cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Ziprasidone Augmentation of Escitalopram for Cognitive Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder.

Objective To examine the efficacy of adjunctive ziprasidone for cognitive symptoms in adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) experiencing persistent symptoms after 8 weeks of open-label escitalopram. Methods This post hoc analysis was conducted on a database derived from a previously published study. The parent study was a multicenter, parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 3 academic medical centers in the United States from July 2008 to October 2013. The participant pool consisted of 139 outpatients with persistent symptoms of MDD, according to DSM-IV criteria, following an 8-week open label, flexible-dose trial of escitalopram. Subjects were randomly assigned (1:1, N = 139) to adjunctive fixed-dose ziprasidone (escitalopram + ziprasidone, n = 71) or adjunctive placebo (escitalopram + placebo, n = 68) with 8 weekly follow-up assessments. Primary outcome was clinical response according to the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, which was defined as a 50% or greater reduction in scale scores. The Massachusetts General Hospital Cognitive and Physical Functioning Questionnaire (CPFQ) was used to measure cognitive and executive dysfunction at each study visit. All statistical testing was conducted at the nominal, 2-sided, 0.05 level of significance. Results Adjunctive ziprasidone therapy did not result in significantly greater improvement in CPFQ scores compared to adjunctive placebo (P > .05). Residual cognitive symptoms were reported in a substantial number of patients who were considered responders to either adjunctive ziprasidone or placebo. Conclusions In the present study, ziprasidone used adjunctively with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram did not demonstrate a greater efficacy for cognitive symptoms in patients with MDD compared with adjunctive placebo. Future, well-designed studies examining the role of atypical antipsychotics or other augmentation versus switch strategies for cognitive symptoms in MDD are warranted.
Using Data for School Change: The Discipline Equity Audit and School Climate Survey.

Using data effectively is a critical skill for the modern school leaders. This case presents a school district where local interest groups are demanding changes regarding school safety and inclusion. Students have the opportunity to respond to a disciplinary equity audit and school climate survey. While interpreting and using data in a meaningful manner, students are challenged to evaluate the quality and efficacy of the presented data. The case also confronts students with race-related concerns that are often present in urban school districts. Students must exit their comfort zones in order to work as effective school leaders.
Stream Regulation in North America

The mainstream rivers of North America once guided steamships and fishes inland from the oceans to the confluence of major tributaries. These side-channels presented the travelers with profound alternatives for maximizing (or minimizing) their fitness. Some routes gave way to prosperity, others terminated at insurmountable barriers.
Changes in neuropeptide phenotype after axotomy of adult peripheral neurons and the role of leukemia inhibitory factor.

Abstract Adult peripheral neurons undergo dramatic shifts in gene expression following axotomy that are collectively referred to as the cell body reaction. Changes in neuropeptide expression are a prominent feature of these axotomized neurons. For example, while sympathetic, sensory, and motor neurons do not normally express the neuropeptides galanin and vasoactive intestinal peptide, they begin to do so within days after axotomy. In contrast, the expression of other peptides, which these neurons normally express, such as neuropeptide Y in sympathetic neurons and substance P in sensory neurons, is decreased. Recent studies in sympathetic neurons have demonstrated that leukemia inhibitory factor plays an important role in triggering these changes in neuropeptide phenotype in adult neurons. Future studies will be directed at determining to what extent LIF triggers the many other changes in gene expression after sympathetic axotomy and whether this cytokine plays a similar role in sensory and motor neurons.
Effect of age at menarche on microvascular complications among women with Type 1 diabetes.

Aim To test the hypothesis that delayed menarche is associated with an increased microvascular complication risk among women with Type 1 diabetes. Methods We studied the female participants of an ongoing prospective study of childhood-onset Type 1 diabetes diagnosed during the period 1950-1980. Of 325 women, we included data from 315 who had reached menarche by the study baseline (1986-1988) and who self-reported their age at menarche. Both cross-sectional and prospective analyses over the 25-year follow-up were used to assess the relationship of age at menarche with the prevalence, incidence and cumulative incidence of microvascular complications, comprising overt nephropathy, proliferative retinopathy and confirmed distal symmetric polyneuropathy. Results In cross-sectional analyses at baseline, the odds of overt nephropathy increased 1.24 times (P=0.02) with each annual increase in age at menarche, and 3.2 times (P=0.009) in those with delayed menarche compared with women with normal menarche onset, after adjustment. Similarly, the cumulative incidence of overt nephropathy increased 1.16 times (P=0.01) with each older year of menarche and women with delayed menarche were at twofold increased risk of overt nephropathy (hazard ratio 2.30, P=0.001) compared with women with normal menarche onset. However, age at menarche was not significantly associated with either proliferative retinopathy or confirmed distal symmetric polyneuropathy after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions Age at menarche was significantly associated with the prevalence and cumulative incidence of overt nephropathy, but not with proliferative retinopathy or confirmed distal symmetric polyneuropathy in Type 1 diabetes. Women with delayed menarche may therefore be targeted for early screening and timely interventions to prevent the development of nephropathy.
379) Decreased Neurologic Pain Signature Activation Following Thoracic Spine Manipulation in Healthy Volunteers

