cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single Event Effect Analysis for Command and Data Handling Electronics of a Millimeter-Wave Radiometer 6U-Class Satellite Instrument

Radiation effects analysis is essential to improve reliability for space missions. The number of small satellite and CubeSat missions has increased significantly in recent years. Compared to traditional larger satellite missions, CubeSats are designed at lower cost and with shorter development cycles. The reliability of CubeSats and small satellites in on-orbit radiation environments needs to be ensured for mission success. In this study, single event effect analysis has been performed for a 6U-Class satellite instrument in low Earth orbit to improve its on-orbit reliability. Critical commercial off-the-shelf parts of the Command and Data Handling Subsystem of a 6U-Class satellite instrument have been tested under heavy-ion radiation at the Texas A&M University Cyclotron Institute Radiation Effects Facility. SEE characteristics have been tested and analyzed for analog-to-digital data converters, voltage regulators, and current sensing and voltage monitoring devices. Device- and system-level risk analyses have been performed for the Command and Data Handling electronics based on the results of heavy-ion radiation testing. System-level mitigation techniques have been studied to minimize the effects of SEEs on electronic systems for deployment on 6U-Class satellites in low Earth orbit.
Lysosomal exocytosis: a mechanism for hyperthermia-induced HSP70 release from prostate cancer cells

3878 Heat shock proteins were first characterized as molecular chaperones, however, recent studies have shown that they can be actively released from intact cells and participate in host immunity, for example, tumor immunity. HSP70 does not possess a secretory signal sequence yet other investigators as well as our studies demonstrate that HSP70 is actively secreted to the extracellular millieu. We observed HSP70 release from prostate cancer cells PC3 and LNCaP following heat shock at 400C, fever range hyperthermia and 430C, at a temperature which leads to maximal induction of HSP70. We also provide evidence for a regulated non-classical method of exocytosis that is similar to IL1-β exocytosis. Our data revealed that the leaderless protein HSP70 appears to be released from prostate carcinoma cells through an active mechanism that is independent of the rate of HSP70 synthesis and does not seem to involve cell death. The factors required for HSP70 release resemble those involved in IL-1β secretion, and we report here on the dramatic inhibitory effect of glibenclamide, potent inhibitors of ABC activity, on HSP70 secretion in prostate cancer cells. We also provide biochemical evidence that hyperthermia treated prostate cancer cells release HSP70 contained in lysosomal compartments thus increase in pH of the acidic lysosomal compartments inhibits HSP70 release. In conclusion, we have demonstrated a new mechanism of hyperthermia induced HSP70 release that occurs via lysosomes and regulated by ABC transport.
Showers, Culture, and Conflict Resolution: A Qualitative Study of Employees' Perceptions of Workplace Wellness Opportunities.

Objective:Research on employee opinions of workplace wellness programs is limited.Methods:At a large academic medical center in Boston, we conducted 12 focus groups on employee perceptions of wellness programs. We analyzed data using the immersion-crystallization approach. Participant mean age (N =
Four Innovations in Economics Education: The CORE Project

The Curriculum Open-Access Resources for Economics (CORE) Project is transforming economics education. An open-access introductory text, The Economy, is available free of charge worldwide in digital form, and at modest cost in print, with adoptions at more than a hundred institutions and thirty countries to date. Several additional projects are underway, including the development of course-materials in public policy and empirical reasoning. In this paper we describe four innovations — in process, content, publishing, and outreach — that are embodied in this initiative.
Base64 Encoding on Heterogeneous Computing Platforms

Base64 encoding has many applications on the Web. Previous studies investigated the optimizations of Base64 encoding algorithm on central processing units (CPUs). In this paper, we describe the optimizations of the algorithm on heterogeneous computing platforms. More specifically, we explain the algorithm, convert the algorithm to kernels written in CUDA C/C++ and Open Computing Language (OpenCL), optimize the CUDA and OpenCL applications with CUDA and OpenCL streams which can overlap data transfers with kernel computations, and vectorize the CUDA and OpenCL kernels to improve kernel throughput. We evaluate the impact of the number of streams upon the kernel performance on an NVIDIA Pascal P100 graphics processing unit (GPU) and a Nallatech 385A card that features an Intel Arria 10 GX1150 field-programmable gate array (FPGA). We also measure the performance and power of the applications on the CPU, GPU, and FPGA to know the advantage of each platform and the benefit of kernel offloading. The experiments show that using vector data types in the kernels is not for performance, and more work-items is better than large vectors per work-item on the GPU. OpenCL and CUDA streams can achieve almost the same performance on the GPU, but streams should be used with caution when GPU resources are underutilized. On the FPGA, kernel vectorization using 16 vector lanes can achieve the highest performance when the number of streams is one. However, increasing the vector width per work-item and the number of streams can decrease the kernel computation time for each stream, and thereby reduce the number of concurrent operations across the streams. While the raw performance on the GPU is 3.1X higher than that on the FPGA, the FPGA consumes 3.4X less power. A comparison with a state-of-the-art implementation on an Intel CPU server shows an increasing benefit of kernel offloading.
“Do it all but don’t kill us”: (Re)positioning teacher educators and preservice teachers amidst edTPA and the teacher strike in West Virginia

