hamburg, 1986). Unfortunately, many adolescents are further challenged by being a victim of sexual abuse.
The Role of Pathogen-Produced Toxins in Pathogenesis

Chemicals with phytotoxic activities are produced by many plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria. A few toxins are capable of producing all or most of the characteristic symptoms of diseases. Some toxins exhibit high toxicity only to the hosts of the toxin-producing pathogens and in a few cases the ability of a pathogen to produce a toxin is correlated with its potential to cause disease.
Reactive metabolites of 1,3-butadiene: DNA and hemoglobin adduct formation and potential roles in carcinogenicity.

1,3-Butadiene (BD), a petrochemical widely used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber and plastics, has recently been added to the list of chemicals Known To Be Human Carcinogens based upon epidemiological and mechanistic data indicating a causal relationship between occupational exposure to BD and excess mortality from lymphatic and/or hematopoietic cancers (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). Long-term BD inhalation studies in mice and rats have also been associated with genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, with mice being much more sensitive to BD-induced carcinogenicity than rats (Melnick et al, 1990; Owen et al, 1987). Because BD toxicities are believed to be mediated by reactions of BD metabolites with nucleophilic sites on macromolecules, studies in our laboratory have focused on the characterization of potential metabolic pathways of BD bioactivation, in terms of the enzymes involved, the metabolites formed, and the kinetics of the reactions. Bioactivation reactions of several primary and secondary BD metabolites were also examined. In addition, the reactions of butadiene monoxide (BMO), a primary metabolite of BD, with macromolecules were characterized.
Function of the Sperm Acrosome

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the functions of the sperm acrosome while assessing the currently accepted model for the states of the acrosome during fertilization. Potential functions for the acrosome involve issues of sperm adhesion to the zona pellucida, zona pellucida penetration, and gamete fusion. The acrosome can be considered a compartmentalized structure. In all cases, the contents of the acrosome are enclosed by a single, continuous acrosomal membrane that can be further delineated into two sub domains. The inner acrosomal membrane is closely opposed to the nuclear membranes, whereas the outer acrosomal membrane is present just under the plasma membrane overlying the acrosome. The function of the acrosome is also affected by the state of capacitation of the spermatozoa. The features of acrosomes vary from species to species, leading some to consider that the functional importance of the acrosome may differ between species. However, there are several common morphological, structural, and compositional properties of the acrosome worth considering for this review. Morphologically, the spermatozoa of some non-mammalian species do not have acrosomes, but in those spermatozoa that do, the acrosome lies on the anterior aspect of the sperm head. Acrosome size varies remarkably from one species to the next. The acrosomal exocytosis model comprises of the following hypotheses: (1) transitional states hypothesis, (2) zona pellucida binding hypothesis, (3) zona penetration hypothesis, (4) differential release hypothesis, and (5) conservation of mechanism hypothesis.
Accumulation of Dissolved DMSP by Marine Bacteria and its Degradation Via Bacterivory

Several bacterial isolates enriched from seawater using complex media were able to accumulate dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) from media into cells over several hours without degrading it. Uptake only occurred in metabolically active cells, and was repressed in some strains by the presence of additional carbon sources. Accumulation was also more rapid in osmotically-stressed cells, suggesting DMSP is used as an osmotic solute. Uptake could be blocked by inhibitors of active transport systems (2,4-dinitrophenol, azide, arsenate) and of protein synthesis (chloramphenicol). Some structural analogs such as glycine betaine and S-methyl methionine also blocked DMSP uptake, suggesting that the availability of alternate organic osmolytes may influence DMSP uptake. Stresses such as freezing, heating, or osmotic down shock resulted in partial release of DMSP back to the medium. One strain which contained a DMSP-lyase was also able to accumulate DMSP, and DMS was only produced in the absence of alternate carbon sources. Bacteria containing DMSP were prepared as prey for bacterivorous ciliates and flagellates, to examine the fate of the DMSP during grazing. In all cases, predators metabolized the DMSP in bacteria. In some cases, DMS was produced, but it is not clear if this was due to the predators or to associated bacteria in the non-axenic grazer cultures. Bacterivores may influence DMSP cycling by either modulating populations of DMSP-metabolizing bacteria, or by metabolizing DMSP accumulated by bacterial prey.
Once upon a River and Ghosts: Jan Kachik Kisin Yoko Ja’

