cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A meta-analysis of the ecological and evolutionary drivers of metabolic rates in brachyuran crabs

AbstractMetabolic rates provide an estimate of the cost of living for different organisms that can readily be compared across species to provide an estimate of their relative requirements for survival. As such, metabolic rates have been measured for decades on a wide range of organisms. Here, we review published estimates of metabolic rates for brachyuran crabs, a ubiquitous and ecologically and economically important group of consumers. Consistent with ecological theory and results in many other groups of animals, and after controlling for phylogenetic relationships, crab metabolic rates scale with body mass with a scaling exponent of 0.65. Similarly, as with other groups of poikilotherms, crab metabolic rates increase strongly with temperature, with a Q10 of 1.26. Additionally, we found that metabolic rates were correlated with ecological niche, varying with both the diet strategy and the habitat occupied. These results help clarify the relative risk to crabs from environmental changes that impose metab...
Origami Inductors: Rapid Folding of 3-D Coils on a Laser Cutter

Origami manufacturing, the use of folding to create 3-D shapes using 2-D fabrication tools and techniques, is a promising avenue for creating low cost parts. In this letter, we demonstrate the hands-free cutting and folding of 3-D inductor geometries from blank metal foil using only a 2-D laser cutter. Laser forming, localized laser heating to create thermal stresses to deform a workpiece, is used to fold traces out of plane without manual handling. The laser forming of thin copper foil is first characterized, followed by cutting and folding of two 3-D inductors: a three-turn planar coil with folded overpass and a twelve-turn toroid. The planar coil was found to have inductance 199 nH and peak quality factor of 99.7 at 54.7 MHz, while the toroid had inductance 159 nH with peak quality factor 64.9 at 86.7 MHz. With laser cutters, one of the most widely available machine tools, this technology allows custom, high performance electrical passives to be rapidly fabricated without specialized equipment.
Development of Cell Impedance Based Sensing System for the Nanotoxicity Assay

The integration of nanomaterials and biotechnology is widely utilized and has great potential in rapidly developing fields such as biomedical engineering research, drug delivery, environmental health, pharmaceutical industries and even electronics and communication technologies. With this rapid development, questions have arisen whether the use of these new nanoscale materials (including nanotubes, nanowires, nanowhiskers, fullerenes or buckyballs, and quantum dots) might have unintended human health hazards. In this paper, we describe an electrical impedance measuring biosensor that can perform cytotoxicity assays of gold, silver cadmium oxide and carbon nanotubes (multi-walled and single-walled) on human lung fibroblasts with a shorter run time, easier performance and more precise results than previous methods. By measuring the resistance change when cells attach to the electrodes on the biosensing chip, toxicity levels of the various materials were recorded. Our method was successful in measuring the known toxic effects of cadmium oxide as well as the unexpected toxicity of silver in the small range of size (10 nm) within a much shorter time frame of 40 hours compared to 24 to 96 hours of current the biological methods.
Effect of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Academic Achievement is Stronger in High-SES Elementary Schools Compared to Low.

Background Academic achievement is influenced by factors at the student, school, and community levels. We estimated the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness performance on academic performance at the school level in Georgia elementary schools and examined effect modification by sociodemographic factors. Methods This study is a repeat cross-sectional analysis of Georgia elementary schools between 2011 and 2014 (approximately 1138 schools per year). Multivariable beta regression estimated the effect of the proportion of 4th and 5th graders meeting cardiorespiratory fitness standards on the proportion of 5th graders passing standardized tests for Reading, English and Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies and considered potential interaction by school-level socioeconomic status (SES), racial composition, and urbanity. Results There was a 0.15 higher estimated odds (OR: 1.15 (1.09, 1.22)) of passing the mathematics standardized test for every 10-percentage-point increase in school-level cardiorespiratory fitness among high-SES schools and 0.04 higher odds (OR: 1.04 (1.02, 1.05)) for low-SES schools. This pattern was similar for other academic subjects. No effect modification by racial composition or urbanity was observed for any academic subject. Conclusions Promoting physical fitness may be effective in improving academic performance among high-SES schools, but additional strategies may be needed among lower-SES schools.
MYD88 L265P mutation and CDKN2A loss as early mutational events in primary central nervous system lymphomas.

e14041Background: The genetic alterations that define PCNSL are beginning to be identified, and the genomic evolution that conveys susceptibility or resistance to treatment in recurrent disease is ...
2251. Comparing Statin Prescribing Rates in Eligible HIV vs. Non-HIV-Infected Patients

Background Although the HIV population is at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, gaps in therapy have been described for HIV patients indicated for statin agents. This study aimed to compare statin prescribing rates between HIV-infected and uninfected patients. This is the first study comparing statin rates among these populations using the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association lipid guidelines, which have broader inclusion criteria than previous guidelines.
Impact on Society versus Impact on Knowledge: Scholarly Production in Latin American Studies

