cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Establishing a Sustainable Process to Measure Learner Performance

The quality of student learning and academic rigor is central to higher education. Nonetheless, colleges often prioritize metrics such as enrollment and graduation rates or use assessment data to solely fulfill accreditation requirements. The Academic Quality Assurance (AQA) team at a university ventured to expand the academic quality data landscape to learn more about student achievement. The paper shares the team’s journey to collect and report on student performance data for continuous improvement of academic programs. Specifically, this paper includes the methods to promote a culture of assessment by incorporating new concepts into the AQA process: Data visualization and storytelling with data. This paper includes the methodology to collect and report on data, samples of the systems and visualizations used, and the challenges faced in the context of people, process, and tools.
Echocardiographic Findings in Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated With COVID-19 in the United States.

Abstract Background Centers from Europe and United States have reported an exceedingly high number of children with a severe inflammatory syndrome in the setting of COVID-19, which has been termed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Objectives This study aimed to analyze echocardiographic manifestations in MIS-C. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 28 MIS-C, 20 healthy controls and 20 classic Kawasaki disease (KD) patients. We reviewed echocardiographic parameters in acute phase of MIS-C and KD groups, and during subacute period in MIS-C group (interval: 5.2 ± 3 days). Results Only 1 case in MIS-C (4%) manifested coronary artery dilatation (z score=3.15) in acute phase, showing resolution during early follow up. Left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function measured by deformation parameters, were worse in MIS-C compared to KD. Moreover, MIS-C patients with myocardial injury (+) were more affected than myocardial injury (-) MIS-C with respect to all functional parameters. The strongest parameters to predict myocardial injury in MIS-C were global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), peak left atrial strain (LAS) and peak longitudinal strain of right ventricular free wall (RVFWLS) (Odds ratio: 1.45 (1.08-1.95), 1.39 (1.04-1.88), 0.84 (0.73-0.96), 1.59 (1.09-2.34) respectively). The preserved LVEF group in MIS-C showed diastolic dysfunction. During subacute period, LVEF returned to normal (median: from 54% to 64%, p Conclusions Unlike classic KD, coronary arteries may be spared in early MIS-C, however, myocardial injury is common. Even preserved EF patients showed subtle changes in myocardial deformation, suggesting subclinical myocardial injury. During an abbreviated follow-up, there was good recovery of systolic function but persistence of diastolic dysfunction and no coronary aneurysms. Condensed abstract Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an illness that resembles Kawasaki Disease (KD) or toxic shock, reported in children with a recent history of COVID-19 infection. This study analyzed echocardiographic manifestations of this illness. In our cohort of 28 MIS-C patients, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function were worse than in classic KD. These functional parameters correlated with biomarkers of myocardial injury. However, coronary arteries were typically spared. The strongest predictors of myocardial injury were global longitudinal strain, right ventricular strain, and left atrial strain. During subacute period, there was good recovery of systolic function, but diastolic dysfunction persisted.
Cytomegalovirus pneumonitis-induced secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and SIADH in an immunocompetent elderly male literature review

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is also known as hemophagocytic syndrome. It is a lethal hematologic condition due to a dysregulated immune response which results in inappropriately activated macrophages damaging host tissues. Based on the etiology, HLH can be primary (genetic) or secondary (acquired). The most common cause of a secondary HLH is an infection. Viral infections are the most common cause of secondary HLH. Among the viral causes of secondary HLH, Epstein-Barr virus is the most common etiologic agent. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common causative pathogen in the immunocompromised host but is rare in an immunocompetent adult. In infection- associated secondary HLH, treatment includes antimicrobial therapy. HLH carries a high mortality and morbidity rate as it is an underdiagnosed clinical condition. Successful early diagnosis allows for adequate time for curative therapy. Treatment for HLH includes chemotherapy, immunomodulators, and a hematopoietic stem-cell transplant. The 2004 diagnostic criteria set by the Histiocyte Society serves as a guide to make an earlier clinical diagnosis. A review of PubMed literature revealed only five reported cases of CMV-induced HLH. We describe the sixth case of CMV pneumonitis-induced HLH and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in a 72-year-old White male. He was treated successfully with oral valganciclovir and corticosteroids.
The Forensic Community Can Educate Lawyers, Judges

