cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hereditary Cancer Risk

The elucidation of the sequence of the human genome promises to usher in a new era of medicine that will result in improved diagnosis and identification of individuals at risk for hereditary conditions. In this chapter, we focus on genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk in children and families and how such testing impacts the management of children with a diagnosis of cancer or who are at risk for cancer. We provide descriptions of the major hereditary cancers and cancer syndromes affecting children, as well as cancer predisposition syndromes that occur primarily in adulthood, but for which testing in minors has been raised as consideration. The impact on children’s medical management will be reviewed, as well as data on the psychosocial effects of testing. It is important to note that a hallmark feature of an inherited predisposition to cancer is that affected individuals are usually at high risk of developing more than one type of malignancy; thus, screening and risk reduction guidelines are often targeted to more than one site or system. Because of the potential for considerable morbidity and mortality arising from hereditary cancers, the psychosocial impact may be significant for the individual and family.
Evaluating the effectiveness of an online medical laboratory technician program.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of an online medical laboratory technician program in the academic preparation and development of laboratory professionals. DESIGN: A semi-quantitative comparative research design was used. Several factors were considered in this evaluation. Academic outcomes between online and campus medical laboratory technician (MLT) students was determined by comparing overall and categorical scores on certification exams as well as first time pass rate. Certification exam scores and first time pass rates were also compared to national norms when possible to do so. Demographic data, including age and experience were compared. Additionally, learning styles were assessed to determine if there was a correlation to overall GPA and MLT GPA and if learning styles could be used to predict successful completion of an online Associates of Applied Science. SETTING: The research was conducted at an academic university located in the mountain west United States. PARTICIPANTS: Participants consisted of online and campus students enrolled in a Medical Laboratory Technician program that graduated with their Associate of Applied Science degree between the years 2007-2009. Results of these years were also compared to graduates from 2004-2006 in the same program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Certification performance and first time pass rates were the major outcomes measured. Age and experience were correlated. Online learning styles and GPA were also compared to successful degree completion. RESULTS: The researcher found no significant difference in certification performance with regard to total and categorical scores, and first time pass rates between campus and online MLT students. Online students were slightly older and had more experience working in a laboratory in some capacity. Correlation studies showed significant positive correlation between learning styles, GPA, and successful completion of an Associate of Applied Science degree. When registry scores were compared to the prior cohort of online students, some subcategories scores demonstrated a significant increase using Chi-squared analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The research demonstrated that the online MLT students studied were as academically prepared as their campus counterparts. ABBREVIATIONS:ASCP = American Society of Clinical Pathology; MLT = Medical Laboratory Technician; MLS = Medical Laboratory Scientist; MT = Medical Technologist: GPA = grade point average; NAACLS = National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science; LOQ = Learning Orientation Questionnaire
Optofluidic lab-on-a-chip devices for photomedicine applications

Abstract: In this chapter, the detection principles and fabrication methods of optofluidic devices are discussed. Optofluidic devices enable synergistic operations of optics and microfluidics over a unified platform, resulting in precise and quantitative examination of biological samples such as cells, proteins, and nucleic acids. To address the emerging needs for point-of-care in vitro diagnostics, a variety of optofluidic devices have been developed to isolate, detect, or image cells and molecules. Lab-on-a-chip devices based on optofluidic technologies are adept for personalized healthcare, holding promise for reduced cost and improved efficacy. Very recently, incorporation of portable optofluidic devices into mobile devices such as smart phones has presented particularly promising opportunities for telemedicine and point-of-care clinics for low- and medium-income countries.
Alternating oligo(o,p-phenylenes) via ruthenium catalyzed diol–diene benzannulation: orthogonality to cross-coupling enables de novo nanographene and PAH construction

Ruthenium(0) catalyzed diol–diene benzannulation is applied to the conversion of oligo(p-phenylene vinylenes) 2a–c, 5 and 6 to alternating oligo(o,p-phenylenes) 10a–c, 11–13. Orthogonality with respect to conventional palladium catalyzed biaryl cross-coupling permits construction of p-bromo-terminated alternating oligo(o,p-phenylenes) 10b, 11–13, which can be engaged in Suzuki cross-coupling and Scholl oxidation. In this way, structurally homogeneous nanographenes 16a–f are prepared. Nanographene 16a, which incorporates 14 fused benzene rings, was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In a similar fashion, p-bromo-terminated oligo(p-phenylene ethane diol) 9, which contains a 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzene core, is converted to the soluble, structurally homogeneous hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene 18. A benzothiophene-terminated pentamer 10c was prepared and subjected to Scholl oxidation to furnish the helical bis(benzothiophene)-fused picene derivative 14. The steady-state absorption and emission properties of nanographenes 14, 16a,b,d,e,h and 18 were characterized. These studies illustrate how orthogonality of ruthenium(0) catalyzed diol–diene benzannulation with respect to classical biaryl cross-coupling streamlines oligophenylene and nanographene construction.
Plasmon-Enhanced Thin-Film Perovskite Solar Cells

