cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diversifying the STEM pipeline.

Middle school students from low-income and minority backgrounds (n = 166) were targeted to participate in a 2-year, intensive, hands-on science and technology intervention to increase their interest in biomedical and health sciences. Qualitative student responses collected during the 2nd year of participation revealed positive attitudes toward the program experience and benefits of their exposure to science. However, results from quantitative evaluation data provided a mixed assessment of the effectiveness of the intervention. In light of these findings, insights drawn from reflecting on successes and challenges experienced during the course of planning and implementing the study are provided to guide future programs and research.
What kind of questions are asked in marine science

What kinds of multiple choice test questions are asked in secondary marine science courses? Are the questions at a higher level than the recall or knowledge level? This paper discusses the answers to these questions. Over 1,500 questions were examined and categorized for its potential usefulness into one of three levels. In addition to categorizing each question according to its usefulness, each question was examined at the recall, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation levels. This study indicates that beginning and experienced marine science teachers need additional training in test construction and design.
The early generation of a heterogeneous CD4+ T cell response to Leishmania major

CD4+ T cells are an essential component of both the primary and secondary immune response against the intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania major. Our laboratory has previously shown that CD62Lhigh IL-7Rhigh central memory T (TCM) cells mediate protective immunity following secondary challenge. To determine when TCM cells develop, we examined the phenotype of Leishmania-specific CD4+ T cells in the first 2 wk following infection. As expected, we identified a population of CD4+ T cells present in the draining lymph node with the characteristics of effector T cells. However, in addition, a second population phenotypically resembling TCM cells emerged coincident with the effector population. These T cells, expressing CD62L, CCR7, and IL-7R, failed to produce IFN-γ, but had the capacity to give rise to IFN-γ–producing effector cells. Our studies also demonstrated that the degree of proliferation and the timing of lymph node entry impact TCM cell development. The early generation of TCM cells following L. major infection indicates that TCM cells may not only control secondary infections, but may also contribute to the control of the primary infection.
Temperature and moist-stability effects on midlatitude orographic precipitation

Idealized, convection-resolving simulations of moist orographic flows are conducted to investigate the influence of temperature and moist stability on the drying ratio (DR), defined as the fraction of the impinging water mass removed as orographic precipitation. In flow past a long ridge, where most of the air rises over the barrier rather than detouring around it, DR decreases as the surface temperature (Ts) increases, even as the orographic cap cloud becomes statically unstable at higher Ts and develops embedded convection. This behaviour is explained by a few physical principles: (1) the Clausius–Clapeyron equation dictates that the normalized condensation rate decreases as the flow gets warmer, (2) the replacement of ice-phase precipitation growth with warm-rain processes decreases the efficiency by which condensate is converted to precipitation, thereby lowering precipitation efficiency, and (3) embedded convection acts more to vertically redistribute moisture than to enhance precipitation. Over an isolated mountain, the effects of (1) and (2) are counteracted by moisture deflection around the barrier, which is stronger in the colder, more stable flows. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Child Homicide in Developed Countries

Previous research has found that the United States has had atypically high rates of child homicide. This paper re-evaluates this and other findings using late 1980s data for 24 developed countries under current cause of death categories (and also includes the 5–14 years age group). The United States continues to have high homicide rates for the entire span of childhood. New Zealand also ranks high. Comparatively, in both countries male infants and females 1–4 years face greater risks of homicide, which is a major cause of death in certain age groups. Reporting artifacts are a possibility raised again by this study. Related issues are discussed empirically and using recent conceptual clarifications regarding family involvement and child abuse.
A numerical analysis of crack growth and morphology evolution in chip-to-packages nano-interconnections

The International Technology Roadmap for semiconductors (ITRS) has predicted that by the year 2007, integrated chip (IC) packages will contain feature sizes of 65 nm and an I/O pitch for the die-to-package interconnects approaching 80 mum. These will reduce even further in the next five years. The current approach of using surface mount technology and flip chip are mainly solder based and the lead and lead-free solder interconnects are known to fail mechanically as the pitch is reduced from 200 mum down to lower levels due to the thermal mismatch between the substrate and the chip. Although compliant interconnection could solve some of the mechanical issues, it is done at the expense of the electric performance. The PRC at Georgia Institute of Technology is proposing re-workable copper based nano-interconnections as a new interconnection paradigm as the next step beyond lead-free solders for future low-cost, high performance and high reliability packages. However, very limited data is published about the fatigue life of nano-crystalline materials and specifically those of nano-crystalline copper. It is important to predict crack growth as it can aid the understanding of the useful life of the IC-packages' interconnections. Multiple mechanisms may be responsible for crack initiation, but eventually most dominant fatigue cracks form a surface crack, which often have a semi-elliptical shape. Hence, the fatigue crack growth life predictions in this study are based on the assumption of elliptical and semi-elliptical cracks being initiated in the nano-interconnections. In this study, numerical analysis using the J-integral stress intensity parameter, in conjunction with experimental fatigue crack growth data, has been employed to study semi-elliptical crack growth and morphology evolution in nano-interconnection subject to uniaxial fatigue loading in linear-elastic conditions. The results indicate that a J-integral finite element analysis, using the loading portion of the fatigue cycle, in conjunction with known rates of fatigue crack growth can approximate surface crack morphology evolution. This study also predicts that the long crack growth is a relatively small portion of the total fatigue life of the material for the experimental LCF conditions. Hence, initiation of the cracks in the interconnection is the main criterion used to predict its fatigue life.
Minimum time trajectory planning

