cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride is not associated with alterations in sleep spindles in men referred for polysomnography

Objective Endogenous neurosteroids that potentiate the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor are thought to enhance the generation of sleep spindles. This study tested the hypothesis that the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride, an agent associated with reductions in neurosteroids, would be associated with reduced sleep spindles in men referred for polysomnography. Methods Spectral analysis and spindle waveform detection were performed on electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep data in the 11–16 Hz sigma band, as well as several subranges, from 27 men taking finasteride and 27 matched comparison patients (ages 18 to 81 years). Results No significant differences between groups were observed for spectral power or sleep spindle morphology measures, including spindle density, amplitude, duration, and integrated spindle activity. Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, these findings demonstrate that finasteride is not associated with alterations in sleep spindle range activity or spindle morphology parameters. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real-Time Attitude-Independent Gyro Calibration from Three-Axis Magnetometer Measurements

A new real-time approach for gyro bias calibration using three-axis magnetometer measurements without any attitude knowledge is derived. This approach relies on a conversion of the three-axis magnetometer measurement and its derivative into an attitudeindependent formulation. The goal is to use a calibrated three-axis magnetometer to determine the gyro biases before attitude information is available, which is often the case during orbit injection. Real-time algorithms are derived based on the Unscented filter, which is more robust to initial errors than an extended Kalman filter. The new formulation is tested with realistically simulated data based on the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission spacecraft. Simulation results indicate that accurate gyro bias calibration is possible.
Can Neuromuscular Strength and Function in People With Dementia Be Rehabilitated Using Resistance-Exercise Training? Results From a Preliminary Intervention Study

BACKGROUND Neuromuscular weakness is a prominent symptom among people with central nervous system disorders, such as dementia, typically leading to disability in activities of daily life. We sought to evaluate the potential of resistance exercise to improve neuromuscular strength and function in the lower extremities among community-dwelling people with dementia. METHODS Twenty-eight subjects, aged 70-88 years and with an average Mini-Mental State Examination score of 17.8 +/- 7.2, were recruited from a population of adult daycare facility users. Subjects underwent pre- and postintervention assessment of strength and physical function consisting of determination of bilateral maximum strength of the knee extensor, hip flexor, dorsiflexor muscles, and handgrip; and evaluation of lower-extremity function based on repeated chair stands and gait speed. The intervention consisted of moderate-intensity progressive resistance training of the hip extensors, abductors, knee extensors and flexors, and dorsiflexors using the Theraband resistance system for up to 3 days weekly over a 6-week period. RESULTS Subjects completed an average of 11.4 +/- 2.5 exercise sessions. Among those who exercised at least twice per week (> or = 12), they improved an average of 15.6% in quadriceps strength, 10.1% in handgrip strength, 22.2% in sit-to-stand (STS) time, 9.9% in usual gait time, 5.4% in fast gait time (p =.03), and 14.0% in the timed-up-and-go (TUG) test. CONCLUSIONS Subjects demonstrated improvements in some areas of muscular capacity (quadriceps and handgrip) and most tests of lower-extremity function (STS, gait, TUG), yet declines in other areas (dorsiflexion and iliopsoas strength). Although strength or functional deficits in all domains were not remediable, these results suggest the potential of a resistance-exercise intervention of longer duration and/or greater intensity to produce beneficial effects on the neuromuscular functioning of people with dementia.
Finite difference time-domain calculation of transients in antennas with nonlinear loads

Transient currents for an antenna with a nonlinear load are calculated using finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) methods. The FDTD electric field across the nonlinear load (which determines the voltage across the load) is calculated by solving a nonlinear equation at each time step. This allows the time step to be at the Courant limit, and is more efficient than reducing the time step size in all the FDTD cells to maintain stability in just the cell containing the nonlinear load. The stability of this approach relative to a simpler approach of approximating the diode as a variable resistor is demonstrated. As a validation of the method the transient current in a long dipole antenna with a nonlinear load excited by a pulsed plane wave is computed and compared with calculated results obtained by another method. The approach given here extends the applicability of the FDTD method to problems involving radiation and scattering from antennas including nonlinear loads. >
Performance Evaluation of a Deployed WiMAX System Operating in the 4.9GHz Public Safety Band

This paper presents an evaluation of a deployed WiMAX system operating in the 4.9GHz Public Safety Band in the City of Tulsa. The study includes propagation analysis for the coverage and network performance tests to demonstrate the viability of a WiMAX system as a medium for public safety. We considered existing propagation models in the UHF band (300 MHz to 3 GHz) to be applied to 4.9 GHz and compared the characteristics predicted by the models with the measured data. The results show that of the three models presented, the Cost-231 Hata Model best predicts the characteristics of the deployed WiMAX system. Network performance tests were also conducted to measure the throughput of the system at various adaptive modulation rates.
Macroscopic Superposition of Ultracold Atoms with Orbital Degrees of Freedom