We explore how two “happenings” representing different political, social, historical and economic influences converge to shape the narratives of preservice teachers and teacher educators in West Virginia. These happenings are the 2017-2018 edTPA roll out and the teacher strike of February 2018. We use the framework of sensemaking to explore preservice teacher and teacher educator identity/agency using a phenomenological analysis of narratives accessed through narrative portfolios, artifacts, and interviews with pre-service teachers, mentors (supervising teachers), and teacher educators. We found that the confluence of these political moments reinforced a neoliberal orientation for both preservice teachers and teacher educators, positioning preservice teachers to expect teacher educators to intensively support the edTPA and ensure their success while silencing the collective history and moral imperative of protest. Preservice teachers and some mentors reframed the edTPA as a pathway to increased teacher pay/meritocracy by linking it with the National Boards, yet there were pockets of resistance within this among both preservice teachers and teacher educators. These findings are important for informing educational policy and practice around both corporate involvement in assessment/accountability policy and preservice teachers’ and teacher educators’ roles in protest at this moment when both are expanding simultaneously.
Membranes Composed of Lipopeptides and Liponucleobases Inspired Protolife Evolution.

Amino acids and peptides have been demonstrated to form lipoamino acids and lipopeptides under presumed prebiotic conditions, and readily form liposomes. Of the common nucleobases, adenine forms a liponucleobase even below 100 °C. Adenine as well as other nucleobases can also be derivatized with ethylene carbonate (and likely other similar compounds) onto which fatty acids can be attached. The fatty acid tails along with appropriately functionalized nucleobases provide some solubility of liponucleobases in membranes. Such membranes would provide a structure in which three of biology’s major components are closely associated and available for chemical interactions. Nucleobase-to-nucleobase interactions would ensure that the liponucleobases would have a uniquely different head-group relationship than other amphiphiles within a membrane, likely forming rafts due their π-π interactions and providing surface discontinuities that could serve as catalytic sites. The π-π bond distance in aromatic compounds is typically 0.34 nm, commensurate with that of the amine to carboxylate distance in alpha amino acids. This would have provided opportunity for hydrogen bonding between amino acids and the distal primary amines or tautomeric carbonyl/hydroxyl groups of two π-bonded nucleobases. Such bonding would weaken the covalent linkages within the amino acids, making them susceptible to forming peptide bonds with an adjacent amino acid, likely a lipoamino acid or lipopeptide. Were this second lipoamino acid bound to a third π-bonded nucleobase, it could result in orientation, destabilization and peptide formation. The stacked triplet of nucleobases might constitute the primordial codon triplet from which peptides were synthesized: primordial translation.
Efficient Spin‐Orbit Torque Switching of the Semiconducting Van Der Waals Ferromagnet Cr 2 Ge 2 Te 6

Being able to electrically manipulate the magnetic properties in recently discovered van der Waals ferromagnets is essential for their integration in future spintronics devices. Here, the magnetization of a semiconducting 2D ferromagnet, i.e., Cr2 Ge2 Te6 , is studied using the anomalous Hall effect in Cr2 Ge2 Te6 /tantalum heterostructures. The thinner the flakes, hysteresis and remanence in the magnetization loop with out-of-plane magnetic fields become more prominent. In order to manipulate the magnetization in such thin flakes, a combination of an in-plane magnetic field and a charge current flowing through Ta-a heavy metal exhibiting giant spin Hall effect-is used. In the presence of in-plane fields of 20 mT, charge current densities as low as 5 × 105 A cm-2 are sufficient to switch the out-of-plane magnetization of Cr2 Ge2 Te6 . This finding highlights that current densities required for spin-orbit torque switching of Cr2 Ge2 Te6 are about two orders of magnitude lower than those required for switching nonlayered metallic ferromagnets such as CoFeB. The results presented here show the potential of 2D ferromagnets for low-power memory and logic applications.
Wait or No Wait for Reducing Body Weight before Lung Transplant

