cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative food distribution studies within Laboratory colonies of the imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren

The distribution of three forms of egg yolk protein, liquid bovine hemoglobin, soybean oil, honey, and water was studied in laboratory colonies of the imported fire antSolenopsis invicta Buren. Albumin and hemoglobin were radiolabelled with125Iodine to a high specific activity (10–15 μCi/μg) and added to protein foods.125I was mixed with the other foods as a free label. Each food was presented continuously over a 48 hour period and samples were taken at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. The ration of distribution of125I-albumin in powdered egg yolk was 80% in the larvae and 20% in the workers. For proteins in liquid form it remained at 45–55% in the larvae and 55–45% in the workers. The honey and soybean oil were retained by the workers for 12–24 hours before reaching the larvae. The overall ratio of distribution was 40% in the larvae and 60% in the workers with honey and 30% in the larvae and 70% in the workers with soybean oil. The distribution of food and average cumulative consumption in micrograms or microliters were determined.
When Do Therapists Stop Using Evidence-Based Practices? Findings from a Mixed Method Study on System-Driven Implementation of Multiple EBPs for Children

Therapist discontinuation of delivering an evidence-based practice (EBP) is a critical outcome in the community implementation of EBPs. This mixed methods study examined factors associated with therapist discontinuation within a large reimbursement-driven implementation of multiple EBPs in public children’s mental health services. The study integrated quantitative survey data from 748 therapists across 65 agencies, and qualitative interviews from a subset of 79 therapists across 14 agencies. Therapists adopted, on average, 2.41 EBPs (SD = 1.05, range = 1–5), and nearly half (n = 355, 47.5%) reported discontinuing at least one EBP. Multi-level models were used to predict the binary outcome of discontinuation, and qualitative analyses were used to expand upon quantitative findings. Quantitative models revealed that therapist factors, including fewer direct service hours per week, a greater number of EBPs adopted, higher emotional exhaustion, and more negative attitudes toward EBPs in general were associated with discontinuation. In addition, EBP-specific factors including more negative perceptions of the particular EBP and lower self-efficacy for delivering the specific EBP predicted discontinuation. Themes from interview responses highlighted the importance of fit of the EBP with the agency’s client base, as well as therapist perceptions of adequate EBP training supports, and the alignment of an EBP with therapists’ professional goals. Together, the findings suggest the need for strategic sustainment planning interventions that target EBP fit (i.e., fit between adopted EBPs and agency target population, fit between EBP and therapist preferences and career goals) and support therapist self-efficacy in delivering EBPs.
Isolated testicular recurrence of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in an adult: rare case.

An 80-year-old man who was previously diagnosed with Philadelphia+ B cell-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) in remission post-allogeneic matched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Five years later, he was found to have unilateral testicular relapse of Philadelphia+ B-ALL proven by pathology after radical orchiectomy. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy did not show evidence of leukaemia. Patient was treated with adjuvant radiation therapy and started on dasatinib 50 mg daily. Given his age and absence of disseminated acutelymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), no adjuvant chemotherapy was utilised. He is monitored with monthly PCR studies. At 1-year follow-up, no findings suggestive of recurrence of ALL have been identified and the patient is maintained on the dasatinib. Although isolated testicular recurrence is common among paediatric population, it is a rare event among adults as it is considered an immunological sanctuary for cancer cells.
Exercise Benefits in Patients Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury

This paper aims to understand in what aspects exercise benefits traumatic brain injury patients. It examines the molecular basis of how exercise may facilitate cognitive recovery, discuss the clinical evidence of the benefits of exercise on cognition and mood impairments in patients, and identify potential barriers for patients recovering from traumatic brain injury from engaging in physical exercise. There are extensive reviews exploring the effect of exercise on patients recovering from traumatic brain injury. Exercise appears to have benefit in global cognition and mood. Exercise is a non-pharmacological and non-invasive therapy for improving brain function in patients recovering from traumatic brain injury. Exercise should be recommended for patients recovering from acute and chronic brain injury. It is seen to improve global cognition and mood impairments.
P115 Breastfeeding Peer Counselors: Support Mothers Can Trust