We introduce higher dimensions into the problem of Bose-Einstein condensates in a double-well potential, taking into account orbital angular momentum. We completely characterize the eigenstates of this system, delineating new regimes via both analytical high-order perturbation theory and numerical exact diagonalization. Among these regimes are mixed Josephson- and Fock-like behavior, crossings in both excited and ground states, and shadows of macroscopic superposition states.
Cloud optical thickness feedbacks in the CO2 climate problem

A radiative-convective equilibrium model is developed and applied to study cloud optical thickness feedbacks in the CO2 climate problem. The basic hypothesis is that in the warmer and moister CO2-rich atmosphere, cloud liquid water content will generally be larger too. For clouds other than thin cirrus the result is to increase the albedo more than to increase the greenhouse effect. Thus, the sign of the feedback is negative: cloud optical properties act as a thermostat and alter in such a way as to reduce the surface and tropospheric warming caused by the addition of CO2. This negative feedback can be substantial. When observational estimates of the temperature dependence of cloud liquid water content are employed in the model, the surface temperature change caused by doubling CO2 is reduced by about one half. This result is obtained for global and annual average conditions, no change in cloud amount or altitude, and constant relative humidity. These idealizations, together with other simplifications typical of one-dimensional radiative-convective climate models, render the result tentative. Further study of cloud optical property feedbacks is warranted, however, because the climate is apparently so sensitive to them.
The cardiovascular toll of stress

Psychological stress elicits measurable changes in sympathetic-parasympathetic balance and the tone of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which might negatively affect the cardiovascular system both acutely-by precipitating myocardial infarction, left-ventricular dysfunction, or dysrhythmia; and chronically-by accelerating the atherosclerotic process. We provide an overview of the association between stress and cardiovascular morbidity, discuss the mechanisms for this association, and address possible therapeutic implications.
Symposium on cooperative collection development: a report

Abstract The University of Minnesota Libraries — Twin Cities Campus and MINITEX sponsored a Symposium on Cooperative Collection Development: Planning, Funding, Practice, and Public Policy on May 15, 1995. The symposium was attended by over 100 people, mainly from the upper Midwest. Four speakers addressed the topics, supplemented by a panel of University of Minnesota faculty members.
Diacylglycerol kinase regulation of protein kinase D during oxidative stress-induced intestinal cell injury

Abstract We recently demonstrated that protein kinase D (PKD) exerts a protective function during oxidative stress-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury; however, the exact role of DAG kinase (DGK)ζ, an isoform expressed in intestine, during this process is unknown. We sought to determine the role of DGK during oxidative stress-induced intestinal cell injury and whether DGK acts as an upstream regulator of PKD. Inhibition of DGK with R59022 compound or DGKζ siRNA transfection decreased H 2 O 2 -induced RIE-1 cell apoptosis as measured by DNA fragmentation and increased PKD phosphorylation. Overexpression of kinase-dead DGKζ also significantly increased PKD phosphorylation. Additionally, endogenous nuclear DGKζ rapidly translocated to the cytoplasm following H 2 O 2 treatment. Our findings demonstrate that DGK is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress-induced intestinal cell injury. PKD activation is induced by DGKζ, suggesting DGK is an upstream regulator of oxidative stress-induced activation of the PKD signaling pathway in intestinal epithelial cells.
Using Technology to Support Visual Learning Strategies

Visual learning is a strategy for visually representing the structure of information and for representing the ways in which concepts are related. Based on the work of Ausubel, these hierarchical ma...
Human Skeletal Muscle Fiber Type Classifications

Human skeletal muscle is composed of a heterogenous collection of muscle fiber types.1–3 This range of muscle fiber types allows for the wide variety of capabilities that human muscles display. In addition, muscle fibers can adapt to changing demands by changing size or fiber type composition. This plasticity serves as the physiologic basis for numerous physical therapy interventions designed to increase a patient's force development or endurance. Changes in fiber type composition also may be partially responsible for some of the impairments and disabilities seen in patients who are deconditioned because of prolonged inactivity, limb immobilization, or muscle denervation.2 Over the past several decades, the number of techniques available for classifying muscle fibers has increased, resulting in several classification systems. The objective of this update is to provide the basic knowledge necessary to read and interpret research on human skeletal muscle. Muscle fiber types can be described using histochemical, biochemical, morphological, or physiologic characteristics; however, classifications of muscle fibers by different techniques do not always agree.1 Therefore, muscle fibers that may be grouped together by one classification technique may be placed in different categories using a different classification technique. A basic understanding of muscle structure and physiology is necessary to understand the muscle fiber classification techniques. Muscle fibers are composed of functional units called sarcomeres.3 Within each sarcomere are the myofibrillar proteins myosin (the thick filament) and actin (the thin filament). The interaction of these 2 myofibrillar proteins allows muscles to contract (Fig. 1).4 Several classification techniques differentiate fibers based on different myosin structures (isoforms) or physiologic capabilities.1,2,5 The myosin molecule is composed of 6 polypeptides: 2 heavy chains and 4 light chains (2 regulatory and 2 alkali). A regulatory and an alkali light chain are associated …
The Age of Milton Friedman

