cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Youth, forests and community in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Petén, Guatemala

Abstract Maya Biosphere Reserve is located in Northern Guatemala, covering more than two millions hectares of forested lands. Youth living in Uaxactun, Guatemala, are in daily contact with local forests. As is normal at their age, they hold particular aspirations and have concerns about the future. We engaged Uaxactun youth to understand better their views and perspectives, and the nature of their connection to local forests and the community as a whole. In this paper, we reflect on those conversations, beginning by introducing Uaxactun’s context within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, and provide background on the community’s history, land use, demographics, and their expansive forest concession managed by OMYC, a community-based organization. We then report on the outcomes of the youth engagement workshop (held in November 2017, with a total of 15 youth (mix of males and females), which revealed strong connections between village youth, their community and their forest, but also their limited knowledge of community projects and processes. The workshop became the catalyst for participating youth to approach community leaders to request a greater voice and engagement in community decision making and management. Finally, we reflect upon these developments and what they may mean for both Uaxactun and other communities in the region.
Effectiveness of avatar-delivered instruction on social initiations by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Background Individuals with autism often struggle to establish and maintain positive relationships with peers and adults due to communication and social difficulties. Reviews of the research literature on social skills curricula suggest these approaches may be less than effective and often fail to promote generalization of acquired skills. Advances in the availability and adaptability of live animation and digital avatars could provide interventionists a tool to maximize engagement during instruction and program for generalization. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an avatar-based social skills intervention on participants’ social initiations in a clinical setting and with same-age peers. Method The research team used a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design to evaluate the effects of instruction from an avatar on students' social skills. Systematic direct observation and the Social Skills Improvement System were used to evaluate the effects of an avatar delivered social skills lesson. Social validity was measured from the perspective of both participants and their parents. Results Following instruction from an avatar, participants’ percentage of independent steps completed in the skill “starting a conversation” increased to consistently above 80 %, or above typical mastery levels. Participants’ conversation skills generalized to interactions with same-age peers. Finally, parents reported small positive gains in social skills, and participants indicated the intervention was socially valid. Conclusions The findings from this study support the use of technology-aided interventions and instruction, specifically the use of live animation avatars. Future studies could extend use of this technology beyond the relatively simple, yet effective, application described here.
Imaging of pulse wave propagation coupled with vector flow and wall shear stress mapping in atherosclerotic plaque phantoms and in vivo

Methods used in clinical practice to diagnose and monitor atherosclerosis present limitations. It has been reported that atherosclerosis alters the mechanical properties of the arterial wall, while the stiffness of a plaque can provide information on its risk for rupture and stroke occurrence. Pulse Wave Imaging (PWI) is a non-invasive, ultrasound-based technique, which provides information on arterial wall stiffness by imaging the pulse wave propagation along an arterial segment. Wall shear stress has also been considered as one of the key cardiovascular parameters associated with vascular wall degeneration and atherosclerosis initiation. The aim of the present study is to integrate PWI with Vector Doppler and Wall Shear stress in a single ultrasound imaging modality, enabling thus simultaneous and co-localized imaging of distension pulse wave propagation and hemodynamics. The performance of the proposed technique was evaluated in two phantoms with embedded plaques presenting 50% and 70% degree of stenosis, as well as through CFD simulations. Moreover, initial feasibility was demonstrated in an atherosclerotic human carotid artery in-vivo. Simultaneous compliance and flow measurements in the same artery could thus be obtained which can be used to both assess and monitor progression of vascular disease.
PixelHop: A Successive Subspace Learning (SSL) Method for Object Recognition

Abstract A new machine learning methodology, called successive subspace learning (SSL), is introduced in this work. SSL contains four key ingredients: (1) successive near-to-far neighborhood expansion; (2) unsupervised dimension reduction via subspace approximation; (3) supervised dimension reduction via label-assisted regression (LAG); and (4) feature concatenation and decision making. An image-based object classification method, called PixelHop, is proposed to illustrate the SSL design. It is shown by experimental results that the PixelHop method outperforms the classic CNN model of similar model complexity in three benchmarking datasets (MNIST, Fashion MNIST and CIFAR-10). Although SSL and deep learning (DL) have some high-level concept in common, they are fundamentally different in model formulation, the training process and training complexity. Extensive discussion on the comparison of SSL and DL is made to provide further insights into the potential of SSL.
Resolvent-based design and experimental testing of porous materials for passive turbulence control

