cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Settling the Matter: Does Title I of the ADA Work?

Analysis of cases decided under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which addresses employment discrimination, reveals that defendants have consistently prevailed in well over 90% of cases since the ADA's inception. This empirical evidence has led many commentators to conclude that the ADA's Title I has failed to improve workplace conditions for individuals with disabilities. This article attempts to assess the efficacy of Title I through a different lens. It focuses on several data sets that have previously received little attention. It examines Equal Employment Opportunity Commission merit resolutions, lawsuit settlement statistics, and reports concerning reasonable accommodation requests processed by private and public sector employers. These statistics reveal that employers are reasonably responsive to Title I claimants outside of the courthouse setting and that the ADA has in fact improved workplace conditions for employees with disabilities. The more general point made by this article is that the efficacy and impact of statutory mandates cannot be judged based solely on reported court opinions. Rather, data concerning the behavior of those covered by the statutes and extra-judicial dispute resolution are essential to an assessment of whether a statute has achieved the societal changes that it was designed to effect. Consequently, the paper emphasizes the need for more comprehensive empirical studies concerning ADA claim resolutions and outlines a proposal for mandatory reporting of settlement outcomes and the processing of reasonable accommodation requests by employers.
Conflicting Motivations: Understanding How Low-Status Group Members Respond to Ingroup Discrimination Claimants.

Previous research has found that among low-status individuals, both group identification (GID) and status-legitimizing beliefs (SLBs) motivate varying responses to ingroup discrimination claimants....
8 Language Development

The modern study of children's language is influenced by two contrasting perspectives. The theory of Universal Grammar emphasizes the role of innate abilities in a core language module. In contrast, Emergentism views language learning as a result of processes of variation, competition, and generalization, operating across a diverse set of space-time scales ranging from online processing to long-term patterns of social and genetic consolidation. This chapter reviews language development in terms of seven levels of emergent structure: articulatory phonology, auditory phonology, lexicon, morphology, syntax, mental models, and conversation. For each level, the analysis considers the role of input language structure, neural processes, and social mechanisms. On each level, we observe ways in which the initial learning of specific items gives rise to subsequent pattern extraction and generalization. We then examine the neuronal basis of language control in terms of structures and methods for allowing highly interactive online processing between the seven components. Processing models provide ways of understanding both developmental language disorders and the learning of multiple languages at different stages in development. Keywords: audition; articulation; combination; competition; Competition Model; conversation; DevLex; Emergentism; episodic memory; generalization; gesture; item-based patterns; language; learning; lexicon; linguistic relativity; mental models; morphology; phonology; recursion; rote; syntax; statistical learning; Universal Grammar; topological organization; Vygotsky
Gene Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a chronic, neurodegenerative disease with no known cure. ALS is characterised by the loss of both upper and lower motor neurons. On becoming symptomatic, patients with ALS survive between 1–5 years. The aetiology and pathogenesis of ALS is complex and can vary among cases; however, some forms of ALS have been identified to be genetic in origin. In particular, 20% of familial ALS cases have been attributed to a gain-of-function mutation in the SOD1 gene. Thus, gene therapy has been an attractive method to potentially treat ALS. The intention of this article is to provide the reader a summary of common gene therapy strategies for ALS. Key Concepts: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no known cure. ALS exists in two forms: familial ALS and sporadic ALS. Twenty per cent of fALS cases are due to a mutation in the SOD1 gene. SOD1 murine models have been valuable in the advancement of gene therapy for ALS. Gene therapy is a promising therapeutic option for ALS. Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; motor neuron disease; gene therapy; viral vectors; SOD1 model
PSICA: a fast and accurate web service for protein model quality analysis

This paper presents a new fast and accurate web service for protein model quality analysis, called PSICA (Protein Structural Information Conformity Analysis). It is designed to evaluate how much a tertiary model of a given protein primary sequence conforms to the known protein structures of similar protein sequences, and to evaluate the quality of predicted protein models. PSICA implements the MUfoldQA_S method, an efficient state-of-the-art protein model quality assessment (QA) method. In CASP12, MUfoldQA_S ranked No. 1 in the protein model QA select-20 category in terms of the difference between the predicted and true GDT-TS value of each model. For a given predicted 3D model, PSICA generates (i) predicted global GDT-TS value; (ii) interactive comparison between the model and other known protein structures; (iii) visualization of the predicted local quality of the model; and (iv) JSmol rendering of the model. Additionally, PSICA implements MUfoldQA_C, a new consensus method based on MUfoldQA_S. In CASP12, MUfoldQA_C ranked No. 1 in top 1 model GDT-TS loss on the select-20 QA category and No. 2 in the average difference between the predicted and true GDT-TS value of each model for both select-20 and best-150 QA categories. The PSICA server is freely available at http://qas.wangwb.com/∼wwr34/mufoldqa/index.html.
Water resources stewardship in an era of rapid change

