cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Emergency General Surgery Anatomic Severity Scoring System as a predictor of cost in appendicitis.

The World Society for Emergency Surgery determined that for appendicitis managed with appendectomy, there is a paucity of evidence evaluating costs with respect to disease severity. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) disease severity grading system is valid and generalizable for appendicitis. We aimed to evaluate hospitalization costs incurred by patients with increasing disease severity as defined by the AAST. We hypothesized that increasing disease severity would be associated with greater cost. Single-institution review of adults (≥ 18 years old) undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis during 2010–2016. Demographics, comorbidities, operative details, hospital stay, complications, and institutional cost data were collected. AAST grades were assigned by two independent reviewers based on operative findings. Total cost was ascertained from billing data and normalized to median grade I cost. Non-parametric linear regression was utilized to assess the association of several covariates and cost. Evaluated patients (n = 1187) had a median [interquartile range] age of 37 [26–55] and 45% (n = 542) were female. There were 747 (63%) patients with Grade I disease, 219 (19%) with Grade II, 126 (11%) with Grade III, 50 (4%) with Grade IV, and 45 (4%) with Grade V. The median normalized cost of hospitalization was 1 [0.9–1.2]. Increasing AAST grade was associated with increasing cost (ρ = 0.39; p < 0.0001). Length of stay exhibited the strongest association with cost (ρ = 0.5; p < 0.0001), followed by AAST grade (ρ = 0.39), Clavien–Dindo Index (ρ = 0.37; p < 0.0001), age-adjusted Charlson score (ρ = 0.31; p < 0.0001), and surgical wound classification (ρ = 0.3; p < 0.0001). Increasing anatomic severity, as defined by AAST grade, is associated with increasing cost of hospitalization and clinical outcomes. The AAST grade compares favorably to other predictors of cost. Future analyses evaluating appendicitis reimbursement stand to benefit from utilization of the AAST grade.
Shifting the gaze: picturesque and archaeological autopsy in the French domestic travels of Charles Nodier and Prosper Mérimée

ABSTRACTThis essay analyses the shift in the archaeological gaze in Romantic France by focusing on the evolution of Charles Nodier and Baron Taylor’s Voyages pittoresques et romantiques dans l’anci...
Increased Rates of Both Knee and Hip Arthroplasties in Older Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objective. To determine the risks of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in older patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods. We used administrative data from 1999 to 2013 on US Medicare beneficiaries to identify patients ( Results. We analyzed 52,568 patients with AS and 4,617,179 patients without AS. Between 1999 and 2013, the standardized incidence of primary THA in patients with AS doubled from 4.5 per 1000 patient-years (PY) to 9.6 per 1000 PY. Rates of primary TKA were higher in patients with AS than controls in all years. In 2013, the standardized incidence of primary TKA in AS was 12.3 per 1000 PY versus 5.7 per 1000 PY in the comparison group (RR 2.14, 95% CI 1.93–2.38). Rates of primary TKA were twice as high among patients with AS and THA than among those without THA (20.4 vs 10.2 per 1000 PY). Conclusion. Rates of THA in older patients with AS doubled over recent years, outpacing the increase in the general population. Rates of TKA were also substantially higher in older patients with AS. The increased risk of TKA in AS may be a consequence of damage from knee inflammation, or alterations in lower extremity biomechanics due to hip arthritis.
Psychosocial Correlates of Learning Disabilities

Since the introduction of the term learning disabilities more than 35 years ago (Kirk, 1963), the use of this category to describe children with learning problems has increased to the point that this designation currently accounts for the largest group of children in special education in the United States. Despite the popularity of this label, lively disputes about the phenomenon of learning disabilities remain, even for such basic issues as how to define learning disabilities and how children with such disabilities should be identified (Kavale and Forness, 1985). As a result, the children identified as learning disabled are a heterogeneous group, with varied problems and strengths.
Delivering Different Reinforcers in Each Half of the Session: Effect of Reinforcement Rate

Previous research (Weatherly, Stout, Rue, & Melville, 2000) has shown that rats’ rates of lever pressing for low-concentration liquid-sucrose reinforcement in the first half of an experimental session are higher when food pellets, rather than the same sucrose reinforcers, are delivered in the second half of the session (i.e., induction). The present study investigated whether this effect was sensitive to changes in the rate of reinforcement in the first or second half of the session. Rats responded in 50-min sessions, with 1 % (Experiment 1) or 5% (Experiment 2) liquid-sucrose reinforcers delivered during the first half of the session. In different conditions, food pellets or the same sucrose served as the reinforcer in the second half of the session. Rate of reinforcement in either the first or second half of the session was varied across conditions. Results showed that induction was present in both experiments, although it was most reliable when subjects responded for 1 % sucrose. They also suggest that rate of sucrose reinforcement is not a determining factor of when induction will be observed. By doing so, the present results increase the generality of the present induction effect.
Hematin: unique effects of hemostasis

