cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interrelationships of hippocampal EEG and visual evoked responses during appetitive behavior in rats.

Summary Averaged visual evoked responses (VERs) at the cortex to flashes and hippocampal (HPC) electrical activity were examined during different phases of bar-pressing for sucrose solution on a fixed-ratio schedule. Systematic variations were found in amplitude of late components of VERs. The late components were largest during reinforcing consummatory behavior, smallest during the postreinforcement period, and intermediate during bar-pressing. Further analysis of VERs within each bar-press sequence revealed increased amplitude of late components as the animal progressed through the sequence. These orderly changes in VERs related closely to hippocampal EEG which also varied systematically during different phases of appetitive behavior. The average frequency of synchronous HPC activity related inversely to amplitude of VER late components. Analysis of synchronous HPC activity during 1-sec epochs before and after each flash revealed strong negative correlations between these measures and late negative and afterdischarge components of the VER. These findings, which indicate significant interrelationships among sensory evoked response, hippocampal EEG activity and associated behavioral patterns of activity, were viewed in terms of the plasticity of operation of electrophysiological arousal systems.
Session 19 overview: High-performance embedded memory

Among all integrated circuits, embedded memory has truly become pervasive and plays an essential role in all of today's VLSI applications such as high-performance computing, low-power and ubiquitous consumer electronics. The rapid reduction of feature size has made it possible to integrate larger and higher performance on-die memories for various logic applications. Technology scaling also creates growing challenges for the embedded memory designer. It is increasingly difficult to scale density while maintaining adequate cell margins for robust read and write operations. The degradation of intrinsic cell design margins, induced by growing device variations, has led to innovative design solutions to overcome these challenges. Among them, advanced peripheral circuit techniques to improve read and write margins have been explored extensively with focus on more intelligent use of power supplies. On-die adaptive design techniques that automatically compensate process-voltage-temperature (PVT) variations are also emerging to further improve the design robustness for high-volume manufacturing requirements. While improving and optimizing the transistor characteristics in SRAMs, 1T1C-based DRAM technology (eDRAM) has made significant progress in recent years and it is successfully integrated into leading logic processes. After years of promise, an eDRAM-based large on-die cache now has finally arrived in a high-performance microprocessor.
A robust method to obtain optimal and sub-optimal design and retrofit solutions of water utilization systems with multiple contaminants in process plants

In this paper, a simple new approach for the grassroots and retrofit design of water utilization systems with multiple contaminants is presented. This approach uses a combination of mathematical programming and necessary conditions of optimality to automatically generate the optimal solution featuring minimum capital and operating costs. This paper presents the only existing method to solve this problem that can guarantee global optimality.
Bending Stiffness Depends on Curvature of Ternary Lipid Mixture Tubular Membranes

Lipid and protein sorting and trafficking in intracellular pathways maintain cellular function and contribute to organelle homeostasis. Biophysical aspects of membrane shape coupled to sorting have recently received increasing attention. Here we determine membrane tube bending stiffness through measurements of tube radii, and demonstrate that the stiffness of ternary lipid mixtures depends on membrane curvature for a large range of lipid compositions. This observation indicates amplification by curvature of cooperative lipid demixing. We show that curvature-induced demixing increases upon approaching the critical region of a ternary lipid mixture, with qualitative differences along two roughly orthogonal compositional trajectories. Adapting a thermodynamic theory earlier developed by M. Kozlov, we derive an expression that shows the renormalized bending stiffness of an amphiphile mixture membrane tube in contact with a flat reservoir to be a quadratic function of curvature. In this analytical model, the degree of sorting is determined by the ratio of two thermodynamic derivatives. These derivatives are individually interpreted as a driving force and a resistance to curvature sorting. We experimentally show this ratio to vary with composition, and compare the model to sorting by spontaneous curvature. Our results are likely to be relevant to the molecular sorting of membrane components in vivo.
Difficult pediatric hand fractures

Abstract Most pediatric hand fractures heal uneventfully due to the bone's growth potential. However, the severity of open physeal fractures of the distal phalanx and phalangeal neck fractures may be underestimated. With careful evaluation and treatment, a good outcome can usually be produced.
Batch fabricated thin-film electrodes for stimulation of the central auditory system

Silicon micromachining and thin-film technology were used to fabricate iridium stimulating arrays which can be used to excite discrete volumes of the central nervous system. Silicon multichannel probes with thicknesses ranging from 1 to 40 mu m and arbitrary two-dimensional shape can be fabricated using a high-yield, circuit-compatible process. Iridium stimulating sites are shown to have similar characteristics to iridium wire electrodes. Accelerated pulse testing with over eight million 100 mu A biphasic current pulses on 8000 mu m/sup 2/ sites demonstrated the long-term stability of iridium and activated iridium sites. In vivo tests were performed in the central auditory pathways to demonstrate neural activation using the devices. These tests show a selective activation both as a function of site separation and site size. >
An on-line handwritten note recognition method using shape metamorphosis

