cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rotavirus Causes Hepatic Transaminase Elevation

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis among children. While clinical complaints are generally intestinal including vomiting and diarrhea, there is evidence to suggest that disease outside the gastrointestinal tract occurs. This study examines the frequency of hepatic transaminase elevation in children with rotavirus gastroenteritis. Patients identified with rotavirus gastroenteritis by stool antigen testing between November 2005 and March 2006 had available serum analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and creatinine phoshosphokinase (CPK). Chart review was conducted to identify patients with possible liver injury unrelated to rotavirus. Among the 92 patients identified with rotavirus during the study period, 75 had serum specimens available for testing. Fifteen patients (20%) had elevated ALT and AST, including one patient with an increase in AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and total and direct bilirubin. The mean ALT elevation was 56 IU/L (range, 44 to 114 IU/L), and the mean AST elevation was 80 IU/L (range, 57 to 126 IU/L). Fifty-three patients (71%) had an increase in AST alone, and three patients (4%) had an increase in AST and alkaline phosphatase. The mean AST values in these groups were 61 IU/L (range, 42 to 110 IU/L) and 79 IU/L (range, 59 to 96 IU/L), respectively. In conclusion, rotavirus commonly causes elevation of liver transaminases.
Accuracy-Aware Uncertain Stream Databases

Previous work has introduced probability distributions as first-class components in uncertain stream database systems. A lacking element is the fact of how accurate these probability distributions are. This indeed has a profound impact on the accuracy of query results presented to end users. While there is some previous work that studies unreliable intermediate query results in the tuple uncertainty model, to the best of our know-ledge, we are the first to consider an uncertain stream database in which accuracy is taken into consideration all the way from the learned distributions based on raw data samples to the query results. We perform an initial study of various components in an accuracy-aware uncertain stream database system, including the representation of accuracy information and how to obtain query results' accuracy. In addition, we propose novel predicates based on hypothesis testing for decision-making using data with limited accuracy. We augment our study with a comprehensive set of experimental evaluations.
Adaptive Bayesian Beamforming for Steering Vector Uncertainties with Order Recursive Implementation

An order recursive algorithm for minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation of signals under a Bayesian model defined on the steering vector is introduced. The MMSE estimate can be viewed as a mixture of conditional MMSE estimates weighted by the posterior probability density function (PDF) of the random steering vector given the observed data. This paper derives an adaptive closed form Kalman-filter implementation that updates the weight vector by successive incorporations of data collected from additional array elements in the steering vector. The performance of the Bayesian beamformer is compared against several robust beamformers in terms of mean square error (MSE) and output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).
Sliding Contact Fatigue Damage in Layered Ceramic Structures

Porcelain-veneered restorations often chip and fracture from repeated occlusal loading, making fatigue studies relevant. Most fatigue studies are limited to uni-axial loading without sliding motion. We hypothesized that bi-axial loading (contact-load-slide-liftoff, simulating a masticatory cycle), as compared with uni-axial loading, accelerates the fatigue of layered ceramics. Monolithic glass plates were epoxy-joined to polycarbonate substrates as a transparent model for an all-ceramic crown on dentin. Uni-and bi-axial cyclic contact was applied through a hard sphere in water, by means of a mouth-motion simulator apparatus. The uni-axial (contact-load-hold-liftoff) and traditional R-ratio fatigue (indenter never leaves the specimen surface) produced similar lifespans, while bi-axial fatigue was more severe. The accelerated crack growth rate in bi-axial fatigue is attributed to enhanced tensile stresses at the trailing edges of a moving indenter. Fracture mechanics descriptions for damage evolution in brittle materials loaded repeatedly with a sliding sphere are provided. Clinical relevance is addressed.
Rapid acquisition strategy for functional T1ρ mapping of the brain

Abstract Functional T1ρ mapping has been proposed as a method to assess pH and metabolism dynamics in the brain with high spatial and temporal resolution. The purpose of this work is to describe and evaluate a variant of the spin-locked echo-planar imaging sequence for functional T1ρ mapping at 3 T. The proposed sequence rapidly acquires a time series of T1ρ maps with 4.0 second temporal resolution and 10 slices of volumetric coverage. Simulation, phantom, and in vivo experiments are used to evaluate many aspects of the sequence and its implementation including fidelity of measured T1ρ dynamics, potential confounds to the T1ρ response, imaging parameter tradeoffs, time series analysis approaches, and differences compared to blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. It is shown that the high temporal resolution and volumetric coverage of the sequence are obtained with some expense including underestimation of the T1ρ response, sensitivity to T1 dynamics, and reduced signal-to-noise ratio. In vivo studies using a flashing checkerboard functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm suggest differences between T1ρ and blood oxygen level dependent activation patterns. Possible sources of the functional T1ρ response and potential sequence improvements are discussed. The capability of T1ρ to map whole-brain pH and metabolism dynamics with high temporal and spatial resolution is potentially unique and warrants further investigation and development.
GPU-Based Real-Time Volumetric Ultrasound Image Reconstruction for a Ring Array