Abstract Natural and anthropogenic changes in the earth systems impact human and environmental well-being. Water, as a critical component of social-environmental systems, has historically been managed in a way that prioritizes water supply and flood control; some side-effects include stressed ecosystems, water quality declines, and inequitable access to water. The pervasive nature of water issues, both emerging and persistent, reiterate the need for systematization of knowledge and re-envisioning of place-based planning and management of water systems. Here we develop a new conceptual framework for Water Resources Stewardship (WRS) with a focus on equitable and adaptive solutions under changing conditions. This framework organizes and fortifies existing knowledge on this topic and presents a systems-level view. A thematic analysis of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) based on published case studies is used to: (a) appraise elements of the WRS approach, and (b) identify opportunities for integration of a stewardship approach. WRS offers an adaptive and equitable approach that embraces risk-based approaches to steward water systems within an uncertain and changing environment.
A Role for Nanoparticles in Treating Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the main causes of disability in children and young adults, as well as a significant concern for elderly individuals. Depending on the severity, TBI can have a long-term impact on the quality of life for survivors of all ages. The primary brain injury can result in severe disability or fatality, and secondary brain damage can increase the complexities in cellular, inflammatory, neurochemical, and metabolic changes in the brain, which can last decades post-injury. Thus, survival from a TBI is often accompanied by lifelong disabilities. Despite the significant morbidity, mortality, and economic loss, there are still no effective treatment options demonstrating an improved outcome in a large multi-center Phase III trial, which can be partially attributed to poor target engagement of delivered therapeutics. Thus, there is a significant unmet need to develop more effective delivery strategies to overcome the biological barriers that would otherwise inhibit transport of materials into the brain to prevent the secondary long-term damage associated with TBI. The complex pathology of TBI involving the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has limited the development of effective therapeutics and diagnostics. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop novel strategies to target the BBB. The leaky BBB caused by a TBI may provide opportunities for therapeutic delivery via nanoparticles (NP). The focus of this review is to provide a survey of NP-based strategies employed in preclinical models of TBI and to provide insights for improved NP based diagnostic or treatment approaches. Both passive and active delivery of various NPs for TBI are discussed. Finally, potential therapeutic targets where improved NP-mediated delivery could increase target engagement are identified with the overall goal of providing insight into open opportunities for NP researchers to begin research in TBI.
Trade Policy to Catalyze Export Diversification : What Should Landlocked Fragile Countries Do ? The Cases of Mali, Chad, and Niger

The landlocked and fragile countries Mali, Niger, and Chad have suffered, to varying degrees, from Dutch Disease, with high export concentration in natural resource commodities and in a few foreign markets, and little development of their non-resource economies. The three countries' ability to create a sustainable path to economic growth and poverty reduction is inextricably linked to their connectivity with external markets, in the region and beyond. Thus, Mali, Niger, and Chad are first challenged by their geography -- their landlocked nature creates a barrier to market access beyond their immediate neighbors, while their vast and thinly populated lands serve to isolate the most vulnerable communities from external and internal markets. Adding to these geographic disadvantages, the incentive environment -- defined by high and variable customs common external tariff regimes resulting from multiple overlapping regional trade arrangements -- places a wedge between domestic and international prices that provides a disincentive to exports in favor of non-tradable and domestic-oriented sectors. By bringing greater coherence and convergence between the many common external tariff regimes in operation and the rationalization of their structures, and improving connectivity within and between markets, Mali, Niger, and Chad can better promote the reallocation of resources toward tradable goods and services, putting the countries on a path toward greater economic inclusion and sustainable growth.
Natural History of the Self

For a generation, a dominant theme in behavioral primatology has been the interpretation of social interactions as fitness strategies. This approach seeks the ultimate causes of sociality in adaptation through natural selection. Studies from Cayo Santiago have contributed to this approach in a number of studies of fitness consequences of agonistic status of females, most recently and extensively by Blomquist (2007, 2009) and Blomquist et al. (2011), and of males (Berard et al. 1993, 1994). Here a second, yet complementary, approach, which seeks the proximate causes of behavior in the organization of the neural mechanisms of perception and action, is taken. Each approach makes inferences about processes that are not directly observable, in the first case natural selection, in the second the activity of neural networks in the brain.
Red State Blues: How the Conservative Revolution Stalled in the States

Over the last quarter century, a nationalized and increasingly conservative Republican Party made unprecedented gains at the state level, winning control of twenty-four new state governments. Liberals and conservatives alike anticipated far-reaching consequences, but what has the Republican revolution in the states achieved? Red State Blues shows that, contrary to liberals' fears, conservative state governments have largely failed to enact policies that advance conservative goals or reverse prior liberal gains. Matt Grossmann tracks policies and socioeconomic outcomes across all 50 states, interviews state insiders, and considers the full issue agenda. Although Republicans have been effective at staying in power, they have not substantially altered the nature or reach of government. Where they have had policy victories, the consequences on the ground have been surprisingly limited. A sober assessment of Republican successes and failures after decades of electoral victories, Red State Blues highlights the stark limits of the conservative ascendancy.
Treatment outcomes in metastatic prostate cancer patients with DNA damage repair mutations.