This chapter details the joyous road of building deep and effective intercultural and intergenerational relationships with the community of Lacanja Chansayab. Two community theater performances that were the outcome of these interactions share the still existing cultural legends and myths enacted by the children. The title of this chapter is inspired by a story written by them and performed in one of the theater plays.
Instrumentation plan verification for damage detection of a vertical lift steel truss bridge

Structural condition assessment of critical infrastructures involves smart instrumentation by a suitable grid of sensors. As instrumenting of large-scale civil structures is costly, design of optimal instrumentation plans that reflect the structural behavior of the bridges while minimizing the project costs is a crucial issue in their health monitoring. An optimal instrumentation in terms of type and number of sensors with their distribution pattern throughout the bridge depends on the structural behavior of interest. The sensitivity of instrumentation plan to different performance measures is dependent to the type and placement of sensors. Therefore, the effectiveness of a damage detection algorithm could be significantly impacted by the sensor layout. In this study, the dynamic instrumentation of a vertical lift steel gusset-less truss bridge is investigated. Several damage scenarios are simulated in its analytical model while various acceleration measurement locations of one of the fixed spans are considered in each case. The vibration of the bridge fixed span used in this study is due to the vertical impact of the lift span on the piers. The damage detection methodology relies on the application of the wavelet theory to demonstrate the structural condition of the bridge based on the predicted accelerations of the structure. As the current instrumentation layout of the bridge has been designed mainly for model updating and fatigue assessment of its gussetless connections, this paper provides some guidelines for modifications of the sensor configuration for future condition assessment and health monitoring purposes of the bridge.
Carbon Monoxide Uptake in Cigarette Smoking

A study was carried out to determine whether smoking (1) regular, (2) low-nicotine-low-tar, or (3) nontobacco (lettuce leaf) cigarettes has a differential effect upon an individual’s carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level. Each subject in the study population participated twice in five “smoking treatments” in which they smoked various tobacco and nontobacco cigarettes. Expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) samples were taken four times daily to estimate COHb concentrations. Results indicate that different cigarette preparations do not result in significant variation in a subject’s COHb level. There was a significant difference, however, in COHb between individual smokers. It may be that differences in inhalation practices or factors such as pulmonary function are of some importance in determining whether an individual achieves low, moderate, or high COHb levels while smoking.
The Relation Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Abuse: What Role Does Conduct Disorder Play?

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the literature examining the relation between childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance abuse. A number of researchers have statistically controlled for conduct disorder (CD) when examining the ADHD—substance-abuse relation. These studies have generally found that the ADHD—substance-abuse relation disappears when the high overlap between ADHD and CD is taken into account. On this basis, one may conclude that ADHD is unimportant to substance abuse. However, there is some evidence from both empirical studies and related fields that ADHD and CD may interact to afford a higher risk for substance abuse than may either disorder alone. Thus, ADHD appears to be important to substance abuse in that it interacts with CD to increase the risk. This paper calls for more research that directly examines the joint effects of ADHD and CD on risk for substance abuse. There is also a need for more research that examines gender differences, and mechanisms of the relations among ADHD, CD, and substance abuse.
Mobile Devices and Health.

Mobile Devices and Health Mobile health involves sensors, mobile apps, social media, and location-tracking technology used in disease diagnosis, prevention, and management. This article provides an...
Combinatorial Epigenetics Impact of Polyphenols and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Polyphenols are potent micronutrients that can be found in large quantities in various food sources and spices. These compounds, also known as phenolics due to their phenolic structure, play a vital nutrient-based role in the prevention of various diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, liver disease, and cancers. However, the function of polyphenols in disease prevention and therapy depends on their dietary consumption and biological properties. According to American Cancer Society statistics, there will be an expected rise of 23.6 million new cancer cases by 2030. Due to the severity of the increased risk, it is important to evaluate various preventive measures associated with cancer. Relatively recently, numerous studies have indicated that various dietary polyphenols and phytochemicals possess properties of modifying epigenetic mechanisms that modulate gene expression resulting in regulation of cancer. These polyphenols and phytochemicals, when administrated in a dose-dependent and combinatorial-based manner, can have an enhanced effect on epigenetic changes, which play a crucial role in cancer prevention and therapy. Hence, this review will focus on the mechanisms of combined polyphenols and phytochemicals that can impact various epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications as well as regulation of non-coding miRNAs expression for treatment and prevention of various types of cancer.
1 H, 13 C, and 15 N backbone chemical shift assignments of m 7 GTP cap-bound Leishmania initiation factor 4E-1

