cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Interventions to Increase Influenza Vaccination Rates among Pediatric Inpatients.

Introduction Hospitalization provides an ideal opportunity for influenza vaccination, and strategies can enhance existing tools within the electronic medical record (EMR). The objectives of the study were to introduce and evaluate the effectiveness of provider and family-directed interventions to increase influenza vaccination ordering among inpatients. Methods We conducted a quality improvement initiative for children aged older than 6 months on medical inpatient teams at a large pediatric tertiary care hospital from September 2014 to March 2015, comprising 2 intervention groups (provider reminders and family education) and 1 control group for comparison, using EMR prompts alone. The provider reminder interventions comprised weekly e-mails indicating inpatient immunization status; vaccination reports; and visual reminders. The family education group intervention consisted of handouts regarding the benefits and safety of influenza vaccination. We measured vaccine ordering rates for each group among eligible children and overall vaccination rates. Data were analyzed using Statistical Process Control Charts and Chi-square tests. Results Among 2,552 patients aged older than 6 months hospitalized during the study period, 1,657 were unimmunized. During the intervention period, the provider group ordered 213/409 (52%) influenza vaccines, the family education group ordered 138/460 (30%) and the control group ordered 71/279 (25%) (P < 0.0001). The provider group had higher influenza immunization status than the control group (61% versus 53%; P = 0.0017). Exposure to the intervention did not impact the length of stay/discharge time. Conclusions Provider reminders including e-mails, visual reminders, and vaccination reports are effective ways of increasing inpatient influenza vaccination rates and are more effective than family education, or EMR prompts alone.
The Aristotelian Revolution: The Autonomy of the Theoretic Life and the Dream of Universal Science

Aristotle departs in a revolutionary way from Platonism by distinguishing the theoretic life and the political life. The basis of this distinction lies in Aristotle’s rejection of the Socratic equation of virtue and knowledge. Aristotle distinguishes between the moral and intellectual virtues, and correspondingly between the practical sciences concerned with action, and the theoretical sciences concerned with the pure contemplation of truth. The content of the theoretic life will thus involve the theoretic sciences of natural philosophy, mathematics, and natural theology distinguished from each other according to their respective relations to the world of change and materiality. Aristotle will argue not only for the autonomy of the theoretic life but also its superiority. The highest science will be the ruler and not the servant of the others; and so. It will also be the most “leisured” in the sense of having its own nobility and excellence transcending all considerations of utility. Such a science will also be the most universal, being concerned with being as such rather that particular forms of being. Hence was born Aristotle’s metaphysics – the dream of a universal science which would provide the foundation for all the other sciences.
Impact of surgical approach on perioperative complications for endometrial cancer staging.

e16507 Background: To identify predictors of reduced complications and discharge to home in patients being surgically staged for endometrial cancer. Methods: Patients were identified who were surgi...
Hylomorphic virtue: cosmology, embryology, and moral development in Aristotle

Aristotle is traditionally read as dividing animal souls into three parts (nutritive, perceptive, and thinking), while dividing human souls into four parts (a rational part, with theoretical and practical subparts, and non-rational part, with nutritive and desiderative subparts). But careful reading of Nicomachean Ethics 1.13 suggests that he divides the human soul into three parts – the nutritive, the theoretical, and the “practical” – but allows that the “practical” part is sometimes divided, as in akratic and other non-virtuous agents. In a fully virtuous agent, practical reason is the proper form of – and so in the hylomorphic sense one with – the desiring part of soul. It is thus contingent how many parts a given soul has, three being the norm, but four being common. Reading Aristotle this way is supported by appeal to his cosmology, where the superlunary world provides the unitary norm, and his embryology, where male offspring are the norm (in which menstrual fluid is fully mastered by the male prin...
Are People Born to Lead

The answer to the question, “Are leaders born or made?” remains elusive despite a great deal of study and attempts to land on a firm answer. Historically, the belief in natural born leaders prevailed but over the last century, behavioral psychologists recognized the complexity of leadership development and described characteristics of leaders which potentially are attainable. Advances in genetics have led to the observation that some characteristics are inheritable and can be ascribed to being the “good genes” that offer an early advantage to becoming a leader. Just as the arena of leadership development is exploding across industries, the concept of surgeon leaders is one that is evolving. Traditionally autocratic in style, modern surgeon leaders are often effective when focused on relational development and a more transformative approach. For those surgeons with an affinity for leadership, the outlook is good if willing to put in the effort to learn and hone this craft.
Trends in Private Equity Acquisition of Dermatology Practices in the United States.