We propose a novel user-dependent method for the recognition of on-line handwritten notes. The method employs as a dissimilarity measure the "degree of morphing" between an input curve and a template curve. A physics-based approach substantiates the "degree of morphing" as a deformation energy and casts the problem as an energy minimization problem. The method operates upon key segmentation points that are provided by an appropriate segmentation algorithm. The segmentation objective is not to locate letters, but instead to locate corners and some key low curvature points (an easier task). This is part of the method's strategy to see the word as a generic on-line curve. Due to this strategy, the proposed method can handle collectively both cursive words and hand-drawn line figures, the two key ingredients of handwritten notes. Most importantly, the proposed system achieves high recognition rates without ever resorting to statistical models.
Public support for technical advance: the role of firm size

This article develops a model that shows how firm size—that most important firm-level correlate of R&D—moderates the impact of demand- and supply-side government policies that support R&D. The most robust result is that government support to product R&D will elicit less of a response the greater is average firm size within the industry. This result suggests, for example, that government support to upstream research in the life sciences will stimulate less downstream industrial investment in the development of new drugs to the extent that the firms in the downstream industry are larger. The model also predicts that where entry is less encumbered, we can expect demand-side subsidies to elicit greater product R&D within an industry. Thus, to the degree that, for example, barriers to entering the solar panel manufacturing industry are lower, we should expect R&D on solar panel development to rise more in response to tax credits for their purchase
Temporal precision of spike trains in extrastriate cortex of the behaving macaque monkey

How reliably do action potentials in cortical neurons encode information about a visual stimulus? Most physiological studies do not weigh the occurrences of particular action potentials as significant but treat them only as reflections of average neuronal excitation. We report that single neurons recorded in a previous study by Newsome et al. (1989; see also Britten et al. 1992) from cortical area MT in the behaving monkey respond to dynamic and unpredictable motion stimuli with a markedly reproducible temporal modulation that is precise to a few milliseconds. This temporal modulation is stimulus dependent, being present for highly dynamic random motion but absent when the stimulus translates rigidly.
The Effects of Creativity Training on Learning Disabled Students' Creative Written Expression

Forty-nine pupils from intermediate-level learning disabilities classrooms served as subjects. The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking were used as pretests and posttests to measure the effect of creativity instruction on the creative writing skills of the subjects. For 14 weeks the Purdue Creative Thinking Program was used to stimulate the LD experimental group's creative thinking. Subjects in the LD experimental group made significantly greater scores than a control group on the creative thinking variables on the verbal (written expression) subtests of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking.
‘When I Marry a Mohammedan’: Migration and the Challenges of Interethnic Marriages in Post-War Germany

Discussions about intermarriage between foreign Muslim men and German Christian women from the 1950s to the 1970s shaped concepts of Islam, gender and difference found in more recent integration debates. Those insisting on inherent incompatibilities between Germans and Turks since the 1970s have drawn on these tropes developed decades earlier. Yet the post-war context differed from the later period in three important ways: the Muslim foreigners were students and interns, not guestworkers; it was German Christian women (not foreign Muslim women in Germany) who were the presumed victims of Muslim men; and it was principally national church institutions that formulated the language about difference.
Lexical-semantic immaturities manifesting as grammatical disorders: Evidence from a child language sample

Given the growing evidence of the integral role that semantic development plays in normal child syntactic acquisition, it is very likely that lexical-semantic deficits can have ramifications for a child's grammar. This paper illustrates how semantics and syntax interact in a case study of a child, 5;3 years, with apparent grammatical deficits. Using concepts from Principles and Parameters Theory, a language sample analysis revealed that what appeared to be purely grammatical deficits arose via underlying lexical-semantic mechanisms. Language sample analyses to adequately guide intervention planning may thus need to move beyond superficial surface structures and utilize linguistic frameworks capable of addressing the interaction among language-internal components.
Correlation of patterns of subendocardial reperfusion and left ventricular performance after ischemia.

Abstract Ninety-three dogs were studied with normothermic or hypothermic ischemia for 60 or 90 minutes, with or without potassium cardioplegia. Radioactive-labeled microspheres (9 ± 1) were injected into the aortic perfusion cannula just prior to aortic cross-clamping and at 2, 6, and 10 minutes after the clamp was released. Left ventricular (LV) function was analyzed with a right heart bypass model before and 45 minutes after the ischemia period. Changes in LV function were defined as the arithmetic difference in the center of mass between preischemia and postischemia computer-drawn Sarnoff curves. Regardless of technique of myocardial protection, increased subendocardial flow 2 minutes after ischemia correlated strongly with preservation of LV function ( p p p
Palliative Care of the Terminally Ill Drug Addict

