cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term follow-up of oropharyngeal dysphagia in children without apparent risk factors.

Background The presence of swallowing dysfunction in children without obvious risk factors remains under appreciated. Early identification and prompt initiation of appropriate treatments are critical for reduction of morbidities associated with dysphagia. Objective. To describe the clinical presentations, radiologic characteristics, and long-term outcomes in children with oropharyngeal dysphagia presenting as unexplained respiratory problems. We completed a retrospective chart review of all children without known dysphagic risk factors upon presentation to Speech-Language Pathology (December 1991–April 1995) for feeding/swallowing evaluations because of refractory respiratory problems and dysphagic concerns, and who subsequently were diagnosed with dysphagia on Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS). In August 2002, follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with caregivers of 14 children. Results. We identified 19 children (mean age 1.14 years; range 0.9–5.75) with dysphagia presenting as unexplained respiratory problems. On VFSS, delayed pharyngeal swallow onset was the most common abnormal radiologic finding and always preceded penetration or tracheal aspiration. Eleven (57.9%) children aspirated. Aspiration occurred only with liquids and 100% of aspiration events were silent (i.e., no cough). Dysphagia was not a concern in 11 children at a mean age 3.2 years (range 0.7–10) and persisted in three children who were 9 years or older. Conclusions. Oropharyngeal dysphagia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young children without known risk factors associated with swallowing dysfunction when they present with unexplained respiratory problems. Although the prognosis for resolution of dysphagic concerns is very good, it may take several years. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2006, 41:1040–1048. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Digital Echo Modulation

A new technique for the transmission of binary data over band-limited channels is described. The signaling method is a generalization of Nyquist's telegraph theory, it allows pulse modulation without intersymbol interference within a frequency spectrum centered at any multiple of one quarter of the signaling rate. The signals are derived from pulse trains generated by a combination of logic circuits and weighting resistors. The number of pulses constituting a signal element varies typically from 5 to 9 in function of the desired total bandwidth. Signaling at 80 percent of the Nyquist rate has been easily achieved with 40-dB out-of-band attenuation. The digital echo modulation eliminates the need for precise analog filters and minimizes the effects of component instability; in addition, it gives a great flexibility to the design, allowing special features such as efficient half-speed operation.
Is there a role for programming in non-major computer science courses?

Should non-computer science (CS) majors learn to program? While the 1999 National Academy of Sciences report "Being Fluent with Information Technology" advocates teaching programming as part of the CS-0 experience, we challenge the assumptions upon which this recommendation rests. Our extensive review of the NECC (National Educational Computing Conference) and SIGCSE (Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education) conference proceedings from 1979 to 1998 clearly shows a decline in the number of articles in which programming is taught in CS-0 courses. Furthermore, based upon learning theory literature, we argue that conceptual understanding of computing can be acquired without learning to program. Finally, we describe our criterion-referenced, mastery-model course that prepares 1800 students per semester for a computing future that is constantly changing.
Cellular correlates of long-term sensitization in Aplysia.

Although in vitro analyses of long-term changes in the sensorimotor connection of Aplysia have been used extensively to understand long-term sensitization, relatively little is known about the ways in which the connection is modified by learning in vivo . Moreover, sites other than the sensory neurons might be modified as well. In this paper, several different biophysical properties of sensory neurons, motor neurons, and LPl17, an identified interneuron, were examined. Membrane properties of sensory neurons, which were expressed as increased excitability and increased spike afterdepolarization, were affected by the training. The biophysical properties of motor neurons also were affected by training, resulting in hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential and a decrease in spike threshold. These results suggest that motor neurons are potential loci for storage of the memory in sensitization. The strength of the connection between sensory and motor neurons was affected by the training, although the connection between LPl17 and the motor neuron was unaffected. Biophysical properties of LPl17 were unaffected by training. The results emphasize the importance of plasticity at sensory–motor synapses and are consistent with the idea that there are multiple sites of plasticity distributed throughout the nervous system.
Ordered defect structures in irradiated metals.

The production of ordered defect structures in metals by neutron and charged particle bombardment is reviewed. Specific examples of a cubic array of aligned defect clusters are shown in nickel bombarded with 5-MeV nickel ions to 15 displacements per atom (dpa). The effect appears to occur only at temperatures between 280 and 450 C (536 and 842 F). Random defect arrays were found after 40, 180, 525, and 500 C (104, 356, 977, and 932 F) irradiation. Ordered arrays of voids are shown in Ni nickel-irradiated to 300 to 400 dpa at 525 C and in molybdenum, Mo-0.5Ti, titanium-zirconium molybdenum alloy (TZM), columbium, tungsten, and tantalum irradiated with both neutrons and heavy ions. The structure of the voids is consistent with the parent lattice, that is, face centered cubic (fcc) in nickel and body centered cubic (bcc) in the refractory metals. A of the information reported to date reveals that the ratio of the lattice parameter of the void superlattice divided by the void radius varies from 5 to 17. The general features of the ordered void lattice are discussed in view of current theories that depend on strain interactions between the voids, anisotropic interstitial atom fluxes, and an approach to steady state at high displacement values.
A national survey of pediatric clerkship directors' approaches to meeting the LCME ED-2 requirement for quantified patient criteria for medical students.