Abstract An extended version of the resolvent formulation is used to evaluate the use of anisotropic porous materials as passive flow control devices for turbulent channel flow. The effect of these porous substrates is introduced into the governing equations via a generalized version of Darcy’s law. Model predictions show that materials with high streamwise permeability and low wall-normal permeability ( ϕ xy = k xx / k yy ≫ 1 ) can suppress resolvent modes resembling the energetic near-wall cycle. Based on these predictions, two anisotropic porous substrates with ϕ xy > 1 and ϕ xy 1 were designed and fabricated for experiments in a benchtop water channel experiment. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements were used to compute mean turbulence statistics and to educe coherent structure via snapshot Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). Friction velocity estimates based on the Reynolds shear stress profiles do not show evidence of discernible friction reduction (or increase) over the streamwise-preferential substrate with ϕ xy > 1 relative to a smooth wall flow at identical bulk Reynolds number. A significant increase in friction is observed over the substrate with ϕ xy 1 . This increase in friction is linked to the emergence of spanwise rollers resembling Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices. Coherent structures extracted via POD analysis show qualitative agreement with model predictions.
Use of Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques in Studies of Small Fatigue Cracks

This paper reports progress to date in the development of an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave (SAW) technique to monitor in situ the depth of small cracks as they grow, as well as the stresses required to cause the cracksto begin to open and to fully open. Two SAW transducers (transmitter and receiver) are used to monitor crack reflection signals. The surface length is measured by conventional methods. Based on new acoustic theory, the reflection signal and length data are used to infer crack depth below the surface. Acoustically determined depth is compared with that obtained by destructive examination of specimens, and agreement is good. The crack opening stress determined acoustically is compared with opening stress determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurements of crack mouth opening displacement versus applied stress. This comparison requires specimens small enough to fit inside an SEM chamber. Preliminary results demonstrate the ability of the acoustic measurements of crack opening to detect behavior below the surface not detected by SEM measurements. Acoustically determined changes in crack opening behavior as a function of constant-amplitude and variable-amplitude stress histories are also presented.
Cigarette and electronic vapor product use among high school students in Georgia, 2015-2018.

Abstract Adolescent use of electronic vapor products (EVP) is increasing; however, changes in EVP use in the context of cigarette smoking is less certain. We analyzed trends in EVP and cigarette use among high school students in the state of Georgia. We used self-reported EVP and cigarette use from the annual Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0 for 2015 to 2018 (N = 1,405,108). Users were categorized as exclusive EVP users, exclusive cigarette users, or dual users. We assessed current (≥1 day in past 30 days) use of EVPs, cigarettes, and dual users of both products, as well as number of days the products were used among current users. We compared current users, as well as number of days used, across adjacent years using tests for proportion and Wilcoxon t-tests, respectively. The proportion of current exclusive EVP users and dual users increased during 2017–2018 (4.2% to 6.9% and 1.6% to 3.7%, p
Quantitative assessment of the production of radioactive materials by the Mevion S250i Hyperscan proton therapy system: a year-long survey

Introduction: This technical note describes a quantitative assessment of the production of radioactive materials during a year-long clinical operation of a Mevion S250i Hyperscan proton therapy system. The production of accumulated radioactive materials plays an important role in determining radiation safety in and around the proton therapy facilities. Methods: We have conducted a weekly room survey, every week for a year, during normal clinical operation. Results and conclusions: We estimated the accumulated activity from secondary neutron activation on aluminium structures at 3 m away from isocentre in the beamline to be less than 300 μCi.
An Introduction to Catholic Economics: General Welfare, Competing Perspectives, and Human Nature:

Catholic economics is the interdisciplinary pursuit of joining Church teaching with economic science. The Church and its leaders, the Pope and Bishops, are primarily concerned with the salvation of...
‘Time to Ranch it Up!’: Ethics and satire in new media:

YouTube and Internet culture have changed expressions of comedy, especially on television. Some forms of TV entertainment content emphasise shock value, resulting in a satirical strain of comedy th...
T cell repertoire analysis suggest a prominent bystander response in human cardiac allograft vasculopathy

T cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), yet their clonality, specificity, and function are incompletely defined. Here we used T cell receptor β chain (TCRB) sequencing to study the T cell repertoire in the coronary artery, endomyocardium, and peripheral blood at the time of retransplant in four cases of CAV and compared it to the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) repertoire from the same samples. High-dimensional flow cytometry coupled with single-cell PCR was also used to define the T cell phenotype. Extensive overlap was observed between intragraft and blood TCRBs in all cases, a finding supported by robust quantitative diversity metrics. In contrast, blood and graft IGHV repertoires from the same samples showed minimal overlap. Coronary infiltrates included CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells expressing inflammatory (IFNγ, TNFα) and profibrotic (TGFβ) cytokines. These were distinguishable from the peripheral blood based on memory, activation, and tissue residency markers (CD45RO, CTLA-4, and CD69). Importantly, high-frequency rearrangements were traced back to endomyocardial biopsies (2-6 years prior). Comparison with four HLA-mismatched blood donors revealed a repertoire of shared TCRBs, including a subset of recently described cross-reactive sequences. These findings provide supportive evidence for an active local intragraft bystander T cell response in late-stage CAV.
Coda: Ten Questions on Globality