Palliative care with terminally ill drug addicts is a major challenge for medical professionals to face. With growing problems of prescription drug abuse in this country, the problem is only going to continue to grow and be faced more often. To date, very little has been done focusing on this special population of end-of-life care patients. This review article attempts to explore the terminology and definitions for identifying addiction in the terminally ill as well as exploring management options for healthcare professionals. As with other opioid treated pain patients, relying on terms such as "physiological dependence" and "tolerance" is inappropriate for use in this population, who are likely to have been on opioids for extended periods of time requiring dose escalation for progressive disease. Thus, these terms have little utility for identifying problem patients. Rather, understanding the context of the drug abuse as it reflects on the concepts of use despite harm and the damage inflicted to the physical, psychological, or social make-up of the patient is necessary. Recommendations include careful monitoring and assessment of patients, utilizing multidisciplinary team approaches, encouraging participation in recovery programs, and utilization of pill counts and urine toxicology screenings as necessary. Implications for the field are discussed.
A cyclin-binding motif within the amino-terminal homology domain of EBNA3C binds cyclin A and modulates cyclin A-dependent kinase activity in Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) is a virus-encoded latent antigen essential for primary B-cell transformation. In this report we demonstrate that although the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C predominantly regulates cyclin A-dependent kinase activity, the region of greatest affinity for cyclin A lies within the EBNA3 amino-terminal homology domain of EBNA3C. Detailed mapping studies employing both in vitro binding assays and coimmunoprecipitation experiments implicated a small region of EBNA3C, amino acids 130 to 159 within the EBNA3 homology domain, as having the greatest affinity for cyclin A. The EBNA3 homology domain has the highest degree of amino acid similarity (approximately 30%) between the EBNA3 proteins, and, indeed, EBNA3B, but not EBNA3A, showed binding activity with cyclin A. We also show that EBNA3C binds to the α1 helix of the highly conserved mammalian cyclin box, with cyclin A amino acids 206 to 226 required for strong binding to EBNA3C amino acids 130 to 159. Interestingly, EBNA3C also bound human cyclins D1 and E in vitro, although the affinity was approximately 30% of that seen for cyclin A. Previously it was demonstrated that full-length EBNA3C rescues p27-mediated suppression of cyclin A-dependent kinase activity (J. S. Knight and E. S. Robertson, J. Virol. 78:1981-1991, 2004). It was also demonstrated that the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C recapitulates this phenotype. Surprisingly, the amino terminus of EBNA3C with the highest affinity for cyclin A was unable to rescue p27 suppression of kinase activity and actually downregulates cyclin A activity when introduced into EBV-infected cells. The data presented here suggests that the amino terminus of EBNA3C may play an important role in recruiting cyclin A complexes, while the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C is necessary for the functional modulation of cyclin A complex kinase activity.
A simulation-based approach to trade-off analysis of port security

Motivated by the September 11 attacks, we are addressing the problem of policy analysis of supply-chain security. Considering the potential economic and operational impacts of inspection together with the inherent difficulty of assigning a reasonable cost to an inspection failure call for a policy analysis methodology in which stakeholders can understand the trade-offs between the diverse and potentially conflicting objectives. To obtain this information, we used a simulation-based methodology to characterize the set of Pareto optimal solutions with respect to the multiple objectives represented in the decision problem. Our methodology relies on simulation and the response surface method (RSM) to model the relationships between inspection policies and relevant stakeholder objectives in order to construct a set of Pareto optimal solutions. The approach is illustrated with an application to a real-world supply chain.
Thick slice interpolation using reverse anisotropic diffusion to reduce partial volume effect

We are investigating methods to reduce partial volume effect (PVE) in medical images acquired as a series of thick slices, in particular magnetic resonance imaging (MRl) of the human neck for atherosclerosis characterization. We extend the reverse diffusion algorithm to 3D and include a smoothing term to increase the robustness to noise. Evaluation on a synthetic data set showed a sharp reduction of PVE even in the presence of significant noise. Interpolation of actual patient MRI shows marked reduction of PVE.
Assessing (and fixing?) Election Day lines: Evidence from a survey of local election officials

Despite recent studies that find few people face significant wait times when attempting to vote in U.S. elections, the 2012 election produced numerous anecdotal and journalistic accounts claiming otherwise. This study relies on a national survey of local election officials to systematically ascertain their views about the challenges and successes they had in administering the 2012 general election. Consistent with surveys of voters, most officials report that wait times and lines were minimal. Furthermore, the relative amount of money available to a jurisdiction for election administration was unrelated to the occurrence of these problems, while the presence of more poll workers—especially first-timers—may actually exacerbate them.
Response of Apple Maggot and Cherry Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Color and Contrast Cues from Small Deposits