Background: The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) recently reinterpreted ED-2, their quantified patient criteria requirement. Purpose: The purpose is to describe pediatric clerkship directors' response to ED-2. Method: We used a survey of U.S. and Canadian pediatric clerkship directors. Results: Survey response rate was 76% (108/142). The most frequent categories that clerkship directors used to describe quantified patient criteria were age group (77%), organ systems (65%), or symptoms (61%). Computer simulations were the alternative patient experience in 83% of clerkships. Patient logs (90%) and checklists (31%) tracked student completion of ED-2. Thirty-two respondents had an LCME visit since ED-2 was reinterpreted, and 69% reported that LCME had concerns about their clerkships' fulfillment of ED-2. There was no difference in method of ED-2 implementation between schools who were cited by LCME and those who were not. Conclusions: Clerkship directors have used a variety of approaches to speci...
Critical proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions of different subsets of CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells during Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Trypanosoma cruzi infects 15 to 20 million people in Latin America and causes Chagas disease, a chronic inflammatory disease with fatal cardiac and gastrointestinal sequelae. How the immune response causes Chagas disease is not clear, but during the persistent infection both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses are critical. Natural killer T (NKT) cells have been shown to regulate immune responses during infections and autoimmune diseases. We report here that during acute T. cruzi infection NKT-cell subsets provide distinct functions. CD1d−/− mice, which lack both invariant NKT (iNKT) cells and variant NKT (vNKT) cells, develop a mild phenotype displaying an increase in spleen and liver mononuclear cells, anti-T. cruzi antibody response, and muscle inflammation. In contrast, Jα18−/− mice, which lack iNKT cells but have vNKT cells, develop a robust phenotype involving prominent spleen, liver, and skeletal muscle inflammatory infiltrates comprised of NK, dendritic, B and T cells. The inflammatory cells display activation markers; produce more gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and nitric oxide; and show a diminished antibody response. Strikingly, most Jα18−/− mice die. Thus, in response to the same infection, vNKT cells appear to augment a robust proinflammatory response, whereas the iNKT cells dampen this response, possibly by regulating vNKT cells.
Introduction of a Dynamic Corrosion Inhibitor for Copper Interconnect Cleaning

Copper has become the material of choice for the interconnects in semiconductor devices due to its low resistance and ease of processing [1]. Device fabrication with copper requires electrochemical deposition and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP). Since the polished copper surface generated during CMP is considered to be one of the most important factors which determine the performance of the interconnect, post-CMP cleaners must efficiently remove residues generated by the polishing process [2]. CMP slurries and post-CMP cleaners frequently include corrosion inhibitors to form a protecting layer on copper surface. If a thick organic film remains on copper after cleaning processes, it can have unfavorable effects on performance of copper interconnects. To minimize this issue, the authors earlier described a corrosion inhibitor which formed a very thin protective layer and that was easily removed by plasma treatment [3, 4].
Inheritance and Synergism of Resistance to Imidacloprid in the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), adults and larvae collected from Long Island, NY, were 100.8 and 13.2 times more resistant to imidacloprid, respectively, compared with a susceptible strain. This high level of resistance appeared in only the third field season of imidacloprid use. Analysis of probit lines from F1 reciprocal crosses indicated that resistance to imidacloprid in adults was inherited autosomaly as an incompletely recessive factor. The degree of dominance of the resistance was −0.23 and −0.10, respectively, 3 and 7 d after treatment (incompletely recessive). The χ2 analysis of response ratio statistics from F1 × susceptible back crosses compared with a monogenic model suggested that more than one locus is responsible for resistance to imidacloprid. Synergism studies with piperonyl butoxide suggested that mixed-function oxidase mediated detoxification is responsible for the resistance to imidacloprid in adults. Synergism studies with S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) indicated that esterase mediated detoxification may be an additional resistance factor. Mixed-function oxidase mediated detoxification is probably also one of the mechanisms of resistance to imidacloprid in larvae. Because the synergists used did not completely eliminate resistance in the resistant strain, there may be additional mechanisms involved. Refugia and crop rotation decrease the frequency of homozygous resistant genotypes and may be effective resistance management strategies, because of the recessive nature of the resistance.
E-survey methodology