Synthetic phased array (SPA) beamforming with Hadamard coding and aperture weighting is an optimal option for real-time volumetric imaging with a ring array, a particularly attractive geometry in intracardiac and intravascular applications. However, the imaging frame rate of this method is limited by the immense computational load required in synthetic beamforming. For fast imaging with a ring array, we developed graphics processing unit (GPU)-based, real-time image reconstruction software that exploits massive data-level parallelism in beamforming operations. The GPU-based software reconstructs and displays three cross-sectional images at 45 frames per second (fps). This frame rate is 4.5 times higher than that for our previously-developed multi-core CPU-based software. In an alternative imaging mode, it shows one B-mode image rotating about the axis and its maximum intensity projection, processed at a rate of 104 fps . This paper describes the image reconstruction procedure on the GPU platform and presents the experimental images obtained using this software.
Canine retraction rate with self-ligating brackets vs conventional edgewise brackets.

Objective: To compare the rates of retraction down an archwire of maxillary canine teeth when bracketed with a self-ligating bracket was used on one side and a conventional bracket on the other. Materials and Methods: In 43 patients requiring maxillary premolar extraction, a self-ligating bracket (Damon3, SmartClip) was used on the maxillary canine on one side and a conventional bracket (Victory Series) on the other. The teeth were retracted down a 0.018-inch stainless steel archwire, using a medium Sentalloy retraction spring (150 g). The rates of retraction were analyzed using a paired t-test. Results: The mean movement per 28 days for the conventional bracket was 1.17 mm. For the Damon bracket it was 0.9 mm and for the SmartClip bracket it was 1.10 mm. The differences between the conventional and self-ligating brackets were statistically significant: paired t-test, SmartClip, P , .0043; Damon3, P , .0001). Conclusion: The retraction rate is faster with the conventional bracket, probably because of the narrower bracket width of the self-ligating brackets. (Angle Orthod. 2010;80:626–633.)
New Drugs for Clostridium difficile Infection

or persistent disease, to give oral metronidazole or oral vancomycin. Prior experience with these drugs shows that they are generally effective for acute disease, but treatment is often complicated by recurrences after treatment. Our experience with 189 patients, including 100 with endoscopy-proven pseudomenbraneous colitis, showed that 96% of the patients responded to oral vancomycin, but 24% experienced relapses when vancomycin therapy was discontinued [5]. Other studies have reported a similar experience [6].
Investigating temporal pole function by functional imaging.

In 1930, Kluver and Bucy [1] reported that bilateral ablation of the temporal lobe in monkeys induced abnormal social and sexual behavior as well as a deficit in visual cognitive function. In the early 1950's, Chow [2] performed more selective temporal lobectomy in monkeys involving ablation of just the anterior part of the lobe including the temporal pole. This resulted in a deficit in food recognition and compromised the animals' [...]
The Type 1 Interleukin-1 Receptor Is Essential for the Efficient Activation of Microglia and the Induction of Multiple Proinflammatory Mediators in Response to Brain Injury

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is induced immediately after insults to the brain, and elevated levels of IL-1 have been strongly implicated in the neurodegeneration that accompanies stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. In animal models, antagonizing IL-1 has been shown to reduce cell death; however, the basis for this protection has not been elucidated. Here we analyzed the response to penetrating brain injury in mice lacking the type 1 IL-1 receptor (IL-1R1) to determine which cellular and molecular mediators of tissue damage require IL-1 signaling. At the cellular level, fewer amoeboid microglia/macrophages appeared adjacent to the injured brain tissue in IL-1R1 null mice, and those microglia present at early postinjury intervals retained their resting morphology. Astrogliosis also was mildly abrogated. At the molecular level, cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and IL-6 expression were depressed and delayed. Interestingly, basal levels of Cox-2, IL-1, and IL-6 were significantly lower in the IL-1R1 null mice. In addition, stimulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 mRNA was depressed in the IL-1R1 null mice, and correspondingly, there was reduced diapedesis of peripheral macrophages in the IL-1R1 null brain after injury. This observation correlated with a reduced number of Cox-2+ amoeboid phagocytes adjacent to the injury. In contrast, several molecular aspects of the injury response were normal, including expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the production of nerve growth factor. Because antagonizing IL-1 protects neural cells in experimental models of stroke and multiple sclerosis, our data suggest that cell preservation is achieved by abrogating microglial/macrophage activation and the subsequent self-propagating cycle of inflammation.
Fast, Frugal, and (Sometimes) Wrong