Dipesh Chakrabarty is Lawrence A Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor in History and South Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago He is the author of several books, including The Crises of Civilization (2018) and Provincializing Europe (2000);and was one of the principal founders of the editorial collective of Subaltern Studies In this discussion he ruminates upon the state of globality;its relationship to the planet Earth;the scope and possible duration of the Anthropocene;and some of globalization's consequences for humanity and human understanding The interview was conducted by managing editor, Kenneth Weisbrode © 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2020
HIDDEN TRADE-OFFS IN INSURANCE WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Would you like a Fitbit with that insurance policy? It seems, perhaps, like a strange question for a policyholder to hear. Yet this, and similar questions, are increasingly common due to a trend in insurer wellness programs. Health and life insurance companies are offering policyholders wellness programs akin to counterparts in the employment arena, where policyholders receive rewards or premium discounts in exchange for participating in health education and surveys or for meeting set health goals. The programs aim to incentivize policyholders to take personal responsibility for health behaviors. The expansion of wellness programs comes even as growing evidence suggests that workplace wellness programs do not significantly improve health or other metrics. Although promoting health is a worthy goal, if insurer wellness programs fail to create meaningful change in health metrics, their use may further entrench a system of shifting costs to those most burdened in society under the weak guise of personal responsibility and health promotion. Insurers, simultaneously, may benefit from gaining valuable consumer data without clarity on how this data will be used or with whom it will be shared. Regulation at the state and federal level generally sanctions or even encourages these programs. However, especially in the life insurance context, regulatory efforts fail to require even the most basic of protections across all programs. This paper argues for regulation to provide at least baseline protections across five domains. Programs must be offered to all similarly situated individuals; provide reasonable alternatives to those unable to meet program goals due to health; prohibit unreasonable or exorbitant monetary incentives, especially those linked to premiums; be reasonably designed to promote health; and have protections and disclosure requirements surrounding policyholder data. Even these most rudimentary protections are not guaranteed across all insurance wellness programs given the patchwork regulation to date. Without such protections, programs risk harming the most vulnerable in society without substantial benefit to the health and wellness of those participating.
Cerebrospinal Analysis in Patients With COVID-19.

Background Assessment of the impact of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis including investigation for the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is essential for the optimization of patient care. Methods In this case series, we review patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 undergoing lumbar puncture (LP) admitted to Columbia University Irving Medical Center (New York, NY, USA) from March 1 to May 26, 2020. In a subset of patients, CSF SARS-CoV-2 quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) testing is performed. Results The average age of 27 patients who underwent LP with definitive SARS-CoV-2 (SD) was 37.5 (28.7) years. CSF profiles showed elevated white blood cell counts and protein in 44% and 52% of patients, respectively. LP results impacted treatment decisions in 10 (37%) patients, either by change of antibiotics, influence in disposition decision, or by providing an alternative diagnosis. CSF SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR was performed on 8 (30%) patients, with negative results in all samples. Conclusions Among patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2, CSF results changed treatment decisions or disposition in over one-third of our patient cohort. CSF was frequently abnormal, though CSF SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR was negative in all samples. Further studies are required to define whether CSF SARS-CoV-2 testing is warranted in certain clinical contexts.
Maternal and infant hospitalization costs associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a California cohort.

The United States has higher health care costs than other developed nations. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are increasingly common, and longer hospital admissions and utilization of additiona...
The Factor Structure of the Brief Cope: A Systematic Review:

The Brief COPE is a widely used measure of coping that contains 28 items on 14 factors. Researchers have shortened the inventory, but the factor structure remains debated. A systematic review of pe...
Instrumentation for Exploring Mars with High Science Return Small Payload Missions

The Mars Exploration Directorate at the JPL is sponsoring a study to examine technical feasibility of developing small spacecraft missions (SSc) capable of low-cost, compelling science. Low cost small spacecraft missions can enable unique mission concepts in higher risk classes creating opportunities for compelling science missions in regions that may be otherwise remain unexplored, as well as for constellations, networks, scouts, and fundamentally new measurements. Potential science instruments for Mars Exploration Analysis Group (MEPAG) high-priority investigations suited to small spacecraft mass, volume, power, and cost constraints include compact versions of a camera (e.g., Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Enhanced Engineering Camera (EECam)), Meteorology (e.g., MSL Meteorology Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA)), Seismometer (e.g., InSIGHT SEIS), Atmosphere and Trace Gases (e.g., MSL Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS)), Dust (e.g., ExoMars Micro Mars Environmental Dust (MicroMED)) analyzers, and fluxgate magnetometers (InSIGHT Mag). Two examples of low-cost mission concepts are LOKI (Localizing Organic Key Ingredients), an areostationary SmallSat orbital constellation designed to measure trace gases, and TH 2 OR, a time-domain EM sounder capable of water detection to a depth of many kilometers, which would be landed via a small high impact energy device (SHIELD).
Alterations in Resting-State Functional Brain Connectivity and Correlations with Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening Measures in Postconcussion Vestibular Dysfunction.