Although home to 8% of the world’s population, only 1.7% of the scholarly knowledge about Latin America is produced domestically, constituting a loss of valuable and unique cultural perspective. Th...
IDENTIFYING SOCIOECONOMIC AND GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS TO PRENATAL DETECTION OF HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME AND TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT ARTERIES

Prenatal detection (PND) has benefits for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and transposition of the great arteries (TGA), but socioeconomic and geographic barriers are unknown. We evaluated the association between socioeconomic position, public insurance, race/ethnic group, and distance from
Sustainability Infused across the Curriculum at a Minority Serving Liberal Arts Institution: A Case Study

A critical challenge facing institutions of higher education is the integration of a sustainable energy curriculum into interdisciplinary education. This case study will evaluate the campus-wide development , adoption , and evaluation of an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary sustainability education, at a small liberal arts college. The process and outcomes of the development of this sustainability curriculum are reported. The efficacy of the development and adoption of the curriculum was assessed by student surveys and faculty interviews. The interview results indicated substantial faculty interest and approval of implementing sustainability education at the institution. Survey results reveal an increased interest in pursuing studies and careers in sustainability and energy among students. Upon the completion of the study it was concluded that the sustainability initiative was successfully developed and infused at a historically black college and university (HBCU). The implications of this study advance the importance of incorporating sustainability education within all academic disciplines throughout a minority-serving, small, liberal arts college to increase the presence of African Americans in future careers in energy, green jobs or energy policy/economics.
Identifying Faculty and Peer Interaction Patterns of First-Year Biology Doctoral Students: A Latent Class Analysis

Using a national sample of first-year biology doctoral students, this study reveals distinct categories that classify patterns of faculty and peer interaction. It also documents inequities certain ...
Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences of Parenting Women in Drug Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.

Descriptive adverse childhood experience (ACE) prevalence data on parenting women seeking treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is limited, despite this group being one of the fastest growing sub-populations of the opioid epidemic. The aim of this study was to: (1) determine prevalence of ACEs) in a population of parenting women in treatment for OUD, (2) characterize ACEs, and (3) compare study ACE data to Pennsylvania Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (PA BRFSS) to normalize study results. Between 2014 and 2018, ACEs were collected from parenting women (N = 152) enrolled in treatment for OUDs. Results showed on average women were 30.3 years of age (SD 4.6, range 22–41 years) non-Hispanic (87.0%), white (74.0%), and held a high school education or less (76.0%). The mean total ACE score was 4.3 (SD 2.3; range 0–8). Most women reported 4 ≥ ACEs (65.0%), while only 5.0% reported 0 ACEs. The current sample had higher mean ACE score (4.3 PSMDT vs. 1.4 PA BRFSS Data) than PA BRFSS Data. The burden of ACEs in parenting women in treatment for OUD is significant. Understanding the trauma parenting women in drug treatment have experienced, may support efforts to reduce stigma of this population. Public health intervention and policy work that is trauma proactive is needed to address this growing epidemic.
Agricultural pests consumed by common bat species in the United States corn belt: The importance of DNA primer choice

Abstract To meet growing global food demand, producers are actively searching for ways tocrop yield. One way to boost yield is to reduce arthropod damage. However, insecticides are becoming less effective and can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment. Learning how to harness natural pest control is one way to reduce arthropod damage to crops and avoid adverse effects of insecticide use. Therefore, we examined the diets of two bat species that are likely to provide pest control services across the United States corn belt: the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) and the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). We also show that primer choice can impact the diversity of taxa detected and resecent adavances in primer design can improve diet detection studies. Using new ANML primers to isolate prey DNA in fecal material, we found a more diverse diet than previously reported for both bat species. Big brown bats consumed an average of 16.2 species from 8.5 genera. Red bats consumed an average of 28.6 species from 15.8 genera. We found pest genera in 92 % of big brown bat samples and 94 % of red bat samples. For both bat species, approximately two pest genera were detected in each sample. Corn rootworms (Diabrotica), Cloverworms (Hypena), plant bugs (Lygus), wireworms (Melanotus), seed corn beetles (Stenolophus), and armyworms (Spodoptera) were the most frequently consumed agricultural pests. We confirm earlier studies that document beetles (Coleoptera) and moths (Lepidoptera) as the most common prey items of big brown and red bats, respectively. However, we also document a diverse diet for both bat species that includes many true bugs (Hemiptera). Because pest control services of big brown and red bats are not completely overlapped, we conclude that a diverse bat community is essential to maximize pest control services by bats.
Home Visiting Effects on Breastfeeding and Bedsharing in a Low-Income Sample.

