cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining States’ Responses to the IDEA Special Factors Requirements for DHH Students:

Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students have exhibited deficient language competencies and low academic achievement for over four decades. As a result, Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 requires schools to address special language and communication factors through each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). States have responded in a variety of ways with several that supplement their IEPs using a communication plan. This article examined states’ IEP or communication plan templates to identify the format and specificity with which they addressed these requirements. The IDEA language was parsed into distinct items to allow ratings using a Likert-type scale. The analyses performed descriptive, t test, and ANOVA comparisons on the forms posted on states’ website. Those states using a communication plan had significantly higher ratings overall. Kentucky’s form was the most highly rated IEP and identified each required item. Most state IEP forms identified these factors more gen...
School Lunch Curriculum

Drawing upon the ideas of John Dewey and Paulo Freire, in this chapter we consider how school lunch might be integrated into a school’s curriculum. We provide the scaffolding for a popular education approach that would seek to engage students in several aspects of midday eating, encouraging students to learn about such matters as the production and consumption of food, the connection between eating and learning, and the aesthetic and social features of food and eating. We consider school lunch as it is experienced in three different venues: the school cafeteria, at home (for homeschoolers), and offsite (in open campus schools), and discuss the different educational opportunities and challenges each venue presents with respect to integrating lunch into the curriculum.
Full Body Interaction beyond Fun: Engaging Museum Visitors in Human-Data Interaction

Engaging museum visitors in data exploration using full-body interaction is still a challenge. In this paper, we explore four strategies for providing entry-points to the interaction: instrumenting the floor; forcing collaboration; implementing multiple body movements to control the same effect; and, visualizing the visitors' silhouette beside the data visualization. We discuss preliminary results of an in-situ study with 56 museum visitors at Discovery Place, and provide design recommendations for crafting engaging Human-Data Interaction experiences.
Abstract 164: Evaluation of Clinical and Social Factors for Patients Taking Very Low Dose of Beta Blockers for Systolic Heart Failure

Background: All guidelines agree that beta-blockers (BBs) should be used for patients with systolic heart failure (SHF) to improve survival. BBs are a class Ia indication for treatment of SHF based on 3 landmark clinical trials (CIBIS-II, COPERNICUS, and MERIT-HF). Despite recommendations, the doses of BBs prescribed are commonly less than target dose (TD). Underdosing of BBs is suggested by doses less than 50% of TD and/or sinus rate (SR) above 70 bpm whereas a very low dose of BB is 25% or less of the TD. Clinical and social factors including depression, dizziness, ability to walk without assistance, Morse Fall Scale score and living status, whether independently or in a care facility, could be likely reasons for patients receiving a very low dose of BB. Failure to achieve SR below 70 bpm might lead physicians to use ivabradine which is a relatively new and expensive medication and is a class IIa indication for SHF. The objective is to evaluate the clinical and social factors affecting underdosing of BBs between the two patient groups with ≤25% of TD vs >25% of TD. Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed for SHF patients admitted to Charleston Area Medical Center from 2007 to 2016. Doses of BB, SR, and clinical/social factors were recorded. Patients over the age of 18 years with diagnosed SHF (EF Results: An initial sample size of 254 patients with SHF was obtained. 65% (164 of 254) were on approved BBs. Of the patients on approved BBs, 71% (117 of 164) were receiving ≤ 25% of the TD and 29% (47 of 164) were receiving >25% of the TD. Mean SR on admission EKG was 85±19.5 in the ≤ 25% TD group, and 83±21.4 in the >25% TD group. Of the 164 patients on approved BB therapy, SR could only be recorded in 105 patients due to atrial pacing or atrial arrhythmias; and 82% (86 of 105) had a SR >70 bpm on their initial EKG. No statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups when reviewing the clinical and social factors. Conclusions: This study will help enable cardiovascular clinicians to realize that although the use of BBs for SHF has improved dramatically since Get With The Guidelines; there is still marked underdosing of approved BB and inappropriate use of non-approved BB. We are unable to explain this practice based on the clinical and social factors that may have led to underdosing of BB. We found the mean dose of BBs to be 25% or less of TD in 71% (117 of 164) patients on approved BBs and only 18% (19 of 105) of these patients had SR
My Fascination with Computing History

This narrative on computing history reflects the experiences of the author and his involvement with computing history over a quarter century. The discussion portrays a transition from loathing history as a student to embracing computing history as a professional. The author shows how storytelling can produce interesting excursions on technical subjects and ways in which teaching computing with history can elevate student interest. He also provides examples showing ways in which historical events could complement computing studies. The article also explains how the author’s earlier efforts in using history to teach computing led to a landmark publication and subsequent activities within IFIP leading to conferences and related publications.
Three dilemmas in the integrated assessment of climate change