Importance Private equity (PE) firms invest in dermatology management groups (DMGs), which are physician practice management firms that operate multiple clinics and often acquire smaller, physician-owned practices. Consolidation of dermatology practices as a result of PE investment may be associated with changes in practice management in the United States. Objective To describe the scope of PE-backed dermatology practice acquisitions geographically over time. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study examined acquisitions of dermatology practices by PE-backed DMGs in the United States. Acquisition and investment data through May 31, 2018, were compiled using information from 5 financial databases. Transaction data were supplemented with publicly available information from 2 additional financial databases, 2 financial news outlets, and press releases from DMGs. All dermatology practices acquired by PE-backed DMGs were included. Acquisitions were verified to be dermatology practices that provided medical, surgical, and/or cosmetic clinical care. Private equity financing data were included when available. The addresses of clinics associated with acquired practices were mapped using spatial analytics software. Main Outcomes and Measures The number and location of PE practice acquisitions over time were measured based on the date of deal closure, the geographic footprint of each DMG’s acquisition, and the financing of each DMG. Results Seventeen PE-backed DMGs acquired 184 practices between May 1, 2012, and May 22, 2018. These acquired practices accounted for an estimated 381 dermatology clinics as of mid-2018 (assessment period from May 1 to August 31). The total number of PE-owned dermatology clinics in the United States was substantially larger because these data did not reflect DMGs that opened new clinics (organic growth); acquisitions data represented only the ownership transfer of existing practices from physician to PE-backed DMG. Practice acquisitions increased each year, from 5 in 2012 to 59 in 2017. An additional 34 acquisitions took place from January 1 to May 31, 2018. The number of financing rounds to sustain transactions mirrored the aforementioned trends in practice acquisitions. Clinics associated with acquired practices spanned at least 30 states, with 138 of 381 clinics (36%) located in Texas and Florida. Conclusion and Relevance The study findings suggest that PE firms have a financial stake in an increasing number of dermatology practices throughout the United States. Further research is needed to assess whether and how PE-backed ownership influences clinical decision-making, health care expenditures, and patient outcomes.
Calculation of magnetic anisotropy energy in SmCo 5

${\mathrm{SmCo}}_{5}$ is an important hard magnetic material, due to its large magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE). We have studied the magnetic properties of ${\mathrm{SmCo}}_{5}$ using density functional theory (DFT) calculations where the Sm f bands, which are difficult to include in DFT calculations, have been treated beyond the local density approximation (LDA), within the LDA $+U$ formalism. The large MAE comes mostly from the Sm f-shell anisotropy, stemming from an interplay between the crystal field and the spin-orbit coupling. We found that both are of similar strengths, unlike some other Sm compounds, leading to a partial quenching of the orbital moment $(f$ states cannot be described as either pure lattice harmonics or pure complex harmonics), an optimal situation for enhanced MAE. A smaller portion of the MAE can be associated with the $\mathrm{Co}\ensuremath{-}d$ band anisotropy, related to the peak in the density of states at the Fermi energy. Our result for the MAE of ${\mathrm{SmCo}}_{5},$ 21.6 meV/f.u., agrees reasonably with the experimental value of 13-16 meV/f.u., and the calculated magnetic moment (including the orbital component) of $9.9{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ agrees with the experimental value of $8.9{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}.$
Electroosmotic flow driven microfluidic device for bacteria isolation using magnetic microbeads.