Hematin is clinically useful in the treatment of acute intermittent porphyria. Recently, hematin-induced coagulopathy has been reported, and a patient we treated bled during hematin therapy. On 3 separate occasions, infusions of hematin (4 mg/kg) induced thrombocytopenia, prolongation of the prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time. Reptilase time, and apparent decreases in fibrinogen and increases in fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP). However, fibrinogen assayed by heat precipitation was unchanged, the protamine paracoagulation test was negative, there was no red blood cell fragmentation, and plasminogen and antithrombin III remained normal, excluding the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Furthermore, premedication with heparin, 5000 U i.v., failed to prevent the lengthening of the Reptilase time and exacerbated the thrombocytopenia. In vitro studies revealed that hematin, 0.1 mg/ml, aggregated platelets and induced the release of 14C-serotonin and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Hematin also aggregated washed or gel-filtered platelets but had no effect on formalin-fixed platelets. Aggregation was inhibited by aspirin (0.12 mg/ml), adenosine triphosphate, and apyrase, suggesting that hematin aggregated platelets by inducing adenosine diphosphate (ADP) release. Hematin (0.07 mg/ml) progressively inactivated thrombin and 0.1 mg/ml prolonged the Reptilase time. Thus, hematin is unique in that it both induces platelet aggregation and inhibits coagulation.
3D printing for airway disease

It has been 30 years since the first commercial three-dimensional (3D) printer was available on market. The technological advancement of 3D printing has far exceeded its implementation in medicine. The application of 3D printing technology has the potential of playing a major role within interventional pulmonology; specifically, in the management of complex airway disease. Tailoring management to the patient-specific anatomical malformation caused by benign or malignant disease is a major challenge faced by interventional pulmonologists. Such cases often require adjunctive therapeutic procedures with thermal therapies followed by dilation and airway stenting to maintain the patency of the airway. Airway-stent size matching is one key to reducing stent-related complications. A major barrier to matching is the expansion of the stent in two dimensions (fixed sizes in length and diameter) within the deformed airway. Additional challenges are created by the subjective oversizing of the stent to reduce the likelihood of migration. Improper sizing adversely affects the stability of the stent. The stent-airway mismatch can be complicated by airway erosion, perforation, or the formation of granulation tissue. Stents can migrate, fracture, obstruct, or become infected. The use of patient-specific 3D printed airway stents may be able to reduce the stent airway mismatch. These stents allow more precise stent-airway sizing and minimizes high-pressure points on distorted airway anatomy. In theory, this should reduce the incidence of the well-known complications of factory manufactured stents. In this article, the authors present the brief history of 3D printed stents, their consideration in select patients, processing steps for development, and future direction.
Disentangled Attribution Curves for Interpreting Random Forests and Boosted Trees.

Tree ensembles, such as random forests and AdaBoost, are ubiquitous machine learning models known for achieving strong predictive performance across a wide variety of domains. However, this strong performance comes at the cost of interpretability (i.e. users are unable to understand the relationships a trained random forest has learned and why it is making its predictions). In particular, it is challenging to understand how the contribution of a particular feature, or group of features, varies as their value changes. To address this, we introduce Disentangled Attribution Curves (DAC), a method to provide interpretations of tree ensemble methods in the form of (multivariate) feature importance curves. For a given variable, or group of variables, DAC plots the importance of a variable(s) as their value changes. We validate DAC on real data by showing that the curves can be used to increase the accuracy of logistic regression while maintaining interpretability, by including DAC as an additional feature. In simulation studies, DAC is shown to out-perform competing methods in the recovery of conditional expectations. Finally, through a case-study on the bike-sharing dataset, we demonstrate the use of DAC to uncover novel insights into a dataset.
Native American children and school readiness: A nationally representative study of individual and cumulative risks