Forensic science has made significant strides in elevating the standards for forensic analysis, reporting and testimony over the last few years. Yet, lawyers and judges lag far behind in understanding the significance of these strides. There is an attempt to educate law students in the law schools and to educate lawyers and judges through continuing legal and judicial education but it is slow in finding its way into the actual courtroom. Therefore, while there is progress at the highest levels of forensic science, a lot of "junk" science competes for the attention of jurors. Forensic scientists can help educate the lawyers and judges on a case by case basis. They can not only educate, as they routinely do, on the substance of their opinions, they can also educate on the scientific foundation for those opinions in accordance with Daubert, Kumho Tire and related modern rules. By doing so, they can help establish the grounds for their testimony but can also set the bar for the admissibility of the other "expert" testimony in the case. To do this, the article suggests a modest checklist of factors under Daubert and Kumho Tire as well as suggested by the National Academy of Sciences 2009 Report, NIST and DOJ standards and the PCAST Report.
Enzyme Control Over Ferric Iron Magnetostructural Properties

Fe 3+ complexes in aqueous solution can exist as discrete mononuclear species or multinuclear magnetically coupled species. Stimuli-driven change to Fe 3+ speciation represents a powerful mechanistic basis for magnetic resonance sensor technology, but ligand design strategies to exert precision control of aqueous Fe 3+ magnetostructural properties are entirely underexplored. In pursuit of this objective, we rationally designed a ligand to strongly favor a dinuclear µ-oxo-bridged and antiferromagnetically coupled complex, but which undergoes carboxylesterase mediated transformation to a mononuclear high-spin Fe 3+ chelate resulting in substantial T 1 -relaxivity increase. The data communicated demonstrate proof of concept for a novel and effective strategy to exert biochemical control over aqueous Fe 3+ magnetic, structural, and relaxometric properties.
INELASTIC FLEXURAL--TORSIONAL BUCKLING

With the increasing use of plastic design methods in structural engineering, it becomes necessary to obtain a better understanding of the effect of partial cross-sectional yielding on the flexural-torsional buckling behavior of laterally braced beams. The equations needed to study the buckling behavior of partially yielded beams and frames have been developed. These equations have been used to investigate the strengthening effect of lateral bracing on the buckling capacity of simply supported rectangular beams subject to the following loading conditions: pure moment; concentrated load at midspan; and concentrated loads at the third points of the beam.
Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements of NAD(P)H in Live Cells and Tissue

Autofluorescence intensity and lifetime imaging of NAD(P)H yields quantitative, non-invasive measurements of cellular metabolism. NAD(P)H is a coenzyme involved in cellular metabolism processes including glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. The NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetime includes a short and long lifetime component due to the two possible physiological conditions of NAD(P)H, free or protein-bound (to an enzyme and/or substrate). Fluorescence lifetimes of NAD(P)H have been imaged in cells, ex vivo tissues, and in vivo tissues to investigate cellular metabolism at basal conditions and with perturbations. In particular, NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetimes are altered in pre-malignant and malignant cells and tissues compared with non-malignant cells and tissues across several cancers including head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and skin cancer. Additionally, NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetimes decrease in cancer cells and tumors following drug treatment and therefore, these metabolic endpoints show potential for drug monitoring and screening.
Transmission of polioviruses. I. Spread of naturally occurring poliovirus type I in a partially immunized school population.

A partially immunized recreational school population in central New York has been studied during the course of an outbreak of poliovirus Type I infection. The data indicate that some increased resistance to poliovirus Type I infection occurred following immunization but that the effect was limited to extra-household contact and was not apparent within households where infection occurred regardless of the immunization status of either the presumptive source or contact. Relatively poor antigenicity of the vaccine used seems the best explanation for the lack of demonstrable effect on prevalence of pharyngeal polioviruses among infected persons. The present study emphasizes the need for universal immunization if clinical poliomyelitis is to be effectively controlled with Salk-type poliomyelitis vaccine, and it further provides a base-line for studies with attenuated polioviruses in this population.
Specific Heat of YBa2Cu3O7: Volume Fraction of Superconductivity; Parameters Characteristic of the “Ideal” Superconducting State

Experimentally determined parameters for YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) are strongly sample dependent. However correlations among parameters derived from the specific heat (C) suggest that the variation reflects a variation in the volume fraction of superconductivity, (fs). From these correlations fs can be quantitatively determined and values of parameters characteristic of fully superconducting material can be derived. With additional assumptions, it is also possible to estimate the Sommerfeld constant (γ) for the fully normal state. Among the parameters of particular importance in establishing the correlations are the discontinuity in C [Δ C(Tc)] at the critical temperature (Tc) and concentration (n2) of localized Cu2+ magnetic moments. These are located on the YBCO lattice, at least in substantial measure, and are directly correlated with fs. From an analysis of C in the vicinity of Tc it is possible to obtain information on the strength of the coupling responsible for the superconductivity; from a comparison of γ with that calculated for the bare density of states (γ bs) the electron-phonon enhancement parameter (λ) can be obtained.
The mind's new science: a history of the cognitive revolution

The first full-scale history of cognitive science, this work addresses a central issue: What is the nature of knowledge?
Seeing people in social context: recognizing people and social relationships