Rhagoletis fruit flies are strongly attracted to relatively large yellow surfaces that act as leaf mimics. Our objective was to determine whether apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), and cherry fruit fly, R. cingulata (Loew), (Diptera: Tephritidae) are more attracted to small yellow deposits than other colors, and whether contrast with the background modifies the response to deposit color. The experimental setup consisted of Petri dish arenas with sucrose deposits on the inside surface of the cover or the bottom. Female flies were introduced individually into the arena, and flies were either observed for 5 min or until they touched the sucrose with their labellum. Initially, translucent-colored deposits were produced by drawing a colored dot outside the cover of the same size as a sucrose deposit placed inside. In later trials, sucrose deposits contained pigment and wax emulsion and were opaque. More apple maggot flies found translucent yellow deposits than black, red or clear. When opaque deposits...
Intersubjectivity In Clinical Practice: What We Can Learn from Biographical Writing

Urdang, E. (2014). Parallels Between Writing Biographies and Clinical Practice: Impact. Influence. Value. Washington, DC: NASW Press, 290 pages, $36.99.Parallels Between Writing Biographies and Cli...
Prevalence of Orthorexia nervosa among college students based on Bratman's test and associated tendencies.

Abstract Disordered eating is prevalent among college student populations, and Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is being explored as a new type of eating disorder. There is currently no standardized ON diagnostic tool, and the majority of ON research has been conducted among European populations. The present study explored the Bratman Orthorexia Test (BOT) for ON diagnosis, and its relationship to validated tools for assessing disordered eating, body dysmorphic, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies among college students attending a western university. A convenience sample of 448 college students with a mean age of 22 years was recruited to complete an online survey that included the BOT, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ), Obsessive Compulsive Inventory, Revised (OCI-R) and demographics. Spearman correlation, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, chi-square, and multiple linear regressions were used for analyses. The average BOT score was 4.71, near the “health fanatic” range, with Hispanic/Latino subjects and overweight/obese students having significantly higher median BOT scores. Gender, age, and college major were not significantly associated with BOT score. Significant positive correlations were observed between total BOT and EAT-26 scores (r = .47, p
Local field effects in multicomponent media

At densities that are typical of condensed matter, a propagating electromagnetic field mediates interactions between polarizable constituents of a material in what is known as the local-field effect. Previous investigations of the local-field effect have been limited to a single polarizable component of a nonlinear material. For multicomponent media, we have found that the interaction of laser radiation with an optically nonlinear component of condensed matter is fundamentally altered by the presence of another polarizable component as a result of the local-field effect. Novel effects include local-field enhancement effects, local cooperative decays, and coherence transfer and coherence exchange processes.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rhodococcus equi hyperimmune plasma decreases pneumonia severity after a randomised experimental challenge of neonatal foals

Since a vaccine is not available against Rhodococcus equi, R equi-specific hyperimmune plasma (HIP) is commonly used, although its efficacy remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a commercially available HIP to prevent clinical rhodococcal pneumonia in neonatal foals after experimental challenge.
Best approximation by convex functions

On donne une demonstration elementaire de l'existence et de la caracterisation des meilleures approximations des fonctions continues sur [a,b] par des fonctions continues convexes sur [a,b]
Identifying and Quantifying Mis-Modeled Dynamics via Optimal Control Problem Distance Metrics

This paper presents a new method for estimating the mis-modeled dynamics parameters of natural forces through the analysis of optimal control problem policies and distance metrics. This estimation method uses signatures and patterns left by natural forces in these metrics to identify and quantify natural dynamics that are mis-modeled. Unlike traditional estimation algorithms, this new estimation method accounts for unmodeled non-continuous thrusting patterns typical of fuel-optimal spacecraft maneuvers. By providing a more accurate dynamical model, estimation methods such as this are important to predicting and avoiding collisions - a growing concern as the population of this environment rapidly increases.
Physiological Response to Isoproterenol and Coupling of Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in Young and Elderly Human Subjects

Diminished adrenergic responsiveness occurs in aged humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coupling of beta-adrenergic receptors from human neutrophil preparations, and to investigate the relationship of this biochemical parameter to heart rate response after isoproterenol administration in young and elderly individuals. Fifteen young (aged 23-39 years) and eleven elderly (aged 59-82 years) volunteers participated in the study. The ratio, KL/KH, representing the ratio of dissociation constants for the low and high affinity state receptors, was calculated to determine coupling in the beta-adrenergic receptor system. An inverse correlation was observed between KL/KH and age. I25HR, representing the amount of isoproterenol required to elevate heart rate by 25 beats per minute, was determined; this parameter increased with age. Multiple regression analysis revealed that I25HR was most dependent upon age, but the changes with age were accompanied by diminution of both beta-adrenergic receptor affinity for agonist and in KL/KH.
Examining the differences in the stigma of dementia and diabetes among Chinese Americans