Objective The Flint water crisis left many mothers of all income levels with limited trust in outside resources. With the support of the Greater Flint Community Foundation, a peer counselor was hired to support breastfeeding mothers. A peer counselor is a local mother representative of the community who has already developed trust within the community. This study looks at the effectiveness of community-funded breastfeeding peer counselors representative of their communities. Use of Theory or Research One of the most highly effective preventative measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant is to breastfeed. In the US, 81% of babies initiate breastfeeding; 22% are exclusively breastfed 6 months later. According to the CDC, peer support programs are effective in increasing initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Peer counseling is rooted in the theory of reasoned action which recognizes the influence of peers on individual behavior. Breastfeeding peer counselors help to normalize breastfeeding within their own community. Target Audience Pregnant and breastfeeding women who reside in Flint, Michigan. Program Description The peer counselor provided evidence-based education and support to increase initiation, duration, and exclusivity. The peer counselor educated, supported, and encouraged women to continue breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months and continue until at least 1 year of age. The peer counselor conducted home visits and was available during evenings and weekends. The number of visits varied depending on the needs of the mother. If possible, at least 1 visit was completed prenatally and minimally 1 visit within the first week after delivery. Additional contacts were provided through home visits, phone calls and FaceTime during the immediate postpartum period when one‐on‐one support for initiation of breastfeeding is critical. Evaluation Methods Women were recruited through referrals from a variety of community agencies that work with families in the city of Flint. Demographic (age, race, ethnicity, income), initiation, duration, and exclusivity information was collected from all participants who enrolled in program. Results Fifty presentations on benefits of breastfeeding reached 547 families between September 2018 – September 2019. Of the 103 mothers enrolled in the program, 98% initiated breastfeeding and 76% were still breastfeeding at 6 months. Conclusions Home visiting peer counselors were effective in promoting breastfeeding success in mothers in Flint. Many participants mentioned the importance of the peer counselor being a trusted mother representative of their community. This strategy should continue to be utilized and expanded to improve breastfeeding rates.
Ethical and Safety Concerns Regarding the Use of Mental Health-Related Apps in Counseling: Considerations for Counselors.

Mental health–related smartphone apps (MHapps) have the potential to greatly enhance and enrich the counseling relationship, and dramatically improve the lives of clients. However, a large portion of MHapps have not been empirically researched and found to be effective. An average of 2 million apps are available in the Apple and Android stores, and users average more than 80 apps on their phones. Many of the apps lack disclaimers about the collection of user information, and there is no governing body to oversee and regulate app development and availability. This is particularly problematic with mental health–related smartphone apps, because many developers are not affiliated with mental health professionals, and many apps do not provide emergency information should a mental health emergency occur while using the app. Moreover, users are left to haphazardly make decisions about health-related apps usage without assistance. Counselors who supplement counseling with mental health–related smartphone apps could unknowingly violate their Code of Ethics by integrating apps that may jeopardize their clients’ safety. The authors review literature related to mental health–related app efficacy, safety, and ethics and provide a compilation of items to consider that can be used before supplementing counseling with mental health–related apps.
Dependence of Heat Transport in Solids on Length-Scale, Pressure, and Temperature: Implications for Mechanisms and Thermodynamics.

Accurate laser-flash measurements of thermal diffusivity (D) of diverse bulk solids at moderate temperature (T), with thickness L of ~0.03 to 10 mm, reveal that D(T) = D∞(T)[1 − exp(−bL)]. When L is several mm, D∞(T) = FT−G + HT, where F is constant, G is ~1 or 0, and H (for insulators) is ~0.001. The attenuation parameter b = 6.19D∞−0.477 at 298 K for electrical insulators, elements, and alloys. Dimensional analysis confirms that D → 0 as L → 0, which is consistent with heat diffusion, requiring a medium. Thermal conductivity (κ) behaves similarly, being proportional to D. Attenuation describing heat conduction signifies that light is the diffusing entity in solids. A radiative transfer model with 1 free parameter that represents a simplified absorption coefficient describes the complex form for κ(T) of solids, including its strong peak at cryogenic temperatures. Three parameters describe κ with a secondary peak and/or a high-T increase. The strong length dependence and experimental difficulties in diamond anvil studies have yielded problematic transport properties. Reliable low-pressure data on diverse thick samples reveal a new thermodynamic formula for specific heat (∂ln(cP)/∂P = −linear compressibility), which leads to ∂ln(κ)/∂P = linear compressibility + ∂lnα/∂P, where α is thermal expansivity. These formulae support that heat conduction in solids equals diffusion of light down the thermal gradient, since changing P alters the space occupied by matter, but not by light.
Do Private Equity Managers Earn Their Fees? Compensation, Ownership, and Cash Flow Performance

We study the relations between management contract terms and performance in private equity using new data for 837 funds from 1984--2010. We find no evidence that higher fees or lower managerial ownership are associated with lower net-of-fee performance. Nevertheless, compensation rises and shifts to performance-insensitive components during fundraising booms. Further, the behavior of distributions around contractual fee triggers is consistent with an underlying agency conflict between investors and fund managers. Our evidence suggests that managers with higher fees deliver higher gross performance, and highlights that agency costs are an inevitable consequence of the information frictions endemic to agency relationships. The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com., Oxford University Press.
Impact of Resident-Led Small-Group Learning Sessions on Preclinical Students' Perceptions of Ophthalmology