We report on plasmon-enhanced hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite solar cells with methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) as the active absorbing material. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-dom...
Integrating Models of Interval Timing and Reinforcement Learning

We present an integrated view of interval timing and reinforcement learning (RL) in the brain. The computational goal of RL is to maximize future rewards, and this depends crucially on a representation of time. Different RL systems in the brain process time in distinct ways. A model-based system learns 'what happens when', employing this internal model to generate action plans, while a model-free system learns to predict reward directly from a set of temporal basis functions. We describe how these systems are subserved by a computational division of labor between several brain regions, with a focus on the basal ganglia and the hippocampus, as well as how these regions are influenced by the neuromodulator dopamine.
Fuel relocation recovery implementation in Bison

Abstract During the initial rise to power in light water reactors (LWR), thermal gradients within a pellet cause radial and axial cracks to form in the fuel. The effect of these cracks is to reduce the pellet-cladding gap and accelerate the interaction between the fuel and cladding. This process is known as fuel relocation and may also include contributions from pellet eccentricity and cladding ovality. Since the cladding experiences both elevated temperatures and high external pressure due to the coolant, the cladding typically creeps inward further reducing the pellet-cladding gap. Once the gap is closed and pellet cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI) begins, both the thermal and mechanical behavior of the fuel is affected. The compressive forces exerted on the fuel due to contact with the cladding cause the fractured fuel sections to move back toward their original position which is termed relocation recovery. A model for this phenomena is implemented in the Bison fuel performance code and applied to a set of validation test cases. The predicted fuel rod diameter is compared to experimental measurements to evaluate the influence of relocation recovery over a range of operating conditions.
A randomised controlled trial of protocolised music therapy demonstrates developmental milestone acquisition in hospitalised infants.

AIM To compare the effectiveness of an intensive-intermittent vs. standard spaced protocolised music therapy intervention on supporting developmental milestone acquisition of infants >44 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) hospitalised in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). METHOD This was a comparative effectiveness study of infants 44-66 weeks PMA with a projected NICU stay of at least one month from recruitment. Infants were randomised to one of two treatment groups: traditional therapy (2x/week) and intermittent-intensive (4x/week, off, 4x/week, off). Both groups received the same number of sessions over a 4-week period. Sessions at the start and end of the treatment period were video recorded. Two masked researchers reviewed and coded videos. Milestones used for video recording were adapted from the Developmental Assessment of Young Children. RESULTS Twenty-four infants participated, with groups matched for birth age, PMA at start of study, race, IVH severity, and respiratory support. Total and motor composite scores were higher post-intervention (Cohen's d = 0.71 and 0.97, both p < 0.01), with the same degree of skill acquisition found for both intervention groups. CONCLUSION A developmental music therapy protocol supports developmental skills acquisition of post-term infants in a NICU. Similar outcomes for both groups provide therapists with varying treatment dosing options to best support their patients.
Long-Term Outcomes of Brachial Plexus Reconstruction with Sural Nerve Autograft for Brachial Plexus Birth Injury.

Background Infants with brachial plexus birth injury who do not recover motor function spontaneously in a timely manner are candidates for brachial plexus reconstruction with nerve autograft. Outcomes of this intervention are incompletely understood. The authors present the long-term outcomes of brachial plexus reconstruction with sural nerve autograft in infants with brachial plexus birth injury. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed all infants with brachial plexus birth injury who underwent brachial plexus reconstruction with sural nerve autograft between 1992 and 2014 with a minimum 2-year follow-up. The authors used Active Movement Scale scores to determine the presence and timing of shoulder, elbow, and wrist recovery. They assessed recovery of hand function in infants with global brachial plexus birth injury with the Raimondi scale. The number and type of secondary reconstructive procedures were identified. Results Forty-three infants who underwent brachial plexus reconstruction at age 7 ± 2 months old were followed for 7 ± 5 years. Most infants recovered antigravity elbow flexion (91 percent) and shoulder abduction (67 percent), but fewer recovered antigravity shoulder external rotation (19 percent) and wrist extension (37 percent). Mean postoperative times until observed antigravity motor strength (Active Movement Scale score >5) at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist were all greater than 12 months; evidence of initial motor recovery (Active Movement Scale score >2) was observed earlier. The mean Raimondi score in infants with global brachial plexus birth injury was 2.2 (range, 0 to 5) at final follow-up. Thirty-three children underwent 2 ± 1.2 secondary reconstructive procedures. Conclusions Brachial plexus reconstruction with sural nerve autograft reliably results in recovery of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion, but recovery of shoulder external rotation and wrist extension is less predictable, and recovery often takes more than 1 year. Secondary procedures are often performed to optimize function. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, IV.
Calcium as a Hormonal Messenger for Control of Mitochondrial Functions