Abstract Using a nationally representative dataset (Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort) and bioecological-cumulative disadvantage framework, the present study investigated the relations between salient child and family risk experiences and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children's kindergarten academic and behavioral outcomes. Using hierarchical linear regression, individual risk models, cumulative risk models, and interaction models examining combinations of two types of individual risks were examined. Individual risk models including seven risks (i.e., poverty, preterm/low birth weight, low maternal education, single motherhood, inadequate prenatal care, teen motherhood, and severe maternal depression) revealed that poverty exposure at any point prior to kindergarten was associated with AIAN children's kindergarten academic skills (i.e., reading and math). Cumulative risk models suggest that children exposed to two or more risks displayed lower reading and math skills than those exposed to no or one risk. The interaction models revealed significant risk by risk interaction effects for kindergarten math and all behavior outcomes examined in this study. Specifically, children who experienced poverty and had mothers with risk characteristics (i.e., without a high school diploma or who gave birth as teenagers) demonstrated poorer behavioral outcomes (i.e., lower social competence and approaches to learning as well as higher externalizing behaviors) than children experienced poverty but with mothers having no such risk characteristics. Interestingly, findings also revealed that children living in poverty presented better kindergarten outcomes (i.e., scored higher on math and approaches to learning and lower on externalizing behaviors) when they were living with single mothers than with married/cohabitating parents. Given the salience of specific combinations of poverty and maternal characteristics for AIAN children, implications for two-generation programming is discussed along with the potential value of extended family networks. Further study implication was discussed.
Different human resting memory CD4+ T cell subsets show similar low inducibility of latent HIV-1 proviruses

The latent reservoir of HIV-1 in resting CD4+ T cells is a major barrier to cure. It is unclear whether the latent reservoir resides principally in particular subsets of CD4+ T cells, a finding that would have implications for understanding its stability and developing curative therapies. Recent work has shown that proliferation of HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells is a major factor in the generation and persistence of the latent reservoir and that latently infected T cells that have clonally expanded in vivo can proliferate in vitro without producing virions. In certain CD4+ memory T cell subsets, the provirus may be in a deeper state of latency, allowing the cell to proliferate without producing viral proteins, thus permitting escape from immune clearance. To evaluate this possibility, we used a multiple stimulation viral outgrowth assay to culture resting naive, central memory (TCM), transitional memory (TTM), and effector memory (TEM) CD4+ T cells from 10 HIV-1-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy. On average, only 1.7% of intact proviruses across all T cell subsets were induced to transcribe viral genes and release replication-competent virus after stimulation of the cells. We found no consistent enrichment of intact or inducible proviruses in any T cell subset. Furthermore, we observed notable plasticity among the canonical memory T cell subsets after activation in vitro and saw substantial person-to-person variability in the inducibility of infectious virus release. This finding complicates the vision for a targeted approach for HIV-1 cure based on T cell memory subsets.
Postcolonial Lack: Identity, Culture, Surplus: by Gautam Basu Thakur, Albany, State University of New York Press, 2020, 276 pp., $95 (Hardcover), ISBN 978-1-4384-7769-5

Gautam Basu Thakur’s Postcolonial Lack (re)opens a stalled conversation between postcolonial studies and the Lacanian strand of psychoanalysis with the express intention of making “postcolonial stu...
Evaluation of a Reactive Agility Assessment Device in Youth Football Players

Hoffman, JR. Evaluation of a reactive agility assessment device in youth football players. J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3311-3315, 2020-The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Blazepod reactive agility device on sport-specific movements in competitive youth football players. Thirty-one male athletes (16.7 ± 1.5 years; 179.4 ± 7.0 cm; 75.0 ± 21.0 kg), all members of a youth tackle football team, volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects performed 3 reactive agility drills (side shuffle reactive agility, 1-m reactive agility, and 3-m reactive agility) at least 72 hours apart. In addition, all subjects also performed 3 traditional agility exercises: proagility, T drill, and L drill. These sessions were part of the offseason conditioning program for the football team that involved sport-specific drills. All assessments occurred following a warm-up and conducted in the same order on each occasion. To assess the validity of the reactive agility drills, the head coach was asked to rank the football playing and agility ability of the players participating in the study. The intraclass correlation coefficient values indicated that all 3 reactive agility drills displayed excellent reliability (r's ranging from 0.833 to 0.884). The measurement error was smaller than the individual variability, indicating that measurement error had a very limited effect on the results. Subjective rankings for agility significantly correlated with each of the agility and reactive agility measurements. Results of this study indicate that the Blazepod reactive agility device is a reliable measure of reactive agility performance and are consistent with the coach's perception of the athlete's agility performance, thus demonstrating construct validity.
#NotMyAriel: Reflections of Growing Up in a World That Favors Whiteness.

