cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Commentary: Performance Evaluation and Compensation Research: An Agency Perspective

How managers and executives are evaluated and rewarded has become an increasingly contentious issue in recent years. The benefits and pitfalls of firms? compensation practices are routinely featured in the business press and have attracted considerable attention from governments, unions, as well as the investment community. In some cases, this increased attention can be attributed to the apparent excessive levels of remuneration paid to U.S. executives. More generally, it reflects a heightened awareness that performance evaluation and reward systems are critical because they affect employees? incentives to increase shareholder value.
Large Lecture Sections: An Experiment Test of Their Effectiveness

Can a large lecture sections be an effective means of student instruction? The creation of a single large section class we created provides a natural experiment to address this issue. Students in our large section class were indistinguishable from students in regular-sized classes on our Department’s assessment exam. On the other hand, we find that students gave lower ratings to the instructor and the class on post-semester surveys. We find that most, though not al, of these differences come from students who sat in the back half of our architecturally challenged classroom. Our results indicate that there are plusses and minuses to large section courses, and administrators and department chairs must weigh both in deciding whether to adopt large section classes.
Survey of Climate Change Considerations in Federal Environmental Impact Statements, 2012-2014

This report describes the results from a survey of 238 federal Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) published from July 2012 through December 2014. The report includes a general overview of trends across all EISs, as well as an analysis of how climate change is addressed in the context of specific types of projects, such as fossil fuel development and natural resource management. We find that Federal agencies generally do account for climate change when conducting environmental reviews of projects that will generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or be affected by climate-related phenomena such as sea level rise. However, the percentage of EISs that address specific considerations related to climate change varies considerably depending on the type of project that is being reviewed and the lead agency. The scope and depth of the analysis also vary considerably, both within and across different project categories.
Synthesis and Characterization of Oligonucleotides Containing a Nitrogen Mustard Formamidopyrimidine Monoadduct of Deoxyguanosine

N5-Substituted formamidopyrimidine adducts have been observed from the reaction of dGuo or DNA with aziridine containing electrophiles, including nitrogen mustards. However, the role of substituted Fapy-dGuo adducts in the biological response to nitrogen mustards and related species has not been extensively explored. We have developed chemistry for the site-specific synthesis of oligonucleotides containing an N5-nitrogen mustard Fapy-dGuo using the phosphoramidite approach. The lesion was found to be a good substrate for Escherichia coli endonuclease IV and formamidopyrimidine glycosylase.
Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations of SO4- and HSO4-: Confirmation of High Electron Affinities of SO4 and HSO4

We present a combined photoelectron spectroscopic and theoretical study of SO4- and HSO4- and their corresponding neutral species in the gas phase. We measured very high electron affinities for SO4 and HSO4, which are 5.10(0.10) and 4.75(0.10) eV, respectively. Theoretical calculations of the neutral and anionic species using both density functional and ab initio molecular orbital theory confirm the high electron affinities of the two species. The theoretically predicted vertical and adiabatic detachment energies are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. We find that both SO4- and SO4 have C2v symmetry, whereas both HSO4- and HSO4 have Cs symmetry. We predict significant geometry changes between the equilibrium geometries of the anion species and the neutral species for both systems that are consistent with the broad nature of the measured photoelectron spectra.
Theoretical analysis of the anomalous spectral splitting of tetracene in 4He droplets.

We present a theoretical analysis of the electronic absorption spectra of tetracene in 4He droplets based on many-body quantum simulations. Using the path integral ground state approach, we calculate one- and two-body reduced density matrices of the most strongly localized He atoms near the molecule surface and use these to investigate the helium ground-state quantum coherence and correlations when tetracene is in its electronic ground and excited states. We identify a trio of quasi-one-dimensional, strongly localized atoms adsorbed along the long axis of the molecule that show some quantum coherence among themselves but far less with the remaining solvating helium. We evaluate the single-particle natural orbitals of the localized He atoms by diagonalization of the one-body density matrix and use these to construct single- and many-particle solvating helium basis states with which the zero-phonon spectral features of the tetracene–4HeN absorption spectrum are then calculated. The absorption spectrum resul...
Information Visualization: The Need for a Data Base Approach

Information visualizations data base technology. This is because the explosion in computer-stored information requires new ways to visualize information. We can no longer ask users to work with low-level graphics tools to create information presentations. Rather, we want users to be able to ask, at a high level, for visualizations which will help with a particular task, or will emphasize a certain trend. In order to automatically create such presentations, meta-data about the data will be needed. We give two examples of systems in which meta-data enables automatic generation of visual views: a dialogue-box generation tool for user interfaces and data entry, and a WWW visual navigation tool.
Abstract 2730: Association ofTERTpromoter mutations with telomerase expression in melanoma