BackgroundResearch suggests that home visiting interventions can promote breastfeeding initiation, though their effects on breastfeeding continuation are unclear. No known studies have assessed the...
Cognitive decline in older adults with epilepsy: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

OBJECTIVE Cognitive decline is a major concern for older adults with epilepsy. Whether and how much faster older adults with epilepsy experience cognitive decline beyond expected age-related cognitive change remain unclear. We sought to estimate and compare rates of cognitive decline in older adults with and without epilepsy. METHODS The Cardiovascular Health Study is a population-based longitudinal cohort study of 5888 US adults aged 65+. Cognitive function was assessed annually with Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3MS) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). We used linear mixed models to estimate average rates of decline in 3MS and DSST scores by epilepsy status (prevalent, incident, or no epilepsy), adjusted for risk factors associated with cognitive decline. RESULTS The rate of decline in 3MS was significantly faster in prevalent epilepsy (P < .001) and after incident epilepsy (P = .002) compared with no epilepsy. Prevalent epilepsy and apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) e4 (ApoE4) had a synergistic interaction, whereby prevalent epilepsy and ApoE4 together were associated with 1.51 points faster annual decline in 3MS than would be expected if prevalent epilepsy and ApoE4 did not interact (P < .001). Older adults with prevalent epilepsy had a significantly lower initial DSST score and faster rate of decline compared to those with no epilepsy (P < .001). SIGNIFICANCE Faster decline in global cognitive ability seen in this study validates concerns of patients. ApoE4 allele status was an effect modifier of the relationship between cognitive decline and prevalent epilepsy. Further research is warranted to explore biological mechanisms and possible interventions to mitigate cognitive decline.
Policy incentives and social cost of emissions for promoting decentralized energy production: A life cycle cost analysis

Abstract Distributed energy systems (DES) are the focus of increasing attention as a means of improving the sustainability performance of power and heat production. However, many studies have shown that distributed energy systems have a higher cost than conventional centralized energy generation (CCEP). Previous studies on economic analysis of DES has generally overlooked the economic impacts of policy incentives, business depreciation, and emission taxes. This research aims to examine the reduction of the life cycle cost (LCC) for DES when the impact of U.S. policy incentives and emission taxes are considered. We first used a parametric model to find the optimal DES solution for three commercial building types under five climate zones in the U.S. Then, we calculated the LCC for each scenario and evaluated the cost-saving potential of feasible U.S. clean energy policy incentives, including federal tax credits, low-interest loans, and accelerated depreciation. Finally, we used the Air Pollution Emission Experiments and Policy model to quantify air pollutant emissions’ social cost for formulating emission tax on DES and CCEP. Results show that the social cost of centralized conventional energy production is significantly higher than the distributed energy systems. The bundle of feasible U.S. clean energy policies can reduce the cost of distributed energy systems by 67% on average. Suppose the social cost of energy-related emissions is also considered and charged as emission tax for energy generation. In that case, 50% of building energy supply scenarios for the distributed energy systems become cost-competitive as compared to CCEP.
Autonomous wireless sensor network architecture for vehicular traffic monitoring at an intersection

In many countries, because of the limited financial budget, the growth of road infrastructures is low compared to the growth of population and the number of vehicles in urban areas. Such a context does not make the task easy for authorities in charge of the management of transportation systems. The introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) allows to better address these issues. Vehicular traffic management at intersections has an impact on the traffic jam observed in the whole city. In this thesis, our goal is to propose a low-cost, lightweight and autonomous Wireless Sensors Network (WSN) architecture for vehicular traffic monitoring, especially at an intersections. Vehicular traffic data collected can be used, for instance, for intelligent traffic lights management. In the WSN architecture proposed in the literature for vehicular traffic monitoring, underground sensors are used. In terms of network communication, these architectures are not realistic. Nowadays, surface-mounted sensors are proposed by manufacturers. The first contribution of this thesis is an experimental characterization of wireless links in a WSN with sensors deployed at the ground level. We evaluate the impact of several parameters like the proximity of the ground surface, the communication frequency and the messages size on the link quality. Result show a poor link quality at ground level. Based on the conclusions of the experiments, the second contribution of this thesis is WARIM, a new WSN architecture for vehicular traffic monitoring at an intersection. In WARIM, the sensors deployed on a lane form a multi-hop WSN with a linear topology (LWSN). In this network, all the data are forwarded toward the sink. In a network with such properties, the computation and communication requirements are highest in the neighborhood of the sink. Thus, the third contribution of this thesis is a virtual nodes-based and energy efficient sensors deployment strategy for LWSN. Compared to a uniform deployment, this deployment improves the network lifetime by 40%. In our intersection monitoring application, it is important to correlate the messages generated by a sensor to its position with respect to the intersection. Therefore,the fourth contribution of this thesis is, a centroid-based algorithm for sensors ranking in a LWSN. We evaluate the performance of this algorithm considering a realistic channel model, a uniform deployment, as well as the virtual nodes based-deployment proposed in this thesis. Finally, putting all our contributions together, simulations show that WARIM can be used for reliable and real-time vehicular traffic monitoring at an intersection.
Modeling the Cross Section of Stock Returns: A Model Pooling Approach