An algorithm for determining the minimum time trajectory (path and velocity along that path) for a robot arm with actuator constraints is presented. The method combines the control theory and the exhaustive search approaches to yield an algorithm that is faster than either approach. The method consists of first parameterizing the path in the configuration space, then, given a path, using control theory to determine the minimum time trajectory subject to the actuator torque constraints, and finally searching among all possible paths to find the minimum time path. The minimum time path is assumed to be smooth and hence is parameterized by splines. In presence of obstacles in the work-space, the algorithm can start with a path from a path planner and determine the minimum time path close to the given path. The results for a two degree of freedom arm are presented.
Sudden-onset Deafness Serodiagnosis of Recent Meningococcal Infection

An 8.5-year-old boy was evaluated 3 weeks after the occurrence of a febrile illness associated with sudden-onset deafness. An extensive diagnostic evaluation was largely unrewarding. However, unusual epidemiologic features of the case and cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities suggested meningococcal meningitis as the probable etiology. Serologic studies confirmed recent meningococcal infection. The potential etiologies of sudden acquired deafness are diverse, but a thorough evaluation is warranted and may be rewarding, even if it is initiated weeks after onset of deafness.
The Signal Extraction Problem Revisited: A Note on Its Impact on a Model of Monetary Policy ∗

This paper develops a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model with sticky prices and sticky wages, in which agents have imperfect information on the stance and direction of monetary policy. Agents respond by using Kalman filtering to unravel persistent and temporary monetary policy changes in order to form optimal forecasts of future policy actions. Our results show that a New Keynesian model with imperfect information and real rigidities can account for several key effects of an expansionary monetary policy shock: the hump-shaped increase in output, the delayed and gradual rise in inflation, and the fall in the nominal interest rate.
Inflame My Heart (by p38-MAPK)

See related article, pages 485–493 Although many studies have explored the stimuli which promote hypertrophic growth or death in cardiac myocytes and the signaling pathways which they activate, the mechanisms by which these pathways promote the pathophysiological responses are still obscure. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades (in which MAPKs are phosphorylated and activated by upstream MAPK kinases [MKKs] which are, in turn, phosphorylated and activated by MKK kinases [MKKKs]) were identified in the early- to mid-1990s as potentially key regulatory pathways in cardiac myocyte pathophysiology.1,2 The principal MAPKs investigated in cardiac myocytes are the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38-MAPKs. ERK1/2 are potently activated by hypertrophic stimuli, whereas JNKs and p38-MAPKs are potently activated by cellular stresses (eg, oxidative stress). However, there is cross-talk such that JNKs and p38-MAPKs are activated by hypertrophic stimuli and ERK1/2 are activated by cellular stresses, and the contribution of each pathway to the overall cardiac myocyte response is not entirely clear. MAPKs phosphorylate a number of known transcription factors to alter their transactivating activities thus, presumably, influencing gene expression to elicit the cellular response.3 Nevertheless, the immediate consequences (ie, the transcription factors which are phosphorylated) and downstream consequences (ie, genes with altered expression) of MAPK signaling in the heart or specifically in cardiac myocytes are still largely unknown. To start to address this issue for the p38-MAPK pathway in the (rat) heart (Figure), Tenhunen et al4 directly injected adenoviruses encoding wild-type (WT) p38-MAPKα together with a mutated constitutively-activated (CA) upstream kinase (MKK3b) into the heart. The effects of stimulating p38-MAPKα signaling on global gene expression in the left ventricle (assessed by microarray analysis), and cardiac function and pathology are reported. At 3 days, gene expression profiling identified a number of changes in gene expression, …
Septal-lateral annnular cinching perturbs basal left ventricular transmural strains