Aim One of the major barriers in making a diagnosis and managing dementia in the Chinese American population is the stigma surrounding the disease. The goal of the present study was to examine differences in the stigma and perceptions of dementia and diabetes among Chinese Americans. Methods A total of 449 Chinese Americans answered one survey with two self-administered, true/false questionnaires assessing stigma and perceptions toward dementia and diabetes. Higher total scores were associated with increased stigma and negative perceptions. The results of the two questionnaires were compared to assess for any differences in attitudes. Results For the dementia questionnaire, the mean score was 5.58 (95% CI 5.37–5.79) with a standard deviation of 2.31. For the diabetes questionnaire, the mean score was 2.01 (95% CI 1.85-2.18) with a standard deviation of 1.76. Statistical analysis showed that Chinese Americans were more likely to hold stigmatized views toward dementia than diabetes (t = 33.9, d.f. = 448, P < 0.01). Conclusions The higher average score in the dementia questionnaire shows that there are greater stigma and negative perceptions of dementia in comparison with diabetes among Chinese Americans. Considering that stigma delays access to healthcare for dementia-related symptoms, efforts should be taken to minimize negative attitudes associated with dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; ••: ••–••.
Peptidase inhibitors reverse steroid-induced suppression of neutrophil adhesion in rat tracheal blood vessels

Exposure of the tracheal mucosa of rats to capsaicin evokes neurogenic inflammation, one manifestation of which is the adherence of neutrophils to the endothelium of venules. In the present experiments, with the use of aerosolized capsaicin, we determined whether this neutrophil adhesion is inhibited by dexamethasone and whether the effect of dexamethasone can be reversed by inhibiting endopeptidase 24.11 (neutral endopeptidase, NEP) and kininase II (angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE), which degrade the neuropeptides that mediate neurogenic inflammation. Adult male pathogen-free F344 rats were treated for 2 days with dexamethasone or with vehicle (controls) and were then exposed for 2 min to aerosolized capsaicin. Neutrophils adhering to the endothelium of venules in tracheal whole mounts were stained histochemically for myeloperoxidase and then counted. Sites of increased vascular permeability were localized with Monastral blue. In the control rats, aerosolized capsaicin (10(-8)-10(-3) M) increased in a concentration-dependent fashion the number of adherent neutrophils and the amount of Monastral blue labeling of blood vessels. Dexamethasone in doses of 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg.kg-1.day-1 reduced by 49 63, 80, and 93%, respectively, the number of adherent neutrophils in capsaicin-exposed rats and caused similar reductions in the amount of Monastral blue labeling. When given alone, neither phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of NEP, nor captopril, an inhibitor of ACE, completely reversed this effect of dexamethasone, but when the two drugs were administered together, adherent neutrophils were as numerous in the dexamethasone-pretreated rats (112 +/- 9 neutrophils/mm2) as in controls (109 +/- 10 neutrophils/mm2). The amount of Monastral blue labeling was also similar in these two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Abstract 3531: Clinical Outcomes Following Endovascular Stroke Treatment Facilitated via Telestroke Evaluation

BACKGROUND: Most stroke patients present to small community hospitals without established stroke pathways or interventional stroke treatment capability. The advent of 2 way audiovisual telestroke systems gives such patients the opportunity to be assessed rapidly by stroke neurologists. Patients who are not candidates for systemic IV tPA or have failed thrombolytic treatment can be identified and transferred to a comprehensive stroke center for potential endovascular treatment. We compared the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular stroke treatment at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center triaged either through telestroke or non-telestroke means. METHODS: Prospective data including demographics, co-morbidities, baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT (ASPECT) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, intervention modality (pharmacological, mechanical or both), time to treatment, clinical outcome, and hemorrhage and mortality rates were compared. Favorable outcome was defined as modified rankin score (mRS) of 2 or less. RESULTS: Between 3/2007 and 5/2011, thirty four patients underwent endovascular stroke treatment following telestroke evaluation versus 354 patients who were triaged through other means. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Time to endovascular treatment (595 vs. 767 minutes; p = 0.5), pretreatment with systemic tPA (51.6 vs. 56.9%, p=0.6), recanalization (TIMI ≥ 2; 91.2% vs. 84.8%; p = 0.31), favorable outcome (modified rankin score ≤ 2; 50% vs. 40.4%; p = 0.29) and mortality rates (28.1% vs. 34.9%, p=0.44) were comparable. Multivariate logistic regression model identified young age (OR 0.91, CI 0.88-0.95, p CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that telestroke guided endovascular stroke treatment is feasible and the outcomes are similar to those patients who were triaged by traditional means. Future randomized studies which specifically compare triage via telemedicine vs. telephone or direct emergency department presentation are needed to substantiate these findings.
Adolescent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care Providers' Attitudes Toward the Use of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Youth.