The people in an image are generally not strangers, but instead often share social relationships such as husband-wife, siblings, grandparent-child, father-child, or mother-child. Further, the social relationship between a pair of people influences the relative position and appearance of the people in the image. This paper explores using familial social relationships as context for recognizing people and for recognizing the social relationships between pairs of people. We introduce a model for representing the interaction between social relationship, facial appearance, and identity. We show that the family relationship a pair of people share influences the relative pairwise features between them. The experiments on a set of personal collections show significant improvement in people recognition is achieved by modeling social relationships, even in a weak label setting that is attractive in practical applications. Furthermore, we show the social relationships are effectively recognized in images from a separate test image collection.
Application-Assisted Dynamic Scheduling on Large-Scal Multi-Computer Systems

On multi-user large-scale multi-computers, application workload is highly variable and typically unpredictable. In this paper, we present and analyze the performance of three scheduling policies for such systems. Two of these are static scheduling policies that assign resources at job startup time, but make no subsequent changes in allocated resources. The third policy allocates resources to jobs dynamically taking into account resource requirements of all jobs in the system. We compare the performance of these three policies using the resource reconfiguration infrastructure provided by the Distributed Resource Management System (DRMS). On a variety of workloads we tested, our results indicate that, among the three policies, the reconfigurable policy provided the lowest response time for any given utilization.
The Association of Hedge Fund Performance with Manager Location, Domicile, and Choice of Service Provider

This article evaluates the association between a manager’s choice of location, domicile, prime broker, auditor, and administrator and fund performance and survival for the period ranging from 2007 to 2011. Mirabile finds that there is a negative association between performance and most location, domicile, and service provider choices during the five-year period from 2007 to 2011. However, this association was reversed in 2008 during the market crisis. During the crisis, managers based in New York, NY, and funds using J.P. Morgan, Goldman, or Morgan Stanley as their prime brokers showed a positive association between performance and these factors, indicating there may be a “put-like” option, valuable during periods of market crisis, embedded in the decision to use a top-tier prime broker or locate in a costly place like New York.
The evolution of viral emergence.

The current uncertainty over whether H5N1 avian influenza virus will successfully adapt to human transmission highlights the importance of understanding the evolutionary basis of viral emergence, particularly the respective roles played by ecology and genetics in allowing viruses to establish productive transmission networks in new host species. Work by Anishchenko et al. (1) in this issue of PNAS reveals that even small changes in viral genomes can have a fundamental impact on fitness in new hosts, therein facilitating disease emergence.
Synoptic views of sediment plumes and coastal geography of the Santa Barbara Channel, California

Representative patterns of surface sediment plumes in coastal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel are described based on analysis of a time-series of remote sensing data (1972–present) for winter conditions. The first-order terrestrial influence on the patterns is that the largest plumes are generated from the largest watersheds during and following significant (>3 cm precipitation) winter storms. For example, coastal sediment plumes generated from the three largest watersheds, the Santa Ynez, Ventura and Santa Clara river watersheds, are always the largest surface plume features in the winter coastal waters. The largest plume observed in the remote sensing data was generated from the combined outflow of the Ventura and Santa Clara rivers in February 1983, following approximately 25 cm of rain in the previous month, and averaged 10 km long and 25 m wide. A second-order effect on the spatial patterns of the coastal plumes is the position of watershed outlets with respect to coastal geography as shown by a comparison of, (i) the watershed morphometry, (ii) the accumulated runoff, (iii) the cell-based erosion potential, and (iv) the near-shore bathymetry for two of the Northern Channel Islands, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz. In particular, Santa Rosa Island is surrounded by shallow coastal waters which may experience resuspension of sediment throughout the year. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the question of heavy-atom blocking of intramolecular vibrational energy transfer

Abstract The possibility that a heavy atom can block internal energy transfer in excited species has been further investigated by chemical activation study of 4-(trimethyl lead)-2-butyl and 5-(trimethyl tin)-2-pentyl radicals. These radicals were prepared and excited by the reaction of H atoms with the corresponding 1-olefins. Energy randomization was found to occur on a subpicosecond time scale in all the radicals studied.
Distributions of dissolved and particulate biogenic thiols in the subartic Pacific Ocean