Objective:Septal-lateralannularcinching(‘SLAC’)correctsbothacuteandchronicischemic mitralregurgitation inanimalexperiments,which has led to the development of therapeutic surgical and interventional strategies incorporating this concept (e.g., Edwards GeoForm ring, Myocor Coapsys W , Ample Medical PS 3 ). Changes in left ventricular (LV) transmural cardiac and fiber-sheet strains after SLAC, however, remain unknown. Methods: Eight normal sheep hearts had two triads of transmural radiopaque bead columns inserted adjacent to (anterobasal) and remote from (midlateralequatorial)themitralannulus.Underacute,openchestconditions,4Dbeadcoordinateswereobtainedusingvideofluoroscopybefore and after SLAC. Transmural systolic strains were calculated from bead displacements relative to local circumferential, longitudinal, and radial cardiac axes. Transmural cardiac strains were transformed into fiber-sheet coordinates (Xf, Xs, Xn) oriented along the fiber (f), sheet (s), and sheet-normal (n) axes using fiber (a) and sheet (b) angle measurements. Results: SLAC markedly reduced (� 60%) septal-lateral annular diameter at both end-diastole (ED) (2.5 � 0.3 to 1.0 � 0.3 cm, p = 0.001) and end-systole (ES) (2.4 � 0.4 to 1.0 � 0.3 cm, p = 0.001). In the LV wall remote from the mitral annulus, transmural systolic strains did not change. In the anterobasal region adjacent to the mitral annulus, ED wall thickness increased (p = 0.01) and systolic wall thickening was less in the epicardial (0.28 � 0.12 vs 0.20 � 0.06, p = 0.05) and midwall (0.36 � 0.24 vs 0.19 � 0.11,p = 0.04)LVlayers.Thisimpairedwallthickeningwasduetodecreasedsystolicsheet thickening(0.20 � 0.8to 0.12 � 0.07,p = 0.01) and sheet shear (� 0.15 � 0.07 to � 0.11 � 0.04, p = 0.02) in the epicardium and sheet extension (0.21 � 0.11 to 0.10 � 0.04, p = 0.03) in the midwall. Transmural systolic and remodeling strains in the lateral midwall (remote from the annulus) were unaffected. Conclusions: Although SLAC is an alluring concept to correct ischemic mitral regurgitation, these data suggest that extreme SLAC adversely effects systolic wall thickening adjacent to the mitral annulus by inhibiting systolic sheet thickening, sheet shear, and sheet extension. Such alterations in LV strains could result in unanticipated deleterious remodeling and warrant further investigation. # 2007 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Comparison of the Pattern of Aortic Dilation in Children With the Marfan’s Syndrome Versus Children With a Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Marfan's syndrome (MS) and bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) are associated with aortic dilation. Despite their histologic similarities, the 2 diseases differ with regard to the location of maximal aortic dilation. Echocardiographic analysis of aortic dimensions was performed in children with MS, children who had aortic dilation in the setting of nonstenotic BAVs (peak gradient <16 mm Hg), and healthy controls. Data on 25 patients with MS, 31 with BAVs, and 65 controls were analyzed. Subjects with BAVs had greater dimensions at all levels of the aortic root compared with normal controls. Patients with BAVs also had greater dilation than those with MS at the level of the annulus and the ascending aorta, with dilation often extending cranially beyond the region of measurement. Conversely, patients with MS had more focal dilation at the sinuses of Valsalva compared with controls and patients with BAVs. In conclusion, despite similar histologic abnormalities, the anatomic pattern of aortic dilation differs in children with MS and BAVs.
ASSESSING THE ECOLOGICAL DOMINANCE OF PHANEROZOIC MARINE INVERTEBRATES

Abstract Ecological studies have revealed that the functional roles of dominant species in modern communities are often more important than overall diversity in governing community composition and functioning. Despite this recognition that abundance and diversity data are both required for a complete understanding of ecological processes, many paleoecological studies focus on presence-absence data, possibly because of concerns regarding the taphonomic fidelity of time-averaged fossil accumulations. However, the abundance of organisms in shell beds has been shown to provide a fairly accurate record of the living community, suggesting that the benefits of relative-abundance data should be reconsidered. Recognition of ecologically dominant species in local fossil assemblages should be based on counts of relative abundance and assessment of ecological role. Ecological dominance at larger spatial or temporal scales can be quantified using the mean rank order of a clade and the proportion of assemblages where t...
Does online learning impede degree completion? A national study of community college students

Abstract Using a nationally representative sample (The Beginning Postsecondary Student Survey, BPS 04/09), this study examined the associations between enrollment in credit-bearing distance education courses and degree attainment. We sought to determine whether US students enrolled in distance education courses during their first year of study at a community college tend to complete a degree (certificate, associate, or bachelor's) at significantly lower rates than those who were not enrolled in such courses or programs. Consistent with previous large-scale research at the State level in Virginia and Washington (Smith Jaggars & Xu, 2010; Xu & Smith Jaggars, 2011), we hypothesized that community college students who participate in distance education in early semesters graduate at lower rates than students who do not. Contrary to expectations, the study found that controlling for relevant background characteristics; students who take some of their early courses online or at a distance have a significantly better chance of attaining a community college credential than do their classroom only counterparts. These results imply that a new model of student retention in the age of the internet, one that assumes transactional adaptation, may be warranted.
Buffer management for video database systems