With computer network access nearly ubiquitous in much of the world, alternative means of data col- lection are being made available to researchers. Recent studies have explored various computer-based techniques (e.g., electronic mail and Internet surveys). However, exploitation of these techniques requires careful consideration of conceptual and methodological issues associated with their use. We identify and explore these issues by defining and developing a typology of "e-survey" techniques in organiza - tional research. We examine the strengths, weaknesses, and threats to reliability, validity, sampling, and generalizability of these approaches. We conclude with a consideration of emerging issues of security, privacy, and ethics associated with the design and implications of e-survey methodology.
The dark side of circulating nucleic acids

Free circulating or cell-free DNA (cfDNA), possibly from dying cells that release their contents into the blood as they break down, have become of major interest as a source for noninvasive diagnostics. Recent work demonstrated the uptake of human cfDNA in mouse cells in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by the activation of a cellular DNA damage response (DDR) and the appearance of apoptotic proteins in the host cells. By acting as a source of mobile genetic elements, cfDNA could be a continuous source of DNA mutagenesis of healthy cells in the body throughout life, promoting progressive cellular aging in vivo. As such, cfDNA may causally contribute to multiple aging-related diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Same stuff different day

Perceived supportiveness was positively associated with offline support.Facebook intensity nor total likes were associated with perceived supportiveness.Support seeking updates: positive/negative, mixed, requests, quotes, and vague.Most supportive comments came from acquaintances rather than close others.Top supportive comments provided emotional, informational, or tangible support. Facebook allows users to seek support from close others and acquaintances. This study examined features of support-seeking Facebook status updates and factors related to perceived supportiveness of responses. College students using Facebook to seek support (N=149) provided copies of their support-seeking status updates and descriptions of the most supportive comment received on the status. Participants responded to survey items including offline social support, Facebook intensity, and number of "likes" the status received. Participants sought support using positive, negative, mixed, vague comments, or quotations not explicitly statuses. Participants identified emotional, informational, or tangible support from close others (68.03%) rather than acquaintances (31.97%). Perceived supportiveness of responses was positively associated with offline social support but was not associated with Facebook intensity or number of "likes."
Exploiting Neoteric Solvents for Sustainable Catalysis and Reaction Engineering: Opportunities and Challenges

The modern refinery relies primarily on feedstocks based on fossil fuels (such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal) to produce fuels and chemicals. Several megaton catalytic processes (such as homogeneous hydroformylation of higher olefins, epoxidation of light olefins, and p-xylene oxidation to produce terephthalic acid) exist that produce the essential chemical intermediates for everyday products but present sustainability challenges with respect to reducing environmental footprints and enhancing energy efficiency. Meeting the increasing demand for such chemicals, through either fossil-based feedstock or plant-based biomass, will require the development of novel sustainable processes. This article highlights the role and promise of neoteric solvents such as compressed CO2, ionic liquids, and water, with an emphasis on gas-expanded liquids (GXLs), for the development of sustainable catalytic processes and the challenges thereof. It is also shown that chemical reaction engineering is the critical link to ...
An Intensity Standard for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Using Chromium-Doped Corundum (Al2O3: Cr3+).

We report on the preparation of a standard reference material (SRM), made of single-crystal chromium-doped corundum (synthetic ruby), for use as an intensity standard in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments. The SRM can be used to measure, by comparison, the number of spins in an unknown test sample. We selected the above material for the standard because its magnetic resonance properties are well understood and because it is physically and chemically stable under common laboratory conditions. To prepare samples which gave satisfactory EPR signals, it was necessary to perform annealing and chemical etching after cutting. This removed strains and surface damage. After treatment, the Cr3+ resonance lines were sharper and the intensities were in good agreement with the theoretically predicted values. To aid in application, the theoretical resonance fields and line intensities were calculated and tabulated for arbitrary orientations of the sample, at several commonly used microwave frequencies. The concentration of Cr3+ in the samples was determined by measurement of the static susceptibility. A quantitative EPR intensity experiment, based on measuring the microwave power absorbed during resonance, gave the same concentration. This proves, that within experimental error the EPR experiment detects all the Cr3+ ions in the sample, which makes the ruby a useful SRM.
Voltinism and Seasonal Abundance of Culicoides variipennis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Central New York State

Based on collections of larvae and emerging adults, three to four emergences of Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett) were observed at two central New York sites in 1980 and 1981. Overwintered larvae (primarily 3rd and 4th instars) emerged from late April through May. Subsequent generations emerged from mid-June to late July and from early August to late September. Population size tended to increase through the season and was highest in July and August.
Analysis on Strategic Alliance of Industrial Symbiosis Network based on Dynamic Cooperative Games