* Abbreviation: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics > Welcome to the first article in the newest Monthly Feature, “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” The articles included in this feature will highlight areas in which bias, discrimination, racism, and inequity have impacted the health and wellbeing of children and their families. “#NotMyAriel: Reflections of Growing Up in a World That Favors Whiteness” eloquently captures the spirit and intent of this new feature. As leaders in our communities, we have the privilege and responsibility to be forces for change. Everyone benefits when we take a moment to see something from another person’s perspective, and as we learn from one another, we become better equipped to work together. We hope that through the articles presented in this new Monthly Feature, we can continue, or sometimes begin for the first time, to see our world through different lenses and collaborate to create a more equitable future. Please see the Author Guidelines for information about submission to the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Monthly Feature (https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/page/author-guidelines). > > Allison Lopez, Editor > > Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion #NotMyAriel, they tweeted last July when Disney announced the casting of a Black actress as Ariel in the live-action version of the Little Mermaid. Reading these tweets, I was transported back to my younger self, wishing I could trade my dark skin and thick black hair for an alabaster complexion, blonde hair, and blue eyes. I painfully recalled the first guy I dated and the mockery from his friends. “How could you find her attractive? She’s so dark.” Following the tragic killing of George Floyd, my twitter feed now abounds with #Blacklivesmatter, #diversitymatters, and #antiracism, a stark contrast to the racist rhetoric that fueled #notmyariel, only a year before. I wonder, will this be the moment that racism becomes all of our … Address correspondence to Monique Jindal, MD, Harriet Lane Clinic, 200 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21224. E-mail: mjindal2{at}jhmi.edu
An Electronically Delivered Patient-Activation Tool for Intensification of Medications for Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: The EPIC-HF Trial.

Background: Major gaps exist in the routine initiation and dose up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMT) for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Without n...
C. elegans discriminate colors without eyes or opsins

Here we establish that, contrary to expectations, Caenorhabditis elegans nematode worms possess a color discrimination system despite lacking any opsin or other known visible light photoreceptor genes. We found that white light guides C. elegans foraging decisions away from harmful bacteria that secrete a blue pigment toxin. Absorption of amber light by this blue pigment toxin alters the color of light sensed by the worm, and thereby triggers an increase in avoidance. By combining narrow-band blue and amber light sources, we demonstrated that detection of the specific blue:amber ratio by the worm guides its foraging decision. These behavioral and psychophysical studies thus establish the existence of a color detection system that is distinct from those of other animals.
The Outlaw Extreme: Violence, Prosecution, and Evolution of the North American One Percent Motorcycle Club

This chapter reviews the development and criminal activities of 1% bikers with an emphasis on their development, psychology, and organization. Its focus is mainly upon North America, but a few examples are also drawn from Europe and Australia. The interaction of the clubs’ fraternal, gang-like, and syndicate-like aspects are critical to comprehending and responding to their behavior. These aspects of the subculture interact with formal social control efforts to shape group structure and behavior. One Percenter clubs are portrayed as a shadow side of western democratic society’s focus on the raw power and growth that deserves further attention. Well-publicized incidents of biker violence in North America are used to illustrate the complexity of these organizations, the role of the mainstream in shaping the management of their fraternal, gang, and syndicate aspects by formal hierarchies and unspoken ideologies.
A Qualitative Exploration of Predominantly White Non-Hispanic Tennessee WIC Participants' Food Retail and WIC Clinic Experiences During COVID-19.

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has widened many existing nutrition disparities. In response, federal nutrition assistance programs have introduced flexibility waivers in programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to rapidly respond to support the nutritional health status of income-eligible participants during COVID-19. Waivers were approved that permitted flexibilities in the WIC food package, WIC vendor guidelines, and WIC clinic experience. The impact of these waivers on WIC participants’ retail and clinic experiences remains unknown. Objectives Our aims were to understand the experiences of WIC participants in food retail settings and with WIC clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore WIC participants’ perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on their family’s overall health, well-being, and daily lives. Design We conducted semi-structured phone interviews between April 30 and May 7, 2020. Participants/setting Participants were 24 adults in WIC-enrolled families residing in Tennessee. Analysis Using grounded theory as the analytical framework, 2 coders completed an iterative, data-driven analytic process within NVivo, version 12. Hierarchical maps, coding matrices, and concept maps were used to aid direct content analysis for theme detection. Results Five primary themes emerged, including shopping barriers (existing compounded with new), coping strategies, impact on mental and emotional health, social comparison, and unintended consequences of COVID-19 on WIC families. Conclusions COVID-19 created additional barriers to food security among WIC families and negatively affected their health and well-being. To meet the needs of this vulnerable population during and beyond the pandemic, the carryover of WIC flexibilities (ie, physical presence and food package substitution waivers) after COVID-19 may improve the ease of overall program participation.
Targeting the Gut Microbiome to Mitigate Immunotherapy-Induced Colitis in Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been a transformational advance in cancer therapy in the past decade. However, ICIs can produce immune-related adverse effects (irAEs), which can lead to both morbidity and premature termination of therapy. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota and its metabolites affect ICI efficacy and toxicity. Herein, we review such evidence in the context of ICI-induced colitis. In particular, the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, a microbial metabolite, has known protective effects on the intestine. We discuss how the use of dietary prebiotics, which can be metabolized by bacteria to produce butyrate, can be an intriguing new investigational approach to prevent ICI-associated colitis and lead to improved patient outcomes.
Improved Searches for HI in Three Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies

Previous searches for HI in our Galaxy's dwarf spheroidal companions have not been complete enough to settle the question of whether or not these galaxies have HI, especially in their outer parts. We present VLA observations of three dwarf spheroidals: Fornax, Leo II, and Draco, all of which have known stellar velocities. The new data show no HI emission or absorption. Column density limits in emission are 4--7 x 10^18 atoms/cm^2 in the centers of the galaxies. The importance of the new observations is that they cover larger areas than previous searches and they are less plagued by confusion with foreground (Galactic) HI. The apparent absence of neutral gas in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal is especially puzzling because recent photometry shows evidence of stars only 10^8 years old. We discuss whether the VLA observations could have missed significant amounts of HI.
A Meta‐Analysis of Hybrid Language Instruction and Call for Future Research

In this meta‐analysis, we estimate the effectiveness of hybrid language instruction overall and across a number of moderator variables by aggregating effect sizes from 11 studies with 34 samples. Results suggest hybrid language instruction can be just as effective as traditional face‐to‐face (f2f) instruction, as indicated by the negligible differences between hybrid courses and traditional f2f courses (d = .14). Furthermore, studies employing within‐group designs indicate that students in hybrid language classes can improve their language skills considerably (d = 1.47). This is a positive finding given that many institutions have experienced a surge in hybrid teaching due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. We also report on a number of moderator variables that can impact the effectiveness of hybrid language courses, including (a) the amount of reduction in f2f time, (b) the use of online activities provided by textbook publishers, (c) the use of a learning management system, (d) advances in digital technologies, (e) the targeted language skills (e.g., speaking, writing), and (f) whether the data come from initial or subsequent iterations of a hybrid course. Additionally, we offer directions for future research regarding the substantive and methodological issues in the hybrid language instruction domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Modern Language Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
A Radiative Transfer Model for Acoustic Propagation in Ocean Sediment Layers

Abstract : The propagation of mid-frequency (1-10 kHz) acoustic waves in shallow water regions (depths of 100- 200 m) is strongly influenced by the characteristics of the ocean bottom. While there has been much progress in developing and validating bottom scattering models, much of the focus has been in the high frequency regime with comparatively less focus in the mid-frequency. This is an important topic, since in the mid-frequency regime the acoustic field can penetrate the rough interface into the sediment and undergo multiple scattering from sediment stratification and volume inhomogeneities. In this work, the long-term goal is to develop an understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the acoustic field through a rigorous modeling and measurement effort. In addition, the feasibility of using tools such as chirp sonar for bottom characterization will be considered and assessed. The objective of this research is to examine the acoustic scattering physics in the mid-frequency regime to isolate and characterize the scattering contributions due to bottom roughness, sediment stratification, and embedded volume scatterers. A further objective is to evaluate the use of a chirp sonar system for characterization of the ocean bottom. This will provide a means for accurately quantifying parameters such as reflection losses and bottom penetration over a broad frequency range in support of Navy sonar applications.
A Comparison of the First Two Sequenced Chloroplast Genomes in Asteraceae: Lettuce and Sunflower

LBNL-59386 A Comparison of the First Two Sequenced Chloroplast Genomes in Asteraceae: Lettuce and Sunflower Ruth E. Timme 1§ , Jennifer V. Kuehl 2 , Jeffrey L. Boore 2,3,4 , Robert K. Jansen 1 Section of Integrative Biology and Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. DOE Joint Genome Institute and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Walnut Creek, CA Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA Genome Project Solutions, Hercules, CA Corresponding author Email addresses: RET: mailto:retimme@mail.utexas.edu JVK: jvkuehl@lbl.gov JLB: jlboore@calmail.berkeley.edu RKJ: jansen@mail.utexas.edu
Automated Device Pairing for Asymmetric Pairing Scenarios

"Secure Device Pairing" is the process of bootstrapping secure communication between two human-operated devices over a short- or medium-range wireless channel (such as Bluetooth, WiFi). The devices in such a scenario can neither be assumed to have a prior context with each other nor do they share a common trusted authority. However, the devices can generally be connected using auxiliary physical channel(s) (such as audio, visual) that can be authenticated by the device user(s), and thus form the basis for pairing. Recently proposed pairing protocols are based upon bidirectional physical channels. However, various pairing scenarios are asymmetric in nature, i.e., only a unidirectional physical channel exists between two devices (such as between a cell phone and an access point). In this paper, we concentrate on pairing devices using a unidirectional physical channel and analyze recently proposed protocol on this topic [14]. Moreover, as an improvement to [14], we present an efficient implementation of a unidirectional physical channel based on multiple blinking LEDs as transmitter and a video camera as a receiver.
Preventing Music-Induced Hearing Loss:

and problems with academic and cognitive performance, and can even be prone to hypertension as they struggle to understand others' words.1 Physicians and scientists who study hearing believe that loud music heard over extended periods is contributing to increasing rates of NIHL. Based on national data from 1988 to 1994, researchers estimate that NIHL affects 12.5 percent of children in the United States ages six to nineteen.2 These rates are now allegedly rising even higher among these and older populations because of the high output levels and use rates of iPod and other sound-producing technologies (whose earbuds bring the sound very near both eardrums).3 In April 2007, Apple announced that it had sold its 100 millionth iPod, making the system the fastest-selling music player in history. The belief that repeated exposure to loud music can lead to hearing damage is reinforced by reports of hearing problems among musicians4 and the potential intensity levels of sound that musicians are capable of producing-even within the context of music education. A 2005 report based on a survey of young people averaging 19.2 years old concluded that 61 percent experienced tinnitus or hearing loss as a result of attending music concerts.5 Another recent report demonstrated that college music students in a marching or pep band were exposed to levels up to 17,000 percent of allowable exposure (dose) for one day.6 Data for this 2007 study were derived and analyzed using standards developed by the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). One hundred percent of the allowable dose for a day is equivalent to an average sound of 85 decibels (dB) for eight hours. (For reference, 85 dB is the volume of a common household blender.) A succession of studies conducted through the University of North Carolina-Greensboro revealed similar concerns for the health of some public school music students and teachers.7
Music indexing with extracted main melody by using modified Lempel-Ziv algorithm

Extraction of repetitive patterns of the main melody in a given music piece is investigated in this research. A dictionary-based approach is proposed to achieve the task. The input to the proposed system is a piece of music consisting of numerical music scores (e.g. the MIDI file format), and other music forms such as the sound wave have to be converted to numerical music scores first. In the system, segmentation is done based on the tempo information and a music score is decomposed into bars. Each bar is indexed, and a bar index table is built accordingly. Then, an adaptive dictionary-based algorithm known as the Lempel Ziv 78 (LZ-78) is modified and applied to the bar-represented music scores to extract repetitive patterns. The LZ78 algorithm is slightly modified to achieve better results, and the modified LZ78 is named the A­ÂoExhaustive Search with Progressive LEngthA­Â? (ESPLE). After this step, pruning is applied to this dictionary to remove non-repeating patterns. Modified LZ78 and pruning are repetitively applied to the updated dictionary, which is generated from the previous cycle, until the dictionary converges. Experiments are performed on MIDI files to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of the second messengers involved in 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) stimulated intestinal calcium absorption (transcaltachia).

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] has been shown to generate biological responses via both genomic and nongenomic pathways. In the nongenomic process, 1α,25(OH)2D3 stimulates the rapid transport of Ca2+ across the chick intestinal epithelial cell, a process termed transcaltachia. In previous studies, the involvement of Ca2+-channels, protein kinase C, and cAMP-dependent kinase in the 1α,25(OH)2D3 stimulated transcaltachic response have been implicated. To further characterize the elements involved in mediating the transcaltachic effect, H7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, and mastoparan, an activator of G-proteins, were employed. Both H7 and U73122 suppressed 1α,25(OH)2D3 stimulated intestinal Ca2+ transport. Mastoparan was found to mimic the effect of 1α,25(OH)2D3 to stimulate transcaltachia. Collectively, these results suggest that 1α,25(OH)2D3 activations of G-proteins, phospholipase C and protein kinases are essential steps in the rapid stimulation of intestinal Ca2+ transport.
Understanding African American Discipline Styles: Suggestions for Effective Social Work Intervention.

Discipline styles among African American parents are closely scrutinized; yet, they may be among the most positive aspects of African American child rearing. Families headed by “hardline” disciplin...
A spectrophotometric method for the determination of lysine utilizing bacterial lysine decarboxylase

Abstract 1. (1) An enzymic spectrophotometric method for the determination of l -lysine has been developed. 2. (2) The sensitivity of the method is approximately 60-fold greater than the corresponding manometric procedure. 3. (3) dl -δ-Hydroxylamine, α,ϵ-diaminopimelic acid, ammonium chloride, asparagine, and dl -ornithine develop absorbance values, in the assay, which are 10% or less of equivalent concentrations of lysine. 4. (4) ω-Aminocaprylic acid and tyrosine are inhibitors of the enzymic decarboxylation of lysine at an inhibitor: substrate ratio of 10:1. Histidine and proline are additional inhibitors at the ratio of 17:1. 5. (5) The method has been applied to the determination of lysine in urine and plasma.
Stimulus classification by ensembles of climbing fiber receptive fields.