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations occur at a high frequency in melanoma, but the functional consequences of these mutations in melanoma remain to be clarified. In a large study of melanoma samples by The Cancer Genome Atlas network, mRNA expression analysis using RNA sequencing data showed that only TERT promoter mutations at C228T were associated with high TERT expression levels. The effect of hotspot C250 or C242T/C243T tandem mutations on telomerase expression has not yet been determined. To assess telomerase expression levels in melanomas harboring C250 or C242T/C243T mutations, we used real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in a sample set of pediatric melanocytic tumors for which the methylation status and the mutational profile of the TERT promoter were known. We previously showed that in a subset of melanoma, TERT expression is mediated epigenetically by promoter hypermethylation rather than by promoter point mutations. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 10 metastatic melanomas, of which 8 harbored a hotspot TERT promoter mutation (5 C250T; 2 C228; 1 C242T/C243T) and 2 carried a hypermethylated wild-type TERT promoter were examined. For controls, 9 atypical Spitz tumors with a wild-type unmethylated TERT promoter were also studied. Total RNA was isolated from FFPE tumor tissues and converted to cDNA. TERT expression levels were determined by RT-qPCR by using the TaqMan® Gene Expression Assay and normalized with GAPDH as the endogenous control. In the atypical Spitz tumor samples, TERT mRNA expression was undetectable or negligible. In contrast, TERT expression in all melanoma samples was elevated, ranging from 3- to 71-fold (median, 25-fold) when compared to an atypical Spitz tumor as a reference. Our data support that in melanoma, TERT promoter hotspot C250 and C242T/C243T mutations, similar to C228T mutations, correlate with TERT overexpression and that C250 and C242T/C243T mutations likely contribute biologically to tumorigenesis in melanoma. Citation Format: Seungjae Lee, Patricia Opresko, Alberto Pappo, John Kirkwood, Armita Bahrami. Association of TERT promoter mutations with telomerase expression in melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2730.
Proxy representation of Arctic ocean bottom pressure variability: Bridging gaps in GRACE observations

Using time-varying ocean bottom pressure (OBP) from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), a 9-year in situ OBP record at the North Pole, and wind reanalysis products, we perform a linear regression analysis to identify primary predictor time series that enable us to create a proxy representation of the Arctic time-varying OBP that explains the largest fraction of the observed Arctic OBP variability. After cross-validation, two predictors – North Pole OBP record, and wind-OBP coupling from maximum covariance analysis – explain 50% of the total variance of the Arctic OBP. This work provides a means for bridging existing short gaps in GRACE measurements, and potentially longer future gaps that may result if GRACE and its follow-on mission do not overlap. The technique may be applicable to bridge gaps in GRACE measurements in other oceanic regions.
Tortuosity of the perforating arteries

1. Tortuosity of the perforating arteries is an expression of aging. — 2. Tortuosity is enhanced in the presence of cardiac disease, (arteriosclerosis, but also in congenital heart disease.) — 3. Tortuosity has not been observed in the presence of other systemic disease. — 4. Further studies would be of interest. For instance, why do 14% of our cases in the age group 40 to 60 and 60 and up have no or less degree of tortuosity? At the present we have not progressed far enough to answer this question. —5. These observations (1–3) may have diagnostic value during cerebral angiography, applying the magnification technique. — 6. Tortuosity of the perforating arteries is not affected by localized or generalized pathological cerebral processes.
A study of CD62P (P-selectin) in β-thalassemia

Background β-Thalassemia major (β-TM) affects 60 000 births/year worldwide. These patients have to cope with complications of the disease that develop over time. In particular, marked hemostatic changes have been observed in patients with β-TM and β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI). Aim of the study This study aimed to determine the percentage of CD62P (P-selectin) among β-thalassemic patients and to correlate it with the presence and the presence of hemostatic abnormalities. Patients and methods Our study included two groups. Group I included 45 patients with β-thalassemia, which was further subdivided into two subgroups: group Ia included 10 patients with TI and group Ib included 35 patients with TM. Group II included 15 apparently normal children as a control group, age and sex matched to the diseased group. Laboratory investigations were carried out including the following: complete blood count, serum ferritin, bleeding time, clotting time, prothrombin time and concentration, and finally CD62P (P-selectin). Results The percentage of CD62P in thalassemic patients was significantly higher than that of the normal controls ( P Conclusion The expression of P-selectin, which is a clinical marker of platelet activation, was more prevalent in thalassemic children than the control children, especially those with β-TI, and in splenectomized patients even in the absence of thromboembolic manifestations.
Functionalization of Metal-Organic Frameworks To Achieve Controllable Wettability.