Future multimedia information systems are likely to manage thousands of videos with various lengths and display requirements. Mismatch of playback and delivery rates of compressed video data requires sophisticated buffer management algorithms to guarantee smooth playback of video data. In this paper, we address some of the many design and operational issues including buffer size requirements, refreshing policies, and support of multiple access points to the same video object. Three different buffer management strategies are proposed and analyzed to minimize the average waiting time while ensuring display without jerkiness. We also evaluate the effectiveness these buffer management strategies with a simulation study. >
Interference suppression in spread spectrum systems

The interference immunity of a spread spectrum digital communication system corrupted by interference can be significantly enhanced by excising the interference prior to cross correlation of the received signal with the possible transmitted reference signals. In this paper we treat methods for excising narrowband (partial band) and broadband (impulsive) interference in direct-sequence and frequency-hopped spread spectrum systems. Excision methods based on linear prediction and nonlinear filtering algorithms are shown to be particularly effective for direct-sequence spread spectrum systems corrupted by narrowband interference. We also consider nonlinear excision methods for frequency-hopped spread spectrum systems corrupted by narrowband interference and direct-sequence spread spectrum systems corrupted by broadband (impulsive) interference.
Examining the Impact of Familial Paternalism on the Sentencing Decision: Gender Leniency or Legitimate Judicial Consideration?

Nationally, the rate of incarcerated women is at an all-time high [Chesney-Lind, M., & Pasko, L. (2012). The female offender: Girls, women, and crime (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Sage; West, H. C., Sabol, W. J., & Greenman, S. J. (2010). Prisoners in 2009. Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice]. Even with these significant increases women defendants remain much less likely to receive sentences of incarceration than male defendants. Considering the evidence showing that women are often sentenced less harshly than men, research continues to examine the cause of gender disparities in judicial sentencing decisions. This chapter will examine the research that contends that the cause of the gender disparity may not actually be due to gender leniency but rather judicial considerations of the risks and costs of punishing female versus male defendants due to different gender roles.
Frequency Dependence of Poisson's Ratio of Viscoelastic Elastomer Foam

All polymer foams are viscoelastic; for foams used in earplugs, this response is essential to their function. Poisson’s ratio was inferred from viscoelastic response of earplug foam in torsion and bending. Poisson’s ratio increases with frequency as a result of stress induced air flow. Air within the pores contributes to the overall bulk modulus at high frequency, but not at low frequency at which it easily flows when the foam is deformed. Such behaviour is the opposite of that of solid polymers in which the shear modulus varies with frequency much more than the bulk modulus.
Finding Partially Link-Disjoint Paths in Wireless Sensor Networks

Routing in wireless sensor networks provides an interesting problem distinct from typical network routing. Due to features such as omnidirectional antennas, finite battery power, and wireless multicast, new shortest path algorithms must be developed to accommodate the benefits and disadvantages of using these networks. We propose a technique for finding partially linkdisjoint paths in wireless ad-hoc networks. Our primary result is an algorithm for producing such paths. This algorithm adapts existing node- and link-disjoint path algorithms to reuse nodeto- node links. By successively removing the link with the lowest energy cost from the path, we can iteratively build a partially link-disjoint path. Our results show that this technique achieves significant energy savings over other node-disjoint or fully linkdisjoint routing algorithms. These findings seem to indicate that, while removal of this link may detract from short-term energy savings, overall energy savings are increased in the long-term. In addition, we present alternative link-removal techniques and their potential applications and usefulness. Finally, we address some potential issues with these types of paths and their utility in the greater problem of ad-hoc network routing. These algorithms provide an alternative to traditional disjoint path algorithms for wireless ad-hoc networks and attempt to address the problems that arise from using partially disjoint paths.
Biochemical and Physiological Events During Closure of the Stapled Distal Femoral Epiphyseal Plate in Rats

The biochemical, histochemical, and histological changes occurring in the surgically stapled closing distal femoral growth plate of rats have been described and the changes demonstrated were: 1. An initial stimulation of growth, probably due to the surgical trauma of stapling, followed by a gradual decline in cell division which produces narrowing of the plate. An earlier narrowing occurs, however, which appears to be caused by disturbances in cell column alignment. 2. Despite decreased cell division, matrix production continues at a high rate, and hexosamines accumulate, perhaps to a greater extent than they normally do. This accumulation may be related to a reduction in lysosomal enzymes.
Mechanisms of Nickel-free Stainless Steel Induced Apoptosis in Vascular Endothelial Cells