These three dilemmas embody the hardest, most important, and most enduring problems of doing assessment well. None admits simple, obvious solutions. Each can be managed better or worse for any particular assessment endeavor, but doing better requires clear understanding of the purpose of the endeavor. What ways of combining different pieces of disciplinary knowledge, of making projections, and of pursuing policy relevance are more or less appropriate will differ, depending on whether a project seeks to characterize uncertainties and gaps in knowledge; to advise a particular policy choice; to support dialog among policy actors; or to facilitate inquiry into relevant values or goals. Evaluation of the relative emphasis, the methods, and the process of an assessment can only be done relative to some such purpose.
Drug Coated Balloon Angioplasty in Failing AV Fistulas: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Restenosis remains a problem in hemodialysis access interventions. Paclitaxel-coated balloons have shown promise in reducing access-related restenosis in small trials. The primary hypotheses for our multicenter trial were superior effectiveness at 180 days and noninferior safety at 30 days of a drug-coated balloon compared with conventional angioplasty for treatment of dysfunctional arteriovenous fistulas. Design, setting, participants, & measurements This randomized trial enrolled 285 patients with dysfunctional arteriovenous fistulas at 23 centers. Grafts, central venous stenoses, thrombosed fistulas, and immature fistulas were excluded. All patients received angioplasty of the lesion responsible for access dysfunction. After successful angioplasty (≤30% residual stenosis), lesions were treated with either a paclitaxel-coated balloon or an uncoated control balloon of similar design to the drug-coated balloon. Access function during follow-up was determined per centers’ usual protocols; reintervention was clinically driven. The primary efficacy outcome assessment was done at 6 months, and the safety assessment was done within 30 days of the procedure. Prespecified secondary end points included assessment of postintervention target lesion primary patency and access circuit primary patency at 6 months. Results The 180-day end point was not met with target lesion primary patency (71%±4% for the drug-coated balloon and 63%±4% for control; P=0.06), representing a difference of 8%±6% (95% confidence interval, −3% to 20%). Access circuit primary patency did not differ between groups. Interventions to maintain target lesion patency were fewer for the drug-coated balloon at 6 months (0.31 versus 0.44 per patient; P=0.03). The primary safety noninferiority end point was met and did not differ between groups (P=0.002). Conclusions Paclitaxel-coated balloon–assisted angioplasty did not meet the primary effectiveness end point at 180 days compared with conventional angioplasty. Both arms showed equivalent safety (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02440022).
A Neuron-Glial Trans-Signaling Cascade Mediates LRRK2-Induced Neurodegeneration.

Summary Pathogenic mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) induce an age-dependent loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. We have identified Furin 1, a pro-protein convertase, as a translational target of LRRK2 in DA neurons. Transgenic knockdown of Furin1 or its substrate the bone morphogenic protein (BMP) ligand glass bottom boat (Gbb) protects against LRRK2-induced loss of DA neurons. LRRK2 enhances the accumulation of phosphorylated Mad (pMad) in the nuclei of glial cells in the vicinity of DA neurons but not in DA neurons. Consistently, exposure to paraquat enhances Furin 1 levels in DA neurons and induces BMP signaling in glia. In support of a neuron-glial signaling model, knocking down BMP pathway members only in glia, but not in neurons, can protect against paraquat toxicity. We propose that a neuron-glial BMP-signaling cascade is critical for mediating age-dependent neurodegeneration in two models of Parkinson’s disease, thus opening avenues for future therapeutic interventions.
Automatic virtual impedance adaptation of a knee exoskeleton for personalized walking assistance

Abstract This paper attempts to address the problem of online modulation of virtual impedance for an assistive robot based on real-time gait and activity measurements to personalize the assistance for different users at different states. In this work, smart shoes and inertial sensors are introduced to measure ground contact forces and knee joint kinematics, respectively. An automatic impedance tuning (AIT) approach is presented for a knee assistive device (KAD) based on real-time activity recognition and gait phase detection. The activities considered in this paper are level, uphill, and downhill walking. A Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is employed to map the fuzzy likelihood of various activities and gait phases to the desired virtual impedance of the KAD. The prior estimate of virtual impedance is defined using human knee impedance identified with the walking data collected on different users. The AIT approach is integrated into the high-level impedance-based controller of the KAD for assistance during the stance phase. Finally, to evaluate the benefit of the proposed algorithm in stance phase, an EMG sensor is placed on the vastus medialis muscle group of three participants. The proposed approach is compared with two baseline approaches: constant impedance and finite state machine, and the results demonstrate that the profiles of impedance parameters and robot assistive torque are smoother and the muscle activity of vastus medialis is reduced. It is also noticed that the participants reduce their step lengths and increase walking cadence with assistance from the KAD.
Withdrawal Symptoms: An Assessment of the Austerity Packages in Europe