The presence of bacterial pathogens in water can lead to severe complications such as infection and food poisoning. This research proposes a point-of-care electroosmotic flow driven microfluidic device for rapid isolation and detection of E. coli in buffered solution (phosphate buffered saline solution). Fluorescent E. coli bound to magnetic microbeads were driven through the microfluidic device using both constant forward flow and periodic flow switching at concentrations ranging from 2 × 105 to 4 × 107 bacteria/mL. A calibration curve of fluorescent intensity as a function of bacteria concentration was created using both constant and switching flow, showing an increase in captured fluorescent pixel count as concentration increases. In addition, the use of the flow switching resulted in a significant increase in the capture efficiency of E. coli, with capture efficiencies up to 83% ± 8% as compared to the constant flow capture efficiencies (up to 39% ± 11%), with a sample size of 3 µL. These results demonstrate the improved performance associated with the use of the electroosmotic flow switching system in a point-of-care bacterial detection assay.
Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette

Respiratory infections are a leading cause of illness, morbidity, and mortality around the globe. Easily transmitted between people, respiratory pathogens are a leading cause of widespread illness but can be prevented. With the use of standard precautions, appropriate respiratory and hand hygiene, and appropriate patient precautions at the onset of symptoms, respiratory infections can be managed and maintained. There are several key pathogens that contribute to the burden of respiratory disease across the globe, among them are Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Haemophilus influenzae. Some respiratory infections are self-limiting and require symptomatic treatment, while some require specific treatments and antibiotics. This chapter will review protocols to limit the spread of respiratory infections, respiratory hygiene methods, as well as common and virulent respiratory infections and methods of management and treatment.
Deepfakes for the Good: A Beneficial Application of Contentious Artificial Intelligence Technology.

Deepfake algorithms are one of the most recent albeit controversial developments in Artificial Intelligence, because they use Machine Learning to generate fake yet realistic content (e.g., images, videos, audio, and text) based on an input dataset. For instance, they can accurately superimpose the face of an individual over the body an actor in a destination video (i.e., face swap), or exactly reproduce the voice of a person and speak a given text. As a result, many are concerned with the potential risks in terms of cybersecurity. Although most focused on the malicious applications of this technology, in this paper we propose a system for using deepfakes for beneficial purposes. We describe the potential use and benefits of our proposal and we discuss its implications in terms of human factors, security risks, and ethical aspects.
Long‐Term Survival of Patients With Left Ventricular Noncompaction

Background The prognosis of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) remains elusive despite its recognition as a clinical entity for >30 years. We sought to identify clinical and imaging characterist...
Anatomical Parameters for Occipital Condyle Screws: An Analysis of 500 Condyles Using CT Scans.

Study Design:Retrospective observational study.Objective:To establish occipital condyle dimensions (length, width, height), as well as the medialization angle necessary for safe occipital condyle s...
Integrating health behavior theories to predict American's intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Abstract Objective Integrating constructs from three prominent health behavior theories including the extended parallel process model, the health belief model, and the theory of planned behavior, this study seeks to identify sociopsychological factors that influenced American’s intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Method An online survey was delivered to a U.S. sample (N = 934), assessing the influences of risk perception and fear associated with COVID-19, beliefs about and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines, self-efficacy, social and psychological contexts, and demographic characteristics on people’s intention to get COVID-19 vaccines. Results Most respondents intended to get vaccinated. However, they tended to underestimate their risks of contracting COVID-19. Disease exposure led to higher uptake intent via the mediation of fear. Safety concerns negatively influenced vaccination intention, while perceived community benefits were positively associated with vaccination intention. Positive attitudes toward vaccines and recent vaccine history were positively linked to vaccination intent. Conclusion This study attests the effectiveness of HBT constructs in predicting people’s intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Practice Implications The results point to the importance of fostering confidence in vaccine safety and countering overoptimism of individual susceptibility to the disease in interventions promoting COVID-19 vaccines uptake.
Perspectives on electronic portal use among patients treated with medications for opioid use disorder in primary care.