Objective To investigate the effects of high nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel(HNNF SS)on the apoptosis induction of vascular endothelial cells and develop a novel biomaterial for circumventing the in-stent restenosis. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were growed on the HNNF SS and general 316 L stainless steel(316L SS). Annexin V-FITC and Propidium Iodide were employed to detect the apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis. The expression of apoptosis.related genes and microRNA were also examined by quantitative real.time PCR(qRT-PCR). Results Flow cytometry analysis revealed that 316 L SS could activate the cellular apoptosis more efficiently than HNNF SS(P 0.05). At the molecular level,qRT-PCR results showed that the cell apoptosis related genes were overexpressed on 316 L SS(P 0.05),including Fas,Caspase-3,and Caspase-8. The overexpression of miR-133 a,186,210,34 a and 124 was also observed in HUVECs growing on the 316 L SS and HNNF SS materials(P 0.05). Conclusion The mechanism of 316 L SS triggering cell apoptosis might be related to the releasing nickel inducing cell apoptosis via Fas-Caspase-8-Caspase-3 exogenous pathway,which is modulated by altered microRNA expression;the RT-PCR results also showed the expression variation of related genes and miRNA. Our results suggested that HNNF SS is better than the 316 L SS material in the aspect of avoiding cell apoptosis and circumventing the in-stent restenosis.
Efficient Assessment of Confounder Effects in Matched Follow-up Studies

SUMMARY When matched sets of individuals are entered into follow-up studies, data collection on many covariates can be eliminated without loss of relevant information. In a proportional hazards model with risk sets restricted by a matching factor, no individual's data enter into the likelihood function unless some member of his matched set experiences an event. In many epidemiological studies, the probability of an event in any given matched set is small; as a result most sets, having no event, make no contribution to effect estimates, and data collection in these sets can be avoided.
Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Cancer

We provide a detailed description of painful neural lesions in hospitalized patients with cancer. A total of 187 consecutive patients with cancer and pain, referred to the pain service of a cancer hospital, were evaluated within 24 hours by two neurologists and followed until discharge or death. Based on history, pain descriptors, physical examination, and radiological and electrophysiological studies, the pain was categorized as neuropathic in 103 patients. The most frequent sites of neurological injury were nerve roots, spinal cord and cauda equina, brachial and lumbosacral plexus, and peripheral nerves. There were no patients with pain caused by injury to the brain. In 93 of these patients, the pain was caused by ongoing neural injury, while, in 10 patients, the neural injury was old and stable. Within these two groups of patients with neuropathic pain, analgesic treatments differed. Prospective studies may determine if categorizing painful neurological injuries in cancer patients based on inferred pathophysiology is useful when deciding among different treatment options.
G-factor as a tool in basic research: mechanisms of orthostatic tolerance.

The inability to tolerate upright standing posture due to development of orthostatic hypotension is a clinical problem experienced by more than 500,000 people in the United States. In addition, orthostatic intolerance is an operational problem since as many as 25 to 64 percent of the crew members from U.S. space shuttle flights have been reported to experience presyncopal incidents during postflight stand tests. Last year alone, more than 10,000 cases of unexplained syncope were reported in active duty personnel in all U.S. military services. Many clinical investigations have focused on measurements of physiological functions in patients with orthostatic instability in an effort to identify possible mechanisms that underlie the problem. Although this approach has provided important insight into mechanisms associated with syncope, identification of causal relationships are limited by pre-existing pathologic conditions. Causal relationships can be better defined when physiological mechanisms that underlie blood pressure regulation are altered in healthy subjects by increasing or decreasing their gravity environment (so-called "G-factor" approach) and subsequent changes in orthostatic tolerance are induced. The purpose of this paper is to review data on physiological functions measured from healthy human subjects who have undergone exposure to various levels of low or high gravity in an effort to assess our understanding about mechanisms of orthostatic tolerance. Specifically, results from human subjects exposed to bedrest, spaceflight, and high sustained acceleration will be used to provide insight into the plasticity of mechanisms underlying adaptations of blood pressure regulation orthostatic performance.
Viability loss of foodborne pathogens by starter culture metabolites