Model selection (i.e., the choice of an asset pricing model to the exclusion of competing models) is an inherently misguided strategy when the true model is unavailable to the researcher. This paper illustrates the advantages of a model pooling approach in characterizing the cross section of stock returns. The optimal pool combines models using the log predictive score criterion, a measure of the out-of-sample performance of each model, and consistently outperforms the best individual model. The benefits to model pooling are most pronounced during periods of economic stress, and it is a valuable tool for asset allocation decisions.
Silica-modifying chemical admixtures for directed zeolitization of metakaolin-based alkali-activated materials

Abstract The effect of using trimethyladamantyl-ammonium hydroxide (TMAAOH) as a silica-modifying admixture to induce early-age mineralization during alkali-activation of metakaolin was investigated and reported herein. In all material formulations, the use of TMAAOH induced early-age mineralization, increased mixture stiffening in the fresh state, and lowered total heat of reaction. In activating solutions with silica moduli above unity (Ms >1.0), mineralogy results demonstrate that TMAAOH induces the nucleation and growth of metastable zeolitic phases, which correlated with increased permeability and increased plastic shrinkage of the paste. When TMAAOH was added to activating solutions with silica moduli near unity (Ms ~1.0), the controlled formation of crystalline, silica-rich faujasite was observed, which correlated with reduced permeability and lower plastic shrinkage. Together, these results demonstrate for the first time that silica-templating agents such as TMAAOH can be exploited in the deisgn of new chemical admixtures that directly influence the dynamics of zeolitization in alkali-activated materials.
Background: Linear Algebra

We will begin our course of study by reviewing the most relevant definitions and concepts of linear algebra. We will also expand on various aspects of orthogonal projection and spectral decomposition that are not necessarily covered in a first linear algebra course. This chapter is almost entirely self-contained as it builds from the ground up everything that we will need later in the text. Two exceptions are Theorems 1.3 and 1.4 which point to external references rather than being proven in this book or its exercise solutions.
LGBTQ Policy and Fragmented Federalism in the U.S.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Americans face a fragmented policy landscape across the country. Some states and localities have taken the lead and adopted policies to protec...
Math Achievement Outcomes Associated with Montessori Education.

The math curriculum of the Montessori system of education for children ages 3–12 is distinctive, incorporating multiple manipulatives and educational practices which have theoretical and empirical ...
Effect of Hospital Linens on Unit-Acquired Pressure Injuries for Adults in Medical ICUs: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Researchers have shown in laboratory studies that different types of fabrics were associated with changes in skin moisture, friction, shear, and temperature that may predispose patients to pressure injury. There was an association between type of fiber used in hospital linens and pressure injury development in previous clinical studies. We examined if bed linens made from a newly developed synthetic fiber fabric affected occurrence rate, time to development, and severity of unit-acquired pressure injury in critically ill adult inpatients. Design Cluster randomized controlled trial. Setting Five adult medical ICUs within one quaternary care center in the Midwest United States. Patients Patients were assigned to a unit based on bed availability. In total, there were 3,332 patients in the study. Interventions Participating medical ICUs were randomly assigned to cotton fiber or synthetic fiber linens for the first 6 months of the study period, and assignment reversed after a 14-day washout period for the final 6 months. Measurements and main results Unit-acquired pressure injury occurrence rate, time to first unit-acquired pressure injury, and severity were evaluated using generalized mixed effect models with patient as a random effect, and a marginal Cox proportional hazards model with repeated admissions from the same patient accounted for by use of a sandwich estimator of the variance. There were 1,706 patients on cotton fiber linens and 1,626 patients on synthetic fiber linens. Groups were similar on demographics except race and admitting diagnosis groupings. Occurrence rate (p = 0.99), time to development (p = 0.99), and maximum severity of unit-acquired pressure (p = 0.86) were similar between groups before and after controlling for race and admitting diagnosis groupings. Conclusions Linen type did not affect unit-acquired pressure injury occurrence rate, severity, or timing. Standard unit-acquired pressure injury prevention efforts may be more cost-effective than investment in synthetic fiber linens.
The impact of vertical public health initiatives on gendered familial care work: public health and ethical issues

Rigorous evaluations of the effects of vertical public health enterprises on the health systems of low-income countries usefully identify the public health and ethical costs of those initiatives. T...
Accessibility of High-Fidelity Prototyping Tools