Based on a survey of national experts, this Working Paper evaluates from a European and national comparative perspective the austerity packages that the governments of EU member states have announced and implemented following the recent financial crisis and the Great Recession. The study raises serious doubts about the drive for austerity being embarked upon by EU countries. The simultaneous nature of the demand contraction, and the very limited offsetting impacts on demand via monetary policy and the exchange rate, mean that the output costs will be high. This, in turn, will drag out the consolidation period, possibly condemning Europe to a ‘lost decade’. Even if the aggregate growth and employment figures prove more favourable than in our assessment, the problem of the unbalanced nature of the European economy, especially that of the euro area, remains. Moreover, the Europe 2020 goals are highly unlikely to be achievable in a context of persistently sluggish growth and regressive distributional tax-and-spend policies and cutbacks in areas such as public investment, education and active labour market policy. It is widely believed in policymaking circles that austerity is necessary for consolidation, and consolidation necessary for growth and jobs. In contrast, we believe that Europe needs to grow out of its public-sector deficits and debts, which resulted from the spectacular failings of an unregulated private sector, especially in finance. To do that it needs to invest. And it should embark on that course without delay.
Hydrogeochemical controls on aquifers of northwestern Illinois' Driftless Area, USA

Groundwater in the Driftless Area of northwestern Illinois is a very hard Ca–Mg-bicarbonate-type water that reflects the dolomite aquifer material in this karst region. Groundwater in shallow aquifers has a short residence time and is susceptible to surface-borne contaminants. Deeper aquifers have distinct chemistry indicating longer flowpaths, most clearly indicated by low tritium values and elevated potassium and fluoride concentrations. Thirty water samples were collected from springs from across Jo Daviess County in northwestern Illinois between 2015 and 2016. The groundwater samples collected from what were initially identified as springs were found to be of two types: (1) natural springs that are stratigraphically controlled and discharging from crevices and bedding planes, especially where the underlying Galena Dolomite or overlying Silurian dolomite aquifer intersects the Maquoketa Shale; and (2) abandoned flowing-artesian wells, often with no identifiable well casing at the surface, that had been mistaken for springs. Background concentrations of eight water-quality parameters were calculated to determine pre-settlement and present-day background thresholds. The background concentrations, overall chemical compositions, tritium concentrations, and F/Cl and K/Cl ratios were used to characterize and group groundwater within the study area. The results of this investigation combined with recent work by the authors [Panno et al. (IL State Geological Survey Circular 586, 2017)] were used to determine the geologic, hydrogeologic, and geochemical controls on springs in this part of the Driftless Area. The results of this investigation revealed the susceptibility of the Galena Dolomite and Silurian dolomite aquifers to surface-borne contaminants. In addition, this work has developed a means, using ion ratios and spring location relative to bedrock geology to identify discharge from abandoned wells.
Which intraocular lens would ophthalmologists choose for themselves

Contemporary cataract surgery is increasingly customizable with the advent of presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (IOLs) and the femtosecond laser. The purpose of this study was to determine the types of IOLs ophthalmologists choose for themselves and whether demographic characteristics, surgical experience, and attitudes of ophthalmologists might influence their decision-making. Additional goals included evaluating the use of femtosecond laser use in cataract surgery and investigating surgeon IOL preferences for their patients. We distributed a 29-question Survey Monkey survey to senior ophthalmology residents and practicing ophthalmologists and received 347 responses during a 1-month period. We analyzed 328 surveys using chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact tests. Main outcome measures included surgeons’ personal preferences for choice of IOL, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, and IOL preference for patients. In the setting of no astigmatism, 61.3% of respondents would choose a monofocal IOL set for either distance or monovision for their own surgery. For corneal astigmatism >1.25 D, 60.3% of respondents would choose a toric monofocal lens and only 6.9% would want a femtosecond laser or manual LRI for their own surgery. Of the respondents, 34.6% perform femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, but only 15.3% would want femtosecond cataract surgery performed on themselves. Also, 67.7% implant presbyopia-correcting IOLs (diffractive echelette, multifocal, or accommodative). When correcting for patients’ corneal astigmatism >1.25 D, 65.7% of respondents preferred a toric monofocal IOL. Ophthalmologists value quality of vision and are risk averse. Overall, a surgeons’ personal preference for their own surgery is correlated with past surgical experience with patients.
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome Secondary to Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in a Patient with Small-Cell Lung Cancer