Background and purpose Vestibular symptoms after concussion are common and associated with protracted recovery. The purpose of this study is to define resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) brain connectivity alterations in patients with postconcussion vestibular dysfunction (PCVD) and correlations between rs-fMRI connectivity and symptoms provoked during Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening (VOMS) assessment. Methods Prospective IRB approved study. Study group 12 subjects with subacute PCVD (2-10 weeks); control group: 10 age-matched subjects without history of concussion or vestibular impairment. Both groups underwent clinical vestibular assessment. rs-fMRI was acquired on 3.0T Siemens Trio with a 12-channel head coil. rs-fMRI data analysis included independent component analysis-based functional connectivity group differences, graph theory analysis, and ROI-to-ROI connectivity correlation analysis with VOMS clinical derivatives. Group difference maps between resting-state networks were calculated using dual regression method and corrected for multiple comparisons. Correlation analysis between ROI-to-ROI rs-fMRI brain activation and VOMS assessment ratings was performed using Pearson correlation coefficient, with a significance threshold of P ≤ .05. Results Compared to controls, PCVD group demonstrated significantly increased rs-fMRI connectivity between the default-mode network and right middle frontal gyrus and right postcentral gyrus; and between a vestibular-sensorimotor network and right prefrontal cortex. Significant positive correlations were found between clinical derivative VOMS scores and components of the vestibular, visual networks, and multisensory processing cortical representations. Conclusion Altered rs-fMRI brain connectivity with increased connectivity of visual input, multisensory processing, and spatial memory in PCVD is correlative with clinical derivative VOMS scores, suggesting maladaptive brain plasticity underlying vestibular symptomatology.
Quinceañera Style: Social Belonging and Latinx Consumer Identities: González, Rachel V. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2019. 211 pp. $29.95 (paperback). ISBN-13: 978-1477319697.

Rachel Valentina Gonzalez’s Quinceanera Style: Social Belonging and Latinx Consumer Identities (2019) provides a much-needed analysis of quinceaneras as hybrid cultural practices. Although quincean...
Prejudice and Openness to the Other: Investigating Responses to Testimonies of Race-Based Suffering

The present study employed a variety of existing measures to assess openness to the other in the ecologically valid context of listening to real-life testimonies of race-based suffering. Variation in system threat, and individual differences in two measures of prejudice—right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and social dominance orientation (SDO)—were all investigated for their impact on respondent openness. Among 36 student volunteers, it was found that a woman’s testimony featuring a high degree of system threat engendered less openness to the other among participants high in SDO than less threatening testimony offered by a man. Additionally, participant levels of RWA explained a significant amount of variance in their openness to the other across both male and female testimonies. This study quantitatively confirms that testimonies of race-based suffering—utterances that have great potential to interrupt master narratives and invite deep learning—are likely to be met with a complex and interactive pattern of resistance that must be more fully understood.
Reproductive dynamics of Pacific sanddab, Citharichthys sordidus, off the central coast of California

Abstract Female Pacific sanddab were collected from the Monterey Bay, California to describe their reproductive strategy and annual reproductive cycle, as well as to estimate length at maturity, fecundity, spawning fraction (SF), and spawning interval (SI). Captive females were held to examine degradation of spawning markers and confirmed the biological spawning capabilities of the species. The reproductive season extended from May through January, as determined through macroscopic and histological examination of ovaries. Oocyte development was asynchronous, and an indeterminate fecundity pattern was displayed. Absolute and relative batch fecundity values were variable (means = 6663 eggs and 54 eggs g− 1 somatic weight, respectively) and significantly related to maternal length. During the period of highest reproductive activity, SF ranged from 0.42 to 0.98, suggesting some females were spawning on a daily basis. Monthly SF and SI were related to length, with smaller females having a truncated season and lower SF compared to larger females. Lengths at 50% (119 mm) and 95% (149 mm) maturity showed a downward shift relative to the 1940s, though the magnitude and cause of this shift remain unknown. This study highlights the importance of considering demographic shifts and size-related dynamics when modeling a stock's reproductive potential.
Characterization of fimbriae produced by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Abstract Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) express rope-like bundles of filaments, termed bundle-forming pili (BFP) (J. A. Giron, A. S. Y. Ho, and G. K. Schoolnik, Science 254:710-713, 1991). Expression of BFP is associated with localized adherence to HEp-2 cells and the presence of the EPEC adherence factor plasmid. In this study, we describe the identification of rod-like fimbriae and fibrillae expressed simultaneously on the bacterial surface of three prototype EPEC strains. Upon fimbrial extraction from EPEC B171 (O111:NM), three fimbrial subunits with masses of 16.5, 15.5, and 14.7 kDa were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Their N-terminal amino acid sequence showed homology with F9 and F7(2) fimbriae of uropathogenic E. coli and F1845 of diffuse-adhering E. coli, respectively. The mixture of fimbrial subunits (called FB171) exhibited mannose-resistant agglutination of human erythrocytes only, and this activity was not inhibited by alpha-D-Gal(1-4)-beta-Gal disaccharide or any other described receptor analogs for P, S, F, M, G, and Dr hemagglutinins of uropathogenic E. coli, which suggests a different receptor specificity. Hemagglutination was inhibited by extracellular matrix glycoproteins, i.e., collagen type IV, laminin, and fibronectin, and to a lesser extent by gangliosides, fetuin, and asialofetuin. Scanning electron microscopic studies performed on clusters of bacteria adhering to HEp-2 cells revealed the presence of structures resembling BFP and rod-like fimbriae linking bacteria to bacteria and bacteria to the eukaryotic cell membrane. We suggest a role of these surface appendages in the interaction of EPEC with eukaryotic cells as well as in the overall pathogenesis of intestinal disease caused by EPEC.
Occupation Bedbug: Or, the Urgency and Agency of Professional Pragmatism