High-fidelity prototyping tools are used by software designers and developers to iron out interface details without full implementation. However, the lack of visual accessibility in these tools creates a barrier for designers who may use screen readers, such as those who are vision impaired. We assessed conformance of four prototyping tools (Sketch, Adobe XD, Balsamiq, UXPin) with accessibility guidelines, using two screen readers (Narrator and VoiceOver), focusing our analysis on GUI element accessibility and critical workflows used to create prototypes. We found few tools were fully accessible, with 45.9% of GUI elements meeting accessibility criteria (34.2% partially supported accessibility, 19.9% not supporting accessibility). Accessibility issues stymied efforts to create prototypes using screen readers. Though no screen reader-tool pairs were completely accessible, the most accessible pairs were VoiceOver-Sketch, VoiceOver-Balsamiq, and Narrator-Balsamiq. We recommend prioritizing improved accessibility for input and control instruction, alternative text, focus order, canvas element properties, and keyboard operations.
Neuraxial labor analgesia failure rates in women with a body mass index ≥50 kg/m2: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND The failure rate of neuraxial labor analgesia has not been investigated in super-obese women (body mass index ≥50 kg/m2). METHODS We performed a retrospective study of neuraxial labor analgesia in super-obese women (January 2012 to August 2019). The primary outcome was the failure rate of the first neuraxial catheter. Secondary outcomes were failure rates by neuraxial technique, at cesarean delivery, and rate of catheter replacement. RESULTS Neuraxial labor analgesia was used by 233 super-obese women: 153 epidural catheters placed using a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) or dural puncture epidural techniques with visualization of cerebrospinal fluid; 63 placed without dural puncture (including procedures without attempted dural puncture or attempted CSE or dural puncture epidural); and 17 intrathecal catheters (seven intentional). Thirty-two of 233 neuraxial catheters failed (13.7%, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 9.9 to 18.7%). Epidural catheters placed using CSE or dural puncture epidural had a lower failure rate than those placed without dural puncture (9.2%, 95% CI 5.5% to 14.7%) vs 28.6% (95% CI 18.9% to 40.7%; P<0.001). Catheter migration was documented for 29.4% (95% CI 16.8 to 46.2%) of catheters that failed. CONCLUSIONS Epidural catheters placed using CSE or dural puncture epidural techniques were more reliable than those placed without dural puncture in super-obese parturients. It is unclear whether the result was driven by grouping procedures without attempted dural puncture with those in which dural puncture was attempted but cerebrospinal fluid was not obtained. Catheter migration was a major source of failure.
The future of meeting exhibitions

As someone who has attended every American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting as an exhibitor for the past 20 years, I would like to offer a different perspective. In his column titled "The future of meetings" ( I Physics Today i , February 2021, page 8), Charles Day expresses doubts that exhibitors will return to scientific meetings once the COVID pandemic eases. So long as APS invites exhibitors to join the March Meeting, Stanford Research Systems and I will be there to meet old friends and make new ones, show our new instruments, and have some fun in the process. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Physics Today is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Online Gaming as Digital Heuristics: The House of the Rhyta at Pseira

While 3D modeling has only come into widespread archaeological use in recent years, it is hardly a new or untested approach in the study of architecture. Even so, archaeological 3D modeling has largely been limited to use in illustrations, rather than treated as a part of the scientific method. Using the case study of the Minoan House of the Rhyta at Pseira, this article discusses the results of applying 3D modeling as not only a visualization, but also a hypothesis testing tool. In the summer of 2014, the Minoan Modeling Project undertook a new intensive architectural examination of the Minoan House of the Rhyta at Pseira. The project produced both state and reconstructed 3D models. The 3D reconstruction became the basis of an educational video game designed as a scientific tool to test architectural theories about the use of space. As gamers interact with and circulate through the various rooms in the House of the Rhyta, their movements are tracked and statistically compared with the results of more traditional methods of access and circulation pattern analysis. This article presents preliminary results of this crowdsourced online game study, in addition to discussing strengths and weaknesses of the technique as learned through the process of building the model and game.
Outcomes in reported penicillin allergic mothers and neonates requiring Group B streptococcal prophylaxis: a retrospective observational cohort study.

Infectious morbidity and mortality in the first week of life is commonly caused by early-onset neonatal Group B streptococcus (GBS) disease. This infection is spread from GBS positive mothers to neonates by vertical transmission during delivery and results in serious illness for newborns. Intrapartum prophylactic antibiotics have decreased the incidence of early-onset neonatal GBS disease by 80%. Patients labeled with a penicillin allergy (PcnA) alternatively receive either vancomycin or clindamycin but effectiveness is controversial. We evaluated the influence of a reported PcnA label versus no PcnA label on inpatient maternal and neonatal outcomes. Our goal was to examine the relationship between a PcnA label, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and hospital costs. We collected retrospective data with institutional IRB approval from 2016 – 2018 for hospitalized patients who were GBS positive, pregnant at time of admission, ≥ 18 years of age, received antibiotic prophylaxis for GBS, were labeled as PcnA or non-PcnA, and completed a vaginal delivery. Patient characteristics and maternal/neonatal outcomes were examined. Statistical tests included calculations of means, medians, proportions, Mann–Whitney, two-sample t-tests, Chi-squared or Fisher’s Exact tests, and generalized linear and logistic regression models. Significance was set at p 48 h [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.35, 95% CI: 1.07–1.69] even though the PcnA mothers’ LOS was not different from non-PcnA mothers. Cost of care, mortality, intensive care, median parity, mean gravidity, and miscarriage were similar between the groups. In hospitalized obstetric patients, a PcnA label was associated with a shorter maternal course of antibiotic treatment and a longer neonatal LOS. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the underlying reasons for these outcomes.
Interactions and electron-transfer reactions between metalloproteins