During the past decade it has become generally accepted that hormones such as norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and vasopressin affect metabolism of the rat liver by increasing free calcium [Ca2+ ] of the cytosol. In contrast, a role for calcium as a mediator of the action of glucagon has been controversial. Reports that glucagon alters fluxes of calcium in and out of the liver cell and that it lowers mitochondrial calcium were nullified to some degree by other reports indicating that these effects were observed only when pharmacological doses of glucagon were administered and that cytosolic [Ca2+ ] is not altered by glucagon. The unsettled nature of the field was described in the comprehensive review of Williamsonet al. (1981). Things began to fall into place when the fluorescent probe for [Ca2+ ], Quin2, became available, and Charestet al. (1983) demonstrated that glucagon added at the high ose level of 10 nM raised cytosolic [Ca2+ ] of hepatocytes from a basal concentration of about 0.2µM to 0.6µM.
New Active Capacitor Voltage Balancing Method for Seven-Level Full-Bridge Flying-Capacitor-Multicell (FCM) Inverters

This paper introduces a new method for active control of the flying-capacitor (FC) voltages in seven-level full-bridge FC multicell (FCM) inverters. In the proposed control technique, the output current and voltage of the FCs within the FCM inverter are measured and interpreted into logic forms. As inputs, these logic variables are fed into a set of equations, named as the logic-equations, in order to regulate the voltage of FCs at the demanded reference values as wells as to generate required voltage-level at inverter output commanded by PWM modulator. The outstanding advantage of the proposed active control method is that, it does require neither the complex optimization computations nor the conventional PI controllers. The simulated and experimentally measured results from the prototype of a six-cell seven-level full-bridge FCM inverter are provided to verify the derived logic-equations-based method to actively control the FC voltages.
Combined Effect of Sarcopenia and Systemic Inflammation on Survival in Patients with Advanced Stage Cancer Treated with Immunotherapy

BACKGROUND Sarcopenia and inflammation have been associated with poor survival in patients with cancer. We explored the combined effects of these variables on survival in patients with cancer treated with immunotherapy. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of 90 patients enrolled on immunotherapy-based phase I clinical trials at Emory University from 2009 to 2017. Baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were used as surrogates of inflammation. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was derived from the skeletal muscle density calculated from baseline abdominal computed tomography images. Optimal cutoffs for continuous inflammation biomarkers and SMI were determined by bias-adjusted log-rank test. A four-level risk stratification was used to create low-risk (PLR <242 and nonsarcopenic), intermediate-risk (PLR <242 and sarcopenic), high-risk (PLR ≥242 and nonsarcopenic), and very-high-risk (PLR ≥242 and sarcopenic) groups with subsequent association with survival. RESULTS Most patients (59%) were male, and the most common cancers were melanoma (33%) and gastrointestinal (22%). Very high-risk, high-risk, and intermediate-risk patients had significantly shorter overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 8.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.65-27.01; p < .001; HR, 5.32; CI, 1.96-14.43; p = .001; and HR, 4.01; CI, 1.66-9.68; p = .002, respectively) and progression-free survival (HR, 12.29; CI, 5.15-29.32; p < .001; HR, 3.51; CI, 1.37-9.02; p = .009; and HR, 2.14; CI, 1.12-4.10; p = .022, respectively) compared with low-risk patients. CONCLUSION Baseline sarcopenia and elevated inflammatory biomarkers may have a combined effect on decreasing survival in immunotherapy-treated patients in phase I trials. These data may be immediately applicable for medical oncologists for the risk stratification of patients beginning immunotherapeutic agents. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Sarcopenia and inflammation have been associated with poor survival in patients with cancer, but it is unclear how to apply this information to patient care. The authors created a risk-stratification system that combined sarcopenia and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as a marker of systemic inflammation. The presence of sarcopenia and systemic inflammation decreased progression-free survival and overall survival in our cohort of 90 patients who received immunotherapy in phase I clinical trials. The data presented in this study may be immediately applicable for medical oncologists as a way to risk-stratify patients who are beginning treatment with immunotherapy.
Human Papillomavirus Awareness, Vaccine Status, and Risk Factors in Female Emergency Patients.