This essay draws on fieldwork with American social workers, whose primary charge is to engage what they view as particularly recalcitrant human problems and populations. All the while, these workers find themselves in intensive engagements with bedbugs, which have recently infested the American imaginary, as well as the destitute sites of American social work. As every professional effort at elimination is met with bedbugs’ seeming multiplication, eradicating bedbugs comes to be understood as both professional responsibility and practical impossibility—yet another example that the magnitude of the problems with which social workers are charged exceeds their abilities to resolve them. And yet these professionals neither succumb to burnout nor suffer a sustained sense of futility. Rather, bedbugs help them cultivate a sustaining occupational ethic, one that resonates with American systems theories and American Pragmatism. More specifically, human-bedbug engagements inspire a working formulation of agency that acknowledges the efficacies of non-human actors, understands human intention as the framing of, rather than fuel for what actually happens, and privileges the means over the ends of (professional) labor. With a focus on how human-bedbug engagements contribute to the development of folk theories of agency, this article demonstrates the fluidity with which social actors think about the possibilities for effective, meaningful (re)action and thereby contributes to the anthropology of agency.
Identity of the rhizotoxic aluminium species

The aluminium (III) released from soil minerals to the soil solution under acid conditions may appear as hexaaquaaluminium (Al(H2O) 6 3+ , or Al3+ for convenience) or may react with available ligands to form additional chemical species. That one or more of these species is rhizotoxic (inhibitory to root elongation) has been known for many decades, but the identity of the toxic species remains problematical for the following reasons. 1. Several Al species coexist in solution so individual species cannot be investigated in isolation, even in artificial culture media. 2. The activities of individual species must be calculated from equilibrium data that may be uncertain. 3. The unexpected or undetected appearance of the extremely toxic triskaidekaaluminium (AlO4Al12(OH)24(H2O) 12 7+ or Al13) may cause misattribution of toxicity to other species, especially to mononuclear hydroxy-Al. 4. If H+ ameliorates Al toxicity, or vice versa, then mononuclear hydroxy-Al may appear to be toxic when it is not. 5. The identity and activities of the Al species contacting the cell surfaces are uncertain because of the H+ currents through the root surface and because of surface charges. This article considers the implications of these problems for good experimental designs and critically evaluates current information regarding the relative toxicities of selected Al species. It is concluded that polycationic Al (charge >2) is rhizotoxic as are other polyvalent cations.
Probing the Early Universe with the SZ Effect

The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) which we observe today is relic radiation which last interacted with matter more than 10 billion years ago, when the expanding universe cooled to the point that free electrons and ionized nuclei recombined to form atoms. Prior to recombination, scattering between photons and free electrons was a very frequent occurrence, and the distance light could penetrate was small; afterwards, with free electrons out of circulation, the universe became largely transparent to light. Thus, the CMBR photons we observe today give us a clear view of the state of the early universe. Measured deviations in the intensity of the CMBR trace the small perturbations in the primordial matter density, which have been amplified by gravitational forces to form the magnificent, complex structures which comprise the present-day universe.
211 Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with pulmonary exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis

Objectives To investigate whether vitamin D status and vitamin D insufficiency were associated with CF pulmonary exacerbations in our local CF Center. Methods Data was used for patients ages 6–18 years during the years 2000–2010 from our local CF database. Models were created to investigate the association of Vitamin D 25-OH levels and IV exacerbation frequency. Vitamin D 25-OH levels were introduced in different models as either continuous or categorical variables (≥30 vs. Pseudomonas and MRSA. Results are reported as odds-ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results The number of Vitamin D measurements included was 958. The number of unique patients included was 212. Covariates associated with pulmonary exacerbations requiring IV therapy were female sex, older age, lower BMI z-score, chronic Pseudomonas infection, and Vitamin D 25-OH status. For every 1 point decrease in Vitamin D 25-OH level, the odds of having a subsequent pulmonary IV exacerbation within 1 year increased by 1.019 times (95% CI 1.001–1.037; p 0.03). With Vitamin D insufficiency ( Conclusion Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with pulmonary exacerbations requiring IV therapy in children with cystic fibrosis.
Race and Political Activism in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: The Role of Resources