We study, by flash kinetic spectrophotometry on the microsecond time scale, the effects of ionic strength and viscosity on the kinetics of oxidative quenching of the triplet state of zinc cytochrome c, ^Zncyt, by the wild-type form and the following nine mutants of cupriplastocyanin: Leul2Glu, Leul2Asn, Phe35Tyr, Gln88Glu, Tyr83Phe, TyrSSHis, Asp42Asn, Glu43Asn, and the double mutant Glu59Lys/GIu60Gln. The unimolecular rate constants for the quenching reactions within the persistent diprotein complex, which predominates at low ionic strength, and within the transient diprotein complex, which is involved at higher ionic strength, are equal irrespective of the mutation. Evidently, the two complexes are the same, fo both reactions the rate-limiting step is rearrangement of the diprotein complex from a configuration optimal for docking to the one optimal for the subsequent electron-transfer step, which is fast. We investigate the effects of plastocyanin mutations on this rearrangement, which gates the overall electron-transfer reaction.
Social support buffering of the relation between low income and elevated blood pressure in at-risk African-American adults.

Socioeconomic disadvantage has been linked to elevated blood pressure (BP), and the purpose of this study was to assess whether interpersonal social supports buffer these adverse relations in African-American adults. In three communities matched demographically, a subsample of participants (N = 204) of the Positive Action for Today’s Health trial provided measures of perceived social support, annual household income, and BP. Multiple regression analyses with cross-product interactions were conducted using follow-up data. The sample had a mean age of 52.8 years (SD = 15.1), and was predominantly female (66 %) with a high body mass index (M = 33.5, SD = 14.7). Results indicated an inverse relation between social support and diastolic BP (B = −.178, p = .005), and also an interaction with income (p = .046), such that higher social support related to lower diastolic BP in the lowest-income individuals (B = −1.05). The same direct (B = −.141, p = .025) and interacting (B = −1.42, p = .040) social support effects were present for systolic BP, however the omnibus model for systolic BP was not significant, F(6, 196) = 1.80, p = .09. The hypothesized buffering effect of social support on the adverse relation of income to BP was partially supported in at-risk African-American adults. Future prevention efforts for reducing the impact of socioeconomic stress on BP may aim to increase perceptions of social support.
Generation of Biologic Activity from the Purified α-Chain of C5

The alpha- and beta-chains of the fifth component of human complement (C5) have been isolated and their physical and biologic properties have been characterized. After electrophoresis in SDS-poly-acrylamide slab gels, the chains were eluted from the gels and extensively dialyzed. The amino acid composition of each chain was then determined. On SDS-gels, the alpha-chain was PAS positive whereas the beta-chain revealed little or no staining. As a measure of chemotactic activity, the lysosomal enzyme-releasing activity of both chains was examined before and after trypsinization; activity resided almost entirely in the alpha subunit. Reconstitution of C5 from its isolated chains, followed by trypsinization resulted in slightly less activity than that from the individual alpha subunit. These findings provide direct support for previous evidence suggesting the biologic activity for neutrophils derives entirely from the alpha subunit of C5. This represents the first report of direct recovery of biologic activity from a purified subunit chain of C5.
Advances in light ion beams for inertial confinement fusion

In the last year, very significant advances have been made in the physics of intense light ion beams. On the Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator (PBFA I) at Sandia National Laboratories, a beam of protons has been focused to a power density of up to 1.5 TW/cm2. Improvements in power flow symmetry, early initiation of the ion source, virtual cathode formation, and ion beam propagation have led to this result. The intrinsic divergence of the ion beam measured in these experiments has been in the range of 14–17 milliradians. When scaled to the voltage and power level of PBFA II, a 100 TW accelerator nearing completion at Sandia, the PBFA I focusing results indicate that PBFA II should be able to reach a beam focal intensity of 80–120 TW/cm2.
Keyframe Motion Optimization By Relaxing Speed and Timing

While physically based approaches have been shown to be effective for creating graceful and realistic motions, keyframing systems are still the predominant tool for animation. This is due primarily to the control provided to the animator, as well as to the simple fast computation of in-between frames. In contrast, physical simulation systems automate the creation of realistic motion sequences, but remove most of the control from the animator. Recent work with spacetime constraints and optimal control has focused on balancing control and automation. However, either the algorithmic and computational complexity or the continuing lack of control have made it difficult to integrate these developments into real animation systems.
Neurobiology of attachment to an abusive caregiver: short-term benefits and long-term costs