We present a case of a 59-year-old male with a confirmed diagnosis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). He had progressive disease even after four cycles of cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy and 21 cycles of radiation. He was therefore started on immunotherapy with nivolumab every 2 weeks and ipilimumab every 6 weeks. After 4 months of starting immunotherapy, he reported extreme fatigue, muscular weakness, and poor appetite. He was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, primary adrenal insufficiency, and Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS). LEMS can be both a paraneoplastic syndrome of SCLC and an adverse effect of immunotherapy. Currently, there is no diagnostic test available to determine if a case of LEMS is a paraneoplastic syndrome or immunotherapy-related adverse effect. In our patient, we felt that LEMS was an immunotherapy-related adverse effect rather being a paraneoplastic syndrome. Our determination was based on the time of onset of muscular weakness, presence of other immunotherapy-mediated adverse events, and the appearance of symptoms in spite of SCLC that had been stabilized on immunotherapy. Accordingly, immunotherapy was stopped and a brief tapering course of steroids was initiated. Our patient's muscular weakness from LEMS responded well. His clinical improvement persisted even with radiologic progression of disease after cessation of immunotherapy.
Postflight Data Processing Instructions on the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Agricultural Applications

Remote sensing applications for agriculture often require periodically collected high-resolution data, which are difficult to obtain by manned flights or satellite imagery. This 6-page document provides guidance on the use of post-processing software to visualize data collected by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for agriculturalapplications. It provides step-by-step instructions for using the data collected from a UAV flight to create several types of maps and indices. Written by Sri Charan Kakarla and Yiannis Ampatzidis, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, October 2019.
Grey Literature: Use, Creation, and Citation Habits of Faculty Researchers across Disciplines

INTRODUCTION Grey literature is ephemeral, and the level to which it is created, used, and cited by faculty, graduate students, and other researchers is not well understood. METHODS This electronic survey was distributed to a sample (57%) of the faculty across a wide variety of disciplines with the only criteria based on tenure and tenure-track faculty at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a large R1 institution. RESULTS Faculty across disciplines both use and create grey literature for several reasons, including its far more rapid publication process. DISCUSSION Many faculty in a wide variety of disciplines are using and creating grey literature. The survey illustrates the different types of grey literature that are being used and for what purpose. Other topics, such as how faculty are finding grey literature (via Google Scholar and professional contacts), whether they are citing it, and which types they create (e.g., conference papers, preprints, technical reports) are also discussed. CONCLUSION As a result of this survey, librarians can provide support for faculty who use and create grey literature in all disciplines and advocate for and promote grey literature to faculty. With more scholars participating in systematic reviews of grey literature, librarians will need to be more cognizant of where and how it may be discovered.
Primary Care Physicians' Perspectives on the Ethical Impact of the Electronic Medical Record.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore whether specific ethical questions arise with the use of a shared electronic health record (EHR) system, based on the daily experience of primary care physicians (PCPs). Methods: In this qualitative research project, we conducted 14 in-depth semistructured interviews with PCPs in a tertiary hospital setting. Results: We identified 4 themes: 1) PCPs describe the EHR as a medicine with side effects, for which they provide suggestions for improvements; 2) A shared record raises ethical questions related to autonomy and trust; 3) Although use of the EHR often disturbs rapport with the patient, it can also support the patient-doctor interaction when it becomes an active part of the conversation; 4) A shared EHR may cause health care providers (and their relatives) to avoid seeking help for sensitive issues. Discussion: PCPs fear access to results could cause confusion and anxiety in patients, resulting in tensions between autonomy and beneficence. Improved efficiency and quality of care with a shared EHR relies on doctors trusting each other9s input to avoid duplicate tests. However, this might compromise a fundamental skeptical attitude in practicing medicine, and we should be aware of a risk of increased confirmation and anchoring bias. Conclusion: The EHR is considered to be a work in progress—EHR design could be improved by examining physicians9 coping strategies and implementing their suggestions for improvement. Ethical questions related to autonomy, trust, and the status of records that belong to doctor–patients need to be considered in future research and EHR development.
Moving Upstream From the Individual to the Community: Addressing Social Determinants of Health:

School nurses are often the primary health professional promoting children’s health—and address not just individuals, but communities. This article, featuring the key principle of community/public ...
In situ degradation of biodegradable plastic mulch films in compost and agricultural soils

The global use of agricultural plastic films, which provide multiple benefits for food production, is expected to grow by 59% from 2018 to 2026. Disposal options for agricultural plastics are limited and a major global concern, as plastic fragments from all sources ultimately accumulate in the sea. Biodegradable plastic mulches could potentially alleviate the disposal problem, but little is known about how well they degrade under different environmental conditions. We quantified the degradation of biodegradable plastic mulches in compost and in soil at warm and cool climates (Tennessee and Washington). Mulch degradation was assessed by Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, molecular weight analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), nuclear-magnetic resonance (NMR), and mulch surface-area quantification. Biodegradable plastic mulches degraded faster in compost than in soil: degradation, as assessed by surface-area reduction, in compost ranged from 85 to 99% after 18 weeks, and in soil from 61 to 83% in Knoxville and 26 to 63% in Mount Vernon after 36 months. FTIR analyses indicate that hydrolytic degradation of ester bonds occurred, and a significant reduction of molecular weight was observed. TGA and NMR confirmed degradation of biodegradable polymers. Our results indicate that biodegradable plastic mulches degrade in soil, but at different rates in different climates and that degradation occurs over several years. Faster degradation occurred in compost, making composting a viable disposal method, especially in cool climates, where mulch fragments in soil may persist for many years.
Learning from existing photovoltaic technologies to identify alternative perovskite module designs