Do race and resources affect political activism in Brazil? If so, in which ways? In this paper, I analyze quantitative data from the Belo Horizonte Area survey in 2005 and present some findings on the impact of both race and resources on different types of political activism. Further, I examine two hypothesis related to the race of respondents: Is race a relevant explanatory variable even considering the impact of the resources? Do individuals from different racial groups (considering self-classification) translate resources into political activism in different ways?
Far-Infrared Observations of Celestial Objects by Balloon-Borne Telescope

A newly developed balloon gondola with 12 in. telescope has been flown a number of times in 1970 and 1971 making far-infrared observations of celestical sources. These include the planets Jupiter and Venus, the galactic center, a number of bright H π regions, and some dark dust clouds. The technical aspects of the balloon gondola and telescope system and some of these results will be discussed.
Halo-Independent analysis of direct dark matter detection data for any WIMP interaction

The halo independent comparison of direct dark matter detection data eliminates the need to make any assumption on the uncertain local dark matter distribution and is complementary to the usual data comparison which required assuming a dark halo model for our galaxy. The method, initially proposed for WIMPs with spin-independent contact interactions, has been generalized to any other interaction and applied to recent data on “Light WIMPs”.
Myosin light chain kinase structure function analysis using bacterial expression.

Abstract A 40-kDa fragment of chicken smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase was produced and partially purified from a bacterial expression system. This fragment exhibits calmodulin binding and substrate phosphorylation properties similar to those of the isolated chicken gizzard enzyme. A series of 3'-deletion mutants was prepared and used to produce proteins with the same NH2 terminus but with COOH termini varying over 180 amino acids. Results show that truncation of the enzyme at Ser-512 (based on the amino acid numbering system described for the partial cDNA clone by Guerriero, V., Jr., Russo, M. A., Olson, N. J., Putkey, J. A., and Means, A. R. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 8372-8381) does not alter calmodulin binding, calmodulin regulation, or enzymatic properties. Removal of an additional 5 residues from the COOH terminus completely inhibits calmodulin binding and results in an inactive kinase that can be fully activated by limited proteolysis. Site specific mutations within these 5 residues demonstrate that Gly-508 and Arg-509 are independently involved in calmodulin-dependent binding and activation of myosin light chain kinase. Truncation of the enzyme at residues within the protein kinase catalytic domain results in inactive protein that cannot be activated by proteolysis.
Rational drug discovery design approaches for treating Parkinson’s disease

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a severe progressive neurodegenerative disorder. As yet, no therapeutic agent can prevent the characteristic neuronal cell loss in PD brain. The introduction of levodopa to the clinic several decades ago has greatly mitigated the symptomatic burden in PD patients. But the discovery of neuroprotective and disease-modifying therapies has lagged behind, becoming one of the most desired prizes in the drug discovery arms race for neurodegenerative disorders, including PD.Areas covered: In this review, the author provides an overview of the rational drug discovery approaches that are designed to prevent the onset or alter the course of the disease, and/or target its non-motor symptoms.Expert opinion: Largely due to the intertwined etiology that is a hallmark of PD’s pathology, neuroprotective drug discovery is challenging, while very limited targeting strategies exist for the non-motor symptoms that afflict sufferers of PD. Rational approaches toward PD neurotherapeutic...
Management of Wire Brush Bristle Ingestion Review of Literature and Presentation of an Algorithm

Objectives To increase awareness of wire brush bristle ingestion, review the literature relating to wire brush bristle ingestion, and describe an algorithm for management of wire brush bristle foreign bodies as well as a technique for bedside removal. Methods The authors present a case of an accidental wire bristle ingestion that was successfully treated with bedside removal and describe a successful bedside technique for removal. For the literature review, the PubMed journal database and Google Scholar were queried using the search terms wire bristle, wire brush, grill brush, and grill bristle. Results Twenty-three wire brush ingestions with upper aerodigestive presentations were identified in the medical literature. Bedside visualization was attempted in 10 patients and successful in 5. The foreign body was able to be removed at the bedside in 3 of these patients. Two patients were managed conservatively. The authors developed an algorithm for management based on these literature findings. Conclusion Wire brush bristle ingestion is increasingly common in the literature, and a definitive algorithm does not exist for management. The authors present an algorithm for management and describe a technique for successful removal at the bedside.
Metabolic syndrome in African Americans: Implications for preventing coronary heart disease