187Background: DNA damage repair mutations (DDM) are common in prostate cancer (PCa). Optimal treatment sequence and outcomes of androgen signaling inhibitors (ASIs) and chemotherapy in this popula...
Ethnic minorities, ethnic conflict, and confidence in the UN across the world:

This study investigates to what extent ethnic minorities differ from majorities in the degree of confidence in the UN and the scope conditions. Emphasizing the impact of the UN’s involvement, it ar...
The Evolution of Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions

The use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions was first described by Wegner, a German investigator in the late nineteenth century. He injected hypertonic and hypotonic solutions into the peritoneal cavity of a guinea pig and observed that hypertonic solutions increased the volume in the cavity and hypotonic solutions decreased the volume. Wegner’s findings triggered interest in the use of solutions for the treatment of uremia. Several scientists followed suit; Ganter used saline to treat uremia, and Heusser added dextrose to increase ultrafiltration (UF). Rhoads added lactate in PD solutions as a buffer to correct acidosis in 1938. The use of PD solutions has continued to evolve to the present day in the quest for formulating an optimal dialysate. The durability of PD as a dialysis modality depends on the type of solution utilized and its long-term effects on the peritoneal membrane. Many have argued that biocompatible solutions are ideal because they are proposed to limit the long-term degradation of the peritoneal membrane.
Characteristics and Outcomes Among Hospitalized COVID-19-Positive Patients in a Nonurban Environment.

INTRODUCTION: Virtually all hospitalized coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outcome data come from urban environments. The extent to which these findings are generalizable to other settings is unknown. Coronavirus disease-2019 data from large, urban settings may be particularly difficult to apply in military medicine, where practice environments are often semi-urban, rural, or austere. The purpose of this study is compare presenting characteristics and outcomes of U.S. patients with COVID-19 in a nonurban setting to similar patients in an urban setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case series of adults with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection who were admitted to Hershey Medical Center (HMC), a 548-bed tertiary academic medical center in central Pennsylvania serving semi-urban and rural populations, from March 23, 2020, to April 20, 2020 (the first month of COVID-19 admissions at HMC). Patients and outcomes of this cohort were compared to published data on a cohort of similar patients from the New York City (NYC) area. RESULTS: The cohorts had similar age, gender, comorbidities, need for intensive care or mechanical ventilation, and most vital sign and laboratory studies. The NYC's cohort had shorter hospital stays (4.1 versus 7.2 days, P 60U/L; 39.0% versus 5.9%, P 40U/L; 58.4% versus 42.4%, P = .012) aminotransferase, oxygen saturation <90% (20.4% versus 7.2%, P = .004), and mortality (21% versus 1.4%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalists in nonurban environments would be prudent to use caution when considering the generalizability of results from dissimilar regions. Further investigation is needed to explore the possibility of reproducible causative systemic elements that may help improve COVID-19-related outcomes. Broader reports of these relationships across many settings will offer military medical planners greater ability to consider outcomes most relevant to their unique settings when considering COVID-19 planning.
A Framework for High Density Converter Electrical-Thermal-Mechanical Co-design and Co-optimization for MEA Application

More electric aircraft (MEA) is getting popular as it offers higher efficiency, and high-power density compared to conventional aircrafts. Design of a power electronics converter for such applications involves optimization amongst various contesting areas and variables, thereby emphasizing a thorough design approach. This paper presents a novel model-based optimization (MBO) strategy aiming to locate the optimal design space of inverter to reach both high efficiency and high-power density, at a given geometrical space, thermal limit, harmonics requirements and semiconductor cost. Guided by proposed algorithm, a 450-kVA three-phase full SiC-MOSFET based inverter is designed, and tested, with peak efficiency of 99.45%, and power density of 27.33 kW/kg. The performance predicted by proposed MBO shows close match to the practical results, thereby providing a good framework to future high-performance inverter design.
Nut intake is inversely related to insulin resistance and CRP levels (370.2)

