cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anti-Fas Conjugated Hyaluronic Acid Microsphere Gels for Neural Stem Cell Delivery

Central nervous system (CNS) injuries and diseases result in neuronal damage and loss of function. Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has been shown to improve locomotor function after transplantation. However, due to the immune and inflammatory response at the injury site, the survival rate of the engrafted cells is low. Engrafted cell viability has been shown to increase when transplanted within a hydrogel. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels have natural anti-inflammatory properties and the backbone can be modified to introduce bioactive agents, such as anti-Fas, which we have previously shown to promote NSC survival while suppressing immune cell activity in bulk hydrogels in vitro. Although bulk HA hydrogels have shown to promote stem cell survival, microsphere gels for NSC encapsulation and delivery may have additional advantages. In this study, a flow-focusing microfluidic device was used to fabricate either vinyl sulfone-modified HA (VS-HA) or anti-Fas-conjugated HA (anti-Fas HA) microsphere gels encapsulated with NSCs. The majority of encapsulated NSCs remained viable for at least 24 h in the VS-HA and anti-Fas HA microsphere gels. Moreover, T-cells cultured in suspension with the anti-Fas HA microsphere gels had reduced viability after contact with the microsphere gels compared to the media control and soluble anti-Fas conditions. This approach can be adapted to encapsulate various cell types for therapeutic strategies in other physiological systems in order to increase survival by reducing the immune response. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 608-618, 2017.
Changes in breathing pattern upon 100% oxygen during N2MBW in children

Background: Nitrogen multiple breath washout (N2MBW) with 100% oxygen (O2) is frequently used as diagnostic tool for abnormal lung function. However, it has been shown that the use of 100% O2 can influence breathing pattern in infants. It is unknown whether O2 influences breathing pattern in older children. We systematically compared normal breathing pattern (ambient air) and possible changes due to 100% O2 administration. Methods: We performed one tidal breathing and two N2MBW measurements in former preterm children and healthy controls using Exhalyzer D (Spiroware, Eco Medics) according to ERS/ATS consensus. The first 10 breaths of tidal breathing measurements were excluded for analysis. We compared tidal volume (VT) and coefficient of variation of VT (CVVT) between tidal breathing in room air vs. O2-exposure during N2MBW by paired t-test. Sensitivity analysis was performed by comparing the effect of different numbers of breaths (8, 10, and 12). Results: We measured 40 children (24=healthy; 16=former preterm) aged mean (sd) 6.8 (0.9) years. There was no difference in VT or in CVVT between tidal breathing in room air compared to breathing during the first or second N2MBW. These findings were consistent in both preterm and term children and confirmed by sensitivity analysis. There was no difference in the lung clearance index (LCI) between the first and the second O2-exposure. Conclusion: We did not find any difference in VT after administration of 100% O2 in healthy and former preterm children. CVVT did not differ between measurements but was generally high in this age group (mean: 25.8%). The known effect of 100% O2 in infancy seems to be outgrown at early school age.
Democracy and the Settlement of International Borders, 1919 to 2001

There is increasing evidence that territorial conflict is associated with centralized and nondemocratic regimes. We explore whether this relationship is due to the facility of democratic regimes to settle their international borders. Using Owsiak’s data set on border settlement processes, we find little evidence that democratic regimes are more likely than other types of regimes to settle their borders. In fact, joint democracy rarely precedes the first border agreement or full settlement of the border, and there is almost no qualitative evidence suggesting a link between democracy and border settlement in the rare instances of successful agreements. Democracies are also not more likely to keep their borders settled or even to be more peaceful during settled-border years. Overall, our findings suggest that border settlements lead to peace in the dyad and affirm a clear temporal sequence of border settlement, then peace and democracy for neighboring dyads.
Combination therapy with brincidofovir and valganciclovir against species C adenovirus infection in the immunosuppressed Syrian hamster model allows for substantial reduction of dose for both compounds.

Adenovirus infections of immunocompetent adults are usually mild and resolve without serious sequelae. However, adenovirus infections of immunocompromised patients often develop into life-threatening multi-organ disease. Pediatric hematopoietic transplant patients are especially threatened, with high incidence of infection and high mortality rates. Presently, there is no drug specifically approved by the FDA to treat adenovirus infections; thus there is an urgent need to develop effective antivirals against the virus. Previously, we demonstrated that brincidofovir and valganciclovir were efficacious against lethal intravenous challenge with human type 5 adenovirus in the Syrian hamster model. Here, we tested the in vivo efficacy of the combination of these two drugs and showed that the combination of brincidofovir and valganciclovir is more efficacious than either drug alone, thus potentially allowing decreased patient exposure to the drugs while maintaining antiviral efficacy. As antiviral compounds often have toxic side effects, a decrease in dose or duration of therapy allowed by the combination could also improve tolerability.
Diagnosing Stroke in Acute Dizziness and Vertigo: Pitfalls and Pearls

