cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Herpes Zoster in Persons Living with HIV-1 Infection: Viremia and Immunological Defects Are Strong Risk Factors in the Era of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy.

In a cohort of 4,225 persons living with HIV-1 infection (PLWH) enrolled at a southeastern United States clinic, the overall rate of incident herpes zoster (HZ) was 101 per 10,000 person-years (PY) between January 1999 and January 2017, which nearly quadruples the rate reported for the general US population. In the same cohort, median age of HZ diagnosis was 39.5 years (interquartile range 31.5-49.2) in African American (AA) and 39.1 years (interquartile range 34.9-45.2) in European American (EA) PLWH, with the highest incidence seen in PLWH who were over 50 years old (144 and 93 per 10,000 PY in AA and EA, respectively, P = 0.18), showing no bias between men (100 per 10,000 PY) and women (101 per 10,000 PY). In multivariable models that were applicable to 245 HZ cases and 3,713 controls, age, nadir CD4+ T-cell (CD4) count, plasma viral load (VL), and duration of combination antiretroviral therapy were independent correlates of incident HZ (adjusted P ≤0.006 for all). Regardless of other factors, viremic PLWH (VL >50 copies/ml) were at the highest risk of HZ (adjusted odds ratio >3.0, P <0.0001). PLWH with nadir CD4 count ≥500 cells/µl showed relatively low risk (adjusted OR = 0.48, P = 0.003). In contrast, similar risk estimates were observed with three advancing age groups (30-39, 40-49 and ≥50) when compared with age <30 (adjusted OR = 1.86-2.17, P ≤0.010). These findings indicate that efforts for HZ diagnosis and prophylaxis should target viremic PLWH who are over 30 years old and with CD4 count <500 cells/µl.
Sequences and functions of Rous sarcoma virus RNA.

A procedure has been developed to map the genetic elements of avian tumor virus RNA, which has a molecular weight of about 3 × 106 daltons and a poly(A) sequence at the 3’ end. For this purpose, about 30 RNase T1-resistant oli gonucleotides were ordered relative to the 3’-poly(A) terminus of the RNA, to construct an oligonucleotide map of viral RNAs. A cluster of seven envelope gene (env)-specific oligonucleotides, identified by their absence from the otherwise very similar oligonucleotide map of an envelope-defective deletion mutant (which lacks the major viral glycoprotein), mapped at a distance of 0.9 to 1.6 × 106 daltons from the poly(A) end of sarcoma virus RNA. A cluster of three sarcoma gene (src)-specific oligonucleotides, identified by their absence from the otherwise nearly identical oligonucleotide map of a transformation-defective deletion mutant mapped at a distance of 0.2 to 0.6 × 106 daltons from the poly(A) end of sarcoma virus RNA. The oligonucleotide maps of sarcoma viruses and of related deletion mutants were the same from the poly(A) end up to 0.2 × 106 daltons and included one terminal oligonucleotide, termed C, which is found in all avian tumor viruses tested so far. Preliminary mapping experiments ordering the src-specific and env-specific oligonucleotides of recombinants, selected for sarcoma and envelope genes of different parents, agree with those obtained by comparing maps of wild type viruses and deletion mutants. A partial genetic map consistent with these results suggests that the src gene maps between the env gene and the 3’-poly(A) end of viral RNA. This map reads: poly(A)-src-env-(pol, gag).
III-N nanowire atomic force cantilevers for ultra-vertical-wall scanning-probe, scanning-tunneling, and near-field microscopy (Conference Presentation)