Objective: To examine the link between nuts intake and both insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation as measured by C- reactive protein (CRP). Methods: Data on 773 participants (571 females and 285 males), with a mean age of 58 years from the Adventist Health Study-2 cohort were Cross-sectionally analyzed. Total nuts intake, including peanuts was obtained from six unannounced telephone-based 24-hour dietary recalls and subjects were classified by tertiles of intake. IR was determined by Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR), > 1.7. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compute the odds ratios (ORs) while adjusting for relevant demographic, dietary and lifestyle factors. Results: The odds of IR lowered with increased nuts intake. Compared with the lowest tertile the medium and high nut intake tertiles had an OR of 0.587 (95% CI 0.406-0. 847, P, 0.004) and an OR of 0.523 (95% CI 0.360-0.762, P, 0.001) respectively. This observed association was attenuated when additionally adjusting for BMI. High nu...
Why Things Matter to People

(2013). Why Things Matter to People. Journal of Critical Realism: Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 255-259.
The nature and prognostic significance of serial amino acid determinations in severe chronic active liver disease.

Abstract Serum amino acid levels were determined in 29 patients with severe chronic active liver disease before, during, and after administration of prednisone or placebo and in 22 healthy controls. The pretreatment molar ratio of amino acids was less in patients than in controls (p
Risk Orientation, Risk Exposure, and Policy Opinions: The Case of Free Trade

This research offers a general framework for thinking about how individual disposition towards risk influences public policy opinions. Affinity for or aversion to risk is, in part, a stable personality characteristic that interacts with risk and reward messages in complex policy debates. We examine the implications of this for public opinions about free trade with extensions to immigration policy. We argue and find that opinions about policy depend jointly upon one's exposure to potential gains or losses and one's risk orientation. The findings have implications for crafting and framing public policies because they highlight how individual characteristics are likely to shape the public response to policy proposals. Our findings suggest that there may be limits, in the aggregate, to the degree to which elites can alter the level of support for policies through framing or through offering risk-mitigating policy provisions.
The Neoliberal Racial Project: The Tiger Mother and Governmentality

Combining the conceptual approach of racial formation and racial projects with the Foucauldian concept of governmentality, Jeong-eun Rhee theorizes the “neoliberal racial project” (NRP) and examines contemporary meanings and operations of race and racism in relation to neoliberalism. She analyzes Amy Chua's popular parenting memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, as a specific case of the NRP, and demonstrates how in this text race is pressed to work in new — neoliberal — ways, re/generating different kinds of categories and meanings, yet also continuously drawing upon old categories and meanings, to effect and rationalize social arrangements of power and exploitation, violence and expropriation. What is noteworthy is the way in which racial neoliberalism builds silently on the structural conditions of racism while disabling the very categories of their recognizability. Consequently, Rhee argues for new, historically bounded theories that can articulate how the meanings, categories, and concepts of races are constantly being reconfigured.
Activation-Specific Metabolic Requirements for NK Cell IFN-γ Production

There has been increasing recognition of the importance of cellular metabolism and metabolic substrates for the function and differentiation of immune cells. In this study, for the first time to our knowledge, we investigate the metabolic requirements for production of IFN-γ by freshly isolated NK cells. Primary murine NK cells mainly use mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation at rest and with short-term activation. Remarkably, we discovered significant differences in the metabolic requirements of murine NK cell IFN-γ production depending upon the activation signal. Stimulation of NK cell IFN-γ production was independent of glycolysis or mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation when cells were activated with IL-12 plus IL-18. By contrast, stimulation via activating NK receptors required glucose-driven oxidative phosphorylation. Prolonged treatment with high-dose, but not low-dose, IL-15 eliminated the metabolic requirement for receptor stimulation. In summary, this study demonstrates that metabolism provides an essential second signal for induction of IFN-γ production by activating NK cell receptors that can be reversed with prolonged high-dose IL-15 treatment.
Synaptic Transmission: Kinetics of synaptic-vesicle recycling

The kinetics of different steps in synaptic-vesicle recycling, including exocytosis, internalization and repriming, have recently been estimated in various types of living cell.
Modulation of mesolimbic dopaminergic activity over the rat estrous cycle

Clinical observations have suggested that ovarian steroid hormones modulate the symptomology of psychiatric disorders and this modulation is thought to be due to a protective effect of estrogen on dopaminergic activity. To test this hypothesis, mesolimbic dopamine (DA) activity was examined in relationship to endogenous hormone levels. Using in vivo electrochemical techniques, K+-stimulated DA release was measured in the nucleus accumbens of control, intact cycling female rats and experimental rats which had received bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions to the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) to produce subcortical hyperactivity. DA release and reuptake fluctuated with changes in circulating steroid levels in both control and lesion groups. In non-lesioned control rats, stimulated DA release peaked during diestrus I (DI) and was attenuated during diestrus II (DII) and estrus. DA transport, as measured by a change in T1/2 time, was significantly potentiated during proestrus. The expression of subcortical hyperactivity following lesions to the medial PFC appeared to be dependent on the steroid environment; during DII an increased responsiveness was observed while a significant decrease in K+-stimulated release was observed during DI. These cyclic changes in DA release were not associated with dramatic changes in DA transport except during proestrus when transport was significantly prolonged. These data suggest that cyclic fluctuation of ovarian steroids may modulate DA activity presynaptically through an alteration in both release and reuptake and that this modulation effectively dampens the expression of subcortical hyperactivity except under specific hormonal conditions.
35 PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENTAL FUNCTIONING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD FOLLOWING CEREBRAL INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE (IVH)