Most of the translational control of gene expression in higher eukaryotes occurs during the initiation step of protein synthesis. While this process is well characterized in mammalian cells, it is less defined in parasites, including the ones that cause human Leishmaniasis. The Leishmania cap-binding isoform 1 (LeishIF4E-1) is the only isoform that binds the specific trypanosomatids-specific hypermethylated 5' cap, called cap-4, in the human stage of the parasite life cycle. We report here the extensive NMR resonance assignment of LeishIF4E-1 bound to a cap analog, m7GTP. The chemical shift data constitute a prerequisite to understanding specific translation initiation mechanisms used in Leishmania parasites and to developing antiparasitic drugs targeting their translation initiation factors.
Finite Horizon Robust Synthesis

This paper presents a robust synthesis algorithm for uncertain linear time-varying (LTV) systems on finite horizons. The uncertain system is described as an interconnection of a known LTV system and a perturbation. The input-output behavior of the perturbation is described by time-domain Integral Quadratic Constraints (IQCs). The objective is to synthesize a controller to minimize the worst-case performance. This leads to a nonconvex optimization. The proposed approach alternates between an LTV synthesis step and an IQC analysis step. This is analogous to the existing D-K iteration method. Both L 2 and terminal Euclidean norm penalties on output are considered for finite horizon performance. A simple example is provided to demonstrate the proposed algorithm.
EconomÃ­as emergentes y COVID-19 Cierres en un mundo de empresas informales y pequeÃ±as (EMEs and COVID-19 Shutting Down in a World of Informal and Tiny Firms)

bSpanish Abstract:Las economA­as emergentes se caracterizan por una alta prevalencia de informalidad, empleo en pequeA±as empresas y trabajos no aptos par
Activating Behavior to Reduce Sedentary Behavior After Stroke: A Nonrandomized Pilot Feasibility Study.

Importance Reducing poststroke sedentary behavior is important for reducing recurrent stroke risk, yet interventions to achieve this are scant. Objective To assess the feasibility of, and estimate change in sedentary behavior over time associated with, a behavioral intervention. Design Single-arm delayed baseline with postintervention and 8-wk follow-up assessment. Setting Community based. Participants Ambulatory, community-dwelling people with chronic stroke and reported ≥6 hr daily sitting time (N = 21). Intervention Activating Behavior for Lasting Engagement (ABLE) was delivered by an occupational therapist 3×/wk for 4 wk. ABLE involves activity monitoring, activity scheduling, self-assessment, and collaborative problem solving. Outcomes and measures Feasibility (participant safety, adherence, satisfaction, and reliable intervention delivery) was assessed against preestablished benchmarks. Changes over time in sedentary behavior (assessed with an ActivPAL micro3 device) and participation (Stroke Impact Scale-Participation subscale) were described. Results ABLE was safe (0 serious adverse events), adhered to (11.95 sessions/participant), and reliably delivered (90.00%-97.50% adherence). Participant satisfaction was unmet (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8, M = 28.75, SD = 3.84). ABLE was associated with a mean group reduction in prolonged sitting of 54.95 min (SD = 81.10) at postintervention and 14.08 (SD = 58.95) at follow-up. ABLE was associated with a negligible mean group increase over time in participation at postintervention (M = 1.48%, SD = 8.52) and follow-up (M = 1.33%, SD = 15.38). Conclusions and relevance The ABLE intervention is feasible and may be associated with within-group reduction in sedentary behavior over time. Further refinement is indicated. What this article adds The ABLE intervention uses engagement in meaningful daily activities to reduce sedentary behavior after stroke. These findings suggest that ABLE can be delivered safely and consistently. Further research is required to enhance participant satisfaction and determine the effects of ABLE on stroke survivors' sedentary behavior.
The metabolic importance of the overlooked asparaginase II pathway