Do moral heuristics operate in the moral domain? If so, do they lead to moral errors? This brief essay offers an affirmative answer to both questions. In so doing, it responds to an essay by Gerd Gigerenzer on the nature of heuristics, moral and otherwise. While focused on morality, the discussion bears on the general debate between those who emphasize cognitive errors, sometimes produced by heuristics, and those who emphasize the frequent success of heuristics in producing sensible judgments in the real world. General claims are that it is contentious to see moral problems as ones of arithmetic, and that arguments about moral heuristics will often do well to steer clear of contentious arguments about what morality requires.
Mothers' own weight concerns predict early child feeding concerns

Primary objective: This research examined children’s birth weight and maternal weight concerns as predictors of mothers’ concerns about their infants’ eating behaviours. Research design: This study employed a survey design. Methods and procedures: Seventy-one mothers (M age = 29.98 years, SD = 6.10) of infants 2 years and younger (M age = 1.05 years, SD = 0.53) provided information about their children’s birth weight, their early feeding experiences, their current weight status, and their own weight concerns. Main outcomes and results: Results indicated that maternal weight concerns predicted mothers’ early concerns about their children’s eating behaviours. Further, infant birth weight and mother’s own weight status could not account for this relation. Conclusion: These findings may contribute to researchers’, clinicians’ and laypersons’ attempts to understand the current childhood obesity epidemic and the role parental influences on eating behaviours play in children’s weight status.
Where Is Leadership Training Being Taught in U.S. Dental Schools

Since leadership is vital in all professions and organizations, the purpose of this study was to determine where in dental schools leadership for predoctoral students is taught and to what degree it is emphasized in order to establish a baseline from which to generate recommendations for best practices. Academic deans of U.S. dental schools were surveyed to determine where in the curriculum leadership is taught and emphasized. The response rate was 39 percent returned completed surveys. These responses were representative of all geographic regions of the country, with equitable distribution between private and public institutions. The results showed that leadership training is delivered in many different parts of the curriculum and at various levels. Generally, the respondents indicated that leadership education is delivered in the setting of practice management, community out-reach, or public health. In some cases, specific training programs are dedicated to leadership development. Thus, several models for leadership development were identified, showing design flexibility in addressing regional and national needs. In the future, it would be of value to assess the effectiveness of the various models and whether single or multiple pathways for leadership training are most beneficial.
Hospital-level variation in the quality of urologic cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Unexplained variation in outcomes after common surgeries raises concerns about the quality and appropriateness of surgical care. Understanding variation in surgical outcomes may identify processes that could affect the quality of surgical and postoperative care. The authors of this report examined hospital-level variation in outcomes after inpatient urologic oncology procedures. METHODS: Patients who underwent radical cystectomy, radical nephrectomy, and radical prostatectomy were identified from the Washington State Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System for the years 2003 through 2007. The postoperative length of stay (LOS) was measured, and LOS that exceeded the 75th percentile was classified as prolonged. The occurrence of Agency for Healthcare Quality patient safety indicators (PSIs), readmissions, and deaths also were measured. Analyses were adjusted for patient age and comorbidity in random effects, multilevel, multivariable models that assessed hospital-level outcomes. RESULTS: The authors identified 853 patients from 37 hospitals who underwent cystectomy, 3018 patients who underwent nephrectomy from 51 hospitals, and 8228 patients who underwent prostatectomy from 51 hospitals. Complications captured by PSIs were rare. Hospital-level variation was most profound for LOS outcomes after nephrectomy and prostatectomy (variance in prolonged LOS, 8.1% and 26.7%, respectively), thromboembolic events after nephrectomy (8% of variance), and mortality after cystectomy (7.1% of variance). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital-level variation confounds the care of urologic cancer patients in the state of Washington. The authors concluded that transparent reporting of surgical outcomes and local quality-improvement initiatives should be considered to ameliorate the observed variation and improve the quality of cystectomy, nephrectomy, and prostatectomy care. Cancer 2011;. Published 2012 by the American Cancer Society.
Heat resistance of spores of Clostridium welchii

Eight strains of Cl. welchii were studied for the heat-resistance of their spores. Spores of Cl. welchii isolated from food-poisoning cases had greater heat-resistance than strains isolated from soil or faeces. D-values and trend values were calculated from the thermal death curves.
Computations of eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of two dimensional vibrating structures by the boundary element method

The determination of shapes and frequencies of eigenmodes is important in the analysis and design of distributed parameter vibrating control systems. This work is usually carried out by the Galerkin finite element method. However, when the medium is homogeneous, with damping distributed only on the boundary, the boundary element method is more convenient to use and readily gives excellent numerical solutions. The boundary element method and algorithms for computing the eigensolutions of the wave equation with viscous boundary damping are introduced. Eigenmodes are illustrated by computer graphics so that the reader can compare the changes of shapes effected by boundary damping parameters. >
The Supreme Court Should Grant Certiorari in FTC v. McWane