Childhood maltreatment is associated with adverse brain development and later life psychiatric disorders, with maltreatment from the caregiver inducing a particular vulnerability to later life psychopathologies. Here we review two complementary rodent models of early life abuse, which are used to examine the infant response to trauma within attachment and the developmental trajectories that lead to later life neurobehavioral deficits. These rodent models include being reared with an abusive mother, and a more controlled attachment-learning paradigm using odor-shock conditioning to produce a new maternal odor. In both of these rodent models, pups learn a strong attachment and preference to the maternal odor. However, both models produce similar enduring neurobehavioral deficits, which emerge with maturation. Importantly, cues associated with our models of abuse serve as paradoxical safety signals, by normalizing enduring neurobehavioral deficits following abuse. Here we review these models and explore implications for human interventions for early life maltreatment.
In Vivo Imaging of Xenograft Tumors Using an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Specific Affibody Molecule Labeled with a Near-infrared Fluorophore

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with many types of cancers. It is of great interest to noninvasively image the EGFR expression in vivo. In this study, we labeled an EGFR-specific Affibody molecule (Eaff) with a near-infrared (NIR) dye IRDye800CW maleimide and tested the binding of this labeled molecule (Eaff800) in cell culture and xenograft mouse tumor models. Unlike EGF, Eaff did not activate the EGFR signaling pathway. Results showed that Eaff800 was bound and taken up specifically by EGFR-overexpressing A431 cells. When Eaff800 was intravenously injected into nude mice bearing A431 xenograft tumors, the tumor could be identified 1 hour after injection and it became most prominent after 1 day. Images of dissected tissue sections demonstrated that the accumulation of Eaff800 was highest in the liver, followed by the tumor and kidney. Moreover, in combination with a human EGFR type 2 (HER2)-specific probe Haff682, Eaff800 could be used to distinguish between EGFR- and HER2-overexpressing tumors. Interestingly, the organ distribution pattern and the clearance rate of Eaff800 were different from those of Haff682. In conclusion, Eaff molecule labeled with a NIR fluorophore is a promising molecular imaging agent for EGFR-overexpressing tumors.
Role of endothelin in α-adrenoceptor coronary vasoconstriction

It has been proposed that α-adrenoceptor vasoconstriction in coronary resistance vessels results not from α-adrenoceptors on coronary smooth muscle but from α-adrenoceptors on cardiac myocytes that...
The behavioral perspective in contemporary education

Abstract This article first contrasts the philosophical premises of behaviorism with those of humanism and cognitivism. Behavioral contributions are then examined in three areas of practical importance to educators: description of student performance, explanation of student performance, and evaluation of educational interventions. Student behavior is presumed to be the only dimension that teachers can use as evidence of learning. Alteration of environmental events in the classroom is represented as the principal strategy for promoting student learning. The article asserts that learning research must involve reliable assessment, replicable interventions, and generalizable results. The author concludes that (a) all models make use of behavior in assessing student performance and (b) intervening cognitive and affective constructs contribute little to the explanation and promotion of student performance.
Refrigeration and freeze-thaw effects on broiler fillets having extreme L* values

Abstract Eight hundred broiler males were grown to 56 d and processed under common terms while maintaining individual identity. Front halves were deboned 24 h postmortem (PM) to obtain breast fillets, and CIELAB light reflectance was immediately measured on the skin side of each fillet. Fillets were bagged and held at 4 ° C for 24 h, and then 20 fillets exhibiting the darkest (47.3 to 57.5), lightest (71.1 to 76.4), and median (63.7 to 64.0) L* values were selected and trimmed to best define the pectoralis major. Remeasurement of light reflectance at 48 h PM revealed decreased L* values solely associated with fillets having the highest L* at 24 h. One-half of the fillets representing each category was frozen (4 d at -20 ° C) and thawed (3 d at 4 ° C). The L* value, after thawing, decreased from the 48 h PM value, which equivalently occurred in for all L* categories. Although 48 h PM fillets from each L* category were of similar weights, their lengths and widths increased with L* value. Exudate lost with thawing increased with L* value and paralleled decreases in length and width to equalize dimensions among sources.
Accelerating restrictive cardiomyopathy after liver transplantation in a patient with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy: a case report.