The overall versatility of a material can be immensely expanded by the ability to controllably tune its hydrophobicity. Herein we took advantage of steric bias to demonstrate that tricarboxylate metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can undergo covalent postsynthetic modification to confer various degrees of hydrophobicity. MOF copper 2-aminobenzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate was modified with varying-length aliphatic carbon chains. Unmodified Cu3(NH2BTC)2 degrades in minutes upon contact with water, whereas modification as low as 14% results in powders that show significantly enhanced hydrophobic character with contact angles up to 147°. The modified material is capable of withstanding direct contact with water for 30 min with no visual evidence of altered surface characteristics. A linear relationship was observed between the length of the tethered chain and the water contact angle. These results reveal a predictable method for achieving a range of desirable sorption rates and highly controllable hydrophobic charac...
Studying Sex: A Content Analysis of Sexuality Research in Counseling Psychology

Using a sex positive framework, the authors conducted a 61-year (1954-2015) content analysis of sexuality research in the flagship counseling psychology journals, the Journal of Counseling Psychology and The Counseling Psychologist. Given counseling psychology's core strengths- and multiculturalism-related values, this study aimed to uncover which human sexuality topics were published most, whether publications aligned with a sex positive, neutral, or negative discourse, what methodologies were used, and differences in how populations were investigated across race. Researchers used an integrative approach to content analysis and human coding (Neuendorf, 2011). Results highlighted that out of 188 articles meeting criteria, a slight majority (38.05%) focused on sexual orientation, identity, and minorities topics. Only 4.78% utilized a sex-positive perspective. Quantitative and conceptual pieces were most published, and publications disproportionately focused on primarily White populations. When people of color were included, the discourse was sex negative. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Simulating the meteorology and PM10 concentrations in Arizona dust storms using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (Wrf-Chem).

Nine dust storms in south-central Arizona were simulated with the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry model (WRF-Chem) at 2 km resolution. The windblown dust emission algorithm was the ...
Folic acid supplement use and the risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are among the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Studies suggest that the use of folic acid may lower the risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnant women. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the effects of timing and duration of folic acid-containing supplement use on the risk for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Methods Exposures and outcomes data were obtained through interviews and review of participant’s medical records from the MotherToBaby cohort studies across the United States and Canada. Demographics, medical history, lifestyle factors, substance use, and fetal sex were assessed as potential confounders. Unadjusted and adjusted risks for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were examined using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Findings 3247 women were included in the study. Compared to non-supplement use, early and late supplement use were not significantly associated with the development of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. The odds of developing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were significantly reduced as the duration of folic acid-containing supplement use increased. Conclusion Findings from this study suggest that the use of folic acid-containing supplements may mitigate the risk for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
Organized Crime, Illicit Economies, Civil Violence & International Order: More Complex Than You Think

This essay analyzes the multiple threats that organized crime and illicit economies pose to states and the international order, with a particular focus on the security dimensions of the crime-confl...
Leveraging single-pass tangential flow filtration to enable decoupling of upstream and downstream monoclonal antibody processing

Decoupling upstream and downstream operations in biopharmaceutical production could enable more flexible manufacturing operations and could allow companies to leverage strategic or financial benefits that would be otherwise unattainable. A decoupling process was developed and scaled up utilizing single-pass tangential flow filtration for volume reduction, followed by bulk freezing in single-use bags prior to purification. Single-pass tangential flow filtration can be used to continuously concentrate harvested cell culture fluid, reducing the volume by 15-25× with a step yield of >96%. These concentration factors were reproduced with a second product, indicating that the process could be amenable to platform processes. Experimental data indicate that the product tested was stable for at least one year at -40 or -70°C. The concentration of the harvested cell culture fluid-either with or without a subsequent period of frozen storage-had no impact on the product quality attributes that were tested. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:405-411, 2018.
On the structure of the set of symmetric matrices with the Perron–Frobenius property

Abstract In this paper we explore the geometry of the set of symmetric Perron–Frobenius matrices, whose spectral radius is an eigenvalue with a nonnegative associated eigenvector. We prove that the set, which is not convex, is star convex with the identity matrix as the center. We also describe a few aspects of the geometric structure of the set.
Use of ER-REBOA to Reverse Traumatic Arrest After Non-Truncal Bleeding

We report a successful case of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) to control hemorrhage in a patient with cardiac arrest secondary to non-truncal hemorrhage.
Efficacy of disinfection of shell eggs externally contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis: Implications for egg testing

Experimental contamination of the surface of shell eggs by dipping in a culture of Salmonella enteritidis resulted in the presence of Salmonella enteritidis in/on the shells as well as shell membranes but not in the egg content. Disinfection with Lugol's solution, chlorhexidine, ethanol, quarternary ammonium solutions or flaming after dipping in ethanol failed to achieve complete decontamination of the shell and membranes with resulting false positives when eggs were broken for culturing of the content. Dipping eggs for three seconds in boiling water resulted in complete destruction of Salmonella enteritidis in shells and membranes but sometimes caused the eggs to crack. A method of aseptically opening eggs without risk of contaminating the content from the shell or membrane was developed. Salmonella enteritidis deposited in/on the shell and membranes did not multiply during storage of the eggs at 20 degrees C for four weeks, the counts seemed to decrease. No Salmonella enteritidis was detected in the contents of any contaminated eggs.
The Importance of Graduate Student Engagement in a Campus Language Diversity Initiative

In 2012, North Carolina State University launched a campus-wide linguistic diversity program, “Educating the Educated,” with a goal of engaging the campus community about language as a key element ...
Impact of Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Synthesis on Mitochondrial Biogenesis.