The steady advance of nanotechnology from investigation to application and to manufacturing is increasing the demands on nanoscale metrology and lithography. As dimensions shrink to the nano-scale, the available metrologies, necessary for any advanced manufacturing process, become limited. Optical metrology faces resolution limits associated with the large size of the photon relative to the nanostructure. Interference techniques offer sub-wavelength resolution, but at the expense of experimental and signal processing complexity. Electron and ion microscopies (SEM, TEM, FIB, etc.) offer resolution but require high vacuum and are generally unavailable for in-line manufacturing applications. Scanning probe techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) are very attractive, yet, still unreliable to produce ideal results. For example, AFM, commercial tips are often pyramidal, resulting in significant artifacts requiring complex and uncertain deconvolution of the data. For STM and STL (scanning-tunneling lithography), amorphous/polycrystalline metal tips are the dominant commercial technology but are subject to erosion and wear. For NSOM, metal tips require a complex alignment - optical fibers offer an alternative but are difficult to combine with AFM and STM functionality. To overcome to the above-mentioned problems, we have developed a single nanowire probe systems, based on single crystal III-N semiconductors. Uniform GaN nanowire arrays, formed thought a combination of wet and dry etch of MOCVD GaN films, were achieved over a large area (>105 μm2) with an aspect ratio as large as 50, a radius as small as 17 nm, and atomic-scale sidewall roughness (<1 nm), allowing metrology of vertical structures with no artifact correction. Doping, during MOCVD film growth, controlled the conductivity of the GaN. Studies of the etching mechanism for different doping level are also reported. Optical emission properties of the 65 nm radius and 2 micron length GaN, mounted on an AFM tip shows a lasing at 365 nm with a line width of 0.15 nm and a Q-factor of 1139-2443. Our results show that fabrication of high-quality GaN nanowire arrays with adaptable aspect ratio and large-area uniformity is feasible through a top-down approach using interferometric lithography and is promising for fabrication of III-nitride-based nanophotonic devices (radial/axial) on the original substrate. Indeed we will also present the state of the art results of these nanowires in AFM and STM metrology as well in field emission and scanning tunneling lithography and NSOM and demonstrate as, such a single wide-bandgap tip technology offers the functionality and versatility of several incumbent technologies in one single, universal, system.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Very Preterm Infants with Symptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Objective To assess whether symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and mortality in very preterm infants (gestational age ≤32 weeks). Study design We performed a retrospective study using the Kids' Inpatient Database for 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012. Diagnoses of BPD and symptomatic cCMV were determined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Among patients with in-hospital birth at ≤32 weeks of gestation, cases of symptomatic cCMV were matched with infants without cCMV using propensity score matching at 1:2 ratio. Outcomes of BPD and in-hospital mortality were assessed using conditional logistic regression. Results Of 204 818 in-hospital births with gestational age ≤32 weeks, we identified 208 cases of symptomatic cCMV, 177 of which underwent matching. Symptomatic cCMV was associated with higher odds of BPD (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.41-3.87), but was not significantly associated with in-hospital all-cause mortality (OR, 1.18, 95% CI, 0.64-2.17). Conclusions Symptomatic cCMV was associated with BPD but not with in-hospital mortality among very preterm infants. Further study is needed to determine the risk of BPD among infants with cCMV to allow for evaluation of possible preventive measures.
GenMatcher: A Generic Clustering-Based Arbitrary Matching Framework

Packet classification methods rely upon packet content/header matching against rules. Thus, throughput of matching operations is critical in many networking applications. Further, with the advent of Software Defined Networking (SDN), efficient implementation of software approaches to matching are critical for the overall system performance. This article presents1 GenMatcher, a generic, software-only, arbitrary matching framework for fast, efficient searches. The key idea of our approach is to represent arbitrary rules with efficient prefix-based tries. To support arbitrary wildcards, we rearrange bits within the rules such that wildcards accumulate to one side of the bitstring. Since many non-contiguous wildcards often remain, we use multiple prefix-based tries. The main challenge in this context is to generate efficient trie groupings and expansions to support all arbitrary rules. Finding an optimal mix of grouping and expansion is an NP-complete problem. Our contribution includes a novel, clustering-based grouping algorithm to group rules based upon their bit-level similarities. Our algorithm generates near-optimal trie groupings with low configuration times and provides significantly higher match throughput compared to prior techniques. Experiments with synthetic traffic show that our method can achieve a 58.9X speedup compared to the baseline on a single core processor under a given memory constraint.
Gonadal histology and reproductive steroidogenesis in Lithobates pipiens exposed to atrazine

AbstractAtrazine, an endocrine-disrupting compound and environmental pollutant, can have adverse effects on amphibian reproductive development and function. To determine the effects of atrazine on ...
Obesity Trends Among US Adults With Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis 2009-2014.

Objective Arthritis and obesity are common co-occurring conditions which can increase disability and risk of adverse outcomes (e.g., total knee replacement). Methods We estimated recent obesity trends among adults with arthritis from 2009 to 2014, overall, and by various sociodemographic and health characteristics using data from National Health Interview Survey, an ongoing, nationally representative, in-person household self-reported survey of the noninstitutionalized civilian U.S. A secondary aim was to examine the distribution of body mass index (BMI) categories among adults with and without arthritis. Results Obesity prevalence did not change significantly over time among middle-aged and younger adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis either overall (p-trend=0.925 for both groups), or by demographic and health characteristics. Among older adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis the unadjusted obesity prevalence was 29.4% in 2009 and 34.3% in 2014; after adjusting for all demographic and health characteristics there was a significant relative increase in obesity prevalence (15% (95% CI: 6-25)) and over time (p-trend=0.001). The 2014 distribution of BMI categories for adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis (compared with adults without doctor-diagnosed arthritis) was skewed toward the obese category and its subclasses, but there were no significant changes in these relationships from 2009. Conclusions Obesity increased significantly over time among older adults with arthritis and remains high when compared with adults without arthritis. Greater dissemination of interventions focused on physical activity and diet are needed to reduce the adverse outcomes associated with obesity and arthritis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Never too late for endothelin.