Hereditary amyloidodis is a rare disease process with a propensity to cause polyneuropathies, autonomic dysfunction, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. It is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner, with disease onset usually in the 20s-40s. The most common hereditary amyloidogenic protein, transthyretin, is synthesized in the liver and lies on Chromosome 18. Over 80 amyloidogenic transthyretin mutations have been described, the majority of which are neuropathic and hence the common name, Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy. Until 1990, the disease was intractable with a 5–15 year survival after diagnosis. The prognosis changed after the implementation of orthotropic liver transplantation as a treatment strategy which halts the synthesis of amyloidogenic transthyretin. This has now has been performed over 1300 times in 67 centers. We describe the case of a man of Irish ancestry with Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy and no clinical history of cardiac involvement. Shortly after orthotropic liver transplantation, he developed congestive heart failure. He was subsequently diagnosed with an accelerating post-transplant restrictive cardiomyopathy due to amyloid infiltration. A liver transplant induced cardiomyopathy in Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy can be observed in patients without any history of cardiac symptoms. All patients with Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy should be followed after transplantation to assess for a deterioration in cardiac function.
Transient Conjugated Heat Transfer Analysis from a Sphere with Nonlinear Boundary Conditions

The problem of conjugate unsteady convective and radiative heat transfer from a solid spherical particle is numerically investigated for Reynolds numbers up to 100 using a Chebyshev-Legendre spectral method. The treatment of nonlinear boundary condition of the radiation heat transfer from the sphere surface is assessed and successfully implemented. This work is an extension of the previous effort of simulating flow around a sphere using spectral method to include heat transfer. The assumption of quasi-steady flow field for the unsteady heat transfer calculation is compared with the fully transient treatment of both the flow and the temperature fields. It is found that the quasi-steady assumption underestimates the overall heat transfer rate at very early time stages (up to 9% underestimation for the mean Nusselt number). However, the discrepancy becomes smaller as time elapses. The underprediction of the quasi-steady assumption becomes larger as the Reynolds number increases for a fixed Prandtl number. The results for different alternate radiation-conduction number cases are presented.
Epoxy resin embedding in contrast radioautography of bones and teeth.

Contrast, or low-resolution, radioautographs of teeth and large specimens of bone are made from plane, polished surfaces of such material embedded in plastic. The specimen is cut with a motor-driven circular saw, fixed, dehydrated, and defatted with anhydrous acetone and ether. It is then infiltrated with a mixture of epoxy resin and reactive hardener. The resin-infiltrated specimen is placed in an easily constructed mold of aluminum and Lucite. Polymerization is complete in 4-6 hr. The surface of the specimen is exposed by machining and/or abrading. The prepared surface is apposed to an X-ray type emulsion to produce a radioautograph. The resolution obtainable is estimated to be 100-200 β.
The SAW resonators on LiNb0 3 for mass-sensing applications

A mass-loading effect SAW resonator with shorted synchronously reflectors is presented in this work. The input and output Interdigital Transducer (IDT) has 10 pairs of aluminum electrodes on the high K LiNbC>3 Substrate. The acoustic waves generated from input IDT travel to output IDT and convert into electric signals. The sensing area includes of the input, output IDTs and reflectors. The velocity and frequency of acoustic waves change when the mass is on the sensing area. The mass on the electrodes causes the mass-loading effects and decreases the center frequency. The sensitivity curve can be obtained due to the center frequency shift. In this work, the Potassium Chloride (KCL) is used to deposit on the sensing area. Different concentrations of KCL solution lead to different masses and center frequencies on the surface. According to the simulation results, it shows the linearity between the center frequency shift and the thickness of the deposited KCL layer.
Hypsometric forcing of stagnant ice margins: Pleistocene valley glaciers, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Abstract Topographic and sedimentological evidence indicates that stagnant ice conditions prevailed during retreat of many Pleistocene valley glaciers in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado. I use topographic data from many of these valleys to test two conceptual models that predict the most likely position for a stagnant ice margin to develop during valley glacier retreat. In the first model, valley hypsometry controls the rate of accumulation area loss for a rise in equilibrium line altitude (ELA). The faster accumulation area is lost, the faster the glacier terminus must retreat, increasing the likelihood of ice stagnation. In the second model, a stagnant margin will develop if a topographic obstacle thins the glacier to a critical thickness, retarding internal deformation and pinching off a section of un-nourished ice. Comparison of modeling results with field evidence indicates that topographic obstacles do not force the development of stagnant ice margins in the San Juans. Instead, valley hypsometry, in particular the valley slope at the paleo-ELA, appears to be the primary control of ice stagnation. For a constant ELA rise rate, gentle valley slopes force ice stagnation (by increasing retreat rate) whereas steep slopes encourage active retreat. Ice stagnation is prevalent in the San Juan Volcanic Field because incompetent volcanic rocks are easily eroded to produce low valley gradients. This finding that the slope at the ELA is an important control on the development of a stagnant margin is supported by the abundance of stagnant ice deposits in continental settings where the slope at the ELA is very low.
Pacific Northwest Labor History Association Conference Highlights Organizing Strategies, Past and Present

On May 15–17, 1998, over one hundred and fifty labor historians and union and student activists attended the thirtieth annual conference of the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association (PNLHA) at Portland State University. The conference was cosponsored by the University of Oregon's Labor Education and Research Center and over a dozen labor unions and other organizations.