Between 1980 and 2005, as the world embraced free market policies, living standards rose sharply, while life expectancy, educational attainment, and democracy improved and absolute poverty declined. Is this a coincidence? A collection of essays edited by Balcerowicz and Fischer argues that indeed reliance on free market forces is key to economic growth. A book by Stiglitz and others disagrees. I review and compare the two arguments.
ON cone bipolar cells in rat express the metabotropic receptor mGluR6

The rod bipolar cell and about five types of ON cone bipolar cells depolarize to light by employing a sign-reversing metabotropic glutamate receptor. Glutamate responses are similar in both rod bipolar and cone bipolar cells, but the receptor mediating this response (mGluR6) was so far demonstrated only in rod bipolar cells. To test if ON cone bipolar cells also express mGluR6, we immunoreacted rat retina with an antibody specific for mGluR6, and studied the staining from serial ultrathin sections. We demonstrate that mGluR6 is indeed expressed in the dendritic tips of cone bipolar cells, the majority of which receive a ribbon synapse, and thus probably are ON cone bipolar cells. We further show that half of the dendritic tips contacting the cones stain for mGluR6, thus implying that all ON cone bipolar cell types express mGluR6.
The First Wave: Concession Bargaining in the 1980s

During the first wave of concession bargaining, occurring in the 1980s, employers were reacting to the pressures of global competition, domestic nonunion competition, and deregulation by insisting that unions lower labor costs. New collective agreements frequently had wage cuts or freezes, changes in work rules, and reduced pensions. Concession bargaining became widespread in the airlines (among the older, legacy carriers losing in their competitive battles with the low-cost carriers) and in domestic auto making, and then spread to other industrial sectors. The first wave of concession bargaining eroded the foundations of the labor accord (the accommodation underlying the relationship between unions and employers), freeing employers to incite the ultra-concession bargaining that would appear around the turn of the next century.
Statistical Theory of Instabilities in Stationary Nonequilibrium Systems with Applications to Lasers and Nonlinear Optics

The transition of a macroscopic system from a disordered, chaotic state to an ordered more regular state is a very general phenomenon as is testified by the abundance of highly ordered macroscopic systems in nature. These transitions are of special interest, if the change in order is structural, i.e. connected with a change in the symmetry of the system’s state.
Early Ofatumumab Treatment For High-Risk, Treatment-Naive Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Background Ofatumumab is a human IgG1-kappa monoclonal antibody that binds to CD20 on normal B cells and on B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, resulting in B cell lysis. Ofatumumab has single-agent activity in patients (pts) with refractory CLL (Wierda, JCO 2010). Pts with CLL who have early stage disease (Rai 0-II) but have high-risk prognostic markers such as deletion 17p or deletion 11q have an increased risk of disease progression. Currently, these pts are offered watch-and-wait approach. The objective of this Phase II study is to evaluate the efficacy of ofatumumab in treating these pts with the goal to delay time to first chemoimmunotherapy treatment. Methods Pts with CLL/SLL were eligible provided they had high-risk for progression based on the presence of at least one of the following features: Rai stage II, serum beta-2 microglobulin (β2M) ≥3 mg/L, absolute lymphocyte count ≥25,000/µL, unmutated (≤2%) IGHV gene or mutated IGHV3-21, ZAP70 positive, CD38 positive (≥ 30%), or 11q or 17p deletion by FISH. Pts having a 2008 IWCLL/NCI-WG indication for CLL treatment were not eligible. Pts with Rai stage III-IV CLL were not eligible. Ofatumumab 300 mg dose 1, then 1000 mg weekly for 7 additional weeks (8 doses) was administered. Response assessment, including bone marrow evaluation, was done at least 2 months after last dose of ofatumumab and pts were followed for progression-free survival and time to first chemoimmunotherapy. Results Twenty-five pts (9 women, 16 men) were enrolled so far. The median age was 59 yrs (range, 40-81). The baseline characteristics are listed in the Table. Fifty percent of pts had unmutated IGHV gene. Thirty-four percent of pts had high-risk cytogenetic by FISH analysis. The median follow-up on the study is 4.7 months (range, 0.5-26). Grade 3-4 adverse events included infusion reaction in 6 pts. Autoimmune hepatitis with grade 4 ALT, grade 4 AST, and grade 4 alkaline phosphatase elevations was seen in 1 pt. Other grade 3-4 toxicities included rash (1 pt), shingles (1 pt), and tumor lysis (1 pt). Tumor lysis was seen in the pt with the WBC count of 207 K/µL. Eighteen pts (7 too early) are evaluable for response. Responses are as follows: 6 CR, 3 nPR, 3 PR, and 6 with stable disease. Three pts have progressed at 18.8, 14.1 and 3.2 months after starting the study treatment; 2 pts had unmutated IGHV gene (FISH negative) and one pt had trisomy 12 ( IGHV mutation status unknown). None of the pts with deletion 17p or deletion 11q have progressed. All pts are alive at this time. The median overall follow up time is 7.6 months (range, 1-28). Conclusions Ofatumumab is well tolerated in pts with early stage CLL and may delay time to first chemoimmunotherapy. View this table: Disclosures: Ferrajoli: GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding.
THE FUTURE OF PRICE: Communicative Infrastructures and the Financialization of Indian Tea