Abstract Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention is currently indicated for use in adults in the United States and may soon be indicated for minor adolescents. However, implementation of PrEP use among minors may present unique barriers. We conducted 15 individual, semi-structured interviews among US clinicians caring for HIV-infected and at-risk youth. The theory-driven interview guide assessed demographics, perceived role of oral PrEP in HIV prevention among adolescents, perceived barriers to and facilitating factors for use of PrEP in adolescents, and clinician-reported likelihood of prescribing PrEP. Transcripts were analyzed using framework analysis. Overall, clinicians viewed PrEP as a time-limited intervention that is one part of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention among adolescents. Perceived barriers to prescribing to minors included concerns about: confidentiality, legality of minors consenting to PrEP without parental involvement, ability of...
The Welfare State: Expansions, Cutbacks and Co-Payments

Italy may be prototypical of the new style of welfare state that could become the world model. Italy began with a working-class welfare state generated by socialist, communist and fascist programs, but retained its capitalist economy. As with most of the European welfare states, the Italian welfare state included retirement pensions, some unemployment insurance (less than in other European nations), universal health insurance and free education from grade school to university.
Photocatalyzed Degradation of Adsorbed Nitrophenolic Compounds on Semiconductor Surfaces

Using semiconductor materials as photocatalysts to degrade hazardous organics has gained much attention in recent years. Colored compounds adsorbed onto semiconducting surfaces such as TiO 2 or ZnO have been shown to be excited by visible light and to readily undergo degradation (Gopidas and Kamat, 1989). This same principle can be applied to the photo-induced destruction of colored pollutants such as nitrophenols. Since visible light can be used to initiate the photodegradation of colored pollutants, this type of semiconductor system offers a potentially efficient treatment process. The purpose of this research is to study the mechanisms involved in the photodegradation of nitrophenols by semiconductors. Steady state diffuse reflectance photolysis studies indicate that TiO 2 , which exhibits semiconducting properties, gave the smallest half-life for photodegradation of 2,5-dinitrophenol. The metal oxides which acted only as support materials produced little photodegradation. Various nitrophenols are compared to study the effect of substituent nitro groups on rate of reaction. For example, 4-nitrophenol degradation has a half-life of 10 minutes while the half-life of 3-nitrophenol is 70 minutes. Also, an increase in the number of nitro groups decreases the rate of reaction. The half-life of mononitrophenols is on the order of an hour and dinitrophenols on the order of two hours while trinitrophenol still does not degrade to its half-life even after 8 hours of irradiation. Flash photolysis experiments with 4-nitrophenol in ethanol indicate the presence of a 420 nm transient species. Experiments in aerated and deaerated conditions show that the transient is an oxidation product and that it is not a triplet. Pulse radiolysis studies indicate that the transient is most likely a hydroxyl adduct of the parent compound. The presence of ZnO quenched the 420 nm transient.
Infectious Disease Hospitalizations Among American Indian/Alaska Native and Non-American Indian/Alaska Native Persons in Alaska, 2010-2011.

Objective:Reports about infectious disease (ID) hospitalization rates among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons have been constrained by data limited to the tribal health care system and ...
Rituximab-Mediated Inhibition of the Constitutive NIK/IKK/IκB/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) B-Cell Lines: Role in Chemo-Sensitization.

The chimeric anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Rituxan, IDEC-C2B8) is widely used in the clinical treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Rituximab sensitizes NHL B-cell lines to drug-induced apoptosis via selective down-regulation of Bcl- xL expression (Jazirehi et al., Mol. Cancer Therapeutics 2:1183, 2003). We hypothesized that rituximab-mediated down-regulation of Bcl- xL expression may be due, in part, to inhibition of constitutive NF- κB activity that regulates Bcl- xL expression. This hypothesis was tested following treatment with rituximab of CD20+ drug-resistant Ramos (Bcl-2 − / Bcl- xL + ) and Daudi (Bcl-2 + / Bcl- xL + ) cell lines. Rituximab decreased the phosphorylation of NIK, IKK and κB-Iα, diminished IKK kinase activity and decreased NF- κB DNA-binding activity. These events and down-regulation of Bcl- xL expression occurred with similar kinetics and were observed 3–6 h post rituximab treatment. The role of NF- κB in the regulation of Bcl- xL transcription in both Ramos and Daudi cells was demonstrated by using 1) promoter reporter assays in which deletion of the two tandem NF- κB binding sites in the upstream promoter region significantly reduced the luciferase activity 2) IκB super-repressor expressing cells and 3) by NF- κB specific inhibitors. The underlying mechanism of the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway by rituximab was shown to be due, in part, to upregulation of Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) expression, thus, interrupting the NF- κB signaling pathway through the physical association between NIK and RKIP, which was concomitant with Bcl- xL down-regulation. The direct role of Bcl- xL in drug-resistance was evaluated by using Bcl- xL over-expressing Ramos cells, which exhibited higher resistance to drugs that was partially reversed by rituximab. These findings reveal a novel mechanism of action of rituximab-mediated signaling by inducing RKIP expression that negatively regulates the constitutive NF- κB pathway resulting in Bcl- xL down-regulation and chemo-sensitization of the NHL B-cells. Furthermore, these findings identify several targets, namely RKIP, Bcl- xL and the components of the NF- κB signaling pathway, for therapeutic intervention in combination with cytotoxic agents to reverse adaptive and acquired resistance of B-NHL.
HEALTH DISPARITIES OF KOREAN AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS

The present study examined the extent to which limited English proficiency (LEP) poses a risk to physical and mental health in older Korean Americans. The vulnerability of older Korean Americans with LEP in various health outcomes (activity limitations, self-reported health, and probable depression) was assessed in consideration of socio-demographic (age, gender, marital status, education, and financial status) and context (region, length of stay in the U.S., and health insurance) variables. Using pooled data from 1,301 Korean Americans (aged ≥ 60) surveyed in FL, TX, and NY during 2008−2013, comparative analyses and multivariate model estimations were conducted. More than 70% of the sample had LEP. Those with LEP presented higher odds of having adverse health outcomes compared to their English speaking counterparts. Findings identified LEP as a major source of health disparity and underscored the importance of LEP as an intervening agent in health planning and interventions for older ethnic minorities.
Separation of 300 and 100 nm Particles in Fabry–Perot Acoustofluidic Resonators

Separation of particles on the order of 100 nm with acoustophoresis has been challenging to date because of the competing natures of acoustic radiation force and acoustic streaming on the particles. In this work, we present a surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based device that integrates a Fabry-Perot type acoustic resonator into a microfluidic channel to separate submicron particles. This configuration enhances the overall acoustic radiation force on the particles and thereby offers controlled manipulation of particles as small as 300 nm. Additionally, SAW-based excitation generates high-frequency acoustic waves in the system relative to bulk acoustic wave (BAW)-based actuation, which suppresses Rayleigh streaming effects on the submicron particles. We demonstrate, for the first time, a continuous-flow acoustophoretic separation of 300-nm and 100-nm particles in our device with a separation efficiency of 86.3%. We also present an analytical stochastic method to model the transport of submicron particles in the...
A flexible 2.4 GHz microstrip patch antenna using a 3-D printed tile array design

This paper presents the design of a flexible 3-D printed microstrip patch antenna (MPA) which shows stable RF performance with curvature. The substrate's unique design is based on tiles consisting of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) that are surrounded with flexible NinjaFlex. When these tiles are assembled together in an array, a flexible substrate with improved RF properties is realized. The resonant frequency achieved is 2.305 GHz with a bandwidth of 0.12 GHz (5.21%). When the antenna is flexed downwards, there is minimal impact on the RF performance, the resonant frequency shifts slightly upwards to 2.365 GHz (60 MHz) and the bandwidth is 0.135 GHz (5.71%). This flexible substrate design approach using an array of puzzle tiles is scalable and can be implemented in a variety of RF design applications for flexibility.
Progress in beta-gallium-oxide materials and devices (Conference Presentation)

In this talk, we provide an overview overview of our work on beta-Ga2O3 growth, doping, heterostructures and devices. In plasma-assisted MBE growth of beta-Ga2O3 we demonstrate the differences in growth on cleavage (e.g., (100) vs. non-cleavage planes (e.g., (010) or (001)), the propensity for growth rate limitations by suboxide formation. We demonstrate unintentional doping concentration in the mid10E15 cm-3 range, and controllable intentional doping with electron concentrations from 10E16 to >10E20 cm-3. We review the development and characterization of coherent (Al,Ga)2O3/Ga2O3 heterostructures and demonstration of modulation doping and MODFETs.
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Training During Psychiatric Residency

The authors review several significant events in alcohol and drug abuse training during psychiatric residency which have occurred over the past several years. They then report on the results of the alcoholism and drug abuse portion of the annual questionnaire sent to directors of residency training programs. The paper concludes with several recommendations which will assist residency programs to increase skills and knowledge in alcoholism and drug abuse and change in a positive direction the attitudes of residents during their training. At a recent working conference on medical education in alcoholism and drug abuse a set of curriculum objectives in these areas appropriate for residency training in psychiatry were developed. These curriculum objectives are included as an appendix.
The Agent as Cause

I assume that a theory of agency should be adequate to the following: (1) such statements as ‘Jones killed his uncle’ and ‘Jones raised his arm’ are sometimes true; (2) they imply that there is a certain event or state of affairs that an agent caused or brought about (‘Jones killed his uncle’ implies that the death of Jones’ uncle was caused or brought about by Jones, and ‘Smith raised his arm’ implies that the raising of Smith’s arm was something that was caused or brought about by Smith); and (3) such statements may, on occasion be supplemented, by the true statement “But at the time there was something else he could have done instead.”
Erfolgreiche epilepsiechirurgische Behandlung eines Patienten mit fokaler Epilepsie und multiplen zerebralen Läsionen