Summary Biology students today are taught that mitochondria are ‘the powerhouse of the cell’. This gross over-simplification of their cellular role has arguably led to a paucity of knowledge concerning the many other tasks carried out by this multifunctional organelle. Mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS) is one such under-appreciated pathway that is crucial for mitochondrial function, although even mitochondrial experts are often surprised to learn of its existence. For many years, the only function of mtFAS was thought to be the production of lipoic acid, an important co-factor for several mitochondrial enzymes. However, recent advances have revealed a far wider role for mtFAS in mitochondrial physiology. The discovery of human patients with mutations in mtFAS enzymes has brought renewed interest in understanding the full significance of this novel mode of mitochondrial metabolic regulation. We now appreciate that mtFAS is a nutrient-sensitive pathway that provides an elegant mechanism whereby acetyl-CoA regulates its own consumption via coordination of lipoic acid synthesis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity, iron–sulfur (FeS) cluster biogenesis, assembly of oxidative phosphorylation complexes, and mitochondrial translation. In this minireview, we describe and build upon the important discoveries that led to our current understanding of this elegant mechanism of coordination of nutrient status and metabolism.
Locating Latinos in the Field of Civil Rights: Assessing the Neoliberal Case for Radical Exclusion

Addresses the double bind confronting Latinos: Whereas conservatives think they pose a threat to Anglo culture, some liberals disdain them for consuming resources, such as sympathy, that by rights ought to go to deeply disadvantaged groups, such as blacks or Native Americans. Probes and analyzes the latter (neoliberal) position. Surveys a history of anti-Latino nativism and advises on the desirability of Latino assimilation with the white majority.
Categories convey prescriptive information across domains and development.

Abstract Young children display a pervasive bias to assume that what they observe in the world reflects how things are supposed to be. The current studies examined the nature of this bias by testing whether it reflects a particular form of reasoning about human social behaviors or a more general feature of category representations. Children aged 4 to 9 years and adults (N = 747) evaluated instances of nonconformity among members of novel biological and human social kinds. Children held prescriptive expectations for both animal and human categories; in both cases, they said it was wrong for a category member to engage in category-atypical behavior. These prescriptive judgments about categories depended on the extent to which people saw the pictured individual examples as representative of coherent categories. Thus, early prescriptive judgments appear to rely on the interplay between general conceptual biases and domain-specific beliefs about category structure.
Rhetorics of Whiteness: Postracial Hauntings in Popular Culture, Social Media, and Education

In Rhetorics of Whiteness: Postracial Hauntings in Popular Culture, Social Media, and Education, editors Tammie M. Kennedy, Joyce Irene Middleton, and Krista Ratcliffe have assembled a series of es...
Ex vivo blockade of PI3K gamma or delta signaling enhances the antitumor potency of adoptively transferred CD8+ T cells.

Adoptive T cell transfer therapy induces objective responses in patients with advanced malignancies. Despite these results, some individuals do not respond due to the generation of terminally differentiated T cells during the expansion protocol. As the gamma and delta catalytic subunits in the PI3K pathway are abundant in leukocytes and involved in cell activation, we posited that blocking both subunits ex vivo with the inhibitor IPI-145 would prevent their differentiation, thereby increasing antitumor activity in vivo. However, IPI-145 treatment generated a product with reduced antitumor activity. Instead, T cells inhibited of PI3Kγ (IPI-549) or PI3Kδ (CAL-101 or TGR-1202) alone were more potent in vivo. While T cells coinhibited of PI3Kγ and PI3Kδ were less differentiated, they were functionally impaired, indicated by reduced production of effector cytokines after antigenic re-encounter and decreased persistence in vivo. Human CAR T cells expanded with either a PI3Kγ or PI3Kδ inhibitor possessed a central memory phenotype compared to vehicle cohorts. We also found that PI3Kδ-inhibited CARs lysed human tumors in vitro more effectively than PI3Kγ-expanded or traditionally expanded CAR T cells. Our data imply that sole blockade of PI3Kγ or PI3Kδ generates T cells with remarkable antitumor properties, a discovery that has substantial clinical implications.
Covid-19 Enters College but to what Degree?