Author(s): Walter, Lauren A.; Leader, Elizabeth; Galbraith, James W. | Abstract: Introduction: A vaccine targeting high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains can effectively prevent HPV-associated cervical cancer risk. However, many girls and women do not receive the vaccine, more often those impacted by health disparities associated with race and/or socioeconomic status. This same disparate population has also been shown to be at higher risk for cervical cancer. Many of these women also rely on the emergency department (ED) as a safety net for their healthcare. This study sought to gather information pertaining to HPV and cervical cancer risk factors, awareness of HPV and the vaccine, as well as HPV vaccine uptake in female patients presenting to an ED.Methods: We obtained 81 surveys completed by female ED patients. Demographics included age, race, income, insurance status, primary care provider status, and known cervical-cancer risk factors. Subsequent survey questions explored respondents’ knowledge, familiarity, and attitudes regarding HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine, including vaccination uptake rates. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test.Results: Approximately one in seven respondents (14.8%) had never previously heard of HPV and 32.1% were unaware of the existence of a HPV vaccine. Minority patients, including those who were Black and Hispanic patients, low income patients, and uninsured and publicly insured patients were less likely to be aware of HPV and the vaccine and likewise were less likely to be offered and receive the vaccine. More than 60% of all respondents (61.3%) had never previously been offered the vaccine, and only 24.7% of all respondents had completed the vaccine series.Conclusion: Female ED patients may represent an at-risk cohort with relatively low HPV awareness and low HPV vaccine uptake. The ED could represent a novel opportunity to access and engage high-risk HPV populations.
Short-term exposure to dietary cholesterol is associated with downregulation of interleukin-15, reduced thigmotaxis and memory impairment in mice.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition associated with loss of memory function, depression and anxiety. The etiology of AD is poorly understood, but both cholesterol dyshomeostasis and dysregulation of the immune system are contributing factors. Current evidence is consistent with a detrimental effect of excess cholesterol on neuroinflammation, both in mouse models of memory loss and in dementia in humans. However, whether the impact of cholesterol on neuroinflammation occurs early and contributes to pathogenesis of the disease or simply reflects a pleiotropic impact at advanced stages of disease is unclear. To explore this question, we measured, in 9–13 week-old mice, cognitive status and changes in brain inflammatory mediators in response to a short-term high-cholesterol diet. We hypothesized that short-term exposure to excess dietary cholesterol would alter the early inflammatory responses associated with cognitive and/or behavioral impairment. We report that short-term exposure to a high-cholesterol diet led to decreased thigmotaxis and short-term spatial memory impairment without affecting long-term recognition memory. Furthermore, cognitive and behavioral phenotypes in these mice were associated with a reduction in interleukin-15 levels in the absence of changes in other inflammatory mediators. Our findings indicate that interleukin-15 may play a role in early stages of cognitive impairment secondary to hypercholesterolemia. Consequently, optimization of interleukin-15 signaling may be a viable effective cognitive therapy in the population susceptible to developing dementia due to risk factors associated with cholesterol dysregulation.
Oxide Electrocatalysts Based on Earth-Abundant Metalsfor Both Hydrogen- and Oxygen-Evolution Reactions

A unique bifunctional oxide electrocatalyst capable of catalyzing both half-reactions of water splitting, namely, oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER), with the add...
The association between corneal hysteresis and surgical outcomes from trabecular meshwork microinvasive glaucoma surgery.

To assess whether an association exists between pretreatment corneal hysteresis (CH) and the magnitude of intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication burden reduction following microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Retrospective chart review of 84 eyes from 57 patients with CH measurements who underwent trabecular meshwork MIGS in a glaucoma practice in New York City with follow-up visits at 3–6 and 9–12 months. MIGS included canaloplasty, goniotomy, microbypass stents, or a combination thereof. The lowest and middle CH tertiles experienced significantly reduced mean IOP at 3–6-month follow-ups (p = .007, < .001), whereas the highest tertile did not (p = .06). At 9–12-month follow-ups, a significant mean IOP reduction only persisted in the middle tertile (p = .001). For medication burden reduction, only the highest CH tertile experienced significant mean reductions at both 3–6- and 9–12-month follow-ups (p = .015, .028). Notably, 7 patients in the lowest CH tertile failed MIGS and required an additional surgical or laser procedure within 24 months of MIGS, whereas only 3 patients failed in the other tertiles (likelihood ratio < .05). Multivariate analysis excluding MIGS failures demonstrated an inverse association between CH and the magnitude of post-operative IOP reduction at both 3–6- and 9–12-month follow-ups when controlling for baseline IOP and medication changes (p = .002, .026). There was an inverse association between pretreatment CH and the magnitude of IOP reduction following surgery. There is also evidence of an increased need for repeat surgery or other intervention in patients with lower CH who undergo MIGS.
The role of vitamin D in head and neck cancer.