### Public Health Concern Dizziness and vertigo are responsible for an estimated 4.4 million emergency department (ED) visits in the United States each year and account for 4% of chief symptoms in the ED.1 Strokes are the underlying cause of ≈3% to 5% of such visits (130 000–220 000).2 These visits are associated with a high cost, estimated now to exceed $10 billion per year in the United States.3 This results from neuroimaging obtained in roughly half the patients1 and admissions for nearly 20%.4 ED physicians worldwide rank vertigo a top priority for developing better diagnostic tools.5 An evidence-based, cost-effective approach to diagnosing acute dizziness and vertigo is needed. ### Diagnostic Errors Improving diagnosis is recognized by the National Academy of Medicine as a public health priority.6 Nearly 10% of strokes are misdiagnosed at first medical contact.7 Of the ≈130 000 to 220 000 patients with stroke presenting with vertigo or dizziness to the ED, it is estimated that perhaps 45 000 to 75 000 are initially missed,3 with misdiagnosis disproportionately affecting the young (age<50), women, and minorities.8,9 A population-based cohort study found that patients discharged from the ED said to have benign dizziness are at 50-fold increased risk of a stroke hospitalization in the 7 days postdischarge relative to propensity score-matched controls.10 Another population-based registry showed that 90% of isolated posterior circulation transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), half presenting isolated vertigo symptoms, were not recognized at first medical contact.11 Overall, dizziness and vertigo are the symptoms most tightly linked to missed stroke.7,9 Given their low sensitivity (7%–16%),12 computed tomography (CT) scans are of little use for identifying acute ischemic strokes,13 particularly in the posterior fossa.12 Despite this, nearly 50% of US ED patient presenting dizziness are imaged by CT, and <3% by magnetic …
A Systematic Review of Function-Modified Check-In/Check-Out:

Check-in/check-out (CICO) is widely used as a Tier 2 intervention within school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports. Evidence suggests that traditional CICO is primarily effective for...
Oneness and Manyness: Vācaspatimiśra and Ratnakīrti on an Aspect of Causality

Etude de la conception de la causalite developpee par Dharmakirti dans le cadre de sa reflexion sur le caractere passager des choses. Revisant l'interpretation de T. Stcherbatsky a l'origine de la position contemporaine sur la notion bouddhiste de causalite, l'A. compare les arguments de l'un et du multiple, ainsi que la structure de la causation, chez Vacaspatimisra et Ratnakirti.
IL35 Hinders Endogenous Antitumor T-cell Immunity and Responsiveness to Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer

Although successes in cancer immunotherapy have generated considerable excitement, this form of treatment has been largely ineffective in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Mechanisms that contribute to the poor antitumor immune response in PDA are not well understood. Here, we demonstrated that cytokine IL35 is a major immunosuppressive driver in PDA and potentiates tumor growth via the suppression of endogenous antitumor T-cell responses. The growth of pancreatic tumors in mice deficient for IL35 was significantly reduced. An analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cells revealed a role for IL35 in the expansion of regulatory T cells and the suppression of CD4+ effector T cells. We also detected a robust increase in both the infiltration and activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, suggesting that targeting IL35 may be an effective strategy to convert PDA from an immunologically "cold" to "hot" tumor. Although PDA is typically resistant to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, we demonstrated robust synergistic reduction in tumor growth when IL35 deficiency was combined with anti-PD-1 treatment. These findings provide new insight into the function of IL35 in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer and underscore the potential significance of IL35 as a therapeutic target for use in combination immunotherapy approaches in this deadly malignancy. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(9); 1014-24. ©2018 AACR.
The U(1) Problem: Instantons, Axions, and Familons

The U(1) problem began as a rather obscure difficulty in current algebra, but over time it has stimulated some remarkable theoretical ideas which may even in a quite literal sense describe the bulk of the Universe!
A Markov model approach to predicting regional tumor spread in the lymphatic system of the head and neck.

Radiation planning for cancer therapy is becoming more and more dependent on the prediction of microscopic tumor spread to regional lymph nodes for its success. It is known that microscopic spread tends to follow established lymphatic drainage pathways in the head and neck based on the location of the primary tumor. In this paper, we propose a novel model for the prediction of regional lymphatic involvement of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on primary tumor location and T-stage. The proposed model operates from first anatomical principles and basic stochastic techniques, and is validated against surgical data.
A sample average approximation approach for supply chain network design with facility disruptions

Abstract In this paper, we propose a sample average approximation (SAA) algorithm to solve the supply chain network design problem involving facility disruptions. This problem is formulated as a two-stage stochastic programming model as well as an explicit scenario-based model. We solve the models using SAA with a scenario decomposition algorithm to solve each sample problem. Three alternative subroutines for the scenario decomposition algorithm are proposed in order to accelerate the algorithm. The performances of these alternatives are compared in computational experiments. The results show that high-quality solutions with performance guaranty can be obtained through this proposed approach.
Gaussian Bounds of Sample Distributions for Integrity Analysis