This article considers the potential long term implications of university emergency responses to Covid-19. While empathetic responses are important in a time of crisis, emergency measures should not necessarily entail the infringement of or the abandonment of rights articulated in existing policies, procedures, collective agreements, or contracts. Areas of particular vulnerability include academic freedom, faculty workload, and intellectual property rights. The author also suggests that crisis responses by higher education may be seen as more of an intensification of neoliberal pressures than as signaling new pressures from the pandemic alone.
Health Equity - Are We Finally on the Edge of a New Frontier?

Health Equity Our health care system is a microcosm of U.S. society: its resources are not allocated fairly among races. Though various factors influence prevention and management of chronic diseas...
Health care providers’ perceptions of interprofessional simulation: A meta-ethnography

Abstract Background Numerous medical errors in health care stem from poor communication and lack of teamwork. Interprofessional collaboration has been utilized to address inadequacies in health care, including simulation-based education. Purpose The purpose of this study was to present the results of a qualitative synthesis of research on health care providers’ perceptions of interprofessional simulation. Method A meta-ethnography was conducted using Noblit and Hare's (1988) seven-step method of reciprocal translation for data analysis. Discussion Themes emerged to create a metaphor of climbing steps to reach an effective simulation experience. The six identified themes are depicted in the “Successful Simulation Staircase:” (1) Overcoming discomfort, (2) Appreciating a safe zone for learning, (3) Critiquing authenticity, (4) Building the interprofessional team, (5) Experiencing personal growth, and (6) Transferring knowledge to practice. Conclusions Overall, the perception of interprofessional simulation among health care providers was positive through this meta-ethnography, supporting the use of simulation-based activities to improve teamwork and patient care.
Parental Vaccine Hesitancy and Childhood Influenza Vaccination

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the prevalence of parental vaccine hesitancy (VH) in the United States and examine the association of VH with sociodemographics and childhood influenza vaccination coverage. METHODS: A 6-question VH module was included in the 2018 and 2019 National Immunization Survey-Flu, a telephone survey of households with children age 6 months to 17 years. RESULTS: The percentage of children having a parent reporting they were “hesitant about childhood shots” was 25.8% in 2018 and 19.5% in 2019. The prevalence of concern about the number of vaccines a child gets at one time impacting the decision to get their child vaccinated was 22.8% in 2018 and 19.1% in 2019; the prevalence of concern about serious, long-term side effects impacting the parent’s decision to get their child vaccinated was 27.3% in 2018 and 21.7% in 2019. Only small differences in VH by sociodemographic variables were found, except for an 11.9 percentage point higher prevalence of “hesitant about childhood shots” and 9.9 percentage point higher prevalence of concerns about serious, long-term side effects among parents of Black compared with white children. In both seasons studied, children of parents reporting they were “hesitant about childhood shots” had 26 percentage points lower influenza vaccination coverage compared with children of parents not reporting hesitancy. CONCLUSIONS: One in 5 children in the United States have a parent who is vaccine hesitant, and hesitancy is negatively associated with childhood influenza vaccination. Monitoring VH could help inform immunization programs as they develop and target methods to increase vaccine confidence and vaccination coverage.
Shade affects fine-root morphology in range-encroaching eastern redcedars (Juniperus virginiana) more than competition, soil fertility and pH

Abstract Fine-root morphological variables are often directly correlated with soil nutrient availability and water absorption. Indirectly, these morphological variables could be related to nutrient depletion by other plants. The relationships of fine-root variables with shade, direct or indirect, are unknown. I tested the relationships between a number of soil quality variables (levels of nitrogen and lime), competition with a co-dominant tree, and shade for the range-encroaching eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana. I measured seven fine-root parameters as indices of potential nutrient-uptake or competitive ability. I also assessed the relationships of these fine-root parameters with foraging return (i.e., tissue nitrogen, non-structural carbohydrates, relative growth rate and biomass). There were no significant (main) effects of soil amendments (added nitrogen and lime) or tree competition on any of the seven root parameters. There was a significant (indirect) effect of shade (affecting five out of seven fine-root morphological variables), and a significant interaction effect between fertilizer and lime amendments, although the last-mentioned interaction affected one fine-root variable only. There were two additional pieces of evidence that support the effect of shade: a significant difference between shaded and unshaded plants in the slope of the negative relationship between root diameter and specific root length, and a significant overall difference among all fine-root morphological variables in a principal components analysis between shaded and unshaded plants. I found that fractal dimension was the only variable for which there were positive correlations with foraging return, probably because a higher fractal dimension leads to more effective use of nutrients. I expected a negative correlation between foraging returns and fine-root characteristics that incurred substantial costs. I only found a significant cost for specific root length, which may be mediated by the unmeasured parameter of root lifespan.
Manual Therapy in Preadolescent Children: A Delphi Investigation of Physical Therapists in the United States.