Objective Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) describes a set of malignancies of the head and neck that continue to inflict considerable morbidity and mortality. Because HNSCC often presents at an advanced stage, patients frequently undergo intensive multi-modal therapy with an intent to cure. Vitamin D is a precursor to the biologically active hormone calcitriol which governs bone and calcium physiology that is obtained from diet and UV-B exposure. Vitamin D is known to have pleiotropic effects on health and disease. In this review, we examine the role of vitamin D in cancer with emphasis on HNSCC and discuss potential avenues for further research that might better elucidate the role of vitamin D in the management of HNSCC. Review methods A review of MEDLINE database indexed literature concerning the role and biology of vitamin D in HNSCC was conducted, with special consideration of recently published work and research involving immunobiology and HNSCC. Conclusions The available evidence suggests that vitamin D may play a role in protecting against HNSCC, particularly in persons who smoke, although conflicting and limited data exists. Promising initial work encourages the pursuit of further study. Implications for practice The significant morbidity and mortality that HNSCC brings warrants continued research in available and safe interventions that improve patient outcomes. With the rise of immunotherapy as an effective modality for treatment, continued research of vitamin D as an adjunct in the treatment of HNSCC is supported.
Neuronal and Cerebrovascular Complications in Coronavirus Disease 2019

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease resulting from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, primarily in the respiratory tract. This pandemic disease has affected the entire world, and the pathobiology of this disease is not yet completely known. The Interactions of SARS-CoV-2 proteins with different cellular components in the host cell may be necessary for understanding the disease mechanism and identifying crucial pharmacological targets in COVID-19. Studies have suggested that the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on other organs, including the brain, maybe critical for understanding the pathobiology of COVID-19. Symptoms in COVID-19 patients, including impaired consciousness dizziness, headache, loss of taste and smell, vision problems, and neuromuscular pain, suggest that neuronal complications comprise a crucial component of COVID-19 pathobiology. A growing body of literature indicates that SARS-CoV-2 can enter the brain, leading to neuronal defects in COVID-19 patients. Other studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may aggravate neuronal complications due to its effects on the cerebrovascular system. Emerging pieces of evidence show that stroke can be one of the leading neurological complications in COVID-19. In this review, we describe the observations about neuronal complications of COVID-19 and how SARS-CoV-2 may invade the brain. We will also discuss the cerebrovascular problems and occurrence of stroke in COVID-19 patients. We will also present the observations and our views about the potential pharmacological strategies and targets in COVID-19. We hope this review will help comprehend the current knowledge of neuronal and cerebrovascular complications from SARS-CoV-2 infections and highlight the possible long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 on the human brain.
Promised Ends: The “Exceeding Torments and Strange Behaviors” of King Lear

This essay argues that King Lear scrutinizes pressing questions raised by the English ars moriendi tradition — the art of dying well — about the scope and ability of human agency in the face of dea...
Mapping the climate risk for European fisheries.

With fires, floods, storms surges, and heatwaves becoming dismayingly common because of climate change, how can societies adapt to these and further changes? In this context, fisheries have emerged as the proverbial canary in the coalmine and an important test case for the rest of society. The reason is, in part, because the success or failure of fisheries and the communities supported by them is deeply entwined with the state of ocean ecosystems, and because ocean life is often responding faster and more dramatically to the impacts of climate change than are ecosystems on land. Fisheries are incredibly diverse, however, and a major challenge is to understand where to target adaptation efforts. In their paper, Payne et al. (1) provide an especially detailed social–ecological roadmap by examining climate risk to fisheries in Europe. European fisheries provide fascinating examples for climate adaptation. From a climate risk perspective, these fisheries have long been overlooked, in part because European countries rely relatively little on fisheries for food, jobs, or economic value (2). However, fisheries play an outsize role in European society, far beyond their purely utilitarian role in food security, employment, or national economies. This importance was illustrated not least by the fact that fisheries were one of the final sticking points in Brexit negotiations. A subsequent dispute over fishing rights around the island of Jersey quickly escalated, with French and English warships deployed to the area in May 2021. Earlier this century, a dispute over mackerel between the European Union (EU), Iceland, and other countries that has been linked to climate impacts subsequently spilled over into a trade war (3). European fisheries encompass an impressive diversity, from subtropical to Arctic ecosystems and from fleets of small artisanal boats to a 144-m supertrawler. Although much of the climate adaptation attention has rightly focused … [↵][1] 1Email: malin.pinsky{at}rutgers.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Bimodal Speech Perception: A Progress Report

The study of audible and visible speech perception has grown into a cottage industry. For us, it has evolved into our prototypical paradigm for inquiry (Massaro, 1987, 1992, Massaro & Cohen, 1995). I provide a description of our paradigm and the fuzzy logical model of perception (FLMP), give principles for empirical inquiry, and describe the progress we have made. Bimodal speech perception conforms to a prototypical pattern recognition situation, is well-described by the FLMP across a wide range of individual and task variability, and is highly robust across a variety of situational contexts.
P1240 : Clinical, biochemical and histopathologic profile of subjects with glycogenic hepatopathy (Mauriac syndrome)