Being as the one of effective ways of saving resources and environmental protection,behaviors of enterprises in industrial symbiosis network(ISN) play an important role of maintaining stable operation.This paper establishes the strategic alliance of industrial symbiosis network and sets up the alliance distribution model based on dynamic cooperative games.The model explores the behavior,which the enterprises are under the circumstances of definite and indefinite proportion of profits distribution.Based on former researching,the paper draws conclusions that in fact,some measures should be proposed in order to maintain the stability of ISN,such as the mechanism of incentives and penalties,coordination,management,and alliance social responsibility.
Effect of Oxcarbazepine on Cognitive Function of Young Rats with Epilepsy Induced by Pentylenetetrazol

Objective To discuss the effect of oxcarbazepine(OXC) on the cognitive function of the young rats with epilepsy(EP) induced by pentylenetetrazol(PTZ),then to provide the theoretical basis of its application safely to epileptic children.Methods The models of the epileptic young rats were established by PTZ,then the epileptic rats were divided into 3 groups and were given OXC,phenobarbital(PB) and 9 g.L-1 sodium chloride,respectively.In 3 phases of the experiment,they were appraised for the cognitive functions by Morris water maze test and compared with those of the normal rats(checking their sensibilities and movements before the test for getting rid of the errors).Results 1.The grades of sensibilities and movements of each group were not different statistically.2.The spatial orientation capabilities of epileptic rats were damaged,but the damage recovered after training,but the capabilities of epileptic and normal rats taking OXC were not affected.3.The effect of EP on the studying rate of progress was not obvious,the progress of epileptic rats taking PB was damaged,and the da-mage to epileptic and normal rats taking OXC was not obvious.4.EP could damage the long-term memory of the rats transitorily,the damage to the epileptic rats taking PB was durable,and the memory of epileptic rats taking OXC was protected.5.The effects of EP and taking PB or OXC on the capability of the short-term memory were not obvious.Conclusions EP does not affect the sensibilities and movements of the young rats,but it can affect their cognitive functions transitorily.OXC can alleviate the early cognitive function damage(especially on the capability of the spatial orientation and the long-term memory) of the epileptic young rats,and normal young rats do not have the obvious cognitive function damage after taking OXC.
The diencephalon of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. I. Nuclear organization

A detailed cytoarchitectonic description of the diencephalon in the channel catfish reveals more than 40 distinct cell groups. Of these, 4 are located in the preoptic area, 8 in the hypothalamus, 7 in the thalamus, 2 in the epithalamus, 15 in the posterior tuberculum and 7 in the synencephalon. A comparison of the diencephalon of Ictalurus punctatus to that of goldfish, which has previously been described, indicates major differences in the diencephalon between these two species. Channel catfish lack the superficial pretectum and the nucleus 'glomerulosus' of goldfish, whereas the anterior tuberal nucleus of the hypothalamus, the paracommissural nucleus of the synencephalon and the nucleus lobobulbaris of the posterior tuberculum are all better developed in channel catfish than in goldfish. The nucleus electrosensorius in the synencephalon of channel catfish is probably homologous to the nucleus of the same name in gymnotoid teleosts, but it appears to have no homologue in the diencephalon of goldfish. An analysis of interspecific variation in the diencephalon among catfishes, goldfish and several other teleosts reveals that some areas of the diencephalon are more variable across species than others. Specifically, the migrated portions of both the posterior tuberculum and the synencephalon appear to be most variable, whereas the epithalamus and the preoptic area are the most conservative. It is hypothesized that the relatively conservative areas of the brain may have a greater number of afferent connections, and probably also a greater number of distinct behavioral functions, than the more variable areas.
Management of the pediatric burn patient

The care of children with burns represents a therapeutic dilemma for many practitioners who periodically work with thermally injured patients. In this article, the authors emphasize the pathophysiology of thermal injury with special attention to the burned child. Within this framework, pain control, resuscitation, wound care, and the importance of a "burn care team" are discussed as important factors in the care of these children.
Allergic alveolar diseases problems in diagnosis and management.

One of the diagnostic possibilities to consider when a patient presents with cough, fever, dyspnea, or pulmonary infiltrates is hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Some of the problems encountered in diagnosis of diffuse lung disease are illustrated in two case reports. In one of the cases, interstitial pneumonitis of insidious onset was attributed to inhalation of thermophilic organisms in moldy silage. In the other, the outstanding pathologic feature was bronchiolitis obliterans, and circumstantial evidence pointed to a home humidifier as the source of the problem.
Generalized Riccati equations for the full- and reduced-order mixed-norm H 2 / H ∞

Abstract This paper considers the mixed-norm H 2 /H ∞ standard problem. Specifically, an LQG control design problem involving a constraint on H ∞ disturbance attenuation is addressed. It is shown that the H 2 /H ∞ dynamic compensator gains are completely characterized via coupled Riccati/Lyapunov equations. The principal result involves sufficient conditions for characterizing full- and reduced-order controlleers that satisfy bounds on both H 2 and H ∞ performance costs. As a special case of this unified result we obtain the full-order H ∞ solution to the standard control problem the pure reduced-order H ∞ solution with no H 2 contribution. Further extensions include nonstrictly proper dynamics, a direct transmission term from disturbances to H ∞ performance variables, cross-weighting and sensor noise/plant disturbance correlation, and a treatment of the pure reduced-order H ∞ control problem.
Chapter 19 – Materials and Manufacturing