Abstract The asparaginase II pathway consists of an asparagine transaminase [ l -asparagine + α-keto acid ⇆ α-ketosuccinamate + l -amino acid] coupled to ω-amidase [α-ketosuccinamate + H2O → oxaloacetate + NH4+]. The net reaction is: l -asparagine + α-keto acid + H2O → oxaloacetate + l -amino acid + NH4+. Thus, in the presence of a suitable α-keto acid substrate, the asparaginase II pathway generates anaplerotic oxaloacetate at the expense of readily dispensable asparagine. Several studies have shown that the asparaginase II pathway is important in photorespiration in plants. However, since its discovery in rat tissues in the 1950s, this pathway has been almost completely ignored as a conduit for asparagine metabolism in mammals. Several mammalian transaminases can catalyze transamination of asparagine, one of which – alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase type 1 (AGT1) – is important in glyoxylate metabolism. Glyoxylate is a precursor of oxalate which, in the form of its calcium salt, is a major contributor to the formation of kidney stones. Thus, transamination of glyoxylate with asparagine may be physiologically important for the removal of potentially toxic glyoxylate. Asparaginase has been the mainstay treatment for certain childhood leukemias. We suggest that an inhibitor of ω-amidase may potentiate the therapeutic benefits of asparaginase treatment.
State Child Welfare Policies and the Measurement of Child Maltreatment in the United States

State-level child welfare policies and practices affect what can be referred, investigated, and substantiated as child maltreatment, and these institutional factors vary across states and over time...
Cortical Surface-Informed Volumetric Spatial Smoothing of fMRI Data via Graph Signal Processing

Conventionally, as a preprocessing step, functional MRI (fMRI) data are spatially smoothed before further analysis, be it for activation mapping on task-based fMRI or functional connectivity analysis on resting-state fMRI data. When images are smoothed volumetrically, however, isotropic Gaussian kernels are generally used, which do not adapt to the underlying brain structure. Alternatively, cortical surface smoothing procedures provide the benefit of adapting the smoothing process to the underlying morphology, but require projecting volumetric data on to the surface. In this paper, leveraging principles from graph signal processing, we propose a volumetric spatial smoothing method that takes advantage of the gray-white and pial cortical surfaces, and as such, adapts the filtering process to the underlying morphological details at each point in the cortex.
The effectiveness of heat extraction by the drain metal contact of β-Ga 2 O 3 MOSFETs

Beta-phase gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) has garnered considerable attention for power devices due to (i) its large critical electric field strength and (ii) the availability of low cost/high quality melt-grown substrates, both of which are advantages over silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). However, because of the low thermal conductivity of β-Ga2O3, thermal management strategies at the device-level are required to achieve high-power operation. In this work, electrically identical MOSFETs (fixed current channel length) with varying spacings between the gate electrode and drain metal contact (thus, thermally different) have been fabricated, to study the effectiveness of heat extraction by the drain metal electrode. Results show that the topside features of lateral β-Ga2O3 MOSFETs are important in both electrical and thermal design perspectives.
Commercial Arbitration in Argentina

Arbitrable disputes in Argentina are those in which the law provides for the possibility of a settlement (transaction); in other words, rights which the parties may freely dispose of are at stake. Broadly described, these are rights of a patrimonial nature. Thus, disputes involving the legal capacity and civil status of physical persons cannot be submitted to arbitration, nor can those regarding the validity of a marriage, nor those relating to patria potestas, i.e., legal status of a family. However, many patrimonial issues deriving from those disputes may be submitted to arbitration. Also ineligible for arbitration are disputes involving matters outside of commerce, rights that cannot be freely disposed of by contracts, and questions where matters of public policy (orden publico) are at stake.
Comparative immune responses to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide and a polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine

Haemophilus influenzae type b is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children in the United States. Antibody to the capsular polysaccharide of this organism, polyribosylribitol-phosphate (PRP), is important in protecting against invasive disease. In 1985, H influenzae type b vaccine containing only PRP was licensed in the United States for use in children 24 to 59 months of age. Studies conducted in the United States and Finland have shown that PRP vaccine is safe and immunogenic in children older than 18 months of age.1,2 In Finland, an efficacy of approximately 80% was obtained when PRP vaccine was used to prevent invasive disease caused by H influenzae type b in children older than 24 months of age.3 The immunogenicity of the PRP vaccine in children 18 to 23 months of age, however, was not clearly established. Reported rates of seroconversion after receipt of a single dose of PRP vaccine ranged from 20% to 75%1.3-5 The purpose of our studies was to evaluate the immunogenicity y of PRP vaccines and of conjugate vaccine (PRP-Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein complex [PRP-OMPC]) in children from the Los Angeles area. First, we conducted a randomized, prospective study to compare the immunogenicity of the PRP vaccines produced by three manufacturers. A total of 147 healthy children between the ages of 18 and 58 months were recruited from Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Los Angeles, to receive, according to a prepared randomization schedule, 25 µg of the following PRP vaccines: Hib-Immune, lot 184-669, 190-654; Hib-Vax, lot 7L91071, 7D91043; or b-CAPSA I, lot M087BD, M068BC.
ON THE COUPLING OF A PRODUCTION SYSTEM SHELL AND A DBMS