Conclusions: This is the first study to assess dietary and lifestyle activity in a UK paediatric NAFLD population. While clear differences were not identified between groups, issues of sample size, under reporting and confounding by ethnicity have impacted on the findings and are being addressed in the ongoing study. Development of NAFLD-specific diet and lifestyle guidelines are currently not supported. The current study demonstrates that the paediatric population is failing to conform to standard recommendations for both diet and physical activity, and should therefore remain the focus of clinical management.
ERPs Reveal Atypical Processing of Subject versus Object "Wh"-Questions in Children with Specific Language Impairment.

Background Children with specific language impairment (SLI) show particular difficulty comprehending and producing object (Who did the bear follow?) relative to subject (Who followed the tiger?) wh-questions. Aims To determine if school-age children with SLI, relative to children with typical development (TD), show a more distinct unevenness, or asymmetry, in the comprehension of these questions. In addition, this study examined whether the sustained left-anterior negativity (LAN) in event-related potentials (ERP) could be used as a marker for atypical processing of these questions in children with SLI. The LAN effect signals the greater working memory processes for maintaining in memory the dislocated object in object wh-questions and reflects working memory capacity in adults. It was predicted that the amplitude of the LAN would be greater in children with SLI, reflecting the characteristic low working memory capacity in this population. The concomitance of these behavioural and electrophysiological effects would suggest that the subject–object asymmetry in SLI should be investigated in relation to poor working memory skills. Methods & Procedures Groups including 13 children with SLI, 17 same-age TD children and 18 normal adults completed an auditory sentence comprehension task requiring button responses while continuous electroencephalography (EEG) was collected. Accuracy for subject and object questions was calculated. The mean amplitude values of the ERP data for the wh-questions were examined to identify differential processing of subject and object questions. Outcomes & Results TD children demonstrated asymmetrical comprehension of subject and object wh-questions, whereas children with SLI comprehended both question types poorly and adults did not show subject–object asymmetry. ERP waveforms spanning the wh-dependency revealed a large and widespread sustained anterior positivity for object relative to subject questions in the TD group, indicating differential processing of these questions. This effect was attenuated and non-significant in the SLI group. The adults’ grand average waveforms showed the expected LAN effect, which was opposite in polarity relative to the children, although it only approached significance. Conclusions & Implications The finding of less differential processing of subject and object wh-questions in SLI relative to TD children suggests inefficient maintenance of sentential information in working memory for object questions in SLI. Whereas behavioural methods did not identify subject–object asymmetry in SLI, the more fine-grained method of ERPs elucidated this effect. Further analysis of working memory as the basis for the subject–object asymmetry in SLI is critical for identifying appropriate intervention targets for this population.
Tests of Welded Steel Beam-to-Column Moment Connections

This paper reviews the results of three full-size symmetrically-loaded moment-resisting beam-to-column connections: (1) A fully-welded connection where the beam flanges and web are groove welded to the column flange; (2) a seated connection where the beam flanges again are groove welded to the column flange but beam shear is carried by a beam seat which is fillet welded to the column flange; and (3) a connection in which only the flanges of the beam are groove welded to the column flange, leaving the beam flanges to carry both shear and moment. Results show that test 1 performed well, achieving good stiffness, strength and ductility at maximum load. Test 2 also displayed good strength and stiffness but had little ductility at maximum load due to buckling of the beam web. With the use of bearing stiffeners on the beam, the ductility of test 2 was increased to a value close to that of test 1. Test 3 attained only a low strength level but exhibited ductility nearly equal to test 1.
Managed care penetration and other factors affecting computerized physician order entry in the ambulatory setting.

OBJECTIVES To estimate the current uses level of ambulatory computerized physician order entry (A-CPOE) among physicians and to examine the relationship of managed care penetration as well as other market and practice characteristics to use of A-CPOE by physicians. DATA SOURCES This study uses both primary and secondary data sources. The primary data source was a large-scale survey of physicians' use of information technologies in Florida. Secondary data on managed care penetration were obtained from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, and other market-level data were extracted from the area resource file. METHODS A hierarchical logistic regression model was used to examine the correlation of county-level and practice-level characteristics with physicians' self-reported use of A-CPOE systems. RESULTS Overall, 1360 physicians (32.4%) indicated use of an A-CPOE system. Findings suggest that 1% more managed care penetration was associated with 2.1% lower use of A-CPOE (P = .003). Additionally, practice size, multispecialty affiliation, and primary care practice were significantly and positively correlated with the use of A-CPOE. Physician age was negatively associated with A-CPOE use. CONCLUSION Managed care organizations may experience significant financial savings from A-CPOE use by physicians; however, managed care penetration in a community negatively affects A-CPOE use among physicians in their practices. Further study regarding the causal nature of this association is warranted.
Identification and specificity of a cDNA encoding the 70 KD mitochondrial antigen recognized in primary biliary cirrhosis