Abstract Dissolved and particulate concentrations of the biogenic thiols cysteine (Cys), arginine–cysteine (Arg–Cys), glutamine–cysteine (Gln–Cys), γ-glutamate–cysteine (γ-Glu–Cys) and glutathione (GSH) were measured in the subartic Pacific Ocean in the summer of 2003 using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with precolumn derivatization as reported in previous work. In this study, a preconcentration protocol for the derivatized thiols was utilized to extend detection limits of dissolved thiols to picomolar levels. The measured concentrations of particulate and dissolved thiols were uncoupled, with distinctive depth profiles and large differences in the particulate to dissolved ratios between individual compounds. Glutathione was the most abundant particulate thiol whereas the most abundant dissolved thiol was γ-Glu–Cys, with concentrations as high as 15 nM. Given the relatively small pool of intracellular γ-Glu–Cys and the very low dissolved concentrations of GSH, we hypothesize that glutathione released from cells is rapidly converted to the potentially degradation resistant γ-Glu–Cys outside the cell. The relatively high concentrations of other dissolved thiols compared to particulate concentrations implies both biological exudation and slow degradation rates. Some thiols appear to vary with changes in nutrient availability but this effect is difficult to decouple from changes in community structure inferred from pigment analyses. Dissolved thiol concentrations also exceed typical metal concentrations in the subartic Pacific, supporting previous arguments that they may be important in metal speciation.
Heat Intensity and Warmed‐over Flavor in Precooked Chicken Patties Formulated at 3 Fat Levels and 3 Pepper Levels

Heat intensity and warmed-over flavor (WOF) were evaluated to determine the effects the composition of precooked, chopped, and formed chicken patties would impart on the perception of red pepper heat and the development of oxidation. Patties were formulated at 5%, 7%, and 9% fat with marinade formulated at 0%, 0.2%, and 0.4% pepper. A trained sensory panel assessed the heat intensity over 3 min using time intensity evaluation. Heat and WOF intensities of the patties were measured 5 times over a 9-wk storage period. As fat level increased, total time intensity and time to maximum heat intensity increased. Patties formulated at 7% and 9% fat were perceived to be more intense in heat than the 5% fat patties. Patties formulated at 0.2% and 0.4% pepper had less intense WOF than patties with 0% pepper level. Chemical measurement of oxidation (thiobarbituric acid numbers) indicated that increasing pepper content decreased malonaldehyde content. Incorporation of pepper into a chopped and formed meat product requires a higher pepper content at lower fat levels to impart the same level of heat intensity as in patties of higher fat level. Increasing the pepper content also will aid in decreasing production of malonaldehyde in a precooked meat product, thereby reducing the intensity of warmed-over flavor as perceived by the consumer.
Enhanced stratification in the lower Chesapeake Bay following northeasterly winds

Abstract Density data from a lower Chesapeake Bay transect obtained after two northeasterly wind events were used to describe the effects of these events on the density field in the lower estuary. The first northeaster occurred in early August 1995 and the second northeaster was related to the passage of hurricane Felix off the lower bay in mid-August 1995. The latter northeaster prolonged a period of persistent winds from the N and NE that began in early August and caused storm surges of similar magnitude to the former northeaster. The salinity fields observed after the early August event suggested encroachment of coastal waters into the lower bay as reflected by high salinities throughout the transect. Two days after weakening of the winds related to Felix, the density distribution across the lower bay showed strongly stratified conditions. This behavior suggested that the inflow of coastal water into the lower bay and the wind mixing related to Felix combined to produce a vertically uniform density gradient perpendicular to the bay entrance that relaxed after the winds weakened. This weakening of the winds coincided with neap tidal currents, which were not energetic enough to maintain vertical homogeneity and must have allowed the self-adjustment of the density gradient and the seaward advection of relatively buoyant waters near the surface. These mechanisms were illustrated with simplified numerical experiments. The findings of this study are used to propose the hypothesis that, in general, enhanced stratification and flushing in the lower bay will ensue the relaxation of a northeasterly wind event, provided that this relaxation coincides with a weak friction regime, i.e., neap tides.
Complementarity and nondegeneracy in semidefinite programming

Primal and dual nondegeneracy conditions are defined for semidefinite programming. Given the existence of primal and dual solutions, it is shown that primal nondegeneracy implies a unique dual solution and that dual nondegeneracy implies a unique primal solution. The converses hold if strict complementarity is assumed. Primal and dual nondegeneracy assumptions do not imply strict complementarity, as they do in LP. The primal and dual nondegeneracy assumptions imply a range of possible ranks for primal and dual solutions $X$ and $Z$. This is in contrast with LP where nondegeneracy assumptions exactly determine the number of variables which are zero. It is shown that primal and dual nondegeneracy and strict complementarity all hold generically. Numerical experiments suggest probability distributions for the ranks of $X$ and $Z$ which are consistent with the nondegeneracy conditions.
Purification and Characterization of Shiga Toxin 2f, an Immunologically Unrelated Subtype of Shiga Toxin 2

Background Shiga-like toxin 2 (Stx2) is one of the most important virulence factors in enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains such as O157H7. Subtypes of Stx2 are diverse with respect to their sequence, toxicity, and distribution. The most diverse Stx2 subtype, Stx2f, is difficult to detect immunologically, but is becoming more frequently associated with human illness.
Beam Shaping for CW Laser Recrystallization of Polysilicon Films