Introduction Resident physicians have a significant role in the education of medical students, and limited research has demonstrated that positive interactions with residents are linked with enhanced students’ perceptions of a specialty. Minimal research on residents as teachers has been done in ophthalmology, and no research has examined the impact of residents as teachers on the perceptions of preclinical students. This is an important area of interest because ophthalmology conducts an early match. The competitiveness of the field increases the importance of early involvement in research and clinical activities. This study aimed to assess the role of a resident-led workshops as a vehicle for exposing preclinical students to ophthalmology. Methods A 2-hour workshop on the Ophthalmology Clinical Skills was held at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in November 2018. The workshop was conducted by seven ophthalmology residents, and the learners were 15 first-year and 11 second-year medical students. The workshop format consisted of a 30-minute introductory lecture on the field of ophthalmology, followed by a 60-minute small-group clinical skills’ session focusing on direct ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp examination. Preworkshop and postworkshop surveys were administered to the medical students, and Student’s paired sample t-test was used to assess the differences in responses before and after the workshop. Results Students’ average interest in ophthalmology rose (p = 0.049) as did their likeliness to approach a resident for career advice (p = 4.65 × 10−6) and their likeliness to attend the Secrets of the Match Lunch talk, a yearly talk held by a student matched into ophthalmology (p = 0.002). Conclusion These results suggest that resident intervention can have a positive impact on preclinical students’ perceptions of ophthalmology and may be a good educational strategy to foster their positive attitudes toward the field.
Now is the Time for Black Queer Feminist Ecology

This piece proposes using Black queer feminist ecology to harmonize multiple theoretical frameworks to inform legal and policy responses to environmental challenges.
Positive Magnetoresistance Due to Conduction-Band Splitting in the Eu — Chalcogenides

A positive magnetoresistance observed in n-type EuS, EuSe, and EuTe samples is attributed to the effect of spin splitting of the conduction band on nonmagnetic scattering.
Distributed Algorithms for the Placement of Network Services

Network services play an important role in the Internet today. They serve as data caches for websites, servers for multiplayer games and relay nodes for Voice over IP (VoIP) conversations. While much research has focused on the design of such services, little attention has been focused on their actual placement. These services are often located on nodes in the network itself, making these nodes supernodes. Typically supernodes are selected in either a proprietary or ad hoc fashion, where a study of this placement is either unavailable or unnecessary. In this work we develop distributed algorithms to assign nodes the role of a supernode. We first build on prior work by modifying an existing assignment algorithm and implementing it in a distributed system called Supernode Placement in Overlay Topologies (SPOT). New algorithms are then developed to assign nodes the supernode role.
The development of a population of 4D pediatric XCAT phantoms for imaging research and optimization.

Purpose: We previously developed a set of highly detailed 4D reference pediatric extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) phantoms at ages of newborn, 1, 5, 10, and 15 yr with organ and tissue masses matched to ICRP Publication 89 values. In this work, we extended this reference set to a series of 64 pediatric phantoms of varying age and height and body mass percentiles representative of the public at large. The models will provide a library of pediatric phantoms for optimizing pediatric imaging protocols. Methods: High resolution positron emission tomography-computed tomography data obtained from the Duke University database were reviewed by a practicing experienced radiologist for anatomic regularity. The CT portion of the data was then segmented with manual and semiautomatic methods to form a target model defined using nonuniform rational B-spline surfaces. A multichannel large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping algorithm was used to calculate the transform from the best age matching pediatric XCAT reference phantom to the patient target. The transform was used to complete the target, filling in the nonsegmented structures and defining models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. The complete phantoms, consisting of thousands of structures, were then manually inspected for anatomical accuracy. The mass for each major tissue was calculated and compared to linearly interpolated ICRP values for different ages. Results: Sixty four new pediatric phantoms were created in this manner. Each model contains the same level of detail as the original XCAT reference phantoms and also includes parameterized models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. For the phantoms that were 10 yr old and younger, we included both sets of reproductive organs. This gave them the capability to simulate both male and female anatomy. With this, the population can be expanded to 92. Wide anatomical variation was clearly seen amongst the phantom models, both in organ shape and size, even for models of the same age and sex. The phantoms can be combined with existing simulation packages to generate realistic pediatric imaging data from different modalities. Conclusions: This work provides a large cohort of highly detailed pediatric phantoms with 4D capabilities of varying age, height, and body mass. The population of phantoms will provide a vital tool with which to optimize 3D and 4D pediatric imaging devices and techniques in terms of image quality and radiation-absorbed dose.
Management and outcome of labor in 742 women with borderline pelves