Antibacterial metabolites produced by starter culture bacteria were tested for inhibitory properties against foodborne pathogens capable of growing in foods at refrigeration temperature. Three culture preparations containing the bacteriocins pediocin AcH, nisin, and sakacin A produced by Pediococcus acidilactici H, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis DL 16, and Lactobacillus sake 706, respectively, were studied in addition to four commercial preparations: Nisaplin (similar to nisin), Na-lactate, diacetyl and Microgard. All bacteriocin preparations were bactericidal to the Listeria strains tested including nine strains of L. monocytogenes , but not to any of the gram-negative pathogens studied. Some strains of Listeria were lysed by pediocin AcH. Storage studies at 4°C indicated that the bacteriocin preparations did not have bacteriostatic properties against the surviving cells. Diacetyl produced some bactericidal effect against strains of Yersinia enterocolitica , Aeromonas hydrophila , pathogenic Escherichia coli , and Salmonella anatum , but not against Listeria . Lactate had limited bacteriostatic effect against gram-negative pathogens and none against the gram-positive bacteria. Microgard had neither bactericidal nor bacteriostatic action against the bacteria used in this study.
Cochise Site Distribution in the San Pedro Valley

ABSTRACTDetailed survey of a 100 square mile area on the west side of the San Pedro valley south of Benson has revealed over 80 Cochise sites on terraces and pediments above the floodplains. Two gross categories of artifacts from 12 of those sites show a patterned distribution spatially segregated into two zones, and suggest that higher elevations near the mountains were preferred sites for prehistoric occupation.
SecB: a molecular chaperone of Escherichia coli protein secretion pathway.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the role that SecB and other molecular chaperones play in sponsoring efficient protein secretion in Escherichia coli. The molecular chaperone SecB binds a subset of E.coli envelope protein precursors and promotes their efficient export from the cytoplasm by (1) maintaining them in a loosely folded or export competent conformation, (2) blocking nonproductive interactions with the cytoplasmic membrane, (3) preventing aggregation, and (4) targeting them to SecA, the peripheral membrane component of the preprotein translocase. SecB is involved in the targeting of certain precursors to the membrane components of the translocation machinery. SecB is an acidic, soluble, tetramer of identical 17-kDa subunits. It comprises only 0.08% of the cytosolic proteins. The secB gene is “conditionally essential” in that secB null strains cannot grow on rich media or at subbasal levels of heat-shock protein synthesis, but can grow on minimal media. Overexpression of heat-shock proteins can partially suppress the export and growth defects in secB null strains. Hybrid proteins composed of the signal peptide and a substantial portion of the mature MBP fused to LacZ enter the export pathway. SecB as a component of secretion machinery involves isolation, phenotype of SecB mutants, SecB sequence, and purification of SecB.
Evaluation of Unacidified Products Bottled in Oil for Outgrowth and Toxin Production by Clostridium botulinum.

A variety of unacidified products bottled in oil or water were investigated for their ability to support growth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum . The products were inoculated with a mixture of five strains of C. botulinum type A spores (about 50 spores/g or ml) and incubated at room temperature (23°C). At monthly intervals the organoleptic acceptability of the products, as determined by appearance, odor, and texture, was evaluated and a portion of each sample was removed, diluted 1:2 in gel-phosphate buffer, and injected intraperitoneally into mice. At the end of 4 months the drained solids of each sample were macerated with a minimal amount of buffer and centrifuged; the clear extracts were then injected into mice. None of the products tested supported growth and toxin production by C. botulinum .
Behavior Meets Neuroscience: Achievements, Prospects, and Complexity: Introduction Part IV

This volume has as its goal to address the evolution and nature of cooperation and “altruism”. This perspective challenges the pervasive public perception of Darwinian evolution as a process necessarily “red in tooth and claw”, a view often promoted by media looking for an attention-getting headline to lead with in the evening news or on the front pages of a popular magazine. Aggression and violence are emotions with high valence and thus easily attract attention. Any of us who has experienced a powerfully aversive event recalls it readily and with little effort can easily retrieve the emotions, even though the event may have occurred in the far distant past. Positive experiences and emotions rarely have the same salience—nor do they receive the same attention in the popular media. The dark appeal of aggression has found a receptive audience and is translated into a conviction that this is how the world works, that aggression, is fundamental and, most important, that it forms the dominant explanatory base for theories that deal with the origins of human behavior and sociality.
Event-Triggered Fault-Tolerant Control of Sampled-Data Nonlinear Systems

Abstract: This work focuses on the stabilization of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with sensor-controller communication constraints, sampled measurements and control actuator faults. Initially, an event-triggered model-based control strategy that enforces closed-loop stability under continuously-sampled measurements is developed. The strategy involves using the model state to generate the necessary control action for periods of time when sensor-controller communication is suspended, and updating the model state using the state measurement when communication is restored. Communication is triggered whenever a state-dependent threshold on the model estimation error is breached. The communication threshold is characterized in terms of the model and controller design parameters, as well as the fault severity. A modification of the communication threshold is then presented to address the implementation of the control strategy under discretely-sampled measurements. An on-line forecasting mechanism that provides a bound on the growth of the model estimation error over each sampling interval is used to obtain a tighter communication trigger which guards against potential instability due to the lack of state information between sampling times. Implications of the results for the development of actuator fault accommodation and reconfiguration strategies that guarantee closed-loop stability and keep network resource utilization to a minimum in the presence of faults are discussed. Finally, the results are illustrated using a chemical process example.
Becoming Welcoming: Organizational Collaboration and Immigrant Integration in Dayton, Ohio