A shaped laser beam has been used for laterally seeded recrystallization of polysilicon films over oxide. Direct maps of the shaped-beam intensity distribution in the wafer plane are correlated with the grain structure of the recrystallized polysilicon. Using 60% overlapping of shapedbeam scans along directions, we have obtained seeded areas one mm wide and 50 to 500 µm long. These consist of 40 µm-wide adjacent single-crystal strips regularly separated by low-angle grain boundaries extending laterally away from the seed openings. The spacing between grain boundaries is equal to the scan spacing, providing a means for controlling the location of grain boundaries in otherwise defect-free, single-crystal films.
Aperture-Bandwidth Characteristics of the Acousto-Optic Filter

A theoretical and experimental study of the aperture–bandwidth characteristics of the electronically tunable acousto-optic filter shows that (a) optical divergence in the ordinary plane of the acousto-optic crystal results in a broadening of the filter frequency-transmission characteristic toward longer wavelengths; (b) optical divergence in the extraordinary plane results in a broadening toward shorter wavelengths; (c) divergence of the acoustic beam has the same effect as optical ordinary divergence, and generally will not be of consequence; and (d) roughly, the resolution times the solid-angle acceptance of the acousto-optic filter is approximately the same as that of a solid Fabry–Perot interferometer made of the same material.
Processing ser and estar to locate objects and events: An ERP study with L2 speakers of Spanish.

In Spanish locative constructions, a different form of the copula is selected in relation to the semantic properties of the grammatical subject: sentences that locate objects require estar while those that locate events require ser (both translated in English as ‘to be’). In an ERP study, we examined whether second language (L2) speakers of Spanish are sensitive to the selectional restrictions that the different types of subjects impose on the choice of the two copulas. Twenty-four native speakers of Spanish and two groups of L2 Spanish speakers (24 beginners and 18 advanced speakers) were recruited to investigate the processing of ‘object/event + estar/ser’ permutations. Participants provided grammaticality judgments on correct (object + estar; event + ser) and incorrect (object + ser; event + estar) sentences while their brain activity was recorded. In line with previous studies (Leone-Fernandez, Molinaro, Carreiras, & Barber, 2012; Sera, Gathje, & Pintado, 1999), the results of the grammaticality judgment for the native speakers showed that participants correctly accepted object + estar and event + ser constructions. In addition, while ‘object + ser’ constructions were considered grossly ungrammatical, ‘event + estar’ combinations were perceived as unacceptable to a lesser degree. For these same participants, ERP recording time-locked to the onset of the critical word ‘en’ showed a larger P600 for the ser predicates when the subject was an object than when it was an event (*La silla es en la cocina vs. La fiesta es en la cocina). This P600 effect is consistent with syntactic repair of the defining predicate when it does not fit with the adequate semantic properties of the subject. For estar predicates (La silla esta en la cocina vs. *La fiesta esta en la cocina), the findings showed a central-frontal negativity between 500–700 ms. Grammaticality judgment data for the L2 speakers of Spanish showed that beginners were significantly less accurate than native speakers in all conditions, while the advanced speakers only differed from the natives in the event+ser and event+estar conditions. For the ERPs, the beginning learners did not show any effects in the time-windows under analysis. The advanced speakers showed a pattern similar to that of native speakers: (1) a P600 response to ‘object + ser’ violation more central and frontally distributed, and (2) a central-frontal negativity between 500–700 ms for ‘event + estar’ violation. Findings for the advanced speakers suggest that behavioral methods commonly used to assess grammatical knowledge in the L2 may be underestimating what L2 speakers have actually learned.
Sensitivity Analysis of Kernel Estimates: Implications in Nonlinear Physiological System Identification

Many techniques have been developed for the estimation of the Volterra/Wiener kernels of nonlinear systems, and have found extensive application in the study of various physiological systems. To date, however, we are not aware of methods for estimating the reliability of these kernels from single data records. In this study, we develop a formal analysis of variance for least-squares based nonlinear system identification algorithms. Expressions are developed for the variance of the estimated kernel coefficients and are used to place confidence bounds around both kernel estimates and output predictions. Specific bounds are developed for two such identification algorithms: Korenberg's fast orthogonal algorithm and the Laguerre expansion technique. Simulations, employing a model representative of the peripheral auditory system, are used to validate the theoretical derivations, and to explore their sensitivity to assumptions regarding the system and data. The simulations show excellent agreement between the variances of kernel coefficients and output predictions as estimated from the results of a single trial compared to the same quantities computed from an ensemble of 1000 Monte Carlo runs. These techniques were validated with white and nonwhite Gaussian inputs and with white Gaussian and nonwhite non-Gaussian measurement noise on the output, provided that the output noise source was independent of the test input.
Advanced Signal Processing Algorithms in Structural Integrity Monitoring