Abstract In the prenatal clinics of the Health Department of the District of Columbia the incidence of borderline pelves was one-twelfth of the entire registration, over a five-year period. The results of roentgen measurements indicate that Smellie's Rule should be discarded. The lateral pelvic roentgenogram was the most important factor, governing treatment in these women; 78.2 per cent of them delivered normally; 13.4 per cent were delivered with forceps. Cesarean section was performed in 6.2 per cent; some sections were done for causes other than pelvic contraction. Of the 742 cases, a favorable outcome (meaning by favorable outcome a normal delivery or average forceps) was predicted in 494. Almost 477 were so delivered, since there were some difficult forceps deliveries. The degree of correct prognostication and the moral support obtained from the lateral roentgenogram have been very gratifying to the author, and have been of definite assistance to those performing the deliveries. Grouping pelves according to true conjugates that are obtained by Smellie's Rule, and thus directing treatment, which is the conventional method, is unscientific and misleading.
Studying culture-cognition relations in collective practices of daily life : a research framework

AbstractThis article sketches a framework for the study and analysis of culture-cognition relations that I present in my recent book, Cultural Development of Mathematical Ideas: Papua New Guinea Studies. Taking an historical approach, I focus on the reproduction and alteration of representational forms for number and the functions that representational forms serve in collective practices in and out of school. My key argument is that, in the context of their goal-directed communicative activities in collective practices in daily life, people unwittingly reproduce and alter representational forms and the functions that these forms serve. The process leads to continuities and discontinuities in form-function relations in communities over historical time. To provide evidence for this process and its role in the cultural development of ideas, I report selected findings from research conducted in 1978, 1980 and 2001 in Oksapmin communities; I focus on historical shifts in the forms and functions of the Oksapmin...
Immunosuppression and Oncogenesis

The interaction of oncogenesis and the immune functions serves as a basis for this review. With the increasing therapeutic use of immunosuppressive drugs, one must remain aware of the potential development of tumors. This paper discusses the interactions of immunosuppression with virus- and carcinogen-induced tumors, as well as transplanted, spontaneous, and established tumors in animals and in man. A brief review of mechanisms of oncogenesis is also presented.
The mammalian circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei is reset in vitro by cAMP

A circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus controls the daily behavioral and physiological rhythms of mammals. While the mammalian circadian system has been the focus of research for many years, very little work has been directed at understanding its underlying biochemical mechanisms. In these experiments we used the hypothalamic brain slice technique to investigate these mechanisms, focusing specifically on the intrinsic resetting properties of the circadian clock of the rat. We monitored a primary expression of the clock or pacemaker, the circadian rhythm of electrical activity of SCN neurons. This rhythm continues the oscillatory pattern seen in vivo for up to 60 hr in vitro, with an activity peak near midday that shows very little variation among SCN from different rats. The stability of the rhythm in vitro enabled us to use the time of peak activity to monitor the phase of the underlying pacemaker. Bath application of membrane-soluble cAMP analogs in 1 hr pulses induced robust advances in the phase of the rhythm that remained stable for 2 cycles. This effect depended on the phase of the pacemaker at the time of treatment: the peak was maximally advanced (4-6 hr) by treatments during the middle of the subjective day (projected from the donor's cycle); treatments during most of the subjective night and early subjective day induced no phase changes. Half-maximal phase resetting was induced at 1 x 10(-10) M concentrations of active cAMP analog.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Numerical Fracture Simulation of Compact and Bend Specimens

An elastic-plastic finite-element analysis with a critical crack-tip-opening displacement criterion was used to simulate fracture of various size compact and bend specimens made of HY-130 steel. From the calculated load-crack-extension and load-displacement curves, J-resistance (J-R) curves were determined by several methods. The simulated 3-R curves were insensitive to specimen size up to maximum load but were sensitive to specimen configuration for crack extensions greater than 10 percent of the initial uncracked ligament length.
A comparison of seismicity rates and fluid-injection operations in Oklahoma and California: Implications for crustal stresses