For more than 150 years, most tea grown on plantations in northeast India has been sold in open-outcry auctions in Kolkata. In this essay, I describe how, in 2009, the Tea Board of India, the government regulator of the tea trade, began to convert auctioning from a face-to-face outcry process to a face-to-computer digital one. The Tea Board hoped that with the implementation of digital technologies, trade would soon revolve around the buying and selling of futures contracts, not individual lots of tea. Despite these efforts, the tea industry has thus far resisted all attempts at financialization. That so prominent a commodity as tea has yet to be financialized provides a unique opportunity to examine the how of financialization—the governmental and technical steps that precede futures and other kinds of derivatives markets. Futures markets rely on a standardized notion of price and of the material things being priced. The story of Indian tea’s resistance to financialization shows how such standardization requires not just a disentangling of commodities at the level of productive infrastructure (that is, the separation of individual trader and thing being traded) but also a reworking of the communicative infrastructure of trading. In this essay, I analyze this reworking by examining the effort to reform how tea is priced at auction. Specifically, I describe a transition in tea valuation from socially embedded price stories to standardized price scenarios.
An Extremal Property of Plane Convex Curves—P. Ungar’s Conjecture

Let L be a simple closed, rectifiable, plane curve of perimeter 4p. Using a continuity argument, one can prove that there exist on L four consecutive points, A, A′, B, and B′ which divide the perimeter in four equal parts while the segments AB and A′B′ are orthogonal. In March 1956, according to my recollection, Peter Ungar of CIMS (then the NYU Institute for Mathematics and Mechanics) conjectured, while studying properties of quasiconformal mappings, that: If L is convex, then $$ \overline {AB} \; + \;\overline {A\prime B\prime } \; \ge \;{\rm{2}}p, $$ with equality iff L is a rectangle.
Erratum to: Impact of varied center volume categories on volume-outcome relationship in children receiving ECMO for heart operations.

To study the volume–outcome relationship among children receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), different studies from different databases use different volume categories. The objective of this study was to evaluate if different center volume categories impact the volume–outcome relationship among children receiving ECMO for heart operations. We performed a post hoc analysis of data from an existing national database, the Pediatric Health Information System. Centers were classified into five different volume categories using different cut-offs and different variables. Mortality rates were compared between the varied volume categories using a mixed effects logistic regression model after adjusting for patient- and center-level risk factors. Data collection included demographic information, baseline characteristics, pre-ECMO risk factors, operation details, patient diagnoses, and center data. In unadjusted analysis, there was a significant relationship between center volume and mortality, with low-and medium-volume centers associated with higher mortality rates compared to high-volume centers in all volume categories, except the hierarchical clustering volume category. In contrast, there was no significant association between center-volume and mortality among all volume categories in adjusted analysis. We concluded that high-volume centers were not associated with improved outcomes for the majority of the categorization schemes despite using different cut-offs and different variables for volume categorization.
An Inversion-Free Estimating Equations Approach for Gaussian Process Models

ABSTRACTOne of the scalability bottlenecks for the large-scale usage of Gaussian processes is the computation of the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters of the covariance matrix. The classical approach requires a Cholesky factorization of the dense covariance matrix for each optimization iteration. In this work, we present an estimating equations approach for the parameters of zero-mean Gaussian processes. The distinguishing feature of this approach is that no linear system needs to be solved with the covariance matrix. Our approach requires solving an optimization problem for which the main computational expense for the calculation of its objective and gradient is the evaluation of traces of products of the covariance matrix with itself and with its derivatives. For many problems, this is an O(nlog n) effort, and it is always no larger than O(n2). We prove that when the covariance matrix has a bounded condition number, our approach has the same convergence rate as does maximum likelihood in th...
Failure Problems In Composites

Fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites have become very useful in chemical processing systems, in transportation applications such as automobiles, aircraft and boats, in electrical hardware and in sports equipment. Failures in these rarely involve gross cohesive fracture; usually leaks develop, the stiffness decreases, local delamination occurs, the dielectric properties degrade or the strength declines. Almost all of these failures can be traced to local cracking, either at the fiber matrix interface or within the matrix itself. The cracks are generated by mechanical loads, by thermal excursions or by fluid absorption, because the relevant properties of the fiber and the matrix often differ by orders of magnitude. Current technology attempts to avoid the cracks by maximizing the fiber-matrix adhesion and great progress has been made in this area. An alternative interposes a thin compliant layer, rubber, between the two constituents thereby reducing the stress concentrations which exist because of their greatly different properties. Cracking is inhibited, composite strength is increased and its energy absorption also rises; if the rubber layer is thin (a few thousand Angstroms) no loss of stiffness or heat resistance is evident.
Design and Testing of an EHR-Integrated, Busulfan Pharmacokinetic Decision Support Tool for the Point-of-Care Clinician

BACKGROUND: Busulfan demonstrates a narrow therapeutic index for which clinicians routinely employ therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). However, operationalizing TDM can be fraught with inefficiency. We developed and tested software encoding a clinical decision support tool (DST) that is embedded into our electronic health record (EHR) and designed to streamline the TDM process for our oncology partners. METHODS: Our development strategy was modeled based on the features associated with successful DSTs. An initial Requirements Analysis was performed to characterize tasks, information flow, user needs, and system requirements to enable push/pull from the EHR. Back-end development was coded based on the algorithm used when manually performing busulfan TDM. The code was independently validated in MATLAB using 10,000 simulated patient profiles. A 296-item heuristic checklist was used to guide design of the front-end user interface. Content experts and end-users (n=28) were recruited to participate in traditional usability testing under an IRB approved protocol. RESULTS: Decision support software was developed to systematically walk the point-of-care clinician through the TDM process. The system is accessed through the EHR which transparently imports all of the requisite patient data. Data are visually inspected and then curve fit using a model-dependent approach. Quantitative goodness-of-fit are converted to single tachometer where “green” alerts the user that the model is strong, “yellow” signals caution and “red” indicates that there may be a problem with the fitting. Override features are embedded to permit application of a model-independent approach where appropriate. Simulations are performed to target a desired exposure or dose as entered by the clinician and the DST pushes the user approved recommendation back into the EHR. Usability testers were highly satisfied with our DST and quickly became proficient with the software. CONCLUSIONS: With early and broad stake-holder engagement we developed a clinical DST for the non-pharmacologist. This tools affords our clinicians the ability to seamlessly transition from patient assessment, to pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation, and subsequent prescription order entry.
Effect of Date of Hatch on Egg Weight

Abstract ON COMMERCIAL poultry farms during recent years there has been an increase in the production of laying pullets hatched out of the normal season. General observations on New Jersey farms have indicated that fall-hatched pullets tend to produce more small eggs than do spring-hatched pullets. Various explanations have been suggested, including the claim that fall-hatched pullets are deficient in body weight, or that in particular instances the inherited ability to produce large eggs was lacking. In view of the fact that Bennion and Warren (1933) have shown that high temperatures tend to reduce egg weight, it is more logical to assume that fall-hatched pullets produce more small eggs than do spring-hatched pullets because of the difference in temperature prevailing in New Jersey during the first few months of egg production of the spring and fall-hatched pullets. The above assumption explains satisfactorily why Card (1922) observed that 37.2 percent of the . . .
Combined Density Functional Theory and Kinetic Monte Carlo Study of Selective Oxidation of NH3 on Rutile RuO2(110) at Ambient Pressures

We have carried out combined density functional theory (DFT) and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations for ammonia oxidation on RuO2(110) using a database of 24 reaction processes (36 processes if reverse processes are counted separately) and compared the selectivity for reaction products under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and ambient pressures at selected temperatures. We find that in keeping with earlier experimental and theoretical findings NO selectivity is almost 100% above 600 K in UHV. However, this selectivity disappears for reactions at ambient pressures. We relate the lack of selectivity under ambient pressures to the propensity for NO to convert to N2O and to active recombination of Ncus + Ncus owing to the abundant supply of N species in ambient pressure as a result of active NHx decomposition by plenty of O species on the RuO2(110) surface.
Valence Hole Localization in Molecular Auger Decay

