cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic US cohort (LUMINA) XL II: factors predictive of new or worsening proteinuria

OBJECTIVES To determine the factors predictive of new or worsening proteinuria in a large multiethnic cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS Five hundred and twenty-nine SLE patients from a multiethnic US cohort [LUpus in MInorities: NAture versus Nurture (LUMINA)] were evaluated for new or worsening proteinuria using the categories of the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure-Revised: (1), normal; (2), trace or 1+ proteinuria on the dipstick; (3), 2-3+ proteinuria and (4), > or =4+ proteinuria. A rise in urinary protein was considered a positive event visit. Basic demographic and socioeconomic variables were assessed at baseline (T0). Clinical and immunological variables including disease features, activity, duration, comorbidities (such as hypertension and diabetes), medications and autoantibodies were assessed at the visit preceding a positive event visit. Selected HLA-DR and HLA-DQ alleles, and FCGR receptor polymorphisms were assessed. Data were analysed using logistic regression analyses and generalized estimating equations. RESULTS There were 243 patients (59.1% of 93 Texan Hispanics, 37.0% of 100 Puerto Rican Hispanics, 58.0% of 181 African Americans and 29.7% of 155 Caucasians) with new or worsening proteinuria, and 364 positive events in 2801 visits. Younger age [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.013, 95% confidence limits (CL) = 1.001-1.024, P < 0.0334], anti-dsDNA (OR = 1.554, CL = 1.149-2.100, P < 0.0042), and HLA-DRB1*1503 (OR = 1.746, 95% CL = 1.573-2.2673, P < 0.0103) were found to independently predict the occurrence of new or worsening proteinuria. CONCLUSION The factors predictive of new or worsening proteinuria include traditional factors associated with lupus nephritis, such as age and anti-dsDNA, as well as HLA-DRB1*1503, which has not been previously described in association with lupus nephritis, new or worsening proteinuria.
Playful security: A computer game for secure wireless device pairing

The secure “pairing” of wireless devices based on out-of-band communication is an established research direction. Unfortunately, this approach is prone to human errors that lead to man-in-the-middle attacks. To address this and to better motivate users, this paper proposes the use of computer games for pairing. Games make the pairing process enjoyable and engaging, thus improving its usability and security. The technical contribution of this work is a new pairing system called “Alice Says.” This is a game that achieves pairing and is based on the memory game Simon. We also discuss the design and implementation of Alice Says. On a broader note, this paper also points to other security problems that are currently lacking optimal solutions and suggests how games and entertainment can be applied to improve them.
The Role of Culture in the Representation of Conflict in Dreams A Comparison of Bedouin, Irish, and Israeli Children

The relationship of culture to the representation of conflict in children's manifest dreams was explored. Dream reports of Irish, Israeli, and Bedouin children were collected and independently scored by raters who were blind to the culture of the dreamer. Conflictual dreams were found to be more distorted than nonconflictual dreams in all three cultures. Manifestly conflictual dream reports differed cross-culturally along four domains: self-representation, other representation, realistic quality of the dream, and the nature of the conflict. Cross-cultural differences observed in the representation and distortion of dream conflicts were explored as reflecting culturally related socialization practices. The findings were used to support the idea that the manifest dream reflects characteristic coping processes of the dreamer and is therefore a useful measure of culturally mediated ego processes.
Communities and Peace: Catholic Youth in Northern Ireland:

The long-term success of any political settlement in Northern Ireland will rely not only on the willingness of young people to transcend their inheritance but also on the degree to which they are e...
Effects of deuterium anneal on MOSFETs with HfO 2 gate dielectrics

The effects of high-temperature (600/spl deg/C) anneal in a dilute deuterium (N/sub 2/ : D/sub 2/= 96 : 4) atmosphere was first investigated and evaluated in comparison to high-temperature forming gas (N/sub 2/ : H/sub 2/= 96 : 4) anneal (600/spl deg/C) and nonanneal samples. The high-temperature deuterium anneal was as effective as the forming gas anneal in improving MOSCAP and MOSFET characteristics such as the C-V curve, drain current, subthreshold swing, and carrier mobility. These can be attributed to the improved interface quality by D/sub 2/ atoms. However, unlike the forming gas anneal, the deuterium anneal provided the hafnium oxide (HfO/sub 2/) gate dielectric MOSFET with better reliability characteristics such as threshold voltage (V/sub T/) stability under high voltage stress.
The absorption of plant sterols by the fowl.