Abstract Damage detection using Lead-Zirconate-Titanate (PZT) transducers for exciting guided waves was investigated. The analytical model for guided wave excitation using PZT transducers was used in a Finite Element Model for simulating guided waves in a thin aluminum plate with various defect depths. The fundamental symmetric ( S0 ) mode was excited, and four sensors were placed for detecting both the reflected and transmitted waves from defects. The model was used to conduct a parametric study of the effect of the PZT adhesive bonding on the measured signal and hence probability of detection (POD).The model was also used for optimizing signal analysis algorithms, particularly for the case of multiple overlapping modes due to mode conversion from defects. A mode decomposition algorithm is proposed for separating the reflected/transmitted S0 mode from the mode converted antisymmetric mode ( A0 ). The signal processing algorithms were optimized to maximize the POD.
American Gastroenterological Association Institute Guideline on the Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation During Immunosuppressive Drug Therapy

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Case and VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Determining the Membrane Topology of Peptides by Fluorescence Quenching

Determination of the topology of peptides in membranes is important for characterizing and understanding the interactions of peptides with membranes. We describe a method that uses fluorescence quenching arising from resonance energy transfer ("FRET") for determining the topology of the tryptophan residues of peptides partitioned into phospholipid bilayer vesicles. This is accomplished through the use of a novel lyso-phospholipid quencher (lysoMC), N-(7-hydroxyl-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetyl)-1-palmitoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-gly cero-3-phosphoethanolamine. The design principle was to anchor the methylcoumarin quencher in the membrane interface by attaching it to the headgroup of lyso-phosphoethanolamine. We show that lysoMC can be incorporated readily into large unilamellar phospholipid vesicles to yield either symmetrically (both leaflets) or asymmetrically (outer leaflet only) labeled bilayers. LysoMC quenches the fluorescence of membrane-bound tryptophan by the Forster mechanism with an apparent R(0) that is comparable to the thickness of the hydrocarbon core of a lipid bilayer (approximately 25 A). Consequently, the methylcoumarin acceptor predominantly quenches tryptophans that reside in the same monolayer as the probe. The topology of a peptide's tryptophan in membranes can be determined by comparing the quenching in symmetric and asymmetric lysoMC-labeled vesicles. Because it is essential to know that asymmetrically incorporated lysoMC remains so under all conditions, we also developed a second type of FRET experiment for assessing the rate of transbilayer diffusion (flip-flop) of lysoMC. Except in the presence of pore-forming peptides, there was no measurable flip-flop of lysoMC, indicating that asymmetric distributions of quencher are stable. We used these methods to show that N-acetyl-tryptophan-octylamide and tryptophan-octylester rapidly equilibrate across phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and phosphatidylglycerol (POPG) bilayers, while four amphipathic model peptides remain exclusively on the outer monolayer. The topology of the amphipathic peptide melittin bound to POPC could not be determined because it induced rapid flip-flop of lysoMC. Interestingly, melittin did not induce lysoMC flip-flop in POPG vesicles and was found to remain stably on the external monolayer.
Preparation of Strontium Titanate Powders by Decomposition of Polymeric Precursors

The effects of substituting poly(acrylic acid), PAA, and mucic acid for citric acid in the standard Pechini powder synthesis process was studied. Strontium titanate was chosen as the model system for this study. Powders were prepared from precursor solutions in which PAA (average molecular weight = 2,000 and 5000) was substituted for citric acid (up to 70% by weight), and with reduced weight of total organic reagents (50% reduction). The powders prepared with a 30% substitution of PAA for citric acid produced weakly agglomerated submicron particles after calcining. These powders contained a larger fraction of weak agglomerates than the powders prepared by the original Pechini process. As such, the PAA derived powder could be easily fractionated and dispersed with greater than 70% of the calcined powder having particle sizes less than 0.5 μm
Greater body mass index is associated with better pathologic features and improved outcome among patients treated surgically for clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract Objectives Obesity increases the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC); however, it remains unclear whether obesity is associated with RCC aggressiveness and survival. We used data from a large cohort of patients treated surgically for clear cell RCC to evaluate the association of obesity with the pathologic features of tumor aggressiveness and cancer-specific outcomes. Methods From 1988 to 2002, 970 patients underwent nephrectomy at Mayo Clinic Rochester for clear cell RCC and had body mass index (BMI) data available. To evaluate the association of BMI at surgery with the tumor pathologic features, we used the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. We then analyzed the association of BMI with cancer-specific survival using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results Overweight (BMI 25 to less than 30 kg/m 2 ) and obese (BMI 30 kg/m 2 or more) patients were more likely to present with less-aggressive tumors compared with normal-weight patients (BMI less than 25 kg/m 2 ). The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 62.3%, 76.9%, and 81.7% for the normal, overweight, and obese patients, respectively. The overweight (hazard ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.49 to 0.84) and obese (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.66) patients were at a reduced risk of RCC death compared with patients with a BMI in the normal range. The inverse association of BMI with survival was attenuated after adjustment for well-known pathologic predictors of tumor aggressiveness. Conclusions BMI offers little additional prognostic information beyond the accepted prognostic features; however, the association of an increased BMI with a less-aggressive disease profile at presentation warrants further exploration.
How language acquisition builds on cognitive development