We present a method to determine Gaussian overbounding distributions used in integrity analysis. This method overcomes the limitations of previous techniques by combining them, through the determination of an intermediate symmetric and unimodal overbounding distribution. This method is the basis of a MATLAB toolset that computes strict Gaussian overbounding distributions for any sample distribution. We apply the method to the determination of the overbounding distribution of the GPS clock and ephemeris errors for the advanced receiver autonomous integrity monitoring.
Sturdy Inference: A Bayesian Analysis of U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Motorcycle related fatalities continue to be a major concern for public health officials, economists, and policy makers interested in such matters. In 2006, 3% of all motor vehicles registered in the United States were 2-3 wheelers (motorcycle type vehicles), while riders of these vehicles accounted for 11% of vehicle related deaths. Such a disproportionate number of fatalities associated with motorcycles is certainly grounds for concern.Most studies of motorcycle fatalities attribute deaths to the avoidance of wearing helmets and the lack of helmet laws, speed, and alcohol usage. This study makes use of a rich panel data set for the period 1980 to 2010 by state and the District of Columbia to examine these factors and others. It is the first study to differentiate between the effects of universal and partial helmet laws on motorcycle fatalities. It also accounts for the effects of cell phone use, alcohol consumption, and suicidal propensities on these crashes after adjusting for a whole host of socioeconomic and driving related factors. The analysis is conducted using a new Bayesian technique, which examines the sturdiness of regression coefficients. This new method uses statistics referred to as S-values that addresses both estimation and model ambiguity. Results indicate that the variables we focus on, i.e., cell phones, alcohol consumption, and helmet laws affect motorcycle fatalities. Further, universal helmet laws appear to have a larger effect on such fatalities than partial helmet laws.
Pilot Effectiveness of a Stress Management Program for Sheltered Homeless Adults With Mental Illness: A Two-Group Controlled Study

This study examined the effectiveness of a stress management intervention for sheltered homeless adults with mental illness. Twelve intervention participants received a 6-week, 1-hour psychoeducati...
Book Review: Flip the Script: European Hip Hop and the Politics of Postcoloniality by J. Griffith Rollefson

Flip the Script: European Hip Hop and the Politics of Postcoloniality , by J. Griffith Rollefson. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017. 304 pp. European cultural politics have been at the forefront of many recent conversations on migration, xenophobia, and nationalism, particularly in the
Statistics That Matter

By dissaggregating count data and creating questions about the quality of library services, theological librarians can create statistics that are useful for management, improvement of services, and demonstrating the value of the library in the educational enterprise.
(349) Pain-Induced Negative Affect is Mediated Via Recruitment of the Nucleus Accumben Kappa Opioid System

Prolonged negative affect significantly impacts the quality of life for patients suffering from pain. These maladaptive emotional states can lead to severe depression, suicide, involuntary opioid overdose, and related neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, which integrates both the aversive and rewarding valence of stimuli, exhibits allostatic changes in the presence of pain. In discrete regions of this structure, activation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR), either by dynorphin, its endogenous agonist, or pharmacological ligands, acutely decreases the reinforcing properties of rewards and induces dysphoria and aversive behaviors. Using a wide range of complementary techniques including pharmacology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, physiology, biochemistry and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, our current findings demonstrate that in vivo recruitment of NAc shell dynorphin neurons, acting through KOR, is both necessary and sufficient to drive pain-induced negative affective states. Furthermore, we reveal that inflammatory pain impacts patterns of consumption of fentanyl using an intra-venous self-administration paradigm. Those particular patterns, where rats in pain display bursts of consumption interrupted by periods of “rest”, could lead to the occurrence of respiratory depression and subsequent involuntary lethal overdose. Taken together, our results provide evidence that adaptations in the kappa opioid system within the NAc shell represent a functional target for therapeutic intervention in pain that could circumvent affective disorders and may prevent life-threatening episodes.
Atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome secondary to acute pancreatitis: a unique presentation

Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is a disease of complement dysregulation and can be fatal if not treated in a timely manner. Although normally associated with triggers such as infection or pregnancy, this case demonstrates acute pancreatitis as the triggering event. The patient's initial presentation of thrombocytopaenia and acute renal failure was first attributed to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to pancreatitis, but with detailed history and further laboratory investigation, we were able to show that patient was having symptoms associated with aHUS. On early recognition of aHUS, this patient was able to receive the proper standard of care with eculizumab and had a full recovery while preventing renal failure. When patients present with thrombocytopaenia and renal failure in acute pancreatitis, we want to ensure physicians keep aHUS on the differential.
Dose-escalation trial of the ALK, MET & ROS1 inhibitor, crizotinib, in patients with advanced cancer.