Coinciding with a national trend toward the localization of immigration law and policy, the city of Dayton, Ohio, passed the “Welcome Dayton—Immigrant Friendly City” resolution in 2011. This article focuses on the central role played by a coalition of local organizations, staffed by or advocating on behalf of immigrants and refugees, that led up to the initiative’s passage and during its implementation. Characterized by collaboration, such efforts laid the groundwork for a policy that is attentive to the needs of immigrants and refugees. When they subsequently worked alongside city officials, local organizations also managed to affect meaningful local-level institutional changes. Dayton, as a result, became a leader in regional and national efforts to create more welcoming cities. Drawing mostly on several years of participant observation, the article adds to the literature on immigrant integration a rich description of the role local organizations play in the process of becoming welcoming. It also shows ...
Predictors of readmission in nonagenarians: analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project dataset

Abstract Background Increased longevity has led to more nonagenarians undergoing elective surgery. Development of predictive models for hospital readmission may identify patients who benefit from preoperative optimization and postoperative transition of care intervention. Our goal was to identify significant predictors of 30-d readmission in nonagenarians undergoing elective surgery. Methods Nonagenarians undergoing elective surgery from January 2011 to December 2012 were identified using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project participant use data files. This population was randomly divided into a 70% derivation cohort for model development and 30% validation cohort. Using multivariate step-down regression, predictive models were developed for 30-d readmission. Results Of 7092 nonagenarians undergoing elective surgery, 798 (11.3%) were readmitted within 30 d. Factors significant in univariate analysis were used to develop predictive models for 30-d readmissions. Diabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-1.84), dialysis dependence (OR: 2.97, CI: 1.77-4.99), functional status (OR: 1.52, CI: 1.29-1.79), American Society of Anesthesiologists class II or higher (American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status classification system; OR: 1.80, CI: 1.42-2.28), operative time (OR: 1.05, CI: 1.02-1.08), myocardial infarction (OR: 5.17, CI: 3.38-7.90), organ space surgical site infection (OR: 8.63, CI: 4.04-18.4), wound disruption (OR: 14.3, CI: 4.80-42.9), pneumonia (OR: 8.59, CI: 6.17-12.0), urinary tract infection (OR: 3.88, CI: 3.02-4.99), stroke (OR: 6.37, CI: 3.47-11.7), deep venous thrombosis (OR: 5.96, CI: 3.70-9.60), pulmonary embolism (OR: 20.3, CI: 9.7-42.5), and sepsis (OR: 13.1, CI: 8.57-20.1), septic shock (OR: 43.8, CI: 18.2-105.0), were included in the final model. This model had a c-statistic of 0.73, indicating a fair association of predicted probabilities with observed outcomes. However, when applied to the validation cohort, the c-statistic dropped to 0.69, and six variables lost significance. Conclusions A reliable predictive model for readmission in nonagenarians undergoing elective surgery remains elusive. Investigation into other determinants of surgical outcomes, including social factors and access to skilled home care, might improve model predictability, identify areas for intervention to prevent readmission, and improve quality of care.
Surgical informed consent in children: a systematic review.

Abstract Background The purpose of the article was to analyze current literature on surgeon and parents’ understanding and role in the informed consent process for children undergoing surgery. Methods A systematic database search (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and EBM Reviews) was performed to identify articles concerning any aspect of the surgical informed consent for children undergoing an invasive procedure. Articles analyzing informed consent in research studies, non–English-language articles, review articles, case reports and/or series, letters–commentaries, and dentistry and/or nursing-related articles were excluded. Articles meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed to identify common themes related to the process of informed consent. Results One hundred seventy-eight articles were identified on primary search, after removing duplicates and screening titles for relevance, 83 abstracts were reviewed. Thirty-two additional abstracts were identified by secondary search. Twelve of 115 articles met inclusion criteria. Analysis identified five different study themes. Information delivered during consent (Content) was studied in five articles (42%), three (25%) studied the mechanics or delivery of the information (Delivery), three (25%) studied parent participation and discussion (Interchange), six articles (50%) discussed surgeons' perceptions or the parents’ ability to understand or recall the information (Comprehension), and five articles (42%) evaluated surgeon or parent satisfaction or anxiety (Satisfaction). None of the articles studied all five categories. Conclusions Studies of the surgical informed consent process in children are scarce. Prospective studies evaluating surgeon and parent perception regarding the Content, Delivery, and Interchange of information as well as Comprehension and Satisfaction are needed to understand barriers to the surgeon–patient relationship and to optimize the informed consent process in children undergoing surgery.
Comparing Factors and Computing Factor Scores