Abstract Although the local structure of the cerebellum is fairly uniform and its inputs are often widely shared, outputs from different regions of the cerebellar cortex reach different parts of the cerebellar and vestibular nuclei, which can affect the rest of the nervous system in different ways. In this review, we explain how different ensembles of climbing fiber responses in the anterior lobe and paramedian lobule can be generated by a tactile stimulus to the distal hindpaw. Apart from differing in degree of activation, the cortical regions differ also in the detailed pattern of the activation transmitted. The anterior lobe can distinguish a greater diversity of stimuli to various skin surfaces than can the paramedian lobule. This differential classification of particular stimulus arrays by the two cerebellar regions could produce distinct patterns of neuronal activity in various corticonuclear compartments.
Kinetics of ozone reaction with uric acid, ascorbic acid, and glutathione at physiologically relevant conditions.

Abstract This study quantified the reaction kinetics of O3 with three low molecular weight antioxidants—uric acid (UA), ascorbic acid (AH2), and glutathione (GSH)—found in respiratory mucous. Using a semi-batch reactor in which a 500 ml/min flow of air containing 1–5 parts per million of O3 contacted 3 ml of well-stirred physiological saline solution containing 100–200 μM antioxidant, we found that: (1) mass transfer resistances in the gas and liquid phases were successfully eliminated by the reactor design; (2) the reaction of O3 with UA, AH2 and GSH had stoichiometries of 1:1, 1:1, and 1:2.5, respectively; (3) the reactivity between O3 and antioxidants was in the order UA ≈ AH2 > GSH. Simulating the measured amounts of O3 absorbed and antioxidant consumed with a mathematical model, reaction rate constants of O3 with UA, AH2, and GSH were found to be 5.83 × 104 M−1 s−1, 5.5 × 104 M−1 s−1, and 57.5 M−0.75 s−1, respectively.
Liquid Chromatographic Arsenic Speciation with Gas-Phase Chemiluminescence Detection

We present a newly developed gas-phase chemiluminescence (CL) detection method for the separation and quantification of inorganic and organic arsenic species. Arsenite, arsenate, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) were separated by anion exchange using carbonate−bicarbonate and NaOH eluents with step-gradient elution. The separated species were passed through a UV photooxidation reactor which decomposed the organic species and converted them to inorganic As(V). Subsequent on-line hydride generation with acid and sodium borohydride produces AsH3 and H2, which are separated from the liquid in a gas−liquid separator. The produced AsH3, driven by H2, reacts with ozone in a small reflective cell located atop a photomultiplier tube, resulting in intense CL. In the present form, the limits of detection (LODs, signal-to-noise = 3), based on peak height, for arsenite, arsenate, MMA, and DMA are 0.4, 0.2, 0.5, and 0.3 μg/L, respectively, for a 100 μL injected sample. This analyzer demonstr...
The relationship of FcγRIIIa genotype to degree of B cell depletion by rituximab in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective Despite wide use of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in the treatment of B cell lymphomas, the mechanism by which it causes B cell depletion remains a subject of controversy. As part of an ongoing phase I/II trial of rituximab in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we sought to determine whether the effectiveness of B cell depletion was influenced by polymorphisms of Fc receptors (FcR) on effector cells. Methods During rituximab treatment of 12 SLE patients, B cell depletion was monitored as a function of the serum rituximab level and FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa genotypes at baseline and at 1 month and 2 months after treatment. FcR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. Serum levels of rituximab were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). B lymphocyte percentages were assessed by flow cytometry. Results B cell depletion was highly variable in this patient cohort, with B cell percentages at the 1–2-month posttreatment nadir ranging from undetectable (<0.1 cell/μl) to 16% (∼30 cells/μl) of the total peripheral blood lymphocytes. At 2 months posttreatment, B cell percentages were highly correlated with both the serum rituximab level and the FcγRIIIa genotype (R2 = 0.75, P = 0.002). The FcγRIIIa genotype was a significant independent predictor of the efficacy of B cell depletion (P = 0.019). Conclusion These results highlight the potential variability of B cell depletion by rituximab in the treatment of autoimmune disease and indicate that Fc receptors are an important determinant of that variability. The findings further suggest the importance of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and/or apoptosis induction via FcγRIIIa-expressing effector cells in the mechanism of B cell depletion by this widely used monoclonal antibody.
Work in progress — Assessing moral decision making skills in the engineers of 2020

In the context of a large, multi-section, interdisciplinary design course, we have designed measures to integrate the instruction and assessment of moral decision making into the core curriculum. This paper provides an overview of our work currently in progress on one of these measures, our assessment instrument. We will describe the foundational pedagogical frameworks we explored, the existing instruments we considered, and the processes we used to design the instrument as it is currently. We will share lessons learned from the process of our work, including the mistakes we made and the path we took to arrive at our current direction. We will share what preliminary data we have, our experiences with initial pilots, and our thoughts on how this will influence our direction going forward. Finally, since this work is ongoing and dependent on our interaction with students, we will share our plans for the future, both short and long term.
Efficiency of the Local Torsional Deformations Method for Identifying the Stable Structures of Cyclic Molecules