Spinal manipulation (SM) is commonly used when managing patients with neck and back pain. The rationale regarding the use of SM has long been supported by the clinical opinion that a mechanical effect on the spine leads to therapeutic mechanical changes within the spine. However, a purely biomechanical mechanism remains controversial and speculative as studies have failed to link specific mechanical effects to meaningful subjective or objective improvement. SM's therapeutic action may instead be mediated at the level of the central nervous system. Here, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging in 10 healthy volunteers (5 women, age=31.2±10.0 years) to study the effect of SM on pain-related activity within brain regions predictive of physical pain using the Neurologic Pain Signature (NPS). Functional imaging was performed with 5 minute runs of alternating 15 s blocks of noxious mechanical stimulation of the right index finger cuticle before and after thoracic SM. Evoked pain intensity (p
Essential role of KLF6-SV1 in regulating tumor cell apoptosis and greatly increasing median and overall ovarian cancer survival: identification and pre-clinical targeting of a novel prosurvival/anti-apoptotic protein

2549 Defects in apoptosis are hallmarks of cancer initiation and progression, which is normally believed to be regulated by competing protein-protein interactions between members of three protein families. Overexpression of KLF6-SV1, a zinc-finger null alternative splice form of the tumor suppressor KLF6 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple cancers. While KLF6 mediates growth suppression through its role as a transcription factor, the mechanistic link explaining why KLF6-SV1 is associated with a more aggressive cancer phenotype is unknown. We now demonstrate that systemically delivered siRNA against KLF6-SV1 restores cisplatin sensitivity in vivo, induces spontaneous apoptosis in tumor cells and decreases tumor burden. Most importantly, intraperitoneal delivery of a novel chemically-modified siKLF6-SV1 RNA markedly prolongs median and overall survival in mice implanted with human ovarian carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Through biochemical studies, we demonstrate that KLF6-SV1 is an important control point in the apoptotic cascade by binding the pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein NOXA resulting in their MDM2-dependent degradation by the proteasome. In turn, this increases the intracellular concentration of NOXA’s pro-survival binding partner, Mcl-1, effectively blocking apoptosis. Based on these findings, we propose that KLF6-SV1 is a novel and therapeutically targetable prosurvival/anti-apoptotic protein and thus highlight a new tier of therapeutically targetable interactions in the intrinsic apoptotic cascade.
Factors Associated with Help-Seeking among Women Affected by Intimate Partner Violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

According to a published report by the Palestine Central Bureau of Statistics in 2011, 37% of ever-married women in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) reported having experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) by their husband at least once in the previous year. However, less than 1% of women who had experienced IPV sought formal help. Thus, this study sought to identify factors associated with help-seeking among women in the oPt. We used linear probability regression to investigate factors associated with formal and informal help-seeking among survivors of IPV, using data from the Palestine Central Bureau of Statistics’ 2011 Violence Survey. Our results showed women in Gaza were more likely to seek formal help than those in the West Bank. Employed women were more likely to seek informal help, and higher education was inversely associated with informal help-seeking. Findings suggest both political and sociocultural barriers to help-seeking. We recommend policies that decrease barriers to IPV help-seeking, such as harmful gender norms, and support organizations that provide valuable services to women in the oPt.
Abstract 37: Increased Mean Transit Time and Blood Brain Permeability in Asymptomatic White Matter Lesions of Ischemic Origin

Introduction: White matter lesions of presumed ischemic origin (WMH) have been associated with increased risk of stroke, cognitive and motor decline, and are a subject of public health research. En...
Monetary Sanctions in Community Corrections: Law, Policy, and Their Alignment With Correctional Goals:

The assessment and collection of monetary sanctions (fines, fees, and restitution) have become a common element of the U.S. criminal justice system, especially in community corrections. Although th...
Characteristics and competencies of successful resource parents working in Indian country: A systematic review of the research

Abstract Despite the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act over the last 40 years, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) children continue to be removed from their homes at an alarming rate and are overrepresented across the United States’ foster care system. To ensure the future of tribal communities, it is imperative that AIAN children grow up connected to their culture and their identity. One method to ensure stability is to increase efforts to recruit and retain competent, committed tribal relatives as caretakers, and when not possible, AIAN resource parents who are ready and able to care for them. This study utilized PRISMA methodology to conduct a systematic review to identify characteristics and competencies of successful resource parents who care for AIAN children and youth. Four major characteristics (strong cultural identity, resilient and adaptive to change, willingness to access tribal resources, and willingness to access kin/family as resources) and five major competencies (history, laws and policy; health and wellness from the AIAN perspective, AIAN family, kinship and community structure, and AIAN learning style, pedagogy and methods) were identified. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Association between peripartum hysterectomy and venous thromboembolism.