Fluid injection into deep wellbores can increase pore pressure, reduce effective stress, and trigger earthquakes. The extent of the seismogenic response to injection provides insight into how close faults are to failure in the injection-affected area. The seismogenic response to injection operations in hydrocarbon basins is examined in California and Oklahoma. Changes in spatial and temporal seismicity rates are tested for significant variations, and timing and location of such variations are determined based on nonparametric modeling of background seismicity rates. Oklahoma has experienced a recent surge of seismic events, which exceeded the 95% confidence limit of Poissonian background rates in c. 2010. Annual injection volumes in Oklahoma increased systematically between 1998 and 2013 and have been connected to several earthquake sequences. In California, injection volumes increased monotonically between 2001 and 2009; however, the seismogenic response was limited and was devoid of large-scale background rate increase. A detailed comparison of injection parameters in Oklahoma and California included well density, wellhead pressures, peak and cumulative rates, and injection depths. No detectable difference was found that could readily explain the observed changes in seismicity rate in Oklahoma and the lack thereof in California. A strongly different seismogenic response to similar pressure perturbations indicates that the injection parameters considered are only of secondary influence on the resulting earthquake activity. The primary controls on injection-induced earthquakes might be the specific geologic setting and the stress state on nearby faults.
QRS fragmentation is not associated with poor response to cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background: QRS fragmentation (fQRS) has been shown to be a marker of scar in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Whether fQRS is associated with progressive left ventricular remodeling and increased mortality in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is unclear. Methods: We reviewed the preimplant and follow-up echocardiograms in 233 patients undergoing the new implantation of a CRT device between December 2001 and November 2006. Patients were included if they had a pre-CRT ECG with appropriate filter settings (filter 0.16–100 or 0.16–150 Hz, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mV), a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%, and New York Heart Association class II–IV symptoms on standard medical therapy. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was interpreted by two blinded reviewers for the presence of fQRS. Remodeling end points, including changes in LVEF and left ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDV) and systolic (LVESV) volumes, were compared between patients with and without contiguous fQRS, and an assessment of all-cause mortality was made. Results: Two hundred thirty-two patients met inclusion criteria, of which 50 demonstrated fQRS in contiguous leads. There was no difference in improvement in LVEF (%) (7.9 ± 12.9 vs 6.8 ± 11.0, P = 0.60) or reduction in LVEDV (mL) (−30.1 ± 57.2 vs −15.7 ± 47.6) or LVESV (mL) (−33.7 ± 58.1 vs −22.7 ± 50.6, P = 0.40) between patients with and without contiguous fQRS. At a mean follow-up of 4.4 ± 1.9 years, there were a total of 89 deaths, 22 (44.0%) in patients with contiguous fQRS and 67 (36.8%) without (log rank P = 0.31). Conclusions: QRS fragmentation is not a predictor of progressive ventricular remodeling or mortality in heart failure patients undergoing CRT. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2011;16(2):165–171
Electrochemical Investigation of Ruthenium and Osmium Oligothiophene Complexes: How Does Metal Binding Affect the Oligothiophene π-System?

We have studied the electrochemistry of a series of oligothiophene complexes with one or more “Cp*Ru+”, “CpRu+”, or “CpOs+” fragments (Cp = cyclopentadienyl; Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) attached to the oligothiophene π-system. This series varies the metal (Ru or Os), ancillary ligand (Cp or Cp*), ring substituents (phenyl or methyl groups), and length of the oligothiophene (1−4 rings). The peak potentials for the oxidation of the free oligothiophenes and their complexes indicate that the electron hole produced upon oxidation of the complexes is delocalized on the uncomplexed rings of the oligothiophene. Oxidation of the complexes results in conductive films on the electrode but the composition of the electrodeposited films is unclear. The electron added upon reduction of the complexes is localized on the [Cp/Cp*M(thiophene)]+ unit formed by complexation of the oligothiophene. We propose that complexation of a thiophene ring converts it into a [Cp/Cp*M(thiophene)]+ unit and removes it from conjugati...
On the value of long-term satellite passive microwave data sets for sea ice/climate studies

In spite of the importance of sea ice to polar climates, sea ice/climate studies have been limited in the past due to the lack of consistent, long-term, global sea ice records. Satellite passive microwave technology, available since the early 1970s, now provides the potential of generating the desired long-term data sets. With passive microwave data, global sea ice distributions can be mapped on a routine basis every few days, to a spatial resolution on the order of 30 km. The sea ice records generated so far from such satellite data have already been used in many scientific investigations, helping to quantify global sea ice distributions and their seasonal and interannual variations, and to illuminate possible ice/ocean and ice/atmosphere interactions. The results to date augur well for the possibilities once the satellite passive microwave record is long enough to form a true climatic data base.
A Micro-Scale Monopropellant Fuel Injection Scheme Using Two-Phase Slug Formation

The periodic formation of dispersed microscopic liquid slugs (microslugs) at a microchannel junction is investigated as a means for enhancing precision and control of fuel delivery in monopropellant-based micropropulsion systems. Slug length and frequency of production are determined by digital image analysis of high-speed videomicroscopy recordings of the formation process in a microchannel (hydraulic diameter 28 ) under varying inlet pressure conditions. Experimental findings show that a range of slug characteristics are possible, with sizes spanning 0.05–1.7 mm at corresponding formation frequencies of 39–397 Hz. For a hydrogen-peroxide monopropellant fuel, it is estimated that the associated impulse bit of a singlemicroslug can range from 0:2–3 N s, which demonstrates the potential utility for micropropulsion applications.
Infantile hemangiomas and retinopathy of prematurity: possible association.