Studies of the unimolecular decay, following the excitation of core electrons of the carbon and fluorine atoms in carbon tetrafluoride and silicon and fluorine in silicon tetrafluoride by monochromatic, synchrotron radiation, provided evidence for a “valence bond depopulation” fragmentation mechanism. The fragmentation processes were examined using time-of flight mass spectroscopy. The mass spectra show the distribution of ions collected in coincidence with low and high energy electrons. Distinct changes in the mass spectra with atomic site of excitation and photon energy are observed. The observation of F2+ ions in the time-of-flight mass spectra following excitation of a fluorine is electron in SiF4 is significant because it provides direct evidence for the formation of a localized, two-hole, final valence state that persists on the time scale of fragmentation. In contrast, the lack of F2+ ions from CF4, indicates that the fragmentation occurs through a delocalized two-hole state.
Mitigating the Effects of Family Poverty on Early Child Development through Parenting Interventions in Primary Care

Poverty related disparities in early child development and school readiness are a major public health crisis, the prevention of which has emerged in recent years as a national priority. Interventions targeting parenting and the quality of the early home language environment are at the forefront of efforts to address these disparities. In this article we discuss the innovative use of the pediatric primary care platform as part of a comprehensive public health strategy to prevent adverse child development outcomes through the promotion of parenting. Models of interventions in the pediatric primary care setting are discussed with evidence of effectiveness reviewed. Taken together, a review of this significant body of work shows the tremendous potential to deliver evidence-based preventive interventions to families at risk for poverty related disparities in child development and school readiness at the time of pediatric primary care visits. We also addresss considerations related to scaling and maximizing the effect of pediatric primary care parenting interventions and provide key policy recommendations.
Instantaneous Ignition of Activated Carbon

The spontaneous ignition temperature as defined using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods may not accurately determine the temperature at which carbon will combust when a ...
Pilot study evaluating the efficacy, tolerance and safety of a peptide-based enteral formula versus a high protein enteral formula in multiple ICU settings (medical, surgical, cardiothoracic)

Summary Introduction Predigested, peptide-based enteral formulas are commonly used to promote GI tolerance in critically ill patients, but studies comparing these against polymeric enteral formulas are lacking. We performed a prospective, randomized clinical comparison pilot study to assess safety, tolerance and effectiveness of a peptide-based enteral product. Methods Critically ill patients from ICUs, including medical, surgical, and cardiothoracic, were randomized to either of two enteral feeding products: Group A: Peptide-based, high Protein, high omega-3 fat (Vital AF ® , Abbott Nutrition); Group B: high protein standard enteral formula (Osmolite ® , Abbott Nutrition). Tolerance and comorbidities as well as enteral feeding volume were collected at baseline and then daily for up to 21 days, or until the patient was discharged from the ICU. Results A total of 49 patients were included, 25 (51%) on group A, 24 (49%) on group B. Adverse events and undesired gastrointestinal events at baseline and mean intake (ml/d and percent of goal) post baseline were not different between the groups. There were significantly fewer days with adverse events (p = 0.0336, odds ratio = 3.02, standard error = 1.60, n = 24 per group) and undesired gastrointestinal events (p = 0.0489, odds ratio = 2.79, standard error = 1.48, n = 24 per group) in group A. There was no difference in other clinical outcomes. Conclusion This pilot study suggests that feeding a peptide-based formula to ICU patients may be associated with a statistically significant reduction in the number of days during which adverse events occurred as compared to a standard formula.
Effects of various types of cerium oxide nanoparticles on C. elegans healthspan

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (nanoceria) are potent antioxidants that are being explored as a potential therapeutic for oxidative stress diseases. Nanoceria catalytically neutralize multiple types of reactive oxygen species. However, both therapeutic and toxic effects of CeNPs have been reported1-3. We hypothesize that these disparate reports are due to small chemical differences in each type of particle arising from the synthetic process4. Due to its short lifespan and easily observable behaviors which serve as robust indicators of health, we used the nematode C. elegans to examine, in parallel, the effects of differing types of cerium oxide nanoparticles on animal healthspan. We fed the animals the different types of nanoceria and analyzed fertility, egg-laying, defecation, and thrashing behaviors. We also assessed the ability of the worm to withstand thermal stress (thermotolerance). None of the nanoparticles tested had any significant effects on the behaviors analyzed, suggesting that nanoceria are not toxic at the doses tested. Interesting, all of the nanoparticles significantly improved worm thermotolerance, suggesting that the nanoceria may be protective under stressful conditions. Future studies will further assess the ability of nanoceria to be protective in worm models of oxidative stress.
3.28 – Fluorescence Screening Assays