In diesem Fallbericht wird eine erfolgreich epilepsiechirurgisch behandelte Patientin vorgestellt, die in der Kernspintomographie drei Lasionen aufwies: zwei Cavernome, eines links posterior temporal, eines rechts mesial temporal sowie zusatzlich eine Hippokampussklerose linksseitig. Diagnoseentscheidend war ein zwar subtiler, aber konsistenter iktaler EEG-Befund im Oberflachen-EEG mit einem Anfallsmuster uber der links posterior temporalen Region. Eine erweiterte Lasionektomie des links temporal posterior gelegenen Cavernoms fuhrte zu bislang 2-jahriger Anfallsfreiheit. Die bilateral mesial temporal gelegenen Lasionen sind offensichtlich nicht epileptisch aktiv.
Strategies for Eliciting High-Quality Proposals

It is of little use to set up careful proposal review processes aimed at selecting for funding high-quality proposals if nothing has been done first to assure that there will be such high-quality proposals among those reviewed. Nothing is more frustrating (and futile) than to have to award earmarked funds to the “best” proposal(s) from a batch where none even rises to the level of mediocrity. It seems obvious, therefore, that the first concern of funding agencies should be to encourage and facilitate the submission of good proposals.
Reliability & validity of the LIBRE Profile.

Abstract Background The Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (LIBRE) Profile© was developed using Item Response Theory methods to assess social participation after a burn injury. The LIBRE Profile measures six areas of social participation: Relationships with Family & Friends, Social Interactions, Social Activities, Work & Employment, Romantic Relationships, and Sexual Relationships. It can be administered through a computerized adaptive test or through fixed short forms. The goal of this study was to further examine the psychometric properties of the LIBRE Profile, including reliability and validity. Methods We examined the validity of the LIBRE Profile by administering the six LIBRE Profile scales as well as legacy measures that assessed similar constructs. We calculated the Pearson correlations between the LIBRE Profile scales and the scores on the same-domain and cross-domain legacy measures to evaluate convergent and divergent validity. We then administered the LIBRE Profile scales a second time, seven to ten days after the first administration, to a sample of adult burn survivors to evaluate test–retest reliability. We calculated repeatability coefficients, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change to establish the threshold beyond which the amount of change observed across an episode of care cannot be explained as measurement error. Results For reliability, the repeatability coefficients ranged from 7.31 to 9.27 and SEMs ranged from 2.62 to 3.39 for all six scales. MDC90 values ranged from 6.08 to 7.86 points, and MDC95 values ranged from 7.26 to 9.40 points. All correlations between the LIBRE Profile scales and legacy measures are significant (p Conclusions This study provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the LIBRE Profile, one of the first tools that measures exclusively the social participation after a burn injury.
What makes a group fitness program for people with Parkinson's disease endure? A mixed-methods study of multiple stakeholders.

Abstract Objective Identify key features of an enduring group exercise program for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by exploring experiences of participants, student assistants and the exercise instructor through a convergent mixed methods design. Methods Fourteen people with PD (modified Hoehn & Yahr: 1–3.5) who regularly participated in a group exercise program (≥ 50% of classes for ≥ 1 year) were interviewed to explore their perceptions of the program. The exercise instructor was also interviewed and weekly written reflections were collected from 18 undergraduate student assistants. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews and written reflections were thematically analyzed via qualitative content analysis. Quantitative data from the Physical Fitness and Exercise Activity Levels of Older Adults Scale were used as part of a convergent mixed-methods design to move towards theory formation. Results Thematic analysis of the PD participant interviews revealed 4 themes: 1) Quality of the program, 2) Social interactions, 3) Facilitators to exercise, 4) Barriers to exercise. The exercise instructor interview revealed 2 themes: individualization and functionality of exercises, and creating a nurturing atmosphere. Themes from students’ data included student learning, and positive in-class experiences. Means (sd) were 1.6 (0.5) for facilitators and 3.0 (0.5) for barriers subscales (1=strongly agree to 4=strongly disagree). Conclusion These varied sources of data converge to identify and characterize key features of an enduring group exercise program for people with PD: a positive and nurturing environment, varied and individually tailored exercise content, and the importance of social cohesion. These findings also highlight the critical role of multiple stakeholders in fostering an environment that facilitates long-term adherence to group exercise.
On Trump, Guns and Torture

As idiosyncratic as Donald Trump is, it would be unlikely if others of his nature had not appeared on America’s political scene in its over 200 year history. And, indeed, we find that there have been others, particularly the notorious President Andrew Jackson. It can be argued that both men appealed to the same sort of disaffected voter—those who were/are estranged from the political status quo and sought to have enemies singled out for them. They easily were swayed by leaders who appeared to be outsiders just like them as well as fighting heroes. Their identity with their hero was/is more powerful than their loyalty to the Constitution and its principles.
Early verbal categories and inflections in children who use speech-generating devices.

The use of early verbal categories, their event types, and the emergence of verbal inflections (-ing, -s, and -ed) were analyzed in data from four participants with motor speech disorders aged 9;5–...