An article detailing a structure determination that has been years in the making appears in this months issue of Acta Cryst. F. McPherson and Larson report the structure of the 21-amino acid, human peptide hormone endothelin 1 that was determined using data collected in 1992.
Concentration-time extrapolation of short-term inhalation exposure levels: dimethyl sulfide, a case study using a chemical-specific toxic load exponent.

Objective: Dimethyl sulfide (DMS, CAS 75-18-3) is an industrial chemical. It is both an irritant and neurotoxicant that may be life-threatening because of accidental release. The effects of DMS on ...
Right to the Classroom: Seeking Spatial Justice in Kindergarten

This article uses Lefebvre’s concept of right to the city to frame the practices of a Kindergarten teacher and her ability to create a more racially equitable classroom space. It explains how the teacher and researcher collaboratively engaged in racial spaces analysis and critical race theory to develop greater racial spatial awareness. The teacher was able to use this awareness to resist neoliberalism and the racialization space in her classroom. The article explains how framing classroom practice according to right to the city can help teachers and researchers work together towards spatial justice in schools, where the educational rights of students of color are not limited by reductive notions of property based in whiteness.
The Impact of Unconscious Bias in Healthcare: How to Recognize and Mitigate It

The increasing diversity in the US population is reflected in the patients who healthcare professionals treat. Unfortunately, this diversity is not always represented by the demographic characteristics of healthcare professionals themselves. Patients from underrepresented groups in the United States can experience the effects of unintentional cognitive (unconscious) biases that derive from cultural stereotypes in ways that perpetuate health inequities. Unconscious bias can also affect healthcare professionals in many ways, including patient-clinician interactions, hiring and promotion, and their own interprofessional interactions. The strategies described in this article can help us recognize and mitigate unconscious bias and can help create an equitable environment in healthcare, including the field of infectious diseases.
Engaging in a University Curriculum Involving Sustainability Themes: A Two-Year Case Study of a First-year Writing Course

Writing about environmental and sustainability issues has grown in popularity, especially in lower-division writing courses. Yet, for teachers and writing program administrators, what are the benefits and drawbacks in asking students to interact with place-based discourses? How does implementing an ecocomposition curriculum and sustainability topics in first-year composition affect students’ writing outcomes? This article discusses a two-year, case study at a comprehensive research university of an experimental course-design model involving 1,421 students and 63 teachers. Students engaged with the university’s sustainability theme in Composition I, as well as other courses. This article includes a description of Composition I’s framework and its assessment practices, and raters measure the writing outcomes for the class’s major essay, a literature review. Overall, teachers utilizing ecocomposition practices presented students with a cohesive, relevant curriculum and assisted them in developing and organizing the literature review; writing and thinking about diverse spaces related to their experiences, majors, and futures; and forging and documenting campus and local ties, including through community-based learning. The study’s results have implications for teaching ecocomposition and sustainability themes in first-year composition.
RAS and TP53 can predict survival in adults with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia treated with hyper-CVAD.

Adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous group of acute leukemias that account for about one third of all cases of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative ALL. Recently, a molecular classifier using the mutational status of NOTCH1, FBXW7, RAS, and PTEN (NFRP) has been shown to distinguish low- vs high-risk groups in adult T-ALL patients treated using the Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster ALL protocol. However, it is unknown if this molecular classifier can stratify adult T-ALL patients treated with hyper-CVAD ± nelarabine. We identified a relatively small cohort of 27 adults with T-ALL who were uniformly treated with hyper-CVAD ± nelarabine with available mutational analysis at time of diagnosis. The most commonly mutated genes in this group were NOTCH1 (52%), NRAS (22%), DNMT3A (19%), KRAS (15%), and TP53 (7%). The NFRP molecular classifier failed to stratify overall survival (OS; P = .84) and relapse-free survival (RFS; P = .18) in this cohort. We developed a new stratification model combining K/NRAS and TP53 mutations as high-risk factors and showed that mutations in these genes predicted poorer OS (P = .03) and RFS (P = .04). While the current study is limited by cohort size, these data suggest that the NFRP molecular classifier might not be applicable to adult T-ALL patients treated with hyper-CVAD ± nelarabine. RAS/TP53 mutation status, however, was useful in risk stratification in adults with T-ALL.
How Should a Surgeon and Anesthesiologist Cooperate During Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest

Surgeons and anesthesiologists each have a unique sense of duty and responsibility to patients throughout all phases of perioperative care. Intraoperative cardiac arrest during elective, noncardiac surgery is rare, with an incidence between 0.8 to 4.3 per 10 000 cases. Fortunately, patients who suffer cardiac arrest during surgery are more likely to survive than patients who suffer cardiac arrest in other settings. This article considers factors that have been shown to influence outcomes after intraoperative cardiac arrest and offers a framework for analyzing and discussing these clinically, ethically, and emotionally complex cases.
Mature Programs of Study: A Structure for the Transition to College and Career?:

This study uses a mixed methods approach to examine a new type of curriculum configuration that supports students’ transitions to college: career technical programs of study (POS). Interview and su...
Rotation And Magnetic Evolution Of Superconducting Strange Stars

Is pulsar make up of strange matter? The magnetic field decay of a pulsar may be able to give us an answer. Since Cooper pairing of quarks occurs inside a sufficiently cold strange star, the strange stellar core is superconducting. In order to compensate the effect of rotation, different superconducting species inside a rotating strange star try to set up different values of London fields. Thus, we have a frustrated system. Using Ginzburg-Landau formalism, I solved the problem of rotating a superconducting strange star: Instead of setting up a global London field, vortex bundles carrying localized magnetic fields are formed. Moreover, the number density of vortex bundles is directly proportional to the angular speed of the star. Since it is energetically favorable for the vortex bundles to pin to magnetic flux tubes, the rotational dynamics and magnetic evolution of a strange star are coupled together, leading to the magnetic flux expulsion as the star slows down. I investigate this effect numerically and find that the characteristic field decay time is much less than 20~Myr in all reasonable parameter region. On the other hand, the characteristic magnetic field decay time for pulsars is $\geq 20$~Myr. Thus, my finding cast doubt on the hypothesis that pulsars are strange stars.
Supporting teacher learning about argumentation through adaptive, school-based professional development

Engaging students in mathematical argumentation supports language development and conceptual understanding because students use verbal and written language in coordination with mathematical representations to notice patterns, make claims, and create and revise explanations. This study adds to the limited research base on how teachers learn to facilitate discussions specifically aimed to develop students’ capacities to engage in argumentation. We analyze teachers’ sensemaking about supporting argumentation in the classroom through their participation in an adaptive professional development (PD) design. The PD was embedded in two elementary schools with upper grade teachers which enabled them to engage in iterative cycles of investigation and enactment within their own classrooms. Through collaborative lesson design and inquiry into students’ experiences, teachers attended to the language students produced as they tried to formulate conjectures and produce explanations and the classroom participation structures that supported them. Our results suggest shifts in how teachers understood their role. Both cases speak to the complexities teachers face as they try to realize the recommendations for enhancing language learning and provide insight into what “rich” discourse means.
A Practical Approach to the Explanation of Marketing Theory

Abstract CONTEMPORARY HOTEL SALES By Andrew Schwarz and David C. Dorf Prentice Hall. 275 pp. $44.00
Interaction of alcohol and hepatitis viral proteins: implication in synergistic effect of alcohol drinking and viral hepatitis on liver injury

Alcohol drinking and viral hepatitis are both recognized as major causes of liver disease worldwide, and they frequently coexist and synergistically cause liver injury in patients with chronic liver disease. Several mechanisms have been implicated in exacerbation of liver injury in patients with alcohol drinking and viral hepatitis. These include impairment of host defense and liver regeneration by alcohol consumption. The findings obtained from my laboratory have demonstrated that alcohol potentiates cooperatively several signals activated by hepatitis B virus X protein (HBX) or hepatitis C virus core protein, and HBX sensitizes hepatocytes to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)- and ethanol-induced apoptosis by a caspase-3-dependent mechanism, which may also contribute to the synergistic effect of alcohol drinking and viral hepatitis on liver injury.
Equitable Instruction for Secondary Latino English Learners: Examining Critical Principles of Differentiation in Lesson Design

The research emphasizes the need for educators to take more ownership of Latino English Learners (ELs) and identify effective lesson differentiation through subject area content (instruction), process (activities), and products (assessments). Based on the literature review, school achievement improves when practices address students’ culture, experiences and learning styles in ways that are differentiated in academics.This study examined lesson plans from 35 teacher candidates (86% white, 14% Latino) in a Single Subject Credential Program in southern California. Candidates conducted clinical practice in districts that served up to 70% ELs, with the majority identified as Long-term English Learners (LTEL). Lessons analyzed a five-part differentiation plan: 1) student information, 2) differentiation, 3) appropriateness of differentiation, 4) assessment criteria, and 5) monitoring and adaptations. Results indicated 94% (33/35) of the candidates provided data on ELs’ proficiency levels. All (35) lessons included at least one differentiation. About 26% provided a rationale forl esson differentiation, monitoring or adaption; however, only 9% described assessment criteria. Educating LTELs is more than just providing access to the curriculum or sheltering instruction. Lessons must draw from critical theory/pedagogy for effective LTEL practices. Teacher educators need to be more strategic in how they teach differentiation to candidates.
Role of accessory proteins in protein folding: Current Opinion in Structural Biology 1992, 2:26…-34