Purpose Lung transplant (LTx) candidates may have both high and low body-mass index (BMI). We investigated the effects of BMI in lung transplantation outcome and survival. Methods Patients from our center (Feb-2012 to Jul-2019) were divided into 5 BMI groups: Results Out of 609 LTx recipients, etiology was 63.1% IPF, 24.3% COPD, and 12.6% others. Furthermore, 28.2% of patients were either underweight or normal weight, 36.9% were overweight, and 34.7% were obese as measured by BMI. Demographically, the patient population was 66% male, mean age 64±9, race 78% white 15% black, and 7% others, median LOS (17 days) and mean LAS 49±19. Kaplan-Meier graph (figure 1) showed no significant differences in 1,3,5 year survival among all the BMI groups (p=0.57). There were also no significant differences among all the groups with regard to LOS (p=0.91) and LAS (p=0.42). Conclusion Despite larger numbers of overweight patients, there was no evidence of negative effect in survival outcome after LTx. Additionally, LOS and LAS did not have any effect in survival among five groups of BMI. This outcome suggests lung transplantation could be expanded to a wider variety of BMI patients.
Abstract 166: Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Mediates Post-hypoxic Vascular Pruning Of Cerebral Blood Vessels By Degrading Laminin And Claudin-5

Objective: Vascular remodeling involves a highly coordinated break-down and build-up of the vascular basal lamina and inter-endothelial tight junction proteins. The goal of this study was to examine the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in remodeling of cerebral blood vessels, both in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and in the vascular pruning that accompanies the switch from hypoxia back to normoxia. Approach and Results: In a chronic mild hypoxia model of cerebrovascular remodeling, gel zymography revealed that MMP-9 levels were increased, both in the hypoxic angiogenic response and in the post-hypoxic pruning response. Compared to wild-type mice, MMP-9 KO mice showed no alteration in hypoxic-induced angiogenesis, but did show marked delay in post-hypoxic vascular pruning. In wild-type mice, vascular pruning was associated with fragmentation of vascular laminin and the tight junction protein claudin-5, while this process was markedly attenuated in MMP-9 KO mice. In vitro experiments showed that hypoxia stimulated MMP-9 expression in brain endothelial cells (BECs) but not pericytes. While immunofluorescent and flow cytometry analyses showed that hypoxia led to reduced expression of laminin and claudin-5 in wild-type BECs, this decrease was absent in MMP-9 KO BECs. Conclusions: These results show that while MMP-9 is not essential for hypoxic-induced cerebral angiogenesis, it plays an important role in post-hypoxic vascular pruning by degrading laminin and claudin-5. Our data support the concept that MMP-9 inhibition might provide therapeutic benefit in the treatment of ischemic stroke, by preventing post-hypoxic vascular pruning, thereby optimizing vascular density and integrity.
The context, strategy and performance of the American safety net primary care providers: a systematic review.

The objective of this research is to synthesize evidence on the relationship between context, strategies and performance in the context of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), a core safety net health services provider in the United States. The research also identifies prior approaches to measure contextual factors, FQHC strategy and performance. Gaps in the research are identified, and directions for future research are provided.,A systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles published between the years 1997 and 2017 was conducted using a bibliographic search of PubMed, Business Source Premier and ABI/Inform databases.,28 studies were selected for the analysis. Results supported associations among contextual factors (organizational and environmental) and FQHC strategy and FQHC performance. The research also indicates that previous research was primarily emphasized on clinical performance with less focus on other types of FQHC performance. In addition, there exists a wide variability in terms of measuring context, FQHC strategy and performance.,Operating in resource-scarce and highly constraining environments, FQHCs have demonstrated the ability to stay innovative and competent as serving often unhealthier and costlier patient populations. To date, there has been no study that reviewed the relationships between context, FQHC strategy and FQHC performance. In addition, there is an absence of consensus on how context, FQHC strategy and FQHC performance are measured. This study is the first that examined context–strategy–performance relationships in the context of FQHCs.
Penicillium expansum: biology, omics, and management tools for a global postharvest pathogen causing blue mould of pome fruit