Exclusive dealing is the last vestige of the pre-economic era of antitrust. And it shows. The Supreme Court’s decision in GTE Sylvania nearly 40 years ago was the turning point for the evolution of modern antitrust law in the United States because it made clear “that the analysis of economic effects provided the proper basis for evaluating conduct under the antitrust laws.” In the area of vertical restraints in particular, the critical lesson that has emerged from the economic revolution in antitrust law has been that such conduct must not be condemned without economic evidence of harm to competition. The Supreme Court should grant certiorari in FTC v. McWane because, unfortunately, it is a vivid demonstration of the fact that exclusive dealing law remains untouched by the intellectual revolution in antitrust doctrine since the Supreme Court’s decision in GTE Sylvania. The Federal Trade Commission’s analysis in FTC v. McWane, and thus the Eleventh Circuit opinion, are not only in significant tension with the modern antitrust approach to vertical restraints, they reject it altogether. McWane presents a unique and timely opportunity for the Supreme Court to bring exclusive dealing law in line with modern antitrust law and economic analysis, to recalibrate the doctrine to focus on harm to competition, and to provide guidance to lower courts with respect to the application of rule of reason analysis in cases involving exclusive dealing arrangements.
Home Visiting: A Service Strategy to Reduce Poverty and Mitigate Its Consequences

Home visiting programs are increasingly recognized as an important part of the early childhood system of care in the United States. The objectives of this report are to review the rationale for home visiting; characterize the Federal Home Visiting Program; highlight the evidence of home visiting effectiveness, particularly for low income families; identify opportunities to promote coordination between medical homes and home visiting programs; and explain the critical role of research, evaluation, and quality improvement to strengthen home visiting effectiveness. Home visiting programs offer voluntary home-based services and other supports to meet the needs of vulnerable pregnant women and young families. Home visiting intends to address poverty in 2 ways. First, it promotes economic self-sufficiency directly by building parents' knowledge, skills, and motivation related to employment opportunities and by linking families with community services such as adult education and job training. Second, it mitigates the effects of poverty through direct service and community linkages to enhance parents' capacity for positive parenting and for their own health and family functioning. Home visiting has shown effectiveness in multiple domains, including family economic self-sufficiency, birth outcomes, maternal health, child health and development, and positive parenting practices. Authorized as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and reauthorized in 2015, the Federal Home Visiting Program invests an unprecedented $1.9 billion in the form of grants to states to expand home visiting programs and support rigorous research. As part of the early childhood system of services, home visiting programs must coordinate with other community services and supports. Programs will be most effective when resources are used efficiently, duplication of services is avoided, and alignment and reinforcement of other providers' messages are achieved. The Federal Home Visiting Program has established 4 mechanisms of research, evaluation, and quality improvement to enhance home visiting implementation and effectiveness.
COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATION OF THE RAM ACCELERATOR USING A COUPLED CFD/INTERIOR-BALLISTICS APPROACH

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions of the full Navier-Stokes equations along with finite-rate chemical kinetics, are used to numerically simulate the reacting in-bore flowfield for the ram accelerator projectile propulsion system. A reduced version of the Stanford RAMEC chemical kinetics mechanism (22 species and 32 reactions), which has been validated for ram accelerator conditions using ignition time data, was made available for the present investigation. Steady flow results are generated for methane/oxygen combustion at high mixture fill pressures. Unsteady flow results are generated by coupling an IB (interior ballistics) code to the CFD code. Simulations of the onset of combustion, projectile acceleration, and obturator separation subject to unsteady backpressure on the obturator which originates from the projectile launch device (a solid propellant gun) are presented. A CFD code validation case is also presented for low pressure, steady flow, hydrogen/oxygen combustion around a wedge as compared to Schlieren/PLIF data from Stanford.
Deoxygenation of Mono-oxo Bis(dithiolene) Mo and W Complexes by Protonation

Protonation-assisted deoxygenation of a mono-oxo molybdenum center has been observed in many oxotransferases when the enzyme removes an oxo group to regenerate a substrate binding site. Such a reaction is reported here with discrete synthetic mono-oxo bis(dithiolene) molybdenum and tungsten complexes, the chemistry of which had been rarely studied because of the instability of the resulting deoxygenated products. An addition of tosylic acid to an acetonitrile solution of [MoIVO(S2C2Ph2)2]2– (1) and [WIVO(S2C2Ph2)2]2– (2) results in the loss of oxide with a concomitant formation of novel deoxygenated complexes, [M(MeCN)2(S2C2Ph2)2] (M = Mo (3), W (4)), that have been isolated and characterized. Whereas protonation of 1 exclusively produces 3, two different reaction products can be generated from 2; an oxidized product, [WO(S2C2Ph2)2]−, is produced with 1 equiv of acid while a deoxygenated product, [W(MeCN)2(S2C2Ph2)2] (4), is generated with an excess amount of proton. Alternatively, complexes 3 and 4 can b...
Improvement of Electrochemical Performance of Li[Ni0.8Co0.15Al0.05]O2 Cathode Materials by AlF3 coating at Various Temperatures