Background The risk of venous thromboembolism after delivery is modified by mode of delivery, with the risk of venous thromboembolism being higher after cesarean delivery than vaginal delivery. The risk of venous thromboembolism after peripartum hysterectomy is largely unknown. Objective This study aimed to compare the incidence and risk of venous thromboembolism among women who had and did not have a peripartum hysterectomy. Furthermore, we sought to compare the risk of venous thromboembolism after hysterectomy with other patient, pregnancy, and delivery risk factors known to be associated with venous thromboembolism. Study Design This was a cross-sectional study of women with delivery encounters identified in the Nationwide Readmissions Database from October 2015 to December 2017. Delivery encounters and all variables of interest were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis and procedure codes. The incidence of venous thromboembolism during delivery and rehospitalizations within 6 weeks after discharge was compared among women who had and did not have a peripartum hysterectomy. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to estimate associations between venous thromboembolism and hysterectomy, adjusted for the following characteristics: maternal age, payer at time of delivery, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, multifetal gestation, peripartum infection, and peripartum hemorrhage. Similarly, venous thromboembolism risk was compared by mode of delivery, including hysterectomy. Diagnoses that may have been indications for peripartum hysterectomy were identified among patients who underwent a hysterectomy and compared between those who did and did not have venous thromboembolism. Analyses used survey weights to obtain population estimates. Results Of the 4,419,037 women with deliveries, 5098 (11.5 per 10,000 deliveries) underwent a hysterectomy. Moreover, 110 patients (215.8 per 10,000 deliveries) were diagnosed with venous thromboembolism after hysterectomy. The risk of venous thromboembolism was significantly higher in women who underwent a hysterectomy than in women who did not have a hysterectomy (unadjusted odds ratio, 25.1 [95% confidence interval, 20.0–31.5]; adjusted odds ratio, 11.2 [95% confidence interval, 8.7–14.5]; P Conclusion These findings have demonstrated that peripartum hysterectomy is associated with a markedly increased risk of venous thromboembolism in the postpartum period, even when controlling for other known risk factors for postpartum thromboembolic events. Here, the incidence of venous thromboembolism after peripartum hysterectomy (2.2%) met some guideline-based risk thresholds for routine thromboprophylaxis, potentially for at least 2 weeks after delivery. Further investigation into the role of routine venous thromboembolism prophylaxis during and after delivery is needed.
Radiation dose prediction for pancreatic stereotactic body radiotherapy via convention neural networks

In this study, we propose a novel deep learning-based method to predict dose distribution based on patient’s pancreas planning CT and organ contours. To comprehensively extract features from CT and contours, dual pyramid networks (DPNs) with late fusion network (LFN) are used. The proposed network consists of three subnetworks, i.e., CT-only feature pyramid network (FPN), contour-only feature pyramid network (FPN) and late fusion network (LFN). CT-only FPN and contour-only FPN are proposed to learn complementary tissue-contrast information and semantic information from CT and contour, respectively. LFN is proposed to combine the pyramid features from CT and contour, and finally perform dose prediction. To select the most relevant features that well-represent the dose distribution, a deep attention strategy was integrated into the LFN. A retrospective study on 30 patients’ pancreas CT and contour was used to evaluate the proposed method’s efficiency. The proposed DL model was able to predict dose metrics for PTV (p = 0.93), stomach (p = 0.91) and duodenum (p = 0.27) without significant differences compared to the ground truth. The model, however, overestimated dose to the 50% of liver volume. Overall results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of our deep learning-based method for pancreas SBRT dose prediction.
SyntheticFur dataset for neural rendering

We introduce a new dataset called SyntheticFur built specifically for machine learning training. The dataset consists of ray traced synthetic fur renders with corresponding rasterized input buffers and simulation data files. We procedurally generated approximately 140,000 images and 15 simulations with Houdini. The images consist of fur groomed with different skin primitives and move with various motions in a predefined set of lighting environments. We also demonstrated how the dataset could be used with neural rendering to significantly improve fur graphics using inexpensive input buffers by training a conditional generative adversarial network with perceptual loss. We hope the availability of such high fidelity fur renders will encourage new advances with neural rendering for a variety of applications.
Puppets facilitate attention to social cues in children with ASD.