Blue mould, caused primarily by Penicillium expansum, is a major threat to the global pome fruit industry, causing multimillion-dollar losses annually. The blue mould fungus negatively affects fruit quality, thereby reducing fresh fruit consumption, and significantly contributes to food loss. P. expansum also produces an array of mycotoxins that are detrimental to human health. Management options are limited and the emergence of fungicide-resistant Penicillium spp. makes disease management difficult, therefore new approaches and tools are needed to combat blue mould in storage. This species profile comprises a comprehensive literature review of this aggressive pathogen associated with pomes (apple, pear, quince), focusing on biology, mechanisms of disease, control, genomics, and the newest developments in disease management. Taxonomy Penicillium expansum Link 1809. Domain Eukaryota, Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Subphylum Pezizomycotina, Class Eurotiomycetes, Subclass: Eurotiomycetidae, Order Eurotiales; Family Trichocomaceae, Genus Penicillium, Species expansum. Biology A wide host range necrotrophic postharvest pathogen that requires a wound (e.g., stem pull, punctures, bruises, shoulder cracks) or natural openings (e.g., lenticel, stem end, calyx sinus) to gain ingress and infect. Toxins Patulin, citrinin, chaetoglobosins, communesins, roquefortine C, expansolides A and B, ochratoxin A, penitrem A, rubratoxin B, and penicillic acid. Host range Primarily apples, European pear, Asian pear, medlar, and quince. Blue mould has also been reported on stone fruits (cherry, plum, peach), small fruits (grape, strawberry, kiwi), and hazel nut. Disease symptoms Blue mould initially appears as light tan to dark brown circular lesions with a defined margin between the decayed and healthy tissues. The decayed tissue is soft and watery, and blue-green spore masses appear on the decayed area, starting at the infection site and radiating outward as the decayed area ages. Disease control Preharvest fungicides with postharvest activity and postharvest fungicides are primarily used to control decay. Orchard and packinghouse sanitation methods are also critical components of an integrated pest management strategy. Useful websites Penn State Tree Fruit Production Guide (https://extension.psu.edu/forage-and-food-crops/fruit), Washington State Comprehensive Tree Fruit (http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/disease-management/blue-mold/), The Apple Rot Doctor (https://waynejurick.wixsite.com/applerotdr), penicillium expansum genome sequences and resources (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/browse/#!/eukaryotes/11336/).
Property Taxation of Multifamily Housing: An Empirical Analysis of Vertical and Horizontal Equity

This paper analyzes the uniformity of the property appraisal outcome for multifamily apartment complexes in Phoenix, Arizona. Specifically, it investigates vertical and horizontal equity and equity...
The Metaphysics of Parmenides' Doxa and Its Influence

A great deal of attention has been given to the metaphysics of Parmenides’ Aletheia, the “Truth” section of his poem, and relatively little to the Doxa , or “Opinion” section. Here I address the latter. The Doxa appears to apply principles of the Aletheia , including the notion that a subject must have an unchanging nature or essence, to the problem of cosmology. In the Doxa , Parmenides posits two changeless beings, Light and Night, as the elements of a scientific ontology. All things in the world are composed of Light and Night in appropriate proportions. This is arguably the first time a theory of elements has been proposed for cosmology. Although Parmenides seems to disavow this construction, and may propose it only as a good example of an inadequate theory, his successors took it as a model to be followed in developing a defensible cosmology. In this way he becomes the founder of the modern scientific approach to theories of matter.
Executive Summary: Consensus Recommendations for the Use of Retinoids in Ichthyosis and Other Disorders of Cornification in Children and Adolescents

Topical and systemic retinoids are often used long-term in the treatment of ichthyoses and other disorders of cornification. The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) Use of Retinoids in Ichthyosis Work Group was formed to address the numerous clinical concerns with use of these medications in children and adolescents and to establish best practices regarding the use of retinoids. Consensus was achieved using the Delphi process with recommendations based on the best available evidence and expert opinion. An executive summary of the results is presented herein.
Comparison of loading rate-dependent injury modes in a murine model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a common long-term consequence of joint injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. In this study we used a tibial compression overload mouse model to compare knee injury induced at low speed (1 mm/s), which creates an avulsion fracture, to injury induced at high speed (500 mm/s), which induces midsubstance tear of the ACL. Mice were sacrificed at 0 days, 10 days, 12 weeks, or 16 weeks post-injury, and joints were analyzed with micro-computed tomography, whole joint histology, and biomechanical laxity testing. Knee injury with both injury modes caused considerable trabecular bone loss by 10 days post-injury, with the Low Speed Injury group (avulsion) exhibiting a greater amount of bone loss than the High Speed Injury group (midsubstance tear). Immediately after injury, both injury modes resulted in greater than 2-fold increases in total AP joint laxity relative to control knees. By 12 and 16 weeks post-injury, total AP laxity was restored to uninjured control values, possibly due to knee stabilization via osteophyte formation. This model presents an opportunity to explore fundamental questions regarding the role of bone turnover in PTOA, and the findings of this study support a biomechanical mechanism of osteophyte formation following injury.
Enzymes in the boll weevil—I: Dehydrogenases of the brain and related structures