1. A gas-liquid chromatographic method for the detection of phytosterols in tissues and excreta of birds was developed. The limitations of this method are discussed. 2. β- and γ-Sitosterol werc detected in the plasma of adult cockerels and in the plasma, intestinal wall, and liver of 4-week-old cockerels. The proportion of sitosterols in the total sterol absorbed appeared to be affected by the nature of the dietary fat. 3. γ-Sitosterol was more effectively absorbed than β-sitosterol. The ratio of β to γ was altered by the nature of the dietary fat. 4. Using a diet containing 10% triolein and 1% cholic acid, and increasing the dietary plant sterol level up to 2%, increased the proportion of sitosterols in the intestinal wall of 4-week-old cocks. Further increases in dietary plant sterols did not produce additional increases in the proportion of sitosterols among intestinal wall sterols. 5. γ-Sitosterol and traces of β-sitosterol were found in eggs from hens given a diet supplemented with maize stcrols.
Comparison of solar power plant interaction with different market structures

In recent years, many nations have invested in renewable energy in an effort to improve sustainability and to reduce CO2 emissions. At present, most renewable resources are subsidized or paid a feed-in tariff. As renewable resource construction increases, subsidies will become unsustainable. The issue then will be how these renewable energy plants would interact with the electricity market in fair competition with other suppliers. Currently, there are two major electricity market pricing schemes worldwide the Marginal Pricing (MP) scheme with Local Marginal Pricing (LMP) for congestion management (e.g. PJM), and the Pay-as-Bid scheme, with adjustment bidding for congestion management (e.g. UK market). This paper explores the effect of solar plant interaction under both of these schemes. A five-bus system was used to examine the effects of a congested transmission line. These effects exam includes the solar plant revenue, generator profit, and change in social welfare. This paper shows that a Solar Power Plant would benefit more in a MP scheme rather than PAB scheme, as the revenue is more, and also, MP encourages constructing solar plants in congested areas which will make the grid more efficient.
Cost-effectiveness comparison of cefepime and ceftazidime using decision analysis.

A retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis, from the institutional perspective, was performed on the 1637 clinically evaluable patients who participated in randomised studies of cefepime versus ceftazidime. The clinical success rate was 88% for patients in both the cefepime and ceftazidime groups. Adverse events occurred in 16.5% of cefepime and 19.0% of ceftazidime patients (p > 0.05). In most cases cefepime was administered every 12 hours while ccftazidime was administered every 8 hours. The amount of drug administered per patient (mean ± SEM) was 17.6 ± O.4g of cefepime and 29.1 ± 0.8g of ceftazidime (p < 0.01). The median number of days of antibiotic treatment was 8 for each group. Decision and sensitivity analyses of drug price and hospital bed cost demonstrated that cefepime was consistently more cost effective than ceftazidime. The probability of clinical success varied between 60 and 97% and revealed that ceftazidime would have to be 31 % more effective than cefepime to change the economic decision. If the acquisition prices per gram of drug are similar, cefepime will be cost effective compared with ceftazidime.
In vitro grown human ovarian follicles from cancer patients support oocyte growth

background: Young female adult and adolescent cancer patients facing life-preserving but fertility-threatening chemo- or radiationtherapy are increasingly seeking options to protect their reproductive potential. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation with transplantation is a promising technique to safeguard fertility in cancer patients. However, this method may risk re-introduction of the original cancer to the survivor of the disease. Thus, developing a method for in vitro growth of immature follicles may provide a method for fertility restoration in the future. methods: Human secondary follicles were isolated from ovarian tissues obtained from cancer patients and grown in vitro within a bio-engineered culture system for 30 days. results: Human ovarian follicles became steroidogenically active, and developed from the early secondary to antral stage in vitro. The follicles contained healthy, growing oocytes that were connected by transzonal projections between the somatic cells and oocyte.
The Effects of Read-Aloud Accommodations for Students With and Without Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis

Read-aloud accommodations have been proposed as a way to help remove barriers faced by students with disabilities in reading comprehension. Many empirical studies have examined the effects of read-aloud accommodations; however, the results are mixed. With a variance-known hierarchical linear modeling approach, based on 114 effect sizes from 23 studies, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effects of read-aloud accommodations for students with and without disabilities. In general, both students with disabilities and students without disabilities benefited from the read-aloud accommodations, and the accommodation effect size for students with disabilities was significantly larger than the effect size for students without disabilities. Further, this meta-analysis reveals important factors that influence the effects of read-aloud accommodations. For instance, the accommodation effect was significantly stronger when the subject area was reading than when the subject area was math. The effect of read-aloud accommodations was also significantly stronger when the test was read by human proctors than when it was read by video/audio players or computers. Finally, the implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Facebook Use and Texting Among African American and Hispanic Teenagers An Implication for Academic Performance

The present study explores the usage and attitude toward Facebook and text messaging among African American and Hispanic teenagers. It also examines the influence of personality and gender on the n...
Blowback: Information warfare and the dynamics of coercion

(1998). Blowback: Information warfare and the dynamics of coercion. Security Studies: Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 88-120.
Inhibition of Intracellular Macromolecular Synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus by Thrombin-Induced Platelet Microbicidal Proteins

Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal proteins (tPMP-1 and tPMP-2) are believed to initiate their staphylocidal effects via cytoplasmic membrane perturbation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of subsequent inhibition of macromolecular synthesis in the staphylocidal mechanisms of tPMP-1 and tPMP-2 in an isogenic tPMP-susceptible and -resistant strain pair (ISP479C and ISP479R, respectively). In ISP479C, tPMP-1 and tPMP-2 (2 mg/mL) exerted significant bactericidal effects and significantly reduced DNA and RNA synthesis (P , .05 vs. control). In contrast, tPMP-1 and tPMP-2 exerted reduced staphylocidal effects and significantly reduced inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis against ISP479R, as compared with ISP479C (P , .05). However, tPMP-1 and tPMP-2 (2 mg/mL) caused equivalent degrees of inhibition of protein synthesis in both ISP479C and ISP479R. Collectively, these observations are consistent with the hypothesis that inhibition of specific macromolecular synthesis pathways is integral to the overall staphylocidal mechanism(s) of tPMPs. Evidence from several laboratories strongly supports the concept that mammalian platelets are integral to host defense against infection [1–6]. Conceptually, the antimicrobial functions of mammalian platelets have recently been linked to their release of a group of small, cationic peptides termed platelet microbicidal proteins (PMPs) [1, 5–17]. Thrombin-induced PMPs (tPMPs) are released in vitro from rabbit and human platelets stimulated with thrombin, a molecule generated at sites of endovascular damage in vivo [18–20]. For example, platelet factor–4, connective tissue–activating peptide–3, and derivative “thrombocidins” are members of the group of tPMPs identified from human platelets [2, 5, 9, 10]. The majority of these peptides exert rapid and potent microbicidal effects in vitro against a broad spectrum of microbial pathogens that commonly invade the bloodstream, including Staphylococcus aureus [1, 3, 5, 6, 13–17]. Although the interactions of some tPMPs with target microbial membranes and artificial membrane models have been studied in detail [17, 21–23], their overall microbicidal mechanism(s) have not been fully defined. Studies in our laboratories, focusing on tPMP-1, have demonstrated that this peptide targets and disrupts
Wave mixing spectroscopy for surface studies

Optical second-harmonic generation and sum-frequency generation are intrinsically surface-specific. They can therefore be used as effective surface probes. We briefly review the wide range of applications found for these probes in recent years. Many of them have opened the door for exciting new research opportunities.
Escuela e identidad: Un desafío docente para la cohesión social

La investigacion que se expone, realizada en Chile, se vincula a la vivencia de ciudadania en ninos y ninas en el espacio escolar, a traves de la configuracion de “lo comun” como plataforma de cohesion social. El diseno metodologico corresponde a estudio de casos multiples, correspondiente a ocho centros escolares de primaria. El analisis de los registros de observacion, entrevistas y documentos, nos permitieron levantar tres grandes categorias: La categoria denominada, “alteridad” con las subcategorias de sumision/dominacion, discriminacion por genero y estetica. La segunda gran categoria llamada: “lo comun”, con lineas discursivas vinculadas al sentido de pertenencia, participacion, democracia, sociabilidad y control normativo. Y por ultimo, “Identidad”, vinculada a prestigio social y autonomia versus dependencia. Los estudiantes configuran distintas identidades de prestigio social segun clase, el cual obedece a un estereotipo normativo configurado por el adulto, como formas de control para el mantenimiento del orden desde el “poder oficial” en la escuela y que impacta en el horizonte ideologico, etico politico de las representaciones simbolicas de ninos y ninas de ausencia de vivencia de ciudadania en la escuela primaria.
Synthesis and evaluation of a polydisulfide with Gd–DOTA monoamide side chains as a biodegradable macromolecular contrast agent for MR blood pool imaging

Macromolecular Gd(III)-based contrast agents are effective for contrast-enhanced blood pool and cancer MRI in preclinical studies. However, their clinical applications are impeded by potential safety concerns associated with slow excretion and prolonged retention of these agents in the body. To minimize the safety concerns of macromolecular Gd contrast agents, we have developed biodegradable macromolecular Gd contrast agents based on polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes. In this study, we designed and synthesized a new generation of the polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes containing a macrocyclic Gd(III) chelate, Gd–DOTA monoamide, to improve the in vivo kinetic inertness of the Gd(III) chelates. (N6-Lysyl)lysine-(Gd–DOTA) monoamide and 3-(2-carboxyethyldisulfanyl)propanoic acid copolymers (GODC) were synthesized by copolymerization of (N6-lysyl)lysine DOTA monoamide and dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate), followed by complexation with Gd(OAc)3. The GODC had an apparent molecular weight of 26.4 kDa and T1 relaxivity of 8.25 m m−1 s−1 per Gd at 1.5 T. The polymer chains of GODC were readily cleaved by l-cysteine and the chelates had high kinetic stability against transmetallation in the presence of an endogenous metal ion Zn2+. In vivo MRI study showed that GODC produced strong and prolonged contrast enhancement in the vasculature and tumor periphery of mice with breast tumor xenografts. GODC is a promising biodegradable macromolecular MRI contrast agent with high kinetic stability for MR blood pool imaging. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adam Smith, Prophet of Law & Economics