Diminished visual attention to faces of social partners represents one of the early characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we examine if the introduction of puppets as social partners alters attention to speakers' faces in young children with ASD and typically developing (TD) controls. Children with ASD (N = 37; Mage = 49.44 months) and TD (N = 27; Mage = 40.66 months) viewed a video depicting a puppet and a human engaged in a conversation. Dwell time on these faces was analyzed as a function of group and speaker's identity. Unlike TD controls, the ASD group exhibited limited visual attention to and chance-level visual preference for the human speaker. However, attention to and preference for the puppet speaker's face was greater than chance and comparable across the two groups. While there was a strong association between low human speaker preference and high autism severity, no association with autism severity was found for puppet speaker preference. Unlike humans, expressive and verbal puppets attracted the attention of children with ASD at levels comparable to that of TD controls. Considering that puppets can engage in reciprocal interactions and deliver simplified, salient social-communicative cues, they may facilitate therapeutic efforts in children with ASD. LAY SUMMARY: While studies have shown support for therapeutic uses of robots with children with autism, other similar agents such as puppets remain to be explored. When shown a video of a conversation between a puppet and a person, young children with ASD paid as much attention to the puppet's face as typically-developing (TD) children. Since puppets can engage in back-and-forth interactions and model social interactions and communication, they may play a promising role in therapeutic efforts for young children with ASD.
Visualizing a Living Building

This paper will chronicle the design process of the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia and its objective to accomplish Living BuildingTM certification. In order to accomplish this, the architect (BNIM) and project partners applied Triple Bottom Line thinking, an Integrated Design Process and Life Cycle Analysis. The author, a member of the design team, will focus on the variety of representation techniques used and their roles within this design process pursuing Living BuildingTM status.
DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF TYPE I IFNS ON THE GROWTH OF WC1- CD8+ GAMMA DELTA T CELLS AND WC1+ CD8- GAMMA DELTA T CELLS IN VITRO

Type I IFNs have a broad array of immunoregulatory functions that include up-regulation of type 1 immune responses through enhancing differentiation and activation of CD8+ T cells and CD4+ Th1 cells. Ovine trophoblast IFN-tau is a recently described type I IFN with the potential for therapeutic use, based on its potent antiviral activity yet low toxicity. Studies were designed to determine the immunoregulatory effects of IFN-tau on Ag-stimulated T cells, and a novel effect of type I IFNs on gammadelta T cells was observed. In cultures of parasite Ag-stimulated bovine T cells that contained a mixture of alphabeta and gammadelta T cells, both IFN-tau and IFN-alpha suppressed the expansion of WC1+ CD2- CD6- CD8- gammadelta T cells, yet stimulated the growth of WC1- CD2+ CD6+ CD8+ gammadelta T cells and CD8+ alphabeta T cells. The CD8+ gammadelta T cell subset expressed high levels of the IL-2R alpha-chain. Furthermore, we showed that type I IFN enhanced IL-2 production by these Ag-stimulated T cell lines. In short term cultures of PBMC, IL-2 stimulated an expansion of WC1- CD6+ CD8+ gammadelta T cells, which was significantly increased by IFN-tau, even though IFN-tau alone did not support cell survival. These studies demonstrate for the first time that type I IFNs differentially modulate the proliferation of different subsets of gammadelta T cells, which appears to act in part via IL-2.
Neighborhood-level socioeconomic determinants impact outcomes in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients in the Southeastern United States.

Background Studies examining the impact of lower socioeconomic status (SES) on the outcomes of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to clearly elucidate the association between SES, education, and clinical outcomes among patients with NSCLC. Methods The study population was derived from a consecutive, retrospective cohort of patients with NSCLC who received treatment within the Duke Health System between 1995 and 2007. SES determinants were based on the individual's census tract and corresponding 2000 Census data. Determinants included the percentage of the population living below poverty, the median household income, and the percentages of residents with at least a high school diploma and at least a bachelor's degree. The SES and educational variables were divided into quartiles. Statistical comparisons were performed using the 25th and 75th percentiles. Results Individuals who resided in areas with a low median household income or in which a high percentage of residents were living below the poverty line had a shorter cancer-specific 6-year survival than individuals who resided in converse areas (P = .0167 and P = .0067, respectively). Those living in areas in which a higher percentage of residents achieved a high school diploma had improved disease outcomes compared with those living in areas in which a lower percentage attained a high school diploma (P = .0033). A survival advantage also was observed for inhabitants of areas in which a higher percentage of residents attained a bachelor's degree (P = .0455). Conclusions Low SES was identified as an independent prognostic factor for poor survival in patients with both early and advanced stage NSCLC. Patients who lived in areas with high poverty levels, low median incomes, and low education levels had worse mortality.
Mean number of real zeros of a random trigonometric polynomial. III