Abstract Dehydrogenases were studied in the brain and the related neural and secretory structures in the boll weevil Anthonomus grandis Boheman. A reaction system containing an artificial electron acceptor (tetrazolium salt) was used to detect the activity of the various dehydrogenases. Endogenous dehydrogenase activity, measured on freshly dissected tissue, was found to produce the characteristic pattern of formazan deposition similar to that produced in the tissues of other organisms incubated in tetrazolium solutions. The endogenous activity was inhibited by prior freezing, with the result that the only way in which a reaction could be obtained was by adding a substrate. Various pathways of intermediary metabolism were studied in thawed tissue. All the Krebs cycle intermediates produced positive reactions. Of seven glycolytic intermediates and end-products, alpha-glycerophosphate was dehydrogenated most actively. Glucose-1-phosphate and lactate were reacted upon to a lesser extent; but acetate, ethanol, pyruvate, and glycerol gave doubtful or negative results. Three amino acids (glutamate, proline, and aspartate) and one fatty acid (beta-hydroxybutyrate) gave positive reactions. There was no reaction with choline or hippurate. The coenzyme dependence of the dehydrogenases was studied. The reaction with lactate was increased by diphosphopyridine nucleotide, that with isocitrate by triphosphopyridine nucleotide, whereas malate and glutamate were increased by both coenzymes in roughly equal amounts. The oxidation of glycerol, ethanol, beta-hydroxybutyrate, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and choline was not influenced by added coenzyme. The results are discussed and compared with those obtained by other workers who have utilized the tetrazolium method.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) is the most common cytogenetic abnormality associated with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Before the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), Ph-positive ALL carried a dismal prognosis and was characterized by a poor response to most chemotherapy combinations, short remission durations, and poor survival rates. Outcomes for patients with Ph-positive ALL improved substantially with the introduction of TKIs, and the TKI imatinib induced complete remissions in >95% of patients with newly diagnosed Ph-positive ALL when it was combined with chemotherapy. However, imatinib resistance remains a problem in a substantial proportion of patients with Ph-positive ALL, and multiple molecular mechanisms that contribute to imatinib resistance have been identified. Second-generation TKIs (eg, dasatinib and nilotinib) have demonstrated promising efficacy in the treatment of imatinib-resistant, Ph-positive ALL. Future strategies for Ph-positive ALL include novel, molecularly targeted treatment modalities and further evaluations of TKIs in combination with established antileukemic agents. For this article, the authors reviewed past, current, and future treatment approaches for adult and elderly patients with Ph-positive ALL with a focus on TKIs and combined chemotherapeutic regimens.
An optimal operating frequency selection scheme in spectrum handoff for cognitive radio networks

Recently, cognitive radio (CR) technology has emerged as a promising solution to alleviate the spectrum scarcity problem. CR technology allows an unlicensed user to exploit the frequency bands unused by licensed users in an opportunistic manner. However, there is a critical issue when unlicensed users change their operating frequencies in the licensed bands. When an unlicensed user changes its operating frequency from a high frequency to a low frequency during a spectrum handoff, its transmission coverage enlarges, which increases the probability of interference to licensed users. In addition, when the unlicensed user changes its operating frequency from a low frequency to a high frequency during a spectrum handoff, its transmission coverage shrinks, which leads to the possibility of connection failure between the transmitting pair. In this paper, an optimal scheme is proposed to select a new operating frequency when an unlicensed user changes its operating frequency. The optimal frequency is obtained by considering the trade-offs between the probability of interference to licensed users and the probability of successful transmissions as well as the end-to-end throughput in both single-hop and multi-hop scenarios. Results show that the optimal operating frequency selected using the proposed scheme achieves the highest value of the objective function. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that investigates the optimal operating frequency selection that considers the impact of the frequency to the transmission coverage in CR networks.
Activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors induces a PKC‐dependent switch in AMPA receptor subtypes in mouse cerebellar stellate cells

The repetitive activation of synaptic glutamate receptors can induce a lasting change in the number or subunit composition of synaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs). However, NMDA receptors that are present extrasynaptically can also be activated by a burst of presynaptic activity, and thus may be involved in the induction of synaptic plasticity. Here we show that the physiological-like activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs induces a lasting change in the synaptic current, by changing the subunit composition of AMPARs at the parallel fibre-to-cerebellar stellate cell synapse. This extrasynaptic NMDAR-induced switch in synaptic AMPARs from GluR2-lacking (Ca2+-permeable) to GluR2-containing (Ca2+-impermeable) receptors requires the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). These results indicate that the activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs by glutamate spillover is an important mechanism that detects the pattern of afferent activity and subsequently exerts a remote regulation of AMPAR subtypes at the synapse via a PKC-dependent pathway.
End-of-life care in black and white: race matters for medical care of dying patients and their families.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the end-of-life medical care experienced by African-American and white decedents and their families. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, retrospective survey with weighted results based on a two-stage probability sampling design. SETTING: Hospitals, nursing homes, and home-based medical services across the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Surrogates (N = 1,447; primarily family members) for decedents from 22 states. MEASUREMENTS: Validated end-of-life care outcomes concerning symptom management, decision-making, informing and supporting families, individualized care, coordination, service utilization, and financial impact. RESULTS: Family members of African-American decedents were less likely than those of white decedents to rate the care received as excellent or very good (odds ratio (OR) = 0.4). They were more likely to report absent (OR = 2.4) or problematic (OR = 1.9) physician communication, concerns with being informed (OR =2.5), and concerns with family support (OR= 2.6). Family members of African Americans were less likely than those of whites to report that the decedent had treatment wishes (OR = 0.3) or written advance care planning documents (OR = 0.4). These differences persist when limiting the sample to respondents whose expectations for life-sustaining treatments matched treatments received. Family members of African-American decedents also were more likely to report financial hardship due to savings depletion (OR = 2.1) or difficulty paying for care (OR = 2.0) and that family/friends (OR = 2.0) or home health workers (OR = 1.9) provided home care. CONCLUSION: This national study brings evidence that racial disparities persist into end-of-life care, particularly regarding communication and family needs. Results also suggest different home care patterns and levels of financial impact.
Revealing and mediating young children's memory and social cognition through digital photo journals