Aim: This first-in-human, dose-finding study evaluated safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of crizotinib and established a recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) among patients with advanced solid malignancies. Patients & methods: Patients received oral crizotinib in a 3 + 3 dose escalation design. Results: Thirty-six patients received crizotinib (50 mg once daily-300 mg twice daily); maximum tolerated dose (and RP2D) was 250 mg twice daily. Most patients (89%) experienced >/=1 treatment-related adverse event. Three patients had grade 3 dose-limiting toxicities: alanine aminotransferase increased (n = 1) and fatigue (n = 2). Generally, an increase in soluble MET was found with increasing crizotinib concentrations. Conclusion: Crizotinib demonstrated a favorable safety profile. The observed pharmacodynamic effect on soluble MET provide evidence for targeted MET inhibition by crizotinib. Clinicaltrials. gov identifier: NCT00585195.
Impact of the Location of ST-T Abnormalities Accompanying Minor Q-Waves on the Definition of Prior Myocardial Infarction.

According to the Fourth Universal Definition of myocardial infarction (MI), the likelihood of a previous MI is increased when ST-T abnormalities exist with minor Q-waves in the same leads. Therefore, we examined whether differences in location of ST-T abnormalities in relation to minor Q-waves as part of the old MI definition impact the prevalence and prognostic significance of MI. This analysis included 7,878 participants with available baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) and follow-up data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Two ECG MI definitions were utilized; both were based on the standards of the Minnesota Code (MC) ECG Classification, and both incorporated major Q-waves but differed in whether major ST-T abnormalities and minor Q waves, as part of the definition, were in the same lead group (Standard MC-MI) or not (Fourth Universal MI). All-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality were ascertained during 14 years (median). We found no difference between baseline prevalence of Standard MC-MI (3.48%; n = 274) and Fourth Universal MI (3.27%; n = 258), p = 0.46. Also, Standard MC-MI and Fourth Universal MI were similarly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.64 [1.42 to 1.90] and 1.61 [1.38 to 1.87], respectively; p value for differences in associations = 0.86), and cardiovascular disease mortality (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.99 [1.61 to 2.48] and 1.94 [1.56 to 2.42], respectively; p value for differences in associations = 0.84). In conclusion, the location of ST-T abnormalities accompanying minor Q-waves does not impact the prevalence or prognostic significance of a prior MI which raise doubts about the clinical impact of considering the location of ST-T in relation to minor Q-waves when defining an old MI.
Minimally invasive options for gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare mesenchymal tumors, most commonly arising in the stomach. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of cure, and can often be accomplished laparoscopically. Tumor size and location guide selection of appropriate resection technique. A retrospective review of all patients undergoing surgery at a single academic center between 2000 and 2018. Comparisons and descriptive statistics performed using student’s t test and χ2 test. 77 patients underwent resection for gastric GIST, 53 (68%) laparoscopic. Patients undergoing open operations had significantly larger tumors (4 cm vs 7 cm, p < 0.001). Operative time was not significantly different between the two groups (117 min vs 104 min, p = 0.26). Median length of stay was significantly shorter for laparoscopic resection, and postoperative complication rate was lower. A review of the operative notes revealed four types of resection: non-anatomic stapled wedge resection, resection of a full-thickness “disk” of stomach around the tumor with primary closure, formal partial gastrectomy with reconstruction, and laparoscopic transgastric (endoluminal) resection. Non-anatomic resection (wedge or disk) is most feasible for tumors on the greater curve or gastric body, far enough from the pylorus and gastroesophageal junction to avoid narrowing inflow or outflow. A partial gastrectomy may be required for large tumors or those encroaching on the esophagus or pylorus. For small intraluminal tumors, a laparoscopic transgastric approach is ideal. This review of the technical details of each type of resection can aid in selecting the ideal approach for difficult tumors.
Cadherin-6 mediates thrombosis in vivo

Background: Platelet adhesion is the critical process mediating stable thrombus formation. Previous reports of cadherin-6 on human platelets have demonstrated its role in platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Objectives: We aimed to further characterize the importance of cadherin-6 in thrombosis in vivo. Methods: Cadherin-6 platelet expression was evaluated by western blotting, flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation. Thrombosis was evaluated using the FeCl3 and Rose Bengal carotid artery models in C57Bl6 mice treated with anti-cadherin-6 or IgG and wild-type or Cdh6-/- mice. Platelet function was compared in wild type and Cdh6-/- mice using tail-clip assays and aggregometry. Results: Human platelet expression of cadherin-6 was confirmed at ~3,000 copies per platelet. Cdh6-/- mice or those treated with anti-Cadherin-6 antibody showed an increased time to occlusion in both thrombosis models. Cadherin-6 was not expressed on mouse platelets, and there were no differences in tail bleeding times or platelet aggregation in wild-type versus Cdh6-/- mice. Conclusions: Cadherin-6 plays an essential role in thrombosis in vivo. However, cadherin-6 is not expressed on murine platelets. These data are in contrast to human platelets, which express a functional cadherin-6/catenin complex. The essential, platelet-independent role for cadherin-6 in hemostasis may allow it to be an effective and safe therapeutic target.
Emergency dermatologyDrug eruptions