A thin AlF3 layer of ∼10 nm was uniformly coated on the particle surface of Li[Ni0.8Co0.15Al0.05]O2. The AlF3 coating improved cycle performance at 55, 30, and –10 °C and improved storage characteristics at 60 °C. In studies of differential capacity (dQ/dV) versus voltage, the AlF3-coated Li[Ni0.8Co0.15Al0.05]O2 showed little variation in redox peaks with cycling. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy suggested that the AlF3 coating played an important role in stabilizing the interface between the cathode and the electrolyte.
Development of a system for observing dance activities in the classroom environment (SODANCE)

AbstractThis study sought to develop a system for observing dance activities in the classroom environment (SODANCE) based on the system for observing fitness instructional time (SOFIT). SODANCE utilizes direct observation to quantify the physical activity intensity of dance activities. Female students aged 11–17 years participated in an activity protocol of SOFIT and common dance activities to identify appropriate coding categories. Each student wore a heart rate monitor and accelerometer while performing the following activities: lying, sitting, standing, walking, running, single-leg balances, leg swings, pirouettes, and leaps. Ultimately, heart rate reserve output was determined to be the best assessment, followed by accelerometry-based vector magnitude output, and expert opinion. Chi squared tests were used to determine if there were significant differences in the proportion of subjects whose heart rate reserve data classified the activity as light vs. moderate vs. vigorous. In conclusion, the dance ac...
Control of a thermoelastic beam using heat actuation

This paper explores the idea of using heat as an actuator to simultaneously control vibration and temperature of a thermoelastic beam. We first model the beam as a slender, uniform cantilever beam of rectangular cross-section subject to heat through heat patches on the lower and upper surfaces at some discrete spanwise locations. The governing equations of the model are two coupled partial differential equations: one governing the elastic bending displacement and one governing the two-dimensional heat conduction of the beam. Through a discretization, the partial differential equations are replaced by a set of ordinary differential equations in a compact state-space form. We show that the coupling is actually between elastic displacement and those components of temperature contributing to the thickness-wise gradient at the midplane. The linear quadratic regulator in conjunction with the Kalman–Bucy filter is used for the control design to simultaneously damp out the displacement and the gradient. In a nume...
On the sharpness of Meier’s analogue of Fatou’s theorem

Meier’s topological analogue of Fatou’s theorem is shown to be sharp by exhibiting a bounded holomorphic function in the unit disk for which no point of a prescribed set of first category on the unit circle is a Meier point.
Set Theory and the Continuum

In the same way that Poincare’s theory of arithmetic intuition is exhibited in his negative arguments against the logicist, his theory of geometric intuition (of continuity) is exhibited in his negative arguments against the set theorist. Thus we must examine his attack on set theory in order to uncover the details of his theory of geometric intuition. Set theory is a foundationalist programme (begun by Cantor and developed by Russell, Zermelo and others); and its aim is to provide an explicit and precise method for characterising acceptable mathematical objects (especially those which are infinite) and acceptable mathematical inference, in terms of axioms about sets or collections alone. Interestingly, it was found that in order to reproduce the main body of mathematical results (for example, results pertaining to the continuum), certain unintuitive axioms had to be accepted. That is, strongly existential, nonconstructive axioms such as the axiom of infinity (there exists an infinite set), the unrestricted power set axiom (for any set there also exists the set of all its subsets), and the axiom of choice (for any set, x, of sets there exists another set which consists of exactly one element from each of the sets in x) had to be accepted in order for set theory to be powerful enough to produce all the mathematical results perceived as important.
Model selection in spectroscopic ellipsometry data analysis: Combining an information criteria approach with screening sensitivity analysis

Abstract In the field of optical metrology, the selection of the best model to fit experimental data is absolutely nontrivial problem. In practice, this is a very subjective and formidable task which highly depends on metrology expert opinion. In this paper, we propose a systematic approach to model selection in ellipsometric data analysis. We apply two well-established statistical methods for model selection, namely, the Akaike (AIC) and Bayesian (BIC) Information Criteria, to compare different dispersion models with various complexities and objectively determine the “best” one from a set of candidate models. The information criteria suggest the most optimal way to quantify the balance between goodness of fit and model complexity. In combination with screening-type parametric sensitivity analysis based on so-called “elementary effects” (the Morris method) this approach allows to compare and rate various models, identify key model parameters and significantly enhance process of ellipsometric measurements evaluation.
Computational investigation of CO2 electroreduction on tin oxide and predictions of Ti, V, Nb and Zr dopants for improved catalysis