Adam Smith is not normally identified as an important figure in law and economics. However, his Lectures on Jurisprudence contain a surprising number of insights that would be repeated by law and economics scholars of the late twentieth century. This essay argues for Smith’s place in law and economics, identifying some of his most important arguments and emphasizing their contribution to legal theory. It also suggests reasons why Smith’s ideas did not lead immediately to the widespread adoption of efficiency-based explanations for legal rules.
Dynamics of behavioral thermoregulation in the rat

Past studies have found that the laboratory rat placed in a temperature gradient prefers temperatures that are markedly below its lower critical ambient temperature (LCT), whereas other rodents (e.g., mouse, hamster, and guinea pig) generally select thermal environments associated with minimal metabolic expenditure. To further study the rat's thermoregulatory behavior, a temperature gradient was designed to monitor the selected ambient temperature (STa) and motor activity (MA) of food-deprived rats of the Long-Evans (LE), Fischer 344 (F344), and Sprague-Dawley (SD) strains over a 22-h period. All three rat strains selected relatively cool STas of 21-26 degrees C during the first 1-3 h in the temperature gradient. This was followed by a gradual increase in the STa that peaked at 4 (F344) to 6 h (SD and LE) after being placed in the gradient. The LE strain had a significantly lower STa during the initial period in the gradient. There were slight decreases in the STa during the nocturnal phase in the F344 and SD strains concomitant with marked increases in MA. These results indicate that the rat requires a relatively long adjustment period in a temperature gradient before it exhibits STas that are associated with minimal metabolic expenditure. Given adequate time for accommodation, behavioral thermoregulatory responses of the rat appear to be similar to those of other rodents.
A Review of “Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining”

In Shelly Rambo's book, Spirit and Trauma; A Theology of Remaining, she extends the ultimate Christian metaphor of Pascha—death and decent in Holy Saturday—to some therapeutic theories of trauma. S...
Attempts at Chemotherapy in Experimental Poliomyelitis.

The experiments to be briefly presented deal with a systematic investigation into the merits of a number of pharmacological substances as possible chemotherapeutic agents in experimental poliomyelitis in the monkey. The list of substances studied includes the following chemotherapeutic compounds, disinfectants, and drugs: silversalvarsan, neosalvarsan, tryparsamide, colloidal bismuth, bismuth potassium tartrate, triphal (organic gold compound),† methylene blue silver, antimony potassium tartrate, neostibosan (organic antimony compound),†mercurochrome, metaphen, plasmochin,†Bayer 205 (Germanin),†chaulmoogra oil esther,†and hexylresorcinol solution. Since it soon became evident that restraining an already established infection was a hopeless task, we have for the most part administered the above mentioned substances during the incubation period by intravenous, intramuscular, or occasionally intraspinous injection of maximal doses, repeated as a rule at intervals of 2 or 3 days. The experiments were set up i...
Differential Sensitivity to Context: Implications for Developmental Psychopathology

The nature versus nurture debate is centuries old, yet accumulating evidence from the past few decades has made real the current position that variation in the onset and course of most human disorders will be most likely ultimately explained by interactions among biological and environmental forces. This chapter outlines some of the theories and empirical evidence for biology and context interactions in the etiology of healthy and pathological psychosocial development. We review evidence for differential susceptibility to both negative and positive contexts, spanning extreme adversity and psychosocial interventions, conferred by sensitivity across a broad range of biological systems, and occurring throughout development. We also highlight evidence for environmental shaping of physiological reactivity, and the manner in which this conditional adaptation confers both risk and protective factors for organisms in future contexts. Throughout, we highlight the conceptual and methodological controversies in this work and translational implications. Finally, we describe the challenges awaiting a new generation of investigators and theorists poised to bring the nature–nurture discussion into its next evolutionary form. Keywords: biological sensitivity to context (BSC); differential neurobiological susceptibility (DNS) ; conditional adaptation; individual differences; stress reactivity; physiologic reactivity; GxE
Attention Deficits and Rolandic Epilepsy

Impairment in attention in rolandic epilepsy (RE) was evaluated in 14 studies published between 1990 and 2006, in a study at Columbia University Medical Center and Queens College of the City University of New York, NY.
Effects of Sex, Drinking History, and Omega‐3 and Omega‐6 Fatty Acids Dysregulation on the Onset of Liver Injury in Very Heavy Drinking Alcohol‐Dependent Patients