Perovskite solar cells have now become the most efficient of all multicrystalline thin film photovoltaic technologies, reaching 25.2% in 2019. This outstanding figure of merit has only been achieved on small lab-scale devices, with significantly lower performance when processed on larger more industrially relevant substrate sizes. Perovskite modules, connecting several smaller area cells together, are commonly demonstrated with a superstrate monolithic interconnection method. However, several other module designs exist and remain largely unexplored by the perovskite community. In this work, we review and highlight those alternatives and discuss their advantages and limitations. We propose that a singulated substrate-oriented module design, using metallic substrates, could provide a quicker path to seeing highly efficient, lightweight, and flexible perovskite modules on the market, while mitigating near-term technical risks. As an experimental starting-point towards this design, we demonstrate a substrate-oriented all-perovskite 2-terminal tandem with 18% efficiency.
Wealthier-but-poorer: The complex sociology of homeownership at peripheral housing in Cartagena, Colombia

Abstract In the last two decades there has been a large and simultaneous expansion of delivery-based national housing programs in the global South. This paper draws on an investigation of living conditions in Ciudad del Bicentenario, a large-scale housing project on the outskirts of Cartagena. Based on a sample of seventy-five lengthy semistructured interviews with low-income residents and ten other stakeholders, we reached three paradoxical findings that reveal the high costs of free housing: the immediate improvement of overall quality of life but the impoverishment of economic prospects; the dual social condition of the residents who felt socially and economically isolated but also shared a widespread perception of being ‘revueltos’ or scrambled within the community of Ciudad del Bicentenario itself; and the growth of economic and physical informality in a project intended to counter the informal settlements in the inner city. These paradoxes reflect more than simple processes of impoverishment of living conditions: they demonstrate how this type of public policy systematically complexifies the daily life of relocated families. Sociologically, these findings reveal a new type of peri-urban poverty in the global South. We argue that the productive informalization of the formal housing projects constitutes a central, but previously understudied, aspect of what it means to develop equitable housing.
Examining the Gender Gap in Emergency Medicine Research Publications

Study objective The objective of this study was to describe the proportion of female authors on original research articles and editorials across 4 emergency medicine journals from 2013 to 2019. A secondary objective was to examine the gender composition of middle authors in relation to the genders of their respective first and last authors. Methods In this observational study, we selected 4 journals in emergency medicine using the Journal of Citation Reports and prior literature to analyze genders of all authors from research articles and editorials published from January 2013 to September 2019. Reviewers identified author genders through web searches with matching academic qualifications or used a gender identification application programming interface to identify likelihood of male or female identity. The primary outcome was the proportion of female authors in each position. Results Selected publications included 2,980 original research articles with 18,224 authors (median 6, interquartile range [IQR] 4 to 8) and 433 editorials with 986 authors (median 2, IQR 1 to 2). Women occupied 34.9%, 24.3%, and 36.5% of first, last, and middle author positions on original research articles and 23.8%, 20.5%, and 34.2% of first, last, and middle author positions among editorials, respectively. Publications with female first and last authors (n=340 articles) had a larger proportion of female middle authors (49%, 634/1,290) compared to publications with male first and last authors (n=1667 articles, female middle authors 33% [2,215/6,771]). Conclusion Over the 7 years examined, female authorship in these emergency medicine journals increased. A more pronounced gender gap exists in editorial authorship compared to research articles. On publications where the first and last author were women, a higher proportion of middle authors were women.
Revision of deep brain stimulator for tremor. Technical note.

✓ The treatment of essential tremor with thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) is considered to be more effective and to cause less morbidity than treatment with thalamotomy. Nonetheless, implantation of an indwelling electrode, connectors, and a generator is associated with specific types of morbidity. The authors describe three patients who required revision of their DBS systems due to lead breakage. The connector between the DBS electrode and the extension wire, which connects to the subclavicular pulse generator, was originally placed subcutaneously in the cervical region to decrease the risk of erosion through the scalp and to improve cosmesis. Three patients presented with fractured DBS electrodes that were located in the cervical region near the connector, necessitating reoperation with stereotactic retargeting and placement of a new intracranial electrode. At reoperation, the connectors were placed subgaleally over the parietal region. Management of these cases has led to modifications in the oper...
SUPERLATIVE EXPRESSIONS, CONTEXT, AND FOCUS