Materials and energy are the resource inputs to manufacturing processes as well as throughout the supply chain of a company. The materials intensity of a product may be measured in the total materials used to produce one product unit. Similarly, the energy intensity is the energy used to produce one product unit. Energy and materials are inputs to the process and the desired output is the product to be sold. Six factors that can be considered for reduction in the manufacturing process are: material intensity, energy intensity, amount of waste not recycled or reused, amount of depleting resources used, service intensity, and health and environmental risk. The goal is to design energy efficient products that can be manufactured with energy efficient methods. Remanufacturing is the process of reconditioning a part or module so that it is suitable for use in a new product. A subassembly or module is taken apart, cleaned, and reconditioned so that it can be used again.
The Wave-Particle Duality

The Wave–particle Duality can be understood as a matter consisting waves. This chapter reviews few key experiments that characterize the possible ways in which radiation interacts with matter. It describes experiments in which electromagnetic radiation is absorbed or emitted or is scattered by free particles. The results of these experiments can be understood by supposing that electromagnetic radiation consists of little packets of energy called photons. Louis de Broglie made the remarkable suggestion that particles such as electrons should have wave-like properties. The dual wave–particle character of light should then be a common phenomenon that applies to light and to all microscopic objects. Light has both a particle-like and wave-like character. Particles of light have an energy where the product of the constants, h and c , can be conveniently written hc = 1240 eV·nm. The theory of light depending on its particle-like nature successfully accounts for the photoelectric effect, the emission and absorption of light by the electrons in an atom, and the scattering of light by loosely bound electrons. The wave character of light is revealed by the interference patterns produced when X-rays are scattered by the regular array of atoms in crystals and by a variety of other interference and diffraction experiments.
Lipoprotein particles in hypertriglyceridemic states.

The compositional and metabolic heterogeneity of operationally defined plasma lipoprotein classes (1-3) has necessitated the introduction of a classification system that utilizes apolipoproteins as specific markers for identifying and distinguishing discrete lipoprotein particles (1,4). In this system, lipoprotein particles are characterized and defined by their apolipoprotein composition (1,4). Studies on the quantification and distribution of apolipoproteins (4,5) have shown that apolipoprotein (Apo)B and ApoA (A-I 4- A-II) form two major groups of plasma lipoproteins. These two major lipoprotein groups may be separated (6) by immunoprecipitation or immunoaffinity chromatography of whole plasma (6). The use of these procedures results in the isolation of ApoA-containing lipoproteins free of ApoB. The fractionation of ApoA-containing lipoproteins into two major discrete lipoprotein particles LP-A-I and LP-A-I:A-II by immunoaffinity chromatography on an immunosorber with polyclonal antibodies to ApoA-II has already been described by Cheung and Albers (7). To identify discrete lipoprotein particles of the ApoB group of lipoproteins, we have developed a procedure based on sequential immunoprecipitation of ApoB-containing lipoproteins with polyclonal antisera to apolipoproteins B, E, C-III and, if necessary, C-II and C-I (6,8). The fractionation of very low density (VLDL, d < 1.006 g/ml) and two subtractions of low density (LDL.., d = 1.006-1.019 g/ml; LDL?, d = 1.019-1.063 g/ml lipoproteins from normolipidemic subjects by sequential immunoprecipitation showed that each of these density classes consists of a mixture of distinct lipoprotein particles including cholesterol ester-rich LP-B and triglyceride- rich LP-B:C-I:C-II:C-III:E (LP-B:C:E) and LP-B:C-I: C-II:C-III (LP-B:C) particles (8). The LP-B:C:E family of particles in some normolipidemic and hypercholesterolemic subjects also contained varying amounts of LP-B:E particles. In addition, small amounts of LP-B:C-I:E, LP-B:C-II, LP-C-III and LP-E particles were detected in some but not all-subjects or density classes. Each of the major ApoB-containing families of particles was shown to represent a polydisperse system of particles heterogeneous with respect to size, hydrated density, and lipid/protein ratio, but homogeneous with respect to the qualitative apolipoprotein composition.
Vitamin D and Racial Differences in Chronic Kidney Disease

Compared to Caucasians, African Americans have lower circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the major storage form of vitamin D, leading to the widespread assumption that blacks are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. Since low 25(OH)D is associated with adverse cardiovascular and kidney outcomes, this has supported the notion that low 25(OH)D concentrations partly underlie racial disparities in health outcomes, including faster progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in blacks vs. whites. However, the finding that blacks maintain better indices of musculoskeletal health than whites throughout their lifespan despite having lower circulating 25(OH)D concentrations suggests that the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and racial health disparities may not be so straight forward. This has been further underscored by epidemiologic studies showing major racial heterogeneity in the association of 25(OH)D with cardiovascular outcomes. When coupled with emerging data showing genetically determined differences in the bioavailability of vitamin D by race, these data suggest that there are important differences in vitamin D metabolism by race which need to inform and perhaps revise our current understanding of the role of vitamin D in racial disparities in CKD outcomes.
Notch3 expression correlates with thyroid cancer differentiation, induces apoptosis, and predicts disease prognosis.