Follow-up data of infants with IVH suggest a positive relationship between grade of IVH and severity of developmental handicap. Previous studies have focused on the number of handicapped children rather than describing the pattern of cognitive and motor functioningo We examined 92 infants with IVH and 66 non-IVH controls using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at an average age of 15.2±9.5 months. Results follow: MDI and PDI scores demonstrate a downward trend with increasing severity of IVH. Infants with Grade 3 IVH have significantly lower PDI scores than control infants (t<.05) but equivalent MDI scores. Grade 4 hemorrhage significantly lowers both MDI and PDI scores (t<.001). Our data suggest there is greater impairment in motor functioning than in mental functioning following IVH.
Cell-permeant calcium buffer induced neuroprotection after cortical devascularization

An excitotoxic cascade resulting in a significant intracellular calcium load is thought to be a primary mechanism leading to neuronal death after ischemia. One way to protect neurons from injury is through the use of cell-permeant calcium buffers. These molecules have been reported to be neuroprotective via their ability to increase the cell’s overall Ca 2+ buffering load as well as by attenuating neurotransmitter release. However, their efficacy when given after injury has yet to be determined. We used diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), histological, and immunohistochemical methods to determine the neuroprotective efficacy of 2-aminophenol-N, N, O-triacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (APTRA-AM) after focal cerebral ischemia. Injured animals were given two injections of APTRA-AM at 1 and 12 h after injury. Animals were imaged prior to injury and then at 12, 24, 48 h and 3 and 7 days after injury. After 7 days the animals were euthanized for correlative cresyl violet histology and immunohistochemistry. Injury resulted in a decrease in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the injured area within the first 12 h of injury, which returned to normal by 7 days. In contrast, animals injected with APTRA-AM showed no significant change in the ADC at any time point studied. Tissue analysis showed that APTRA-AM significantly reduced the infarct size by 85% and extent of inflammatory cell infiltration by 94%. The results clearly demonstrate significant neuroprotection by APTRA-AM when given after injury.
Multi-modal highlight generation for sports videos using an information-theoretic excitability measure

The ability to detect and organize ‘hot spots’ representing areas of excitement within video streams is a challenging research problem when techniques rely exclusively on video content. A generic method for sports video highlight selection is presented in this study which leverages both video/image structure as well as audio/speech properties. Processing begins where the video is partitioned into small segments and several multi-modal features are extracted from each segment. Excitability is computed based on the likelihood of the segmental features residing in certain regions of their joint probability density function space which are considered both exciting and rare. The proposed measure is used to rank order the partitioned segments to compress the overall video sequence and produce a contiguous set of highlights. Experiments are performed on baseball videos based on signal processing advancements for excitement assessment in the commentators’ speech, audio energy, slow motion replay, scene cut density, and motion activity as features. Detailed analysis on correlation between user excitability and various speech production parameters is conducted and an effective scheme is designed to estimate the excitement level of commentator’s speech from the sports videos. Subjective evaluation of excitability and ranking of video segments demonstrate a higher correlation with the proposed measure compared to well-established techniques indicating the effectiveness of the overall approach.
Using Digital Stories In Writing Instruction For Secondary Students With Disabilities

This presentation will discuss two studies using computer-assisted instruction with digital stories to teach expressive writing to secondary students with disabilities. One study focused on students with autism, and the other involved those with learning disabilities. "PhotoStory" of Microsoft in the Windows platform was used to allow learners to post, crop, move and rotate digital pictures, typing texts, and recording voices, in order to produce a story in a slideshow format. As a result, students learned writing skills to develop their compositions to increase the length, correct words and sentences, and improve quality of writing. Index Terms - Technology, Writing, Secondary Students, Disabilities Writing is an important medium for students to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs (Graham & Perin, 2007). With the development of new media using technology, writing is necessary in one's daily life, such as communicating with family members and friends via websites, e-mails, and social media via Facebook. However, writing performance of many adolescents is below the level of required proficiency. To improve adolescents' writing skills, writing has become an integral part of the middle school and high school's curriculum. Yet, writing is a difficult subject area or skill for students, especially for those with disabilities. Although developing writing skills is a challenge for students with disabilities, the acquisition of these skills is important for them in a variety of contexts to express their idea and enhance their function in school. For example, they need written notes to make direct requests, engage in social conversations, create compositions to express their feelings, and to communicate with others. Thus, writing instruction is critical to students to learn writing and to improve writing skills. According to Ganz, Earles-Vollrath and Cook (2011), visually based instruction, such as using computer programs to demonstrate visual images is effective more than traditional approaches for students with disabilities. It seems that a visually based approach assists these students to focus and maintain their attention (Simpson, Myles & Ganz, 2008). Thus, their abilities to independently complete unfamiliar tasks are enhanced through visual cues (Ganz, Earles-Vollrath, & Cook, 2011). The nature of visually based instruction should allow these students to review visual cues and to make abstract concepts concrete. Successful approaches to instruction therefore should include pictures and photos that present class activities. These visual displays should provide more concrete examples that will be especially beneficial to students with
A computer-aided procedure for measuring Hebb-Williams maze performance