Quelles sont les proprietes semantiques des operateurs de comparaison et comment interpreter le sens des expressions superlatives ? L'A. soutient que les superlatifs ne peuvent pas etre interpretes hors contexte et sans une prise en compte du mode de comparaison en lui-meme dans l'analyse semantique du fonctionnement des operateurs de comparaison. Il developpe une interpretation interne au syntagme determinant (en intension) des expressions superlatives en condamnant l'analyse externe au syntagme determinant et applique son analyse aux expressions de comparaison en general.
Pilot study of the effects of lisdexamfetamine on cocaine use: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract Background Amphetamine analogs have been demonstrated to have some efficacy in reducing use in cocaine dependent individuals. However, these agents also have potential for abuse. Lisdexamfetamine (LDX), a lysine + dextroamphetamine formulation, has been approved for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and as a prodrug, has less abuse potential. Objective This pilot study sought to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of LDX as a candidate treatment for cocaine dependence. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study served to evaluate LDX in 43 cocaine-dependent individuals: (1) placebo (PBO; 0 mg, n = 21), (2) LDX (70 mg, n = 22). Participants received medication for 14 weeks. Cocaine use was determined based on urine analysis for benzoylecgonine (BE; a cocaine metabolite). Results Retention rates were higher though not significantly different in the PBO (71.4%) than the LDX condition (57.1%). Compared to those in the PBO condition, those receiving LDX were more likely to report experiencing (ps Conclusions LDX did not significantly reduce cocaine use compared to PBO in the randomized sample.
Strategies for Querying Information Agents

In a simple cooperative MAS model where a collection of “querying agents” can send queries to a collection of “information agents”, we formalize the problem of designing strategies so that the expected completion time of the queries is minimized, when every querying agent uses the same strategy. We devise a provably optimal strategy for the static case with no query arrivals, and show via simulations that the same strategy performs well when queries arrive with a certain probability. We also consider issues such as whether or not the expected completion time can be reduced by sending multiple copies of queries, or by aborting copies of answered queries.
Line Mixing in Water Vapor and Methane

A multispectrum fitting algorithm has been used to identify line mixing and determine mixing parameters for infrared transitions of H2O and CH4 in the 5-9 micrometer region. Line mixing parameters at room temperature were determined for two pairs of transitions in the v2 fundamental band of H2O-16, for self-broadening and for broadening by H2, He, CO2, N2, O2 and air. Line mixing parameters have been determined from air-broadened CH4 spectra, recorded at temperatures between 210 K and 314 K, in selected R-branch manifolds of the v4 band. For both H2O and CH4, the inclusion of line mixing was seen to have a greater effect on the retrieved values of the line shifts than on the retrieved values of other parameters
Evidence for the Control by exrA and polA Genes of Two Branches of the uvr Gene-Dependent Excision Repair Pathway in Escherichia coli K-12

A polA1 exrA strain of Escherichia coli K-12 was found to be more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation than the closely related polA1 or exrA strains, but not as sensitive as either the exrA uvrB or recA strains. The exrA and polA1 mutations both resulted in a deficiency in the repair of single-strand breaks arising in the deoxyribonucleic acid as a result of the excision repair process (incision breaks). These deficiencies were at least partially independent since the double mutant, polA1 exrA, was more deficient than a strain containing either the polA1 or exrA mutation alone. These results suggest that the polA1 and exrA mutations result in defects in two different branches of the uvr gene-dependent excision repair process. The repair of incision breaks was still observed in the polA1 exrA strain after low exposures of ultraviolet radiation, suggesting the existence of a third branch of the excision repair process which is dependent on neither the polA nor exrA genes. The polA1 and polA1 uvrA strains were not deficient in post-replicational repair. The exrA strain was partially deficient in post-replicational repair, but the polA1 exrA strain was no more deficient than the exrA strain in this repair process. Thus, the increased ultraviolet irradiation sensitivity of the polA1 exrA strain relative to the polA1 and exrA strains appears to be related to the effect of the polA1 and exrA mutations on different branches of the uvr gene-dependent excision repair process as well as to the effect of the exrA mutation on the post-replicational repair process.
Thin film transfer process for low cost MCM's

A highly flexible and cost competitive method to fabricate microelectronic packages that require thin film interconnections is described. The method involves fabricating thin film metal/polymer structures multi-up on a reusable temporary glass carrier and later transferring the thin film stack onto product substrates of choice. The final product substrate can be silicon, co-fired alumina or glass-ceramic, aluminum nitride, diamond or a printed wiring board. Optionally, one can also use the released thin film decal as a flexible high wireability interconnect by itself, as an interposer, or in applications like wafer level testing for known good die (KGD). The thin film wiring structure can be fabricated multi-up on large area glass plates using large format tools to significantly reduce cost. >
In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: Effect of cadmium accumulation in tissues on proton relaxation properties