When children acquire a first language, they build on what they know – conceptual information that discriminates and helps create categories for the objects, relations and events they experience. This provides the starting point for language from the age of 12 months on. So children first set up conceptual representations, then add linguistic representations for talking about experience. Do they then discard earlier conceptual representations in favour of linguistic ones, or do they retain them? Recent research on the coping strategies that young children (and adults) rely on when they are unable to draw on language suggest that they retain both types of representations for use as needed.
Caregiving grandmothers with vs. without child welfare system involvement: Effects of expressed need, formal services, and informal social support on caregiver burden

Abstract This study examined needs, formal service utilization, informal support, and caregiver burden among grandmothers parenting grandchildren. Two groups were compared: 73 public and 108 private caregivers (with vs. without child welfare system involvement). Public caregivers used more formal services, particularly basic subsistence and legal services, suggesting greater access. Higher levels of need were associated with higher levels of caregiver burden. Among low need caregivers only, greater service utilization was associated with higher burden; among private caregivers only, more informal support was associated with lower burden.
Is there a benefit to delaying cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallbladder disease during pregnancy

Background The indications for nonemergent operations during pregnancy remain undefined. Many surgeons defer nonemergent operations until after delivery to minimize fetal risk. We wished to determine the outcome of delaying cholecystectomy in pregnant patients hospitalized for nonacute gallbladder disease. Methods After approval from the Institutional Review Board, a retrospective case review at a large-volume regional referral center for high-risk obstetrics was performed. All pregnant inpatients from November 2003 to November 2006 who were diagnosed by a general surgeon with symptomatic cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, gallstone pancreatitis, biliary dyskinesia or chronic cholecystitis were included. Results Fifty-eight patients met the criteria over the 3-year period. Nineteen patients who underwent cholecystectomy during pregnancy were compared with 39 who were observed for gallbladder disease. Patients who were observed during pregnancy and remained at our institution through delivery had a higher rate of pregnancy-related complications (36%). In three cases, complications during pregnancy were directly attributable to gallbladder disease (parenteral nutrition during pregnancy, two unplanned inductions). Two patients (3.4%) were hospitalized for gallbladder disease diagnosed during a previous pregnancy and did not undergo cholecystectomy. Although 71% of the patients who were observed continued to be followed up at this institution for their obstetric care, 56% of those were lost to follow-up for their gallbladder disease. Nine of 39 observed patients (23%) had multiple hospital admissions (range 2-5). Of the 19 patients undergoing cholecystectomy during pregnancy, 3 were performed in the first (16%), 9 in the second (47%), and 7 in the third trimester (37%). Operative complications resulting from laparoscopic cholecystectomy during pregnancy occurred in one patient (cystic duct stump leak, nonoperative management). All cholecystectomies were performed laparoscopically. Discussion Delaying cholecystectomy for the hospitalized pregnant patient with gallbladder disease results in increased short- and long-term morbidity. There was high loss to follow-up among patients who were observed during pregnancy. In contrast, cholecystectomy during pregnancy resulted in a low rate of complications, and all were completed laparoscopically. This suggests that operative intervention for nonemergent symptomatic gallbladder disease during pregnancy may be beneficial and reduce overall morbidity.
An Overview of the Theory of Computational Complexity