Abstract Much progress has been made towards understanding the structure and function of the two classes of proteins that can be considered as genuine catalysts of protein folding: protein disulfide isomerase and the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases (rotamases). The three-dimensional structures of both rotamases, cyclophilin and the FK506-binding protein were reported and an understanding of the mechanisms at the atomic level is emerging. Molecular chaperones, on the other hand, do not catalyze protein folding but some do permit folding to occur in vitro under conditions in which it does not otherwise occur. Kinetic partioning between the pathways of folding, aggregation and association with a chaperone has emerged as an important feature. Furthermore, the three-dimensional structure of the ATPase domain of chaperone 70 has been solved and is strikingly similar to actin. Although this permits the mechanism of ATP hydrolysis to be understood at the atomic level, the manner in which this is coupled to folding, assembly or release of the target protein remains obscure.
Voltage is a partial activator of rat thermosensitive TRP channels

TRPV1 and TRPM8 are sensory nerve ion channels activated by heating and cooling, respectively. A variety of physical and chemical stimuli activate these receptors in a synergistic manner but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Both channels are voltage sensitive, and temperature and ligands modulate this voltage dependence. Thus, a voltage-sensing mechanism has become an attractive model to explain the generalized gating of these and other thermo-sensitive TRP channels. We show here using whole-cell and single channel measurements that voltage produces only a partial activation of TRPV1 and TRPM8. At room temperature (20–25°C) membrane depolarization evokes responses that saturate at ∼50–60% of the maximum open probability. Furthermore, high concentrations of capsaicin (10 μm), resiniferatoxin (5 μm) and menthol (6 mm) reveal voltage-independent gating. Similarly, other modes of TRPV1 regulation including heat, protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation, and protons enhance both the efficacy and sensitivity of voltage activation. In contrast, the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine produces the opposite effects. These data can be explained by an allosteric model in which voltage, temperature, agonists and inverse agonists are independently coupled, either positively or negatively, to channel gating. Thus, voltage acts separately but in concert with other stimuli to regulate channel activation, and, therefore, a voltage-sensitive mechanism is unlikely to represent a final, gating mechanism for these channels.
Studies on solder self-alignment

Solder technologies are being used for precision-aligned optoelectronic assemblies. Two representative configurations for such assemblies are shown in this paper. In the first the assembly's component well is aligned to the substrate by the solder surface tension force. The second involves the use of mechanical stops that are pushed or pulled against each other by misaligned solder joints. The accuracies required for lateral alignments are in the range from 1 to 10 /spl mu/m. Our research studies are aimed at engineering soldering techniques for precision alignments by developing 1) CAD tools for solder designs and 2) CAM tools to optimize and control solder and process parameters for a fluxless soldering process.
Say on Pay ... Does the Buck Stop Here

By 2007, executive compensation at U.S. companies had become an extremely contentious topic. Reports in the press of multi-million dollar pay packages - in the form of stock option exercises, severance packages, and retirement payouts - led to an outcry among many investors that compensation levels had gotten out of hand. Negative sentiments were highest against CEOs who received large severance payments despite the fact that the price of the company's stock had decreased substantially during their tenure. Corporate governance watchdogs dubbed such situations "pay for failure." Critics of executive compensation levels advocated a series of actions to rein in pay. These included increased disclosure about previously obscure contract provisions for severance and retirement packages, urging shareholders to withhold votes from directors who approved excessive pay amounts, and the requirement that executive compensation packages be put before shareholders each year for an advisory vote. This last proposal, commonly referred to as “say on pay,” would give shareholders a direct voice (using the proxy voting procedures) for the first time on CEO compensation. Advocates of say on pay believed that the practice would put pressure on directors to justify proposed compensation amounts rather than rubber stamp pay packages proposed by boards and consultants. They also believed it would improve dialogue between shareholders and directors. Critics charged that the say-on-pay movement was politically motivated by activist investors and public pension funds who were trying to gain influence over matters that should be decided by elected board members. Average shareholders were left to consider what effects, if any, say on pay would have on compensation trends and whether it offered an innovative corporate control or an unnecessary distraction for CEOs and board members.
The Tc3 Family of Transposable Genetic Elements in Caenorhabditis elegans