Mitochondrial autoantibodies are characteristic of the disease primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), but the immunoreactive mitochondrial antigens have not been defined. We used a rat liver cDNA library in lambda gt 11-Amp3 to clone a 1370-base pair insert that coded for a polypeptide reactive with PBC sera. This insert was subcloned for expression into pBTA224, a plasmid vector in the same reading frame as lambda-Amp3. A positive clone, designated pRMIT, that expressed a fused polypeptide of 160 kd, was recognized by 25 of 25 sera from patients with PBC and none of 96 sera from normal persons or patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or chronic active hepatitis. This fused polypeptide was shown to correspond with the 70 kd mitochondrial autoantigen by several experiments. First, lysates of pRMIT in J101 absorbed out the 70 kd reactivity of PBC sera when probed against fractionated placental mitochondria. Second, affinity-purified antisera reactive with the fused polypeptide also reacted with the 70 kd mitochondrial antigen. Third, such affinity-purified antisera produced the characteristic anti-mitochondrial pattern of immunofluorescence on tissue sections. Finally, immunization of BALB/c mice with the fused polypeptide elicited antibodies to mitochondria. These murine antibodies reacted with the 70 kd mitochondrial protein and also produced typical mitochondrial immunofluorescence on tissue sections. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the recombinant protein, which encodes for approximately a 48 kd protein, showed no significant homologies with known proteins, and there were no homologies with mitochondrial genomic DNA. The availability of a recombinant form of the 70 kd mitochondrial autoantigen will allow several definitive questions to be addressed in PBC, including identification of B cell epitopes, T cell recognition, and a model of PBC in mice.
Light Scattering by Particles and Defects on Surfaces: Semiconductor Wafer Inspection

Nonintrusive optical techniques for accurate sizing of discrete particles (or bubbles) suspended in continuous media have been studied for years and have reached, for some applications, an advanced stage of development. In contrast, a related problem of considerable importance that has received less attention is that of accurate characterization of _ne particles or other features/defects on and under surfaces. This capability is much needed in the _elds of semiconductor and integrated circuit fabrication, digital storage media manufacturing, and for research on contamination of optical components for both earth- and space-based applications. In this presentation, we show the development of theoretical based scattering modeling and comparisons between our experimental and theoretical studies of light scattering by features on and under surfaces relevant to semiconductor wafer inspection. The experimental work shown here involves measurements of angle-resolved light scattering signatures (for 64 scattering angles) from an individual spherical particle 0.482 μm in diameter on a bare Si wafer. Experiments and predictions show good agreement, and the models are being used in predicting the performance of wafer scanners for various experimental conditions and for assisting in the design of future-generation surface defect characterization instruments.
AGILE: a general approach to detect transitions in evolving data streams

In many applications such as e-commerce, system diagnosis and telecommunication services, data arrives in streams at a high speed. It is common that the underlying process generating the stream may change over time, either as a result of the fundamental evolution or in response to some external stimulus. Detecting these changes is a very challenging problem of great practical importance. The overall volume of the stream usually far exceeds the available main memory and access to the data stream is typically performed via a linear scan in ascending order of the indices of the records. In this paper, we propose a novel approach, AGILE, to monitor streaming data and to detect distinguishable transitions of the underlying processes. AGILE has many advantages over the traditional Hidden Markov Model, e.g., AGILE only requires one scan of the data.
Suppression of nonlinear panel flutter with piezoelectric actuators using finite element method

An optimal control design is presented to actively suppress large-amplitude, limit-cycle flutter motions of rectangular isotropic plates at supersonic speeds using piezoelectric actuators. The nonlinear panel flutter equations based on the finite element method are derived for isotropic plates with piezoelectric layers subjected to aerodynamic and thermal loads. A model reduction is performed to the finite element system equations of motion for the control design and the time domain simulation. An optimal controller is developed based on the linearized modal equations, and the norms of the feedback control gain are employed to provide the optimal shape and location of the piezoelectric actuators. Numerical simulations based on the reduced nonlinear panel flutter model show that the critical dynamic pressure can be increased three to four times by the piezoelectric actuation. Within the increased critical dynamic pressure, the limit-cycle motions can be completely suppressed. The results demonstrate that piezoelectric materials are effective in panel flutter suppression.
The roles of phonology and analogy In Old English high vowel deletion: PHONOLOGY AND ANALOGY IN OLD ENGLISH HIGH VOWEL DELETION