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to visualize the internal anatomy of a living blue crab. The resolution obtained in these studies was sufficient to distinguish individual organs by the differences in their proton densities and proton relaxation properties. T1 (spin-lattice relaxation time)-weighted imaging revealed the lipid-rich nature of the hepatopancreas and gonadal tissue. To evaluate the effect of metal-induced stress on the different organs, crabs were exposed to elevated levels of cadmium in their diet, which resulted in increased concentrations of both cadmium and copper in the hepatopancreas. The spin-spin relaxation time, T2, of mobile protons in the metal-exposed tissue was significantly greater than T2 in the control tissues. These measurements suggest that the excess copper in the exposed tissues was diamagnetic [Cu(I)], since the presence of paramagnetic copper [Cu(II)] would result in a decrease of observed T2 values. We hypothesize that the increased T2 value is a reflection of increased free water in the hepatopancreas. These studies show that magnetic resonance imaging is an important nondestructive tool for the study of morphological and physiological changes that occur in marine invertebrates in response to anthropogenic and natural stresses. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Stability analysis of product t-methods for Abel integral equations of the second kind

Stability analysis of product θ-methods for Abel integral equations of the second kind, based on the test equation $$y(t) = 1 - \lambda \int\limits_0^1 {\frac{{y(s)}}{{(t - s)^\alpha }}} ds,t \geqq 0,$$ 0 0 and we investigate whether this property is inherited by numerical approximations toY.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) Stimulates Mucin Secretion and Gene Expression in Airway Epithelium In Vitro

TNF-α=Tumor necrosis factor α mRNA=messenger RNA; NO=nitric oxide; NOS=nitric oxide synthase; iNOS=calcium independent nitric oxide synthase; GPTE=guinea pig tracheal epithelial; OD=optical density; ELISA=enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; mAb=monoclonal antibody; BSA=bovine serum albumin; PBS=phosphate buffered saline solution; FBS=fetal bovine serum; rhTNF-α=recombinant human tumor necrosis factor α PC-PLC=phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase; CPKC=protein kinase C; DAG=diacylglycerol; PLA2=phospholipase A2; cPLA2=cytosolic phospholipase A2; MnSOD=manganese dependent superoxide dismutase; L-NMA=L-NG-monomethyl arginine; SNAP=S-nitroso-N-acetylpenacil-lamine; IL-6=interleukin-6; NF-κ β=nuclear factor kappa beta
Islet β-Cell Death— Fuel to Sustain Autoimmunity?

Under what context do dying β-cells enhance the autoimmune process in type 1 diabetes? Kim et al. (2007) find that secondary necrosis of β-cells can prime the autoimmune response via uptake by and activation of antigen-presenting cells through Toll-like receptor 2.
Comparison of cyclodextrin‐barbiturate noncovalent complexes using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis

Various noncovalent complexes between native and derivatized cyclodextrins (CDs) and barbiturates were studied using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This paper involves the study of four aspects of CD-barbiturate noncovalent inclusion complexes. The first study focused on determining the formation of CD-barbiturate inclusion complexes in ESI-MS. This determination was accomplished by the comparison of migration data from CE with ESI-MS inclusion complex peak abundances, which were found to be complementary. The second study found the possibility of predicting native beta-CD mediated CE elution orders for barbiturates using data from ESI-MS. A third study focused on the formation of barbiturate inclusion complexes with derivatized beta-CD and gamma-CD. As part of this study, the effect of the extent of side chain substitution on native CD complexation behavior was investigated. The results indicated that the number of side chains on the CD does not affect the formation of barbiturate complexes with the hydrophobic CD cavity. Finally, a comparison of the hydroxypropyl-beta-CD-barbiturate and hydroxypropyl-gamma-CD-barbiturate complexes in CE and ESI-MS was made to study the relationship between strength of drug-CD binding and enantioresolution. The results from the above studies indicated that the gas phase and the solution state complexes showed comparable behavior indicating that similar interactions played a role in stabilizing these complexes. While it was possible to use the ESI-MS data to determine drug binding to the CDs, it was not possible to predict whether a separation of the enantiomers of a chiral barbiturate would occur. However, the ESI-MS data could be used to eliminate certain CDs from consideration as chiral selectors.
Characteristics and three-dimensional integration of MOSFET's in small-grain LPCVD polycrystalline Silicon