We describe genetic and molecular properties of Tc3, a family of transposable elements in Caenorhabditis elegans. About 15 Tc3 elements are present in the genomes of several different wild-type varieties of C. elegans, but Tc3 transposition and excision are not detected in these strains. Tc3 transposition and excision occur at high frequencies, however, in strain TR679, a mutant identified because of its highly active Tc1 elements. In TR679, Tc3 is responsible for several spontaneous mutations affecting the unc-22 gene. Tc3-induced mutations are unstable, and revertants result from precise or nearly precise excision of Tc3. Although Tc3 is very active in TR679, it is not detectably active in several other mutator mutants, all of which exhibit high levels of Tc1 activity. Tc3 is 2.5 kilobases long, and except for sequences near its inverted repeat termini, it is unrelated to Tc1. The termini of Tc3 are inverted repeats of at least 70 base pairs; the terminal 8 nucleotides of Tc3 are identical to 8 of the terminal 9 nucleotides of Tc1.
Mentoring In The Clinical Setting To Improve Student Decision-Making Competence

Introduction: The physician-intern relationship can be difficult to develop. A new chiropractic intern in a teaching clinic undergoes a major transition from classroom to clinical practice and must learn to turn classroom knowledge into clinical application. The ability to start formulating clinical techniques and apply them on a patient is daunting. Developing a mentor relationship is difficult to do in a patient-care setting, but it can be done. Mentoring is a process of exchanging skills and values between 2 individuals with the goal of increasing the knowledge base and clinical skills of the intern. With this in mind, our group created short-duration small-group mentoring classes offered at different times on multiple days, permitting interns to have numerous opportunities to view procedure and ask questions about the topic of that day's presentation. Methods: This project spanned a period of 3 months, during which time 6 clinicians were in charge of educating approximately 50 students. The mentorship model was developed so that in addition to the clinicians' regular duties of supervising patient care with interns, there would also be 3 15-minute sessions per week presenting a topic of a clinician's choice pertinent to the intern learning experience. Results: 209 evaluations were turned in, with 5 students not completing the evaluation. Students overwhelmingly believed that these sessions were beneficial to their learning and provided them with the opportunity to ask questions in regard to the topics. Conclusion: Students agreed that these small group mentoring sessions provided them with more information than they previously had learned in the classroom. They thought that the sessions gave them enough information to be motivated to use the knowledge they learned from the session to make decisions on the topic when faced with a patient with a similar problem. This is a small survey sample that will need further review and trials to determine if it will provide the necessary feedback to help improve small group presentations. It will also need to be spread to other clinical settings to determine if it is beneficial for this style of small groups to aid other learners and to evaluate its helpfulness to interns in putting clinical information and evaluations together for practice. Follow-up studies could also include evaluating students at a later date to determine if the students are using the information that they are learning from the sessions.
A thermal management system and prototyping for system-on-chip designs

A thermal management system for system-on-chip (SOC) design and its prototype are presented. This paper proposes the architecture, design details with justification, and the final system integration for a complete thermal management system for SOC design. By embedding the proposed system in system-on-chip designs, stability and performance can be strengthened through optimal management of each component's power using feedback from thermal information. This technique yields one generation of improvement in modern processor or other high-speed circuit design using the same silicon process.
Effects of Ethanol on the Male Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis*

I. Introduction It is estimated that at least seven percent of the adult population in the United States are alcoholics or abuse alcohol (1). Considering the extent of the alcohol problem it is obvious that a basic understanding of the medical consequences of alcohol use and abuse is important. Gonadal dysfunction, as evidenced by decreased libido and impotence in the nonalcoholic drinker and infertility with gonadal atrophy in the alcoholic individual, is one of the more common problems. Data regarding the site or sites and the mechanisms of alcohol-induced gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary toxicity are often conflicting. This article reviews our current knowledge about the effects of ethanol on male gonadal function. II. Evidence for Gonadal Failure and Estrogen Excess in Men with Alcoholic Cirrhosis Clinical gonadal failure, characterized by impotence, loss of libido, infertility, and testicular atrophy, is commonly observed in chronic alcoholics with cirrhosis of the liver. In addition, there are sig...
Single-dose mucosal immunization with a candidate universal influenza vaccine provides rapid protection from virulent H5N1, H3N2 and H1N1 viruses.

Background The sudden emergence of novel influenza viruses is a global public health concern. Conventional influenza vaccines targeting the highly variable surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase must antigenically match the emerging strain to be effective. In contrast, “universal” vaccines targeting conserved viral components could be used regardless of viral strain or subtype. Previous approaches to universal vaccination have required protracted multi-dose immunizations. Here we evaluate a single dose universal vaccine strategy using recombinant adenoviruses (rAd) expressing the conserved influenza virus antigens matrix 2 and nucleoprotein. Methodology/Principal Findings In BALB/c mice, administration of rAd via the intranasal route was superior to intramuscular immunization for induction of mucosal responses and for protection against highly virulent H1N1, H3N2, or H5N1 influenza virus challenge. Mucosally vaccinated mice not only survived, but had little morbidity and reduced lung virus titers. Protection was observed as early as 2 weeks post-immunization, and lasted at least 10 months, as did antibodies and lung T cells with activated phenotypes. Virus-specific IgA correlated with but was not essential for protection, as demonstrated in studies with IgA-deficient animals. Conclusion/Significance Mucosal administration of NP and M2-expressing rAd vectors provided rapid and lasting protection from influenza viruses in a subtype-independent manner. Such vaccines could be used in the interval between emergence of a new virus strain and availability of strain-matched vaccines against it. This strikingly effective single-dose vaccination thus represents a candidate off-the-shelf vaccine for emergency use during an influenza pandemic.
Ophthalmic changes in severe anorexia nervosa: a case series.