This study examines children's construction of digital photo journals and how this activity both mediates and reveals basic characteristics of their memory and social cognitive development. Twenty-one k/1st students created photo journals using a digital camera and iPhoto software. When children talked about their pictures and created captions for their journals, they demonstrated different kinds of autobiographical memory, as well as revealing gender-specific social views. First-graders showed greater awareness of their own memory capability (metamemory) in talking about their pictures than kindergarteners. Digital images seemed to present a relatively immediate yet imperfect or incomplete reminder that encouraged children's elaboration. Besides the process of journal construction, the contents of children's journals also reveal aspects of memory and social cognition that expand our existing knowledge in these areas.
Lung function in different ethnic groups in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)

Background: Few studies describe the progression of lung function (LF) in children with PCD but little is known about the evolution in different ethnic groups. Aims and objectives: We investigated whether any differences existed in LF in children with PCD from different ethnic backgrounds. Methods: This is an observational, single-tertiary-centre study describing the progression of FEV 1 , FVC, and MMEF 25-75 over a period of 9 years in children with PCD. Data was collected from a database and patient records. Lung function was described as increasing, stable or decreasing based on 10% change over time. Results: 15 boys and 8 girls- 8 Caucasians (C) and 15 Asians/Africans (A) with PCD were followed up. Out of 18 children who could perform LF, 2 Asian siblings with ciliary aplasia were excluded. 95 LF measurements (39 C / 56 A) were reliably evaluated from age seven. The baseline mean (range) FEV 1 % predicted was higher in C-group at 116 (112-120) than in the A-group 72 (64-100) at age 7. By 14 years, this dropped more than 10% in the C-group [78 (60-95)] and was lower but remained steady in the A-group [74 (64-78)]. FVC followed a similar trend. The MMEF 25-75 values dropped steadily to about 50% in both groups by 14 years. Conclusions: Our study suggests differences in the progression of lung function between ethnic groups in children with PCD. The small airways function steadily declines in all patients. By adolescence lung function is comparable across the ethnic groups. Larger prospective study is needed to evaluate whether these differences are related to any genetic, environmental or cultural factors.
Utility of near infrared spectroscopy for the screening of the growth restricted fetus

A myriad of factors have been linked to increased risk for intrauterine growth restriction and the associated complications; the majority of which are based on observational statistics of demographics, socioeconomics and patient history. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of factors available that can appropriately address the underlying anatomy and physiology responsible for intrauterine growth restriction. To this point, it becomes necessary to use data acquisition modalities capable of addressing both the etiology and pathology in an effort to improve clinical management strategies. Near-infrared spectroscopy, although not traditionally used in standard, clinical screening has proven valuable for risk assessment in a number of recent investigational studies. Simulations based on the current literature are presented to assess near infrared spectroscopy utility regarding the ability to distinguish between the normal fetus and the growth restricted fetus. Findings are presented for all simulated data as well as the equipment-specific data derived from the NIRO-100 system (Hamamatsu Photonics, Hamamatsu, Japan). Results suggest an overall sensitivity and specificity on the order of 62% and 58%, respectively, and NIRO-100 sensitivity and specificity on the order of 85% and 92%, respectively.
Financial Education for College Students

The financial decisions that college students make during college have an important influence on their quality of life both during and after college. While there is general agreement that many students are not prepared for the decisions they will face, there is less agreement about whether financial education should be general and comprehensive or targeted and need-specific, what constitutes financially literate students and how to assess their literacy, and effective ways to deliver financial education. This chapter discusses previous research in each of these areas, describes the results of a survey on these topics, and concludes with directions for the future.
Digital media and entertainment service delivery platform

The emergence of broadband networks, for mobile and fixed environments, has stimulated the multimedia market for the delivery of enriched digital media and entertainment services. A key problem for institutions attempting to capitalize on these new channels for service delivery is a capability to deploy many multimedia services rapidly and cost effectively. The naive technique is to deploy such solutions independently as so called point solutions. The strategic approach is the development of an environment that acts as a service delivery platform for a range digital media and entertainment services. We present our reference architecture that enables the delivery of multiple digital media and entertainment services in fixed and mobile broadband networked environments. This may be for a telecom operator or a virtual network operator. A fundamental characteristic of our architecture is the capability to deliver multiple services with observed reductions in elapsed effort to bring these services online; with a concomitant reduction in cost and speed to market. The architecture is based upon several experiences globally, is refined further here, and presented as a blueprint.
Acute inflammation with induction of anaphylatoxin C5a and terminal complement complex C5b-9 associated with multiple intra-articular injections of hylan G-F 20: a case report.