OBJECTIVE.The goal was to study the clinical association between infantile hemangiomas and retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants. METHODS.A retrospective study of preterm neonates weighing 1250 g at birth who were born during a 5-year period (November 1, 2000, to October 31, 2005) at John Dempsey Hospital was performed by using a prospectively collected, neonatal database. Data were collected on demographic features (gestational age, birth weight, and gender) and prenatal/postnatal steroid use. In the physical examination at discharge, all infants were checked for infantile hemangiomas, and the size and number of lesions were noted. The highest stage of retinopathy of prematurity diagnosed at any time before discharge also was noted. Analyses were performed to identify associated risk factors. RESULTS.Of 406 neonates admitted with birth weights of 1250 g, 351 (86.4%) survived. Of the survivors, 49 (13.9%) had infantile hemangiomas at discharge. Infantile hemangiomas were present for 16.8% of neonates with retinopathy of prematurity, compared with 6.7% of those without retinopathy of prematurity. Multiple infantile hemangiomas were present in 14 (28.5%) of 49 neonates, whereas 18 (42.8%) of 42 neonates had infantile hemangiomas that were 1 cm in size. Univariate analyses showed lower gestational age, lower birth weight, and postnatal steroid use to be predictors of retinopathy of prematurity, whereas prenatal steroid use, race, and gender were not significantly related. In multivariate logistic regression analyses controlling for gestational age and postnatal steroid use, infantile hemangiomas were found to be independently associated with any stage of retinopathy of prematurity. Neither the number nor the size of infantile hemangiomas showed any association with the severity of retinopathy of prematurity. CONCLUSIONS.Infantile hemangiomas are associated with the development of retinopathy of prematurity in infants weighing 1250 g. The biological significance of this association may yield clues to the management of retinopathy of prematurity. Pediatrics 2009;123:e484‐e489
Optical-Field-Induced Ordering in the Isotropic Phase of a Nematic Liquid Crystal

We have shown by measuring the field-induced refractive index that molecular ordering in the isotropic phase of $p$-methoxy benzylidene $p\ensuremath{-}n$-butylaniline (MBBA) can be induced by an intense laser field. We have also measured directly the ordering relaxation time as a function of temperature. The results are compared with the predictions of the Landau---de Gennes model.
Ultrastructural features of ethanol-induced cardiomyopathy in turkey poults.

Abstract 1. 1. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy, characterized by cardiac hypertrophy, was induced in young turkey poults with 5% ethanol. 2. 2. Ultrastructural features included accumulation of glycogen, swollen mitochondria, myofibrillar lysis, increased number of lysosomes, dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum and dense myofibers. 3. 3. Similarity of these alterations to those described in human alcoholic cardiomyopathy confirms the usefulness of the turkey poult as an animal model for this disease syndrome.
Dopamine Enables In Vivo Synaptic Plasticity Associated with the Addictive Drug Nicotine

Addictive drugs induce a dopamine signal that contributes to the initiation of addiction, and the dopamine signal influences drug-associated memories that perpetuate drug use. The addiction process shares many commonalities with the synaptic plasticity mechanisms normally attributed to learning and memory. Environmental stimuli repeatedly linked to addictive drugs become learned associations, and those stimuli come to elicit memories or sensations that motivate continued drug use. Applying in vivo recording techniques to freely moving mice, we show that physiologically relevant concentrations of the addictive drug nicotine directly cause in vivo hippocampal synaptic potentiation of the kind that underlies learning and memory. The drug-induced long-term synaptic plasticity required a local hippocampal dopamine signal. Disrupting general dopamine signaling prevented the nicotine-induced synaptic plasticity and conditioned place preference. These results suggest that dopaminergic signaling serves as a functional label of salient events by enabling and scaling synaptic plasticity that underlies drug-induced associative memory.
Validation of the German version of the Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM (PedsQLTM) in childhood cancer patients off treatment and children with epilepsy

The Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM (PedsQLTM) is a relatively new instrument developed in the US to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) in healthy and ill children and adolescents. It is quick and easy to use, suitable for assessment by children and parents and based on a modular approach with a generic measure addressing all general domains of HRQL and disease-specific modules. We report here the results of translating the original US generic core instrument and the cancer module into German and testing the German PedsQLTM in samples of paediatric patients who have been treated for cancer or epilepsy. Like in studies with the original instrument, score distributions tended to be skewed toward higher HRQL, but a full response range was demonstrated for each item. The German PedsQLTM is reliable in terms of internal consistency with the majority of scales exceeding a Cronbach's α of 0.70. Clinical validity was confirmed by differences between the cancer and epilepsy groups in the expected direction and by the ability of the PedsQLTM to discriminate between subjects with different degrees of medical and psychosocial sequelae. Comparing our findings to US results, the German PedsQLTM seems to be equivalent to the original version. Future methodologic research should evaluate construct validity, sensitivity and responsiveness, and test the usefulness of the instrument in other clinical populations and healthy children.
Amino acid requirements of the mosquito Culex pipiens: Asparagine essential