BACKGROUND Thyroid tumorigenesis is characterized by a progressive loss of differentiation exhibited by a range of disease variants. The Notch receptor family (1-4) regulates developmental progression in both normal and cancerous tissues. This study sought to characterize the third Notch isoform (Notch3) across the various differentiated states of thyroid cancer, and determine its clinical impact. METHODS Notch3 expression was analyzed in a tissue microarray of normal and pathologic thyroid biopsies from 155 patients. The functional role of Notch3 was then investigated by upregulating its expression in a follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) cell line. RESULTS Notch3 expression regressed across decreasingly differentiated, increasingly malignant thyroid specimens, correlated with clinicopathological attributes reflecting poor prognosis, and independently predicted survival following univariate and multivariate analyses. Overexpression of the active Notch3 intracellular domain (NICD3) in a gain-of-function FTC line led to functional activation of centromere-binding protein 1, while increasing thyroid-specific gene transcription. NICD3 induction also reduced tumor burden in vivo and initiated the intrinsic apoptotic cascade, alongside suppressing cyclin and B-cell lymphoma 2 family expression. CONCLUSIONS Loss of Notch3 expression may be fundamental to the process of dedifferentiation that accompanies thyroid oncogenesis. Conversely, activation of Notch3 in thyroid cancer exerts an antiproliferative effect and restores elements of a differentiated phenotype. These findings provide preclinical rationale for evaluating Notch3 as a disease prognosticator and therapeutic target in advanced thyroid cancer. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Promoting Integrity Among Nursing Students

Unethical practices among college students are concerning for any profession, but especially for nursing because these students will become health care providers after graduation. Studies have found correlations between unethical practices as a student with future professional behavior; therefore, it is important to instill a sense of ethics in all nursing students. Honor codes facilitate communication about behavioral expectations between faculty and students and emphasize the importance of ethical behavior. The HIRRE (honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility, and ethics) program at Pasco-Hernando Community College is an example of a modified honor code. Through the use of faculty and student situation reports, this program has enabled faculty to monitor the integrity status of the nursing program and establish policy protocols for unethical behaviors.
Brain Angiotensin II Does Not Mediate the Cardiovascular Response to Cerebroventricular Administration of Hypertonic Sodium Chloride Solution in Dogs

1. A possible interaction between an osmotic stimulus and brain angiotensin II was studied in anaesthetized dogs by measuring the changes in arterial pressure, heart rate and renal sympathetic nerve activity during a brain ventricular injection of hypertonic NaCl solution before and after pretreatment with either captopril or [Sar 1 , Ile 8 ]angiotensin II. 2. Mild pressor responses accompanied by a reflex decrease in renal sympathetic nerve activity were a characteristic before pretreatment, but after baroreceptor denervation the cardiovascular response to hypertonic NaCl solution doubled and the activity increased. These changes were prevented by intravenous pretreatment with hexamethonium chloride. 3. Brain ventricular injection of captopril slightly augmented pressor and tachycardia effects of hypertonic NaCl solution. 4. Blockade of central angiotensin II receptors with [Sar 1 , Ile 8 ]angiotensin II was without effect. 5. It is concluded that central administration of hypertonic NaCl solution in baroreceptor-denervated dogs produces marked pressor responses due to increased sympathetic nerve activity via mechanisms not related to the brain renin-angiotensin system.
Manipulation of Suspects and Unrecorded Questioning: After 50 Years of Miranda Jurisprudence, Still Two (or Maybe Three) Burning Issues