Objective Limited research has investigated the use of manual therapy to treat the preadolescent (0-12 years of age) population with musculoskeletal and neurological impairments. The purpose of this study was to identify the following among physical therapists holding advanced credentials in pediatrics, neurodevelopmental treatment, or manual therapy: (1) consensus regarding effective techniques in the preadolescent population, (2) differences in opinion, and (3) perceived decision-making barriers and factors regarding use of manual therapy techniques. Methods Credentialed physical therapists in the United States were recruited for a 3-round Delphi investigation. An electronic survey in Round 1 identified musculoskeletal and neurological impairments and the manual techniques considered effective to treat such conditions, in addition to factors and barriers. Responses were used to create the second round, during which a 4-point Likert scale was used to score each survey item. A third round of scoring established consensus. Descriptive statistics and composite scores were calculated for each manual technique by impairment. Between-group differences were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. Results Consensus was determined for several concepts. First, neuromuscular techniques were considered effective across all impairments, and joint mobilizations (grades I-IV) were believed to be effective to treat joint and muscle and myofascial impairments. Second, visceral manipulation and craniosacral therapy were considered ineffective in treating most impairments. There was lack of consensus and clear differences of opinion regarding the use of grade V mobilizations and dry needling. Significant barriers to use of manual therapy were: lack of knowledge, lack of evidence, and fear of litigation and harming patients. Conclusion This study is an initial step for developing manual therapy guidelines, research, and educational opportunities regarding manual therapy in pediatric physical therapy.
Using Telehealth to Enhance Pediatric Psychiatric Clinical Simulation: Rising to Meet the COVID-19 Challenge

Securing clinical locations for Bachelor of Nursing Science (BSN) programs is always a complex challenge, particularly when clinical experiences are focused on vulnerable populations such as pediatric psychiatric patients. To provide students with a meaningful clinical experience during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a telehealth simulation centered on a pediatric psychiatric patient with unfolding adolescent depression and suicidal ideation. This case study uses qualitative data analysis of student debriefing sessions as well as a pre/post test design to explore the effectiveness of the simulation. Results suggest that simulations can be useful for presenting unique patient scenarios focused on therapeutic communication in psychiatric assessment, particularly for vulnerable patient populations. Quantitative data analysis showed BSN students improved their understanding of communication needs of adolescents and retained their knowledge over time; qualitative comments showed that students felt the simulation was a valuable learning experience and achieved key learning outcomes.
Where Newsroom Leaders See Technology Facilitating Innovation in Local TV News

Little research has examined how local TV newsrooms determine the type and scope of technological innovation they will embrace. Given the importance of local TV news in keeping the public informed,...
IgA Vasculitis in Adults: a Rare yet Challenging Disease

IgA vasculitis (IgAV) is a rare and poorly understood systemic vasculitis in adults. Its diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge. Herein, we review the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of IgAV in adults. The clinical course of IgAV in adults appears to be different from pediatric IgAV, especially due to its higher risk of evolving into end-stage renal disease. Rising awareness and interest in adult-onset IgA vasculitis has resulted in recent increasing number of publications on different treatment experiences. However, there is still controversy over the role of glucocorticoid (GC) and different immunosuppressive therapies such as cyclophosphamide, rituximab, and mychophenolate mofetil for more severe IgAV. Data regarding potential benefits of targeting the mucosal immune system, toll-like receptors, complements, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of IgA nephropathy are emerging. High quality evidence or guidelines in the treatment of severe IgAV are lacking and there is still a great need for controlled trials.
Public Sector Ethics: Theory and Applications

Introduction: In Search of a Paradigm Influences on Ethical Behavior Problems of Religious and Philosophical Guides Mission Statements of Public Sector Organizations Mission and Organizational Culture Conclusions Ethical Grounding: Philosophical Perspectives Basic Tenets of Deontology Basic Tenets of Teleology Basic Tenets of Virtue Ethics Ethical Insights from Philosophy Ethical Grounding: Religious Perspectives Buddhist Ethics Confucian Ethics Judaic Ethics Islamic Ethics Christian Ethics Ethical Insights from Religious Perspectives Mission, Ethical Dilemmas, and Role of Culture in Organizations Mission Statements Personal versus Organizational Ethics: Dilemmas of Loyalty Personal versus Organizational Ethics: Dilemmas of Resistance Mission and Culture: Safety, Research/a SKnowledge, and Economic Oversight Organizations Personally Confronting Mission Dissonance: Exit and Voice Why Exit? Ethics of Exit Exit Case Studies Why Voice? Ethics of Whistle-Blowing Voice Case Studies Conjectural Cases in Exit and Voice Exemplars of Public Service Notable Exemplars of Public Service Insights from Case Studies Conclusions Mission and Ethics: A Utilitarian Perspective Ethics and the Public Sector References
Detection and classification of faults affecting maneuverability of underwater vehicles