If a 1 , a 2 , … , a n are independent, normally distributed random variables with mean 0 and variance 1 , and if v n is the mean number of zeros on the interval ( 0 , 2 π ) of the trigonometric polynomial a 1 cos x + 2 ½ a 2 cos 2 x + … + n ½ a n cos n x , then v n = 2 − ½ { ( 2 n + 1 ) + D 1 + ( 2 n + 1 ) − 1 D 2 + ( 2 n + 1 ) − 2 D 3 } + O { ( 2 n + 1 ) − 3 } , in which D 1 = − 0.378124 , D 2 = − 1 2 , D 3 = 0.5523 . After tabulation of 5 D values of v n when n = 1 ( 1 ) 40 , we find that the approximate formula for v n , obtained from the above result when the error term is neglected, produces 5 D values that are in error by at most 10 − 5 when n ≥ 8 , and by only about 0.1 % when n = 2 .
Optimal selection of support vector regression parameters and molecular descriptors for retention indices prediction

The quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) was used for the prediction of retention indices of compounds in gas chromatography. 252 compounds containing boiling points (BP) was extracted from Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) database. After calculation of molecular descriptors of all compounds, genetic algorithm (GA) was used to select an optimal subset of the molecular descriptors. We investigated the predictive performance of four methods: GA on MLR (GA-MLR), the subset selected by GA-MLR was used to train SVR (GA-MLR-SVR), GA on SVR (GA-SVR) and GA on SVR with optimizing parameters (GA-SVR-Para). Twenty in-silicon experiments were conducted on each method. The experimental results show that the GA-SVR and GA-SVR-Para have better predictive performance with small variations. Among these four QSRR models, GA-SVR-Para achieved the best performance with a R2 > 0.98.
Power Through Clarity: How Clarifying the Old State-Based Laws Can Reveal the Strategic Power of Law

As the United States takes on the violent non-state actors, whose arsenals now exceed those of many states, policymakers and leaders should not give up on the “old-fashioned” rules designed for relations among states. When properly clarified, the rules reveal powerful avenues for defending national security against non-state threats like Al Qaeda. While we cannot wage war against non-state actors and remain consistent with international and constitutional law, we can use force against those who take a direct part in hostilities, commit violent attacks outside the jurisdiction of any state, or engage in action sufficiently hostile to warrant immediate measures in individual or unit self-defense. Ultimately, force will not solve many of the great twenty-first century security challenges on its own - for national security must be a national exertion just as international security must be a global one - but, there is great cause to hope that in the next decades, a renewed embrace of the international and constitutional law of war will fully reveal the empowering abilities of both and the law’s ability to enhance the security of all.
Total Recovery Studies of Nonabsorbable Indicators in the Rat Small Intestine

Summary Polyethylene glycol, phenol red, polyethylene glycol- 14 C, inulin-carboxyl- 14 C, and mannitol-1- 14 C were compared as nonabsorbable indicators in the rat small intestine. The indicator solution was perfused through the lumen of the in situ intestine. The indicator content of collected perfusion solution and luminal washings was used to calculate total recovery. Mean total recoveries for all indicators were more than 95 % except for tracer mannitol-1- 14 C. When carrier mannitol was added, recovery of mannitol-1- 14 C was satisfactory. Even the indicators polyethylene glycol and phenol red were only 97 to 98 % recovered. Total indicator recoveries from serum and urine could not explain the 2 to 3 % loss of indicator. If recovery data are a valid measure of indicator absorption, indicators underestimate net water absorption by 2 to 3 %. The radioactively labeled indicators are analyzed readily and should prove to be increasingly useful.
Function level programs as mathematical objects

Most programs written today are “object-level” programs. That is, programs describe how to combine various “objects” (i.e., numbers, symbols, arrays, etc.) to form other objects until the final “result objects” have been formed. New objects are constructed from existing ones by the application of various object-to-object functions such as + or matrix inversion.Conventional, von Neumann programs are object level; “expressions” on the right side of assignment statements are exclusively concerned with building an object that is then to be stored. Lambda calculus based languages, such as LISP and ISWIM [Landin 66], are also, in practice, object level languages, although they have the means to be more.
Receiver dead time in non-line-of-sight ultraviolet communications

Advances in ultraviolet (UV) source, detector, and solar-blind filtering technologies have recently spurred significant research interest in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) UV communications. Although this research has primarily focused on short-range applications, the achievable range of a NLOS UV system can be extended (e.g., up to a few kilometers) with the use of a pulsed UV laser transmitter. However, the short-duration high-intensity pulses of such a laser have the potential to overwhelm the response time of photomultiplier detectors, which are often employed by a receiver to implement high-sensitivity photon-counting detection. In particular, after the detection of a photon, there exists a period of time, called dead time, during which the detector is unable to detect subsequently impinging photons, resulting in missed photon detections and, hence, altered received signal statistics relative to an ideal photon counter. In this paper, we examine the effect of receiver dead time on a NLOS UV system. We extend an existing UV NLOS channel model to account for nonzero dead time at the receiver and then use this extended model to examine the significance of dead-time effects for various representative system configurations. The results suggest the importance of accounting for dead time when designing practical UV communication systems.
Development of an adaptive multimedia program to collect patient health data