Background Heavy alcohol consumption frequently causes liver inflammation/injury, and certain fatty acids (FAs) may be involved in this liver pathology. In this study, we evaluated the association of heavy drinking and the changes in the FA levels involved in the ω-6 (pro-inflammatory) and ω-3 (anti-inflammatory) state in alcohol-dependent (AD) patients who had no clinical manifestations of liver injury. We aimed to identify sex-based differences in patients with mild or no biochemical evidence of liver injury induced by heavy drinking. Methods A total of 114 heavy drinking AD female and male patients aged 21 to 65 years without clinical manifestations of liver injury, who were admitted to an alcohol dependence treatment program, were grouped by the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels: ≤40 IU/l, as no liver injury (GR.1), and >40 IU/l, as mild liver injury (GR.2). Patients were actively drinking until the day of admission. Comprehensive metabolic panel, comprehensive FA panel, and drinking history data were evaluated. Results Elevated ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed close association with markers of heavy alcohol intake. In the patients with mild biochemical liver injury (GR.2), females showed significantly higher AST level than males. Significant association of AST and total drinks in past 90 days (TD90) in females, and AST and heavy drinking days in past 90 days (HDD90) in males was observed. The ω-6:ω-3 ratio showed a significant pro-inflammatory response only in females with mild liver injury (GR.2) when adjusted by drinking history marker, TD90. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were increased in males with liver injury, while females did not show any comparable rise in EPA; and DHA levels were lower. Conclusions Measures of heavy drinking, TD90 and HDD90, predicted changes in liver injury. Changes in the ω-3 and ω-6 FA levels and the ω-6:ω-3 ratio showed a pro-inflammatory shift in patients with biochemical liver injury with a significant effect in females. Changes in FAs involved in the inflammatory state may represent one mechanism for liver inflammation/injury in response to heavy alcohol drinking.
Generalized modal analysis of waveguides and resonators with discrete exterior calculus

A generalized modal analysis with discrete exterior calculus for 2-D or 3-D electromagnetic system is presented. For an arbitrarily shaped inhomogeneous system, discrete exterior calculus provides a simple way to formulate the problem based on a triangular or tetrahedral discretization. In this paper, circumcenter dual is adopted to achieve diagonal discrete Hodge star operators. We also consider signed dual volumes for all dimensions to keep the correctness and accuracy of discrete Hodge star operators. Traveling modes of inhomogeneous waveguides and resonant cavity modes are numerically calculated to validate this method.
Phakic Intraocular Collamer Lens (Visian ICL) Implantation for Correction of Myopia in Spectacle-Aversive Special Needs Children

Purpose A subset of children with high anisometropia or isoametropia and neurobehavioral disorders have chronic difficulties with spectacle or contact lens wear. We report the results of refractive surgery in a series of these children treated using bilateral or unilateral intraocular collamer lens (Visian ICL) implantation for moderate to high myopia. Design Prospective nonrandomized cohort study. Methods Clinical course and outcome data were collated prospectively for 40 implanted eyes in 23 children (mean age 10.2 ± 5.3 years, range, 1.8–17 years). Myopia ranged from −3.0 to −14.5 diopters (D), mean −9.2 ± 3.5 D. Goal refraction was plano to +1 D. Correction was achieved by sulcus implantation of a Visian ICL (STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, California, USA) under general anesthesia. Mean follow-up was 15.1 months (range, 6–22 months). Results Thirty-five eyes (88%) were corrected to within ±1.0 D of goal refraction; the other 5 (12%) were corrected to within 1.5 D. Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved substantially in all eyes (from mean 20/1050 [logMAR 1.72] to mean 20/42 [logMAR 0.48]). Spherical regression at last follow-up was an average of +0.59 D. Visuomotor comorbidities (eg, amblyopia, nystagmus, foveopathy, optic neuropathy) accounted for residual postoperative subnormal visual acuity. Thirteen of the 23 children (57%) had a neurobehavioral disorder (eg, developmental delay/intellectual disability/mental retardation, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder). Eighty-five percent (11/13) of those children were reported to have enhanced visual awareness, attentiveness, or social interactions. Endothelial cell density was measureable in 6 cooperative children (10 eyes), showing an average 1% decline. Central corneal thickness, measured in all children, increased an average of 8 μm. Two children (8%) required unplanned return to the operating room on the first postoperative day to alleviate pupillary block caused by a nonpatent iridotomy. No other complications were encounterd. Conclusion Visian ICL implantation improves visual function in special needs children who have moderate to high myopia and difficulties wearing glasses or contact lenses.
Impact of an Antimicroibal Stewardship Bundle of Rapid Identification of Methicillin Susceptibility and Active Intervention on Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