This paper describes the application of Fisher Discriminant Analysis and the Hotelling T/sup 2/ statistic to the detection and classification of major failures that can occur in underwater vehicles. Simulation results are presented that demonstrate that rapid detection and reliable classification can be obtained with these methods.
Advances in the robust processing of multimodal speech and pen systems

Multimodal systems have developed rapidly during the past decade, with progress toward building more general and robust systems, as well as more transparent and usable human interfaces. These next-generation multimodal systems aim to improve the expressive power and efficiency of human interfaces, to expand the accessibility of computing for diverse and disabled users, to enhance the performance stability and robustness of recognition-based systems, and to support new forms of computing. In this chapter, we describe the QuickSet multimodal pen/voice system, including its functionality, interface design, natural language processing and fusion techniques, overall architecture, applications and performance. We also summarize results from two recent empirical studies with QuickSet in which its multimodal architecture is shown to decrease failures in spoken language processing by 19-41%. This performance improvement mainly is due to the mutual disambiguation of input signals that is possible within a multimodal architecture, which occurs at higher levels for challenging user groups (accented versus native speakers) and usage environments (mobile versus stationary use). This research demonstrates that new multimodal architectures can stabilize error-prone recognition technologies, and yield major improvements in system robustness.
Predicting Renal Parenchymal Loss after Nephron Sparing Surgery.

Purpose: We analyze the relationship among various patient, operative and tumor characteristics to determine which factors correlate with renal parenchymal volume loss after nephron sparing surgery using a novel 3-dimensional volume assessment.Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of an institutional database of patients who underwent nephron sparing surgery from 1992 to 2014 for a localized renal mass. Tumors were classified according to the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry system. Using 3-dimensional reconstruction imaging software, preoperative and postoperative renal parenchymal volume was calculated for the ipsilateral and contralateral kidney.Results: A total of 158 patients were analyzed. Mean patient age was 58.7 years and mean followup was 40.1 months. Mean preoperative tumor volume was 34.0 cc and mean tumor dimension was 3.4 cm. Mean R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score was 6.2, with 60.1%, 34.2% and 5.7% of tumors classified as low, medium and high complexity, respectively. Mean change in r...
Left Atrial Size in Hypertensive Men: Influence of Obesity, Race and Age

Abstract Objectives. We sought to determine the relations of left atrial (LA) size to blood pressure, obesity, race, age and left ventricular (LV) mass in hypertension. Background. Although obesity, race and age may influence LV mass, their effects on LA size have not been defined in hypertension. Methods. Left atrial size was measured in 690 men (58% African-Americans) with mild to moderate hypertension (mean [±SD] blood pressure 152 ± 15/98 ± 6 mm Hg) and a high prevalence of LV hypertrophy. Effects of LV mass, adiposity, race, age, physical activity, height, weight, sodium excretion, plasma renin activity and heart rate were examined. Results. Left atrial size was greater (p ≤ 0.0001) in obese (44.2 ± 5.7 mm) than in overweight (41.6 ± 5.9 mm) or normal weight (38.9 ± 6.2 mm) patients. Left atrial enlargement (≥43 mm) was present in 56% of obese patients compared with 42% of overweight and 25% of normal weight hypertensive men. As age increased, white patients had a greater LA size than African-American patients. Although there was no relation between LV mass and LA size in normal weight patients, there was a significant positive relation in obese patients. On multiple regression analysis, obesity was the strongest independent predictor of increased LA size. Conclusions. Obesity is the strongest predictor of LA size in patients with hypertension and amplifies the relation between LA size and LV mass. Race influences effects of age and hypertension on LA size. Because increased LA size and LV mass (also influenced by obesity) are associated with an adverse outcome, these findings underscore the importance of obesity, race and age with regard to the cardiac effects of hypertension. (J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;29:651–8)
Adenovirus-mediated delivery of Factor H attenuates complement C3 induced pathology in the murine retina: a potential gene therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly, with no therapy available for 90% of patients. Recent genetic evidence implicates activation of complement in the pathogenesis of AMD. We have recently discovered that adenovirus (Ad)-mediated expression of complement component C3 (AdCMVC3) in the murine retina recapitulates many of the pathological features found in human AMD. In the present study, utilizing a gene therapy approach, we examine whether Ad-mediated expression of complement Factor H (AdCAGfH) attenuates AdCMVC3-mediated retinal pathology. Methods AdCMVC3 was co-injected with either AdCAGfH or a negative control virus expressing green fluorescent protein (AdCMVGFP) into the subretinal space of adult mice. The resulting retinal pathology was analyzed by histology and immunocytochemistry and retinal function was quantified by electroretinography. Results Morphological and functional analyses indicated that AdCMVC3-mediated retinal pathology could be attenuated by AdCAGfH. Specifically, endothelial cell proliferation was reduced by 91% and atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) could be attenuated by 69%. AdCAGfH injected eyes exhibited 90–150% greater A-wave and 120–180% greater B-wave amplitudes relative to control eyes. Immunocytochemical analysis of rhodopsin and RPE65 was consistent with the rescue of photoreceptors and RPE in AdCAGfH injected eyes. Conclusions C3-induced pathology in murine retina can be attenuated by Ad-mediated expression of Factor H. Expression of Factor H is worthy of further study as a potential gene therapy for AMD. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Error-correcting codes in complexity theory