We have used computational quantum chemistry and atomistic thermodynamics to identify reaction intermediates for CO2 electroreduction on partially reduced tin oxide electrodes. We find that a variety of different surface morphologies are thermodynamically accessible under reducing potentials with adsorbed CO2, adsorbed H atoms, and O vacancy defects that represent partially reduced states. Our work supports prior conclusions from experimental findings that the active catalyst for this system is a hydroxylated and partially reduced SnO2 surface that forms under operating conditions for CO2 reduction. Employing thermodynamic descriptors and the computational hydrogen electrode model, we predict that doping Sn electrodes with Ti, V, Nb, or Zr will result in lower overpotentials for CO2 reduction compared to undoped tin oxide.
Social Dynamics During Peer Response: Patterns of Interaction in the L2PR Corpus

This chapter explores the social dynamics of peer conversations in the L2PR Corpus (Roberson 2015) using Storch’s (2002) patterns of interaction framework to understand how learners share control over the direction of the task, and how they engage with each other’s feedback on writing. We first provide a description of the data sources used in the analysis (peer response transcripts; stimulated recall interview transcripts; and first and second drafts of student writing), and then examine the relationship between patterns of interaction and revision practices. Chapter 13 will further explore one linguistic feature of the patterns of interaction analyzed in this chapter: the use of modal verbs as stance markers by collaborative and non-collaborative pairs.
Rate of serious infection in patients who are prescribed systemic biologic or nonbiologic agents for psoriasis: A large, single center, retrospective, observational cohort study.

Background Systemic biologic and nonbiologic agents used to treat psoriasis may or may not contribute to serious infection (SI) risk. Safety data, particularly for biologic agents, and associated risk for SI, are scarce. The study's aim was to explore the risk for SI in psoriasis patients exposed to systemic biologic or nonbiologic agents. Methods A large, single-center electronic medical record repository was searched between January 2010 and December 2014. Records for patients prescribed a systemic agent for psoriasis (SAP) with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis diagnoses were included (ICD-9 codes 696.1 and 696.0, respectively). SIs were those who required hospitalization, and/or injectable antibacterial, antiviral or antifungal therapy. SIs occurring within 120 days after exposure to a SAP, were included for study. Results A total of 1,346 patients were exposed to a SAP between January 2010 and December 2014; 27 (2%) had a SI. Comparing biologic and nonbiologic agent exposure, no statistically significant difference for risk of SI was detectable (p = .83). Conclusion In this population, the SI rate for biologic and nonbiologic systemic agents was clinically indistinguishable, thereby supporting consideration of the entire spectrum of available systemic therapeutic agents, both biologic and nonbiologic agents, for management of moderate to severe psoriasis.
The Role of Digital Skills in the Formation Trust and Efficacy Among Latinos

This paper explores the relationship between digital skills acquisition and the development of efficacy and trust among Latinos in the United States. The findings suggest that information communication technologies (ICT’s) might provide a distinct pathway to efficacy and trust, both preconditions civic engagement, for historically marginalized groups in US society. We use ordinary least squares regression to test the proposition that proficiency in ICT use enhances trust and efficacy among Latinos. We find this to be the case for efficacy, but not trust. In addition, we find that digital skill is the only variable associated with trust for Latinos while multiple variables are related to trust for Anglo-Americans. In addition, we also find that digital skill is related to both trust and efficacy for African-Americans. We discuss the implications of this research for enhancing political trust and efficacy among historically marginalized groups in the United States.
Chemical modification of antibodies enables the formation of stable antibody–gold nanoparticle conjugates for biosensing

Antibody-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are central to many novel and emerging biosensing technologies due to the specificity provided by antibody-antigen interactions and the unique properties of nanoparticles. These AuNP-enabled assays have the potential to provide significant improvements in sensitivity and multiplexed analysis compared to conventional immunoassays. However, a major challenge for these AuNP platform technologies is the synthesis of stable antibody-AuNP conjugates that resist aggregation in high salt environments and biological matrices. Moreover, synthetic strategies to form stable conjugates often require different solution conditions, e.g., pH, for each unique antibody. Herein we describe our effort to develop an approach to chemically modify lysine residues on antibodies to facilitate the formation of stable antibody-AuNP conjugates over a wide pH range. In this work, we systematically investigated the immobilization of native and chemically modified antibodies to 60 nm citrate-capped AuNPs as a function of pH and evaluated the stability of the antibody-AuNP conjugate in a saline environment. We have developed a method to chemically modify the lysine residues on an antibody prior to conjugation to the AuNP that results in stable conjugates over a wide pH range (6.0-8.5). Amino acid analysis and zeta potential measurements of native and modified antibodies reveal that the requisite modification correlates with the number of lysine residues, and a reduction in positive charge contribution from protonated lysine is required to form stable, pH-independent conjugates. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the chemically modified antibodies maintain antigen-binding capabilities. We apply this novel conjugation strategy to develop a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based assay for the accurate subtyping of avian influenza viruses.
The next steps in surgical imaging (Conference Presentation)

This talk will review the current clinical trial results using antibody-based optical imaging to guide surgical resections in head and neck, brain, skin and pancreas tumors. Each tumor type presents unique challenges that dramatically alters how the optical imaging data can provide clinical utility to the surgical team and pathologists. Specific cases and synthesized data will be presented and regulatory hurdles discussed.
Association of TNFRSF1B Promoter Polymorphisms with Human Disease: Further Studies Examining T-Regulatory Cells Are Required