AbstractBackground Staphylococcus aureusbacteremia (SAB) is a major source of morbidity and mortality. Studies show rapid initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy is essential to treatment and optimal therapy depends upon antibiotic susceptibility.MethodsUsing a quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study we evaluated a bundled antimicrobial stewardship rapid identification and susceptibility testing protocol. The pre-intervention group included all patients treated for SAB at our hospital between April and Sept 2015; the post-intervention group was between April and Sept 2016. We implemented combined rapid identification by MALDI-TOF with a modified immunochromatographic assay for penicillin–binding protein 2a to differentiate MSSA and MRSA. Identification and susceptibility results were communicated to the primary team per usual protocol and to an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist for intervention. The primary outcome was time to optimal antibiotic therapy calculated as the difference in time from the first dose of antibiotic therapy to the discontinuation time of the non-optimal antibiotic, for patients receiving combination therapy or first dose of optimal therapy, determined using a predefined protocol developed in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases (ID) consult service. Additional outcomes included time to pathogen identification, time to ID consult, time to source control, length of hospital stay (LOS), intensive care unit LOS, inpatient-days of therapy, and in-hospital mortality. Outcomes were compared using the χ2 test, or Student’s t-test for independent samples.Results74 pre-intervention and 55 post-intervention patients were included. Time in days to optimal therapy (1.7 ± 1.2 vs.. 2.5 ± 1.6, P = 0.003), total time to pathogen identification (1.5 ± 0.5 vs.. 2.7 ± 0.6, P < 0.001) and time to ID consult (1.6 ± 1.5 vs.. 2.8 ± 2.4, P = <0.001) were significantly shorter in the intervention group. All other outcomes were not statistically significantly different between groups.ConclusionWe demonstrate significant improvement in time to pathogen identification, optimal therapy, and ID consult utilizing rapid pathogen identification and susceptibility testing coupled with antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist intervention.Disclosures E. Ernst, Merck Sharp and Dohme: Consultant, Consulting fee.
S3-02-06

not available. S3-03-03 CYCLIN-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE 5 PRIMES TAU FOR GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE KINASE 3B WITHIN THE BRAIN MICROTUBULES Hemant K. Paudel, Tong Li, Hamid Y. Qureshi, Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, PQ, Canada. Contact e-mail: hemant.paudel@mcgill.ca S48 Symposia S3-03: Disease Mechanisms (Tau, Tauopathies)
Development of a reactive oxygen species-sensitive nitric oxide synthase inhibitor for the treatment of ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage of cerebral blood flow resulting in neuronal and glial hypoxia leading to inflammatory and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cell death. Nitric oxide (NO) formed by NO synthase (NOS) is known to be protective in ischemic stroke, however NOS has been shown to 'uncouple' under oxidative conditions to instead produce ROS. Nitrones are antioxidant molecules that are shown to trap ROS to then decompose and release NO. In this study, the nitrone 5 was designed such that its decomposition product is a NOS inhibitor, 6, effectively leading to NOS inhibition specifically at the site of ROS production. The ability of 5 to spin-trap radicals and decompose to 6 was observed using EPR and LC-MS/MS. The pro-drug concept was tested in vitro by measuring cell viability and 6 formation in SH-SY5Y cells subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD). 5 was found to be more efficacious and more potent than PBN, and was able to increase phospho-Akt while reducing nitrotyrosine and cleaved caspase-3 levels. 6 treatment, but not 5, was found to decrease NO production in LPS-stimulated microglia. Doppler flowmetry on anesthetized mice showed increased cerebral blood flow upon intravenous administration of 1mg/kg of 5, but a return to baseline upon administration of 10mg/kg, likely due to its dual nature of antioxidant/NO-donor and NOS-inhibition. Mice treated with 5 after permanent ischemia exhibited a >30% reduction in infarct volume, and higher formation of 6 in ischemic tissue resulting in region specific effects limited to the infarct area.
Some Physico-Chemical Properties of Lactose: III. The Aqueous Vapor Tension of Alpha Hydrate-Anhydride Systems. The Preparation of Alpha Anhydride

Summary Hydrated lactose has been found to lose its water of crystallization at temperatures as low as 80° C., when heated in an air oven, but the rate of loss is very slow. The rate is very much greater from small crystals than from large ones. However, the crystal size is of little importance in determining the rate at which moisture is taken up by the anhydride. Measurements of the vapor pressure of the system alpha hydrate-anhydride were made at temperatures between 50° C., and 100° C. Evidence is presented to show that some reaction other than loss of water of hydration must occur on continued heating of lactose. The loss of water is considered to be a relatively rapid process. The unknown reaction is very much slower. The pressures measured by Hudson which are approximately twenty times those reported here, probably are due to the slower aquilibrium whose nature is unknown.
Clinical efficacy of 12-h metronidazole dosing regimens in patients with anaerobic or mixed anaerobic infections:

Traditional metronidazole dosing regimens utilize an every 8 h dosing strategy to treat anaerobic and mixed anaerobic infections. However, pharmacokinetic data demonstrate that the half-life of met...
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: Is It Just One Disease?

This article reviews evidence from the literature suggesting that primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) represents a group of heterogeneous diseases with varying clinical features rather than a single disease. A growing body of evidence has been made available recently indicating that POAG behaves differently in different subpopulations. Although normal tension glaucoma has long been regarded as a diagnosis distinct from POAG, a considerable degree of overlap exists in their pathophysiology and clinical characteristics and suggests that intraocular pressure alone is not a reliable means of separating POAG into different subtypes. Meanwhile, POAG patients with initial paracentral visual field defects rather than early peripheral defects more often exhibit systemic vascular dysregulation, regardless of whether their intraocular pressures are high or low. Patients of African and Afro-Caribbean heritage develop a subtype of POAG that manifests at an earlier age, displays a more rapid disease course, and leads to blindness more frequently than do patients of European descent. Recognizing the existence of various POAG subtypes differentiated by factors other than intraocular pressure alone will allow clinicians to diagnose glaucoma more accurately and provide more individualized care.
Convergence of suboptimal elements in infinite dimensional nonlinear programming problems