Fifty years after Miranda, courts still do not have clear guidance on the types of techniques police may use during interrogation. While first generation tactics (a.k.a. the third degree) are banned, second generation tactics such as those found in the famous Reid manual continue to be used by interrogators. The Supreme Court has sent only vague signals as to which of these second generation techniques, if any, are impermissible, and has made no mention of newly developed third generation tactics that are much less reliant on manipulation. This article divides second generation techniques into four categories: impersonation, rationalization, fabrication and negotiation. After concluding, based on a review of field and laboratory research, that these techniques might well have superior “diagnosticity” to third generation techniques — and thus that police might rationally want to continue using them — it argues that the Court’s Fifth Amendment and due process jurisprudence prohibits negotiation but permits impersonation, rationalization and fabrication. At the same time, the article recognizes that these techniques can produce false confessions; accordingly, it develops evidentiary principles for determining how courts might make use of expert testimony about factors that reduce the probative value of statements obtained during interrogation (although it also questions the methodology of much of the research that might form the basis for such testimony). To ensure the evidence necessary for this constitutional and evidentiary analysis, interrogations must be recorded. While a recording requirement has been endorsed by commentators from all points of the political spectrum, here too the Court has been silent. This article summarizes why recording is required under the Due Process Clause, the Fifth Amendment and the Sixth Amendment, not just in the stationhouse but any time after custody. The article ends with comments on how all of this should apply to interrogations of suspected terrorists. Together, these prescriptions give courts the concrete guidance the Supreme Court has failed to provide despite 50 years of caselaw.
Phase Change Problems with Void

A problem on a phase change related to thermal energy storage in Manned Space Station is being studied by D.G. Wilson, J.B. Drake and R.E. Flanery at Oak Ridge National Laboratory: “It is intended that the manned space station satisfy a considerable portion of its power requirements with solar energy. The station will orbit the earth in about ninety minutes and spend about two thirds of each orbit in sunlight and about one third in the earth’s shadow. Under these conditions it will be necessary to store thermal energy during the station’s exposure to the sun and to retrieve it during the transit through the earth’s shadow. Several systems have been proposed for accomplishing this. We describe in rough outline one such system and a problem associated with modeling its performance.
Comparison of training effect on tremor using 2 training modules

Purpose To compare training effect of 2 training models—a surgical simulator anti-tremor module and a paper version—on tremor and time-to-task completion. Setting Ophthalmology Department, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA. Design Prospective crossover study. Methods Trainees completed simulator and paper training modules (baseline test, 3 training sessions, posttraining test, and final test) with their dominant and nondominant hands. The change in tremor, number of paper errors, and time-to-task completion in dominant and nondominant hands were compared. The 2 training modules were compared using nonparametric tests. Results The study comprised 19 trainees. There was a moderate correlation between average tremor values (simulator, 3-dimensional module) and paper errors (paper, 2-dimensional module) (Spearman ⍴ = 0.35, P Conclusion Practice might not reduce tremor but improved the outcome measure of time, and results suggest that trainees can learn to compensate for tremor in both hands, which is important in bimanual microsurgery.
Polymorphic spintronic logic gates for hardware security primitives — Device design and performance benchmarking

This paper presents polymorphic logic gates for hardware security using giant spin Hall effect (GSHE) devices in which electron spin is the information token. Compared to existing CMOS (charge-based) IP protection and camouflaging security techniques, the proposed GSHE logic offers significant reduction in implementation area as well as power dissipation. Based on the Monte-Carlo simulation of stochastic Landau Lifshitz Gilbert Slonczewski (s-LLGS) equation governing the GSHE dynamics, physical models of delay, energy-per-bit, and power dissipation are developed for GSHE standard cells including inverter, NAND, NOR, and XOR gate. We note that the proposed GSHE polymorphic logic can implement majority function by simply reversing the voltage polarity on the gate terminals. The same layout structure implements complex logic functions by selecting the appropriate polarity of a control signal. As such, it offers post-fabrication reconfigurability options to implement evolvable and intelligent hardware.
Approaching Euclidean Geometry Through Transformations

Almost 50 years ago, Arthur Coxford and I developed a high school geometry course in which geometric transformations were fundamental to the mathematical development. Properties of reflections and size changes (dilations) were taken as postulates and used to deduce properties of symmetric figures, the traditional theorems of triangle congruence and similarity, and develop the relationships among the various types of isometries. In Continuous Symmetry: From Euclid to Klein, Roger Howe and William Barker also approach Euclidean geometry through transformations. The similarities and differences in these approaches are examined in this paper.
The unique hues and the argument from phenomenal structure

Hardin’s (Color for philosophers: unweaving the rainbow, Hackett, Indianapolis, 1988) empirically-grounded argument for color eliminativism has defined the color realism debate for the last 30 years. By Hardin’s own estimation, phenomenal structure—the unique/binary hue distinction in particular—poses the greatest problem for color realism. Examination of relevant empirical findings shows that claims about the unique hues which play a central role in the argument from phenomenal structure should be rejected. Chiefly, contrary to widespread belief amongst philosophers and scientists, the unique hues do not play a fundamental role in determining all color appearances. Among the consequences of this result is that greater attention should be paid to certain proposals for putting the structure of phenomenal color into principled correspondence with surface reflectance properties. While color realism is not fully vindicated, it has much greater empirical plausibility than previously thought.
Advances on PPARγ Research in the Emerging Era of Precision Medicine.