The TNFR2 receptor is expressed by highly active regulatory T cells, and thus constitutes an important therapeutic target for the treatment of autoimmune disease and cancer. Disease susceptibility as well as the potential response to therapies directed at TNFR2 could be significantly impacted by genetic variation in the promoter of the TNFRSF1B gene that codes for the TNFR2 protein. To date, only a few studies have examined the association of TNFRSF1B promoter variation with disease, and the potential impact on T-regulatory cell (Treg) number and function has not been examined. We propose that copy number variation of a key transcription factor binding site has a significant effect on TNFRSF1B promoter activity, and should be considered in studies of disease susceptibility and especially with regard to variation in the level of TNFR2 expression on Tregs.
Prostate cancer chemoprevention by sulforaphane in a preclinical mouse model is associated with inhibition of fatty acid metabolism

Increased de novo synthesis of fatty acids is a rather unique and targetable mechanism of human prostate cancer. We have shown previously that oral administration of sulforaphane (SFN) significantly inhibits the incidence and/or burden of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) mice. The present study used cellular models of prostate cancer and archived plasma/adenocarcinoma tissues and sections from the TRAMP study to demonstrate inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by SFN treatment in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of androgen-responsive (LNCaP) and castration-resistant (22Rv1) human prostate cancer cells with SFN (5 and 10 μM) resulted in downregulation of protein and mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FASN), but not ATP citrate lyase. Protein and mRNA levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), which facilitates fatty acid uptake by mitochondria for β-oxidation, were also decreased following SFN treatment in both cell lines. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant decrease in expression of FASN and ACC1 proteins in prostate adenocarcinoma sections of SFN-treated TRAMP mice when compared with controls. SFN administration to TRAMP mice resulted in a significant decrease in plasma and/or prostate adenocarcinoma levels of total free fatty acids, total phospholipids, acetyl-CoA and ATP. Consistent with these results, number of neutral lipid droplets was lower in the prostate adenocarcinoma sections of SFN-treated TRAMP mice than in control tumors. Collectively, these observations indicate that prostate cancer chemoprevention by SFN in TRAMP mice is associated with inhibition of fatty acid metabolism.
Optically probing the Kondo resonance in YbIn 1 x Ag x Cu 4

Abstract We report the infrared charge dynamics of YbIn 1 - x Ag x Cu 4 in a series of x - and T -dependent reflectivity measurements. Within the low-temperature coherent phase, characteristics of a low energy (0.25 eV) excitation appear to be controlled by the same Kondo scale, T K , which is relevant to the magnetic response (Phys. Rev. B 56 (1997) 7993). We show that the observed T K dependence of the frequency and strength of this excitation is consistent with an interpretation in terms of a coherent-to-incoherent quasiparticle transition between the correlation-induced bands of the periodic Anderson model (Phys. Rev. Lett. 92 (2004) 186405). Additionally, we consider an interpretation of x -dependence in the higher frequency optical response in terms of a rigid band structure picture where the filling is depleted by Ag doping, augmented by a Kondo resonance which tracks the x -dependent Fermi level. In addition to the properties of the low-temperature phase, our results also encompass the anomalous temperature dependent behavior in the vicinity of the electronic phase transition at low doping ( x 0.3 ) .
Compression, Tension and Shear Testing of Fibrous Composite with the Split Hopkinson Bar Technique

The Split Hopkinson Bar (SHB) technique is used for high strain rate testing of T800/F3900 composite in compression, tension and shear. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used for measuring the full-field deformation on the surface of the specimen by using Shimadzu HPV-X2 high-speed video camera. Compression tests have been done on specimens machined from a unidirectional laminate in the 0°and 90° directions. Tensile tests were done in the 90° direction. Shear tests were done by using a notched specimen in a compression SHB apparatus. To study the effect of strain rate, quasi-static testing was also done using DIC and specimens with the same geometry as in the SHB tests. The results show that the DIC technique provides accurate strain measurements even at strains that are smaller than 1%. No strain rate effect is observed in compression in the 0° direction and significant strain rate effects are observed in compression and tension in the 90° direction, and in shear.
Rising rates of injection drug use associated infective endocarditis in Virginia with missed opportunities for addiction treatment referral: a retrospective cohort study.