Abstract When any of the ten “rat essential” amino acids was omitted singly from a fully-defined synthetic dietary medium, newly-hatched Culex pipiens larvae were unable to develop to the second instar. With proline omitted, development was greatly retarded and survival to the adult stage reduced. Without aspargine (but not aspartic acid) growth and development ceased in most individuals before larval-pupal ecdysis, and no adults were obtained. These twelve amino acids are considered nutritionally essential for this mosquito. With glycine omitted singly, development was markedly retarded, but survival to the adult stage was not affected; thus this amino acid is required for good growth, but these experiments do not demonstrate it as essential. Single omission of alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid or amide, serine or tyrosine had virtually no effect on development and they are therefore considered nutritionally non-essential. With diets containing the twelve culex-essential amino acids only, very little development occurred, but augmentation with either glycine or serine allowed growth and development almost as good as with the complete amino acid mixture. Augmentation of the essential twelve with alanine, cysteine, glutamic acid/amide, or tyrosine singly failed to improve development. The requirement for dietary asparagine shown by these studies appears to be unique among insects so far studied. In particular, another mosquito, Aedes aegypti , has no such requirement.
Thoracoscopic tracheoaortopexia for the treatment of life-threatening events in tracheomalacia.

Background Life-threatening events resulting from tracheomalacia are a well-known complication of infants with esophageal atresia. Aortopexy is accepted as the most effective method for managing severe life-threatening and localized tracheomalacia with a success rate of 85% to 90%. Since the advent of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), the procedure also can be performed using thoracoscopic MIS.
Teaching Somali Children: What Perceived Challenges Do Somali Students Face in the Public School System?

This article reviews the literature on the experience of Somali immigrant children and their lives at school. A semi-structured, open interview provides insights into the historical and personal backgrounds of Somali children. Data explores issues of language acquisition, religion and familial connections in relation to their schooling experience. Suggestions are offered to educators for improving the educational experience for Somali children and families.
Extreme Position Dependence of a Canonical Hormone Response Element

Hormone response elements (HREs) are considered enhancers, activating transcription in a relatively position- and orientation-independent fashion. Upon binding to an HRE, steroid receptors presumably contact coactivators and/or proteins associated with the transcription initiation complex. As a receptor target site is moved further from a fixed position such as the TATA box, not only will the spatial separation of the receptor with respect to its interaction partners change, so will the orientation due to the rotation of the DNA helix. Additional constraints may be imposed by the assembly of DNA into chromatin. Therefore, we have endeavored to test rigorously the assertion that HRE action is position independent. We have constructed a series of 42 chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression vectors that contain a single progesterone/glucocorticoid receptor-binding site separated from a TATA box by 4 to 286 bp. The enhancer activity of the HRE was assessed after transient transfection of progesterone receptor-expressing fibroblasts. We find that the position of the HRE has a dramatic influence on induction by progestins. When closely juxtaposed to the TATA box, the HRE was unable to support a hormone response, perhaps due to direct steric hindrance with the transcription initiation complex. Full activity was gained by moving the HRE 10 bp further from the TATA sequence. As the HRE was moved incrementally further, activity remained near maximal over the next 26 bp. HRE activity then declined over the subsequent 26 bp and remained low for another 2.5 helical turns. Surprisingly, a narrow window of HRE activity occurred at an HRE-TATA box separation of 90-100 bp. Little or no hormone-induced transcriptional activity was observed when the HRE was positioned further from the TATA box. The addition of a second HRE or a basal (nuclear factor-1) element failed to relieve this constraint. A similar series of experiments was carried out in a mammary carcinoma cell line that expressed high levels of both glucocorticoid and progestin receptors. Data in these cells indicate that glucocorticoids and progestins supported a similar HRE position-activity profile, but this pattern of HRE activity was quite distinct from that seen in fibroblasts. This may be indicative of cell type-specific interactions between steroid receptors and adapter/coactivator proteins or cell type-specific activities such as acetylases or deacetylases participating in the steroid response.
Transverse sternal plating in secondary sternal reconstruction

Objectives Sternal instability after cardiac surgery occurs infrequently but can be challenging to manage. The most common treatment of mechanical sternal instability is operative rewiring. Transverse rib-to-rib stabilization with titanium plates designed for sternal fixation is a recent option. We evaluated the clinical utility of the transverse plating system in a cardiothoracic practice. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our experience with transverse sternal plating using the Synthes titanium sternal plate system (Synthes CMF, Paoli, Pa) from June 2004 to June 2007. Results There were 15 sternal reconstruction procedures performed in 14 patients using the transverse sternal plates. One patient required reoperation for sternal plate fracture. Indications for sternal plating were chronic sternal dehiscence in 9 procedures, acute sternal dehiscence in 3 procedures, previous mediastinitis and sternectomy in 2 procedures, and sternal plate fracture in 1 procedure. The initial cardiac operation was isolated coronary artery bypass in all patients. The mean age was 59 years (range, 51–68 years), all patients were men, 12 patients had a body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m 2 (range, 22–40 kg/m 2 ), 9 patients were diabetic, 8 patients were active smokers, and 7 patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The mean follow-up period was 15.5 months (range, 3–33 months). All patients achieved sternal stability with minimal postoperative pain. Complications included infection requiring explantation in 1 patient, plate fracture in 1 patient, and seroma formation in 1 patient. Conclusion The transverse sternal plating system successfully achieved stability in all cases and is valuable in complex sternal reconstructions. Sternal plating is an effective alternative to wire closure in sternum with fractures, chronic and acute instability, or poor bone quality.
Study of Direct-Measuring Skin-Friction Gauge with Rubber Sheet for Damping