The purpose of this paper is to outline the theory of computational complexity which has emerged as a comprehensive theory during the last decade. This theory is concerned with the quantitative aspects of computations and its central theme is the measuring of the difficulty of computing functions. The paper concentrates on the study of computational com- plexity measures defined for all computable functions and makes no attempt to survey the whole field exhaustively nor to present the material in historical order. Rather it presents the basic concepts, results, and techniques of computational complexity from a new point of view from which the ideas are more easily understood and fit together as a coherent whole. It is clear that a viable theory of computation must deal realistically with the quantitative aspects of computing and must develop a general theory which studies the properties of possible measures of the difficulty of computing functions. Such a theory must go beyond the classification of functions as computable and non- computable, or elementary and primitive reeursive, etc. It must concern itself with computational complexity measures which are defined for all possible computations and which assign a complexity to each computation which terminates. Furthermore, this theory must eventually reflect some aspects of real computing to justify its existence by contributing to the general development of computer science. During the last decade, considerable progress has been made in the development of such a theory dealing with the complexity of computations. It is our conviction that by now this theory is an essential part of the theory of computation, and that in the future it will be an important theory which will permeate much of the theoretical work in computer science. Our purpose in this paper is to outline the recently developed theory of computa- tional complexity by presenting its central concepts, results, and techniques. The paper is primarily concerned with the study of computational complexity measures defined for all computable partial functions and no attempt is made to survey the whole field exhaustively nor to present the material in historical order. Rather, we
Effects of two collembola species on nodule occupancy by two Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains

Abstract Is the competition between indigenous and introduced bradyrhizobia influenced by soil invertebrates? This question was investigated in pots and the field by testing effects of two collembola species, Folsomia Candida and Tullbergia granulata , on nodule occupancy by Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains 110 and 123. Pot experiments were performed by inoculating soybeans with 10 9 ' cells of both B . japonicum strains 110 and 123 plus 300 F. Candida , 300 T. granulata or 150 of each species. In the field, the same treatments were applied to pairs of commercially-planted soybean. Collembola were contained in soil around soybeans with 24-cm dia cylinders sunk 30 cm deep. The single strongest collembolan effect was increased nodule occupancy by indigenous strains of B. japonicum associated with F. Candida in both pots and field soil. B. japonicum strain 110 occupied more nodules singly in presence of T. granulata in pots. Overall, collembola determined the occupancy of 16% of the nodules in pot experiments and 20% in field experiments in the simplest models that fit the experimental data.
Social Psychology as History and as Traditional Science: An Appraisal

Gergen (1973) presented the thesis that social psychology is primarily an historical inquiry. The implications of his paper are very significant for the status of social psychology as a scien tific discipline. In defense of traditional science Schlenker (1974) presented a strong rebuttal, focussing on five major issues; the nature of theoretical abstractness, the search for regularity, open systems, the conditional nature of scientific propositions, and the uniqueness of events. The present paper considers the Gergen- Schlenker debate within the context of these five issues. The analyses indicate that Schlenker's rebuttal arguments are not de finitive, and that Gergen's thesis still awaits a decisive answer.
Integrated Hydrogenated Amorphous Si Photodiode Detector for Microfluidic Bioanalytical Devices

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) PIN photodiodes have been developed and characterized as fluorescence detectors for microfluidic analysis devices. A discrete a-Si:H photodiode is first fabricated on a glass substrate and used to detect fluorescent dye standards using conventional confocal microscopy. In this format, the limit of detection for fluorescein flowing in a 50-μm deep channel is 680 pM (S/N = 3). A hybrid integrated detection system consisting of a half-ball lens, a ZnS/YF3 multilayer optical interference filter with a pinhole, and an annular a-Si:H photodiode is also developed that allows the laser excitation to pass up through the central aperture in the detector. Using this integrated detection device, the limit of detection for fluorescein is 17 nM, and DNA fragment sizing and chiral analysis of glutamic acid are successfully performed. The a-Si:H detector exhibits high sensitivity at the emission wavelengths of commonly used fluorescent dyes and is readily microfabricated and integr...
Sonographic imaging of muscle contraction and fasciculations: a correlation with electromyography.

Precise quantitation of fasciculations with EMG is difficult because of their random location and discharge frequency in muscle. We studied the clinical value of real-time ultrasound in the study of normal voluntary muscle contraction and in the identification of fasciculations in 22 patients. Sonography effectively imaged fasciculations, demonstrating them in both resting and actively contracting extremity muscles and in less accessible muscles such as the tongue. In two instances ultrasound identified fasciculations not apparent on EMG. Analysis of the video images generated quantitative data of fasciculation duration (averaging 500 msec), size, and location and provided unique insight into the process of normal muscle contraction and motor unit physiology.
Gender and human resource management in the Middle East

This paper contributes to the limited management knowledge of gender and HRM policies in the Middle East, specifically Bahrain. This involves an assessment of how Islamic values have affected women's work experiences and also how Islam has shaped gender and HRM policies. The study is based on an assessment of 53 survey responses and 27 semi-structured interviews collated from female professionals participating in career development workshops held in Bahrain. The analysis reveals the growing importance of women's employment in the Middle East, and outlines how governments are devising national development strategies within an Islamic framework, to support women's advancement in the public sphere. The empirical data show that women experience career and development constraints on account of equal but different gender roles, and that gender or equality issues are largely absent from HRM organization policy. It is suggested that HRM policy development at the organization level should specifically address the ...