Injection drug use (IDU) is a growing public health threat in Virginia, though there is limited knowledge of related morbidity. The purpose of this study was to describe the temporal, geographic and clinical trends and characteristics of infective endocarditis associated with IDU (IDU-IE) and to identify opportunities for better-quality care of people who inject drugs (PWID). We reviewed charts for all admissions coded for both IE and drug use disorders at the University of Virginia Medical Center (UVA) from January 2000 to July 2016. A random sample of 30 admissions coded for IE per year were reviewed to evaluate temporal trends in the proportion of IDU associated IE cases. There were a total of 76 patients with IDU-IE during the study period, 7.54-fold increase (prevalence ratio: 8.54, 95% CI 3.70–19.72) from 2000 to 2016. The proportion of IE that was IDU-associated increased by nearly 10% each year (prevalence ratio of IDU per year: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05–1.14). Patients with IDU-IE had longer hospital stays [median days (interquartile range); IDU-IE, 17 (10–29); non-IDU-IE, 10 (6–18); p-value = 0.001] with almost twice the cost of admission as those without IDU [median (interquartile range); IDU-IE, $47,899 ($24,578-78,144); non-IDU-IE, $26,460 ($10,220-60,059); p-value = 0.001]. In 52% of cases there was no documentation of any discussion regarding addiction treatment. IDU-IE is a severe infection that leads to significant morbidity and healthcare related costs. IDU-IE rates are increasing and will likely continue to do so without targeted interventions to help PWID. The diagnosis and treatment of IDU-IE provides an opportunity for the delivery of addiction treatment, counseling, and harm reduction strategies.
The power of language-concordant care: a call to action for medical schools

We live in a world of incredible linguistic diversity; nearly 7000 languages are spoken globally and at least 350 are spoken in the United States. Language-concordant care enhances trust between patients and physicians, optimizes health outcomes, and advances health equity for diverse populations. However, historical and contemporary trauma have impaired trust between communities of color, including immigrants with limited English proficiency, and physicians in the U.S. Threats to informed consent among patients with limited English proficiency persist today. Language concordance has been shown to improve care and serves as a window to broader social determinants of health that disproportionately yield worse health outcomes among patients with limited English proficiency. Language concordance is also relevant for medical students engaged in health care around the world. Global health experiences among medical and dental students have quadrupled in the last 30 years. Yet, language proficiency and skills to address cultural aspects of clinical care, research and education are lacking in pre-departure trainings. We call on medical schools to increase opportunities for medical language courses and integrate them into the curriculum with evidence-based teaching strategies, content about health equity, and standardized language assessments. The languages offered should reflect the needs of the patient population both where the medical school is located and where the school is engaged globally. Key content areas should include how to conduct a history and physical exam; relevant health inequities that commonly affect patients who speak different languages; cultural sensitivity and humility, particularly around beliefs and practices that affect health and wellbeing; and how to work in language-discordant encounters with interpreters and other modalities. Rigorous language assessment is necessary to ensure equity in communication before allowing students or physicians to use their language skills in clinical encounters. Lastly, global health activities in medical schools should assess for language needs and competency prior to departure. By professionalizing language competency in medical schools, we can improve patients’ trust in individual physicians and the profession as a whole; improve patient safety and health outcomes; and advance health equity for those we care for and collaborate with in the U.S. and around the world.
Janus kinase inhibitors for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis demonstrate similar profiles of in vitro cytokine receptor inhibition

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have emerged as an effective class of therapies for various inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). JAK inhibitors function intracellularly by modulating the catalytic activity of JAKs and disrupting the receptor-mediated signaling of multiple cytokines and growth factors, including those with pro-inflammatory activity. Understanding the inhibition profiles of different JAK inhibitors, based on the associated cytokine receptors and downstream inflammatory pathways affected, is important to identify the potential mechanisms for observed differences in efficacy and safety. This study applied an integrated modeling approach, using in vitro whole blood cytokine inhibition potencies and plasma pharmacokinetics, to determine JAK-dependent cytokine receptor inhibition profiles, in the context of doses estimated to provide a similar clinical response in RA clinical trials. The calculated profiles of cytokine receptor inhibition for the JAK inhibitors tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, and filgotinib and its metabolite, were generally similar when clinically efficacious doses for RA were considered. Only minor numerical differences in percentage cytokine receptor inhibition were observed, suggesting limited differentiation of these inhibitors based on JAK pharmacology, with each showing a differential selectivity for JAK1 heterodimer inhibition. Nevertheless, only robust clinical testing involving head-to-head studies will ultimately determine whether there are clinically meaningful differences between these JAK inhibitors. Furthermore, ongoing and future research into inhibitors with alternative JAK selectivity remains of clinical importance. Thus, all JAK inhibitors should be characterized via thorough preclinical, metabolic and pharmacological evaluation, adequate long-term clinical data, and when available, real-world experience.
Durations of four vowels in manually produced synthetic speech

Abstract: Our hypothesis was that if the mechanical constraints of the vocal tract were removed from speech production, then only those differences in vowel duration which are linguistically significant from the point of view of the speaker (i.e. differences which are programmed in the brain, and learned as part of language) would be found to be significant. To test this hypothesis a technique was developed to allow subjects to control the durations of selected syllables using a switch connected to a computer-driven speech synthesizer. The data obtained by the experiment are consistent with the hypothesis.