The metabolic syndrome represents a specific clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in the same individual (abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, a prothrombotic state, and a proinflammatory state). Almost 50 million American adults (about one in four) have the metabolic syndrome, which puts them at increased risk for the development of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. African Americans, especially African-American women, have a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. This is attributable mainly to the disproportionate occurrence in African Americans of elevated blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Management of the metabolic syndrome consists primarily of modification or reversal of the root causes (overweight/obesity and physical inactivity) and therapy to reduce or control the risk factors. Although all components of the metabolic syndrome should be addressed, optimal control of atherogenic dyslipidemia and elevated blood pressure may reduce cardiovascular risk by more than 80%.
Induction of Lactation: Comparison of Injections of Estradiol—17β and Progesterone for 7 or 21 Days on Prolactin Response to Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone and Milk Yield in Dairy Cattle

Subcutaneous injections of estradiol-17 beta and progesterone (.10 and .25 mg/kg of body weight) for 7 (group I) or 21 (II) days were used. Dexamethasone (.028 mg/kg of body weight per day) or adrenocorticotropin (200 IU per day) was injected into cows in each group on days 18 to 20 (I) or 32 to 34 (II). Additionally, 100 mug of thyrotropin releasing hormone was injected intravenously on days 1, 7, 17 (I) or 1, 7, and 31 (II). Milking was initiated on days 21 (I) or 35 (II). Overall 13 of 14 cows had mean daily yields of milk greater than 5 kg; 12 had 305-day lactations. Yields of milk in cows injected for 21 days were greater on day 1 and increased more rapidly until peak was reached at 10 wk; daily mean production throughout lactation was greater (14.3 versus 10.1 kg) than for cows injected for 7 days. Lactation curves pooled within cow within treatment differed. Concentrations of estradiol, estrone and progesterone increased during steroid injections and were 2- to 3-fold higher on day 21 in II than on day 7 (I or II), but concentrations of prolactin and total glucocorticoids in plasma did not differ during this time. The quantity of prolactin released in response to injection of thyrotropin releasing hormone was greater 10 days after steroid injections than before or during steroid injections. Preinjection concentrations of prolactin were correlated with magnitude of postinjection response to thyrotropin releasing hormone, but response was not correlated with concentrations of steroids in plasma on day of injection.
Activation of the anaphase-promoting complex and degradation of cyclin B is not required for progression from Meiosis I to II in Xenopus oocytes

Abstract Sister chromatid separation and cyclin degradation in mitosis depend on the association of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC) with the Fizzy protein (Cdc20), leading to the metaphase/anaphase transition and exit from mitosis [1–3]. In Xenopus , after metaphase of the first meiotic division, only partial cyclin degradation occurs, and chromosome segregation during anaphase I proceeds without sister chromatid separation [4–7]. We investigated the role of xFizzy during meiosis using an antisense depletion approach. xFizzy accumulates to high levels in Meiosis I, and injection of antisense oligonucleotides to xFizzy blocks nearly all APC-mediated cyclin B degradation and Cdc2/cyclin B (MPF) inactivation between Meiosis I and II. However, even without APC activation, xFizzy-ablated oocytes progress to Meiosis II as shown by cyclin E synthesis, further accumulation of cyclin B, and evolution of the metaphase I spindle to a metaphase II spindle via a disc-shaped aggregate of microtubules known to follow anaphase I [8]. Inhibition of the MAPK pathway by U0126 in antisense-injected oocytes prevents cyclin B accumulation beyond the level that is present at metaphase I. Full synthesis and accumulation can be restored in the presence of U0126 by the expression of a constitutively active form of the MAPK target, p90 Rsk . Thus, p90 Rsk is sufficient not only to partially inhibit APC activity [7], but also to stimulate cyclin B synthesis in Meiosis II.
Advances in physically based erosion simulators for CMP

Advances in two types of chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) erosion simulators are reported in the context of a CMP modeling overview. One advance is a physically based erosion simulation platform that is capable of simulating the complete erosion of multiple oxide features. The platform separates the erosion model from the stress model, making it easy to use and versatile. Another advance is the development of a hybrid approach to erosion modeling that mixes generic physics with phenomenological understanding. The hybrid simulator is capable of accurate three-dimensional erosion simulation across large patterns, a capability that will eventually lead to die-wide CMP simulation.
Input/output Models as Decision Aids for Lake Restoration

: Over the past several years, input/output models have been used increasingly as decisionmaking aids in the design of lake restoration activities because they provide an approximation of the link between nutrient influx and lake trophic status. To evaluate the applicability of these models as design tools, a study was conducted in which “before” and “after” data were obtained for 25 lakes which experienced reductions in nutrient inflow, and comparisons were made of observed and predicted changes in lake conditions. Three input/output models were used as predictive tools to describe lake response: those reported by Dillon and Rigler (1974) and by Vollenweider (1975, 1976). Based on described trophic states of oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic, it was found that all three models yielded accurate predictions for at least 70 percent of the study lakes. The model of Vollenweider (1976) performed slightly better than the other two (80 percent correct) on the data set studied.
Interactions of hydrogen flames with walls : Influence of wall temperature, pressure, equivalence ratio, and diluents