The rapid increase in compound libraries as well as new targets emerging from the Human Genome Project requires constant progress in pharmaceutical research. An important tool is high-throughput screening (HTS), which has evolved as an indispensable instrument in the pre-clinical target-to-IND (investigational new drug) discovery process. HTS requires equipment that is able to test more than 100 000 potential drug candidates per day with respect to a specific biological activity. This calls for particular experimental requirements, especially with respect to sensitivity, speed, and statistical accuracy, which are fulfilled by using fluorescence technology instrumentation. In particular, the recently developed family of fluorescence techniques known as fluorescence intensity distribution analysis, which is based on confocal single-molecule detection, has opened up a new field of HTS applications. This chapter describes the application of these new techniques as well as of common fluorescence techniques – such as confocal fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy – to high-throughput assay systems. It gives experimental examples, and presents the advantages and disadvantages of each method. In addition, the most common artifacts (autofluorescence or quenching by the drug candidates) emerging from the fluorescence detection techniques are highlighted, and correction methods for confocal fluorescence read-outs that are able to circumvent this deficiency are presented.
Plankton from Rocas Alijos

Calanoid copepod associations are reliable indicators of coastal, shelf, or oceanic water at a given locality. I present here observations of plankton collected at Rocas Alijos.
KD7150, a Novel Mercaptoketone-Based HDAC Inhibitor, Exerts Potent Anti-Multiple Myeloma Effects In Vitro and In Vivo by Induction of DNA Damage and Mitochondrial Signaling.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have emerged as a class of novel and promising anti-cancer agents and their activities are currently being investigated in both the pre-clinical and clinical settings. Using an unbiased, ultrahigh throughput screening system a novel mercaptoketone-based HDAC inhibitor KD5170 was identified. This novel non-hydroxamic acid non-benzamide compound was profiled for its anti-myeloma activity in vitro and in vivo . KD5170 inhibited the proliferation of multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and the viability of CD138+ primary MM cells by induction of apoptosis. This was accompanied by an increase of acetylation of histones and activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. Treatment with KD5170 caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential measured by JC-1 staining and resulted in release of apoptogenic factors such as cytochrome c, smac, and AIF from mitochondria. Furthermore, KD5170 induced oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage in myeloma cells, as evidenced by the upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 and H2A.X phosphorylation, respectively. Combination of KD5170 with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand synergistically enhanced the anti-myeloma activity. Resistance of MM cells to KD5170 was associated with activation of the ERK/MAPK pathway under treatment with KD5170. Pretreatment with the MAPK-inhibitor restored the sensitivity to KD5170, suggesting that the combination of KD5170 with a MAPK inhibitor (U0126) could overcome drug resistance. Growth of myeloma tumor xenografts in KD5170-treated nude mice was significantly inhibited (1401 mm 3 ± 596 versus 442 mm 3 ± 221; P = .009) and survival was prolonged (9 days and 17.5 days; P= .0095) compared to vehicle-treated mice. Accordingly, our in vivo data showed that histone acetylation was markedly upregulated in tela in spleen or tumor tissues of the animals treated with KD5170 as early as 2 hours. In conclusion, our data show that KD5170 has anti-myeloma activity in vitro and in vivo, mediated by the induction of apoptosis due to DNA damage and mitochondrial signaling.
Injuries of the Midfoot

Complete workup for midfoot injuries – Lisfranc injuries, navicular fractures, navicular dislocation, cuboid fractures, and crush injuries – includes evaluation of open versus closed injury, neurovascular compromise, compartment assessment, high versus low energy, intra-articular versus extra-articular, impaction at joint surface, and associated injuries.
cis-Decalin oxidation as a stereochemical probe of in-MOF versus on-MOF catalysis

Development of catalyst-controlled C–H hydroxylation could provide direct access to valuable synthetic targets, such as primary metabolites. Here, we report a new family of porous materials, comprised of 2-dimensional metalloporphyrin layers and flexible aliphatic linkers, and demonstrate C–H hydroxylation activity. We demonstrate that the stereochemistry of cis-decalin oxidation provides a useful tool for differentiating catalysis in from catalysis on porous materials, which is critical to leveraging the potential of porous materials for catalyst-controlled oxidation chemistry.
National survey describing and quantifying students with communication needs.

Purpose: Research literature has yet to quantify and describe how students with complex communication needs are supported in the classroom and how special educators are being prepared to offer supp...
Uranyl peroxide nanoclusters at high-pressure

U60 ([UO2(O2)(OH)]6060− in water) is a uranyl peroxide nanocluster with a fullerene topology and Oh symmetry. U60 clusters can exist in crystalline solids or in liquids; however, little is known of their behavior at high pressures. We compressed the U60-bearing material: Li68K12(OH)20[UO2(O2)(OH)]60(H2O)310 ( $Fm\bar 3$ ; a = 37.884 A) in a diamond anvil cell to determine its response to increasing pressure. Three length scales and corresponding structural features contribute to the compression response: uranyl peroxide bonds ( 3.7 nm). Li68K12(OH)20[UO2(O2)(OH)]60(H2O)310 transformed to a tetragonal structure below 2 GPa and irreversibly amorphized between 9.6 and 13 GPa. The bulk modulus of the tetragonal U60-bearing material was 25 ± 2 GPa. The pressure-induced amorphous phase contained intact U60 clusters, which were preserved beyond the loss of long-range periodicity. The persistence of U60 clusters at high pressure may have been enhanced by the interaction between U60 nanoclusters and the alcohol pressure medium. Once formed, U60 nanoclusters persist regardless of their associated long-range ordering—in crystals, amorphous solids, or solutions.
Truss-based community search: a truss-equivalence based indexing approach