Abstract Background: Direct entry of personal health survey information into a computer by patients could streamline clinical data collection, improve completeness and accuracy of health information available to providers, and provide data for tailoring health education messages. Few computerized programs, however, have been developed to adapt the interface to diverse literacy levels, language, computer skills, and health literacy levels of the broad spectrum of patient populations. Methods: To develop such a program, we conducted cognitive response interviews with a diverse sample of 21 adult participants from two North Carolina health clinics. Participants were placed into one of three interview categories: (1) low reading skill level, low computer skills; (2) high reading skill level, low computer skills; and (3) high reading skill level, high computer skills. The “think-aloud” technique was employed to elicit feedback on a series of computer interface screens and health risk assessment questions. Results: Interface-related findings showed that preference for touchscreen versus keyboard data entry was not strongly related to computer skill level but was related to question type. Respondents with limited education indicated that they would not click on a “help” or hyperlink option to get more information and that frequent reminders of directions on the screen were needed. Content-related findings showed numerous misperceptions regarding meanings of common health questions and terminology (e.g., seat belt use and intravenous drugs). Conclusions: These findings have implications for health literacy and may have an impact on the accuracy of information obtained. Study results will be incorporated into the development and testing of an innovative, adaptive multimedia program.
Lithophagic Snail from Southern British Honduras

A freshwater gastropod, Pachycheilus glaphyrus, responsible for unusual erosion in limestone has been located in southern British Honduras where it is abundant in streams flowing through areas of karst topography. These snails ingest algae that proliferate in solution grooves formed at the fluctuating air-water interface. Rasping action of the radula results in deepening of these grooves and appears to improve the algal habitat.
A simple interpretation of Raman excitation spectra of metalloporphyrins

A simple treatment of vibronic coupling in metalloporphyrins is described. Electronic degeneracy in the excited states is treated to arrive at simple expressions for the Raman excitation spectra and the absorption spectrum. The expressions are simple analogs of the usual A and B term expressions for the scattering tensor and are easily programmed for a small computer. They are only applicable in the weak vibronic coupling limit, but are nevertheless suitable for interpretation of the spectra of most biologically relevant porphyrin systems, at least as a starting point. They allow a simple discussion of a number of interference phenomena that influence the Raman intensity distribution in the excitation profiles of metalloporphyrins and other molecular systems. Some of these phenomena are consequences of electronic degeneracy in the resonant excited state. Nonadiabatic coupling contributions are also included in the expressions. Experimental Raman excitation spectra are discussed in light of this simple model.
PROSPECTIVE VALIDATION OF THE VASOACTIVE-INOTROPIC SCORE AND CORRELATION TO SHORT TERM OUTCOMES IN NEONATES AND INFANTS AFTER CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY

Prospective validation of the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) and inotrope score (IS) in infants after cardiovascular surgery. Prospective observational study of 70 infants (≤90 days of age) undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. VIS and IS were assessed at 24 (VIS24, IS24), 48 (VIS48, IS48), and 72 (VIS72, IS72) h after surgery. Maximum VIS and IS scores in the first 48 h were also calculated (VIS48max and IS48max). The primary outcome was length of intubation. Additional outcomes included length of intensive care (ICU) stay and hospitalization, cardiac arrest, mortality, time to negative fluid balance, peak lactate, and change in creatinine. Based on receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) was highest for VIS48 to identify prolonged intubation time. AUC for the primary outcome was higher for VIS than IS at all time points assessed. On multivariate analysis VIS48 was independently associated with prolonged intubation (OR 22.3, p = 0.002), prolonged ICU stay (OR 8.1, p = 0.017), and prolonged hospitalization (OR 11.3, p = 0.011). VIS48max, IS48max, and IS48 were also associated with prolonged intubation, but not prolonged ICU or hospital stay. None of the scores were associated with time to negative fluid balance, peak lactate, or change in creatinine. In neonates and infants, a higher VIS at 48 h after cardiothoracic surgery is strongly associated with increased length of ventilation, and prolonged ICU and total hospital stay. At all time points assessed, VIS is more predictive of poor short-term outcome than IS. VIS may be useful as an independent predictor of outcomes.
Micromechanics and effective elastoplastic behavior of two-phase metal matrix composites