Abstract We describe a shortened procedure for testing mice over a 5-day interval on a swimming version of the Hebb-Williams maze. The mice are given 1 day of adaptation training, and are tested over the next 4 days on Hebb-Williams problems 1, 6, 12, and 5, in that order. As an animal swims through one of the maze problems, the computer screen shows the maze pattern, and an observer traces the path taken with a computer mouse. The computer program, Observe Software™, stores the path sequence, determines the error score for that trial, and sends the information to a spreadsheet where it is available for statistical analyses.
Epigenomics of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a large and growing public health problem. It is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid β peptides and abnormally phosphorylated tau proteins that are associated with cognitive decline and dementia. Much has been learned about the genomics of AD from linkage analyses and, more recently, genome-wide association studies. Several but not all aspects of the genomic landscape are involved in amyloid β metabolism. The moderate concordance of disease among twins suggests other factors, potentially epigenomic factors, are related to AD. We are at the earliest stages of examining the relation of the epigenome to the clinical and pathologic phenotypes that characterize AD. Our literature review suggests that there is some evidence of age-related changes in human brain methylation. Unfortunately, studies of AD have been relatively small with limited coverage of methylation sites and microRNA, let alone other epigenomic marks. We are in the midst of 2 large studies of human brains including coverage of more than 420,000 autosomal cytosine-guanine dinucleotides with the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadArray, and histone acetylation with chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. We present descriptive data to help inform other researchers what to expect from these approaches to better design and power their studies. We then discuss future directions to inform on the epigenomic architecture of AD.
Pharmacokinetic description of drug interactions by enzyme induction: Carbamazepine‐clonazepam in monkeys

The applicability of a pharmacokinetic model for drug interactions by enzyme induction was tested in rhesus monkeys using a design in which both the inducer (carbamazepine) and the induced agent (clonazepam) were infused chronically. Two types of studies were conducted. Studies 1 and II examined the kinetic behavior of plasma clonazepam levels during induction and postinduction, respectively. The addition of carbamazepine (Study I) caused the preinduction clonazepam steady-state level to decrease exponentially to a lower (induced) steady state after lag times of 14.0–60.5 hr, and the removal of carbamazepine (Study II) caused induced clonazepam steady-state levels to climb exponentially to a higher steady state after lag times of 34.0–81.0 hr. The extent of induction ranged between 23 and 54%. The time course of clonazepam levels was described in terms of a one-compartment induction model with zero-order input and a metabolic clearance that increased (Study I) or decreased (Study II) exponentially with time. In both studies, induced clonazepam half-lives (3.7–7.7 hr) were significantly shorter (p < 0.0005) than control values (5.2–12.2 hr). Apparent enzyme turnover half-lives were shorter in Study II (2.7–19.3 hr) than in Study I (6.9–66.4 hr). A two- to threefold increase in urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid during carbamazepine administration provided additional evidence that the present interaction was due to enzyme induction.
A Research Agenda for Alternative Licensure Programs in Music Education

Over the past 25 years, alternative certification has emerged as a realistic option for obtaining teacher certification in music. Although advocated by policy makers and embraced by career changers, music teacher educators have frequently viewed the role of content knowledge and pedagogical training in these programs with a high degree of skepticism. This article provides an overview of the organizational schemes used in graduate and nondegree alternative certification programs at universities, school districts, and other entities. A research agenda is provided that is designed to stimulate academic scholarship on alternative certification policies and programs and their impact on candidate quality, music education programs, and the music education profession overall.
Stimulation of transmitter release by guanidine derivatives.