Abstract The thermal and chemical effects of one-dimensional, premixed hydrogen flames quenching against a single surface are studied numerically using a detailed chemical mechanism. The results for stoichiometric H 2 – O 2 flames impinging on a 750 K inert wall agree qualitatively with prior published results. Other wall boundary conditions studied include an adiabatic wall and isothermal walls with temperatures ranging from 298 to 1200 K. Chemical pathway analysis of the detailed hydrogen mechanism reveals the growing importance of radical recombination reactions near the inert walls for increasing wall temperature. Implementation of a H, O, and OH radical sink at the surface of a 750 K isothermal wall results in significantly lower heat generation near the surface. Investigations of various gas properties include changes to equivalence ratio (0.7–2.0), chamber pressure (1 and 2 bar), and inert gas ( N 2 ) addition.
AlGaInP multiple quantum wire heterostructure lasers prepared by the strain-induced lateral-layer ordering process

We have established an in situ technique, the strain-induced lateral-layer ordering (SILO) process, whereby lateral composition modulation perpendicular to the growth direction occurs spontaneously during growth by gas source molecular beam epitaxy, producing lateral quantum wells. We have combined this new growth technique with standard quantum well laser growth technology to produce GaInP/AlGaInP strained multiple quantum wire (MQWR) heterostructure lasers. Transmission electron microscopy confirms the presence of laterally ordered MQWR arrays with a linear density of 10/sup 6/ cm/sup -1/. Emission spectra from these MBWR heterostructures exhibit quantized energies and significant polarization anisotropies. Photoluminescence emission energies are analyzed using an approximate strained quantum wire calculation. Electroluminescence spectra are studied both above and below the lasing threshold. Threshold current densities as low as 250 A/cm/sup 2/ are obtained under pulsed conditions at 77 K. The energies, polarizations, and threshold current densities vary according to the orientation of the contact stripe with respect to the MBWR array. These effects are explained in terms of the quantum wire potential, the strain fields present in the MQWR active region, and their effects on the band structure and the optical gain. >
The role of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacillus that has been implicated in serious nosocomial infections. This microbe has also been isolated from sinus cultures in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The goal of this study was to elucidate the implications of S. maltophilia-positive cultures in the setting of CRS. The objectives of the study were (1) to define clinical and microbiological characteristics and (2) to assess management strategy and overall outcomes of S. maltophilia-positive sinus cultures in CRS patients. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 101 patients over a 5-year period. Results The mean age was 56.9 years with a female/male ratio of 1.1:1. Previous sinus surgery had been performed in 90.1% of patients. Greater than 97% of patients had been given antibiotics in the previous 6 months. The most common presenting symptom was discolored nasal drainage (76.2%) with endoscopic evidence of pus or crusting in 83.2% of cases. Monotherapy with trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMX) or fluoroquinolones was used in 41 and 26%, respectively. This intervention resulted in overall symptom and endoscopic improvement in 70% of cases. Conclusion The presence of S. maltophilia isolates on culture are associated with clinically relevant symptoms and endoscopic findings in patients with refractory CRS. Despite its multidrug-resistant nature, monotherapy with TMX or fluoroquinolones appears to be effective in providing patients with bacterial infection with symptom relief in a majority of cases.
Triarylamine siloxane anode functionalization/hole injection layers in high efficiency/high luminance small-molecule green- and blue-emitting organic light-emitting diodes

High efficiency/high luminance small-molecule organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are fabricated by combining thin, covalently bound triarylamine hole injection/adhesion interlayers with hole- and exciton-blocking/electron transport interlayers in tris(8-hydroxyquinolato)aluminum(III) (Alq) and tetrakis(2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinato)borate (BQ4−)-based OLEDs. Green-emitting OLEDs with maximum luminance ∼85000cd∕m2, power and forward external quantum efficiencies as high as 15.2lm∕W and 4.4±0.5%, respectively, and turn-on voltages ∼4.5V are achieved in devices of the structure, ITO∕N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(p-trichlorosilylpropylphenyl)(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine (TPD-Si2)/1,4-bis(1-naphthylphenylamino)biphenyl (NPB)/Alq doped with N,N′-di(3-heptyl)quinacridone (DIQA)/2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP)∕Li∕AgMg. Also, bright and efficient blue-emitting OLEDs with turn-on voltages ∼5.0V, maximum luminance ∼30000cd∕m2, and ∼5.0lm∕W and 1.6±0.2% power and external forward quantum efficiencies,...