Summary Objective The purpose of this case report was to investigate local immune mechanisms present during an acute inflammatory flare initiated by viscosupplementation with hylan G-F 20 in a patient with osteoarthritis (OA) and past meniscectomy. Experimental design A patient with a history of bilateral OA and partial left knee meniscectomy, who had received three injections of hylan G-F 20, was diagnosed with an acute flare reaction in the left knee. Her chart was evaluated for clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings and for clinical follow-up. Histopathological synovial examination and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for genes with major roles in local inflammation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for markers of complement activation and cytokines were performed. To study the impact of the inflammatory and immune features we compared the case patient with groups of three representative OA and three rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Results The patient exhibited evidence of highly increased acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. The pathological examination of the synovial membrane identified abundant fibrinous exudate with numerous particles of hyaluronan surrounded by a dense infiltrate of neutrophils and eosinophils. The synovium had moderate hypertrophy and sclerosis as well as an inflammatory infiltrate predominantly composed of T lymphocytes and macrophages with scattered perivascular eosinophils and neutrophils. Immunoperoxidase staining identified numerous deposits of C5b-9 in the fibrinous exudates and the synovial membrane of the patient. Similar findings were observed in the RA patients, whereas deposits were rare in OA synovial samples. In addition, both anaphylatoxin C5a and the terminal complement complex C5b-9 were present at high levels, comparable to those in RA patients. The levels of mRNA for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and the neutrophil marker myeloperoxidase (MPO) were markedly increased compared to those in the RA and OA patients. Conclusions This present study is indicative of a pseudo-septic acute inflammatory reaction in response to local accumulation of hylan G-F 20 with the activation of complement and local invasion of pro-inflammatory cells.
The Meaning of Persistence

(1938). The Meaning of Persistence. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 79-96.
Impact of early root competition on fitness components of four semiarid species

Plant demographic and root exclusion approaches were used to examine the influence of roots of adult Artemisia tridentata, Agropyron desertorum, and Agropyron spicatum individuals on seedling survival of four C3 semiarid species, three perennials, Ar. tridentata, Ag. desertorum, Ag. spicatum, and an annual, Bromus tectorum. Furthermore, height of Ar. tridentata seedlings and seed production of B. tectorum were assessed. The probability of a seedling being alive significantly depended on the seedling species, the neighboring adult species, and on the depth to which root competition was excluded. As seedlings, survival of Agropyron species did not differ, whereas survival of Ar. tridentata seedlings was higher than Ag. desertorum and was similar to Ag. spicatum. Bromus tectorum maintained significantly higher survival rates than perennial seedlings. Established individuals of Ar. tridentata reduced seedling survival more than established individuals of either Agropyron species. Seedling survival significantly increased with greater depth of root exclusion for the perennials but did not significantly affect seedling survival of B. tectorum. Height of Ar. tridentata seedlings and seed production of B. tectorum significantly increased with depth of root exclusion. Seed production of B. tectorum was highest when competing with Ag. desertorum and was lowest with Ar. tridentata. Root competition decreased the seed population of B. tectorum in the next generation even though it had no impact on survival. Competition in the upper soil horizon occurs between seedlings and established adults early in the growing season and potentially restricts root growth of seedlings. In arid and semiarid ecosystems, soil moisture is depleted from the upper horizons first, resulting in the death of seedlings that do not have access to moisture.
Postgame Analysis: Using Video-Based Coaching for Continuous Professional Development

Background The surgical learning curve persists for years after training, yet existing continuing medical education activities targeting this are limited. We describe a pilot study of a scalable video-based intervention, providing individualized feedback on intraoperative performance. Study Design Four complex operations performed by surgeons of varying experience—a chief resident accompanied by the operating senior surgeon, a surgeon with less than 10 years in practice, another with 20 to 30 years in practice, and a surgeon with more than 30 years of experience—were video recorded. Video playback formed the basis of 1-hour coaching sessions with a peer-judged surgical expert. These sessions were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically coded. Results The sessions focused on operative technique—both technical aspects and decision-making. With increasing seniority, more discussion was devoted to the optimization of teaching and facilitation of the resident's technical performance. Coaching sessions with senior surgeons were peer-to-peer interactions, with each discussing his preferred approach. The coach alternated between directing the session (asking probing questions) and responding to specific questions brought by the surgeons, depending on learning style. At all experience levels, video review proved valuable in identifying episodes of failure to progress and troubleshooting alternative approaches. All agreed this tool is a powerful one. Inclusion of trainees seems most appropriate when coaching senior surgeons; it may restrict the dialogue of more junior attendings. Conclusions Video-based coaching is an educational modality that targets intraoperative judgment, technique, and teaching. Surgeons of all levels found it highly instructive. This may provide a practical, much needed approach for continuous professional development.
Alcohol-induced inhibition of cocaine metabolism and the formation of cocaethylene in neonatal rats.