This paper investigates strategies for building very large knowledge-based systems (KBSs). We assert that a DBMS can perform knowledge-based reasoning in addition to its other tasks. Specifically, we prove that OPS5 (chosen as a representative of KBSs) can be emulated by QBE. The creation of KBSs using a DBMS as an infrastructure may supply immediate solutions to many problems of current KBS environments, such as too large fact and/or rule bases to enable strictly main memory processing, recovery, concurrency control, etc. A potential drawback of the DBMS-based implementation is a reduced performance. A solution to this problem would be demonstrated by a working system whose performance would be similar to that of other implementations. As a step toward this goal, we describe suggestions for performance improvements.
Chemical Safety Training: Lessons Learned from a Model for Evaluating Effectiveness

A research study was undertaken that examined issues related to evaluating the effectiveness of safety training. Specific research areas were identified after a thorough review of the literature. Research questions were identified and evaluated with the context of evaluating a chemical safety training course offered at Iowa State University in both classroom and computer-based formats. The first major focus of the study was on the development and testing of a “model” that could be used to develop and then evaluate the effectiveness of the training. The second major focus area was related to examining learning and retention of course material; characteristics of the learner that may influence learning were also evaluated. The third focus area examined nuances associated with the assessment techniques used to measure learning. Results of the first focus area showed that the model was a very useful mechanism by which data could be collected, analyzed and then used by the safety professional to improve the effectiveness of safety training. Results of the second focus area showed that there were no significant differences in learning and retention between study participants taking the training on computer versus in the classroom; learner characteristics did not impact the observed amount of learning in either group. Results of the third focus area showed the importance of evaluating and considering characteristics associated with the assessment technique such as question and exam difficulty relative to interpreting the measured amount of learning. The study concludes with a summary of lessons learned information related to each of the three focus areas and suggests that more extensive research be conducted and that the day-today safety practitioner can play a key role in advancing the state of knowledge of evaluating training effectiveness.
Myosin light chain kinase: pulling the strings of epithelial tight junction function

Dynamic regulation of paracellular permeability is essential for physiological epithelial function, while dysregulated permeability is common in disease. The recent elucidation of the molecular composition of the epithelial tight junction complex has been accompanied by characterization of diverse intracellular mediators of paracellular permeabiltiy. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), which induces contraction of the perijunctional actomyosin ring through myosin II regulatory light chain phosphorylation, has emerged as a key regulator of tight junction permeability. Examination of the regulation and role of MLCK in tight junction dysfunction has helped to define pathological processes and characterize the role of barrier loss in disease pathogenesis, and may provide future therapeutic targets to treat intestinal disease.
Ionic and osmotic regulation capabilities of juvenile Gulf of Mexico sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus de sotoi

Abstract The salinity tolerance, and hydromineral regulation capabilities of three size groups (small 110–170 g; medium 230–290 g, large 460–700 g; n =48 for each group) of 13-month-old juvenile Gulf of Mexico sturgeon were investigated. Fish ( n =6 for each salinity) were transferred directly from freshwater (FW) to a series of experimental salinity treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 parts per thousand (ppt)). Fish were also acclimated in brackish water (20 ppt) for 2 weeks and transferred to a salinity of 34 ppt. In this condition juvenile Gulf of Mexico sturgeon adapted to saltwater (SW) and maintained their hydromineral balance. FW adapted sturgeon ( n =6) had an average blood hemotocrit of 28.2±0.8%, plasma osmolality of 260.7±1.6 mOsm kg −1 H 2 O, and plasma ion concentrations of 135.7±1.2 mM l −1 Na + , 106.9±1.9 mEq l −1 Cl − , and 2.9±0.1 mM l −1 K + . In SW adapted sturgeon ( n =8) blood parameters averaged 26.9±0.7% for hematocrit, 294.2±2.3 mOsm kg −1 H 2 O for osmolality, 152.0±1.7 mM l −1 Na + , 149.2±1.4 mEq l −1 for Cl − , and 3.1±0.1 mM l −1 K + . The method of transfer (abrupt or slow acclimation) directly affected fish survival and the time they took to achieve ionic and osmotic regulation. This SW adaptation appears to be related to body size, the larger the fish the easier the adaptation process. A threshold size of about 170 g was apparent for the fish to adapt to saltwater after 2 weeks of acclimation. Chloride cells were present in both FW and SW adapted sturgeon with SW and brackish water fish having chloride cells significantly ( P −2 ) and larger in size (41.0±3.85 and 34.2±4.49 μ m 2 ) than FW adapted sturgeon (10±1.0 cells mm −2 and 22±2.53 μ m 2 ). Few chloride cells were observed in the opercular membrane, however, none were found in the pseudobranch and spiracle.
Arteriovenous malformations of the brain: A teratologic challenge