Abstract Guanidine and its alkylated derivatives stimulate transmitter release in the sciatic nerve-sartorius muscle preparation of the frog, the excitatory nerve-opener muscle preparation of the crayfish cheloped, and the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation of the rat. The mechanism underlying this action has been studied. The amplitude of the end-plate potential was increased by guanidine derivatives. Guanidine, methylguanidine, 1,1-dimethylguanidine, ethylguanidine and propylguanidine were almost equally potent with the threshold concentration of 0.1–0.2mM. Formamidine and aminoguanidine were 20–40 times less potent than guanidine. This effect was reversed slowly after washing with normal solution free of drugs. However, the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials was not affected by high concentrations (5–10mM) of guanidine, and no change was observed in membrane potential and input resistance following application of guanidine, methylguanidine and 1,1-dimethylguanidine. The iontophoretically induced acetylcholine potential was suppressed by methylguanidine, 1,1-dimethylguanidine, ethylguanidine and propylguanidine, and was restored quickly upon washing with normal solution. Based on the actions on the end-plate potential and on the iontophoretic acetylcholine potential, the order of the potencies of guanidine derivatives in stimulating transmitter release were estimated as: methylguanidine, 1,1-dimethylguanidine, ethylguanidine, propylguanidine > guanidine > aminoguanidine, formamidine. Amylguanidine and octylguanidine had no presynaptic effect. Increasing external calcium concentration from 1.8 mM to 6 or 12 mM did not prevent the stimulating action of guanidine and 1,1-dimethylguanidine on the end-plate potential. Methylguanidine and 1,1-dimethylguanidine did not seem to affect the time constant of decay of neuromuscular facilitation in the rat. The quantal content of the end-plate potential in the rat preparation was increased by methylguanidine and 1,1-dimethylguanidine, and this increase was due entirely to an increase in the immediately available store of acetylcholine in the nerve terminal. The probability of release remained constant. It is unlikely that this action is due to the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration.
Probing the Mechanism of Carbon−Hydrogen Bond Activation by Photochemically Generated Hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borato Carbonyl Rhodium Complexes: New Experimental and Theoretical Investigations

Fast time-resolved infrared (TRIR) experiments and density functional (DFT) calculations have been used to elucidate the complete reaction mechanism between alkanes and photolytically activated hydridotris(pyrazoly-1-yl)boratodicarbonylrhodium. TRIR spectra were obtained after photolysis of Rh(Tp4-tBu-3,5-Me)(CO)2 in n-heptane, n-decane, and cyclohexane and of Rh(Tp3,5-Me)(CO)2 in n-heptane and cyclohexane. Initial photolysis produces a coordinatively unsaturated, 16-electron monocarbonyl species that vibrationally relaxes to an intermediate with νCO of 1971 cm−1 in n-heptane solution (species A). DFT calculations on Rh(Tp3,5-Me)(CO)−RH (RH = C2H6, C6H12) suggest that A is the triplet state of a five-coordinate, square-pyramidal Rh(κ3-Tp3,5-Me)(CO)−RH, in which the alkane is weakly bound. Within the first 2 ns, a new transient grew in at 1993 cm−1 (species B). The calculations show that the observed species B is the singlet state of a four-coordinate Rh(κ2-Tp3,5-Me)(CO)(RH), in which the alkane is strongl...
A comprehensive flow study of the 12 cc Penn State pulsatile pediatric ventricular assist device

While medical options for children born with congenital heart defects include transplantation, the amount of available organs remains limited. This lack of donors led to the development of the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Pediatric Circulatory Support Program. Contracts have been awarded to five teams with the task of creating novel support systems for children, ranging from 2 to 25 kg [1]. As part of this program, Penn State has developed a 12 cc pulsatile pediatric ventricular assist device (PVAD), based on the successful 70 cc Pierce-Donachy adult assist device. During the process of reducing the volume of the device for pediatric use, changes were made to the design including altering the angles of the inlet and outlet ports. Previous two-dimensional flow visualization in the PVAD by Manning et al. had shown that these changes led to an increased three-dimensionality of the flow, the influence of which required further investigation [2]. It is important to characterize the fluid dynamics of the flow field inside assist devices such as the PVAD because certain characteristics including high blood residence time, stagnant flow and wall shear rates below 500 s−1 can lead to an increased propensity of thrombus deposition [3,4].© 2008 ASME
Stabilities and Spin Distributions of Benzannulated Benzyl Radicals.