Abstract Due to the significant species differences in the timing of different stages of brain development, to study the effects of drugs during the period equivalent to the third trimester in humans it is necessary to administer the drugs to neonatal rats, rather than in utero. In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetic interactions between alcohol and cocaine. Such information is critical in understanding the roles of alcohol and cocaine in mediating neuroteratogenesis. Sprague–Dawley rat pups (10 days old) were given IP injections of alcohol (3.3 or 5.0 g/kg) and/or cocaine (40 mg/kg). At 20, 60, or 100 min (60 and 100 min for 3.3 g/kg alcohol only) after injections, 20 μl of tail blood was collected for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) determination. Immediately after tail blood collection, blood was collected and pooled for determinations of blood cocaine (BCC), benzoylecgonine (BBC), and cocaethylene concentration (BCEC). The slopes of the ascending BAC curves were unaffected in the presence of cocaine. BCC levels declined significantly as a function of time after the peak level at 20 min postinjection time. BCC levels were unchanged in pups receiving 3.3 g/kg alcohol, but the levels were significantly higher in 5.0 g/kg pups 20 min after injections. BBC concentrations were reduced to nearly 50% in the presence of alcohol (both doses) 20 min after injections. BCEC was detected at all time points when both alcohol and cocaine were injected. Taken together, these findings indicated that the enzymatic systems involved in converting cocaine to cocaethylene were functional at an early postnatal age, and the metabolism of cocaine was affected by the presence of alcohol in neonatal rats.
Trends in Observation‐prone Emergency Department Visits Among Michigan Children, 2007–2011

Objectives To the best of the authors’ knowledge, admission of children under observation status in community hospitals has not been examined. The hypothesis of this study was that there has been an increase in observation charge code use over time and variations in the application of observation charge codes across hospital types. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis of 5 years (2007 through 2011) of administrative claims data from Michigan residents enrolled in Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan preferred provider organization, and Blue Cross Network health maintenance organization compiled into a single data set. Emergency department (ED) visits to facilities in Michigan made by children (younger than 18 years) were selected. Observation-prone ED visits were identified based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Counts of observation-prone ED visits were determined and descriptive statistics were calculated. Changes over time in the proportion of visits with observation charge codes by hospital type were assessed with chi-square analysis. Results The observation-prone ICD-9-CM codes were identified in 881,622 ED visits made by children to 142 Michigan facilities during the 5-year study period. Overall, the vast majority of visits (n = 646,499; 91.0%) with the selected ICD-9-CM codes resulted in discharge from the ED without associated observation or inpatient charge codes. Among the 64,288 visits that resulted in admission for observation or inpatient care, observation charge codes without inpatient charge codes were applied to 22,933 (35.7%) admissions, observation and inpatient charge codes were applied to 4,756 (7.4%) admissions, and inpatient charge codes without observation charge codes were applied to 36,599 (56.9%) admissions. Hospitals with pediatric ED and inpatient services (Type 1 and Type 2 hospitals) had higher proportions of ED visits that went on to admission for observation or inpatient care (15.9 and 10.7%) than hospitals without pediatric ED services (Type 3 and Type 4 hospitals; 7.2 and 3.7%). The proportion of admissions that had observation charge codes for all hospital types increased over time, most prominently among Type 1 and Type 2 hospitals. Conclusions The application of observation charge codes to Michigan children with observation-prone conditions has increased over time across all hospital types. There is a need to evaluate pediatric observation care in diverse settings to compare the effectiveness of different models.
INFLUENCE OF TESTOSTERONE ON DISTRIBUTION AND EXCRETION OF CREATINE

HTE RELATIONSHIP existing between the testicular hormone and creatine me tabolism, ormore especially creatinuria, has been studied by a number of in vestigators (1–5). Most recently the papers by Beard and collaborators (6, 7, 8) have sought to elucidate the mechanism of this relationship. They consider that testosterone will cause a partial reconversion of creatinine into creatine in vivo, and that injected creatine is not directly converted to creatinine. Thus far the work in this field has been concerned chiefly with the effects pro duced by testicularhormones or extracts on the urinary level of creatinine and creatine. Although these results tell a valid story, we believe that a more fundamental picture of this relationship can be obtainedby considering at the same time with the urine the blood and muscular levels of creatine and creatinine.