We consider a formulation of optimal control problems in infinite dimensional spaces as nonlinear programming problems for functions defined in complete metric spaces which has been developed in detail by the author and H. Frankowska in [10]. This formulation makes possible to unify in a natural way control theory with nonlinear programming theory; in particular we obtain Pontryagin's maximum principle in the form of a Kuhn-Tucker condition. In the same fashion we obtain convergence and robustness results for approximate minima.
Chemical Sensing with Semiconducting Metal Phthalocyanines

Thin film conductivity sensors that use metal phthalocyanine semiconductors offer properties distinct from those of organic thin film transistor sensors.
Coping with Chronic Pain: Sources of Intrinsic and Contextual Variability

Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate intrinsic and contextual sources of coping variability among 90 patients with chronic pain. Pain coping strategies were assessed by the subscales of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Intrinsic variables included demographic characteristics and dispositional optimism. Contextual variables included pain-related variables and pain control appraisals. In univariate analyses, ethnicity was a statistically significant intrinsic source of variability for the praying and hoping coping subscale; however, comparisons between pairs of ethnic groups were not statistically significant. A multivariate perspective of the data found three independent and salient patterns of correlation between the intrinsic and contextual variables and coping subscales. These patterns of correlation accounted for 96% of the total variance and were conceptualized as optimistic active coping, educated rational coping, and optimistic restricted coping. The findings raise the prospect that there are intrinsic and contextual explanations of coping variability for patients with chronic pain.
Heat Injury (Burns)

Five types of burns affect children: flame, hot objects, boiling water (scald), electric, and chemical. House fires are responsible for the majority of severe burns, ranking third as a cause of accidental death in children, behind motor vehicle accidents and drowning. Non-fatal burns are more frequent in children less than 5 years of age, and flame, contact with a hot surface, and water scalds are the most common causes [13]. Electrical devices which have components hot enough to produce a burn are reviewed here. Electricity involving high voltage current through the body is reviewed in Chap. 9. Burns in survivors sufficient to arrest a physis are uncommon.
Petrophysical Rock Properties

The principal goal of reservoir characterization is to construct three- and fourdimensional images of petrophysical properties. The purpose of this chapter is to review basic definitions and laboratory measurements of the petrophysical properties porosity, permeability, relative permeability, capillarity, and saturation. Pore-size distribution is presented as the common link between these properties.
Improving the Efficiency of Automatic Knowledge Generation through Games and Simulations

We have created a generalized algorithm for automatically constructing domain level knowledge bases from student input. This method has demonstrated greater efficiencies than when knowledge is hand crafted by subject matter experts (SMEs). This paper presents two related methods for improving automated knowledge acquisition by leveraging the properties of games and simulations. First, we discuss game mechanics that, when added to our intelligent tutor Rashi, lead to higher quantity and quality of student input. In a separate but related analysis, we present a novel game type called a knowledge refinement game (KRG) to improve the knowledge in an expert knowledge base. This game motivates SMEs to refine the generated knowledge base, especially for data in which the system has low confidence. Utilizing an anonymous agreement policy ensures the quality of SME responses and results show that small amounts of KRG activity leads to noticeable improvements in the quality of the knowledge base. We assert that these two results in unison provide evidence that gaming has a powerful potential role in improving artificial intelligence techniques for education.
Somebody's Children: Sustaining the Family's Place in Child Welfare Policy (Book Review)

Virtually everyone familiar with current child welfare practice in the United States agrees that it is in crisis. In particular, most observers of child welfare complain that too many children remain in foster care for too long. Those hoping to reform the system approach this task from many different directions. Some propose vastly increasing the state's role in assisting families. Others recommend sharply limiting the state's role to save scarce resources for those most in need. In Nobody's Children, Professor Elizabeth Bartholet articulates a different premise from which to examine why the child welfare system is in crisis. She asserts that current practice fails to protect children from parental abuse and neglect. As this Review elaborates, she recommends an aggressive policy of removing children from their biological families and placing them for adoption. The principal question I address is whether Bartholet's definition of the problem and her proposals for change are appropriate for the children whose lives are at stake. Although I agree with Bartholet's contention that aggressive measures are needed to serve children at risk of entering foster care, I believe her proposals would gravely harm these children and their families. We must find ways to reduce reliance on out-of-home care for children so that their own families may successfully raise them. Part I of this Review sets forth the core proposals in Nobody's Children. Part II examines the underlying premises of Bartholet's proposals: that the goal of family preservation is fundamentally flawed because keeping chil-dren with their families or returning them to their families after they have been in foster care is futile; that society is unwilling to commit sufficient resources to help families of children in foster care; and that families of children in foster care are so inherently inadequate that it is unwise to strive to fix them. Part III examines the validity of Bartholet's assumptions and concludes that although Bartholet is undoubtedly correct in her bleak assessment of our society's unwillingness to invest in families of children in foster care, she is unjustifiably dismissive of the potential for preserving and restoring such families in the event that the appropriate resources were to be made available. This Part also challenges Bartholet's formulation of the problem with child welfare. Part IV sets forth an alternative definition of the problem by arguing that the key issue is not the abuse and neglect of children, but rather the underlying social conditions endemic in these children's lives. In this Part, I also provide some proposals that seek to address the complex needs of the children and families who are the victims of a child welfare policy gone awry.
The Speed And Accuracy Of Movements As A Function Of Constraints To Action