This chapter describes invariance or reliability measurement .One basis for establishing the invariance of factors is by comparing the factor loadings across diverse samples, groups, and time. This type of study demands that the same variables, at least in part, be used in all studies to be compared. The chapter presents techniques for comparing factors across such studies. The most obvious way of obtaining factor scores is through a multiple regression approach. Recognizing that the factor loadings represent the correlations of the items with the factors, these items can be used as validity coefficients. Thus, the proper β -weights for the items in predicting each factor is obtained by post multiplying the inverse of the original correlation matrix R by the matrix of factor loadings F . The chapter discusses approximation methods. When the number of variables is large, as is usually the case when items are factor analyzed, researchers frequently adopt approximation methods. When the number of items exceeds 200, the problem may exceed the capacity of most computers, and scoring equations with 200 weights would at best be tedious and would lead to excessive shrinkage. The usual procedure is to construct factor tests by selecting those items that have their highest loading on a given factor and a relatively small loading on each of the remaining factors.
Practice makes perfect: establishing reasonable minimum thrombectomy volume requirements for stroke centers.

Recently, seven randomized controlled trials were published showing benefit to neurothrombectomy (NT) in the setting of anterior circulation emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO).1–7 Accordingly, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has updated societal guidelines and provided a class 1, level of evidence A recommendation that NT be performed in patients with an ELVO who meet appropriate criteria.8 Subsequently, a recent national survey of neurointerventional physicians has suggested increasing procedural volumes, with many reporting increasing indications for patient selection since the publication of these trials.9 Further, studies have suggested that approximately 10,000 NT procedures were performed in the USA during the year 2015, with significant potential for increased volume in the future.10 11 The Joint Commission has recently proposed a new certification for hospitals entitled Thrombectomy-capable Stroke Center (TSC) Advanced Certification, intended as an intermediate classification between primary and comprehensive stroke centers.12 Most notably, TSC certification mandates the capacity to perform NT 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the capability for other types of advanced imaging, and a written agreement for transfer with at least one comprehensive stroke center. The Joint Commission has requested comment on minimum NT volume requirements. Currently, the Joint Commission has suggested TSC certification eligibility requires that an institution has performed a minimum of 12 NTs during the previous year, or 24 NT over the past 2 years.12 A typical TSC would requires at least two to three experienced operators to provide the service 24/7. Thus, the present guidelines could translate to as few as four cases per year for each operator at some TSCs. A center performing such a low volume of NTs is highly unlikely to be performing any significant volume of other types of neuroendovascular procedures and, therefore, one would expect that the overall …
Maternal Hypertension, Antihypertensive Medication Use, and Small for Gestational Age Births in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.

Background Small for gestational age (SGA) birth is associated with poor long-term health outcomes. It is unclear whether maternal antihypertensive medication increases risk of SGA independently of maternal hypertension. Methods We analyzed associations between maternal hypertension and antihypertensive medication use and SGA among non-malformed singleton controls in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. We defined SGA as birthweight < 10th percentile for a given gestational age, sex, race/ethnicity, and parity. We included 1045 SGA and 10,019 non-SGA births. We used logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed interaction between hypertension, antihypertensive use, and maternal race/ethnicity and age. Results Overall, 122 (11.7%) SGA and 892 (8.9%) non-SGA mothers reported hypertension and 21 (2.0%) SGA and 154 (1.5%) non-SGA mothers reported antihypertensive use. The most commonly reported medications were centrally-acting antiadrenergics, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics. Compared to normotensive pregnancies, maternal hypertension, regardless of treatment (AOR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.20, 1.86]), and untreated maternal hypertension [AOR, 1.46 (95% CI, 1.15, 1.86)] were associated with SGA. We observed a positive, but not significant, association between antihypertensive use and SGA. SGA risk varied by maternal race/ethnicity, being highest among Hispanic mothers, and age, being highest among mothers ≥ 35 years, but statistical tests for interaction were not significant. Conclusions Consistent with the literature, our findings suggest that maternal hypertension slightly increases SGA risk. We did not observe an appreciably increased SGA risk associated with antihypertensive medication use beyond that of the underlying maternal hypertension.
Students as language experts: collaboration and correction in a bilingual Cameroonian classroom

This study examines the negotiation of language-related problems in a bilingual environmental education workshop in Cameroon. In contrast to the traditional Cameroonian classroom, where only one la...