A micromechanical framework is presented to predict effective (overall) elasto-(visco-)plastic behavior of two-phase particle-reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMC). In particular, the inclusion phase (particle) is assumed to be elastic and the matrix material is elasto-(visco-)plastic. Emanating from Ju and Chen's (1994a,b) work on effective elastic properties of composites containing many randomly dispersed inhomogeneities, effective elastoplastic deformations and responses of PRMMC are estimated by means of the effective yield criterion'' derived micromechanically by considering effects due to elastic particles embedded in the elastoplastic matrix. The matrix material is elastic or plastic, depending on local stress and deformation, and obeys general plastic flow rule and hardening law. Arbitrary (general) loadings and unloadings are permitted in the framework through the elastic predictor-plastic corrector two-step operator splitting methodology. The proposed combined micromechanical and computational approach allows one to estimate overall elastoplastic responses of PRMMCs by accounting for the microstructural information (such as the spatial distribution and micro-geometry of particles), elastic properties of constituent phases, and the plastic behavior of the matrix-only materials.
Viscosity of liquid iron under high pressure and high temperature : Equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation studies

Using classical molecular dynamics simulations together with a many-body embedded atom model (EAM) potential, we calculate the viscosity of liquid iron under high temperature and high pressure. We show that this EAM potential, in addition to reproducing experimental data on the structure of liquid iron at high pressure, accurately predicts the shear viscosity of liquid iron. We carefully assess the validity of our results, obtained from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations as well as from nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Our estimates for the viscosity are shown to be in good agreement with those obtained from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. This demonstrates that the EAM potential accurately describes both the thermodynamic and transport properties of liquid iron under extreme conditions and provides a satisfactory alternative to ab initio molecular dynamics simulations for large-scale simulations.
Active enhancers are delineated de novo during hematopoiesis, with limited lineage fidelity among specified primary blood cells

Tissues may adopt diverse strategies to establish specific transcriptional programs in daughter lineages. In intestinal crypts, enhancers for genes expressed in both major cell types appear broadly permissive in stem and specified progenitor cells. In blood, another self-renewing tissue, it is unclear when chromatin becomes permissive for transcription of genes expressed in distinct terminal lineages. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) combined with deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) to profile activating histone marks, we studied enhancer dynamics in primary mouse blood stem, progenitor, and specified cells. Stem and multipotent progenitor cells show scant H3K4me2 marking at enhancers bound by specific transcription factors in their committed progeny. Rather, enhancers are modulated dynamically and serially, with substantial loss and gain of H3K4me2, at each cellular transition. Quantitative analysis of these dynamics accurately modeled hematopoiesis according to Waddington’s notion of epigenotypes. Delineation of enhancers in terminal blood lineages coincides with cell specification, and enhancers active in single lineages show well-positioned H3K4me2- and H3K27ac-marked nucleosomes and DNaseI hypersensitivity in other cell types, revealing limited lineage fidelity. These findings demonstrate that enhancer chronology in blood cells differs markedly from that in intestinal crypts. Chromatin dynamics in hematopoiesis provide a useful foundation to consider classical observations such as cellular reprogramming and multilineage locus priming.
Disseminated Histoplasma capsulatum infection presenting as genital ulcerations.

Background : Histoplasma capsulatum infection in adults is most often subclinical but can result in disseminated disease with weight loss, fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and oropharyngeal ulcerations. Genital ulceration as the presenting sign of the disease has been reported rarely. Case : A 63-year-old woman presented with multiple vaginal ulcerations due to chronic disseminated H capsulatum infection. Initial diagnosis was made by Papanicolaou and Giemsa-stained vulvar smears. Ketoconazole therapy resulted in clearing of the lesions in 5 weeks. Conclusion : Chronic disseminated histoplasmosis is an insidious and potentially fatal disease that can present rarely as genital mucocutaneous ulcerations in women. Prompt presumptive diagnosis can be accomplished by examination of smears obtained by ulcer abrasion, permitting institution of appropriate therapy.
Detection of defects in laser welding of AZ31B magnesium alloy in zero-gap lap joint configuration by a real-time spectroscopic analysis

Abstract The effect of surface oxide layer existing at the lap-joint faying surface of magnesium sheets is investigated on the keyhole dynamics of the weld pool and weld bead qualities. It is observed that by removing the oxide layer from the faying surface of the lap joint, a high quality weld can be achieved in the laser welding process. However, the presence of an oxide layer deteriorates the quality of the weld by forming pores at the interface of the two overlapped sheets. The purpose of this paper is to identify the correlation between the integrity of the weld and the interaction between the laser and material. A spectroscopy sensor was applied to detect the spectra emitted from a plasma plume during the laser welding of AZ31B magnesium alloy in a zero-gap lap joint configuration. The electron temperature was calculated by applying a Boltzmann plot method based on the detected spectra, and the correlation between the pore formation and the spectral signals was studied. The laser molten pool and the keyhole condition were monitored in real-time by a high speed charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. A green laser was used as an illumination source in order to detect the influence of the oxide layer on the dynamic behavior of the molten pool. Results revealed that the detected spectrum and weld defects had a meaningful correlation for real-time monitoring of the weld quality during laser welding of magnesium alloys.
Development of hypervelocity electromagnetic launchers