The problem under consideration is the exact nature of the application of High Vowel Deletion (HVD) in Old English. As discussed in §1, according to what has come to be the most prevalent view, a form such as nom.acc.pl. hēafdu‘heads’ in Late West Saxon, from earlier *hēafudu, is the phonologically regular result of the application of HVD. In §2 a recent alternative explanation is discussed, whereby *hēafudu should have produced *hēafd, which was subsequently reformed to hēafdu in West Saxon on the basis of analogy. Some initial difficulties that confront this latter explanation are discussed. The earlier analysis of Eduard Sievers maintains that neither of these analyses is correct, and that hēafudu, one of the forms actually attested in early texts, including the Vespasian Psalter, represents the purely phonological result of HVD, which applies vacuously to this form. Evidence is adduced in §3 demonstrating that the treatment of the phonological results of HVD in interrelated declensional categories in the dialect of the Vespasian Psalter are preserved with impressive conservatism, evincing little or no analogical disruption. This conclusion lends strong support to Sievers’ analysis of forms like hēafudu and renders it extremely improbable that West Saxon hēafdu can be anything but an analogical creation or that the proposed *hēafd could ever have existed. In §4 a rationale is offered for the changes, analogical or otherwise, that must be assumed for West Saxon in forms like hēafdu, as well as in ja-stem neuter nouns with plurals like rīċu, wītu, along with feminine nouns in Germanic *-iþō, such as and .
Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma with paraproteinemia: case report and a pathogenetic theory.

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma with paraproteinemia is a clinical and histopathological entity characterized by xanthelasma-like lesions in the periorbital region and elsewhere, paraproteinemia, leukopenia, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Multiple myeloma has been reported as an accompanying feature in several cases. We examined a patient with necrobiotic xanthogranuloma and multiple myeloma in whom an IgG kappa monoclonal protein was identified in serum, urine, bone marrow, and bilateral periorbital lesions. We speculate that increased serum immunoglobulins complexed with lipid may be deposited in the skin, leading to a foreign body giant cell reaction and the subsequent characteristic histopathologic features of necrobiotic xanthogranuloma.
A fossil coral perspective on western tropical Pacific climate 350 ka

[1] The nature of tropical climate variability ∼350 ka is addressed using δ18O and Sr/Ca records from a modern and a fossil coral from Vanuatu (southwestern tropical Pacific Ocean). Modern El Nino events at Vanuatu produce positive coral δ18O and Sr/Ca anomalies; similar anomalies observed in the fossil coral records suggest that El Nino was operative 350 kyr ago. Seasonal variations in coral Sr/Ca, a sea surface temperature (SST) proxy, have the same amplitude in both corals, whereas seasonal δ18O variations are smaller in the fossil coral than in the modern coral. This is consistent with displacement of the South Pacific Convergence Zone toward the southwest during the boreal summer ∼350 ka. Mathematical modeling results preclude warmer SST and higher SSS at Vanuatu during this time, but permit the surface ocean to be ∼2°C cooler and 0–2 psu fresher than today. Assessing the potential of variations in late Quaternary seawater Sr/Ca remains the largest obstacle to accurately reconstructing tropical SST using pristine fossil corals.
More Than a Question of Debt: A Qualitative Study of How Seminarians Think About Money

As the funding environment for higher education and theological education changes, an increasing number of graduate theological students hold student loan debt that will follow them well into their postgraduation working lives (Delisle, 2014). This study reports the attitudes about money voiced by master of divinity students at one mainline Protestant seminary. Using interactive qualitative analysis, researchers discovered seven key themes that function as a conceptual system (mind map). Participants reported that the three themes that exerted the most influence in the system were beliefs (how money fits in with other convictions held by students), societal impact (what students think about the results of government policies and actions of private firms regarding money), and financial awareness (how students know about their income, expenses, and obligations). These themes influenced what students thought about debt, saving, giving money away, and their emotions about money. Most participants voiced expli...
Gross national income, football workers and national football team performances: A logistic regression analysis

Purpose – This study aims to examine the association between national economic prosperity (measured by per capita gross national income – GNI) and the acquisition of football workers (indicated by number of amateur footballers, football officials and professional footballers) and predict football performances (specified by qualifications at continental football championships) based on per capita GNI and football workers. Design/methodology/approach – Archival data of 203 national football teams were utilized based on continental football championship records before 2014. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to build various models to ascertain their predictive values. Economically prosperous nations are those with a per capita GNI of more than US$10,000, and unprosperous nations are those with per capita GNI of less than US$10,000. Findings – The analysis indicated that per capita GNI was significantly and positively associated with the acquisition of football workers – but not predictive of footb...