The effects have been studied of mono- and dibenzannulation of a benzyl radical with hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP) and quadratic configuration interaction theory (QCISD). Bond dissociation energies and enthalpies are reported that were determined at the common level QCISD/6-311G**//B3LYP/6-31G* for the benzylic C-H bonds of toluene 1H, the monobenzannulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene 2H and 3H, the dibenzannulated PAHs 9-methylanthracene 4H and 9-methylphenanthrene 5H, and the model hydrocarbons 1-phenylpropene 6H and propene 7H. The conformational preferences and the symmetries of 1H-7H and of their corresponding radicals 1-7 have been determined. The analysis of the electron and spin density distributions of radicals 1-7 at the QCI level are reported, and these high-level data are discussed in comparison to results obtained with density functional theory and with an awareness of a general perception shaped by Huckel molecular orbital theory. The results show in a compelling fashion that electron and spin delocalization onto an annulated arene is not the decisive principle for stabilization of the benzyl radicals formed by homolysis of the methylated PAHs C10H7-CH3 and C14H9-CH3, and instead, the analysis of QCI spin density distributions suggests that spin delocalization onto annulated arenes is avoided as much as possible while spin polarization does occur to a significant extent.
The effect of colchicine on cholesterol biosynthesis in concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes

Attempting to test the hypothesis that colchicine blocks lymphocyte activation at the commitment point, we determined whether or not colchicine inhibited the ConA-induced increase in the synthesis and content of cholesterol in lymphocyte cultures. Colchicine decreased the incorporation of (14C) acetate into cholesterol by about 50%. However, the decrease affected unstimulated and stimulated lymphocytes equally. The presence of colchicine for as long as 48 hours did not prevent stimulated lymphocytes from accumulating cholesterol. The results suggest that an intact microtubular system is not required for the initiation of blastogenesis and the activation of cholesterol synthesis.
A dietitian-driven protocol for the management of renal bone disease in hemodialysis patients

Abstract A dietitian-driven protocol was developed and evaluated for the effectiveness of suppressing elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH)-I levels in a hemodialysis (HD) population. PTH-I levels were evaluated in 85 HD patients receiving calcitriol therapy over a 1-year period. The results indicate a decreased incidence of elevated PTH-I levels. This protocol expands the role of the dietitian in the management of renal bone disease.
Bleaching of rhodopsin in the dark.

Urea acts on cattle rhodopsin to produce a urea-bleached product ( Kito and Takezaki, 1966 ). We have demonstrated that this process occurs not only in the light but also in the dark, and shows a marked dependence on urea concentration. Moreover, at low urea concentrations, dark-urea bleaching is reversible, the regenerated rhodopsin being a manifestly different product from the native rhodopsin. The total bleaching can be made to occur in two stages by exposure to urea in the dark, followed by exposure to light. The second step takes place at a rate much increased over light bleaching in the absence of urea.
Physical assault victimization and coping among adults in residential substance use disorder treatment.

Many individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) have been victims of violence and individuals with SUDs often exhibit coping skills deficits. The extent to which coping skills relate to victimization is unknown. This study evaluated the relationships between physical assault victimization types (i.e., only partner victimization, only nonpartner victimization, or both partner and nonpartner victimization) and emotion-focused, problem-focused, and avoidant coping among individuals in residential SUD treatment. More frequent use of problem-focused coping was associated with reduced odds of being victimized by partners and nonpartners and more frequent use of avoidant coping was associated with increased odds of victimization across both partners and nonpartners. These results highlight the potential value of assessing violence across relationship types and bolstering adaptive coping among individuals with SUDs. Language: en
Survival of sea anemones in Bunker C fuel

Abstract Sea anemones ( Anthopleura elegantissima ) can withstand submersion in Bunker C fuel oil for up to 1 h without visible adverse effects. The wet, mucus-covered tissues of the sea anemones may repel oil. During recovery, the sea anemones expand the column, evert the tentacles and reattach. A dahlia anemone ( Tealia lofotensis ) withstood immersion in oil for 15 min. The ability to withstand immersion in oil may confer an ecological advantage to sea anemones in contaminated areas.
Syncope with a Twist

Left atrial ball thrombus is an uncommon entity, seen more commonly in the presence of mitral valve disease. We present here a case of a large left atrial thrombus presenting as sudden cardiac death.
Social action as the control of affect

When defining their immediate situations, people characterize themselves and others by social identities like doctor and patient, evoking sentiments that serve as guidelines for interpreting and creating events in the given situation. In particular, the assigned identities recall notions of how good, how powerful, and how lively each person is fundamentally. When events deflect feelings away from these sentiments, new events are conceived and ordinarily implemented to move feelings back toward the fundamental values. Thus, theoretically, social behavior and transient feelings form a control system with fundamental sentiments as reference signals. Interpersonal conflicts sometimes lead to events that a person cannot comprehend as sentiment confirming. This invokes redefinitions of situations, a higher order control that changes reference signals. Empirically derived formulas describing affective reactions to events have been elaborated into a mathematical model representing all of these processes. Data on a large number of social identities and behaviors have been collected to permit simulations using the model. Illustrations show that this theory of social action permits concrete, plausible analyses of social interactions, role relationships, and social reactions to deviance. Simulations of group dynamics in organizational contexts conceivably could provide guidelines for changing group functioning and for establishing social structures without historical precedent.