Error-correcting codes and related combinatorial constructs play an important role is several recent (and old) results in complexity theory. This course will give a brief overview of the theory, constructions, algorithms, and applications of error-correcting codes. We will begin with basic definitions and the constructions of Reed-Solomon, Reed-Muller, and low-weight parity-check codes, then see unique-decoding and list-decoding algorithms, and finally, as time allows, applications to secret-sharing, hashing, private information retrieval, average-case complexity and probabilistically checkable proofs.
Temperature effects on the biomechanics of prey capture in the frog Rana pipiens.

Movements of many animals are powered by a combination of active shortening of muscles and recoil of elastic structures. Movements that rely primarily on elastic recoil, such as the explosive locomotor and feeding movements of many ectotherms, have been shown to exhibit lower thermal dependence than muscle-powered movements because elastically powered movements circumvent the effects of temperature on muscle contractile dynamics. To determine if elastic recoil contributes to the ballistic mouth opening and tongue projection of the frog Rana pipiens, we examined feeding kinematics and dynamics of tongue and jaw movements at three ambient temperatures (10, 15, and 25°C) using 6,000 Hz image sequences. We found that ballistic mouth opening exhibits high instantaneous power (up to 1,783 W kg(-1) of muscle mass) and its dynamics have low thermal dependence (Q(10) values of 1.02-1.37), indicating the contribution of elastic recoil. The dynamics of tongue projection are more thermally dependent (Q(10) of 1.35-2.51) and likely involve muscle activity during the movement. Mouth opening during prey transport, as well as tongue retraction and mouth closing showed little evidence of elastic recoil and their dynamics show relatively high thermal dependence (Q(10) of 1.38-1.89). R. pipiens shows lower thermal robustness and power of tongue projection than ballistic-tongued Bufo terrestris which displays complete thermal independence, suggesting that in Rana tongue projection is not as tightly coupled to jaw depression as in toads. We propose that thermal experiments may be useful in probing for elastic mechanisms in other biomechanical systems.
Using Exchange Tapes in the Preparation and Training Program for Student Teachers

The extensive use of tape recordings has been employed to assist in training science teachers. Benefits observed included an increase in personal awareness of the classroom atmosphere for both teacher and listener, an increase in the quality of teaching, and an increase in the quality and efficiency of supervision.The tape exchange system, between student teacher and college supervisor, was used to supplement regular classroom visits. Besides providing the student teacher with the operational skills and potential innovative classroom use of recorders and tapes, the exchange program allowed the teacher to share his best teaching efforts with his peers and the college supervisor. The college supervisor was able to benefit by using the “dead time” resulting from travel between schools to listen to the tapes and become familiar with the classroom environment and the progress for that particular student teacher.Each tape included an introduction and the objectives for the lesson taught, a recording of the actu...
Simultaneous Use of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators and Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Patients With Severe Heart Failure

More patients who are receiving therapy with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) also have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The aim of the present study was to describe the outcomes and device interactions of simultaneous therapy with an ICD and a LVAD. We evaluated 76 patients with class IV heart failure (age 52 ± 12 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 0.13 ± 0.05%, 88% men, 61% nonischemic cardiomyopathy) with both an ICD and a LVAD. The median follow-up with both devices was 156 days. A LVAD with a pulsatile and continuous flow pump was used in 53 (70%) and 23 (30%) patients, respectively. Of the 76 patients, 12 (16%) received a total of 54 ICD therapies. Of the ICD therapies, 88% were appropriate. Of the 76 patients, 55 (72%) underwent heart transplantation a median of 146 days after LVAD implantation. Twelve patients (16%) died during simultaneous ICD and LVAD therapy. Interactions between the LVAD and ICD occurred in 2 patients (2.7%) with continuous flow pumps (HeartMate II). In both cases, telemetry failure occurred after LVAD implantation with 2 different models of ICDs from the same manufacturer. No ICD therapies occurred because of device-related interactions. In conclusion, simultaneous ICD and LVAD therapy in patients with severe congestive heart failure is safe and clinically feasible. Interactions between the devices are uncommon and appear limited to specific models of ICDs.
Birth order and sex of siblings in a sample of lesbians and non-lesbians.

Data from 217 Lesbians and 231 non-Lesbians, displaying birth order among male and female siblings, reveal proportionately more Lesbians who are “only” or first-born of two siblings or who are fifth, sixth, or seventh in such large families; and fewer Lesbians among third child of three-sibling families.