A new method for generating the low-energy structures of a chain molecule was proposed recently by us. This is a stochastic process where at each step an energy-minimized structure is changed by carrying out several local torsional deformations (LTDs) along the chain, which temporarily disrupt neighbors of the rotated bonds. The energy is then minimized and the disrupted bonds return to their usual geometry (in terms of bond lengths and angles) while the chain assumes a new conformation. This conformation is accepted (and then deformed) or rejected with the help of a “selection procedure” that gives preference to accepting the lower energy structures and, thus, directs the search toward the lowest energy regions, which include the global energy minimum (GEM) structure. The selection procedures tested are the Monte Carlo minimization (MCM) method of Li and Scheraga and the “usage directed” (UD) method of Still's group. LTD is a general method whose parameters can be optimized for any chain system. However,...
The Classification of the Thyatiridae (Lepidoptera)

The Thyatiridae have had a strange fate. The first recognition of their unity, as represented by the name Bombycia (in the Verzeichniss appearing only in the plural, Bombyciae) in Hubner's various works, has been generally ignored, and the name transferred to a Noctuid genus, following its casual misuse by Stephens. At the other end of the line we have three recent revisions: the one by Houlbert[1][1] almost silently passes over the tropical and most of the American species, limiting itself to the Palearctic Region; its keys are based largely on details of pattern. The review in Seitz[2][2] is limited to brief descriptions of the genera, without keys or as a rule even statements of contrasted characters, and still briefer descriptions, helped out by colored figures, of the species. [1]: #fn-1 [2]: #fn-2
Newton's method and high order singularities

Abstract Convergence conditions are given for Newton's method when the Jacobian is singular at the root. The case where the null space of the Jacobian has dimension greater than one is considered in detail.
National Trends in Visit Rates and Antibiotic Prescribing for Children With Acute Sinusitis

OBJECTIVE The heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine contributed to a substantial decrease in the number of ambulatory visits attributable to acute otitis media (AOM) and amoxicillin use for AOM increased after publication of American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines regarding AOM. Our objective was to determine whether similar trends occurred for children with acute sinusitis. METHODS We analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (1998-2007), which are nationally representative surveys of office and emergency department visits. For children younger than 18 years with diagnosed acute sinusitis (N = 538), we examined time trends in visit rates and antibiotic prescribing. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with narrow-spectrum antibiotic prescribing. RESULTS Between 1998 and 2007, the annual visit rate for acute sinusitis remained stable, ranging from 11 to 14 visits per 1000 children (P = .67). No change occurred in the proportion of visits with receipt of an antibiotic (82%; P = .71); however, the proportion with receipt of amoxicillin increased from 19% to 58% during the study period (P < .01). Prescriptions for broader-spectrum agents, especially macrolides (18% overall), remained common. CONCLUSIONS Unlike the visit rate for AOM, the visit rate for acute sinusitis among children did not decrease after introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Although prescriptions for amoxicillin increased in accordance with the guidelines, reducing unnecessary prescriptions for macrolides remains an important target for campaigns promoting judicious antibiotic use.
Nonlinear optical properties of matrix isolated SF 6

The properties of a new nonlinear material for the infrared (IR) based on matrix isolated SF 6 are described. Fabrication dependent saturation parameters for the homogeneously broadened KCl:SF 6 composite system range from 20 MW . cm-2to 100 MW . cm-2. Applications of this material to passive mode locking of the CO 2 laser are described.
Genetic Analysis of the Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors in Functional Outcome after Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice

Abstract We previously reported that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Fas receptor induce acute cellular injury, tissue damage, and motor and cognitive deficits after controlled cortical impact (CCI) in mice (Bermpohl et al. 2007); however, the TNF receptors (TNFR) involved are unknown. Using a CCI model and novel mutant mice deficient in TNFR1/Fas, TNFR2/Fas, or TNFR1/TNFR2/Fas, we tested the hypothesis that the combination of TNFR2/Fas is protective, whereas TNFR1/Fas is detrimental after CCI. Uninjured knockout (KO) mice showed no differences in baseline physiological variables or motor or cognitive function. Following CCI, mice deficient in TNFR2/Fas had worse post-injury motor and Morris water maze (MWM) performance than wild-type (WT) mice (p < 0.05 group effect for wire grip score and MWM performance by repeated measures ANOVA). No differences in motor or cognitive outcome were observed in TNFR1/Fas KO, or in TNFR2 or TNFR1 single KO mice, versus WT mice. Additionally, no differences in propidiu...