Drug eruptions occur in up to 2% of hospitalized patients; most are minor irritations, but rarely they are life-threatening. This article outlines a logical approach to identifying drug eruptions, their triggers and management. Classification of the morphological type and the timing of their onset relative to initiation of the culprit drug are the most important factors in their recognition. The features that mark potentially life-threatening eruptions (Stevens–Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) are highlighted. Emerging problems such as the pustular eruptions associated with epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists used in malignancy, drug-induced ulcers, and skin tumours associated with BRAF inhibitors are covered.
A Subjunctive Imagining: June Jordan’s Who Look at Me and the Conditions of Black Agency

June Jordan’s literary interest in children manifests notably in her first book, 1969’s Who Look at Me, a long poem accompanied by reproductions of paintings by American artists. What makes Who Look at Me striking is a subjunctive esthetic evident in the density of the poem; in the complicated relationship between text, image and page; in the speaker authorized through the racial politics of looking. Jordan’s subjunctive expresses black possibility and conceptualizes child agency beyond realism and resistance. Indeed, the idiom of the subjunctive is relevant to the book’s material history and to Jordan’s negotiation of the publishing industry, such that subjunctivity frames the story of Jordan’s authorship. Who Look at Me, then, is a meta-text, a book about black looking and making and being.
Minority Race and Ethnicity is Associated With Higher Complication Rates After Revision Surgery for Failed Total Hip and Knee Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Racial and ethnic disparities in access to hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and postoperative outcomes have wide-reaching implications for patients and the health care system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ethnicity on clinical outcomes and complications following revision hip and knee TJA. Methods A single-institution, retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of 4424 revision hip and knee TJA patients was evaluated. Student’s t-test and chi-squared analysis were used to identify significant differences in patient demographics and clinical outcomes between Caucasians and various ethnic minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Results When compared with white patients, African American patients demonstrated a significantly higher BMI (P = .04), ASA score (P = .04), length of hospital stay (P = .06), and postoperative infection rates (P = .04). Hispanics demonstrated a significantly higher BMI (P = .04), when compared with white patients, alongside a significantly higher risk for postoperative infection (P Conclusion The study findings demonstrate an underutilization of revision TJA by ethnic minority groups, suggesting that disparities in access to orthopedic surgery increase from primary to revision surgery despite higher failure rates of minority ethnic groups reported after primary TJA surgery. In addition, inferior postoperative outcomes were associated with African Americans and Hispanics, when compared to white patients, with African Americans demonstrating the highest risk of postoperative complications.
Exposure to Violence, Firearm Involvement, and Socioemotional Consequences Among California Adults.

Violence is a leading cause of injury and death, and its impacts extend far beyond physical harm to the victim. We estimated the prevalence of direct or indirect exposure to violence, factors assoc...
Crystal structure, sorption properties, and electronic structure of flexible MOF, (Ni-4,4′azopyridine)[Ni(CN)4]

Abstract The flexible metal organic framework (MOF) compound, Ni(L)[Ni(CN)4], (L = 4,4′azopyridine (C10N4H8), nicknamed AzoPyr) is a 3D porous material that adopts the Hofmann-type structure. This paper reports our synthesis of Ni-AzoPyr and its structural, bonding, and sorption characterization. The red monoclinic crystals (with space group P2/n) were found to be multiple twins with three main components related by twin laws. The lattice parameters are a = 7.102 (3) A, b = 14.154 (4) A, c = 25.655 (10) A, β = 92.575 (12)°, and V = 2577 (2) A3. Ni-AzoPyr adopts a pillared structure with layers defined by the 2-D Ni [Ni(CN)4]n nets and AzoPyr ligands as pillars linking between 6-fold coordinated Ni3 sites. An additional AzoPyr ligand was found to cross link between the 6-fold Ni1 sites to the open ends of the four-fold Ni2 sites. This arrangement results in a 5-fold pseudo square-pyramid for Ni2 and a significantly long Ni2–N distance of 2.436 (11) A. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that almost all states in the conduction band minimum (CBM) are occupied by the 6-fold coordinated Ni site, indicating little to no electrons are conducted at the 5-fold coordinated Ni site. Water molecules were found to be entrapped in the cavities of the structure. In addition to the gating adsorption feature of Ni-AzoPyr, using computational approach, we found that in the absence of water molecules, the pores were found to have a local diameter of 5.8 A with a maximum number of 15.5 CO2 molecules per unit cell. The inclusion of disordered water solvent molecules gives rise to the formula of Ni(AzoPyr)[Ni(CN)4]·0.8H2O, or C19H12N10Ni2·0.8(H2O).
Managing the tension between caring and charting: Labor and delivery nurses' experiences of the electronic health record