Building on nearly two decades of reported results for MOSFET's fabricated in small-grain polycrystalline silicon, a design methodology is developed that yields devices which have low threshold voltage, high drive current, low leakage current, tight parameteric control, and reduced topology, while requiring no nonstandard materials, processes, and tools. Design criteria and device performance are discussed, grain boundary characterization techniques are described, technological issues pertinent to VLSI implementation are investigated, and long-term device reliability is studied. The potential applications of the polysilicon MOSFET's in high-density dRAM and sRAM are explored. The successful implementation of an experimental stacked CMOS 64K static RAM proves the utility of these devices for three-dimensional integration in a VLSI environment.
Tables of coefficients for angular correlations of radiative transitions from aligned nuclei

Basic formulas and tabulations of numerical coefficients are provided for the analysis of data on angular correlations of successive radiative transitions from aligned nuclei. The formulas are extracted from an earlier published development of the angular-correlation formalism. This development is based upon a factored version of the equations which is used to extend the application from the usual two-step cascade to general multiple-step cascades. The resulting flexibility and greater efficiency of the formalism are utilized to provide an extensive tabulation of coefficients for a variety of specific applications. Coefficients are provided for analysis in terms of either the population parameters or the statistical tensors of the aligned state. The coefficients can be used for the analysis of angular distributions, linear polarizations, and triple correlations involving one or more intermediate unobserved radiations. In contrast to previous tabulations of coeeficients for angular-correlation analysis, the range of the present tables has been extended to include multipolarities through octupole. The overall length of the tables, however, remains about the same as previous tables because of the greater efficiency of the factored formalism. The range of spins covered by the tables are J &#8804; 11/2 for the initial aligned stae and J &#8804; 21/2 formore » the final state of cascade.« less
The Nature of Emerging Practice in Occupational Therapy: A Pilot Study

The profession of occupational therapy is responding to changes in the health care system by expanding the contexts and models for service provision, typically referred to as emerging practice. As a pilot study, a survey was completed by 174 occupational therapists to gather information and opinions about emerging practice. Results indicated occupational therapists hold diverse perceptions about emerging practice settings and services as well as the role and significance of emerging practice within the profession. Occupational therapists engaged in emerging practice described numerous rewards and challenges inherent within the process of developing and delivering services. The findings indicate continued professional dialogue and research are needed to support the development and efficacy of occupational therapy services in emerging settings and roles.
Targeting the microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is changing the therapeutic landscape.

Purpose of reviewDespite ongoing efforts to decipher the cancer genome, discoveries of new targetable genetic lesions within cancer cells are rare. Therefore, alternative approaches are needed. Signals from the microenvironment are increasingly recognized as drivers of disease progression in hematol
Calculation of stress intensity factors for an interfacial crack between dissimilar anisotropic media, using a hybrid element method and the mutual integral

Using Beom and Atluri's complete eigen-function solutions for stresses and displacements near the tip of an interfacial crack between dissimilar anisotropic media, a hybrid crack tip finite-element is developed. This element, as well as a mutual integral method are used to determine the stress intensity factors for an interfacial crack between dissimilar anisotropic media. The hybrid element has, for its Galerkin basis functions, the eigen-function solutions for stresses and displacements embedded within it. The “mutual integral” approach is based on the application of the path-independent J integral to a linear combination of two solutions: one, the problem to be solved, and the second, an “auxiliary” solution with a known singular solution. A comparison with exact solutions is made to determine the accuracy and efficiency of both the methods in various mixed mode interfacial crack problems. The size of the hybrid element was found to have very little effect on the accuracy of the solution: an acceptable numerical solution can be obtained with a very coarse mesh by using a larger hybrid element. An equivalent domain integral method is used in the application of the “mutual” integral instead of the line integral method. It is shown that the calculated mutual integral is domain independent. Therefore, the mutual integral can be evaluated far away from the crack-tip where the finite element solution is more accurate. In addition, numerical examples are given to determine the stress intensity factors for a delamination crack in composite lap joints and at plate-stiffener interfaces.
Averaged evoked responses and the encoding of perception.

This paper reviews the hypothesis that averaged evoked response (AER) recordings encode the perception of stimulus content. AERs may be altered by changing subjects' expectancies, attention, affect, etc. AERs may also be altered by differences in the physical parameters of the eliciting stimuli. But if perception is viewed as the processing of the specific informational content of the stimuli, there is no convincing evidence that AERs encode perception. Thus, AKRs appear to be a summary of the activity of stimulus feature detectors and the results of decisions concerning the salience or importance of that information—AERs represent general operations not the specific content of the information being processed.
Analysis of an Upstream Weighted Collocation Approximation to the Transport Equation

The numerical behavior of a modified orthogonal collocation method, as applied to the transport equations, can be examined through the use of a Fourier series analysis. The necessity of such a study becomes apparent in the analysis of several techniques which emulate classical upstream weighting schemes. These techniques are employed in orthogonal collocation and other numerical methods as a means of handling parabolic partial differential equations with significant first-order terms. Divergent behavior can be shown to exist in one upstream weighting method applied to orthogonal collocation.