Background Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that functions as a ligand-inducible transcription factor. It regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, immunity, and cellular growth and differentiation. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are potent insulin sensitizers that function by activating PPARs, with a high specificity for PPARγ. Due to their ability to preserve pancreatic beta cell function and reduce insulin resistance, TZDs have become one of the most prescribed classes of medications for type 2 diabetes (T2D) since their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and initial use in 1997. Objective However, adverse effects, including weight gain, bone loss, fluid retention, congestive heart failure, and risk to bladder cancer, have weakened the benefits of TZDs in T2D therapies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to have a deeper understanding of regulatory mechanisms of PPARγ expression and activity so that novel classes of PPARγ-modulating therapeutics with fewer or weaker side effects can be developed. Conclusion This article systematically reviews PPARγ's mechanisms of action and multilayer regulations. In addition, novel classes of therapeutics modulating PPARγ and new direction of research on genetic variants that affect PPARγ function and antidiabetic drug response are highlighted, which sheds light on PPARγ as a promising target for developing safer and precision medicine based therapeutic strategies.
Effect of Ice Nucleation and Cryoprotectants during High Subzero-Preservation in Endothelialized Microchannels

Cryopreservation is of significance in areas including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and organ transplantation. We investigated endothelial cell attachment and membrane integrity in a microvasculature model at high subzero temperatures in the presence of extracellular ice. The results show that in the presence of heterogeneous extracellular ice formation induced by ice nucleating bacteria, endothelial cells showed improved attachment at temperature minimums of -6 °C. However, as temperatures decreased below -6 °C, endothelial cells required additional cryoprotectants. The glucose analog, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG), rescued cell attachment optimally at 100 mM (cells/lane was 34, as compared to 36 for controls), while 2% and 5% polyethylene glycol (PEG) were equally effective at -10 °C (88% and 86.4% intact membranes). Finally, endothelialized microchannels were stored for 72 h at -10 °C in a preservation solution consisting of the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, Snomax, 3-OMG, PEG, glycerol, and trehalose, whereby cell attachment was not significantly different from unfrozen controls, although membrane integrity was compromised. These findings enrich our knowledge about the direct impact of extracellular ice on endothelial cells. Specifically, we show that, by controlling the ice nucleation temperature and uniformity, we can preserve cell attachment and membrane integrity. Further, we demonstrate the strength of leveraging endothelialized microchannels to fuel discoveries in cryopreservation of thick tissues and solid organs.
Development of a Direct Peritoneal Sodium Removal Technique with Salt Free Solution

Introduction Over time, interest in the concept of sodium and fluid removal via non-renal routes in heart failure (HF) has grown significantly. One approach to removing sodium and fluid without diuretics is peritoneal dialysis (PD). Traditional PD, however, is problematic in that it requires large intraperitoneal volumes with long dwell times while only offering limited sodium and fluid removal. Additionally, the solutions currently used in PD contain sodium concentrations that are nearly isotonic to serum, thus sodium removal is almost entirely driven by solute drag with ultrafiltration rather than diffusion down a concentration gradient. Hypothesis Utilization of salt free peritoneal solution will result in removal of a clinically significant amount of sodium and fluid. Methods Eighty kg anesthetized pigs (N=15) underwent surgical implantation of PD catheters via mini-laparotomy and venous and arterial access via cutdown. 1 liter of 10% dextrose in water was used as the sodium removal solution. In 5 pigs, we allowed a 6 hour dwell and the intraperitoneal volume was determined serially using indicator dilution technique with I-131 radiolabeled albumin (Daxor Corp., NY). 10 pigs underwent a 2 hour dwell with fluid volume measured by manual removal. To understand the effects of higher peritoneal solution volumes, 4 of these pigs then underwent 4 cycles of 2.5 L of 10% dextrose with 90 minute dwell times, for a total of 11 L cycled. These 4 animals had plasma volume measured with I-131 radiolabeled albumin (Daxor Corp., NY) prior to and after cycling was complete. Serial plasma and peritoneal fluid samples were obtained and glucose and electrolyte concentrations were determined. Results In the 5 animals with a 6 hour dwell, ultrafiltration approached 1.5 L and 5.1 +/- 0.4 grams of sodium was removed ( Fig. 1 a & 1b). In the 10 pigs that underwent a 2 hour dwell, an average of 0.9 +/- 0.2 L of ultrafiltration occurred with a corresponding 3.9 +/- 0.5 g of sodium removed ( Fig. 1 c). Despite a large sodium removal, the average decrease in serum sodium following the 2-hour dwell was only 2.2 +/- 0.3 mmol/L (P Fig. 1 d). Conclusion The direct peritoneal sodium removal approach is capable of removing large quantities of fluid and sodium with relatively small intraperitoneal volumes. Additional research is required to understand the safety/tolerability of this approach in humans, development of optimal solutions and protocols for fluid instillation and removal from the peritoneum.