Over a decade following the nationwide push to implement electronic health records (EHRs), the focus has shifted to addressing the cognitive burden associated with their use. Most research and discourse about the EHR's impact on clinicians' cognitive work has focused on physicians rather than on nursing-specific issues. Labor and delivery nurses may encounter unique challenges when using EHRs because they also interact with an electronic fetal monitoring system, continuously managing and synthesizing both maternal and fetal data. This grounded theory study explored labor and delivery nurses' perceptions of the EHR's impact on their cognitive work. Data were individual interviews and participant observations with twenty-one nurses from two labor and delivery units in the western U.S. and were analyzed using dimensional analysis. Nurses managed the tension between caring and charting using various strategies to integrate the EHR into their dynamic, high-acuity, specialty practice environment while using EHRs that were not designed for perinatal patients. Use of the EHR and associated technologies disrupted nurses' ability to locate and synthesize information, maintain an overview of the patient's status, and connect with patients and families. Individual-, group-, and environmental-level factors facilitated or constrained nurses' integration of the EHR. These findings represent critical safety failures requiring comprehensive changes to EHR designs and better processes for responding to end-user experiences. More research is needed to develop EHRs that support the dynamic and relationship-based nature of nurses' work and to align with specialty practice environments.
CheerBrush: A Novel Interactive Augmented Reality Coaching System for Toothbrushing Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts one in every 54 children in the United States. Some children with ASD have learning and fine motor skill challenges that contribute to difficulties completing daily living tasks such as toothbrushing. Lack of toothbrushing skills may cause increased need for dental care and negative social feedback from peers. Technology based intelligent support systems offer the advantages of being accessible, engaging, and cost-effective. In this work, we present a novel interactive augmented reality coaching system, CheerBrush, to improve the toothbrushing skills of children with ASD. CheerBrush allows children to manipulate virtual objects like a toothbrush and toothpaste with their actual hand motions to practice the steps of toothbrushing. The virtual tasks of CheerBrush demonstrate these steps using audio and visual cues, while also showing the brushing process through a virtual avatar. CheerBrush also assesses toothbrushing skills with a custom designed mechatronic toothbrush to evaluate the system's coaching effectiveness. A feasibility study with 12 children (six children with ASD and six typically developing children) was conducted to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of CheerBrush. The data showed improvements in the toothbrushing motions and reduced stress for the children in the post-test. CheerBrush detects real-time movement of children and interacts with them by augmented reality, feedback and multimodal hints. We believe that CheerBrush has the potential to provide a low-cost, engaging and, beneficial intelligent support system to improve the toothbrushing skills of children with ASD.
The House of God in Exile

John Calvin’s unrelenting literary assault on French Nicodemism over three decades has long been recognized for its deep consistency and harsh negativity. Yet scholars have tended to neglect the ways in which Calvin’s polemic against religious dissimulation could exhibit significant flexibility according to the needs of his context. An outstanding example is 1552’s Quatre sermons … traictans des matieres fort utiles pour nostre temps, a work containing the only sermons Calvin himself selected, revised, and prepared for publication. Whereas the reformer’s preface promises simply to revisit his previous argument that any participation in the Mass is idolatry, the present study argues that Calvin’s approach to Nicodemism in Quatre sermons was actually adapted to accomplish goals beyond decrying false worship, offering a carefully crafted apology for Calvin’s pastoral authority directed at his political situation. By repeatedly emphasizing God’s intent to bless his children through the ministry of a rightly ordered church, Quatre sermons marks a clear rhetorical shift in Calvin’s approach to Nicodemism away from a uniformly negative polemic against idolatry, stressing instead God’s provision of spiritual nurture via political exile. Unfolding its argument over four sermons, the publication ostensibly directs its plea for exile toward French Nicodemites, but in a manner that seems designed especially to silence Calvin’s foes in Geneva.
Improving dependability by revisiting operating system design

Existing operating system (OS) designs provide inadequate isolation of user applications from errors that occur in OS services. If an error causes the failure of an OS service, all dependent applications are affected. The OS design described in this paper ameliorates this problem by reorganizing OS state in an effort to make OS services transparently restartable. This is achieved by partitioning application-related OS state into isolated per-application memory regions. Access to these memory regions is provided to OS services on a "need-to-know" basis when processing application requests. Applications are not allowed access to these memory regions for security. This design helps improve the dependability of the system.
Cross-cultural factorial validity of the academic motivation scale

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to examine the factorial validity of the academic motivation scale (AMS), including mean structures and reliabilities across two culturally diverse samples. Thus, the study assesses the fit of the seven-factor conceptualization of AMS to a non-Western context. Design/methodology/approach – Survey questionnaire was used to elicit responses from undergraduate business students from universities in the USA (267) and Ghana (262). The data were analyzed using the multi-group CFA technique in LISREL 8.7, to assess measurement equivalency and the fit of the AMS to the non-Western context. Findings – After baseline models were established, a hierarchy of successively restrictive models were specified and estimated. Support was found for factorial, metric, and scalar invariance across the two samples, but different levels of psychometric soundness exist. Research limitations/implications – In spite of the low reliabilities in the non-Western context, the AMS has the potentia...
Complexing and denaturation of DNA by methylmercuric hydroxide: I. Spectrophotometric studies