Abstract Interest has increased substantially during recent years in the application of electromagnetic launch (EML) technology for a variety of purposes. In part this increased interest is due to the recent availability of compact pulsed power supplies suitable for driving such launchers. Also, several successful EML experiments have provided encouraging results. The history of electromagnetic launch is reviewed, the current status of the railgun is presented, and plans for the next generation of electromagnetic launchers are discussed.
Predictor Sort Sampling, Tight T'S, and the Analysis of Covariance

In this article we revisit a method of sample allocation that has long been known to statisticians and has recently been “discovered” by wood strength researchers. The method allocates experimental units to blocks on the basis of the values of a variable, x, that is known to be correlated with the response, y We call this allocation method “predictor sort sampling.” We demonstrate that the associated paired T analysis recommended in statistical texts is deficient if the sample size is small and the correlation between x and y is high. We temper this criticism of standard statistical intuition with a proof that the approach is asymptotically correct. In a related development we show that a modified pooled T approach can be taken to this data with a resultant increase in power. We compare these approaches to an analysis of covariance approach and discuss the advantages of each. Finally, we warn against the intuitively attractive but incorrect power calculations that are likely to be performed in association...
The shape of carbide precipitate particles in α-iron

Abstract Diffusion-limited growth equations are derived for precipitate particles of various shapes and compared to internal friction data on the precipitation of carbon from α-iron. It is concluded that for annealing temperatures of over 100° the carbide particles form as platelets spaced along the dislocation lines in the iron and become more spherical as they grow.
A Pulse Compression Waveform for Improved-Sensitivity Weather Radar Observations

AbstractThe progression of phased array weather observations, research, and planning over the past decade has led to significant advances in development efforts for future weather radar technologies. However, numerous challenges still remain for large-scale deployment. The eventual goal for phased array weather radar technology includes the use of active arrays, where each element would have its own transmit/receive module. This would lead to significant advantages; however, such a design must be capable of utilizing low-power, solid-state transmitters at each element in order to keep costs down. To provide acceptable sensitivity, as well as the range resolution needed for weather observations, pulse compression strategies are required. Pulse compression has been used for decades in military applications, but it has yet to be applied on a broad scale to weather radar, partly because of concerns regarding sensitivity loss caused by pulse windowing. A robust optimization technique for pulse compression wave...
Inactivity of N229A thymidylate synthase due to water-mediated effects: isolating a late stage in methyl transfer

Mutation of thymidylate synthase N229(177) to alanine results in an essentially inactive enzyme, yet it leads to formation of a stable ternary complex. The kinetics of N229(177)A show that kcat for Escherichia coli is reduced by 200-fold while the Km for dUMP is increased 200-fold and the Km for folate increased by tenfold versus the wild-type enzyme. The crystal structures of N229(177)A in complex with dUMP and CB3717, and in complex with dUMP alone are determined at 2.4 A, and 2.5 A resolution. These structures identify the covalently bound ternary complex and show how N229(177)A traps an intermediate, and so becomes inactive in a later step of the reaction. Since the smaller alanine side-chain at N229(177)A does not directly sterically impair binding of ligands, the structures implicate, and place quantitative limits on the involvement of the structured water network in the active site of thymidylate synthase in both catalysis and in determining the binding affinity for dUMP (in contrast, the N229(177)V mutation in Lactobacillus casei has minimal effect on activity).
Crankshaft surfaces: Finishing methods, surface characterization and their influence on wear

Abstract In the gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine the surfaces which the crankshaft presents to the connecting rod and the main bearings are very important in determining the wear rate of the bearings. Nodular iron crankshafts, which are now used almost exclusively in automotive gasoline and diesel engines, are particularly sensitive to variations in finishing technique. The microstructure of the nodular iron crankshaft contains spherical graphite nodules surrounded by ferrite. When improperly finished, the ferrite can form a burr which protrudes above the surrounding surface. The prevalence, size and directionality of these ferrite burrs have a marked influence on the wear rate of the bearings. A large burr lying in the unfavorable direction can act as a file on the soft bearing material. Burrs can also impede formation of a suitable oil film, causing high bearing wear rates and reduced service life.
Learning in Organizations and Public Policy

This study builds a conceptual framework to guide empirical studies of learning in public policy. Learning in public policy is defined here as a process in which individuals apply new information and ideas to policy decisions. This topic is examined by adapting relevant concepts from studies of organizational learning to the context of public policy. Recent work in the organizational learning literature focuses on institutional structures, procedures, and customs (learning arrangements) that act to promote individual learning. Further work in the policy literature suggests that focusing events (incidents that focus public and political attention on a policy issue) can also shape learning in public policy. Combining insights from these two literatures, this study proposes that both learning arrangements and focusing events can play observable roles in shaping policy change over time. These concepts are developed and examined in the context of hazardous systems.