Objective: We describe the diagnosis and management of lagophthalmos, or failure of eyelid closure, in five patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) who complained of dry, irritated eyes and photophobia. Method: Five patients with these findings are described retrospectively. Results: Examination revealed lagopthalmos in the setting of ptosis and enophthalmos, with multiple other starvation-mediated medical complications. Discussion: These eye findings, as complications of AN, have not been described in the literature. With careful protective measures, initiation of nutritional rehabilitation, and intensively monitored early refeeding, these patients' ocular abnormalities and associated symptoms resolved completely. Recognition of this pathology and appropriate management can prevent long-term morbidity in the form of permanent loss of visual acuity due to corneal abrasions and improve the outcomes for these patients with severe AN. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2012.
Development and characterization of ink for an electrostatic ink jet printer

This paper reviews the development of the ink for an electrostatic ink jet printer. It discusses the formulation logic, test procedures, failure analyses, and problem resolutions. The variables that influence the jet printing process and print quality are defined, and their relationship to specific formulations is discussed. Also considered are the relationships between formulation variables and failure modes inherent in the ink.
Paradrymonia peltatifolia (Gesneriaceae), a Recently Discovered Species from Panama

Abstract. A recently discovered species is described from the Cobre mine site managed by Minera Panama S.A. in Colon Province (Donoso District) in central Panama near the Caribbean coast. The new species, Paradrymonia peltatifolia J. L. Clark & M. M. Mora (Gesneriaceae, Episcieae), is easily distinguished from congeners by the presence of peltate leaf blades, which is a vegetative characteristic that is rare in the Gesneriaceae.
The yeast heat shock transcription factor contains a transcriptional activation domain whose activity is repressed under nonshock conditions

Abstract Transcription of heat shock genes is induced by exposure of cells to elevated temperatures or other stress conditions. In yeast, it is thought that induction of transcription is mediated by conversion of a DNA-bound transcriptionally inactive form of the heat shock transcription factor (HSTF) to a DNA-bound transcriptionally active form. We have identified domains in HSTF involved in transcriptional activation and in repression of transcriptional activation at nonshock temperatures. We present evidence that a temperature-regulated transcriptional activation domain exists in HSTF and that this domain is essential for survival of yeast cells at heat shock temperatures. We propose a model for temperature-regulated transcriptional activation by a derepression mechanism.
The tragedy of academic criminal justice

Abstract Criminal justice Ph.D. programs in the United States are unusually behavioristic in their structure, concentrating attention on quantitative methodologies and strongly pressuring students to construct studies that utilize acquired skills. As a result, Ph.D. students take on a strongly conservative cast, seldom asking larger, more philosophical questions about the field as a whole and its place in its context, which is that of the American polity. Instead, students look for methodologically manageable problems within the given and accepted system. The result is the creation of a generation of American Ph.D. holders who have practically no critical perspective on the system.
Extensions of the Johnson-Neyman Technique to Linear Models With Curvilinear Effects: Derivations and Analytical Tools

The past decade has witnessed renewed interest in the use of the Johnson-Neyman (J-N) technique for calculating the regions of significance for the simple slope of a focal predictor on an outcome variable across the range of a second, continuous independent variable. Although tools have been developed to apply this technique to probe 2- and 3-way interactions in several types of linear models, this method has not been extended to include quadratic terms or more complicated models involving quadratic terms and interactions. Curvilinear relations of this type are incorporated in several theories in the social sciences. This article extends the J-N method to such linear models along with presenting freely available online tools that implement this technique as well as the traditional pick-a-point approach. Algebraic and graphical representations of the proposed J-N extension are provided. An example is presented to illustrate the use of these tools and the interpretation of findings. Issues of reliability as well as "spurious moderator" effects are discussed along with recommendations for future research.
Crystallization Studies of Polymer Blends of Nylon-11/Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The crystallization of blends of two semi-crystalline polymers nylon-11 and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF2) was studied. The existence of separate melting and crystallization temperatures over the whole composition range showed that these two polymers did not co-crystallize. However, blending affected the crystallization behavior of each component. Adding nylon-11 decreased the crystallization temperature (Tc) of PVF2, but increased its crystallization rate. On the other hand, the Tc of nylon-11 decreased, and its crystallization rate decreased as well when blended with PVF2. The crystallization mechanism of both nylon-11 and PVF2 changed in the blends compared to that in the pure states. The Ozawa index, or Avrami exponent, of PVF2 in the blend decreased from 3 to 1 as the crystallization temperature decreased from 137 ◦ C to 131 ◦ C, compared with a decrease from 2.5 to 1.3 observed in pure PVF2 at the temperature range from 145 ◦ Ct o 135 ◦ C. The Avrami exponent of nylon-11 in the blend decreased from 2 to 1 as the crystallization temperature decreased from 159 ◦ C to 153 ◦ C, compared with a decrease from 2.5 to 0.75 observed in pure nylon-11 at the same temperature range.
Stress-induced destabilization of solidification and melting fronts