Abstract The spectrophotometric changes when methylmercuric hydroxide is added to denatured DNA are consistent with the conclusion from the study of the reactions of methylmercuric hydroxide with nucleosides (Simpson, 1964) that the first site of reaction is the N (3) H bond of thymidine and the second site the N (1) H bond of guanosine. At higher methylmercuric hydroxide concentrations there are additional reactions at other nitrogen atom sites of guanosine, adenosine, and cytidine. Spectrophotometric studies show that methylmercuric hydroxide reacts with native DNA by causing prior denaturation which is, under the usual experimental conditions, irreversible. The negative logarithm of the methylmercuric hydroxide concentrations at the point of 50% denaturation ( pM 1 2 ) varies with the AT content of the DNA according to the equation pM 1 2 = 2.5 X AT + 1.9. Thus methylmercuric hydroxide is a reagent which denatures AT-rich DNA's preferentially. An equation of the same functional form is deduced from a simple theoretical treatment, experimental data on the binding of methylmercuric hydroxide to nucleosides, and experimental data on thermal denaturation. The “theoretical” values of pM 1 2 agree within 1.0 pM units with the experimental ones. The observed variation of pM 1 2 with ionic strength, dpM 1 2 dpNa = 0.39 , can also be explained by similar elementary theoretical considerations.
Bang-bang principle for state-constrained parabolic systems with dirichlet boundary controls

In this paper we study a class of state-constrained boundary control problems for linear parabolic equations. Principal complications come from discontinuous and bounded Dirichlet boundary controllers which are motivated by applications to some robust control problems under uncertain perturbations. We develop an effective procedure to approximate state constraints and prove desirable convergences of such approximations. Using variational analysis, we establish necessary optimality conditions for approximation problems and then, passing to the limit under a proper constraint qualification, we prove necessary optimality conditions for the original state-constrained problem in the bang-bang principle form. >
Pilot Testing of Intervention Protocols to Prevent Pneumonia in Nursing Home Residents

OBJECTIVES: To test intervention protocols for feasibility, staff adherence, and effectiveness in reducing pneumonia risk factors (impaired oral hygiene, swallowing difficulty) in nursing home residents. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Two nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-two nursing home residents. INTERVENTION: Thirty residents with impaired oral hygiene were randomly assigned to manual oral brushing plus 0.12% chlorhexidine oral rinse at different frequencies daily. Twenty-two residents with swallowing difficulty were randomly assigned to upright feeding positioning, teaching swallowing techniques, or manual oral brushing. All protocols were administered over 3 months. MEASUREMENTS: Feasibility was assessed monthly and defined as high if the protocol took less than 10 minutes to administer. Adherence was assessed weekly and defined as high if full staff adherence was demonstrated in more than 75% of assessments. Effectiveness for improved oral hygiene (reduction in oral plaque score) and swallowing (reduction in cough during swallowing) was compared at baseline and 3 months. RESULTS: Daily manual oral brushing plus 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse demonstrated high feasibility, high staff adherence, and effectiveness in improving oral hygiene (P<.001 vs baseline); this combination administered twice per day showed the highest plaque score reduction. Daily manual oral brushing and upright feeding positioning demonstrated high feasibility, high staff adherence, and effectiveness in improving swallowing. CONCLUSION: Manual oral brushing, 0.12% chlorhexidine oral rinse, and upright feeding positioning demonstrated high feasibility, high staff adherence, and effectiveness in pneumonia risk factor reduction. A protocol combining these components warrants testing for its ability to reduce pneumonia in nursing home residents.
Chemical ordering around open-volume regions in bulk metallic glass Zr52.5Ti5Al10Cu17.9Ni14.6

We provide direct experimental evidence for a nonrandom distribution of atomic constituents in Zr52.5Ti5Al10Cu17.9Ni14.6 bulk metallic glass using positron annihilation spectroscopy. The Ti content around the open-volume regions is significantly enhanced at the expense of Ni and Cu. Our results indicate that Ni and Cu atoms closely occupy the volume bounded by their neighboring atoms while Al, Ti, and Zr are less closely packed, and more likely to be associated with the open-volume regions. The overall distribution of elements seen by the positron is not significantly altered by annealing or by crystallization. Theoretical calculations indicate that the observed elemental distribution is not consistent with the known crystalline phases Zr2Cu and NiZr2, while Al3Zr4 shows some of the characteristics seen in the experiment.
Nucleoid Condensation and Cell Division in Escherichia coli MX74T2 ts52 After Inhibition of Protein Synthesis