This paper examines how variations in constraints to action lead to changes in the speed and accuracy of movement production. Based on a number of experimental findings, it is argued that organism, environment, and task constraints interact to specify the control process used in movement production and influence the speed and accuracy of movements.
Euploidy in relation to blastocyst sex and morphology

The objective of our study is to assess the relationship of embryo ploidy status in relation to embryo sex, morphological characteristics, and transfer parameters. This is a retrospective cohort study at an academic medical center of patients who underwent in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) from 2010 to 2015. Embryos were screened with 24-chromosome preimplantation genetic screening with day 5/6 trophectoderm biopsy. We investigated embryo euploidy in relation to morphology (expansion, inner cell mass, trophectoderm), embryo sex, biopsy day, and blastocyst cohort size. We used multivariate logistic regression to calculate odds ratios of euploidy in relation to these parameters. A total of 1559 embryos from 316 cycles and 233 patients (mean maternal age = 37.8 ± 4.2 years) were included in the analysis. Six hundred and twenty-eight blastocysts (40.3%) were found to be euploid. Expansion (p < 0.001), inner cell mass (ICM) (p < 0.01), and trophectoderm grade (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with embryo ploidy in bivariate models controlling for maternal age, while embryo sex, biopsy day, and blastocyst cohort size were not associated with embryo ploidy. In a multivariate model, we found that maternal age (p < 0.001), higher grade of expansion (p < 0.01), and better quality trophectoderm (p < 0.001 for A compared to C grade) remained significantly associated with increased embryo euploidy, but ICM grade was no longer significant. Embryo sex was not associated with ploidy status, though male embryos were found to be associated with higher trophectoderm scores (p < 0.02). This is the largest study to date to investigate PGS-tested embryo sex and ploidy status. While maternal age and some morphological parameters (expansion, trophectoderm grade) are associated with euploidy in our cohort, other parameters such as embryo sex, biopsy day, and cohort size are not. Though embryo sex was not associated with euploidy, male embryos were found to be associated with higher trophectoderm grades. Additional investigation in larger studies is warranted.
Chapter 11 – Summary of Thermodynamic Relationships

This chapter summarizes relationships among the thermodynamic variables such as pressure, velocity, temperature, internal energy, entropy , enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, Gibbs free energy, and the composition variables. It applies the principles that are developed in the book named “Chemical Thermodynamics: Principles and Applications” to the description of topics such as effects of surfaces and gravitational and centrifugal fields; phase equilibria of pure substances (first order and continuous transitions); (vapor + liquid), (liquid+ liquid), (solid + liquid), and (fluid + fluid) phase equilibria of mixtures; chemical equilibria; and properties of both nonelectrolyte and electrolyte mixtures. Useful relationships for the ideal solution are thoroughly presented that relate the equilibrium temperature (melting temperature) and equilibrium pressure (melting pressure) to the mole fraction of the component that freezes from the solution to form a pure solid. This composition is often known as the ideal solubility.
Willingness to eat an insect based product and impact on brand equity: A global perspective

Rapid population growth is creating the need to find new and sustainable food sources. Insect‐based products could satisfy this high priority necessity while incorporating important nutrients in the human diet such as protein, vitamins, and minerals. This research provides a global overview of the willingness to try a new product that contains insect powder and determine the impact of adding insect‐based products to a brands portfolio. An international survey was conducted in 13 different countries (n = 630 consumers per country, total 7,800 consumer) with consumers who represented diverse demographic backgrounds. Eight of the 13 countries could be classified as “disgust” countries where most respondents said they would not be willing to try a familiar product containing insect powder. Nine countries fell into the “impact” category where participants would be more likely to stop buying other products from this company knowing that they have used insect powder in another product from the same brand. The reasons why participants would not consider eating foods containing insect powder were religion, the perception that insects carry diseases and cause allergic reactions. Only the disease‐carrying perception was significant in most of the countries. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The results from this study showed that most consumers from most countries studied are not willing to try insect‐based products at this time. However, there was a segment of the population in each country that was willing to try such products. There is a great opportunity for companies to create new products for countries where the disgust factor was not a barrier and to test those new concepts and products. This could help provide information to educate consumers about all the benefits of insect protein and implement. It is key to remember that new brands probably are necessary for such products because of the potential damage to brand equity of introducing products containing insect powder.