Abstract The morphological evolution of the initially planar solidification and melting fronts of a thin liquid film in a stressed binary alloy has been investigated when diffusion only proceeds in the liquid phase. A linear stability analysis has been performed and the diffusion-controlled evolution of the shape of both fronts has been characterized. The destabilizing effect of stress on the profiles of the interfaces has been identified for a liquid film at rest when the solid is submitted to constant stress and when it is migrating, due to stress gradient, in the hypothesis where concentration field of solute satisfy Laplace’s equation. The possibility of roughness formation in the early beginning of the development of the solid–liquid interfaces has been finally discussed for alloys in the context of a liquid film migration mechanism.
The role of party reputation in the formation of policy

Abstract This paper shows that a party can credibly establish a platform more moderate than the ideology of its members and thereby raise the probability that the party's nominee wins the election. A lame duck incumbent optimally implements his party's platform in order to maintain his party's reputation for having a moderate platform. This increases the likelihood that his party retains power. When candidates credibly locate themselves in policy space via this mechanism, we show that if candidates are sufficiently impatient, then their policies are bounded away from one another. The policy convergence result is not robust.
Path-integral simulations of hydrogen and hydrogen plasmas.

Feynman path-integral simulations of a system consisting of protons and distinguishable electrons under periodic boundary conditions are presented with the aim of calculating the phase diagram of hydrogen at various temperatures and densities. For a two-electron\char21{}two-proton system, for which Fermi statistics can be ignored, the equations of state and the radial distribution functions are obtained, including the effects of temperature and pressure ionization, for temperatures down to 0.68 eV and densities up to 1 g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$. These results are compared to other models. Systems with more than two distinguishable electrons are found to be thermodynamically unstable, by collapsing into a cluster at low temperature, suggesting that further simulations be used to investigate the stability of Boltzmann matter.
Utilization of cutin by a pseudomonad isolated from soil

A Pseudomonas sp., which has been isolated from orchard soil, is able to utilize cutin as a sole source of carbon. Products obtained from the culture filtrate corresponded to that obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of cutin.
Measurement and modeling of in situ lead stiffness of surface mounted packages

An approach to the experimental determination of in situ lead stiffness has been used to measure selected surface mount component (SMC) lead stiffness under simulated service conditions. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental data and three-dimensional elastic beam finite element analysis (FEA). The agreement was achieved through the use of a stiffness matching point, which provided insight into the level of constraint provided by the solder joint at the lead foot. When adequate solder was available, the solder served as a built-in boundary. When there was insufficient solder creep relaxation in the solder because of the high level of stress in the joint permitted rotation of the lead and the solder served as a pinned joint. Location of the stiffness matching point was found to be approximately 0.08 mm (0.003 in) below the solder fillet on the lead for the lateral stiffness component and about 0.15 mm (0.006 in) above the land for the transverse stiffness component. >
What’s in a name: The taxonomic status of human head and body lice

Human head lice (Anoplura: Pediculidae: Pediculus) are pandemic, parasitizing countless school children worldwide due to the evolution of insecticide resistance, and human body (clothing) lice are responsible for the deaths of millions as a result of vectoring several deadly bacterial pathogens. Despite the obvious impact these lice have had on their human hosts, it is unclear whether head and body lice represent two morphological forms of a single species or two distinct species. To assess the taxonomic status of head and body lice, we provide a synthesis of publicly available molecular data in GenBank, and we compare phylogenetic and population genetic methods using the most diverse geographic and molecular sampling presently available. Our analyses find reticulated networks, gene flow, and a lack of reciprocal monophyly, all of which indicate that head and body lice do not represent genetically distinct evolutionary units. Based on these findings, as well as inconsistencies of morphological, behavioral, and ecological variability between head and body lice, we contend that no known species concept would recognize these louse morphotypes as separate species. We recommend recognizing head and body lice as morphotypes of a single species, Pediculus humanus, until compelling new data and analyses (preferably analyses of fast evolving nuclear markers in a coalescent framework) indicate otherwise.