The reorganization of the bacterial nucleoid of an Escherichia coli mutant, MX74T2 ts52, was studied by electron microscopy after protein synthesis inhibition by using whole mounts of cell ghosts, ultrathin-sectioning, and freeze-etching. The bacterial nucleoid showed two morphological changes after chloramphenicol addition: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) localization and DNA condensation. DNA localization was observed 10 min after chloramphenicol addition; the DNA appeared as a compact, solid mass. DNA condensation was observed at 25 min; the nucleoid appeared as a cytoplasm-filled sphere, often opened at one end. Ribosomes were observed in the center. Giant nucleoids present in some mutant filaments showed fused, spherical nucleoids arranged linearly, suggesting that the tertiary structure of the nucleoid reflects the number of replicated genomes. Inhibitors which directly or indirectly blocked protein synthesis and caused DNA condensation were chloramphenicol, puromycin, amino acid starvation, rifampicin, or carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone. All inhibitors that caused cell division in the mutant also caused condensation, although some inhibitors caused condensation without cell division. Nucleoid condensation appears to be related to chromosome structure rather than to DNA segregation upon cell division.
Recent Results on the Search for 1011 eV Gamma Rays from the Crab Nebula

The detection of Cerenkov light emitted by cosmic-ray air showers was used to search for cosmic gamma rays from the Crab Nebula. By use of the 10-m optical reflector at Mt. Hopkins, Arizona, the Crab Nebula was observed during the winter of 1969–1970 for approximately 112 hours, which was a significant increase in exposure time over previous experiments. Above a gamma-ray energy of 2.2 × 1011 eV, no significant flux was detected, resulting in an upper limit to the flux of 8.1 × 10−11 photon/cm2 sec. In the synchrotron-Compton-scattering model of gamma-ray production in the Crab Nebula, this limit on the flux indicates the average magnetic field in the nebula must be greater than 3 × 10−4 G.
Racial Attitudes and Race of Interviewer Item Non-Response

We evaluate the relationship between race of interviewer (ROI) and racial attitudes, using original telephone survey data that includes a response to the question: “What is my race?” A large percentage of our respondents answer, “don’t know.” Traditional racial attitude models tend to exclude ROI altogether, whereas alternative racial attitude models include perceived ROI but drop “don’t know” respondents. We propose a new modeling strategy that includes “don’t know” respondents and find that in general this modeling strategy is preferred because it leads to better model fit and fewer type II errors. We suggest that researchers control for “don’t know” ROI responses in any analysis of racial attitudes.
Some Results on Weakly Accurate Base Learners for Boosting Regression and Classification

One basic property of the boosting algorithmis its ability to reduce the training error, subject to the critical assumption that the base learners generate 'weak' (or more appropriately, 'weakly accurate') hypotheses that are better that random guessing. We exploit analogies between regression and classification to give a characterization on what base learners generate weak hypotheses, by introducing a geometric concept called the angular span for the base hypothesis space. The exponential convergence rates of boosting algorithms are shown to be bounded below by essentially the angular spans. Sufficient conditions for nonzero angular span are also given and validated for a wide class of regression and classification systems.
A Fractographic Study of the Edge-Sliding Mode in Fracture Toughness Testing

A fractographic study of Mode II fracture surfaces has been conducted for the purpose of identifying the microstructural mechanisms responsible for fracture in the edge-sliding mode. A compact shear (CS) specimen was employed to generate the fracture surfaces and also to establish Mode II fracture toughness values for Ti-6Al-4V, A533-B steel, and several aluminum alloys. In all tests, one of the two edge cracks sustained complete Mode II fracture while the other exhibited only a limited amount of subcritical crack growth. Mode II fracture surfaces, which were unique in appearance, have been examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. It was determined that shear (or parabolic) microvoid coalescence was the dominant mechanism for Mode II fracture. It was also established that most of the surface abrasions were created by the relative sliding of the fracture surfaces during unstable fracture rather than the crack initiation process.
Ultraviolet light inactivation and photoreactivation in the mycobacteria.

Abstract The kinetics of inactivation of mycobacteria by ultraviolet light were investigated. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. marinum were shown to be capable of photo-reactivation.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FACULTY ATTITUDES IN THE PLANNING FOR INSTRUCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Instructional development has been a recent innovation in higher education, responding to the needs of the new American model of universal higher education. Misconceptions and misapplications of instructional development have been frequent, especially its confusion with media service. A fundamental obstacle to success in any instructional improvement program is hypothesized to be lack of concern with faculty attitudes in the planning of methods to serve them. This study discusses the background of the problem and reports on a survey designed to investigate faculty attitudes toward instructional development on one campus. Tentative conclusions are drawn in order to guide further study. The data presented appear to indicate that there is a need to rethink the basic model of instructional development as currently used when applying it to the unique circumstances of higher education.
Polynomial methods for component matching and verification

Component reuse requires designers to determine whether or not an existing component implements desired functionality. If a common structure is used to represent components that are described at multiple levels of abstraction, comparisons between circuit specifications and a library of potential implementations can be performed quickly. A mechanism is presented for compactly specifying circuit functionality as polynomials at the word level. Polynomials can be used to represent circuits that are described at the bit level or arithmetically. Furthermore, in representing components as polynomials, differences in precision between potential implementations can be detected and quantified.