We consider the community search problem defined upon a large graph G: given a query vertex q in G, to find as output all the densely connected subgraphs of G, each of which contains the query v. As an online, query-dependent variant of the well-known community detection problem, community search enables personalized community discovery that has found widely varying applications in real-world, large-scale graphs. In this paper, we study the community search problem in the truss-based model aimed at discovering all dense and cohesive k-truss communities to which the query vertex q belongs. We introduce a novel equivalence relation, k-truss equivalence, to model the intrinsic density and cohesiveness of edges in k-truss communities. Consequently, all the edges of G can be partitioned to a series of k-truss equivalence classes that constitute a space-efficient, truss-preserving index structure, EquiTruss. Community search can be henceforth addressed directly upon EquiTruss without repeated, time-demanding accesses to the original graph, G, which proves to be theoretically optimal. In addition, EquiTruss can be efficiently updated in a dynamic fashion when G evolves with edge insertion and deletion. Experimental studies in real-world, large-scale graphs validate the efficiency and effectiveness of EquiTruss, which has achieved at least an order of magnitude speedup in community search over the state-of-the-art method, TCP-Index.
Preoperative Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Non-cardiac Surgery

Traditionally, routine tests have been considered important elements of preanesthetic evaluation to determine fitness for surgery. Over the past three decades this practice has been scrutinized due to a low yield and high cost. In fact, routine tests such as complete blood count (CBC), chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), urinalysis, and electrolyte panel are of little value in detecting disease or changing management. Rather multiple investigations detect minor irrelevant abnormalities, increase patient risk, cause delay, and increases liability. Over the past three decades, many reviews and studies have confirmed these findings that routine testing does little or nothing to aid in effective preanesthetic assessment. Rather, postoperative complications were linked to higher ASA classification, longer duration of anesthesia, more complex surgery, and poor nutritional status.
Broadcast storm mitigation from unintentional misbehavior in vehicular ad hoc networks

Efficiently disseminating messages has been one of the most important issues in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), and various solutions have been proposed. In this paper we extend the weighted persistence broadcast mitigation technique adjusted to be used for the dense suburban scenario, and study the effects of vehicles’ unintentional misbehavior in that network. We present the results of our study, and suggest a mitigation technique using fail-safe status to handle unintentionally misbehaving vehicles for the scenarios based on the weighted persistence intelligent flooding.
Longitudinal Associations of Cigarette Prices With Smoking Cessation: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study.

Introduction Few studies have used longitudinal cohort data to examine associations of cigarette prices with smoking cessation or whether price sensitivity varies by income or education. This study examines these associations in a multicenter US cohort and explores whether associations vary by education and income. Methods Longitudinal data from baseline daily cigarette smokers aged 18-30 years in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study were linked to inflation-adjusted cigarette carton prices from the Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index based on residential address at baseline and in years 7, 10, and 15 (1985-2001). Multivariable Cox models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of first (any) smoking cessation and sustained smoking cessation (no relapse) associated with each $1 increase in time-dependent cigarette price over 15 years of follow-up. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic, health-related, and policy covariates. We assessed effect modification by education and household income. Results Among 1489 participants, a $1.00 higher cigarette carton price was associated with a 16% higher likelihood of first smoking cessation (HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.21) and an 8% higher likelihood of sustained smoking cessation (HR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.14). Associations were strongest among participants with lower income for first cessation, and among those with higher income for sustained cessation. Associations were strongest for participants with less than a high school degree for both outcomes. Conclusions Results suggest higher cigarette prices promote smoking cessation among young to middle-aged adults, and that price sensitivity may differ by socioeconomic status. Implications Few studies have examined longitudinal associations of cigarette prices with smoking cessation, and findings are mixed on whether price sensitivity varies by education or income. In a cohort of US adult daily smokers, cigarette prices were associated with greater likelihood of both a first cessation and sustained cessation. Price associations with first cessation were stronger among low-income smokers, but associations with sustained cessation were stronger among high-income smokers. Results suggest that although higher cigarette prices may promote short-term smoking cessation among smokers at all income levels, additional supports may be needed to facilitate sustained smoking cessation among low-income smokers.
Development of Domain Analysis for Determining Potential Pavement Damage

AbstractA new approach for quantifying flexible pavement damage potential is proposed. The new method, domain analysis, utilizes multiaxial results from advanced finite element models to calculate ...