Congenital arteriovenous malformations of the brain are lesions which are well-known to neurologists and neurosurgeons but are puzzling to teratologists because they occur sporadically and are unassociated with congenital malformations outside the central nervous system. They are recommended to teratologists as a field of etiologic and pathogenetic research.
Complications from the use of thrombolytic agents in patients with cocaine associated chest pain

Previous investigators have noted that patients with cocaine associated chest pain frequently have abnormal electrocardiograms, including ST segment elevation, in the absence of ongoing myocardial ischemia. The effects of these nonischemic ST segment elevations have not been evaluated. We report two patients with cocaine associated chest pain and ST segment elevations who received thrombolytic agents in the absence of myocardial ischemia. Neither patient sustained a myocardial infarction, nor had clinical evidence of reperfusion. The ST segment elevations persisted after resolution of chest pain in both patients, and both of the patients experienced complications of thrombolytic therapy. One patient sustained a hemorrhagic stroke and one had minor oral-pharyngeal bleeding. Given the lack of documented efficacy, concerns about safety, and poor specificity of the electrocardiogram for myocardial ischemia in patients with cocaine associated chest pain, thrombolytic therapy should be used with caution in these patients.
Thermal stability of hard TiN/SiNx multilayer coatings with an equiaxed microstructure

Abstract Hard TiN/SiN x multilayer coatings with an equiaxed microstructure were prepared using a dual-cathode unbalanced reactive-magnetron sputtering system. These multilayer coatings were then annealed at 1000 °C for 1 h in vacuum. These TiN/SiN x multilayer coatings before and after annealing were characterized at room temperature and compared in terms of microstructure and mechanical properties. X-Ray diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy studies showed that the layer structure of these coatings is preserved after annealing at 1000 °C when the SiN x layer thickness is 0.8 nm or greater. The high hardness of these multilayer coatings is either maintained or improved after annealing. Therefore, with proper control of the SiN x thickness, TiN/SiN x multilayer coatings demonstrate excellent thermal stability and are potential candidates for high-temperature tribological applications.
Internet-based transfusion audit system

This project is aimed at developing a cost-effective working environment for the transfusion medicine specialists of American Red Cross (ARC). In this project we are developing a multimedia-based consultation environment that uses Internet and teleconferencing to increase the quality of services and to replace currently used 800 telephone lines. Through the use of Internet/LAN/ISDN the physicians can share information and references while they discuss patient cases. A multimedia interface allows the physician to access data from the office and from the house. This paper discusses the approach, current status of the project and future plans to extend the approach to other areas of medicine.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of Modafinil in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An Open-Label Study

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the effect of once-daily dosing of modafinil, a stimulant that has a long duration of action, on clinical features of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Method An open-label design was used to compare the Conners Parent and Teacher Rating Scale-Revised (L) (CPRS, CTRS), the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, and the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), without and with medication, in children with ADHD. Eleven children with ADHD, ranging in age from 5 to 15 years, took modafinil for an average of 4.6 weeks. Results Average TOVA ADHD scores improved by 2.43 SD ( p = .0009). CTRS and CPRS ADHD index T scores improved by an average of 14.1 ( p = .0009) and 17.7 points ( p = .001), respectively. The mean ADHD Rating Scale-IV scores improved from the 88th percentile to the 75th percentile ( p = .047). One subject withdrew from the study because of an adverse event that was resolved completely with medication withdrawal. Other side effects were mild and responded to dose adjustment. No subjects required more than one dose per day. Conclusions Modafinil may be a useful once-daily treatment for children with ADHD. Further study using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design is needed.