This study concerns the direct measuring technique for skin-friction determination. Such a device measures the force on a small, movable surface element as a shear e ow passes over the surface. The typical direct-measuring skin-friction gauge uses a viscous liquid in the gap between the movable surface piece and the casing to dampen vibrations,tocreateanevensurface,tominimizetheeffectsofpressuregradients,andfortemperaturestabilization. In testing, the liquid slowly leaks out. Therefore, we have considered gauges with rubber to e ll all or some of the gap. This led to the development of a gauge with a thin rubber sheet to cover the face of the gauge instead of a previousdesign withrubbere lling theentireinternalvolume.First, ae niteelementmethodmodelwasemployed to fully understand the strain e eld involved and to e nalize the design. The resulting design consisted of a plastic skin frictiongaugewitha12.7-mm-diam e oatingelementonacantileverbeame exure,anapproximately0.51-mm-thick rubber sheet, a 1.6-mm-wide gap around the e oating element on a cantilever beam e exure, and semiconductor strain gauges at the beam base. Vibration tests were performed to determine if this design produced the required damping. These tests were successful. Supersonic wind-tunnel tests at Mach 2.4 with a total pressure of 3 atm and ambient total temperature demonstrated that the rubber sheet survived repeated tests and provided adequate damping. The skin-friction data obtained compared well with theory and other measurements.
Marginal value of FACTS devices in transmission-constrained electricity markets

With the smart grid technology, the topology of the transmission network can be co-optimized simultaneously with the generation. One technology that allows adjustment of network topology is Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS). Recently some studies suggest inclusion of FACTS devices in the wholesale electricity markets. Here we assess their values based on the value of the additional transfer capacity they offer to the market. This value is equal to the improvement they make to the social welfare. On the margin, we call it the marginal value of FACTS capacity. We calculate this marginal value analytically on a simple two-node system. A sensitivity-based formulation is provided for calculation of the marginal value in larger and more realistic networks. Simulation studies on a 2-node and a 30-bus system are presented to show how the formulation works.
Safety and Efficacy of First-Line Chemotherapy in Unresected Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Abstract Background Primary tumor resection in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer is considered highly controversial. Historical data suggest a low risk of primary tumor–related complications in patients treated with first-line 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy. However, there are very limited data on the safety and efficacy of first-line combination chemotherapy in this unresected-primary population, especially in the setting of rectal cancer. Patients and Methods We performed a single-institution retrospective study to evaluate the primary tumor–related complication rate and outcome of patients with unresected metastatic colorectal cancer treated with first-line chemotherapy. Estimation of the overall and progression-free survival distributions were done using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Thirty-eight patients were identified: 26 had primary colon cancers and 12 had primary rectal cancers. Thirty-one patients were treated with first-line FOLFOX (oxaliplatin/leucovorin/5-FU) with or without bevacizumab. In patients with colon tumors, only 2 (7%) required surgery, both for obstruction. In patients with rectal tumors, 3 (25%) developed progressive obstructive symptoms, and 2 developed worsening pain. Four of these patients were adequately palliated with chemoradiation; only 1 patient required a diverting colostomy. The median progression-free survival was 7 months, and overall survival was 17.3 months. Twenty-two patients died because of disease progression, only 3 of whom developed obstructive symptoms at the primary tumor site before death. Conclusion First-line chemotherapy is feasible and safe in patients with unresected colon and nonirradiated rectal cancer. The rate of bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention in this population was
Cramer-Rao performance bounds for simultaneous target and multipath positioning

This work considers the performance of none-light-of-sight (NLOS) target localization method using a distributed receiver array. The multipath propagation is modeled with single bounce reflection from unknown random scatters. A Simultaneous Target and Multipath Positioning (STAMP) method is proposed for jointly estimating the target and scatter positions given Time-of-Arrival (TOA) observations. The Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) is derived for the STAMP method and analyzed to establish the identifiability of this joint estimation problem. The CRLB is also extended to the case of data association uncertainty in term of the Fisher Information Reduction Matrix, which is illustrated and further more discussed using numerical examples.