Abstract Objectives Office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) with buprenorphine is increasingly integrated in primary care to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Online portals seek to engage patients in care of their chronic medical conditions, yet we know little about how patients with OUD experience these portals. Our study explores how patients with OUD perceive the impact of portal use on addiction treatment and clinical care. Materials and methods We purposively sampled patients with an active portal account enrolled in an OBOT program embedded within primary care, stratifying by recent or distant portal use. The study conducted individual semistructured interviews to understand how patients perceived and interfaced with the portal until the study reached saturation of themes. The research team analyzed the data via thematic analysis and three investigators independently coded the data to identify themes, which all authors then refined. Results Among 17 participants, 9 were recent users and 8 were distant. Though we stratified analyses by level of portal use, the study observed no differences in resultant themes, thus the study combined themes, which we present here. Portal use was felt to (1) facilitate and reinforce OUD and other substance use treatment goals, (2) improve health care participation, (3) enable monitoring and addressing broader health concerns beyond SUD treatment, and (4) have mixed impacts on patient-provider trust. Discussion Our findings suggest that patients with OUD identify aspects of the patient portal contributing to their engagement and retention in substance use treatment. Lingering concerns remain about the potential of portal use to negatively impact the patient-provider relationship.
Circulating microRNAs from the mouse tibia fracture model reflect the signature from patients with complex regional pain syndrome.

Introduction Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) often results from an initial trauma that later produces a disproportionate amount of pain. The mechanisms underlying CRPS have been studied using a tibia fracture model (TFM) in rodents because this model closely mimics symptoms and has several molecular correlates observed in patients with CRPS. Objective Here, we determined whether the TFM has alterations in circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and cytokines transported by small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that faithfully model previously reported miRNA alterations from patients with CRPS. Methods We isolated and characterized serum-derived sEVs from mice 3 weeks after fracture when symptoms such as pain hypersensitivity develop. Whole-transcriptome profiling was used to determine sEV miRNAs, and Bio-Plex Pro Mouse Cytokine 23-plex assay was used to measure cytokines. Differentially expressed miRNAs from TFM were compared with previously reported circulating miRNA alterations from patients with CRPS. Results Although sEV cytokine levels were unchanged, there were significant changes in sEV miRNA profiles. Differentially expressed miRNAs from TFM sEVs significantly overlapped with those previously reported in patients with CRPS. Of the 57 sEV miRNAs dysregulated in the TFM, 30 were previously reported in patients with CRPS compared with healthy control donors both in sEVs and 23 in whole blood. Conclusions These findings enhance the validity of TFM as a model for CRPS and suggest that specific miRNA dysregulation may be a shared feature of CRPS and the TFM. These dysregulated miRNAs could help identify mechanistic targets or serve as biomarker candidates for both diagnosis and treatment responses in clinical trials.
AN EXAMINATION OF THE U.S. COLLEGIATE AVIATION WORKFORCE IN PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION FACULTY MEMBERS BEYOND 2000

Aviation as an academic field of study has evolved in the span of a century. As the new millennium approaches, collegiate aviation will be called upon to prepare a new generation of highly skilled workers. These workers need to be educated by current and future generations of aviation faculty members. The purpose of this study was to examine the US collegiate aviation workforce to determine if the next generation of faculty members are being adequately prepared. A descriptive study survey questionnaire was used to collect data for this study which was sent to US University Aviation Association (UAA) institutional members in order to ascertain their workforce needs. The study found that a significant amount of hiring for qualified aviation faculty members is already occurring. The survey results also indicated a substantial number of retirements is either taking place or is anticipated to take place by the year 2000. A very significant finding was that almost all of the respondents believe the public at large does not have an adequate understanding of collegiate aviation.
Development of Opsin and Synapses in Monkey Photoreceptors

Primate vision is characterized by high acuity and color perception, each of which originate in cone photoreceptors. Visual sensitivity resides in rod photoreceptors. Adult Macaca monkey retina contains an average of 2.9–3.5 million cones and rods average 60.1 million with considerable individual variation1. Macaca retinal topography is centered on the fovea, a specialized region which contains only cones and has a depression in the inner retina. The monkey fovea has a cone density around 200,000/mm2 which drops rapidly into the periphery. Beginning on the foveal edge, rods rapidly increase in number and rod density peaks at the eccentricity of the optic disc in a circular ring that has a density close to that of foveal cones1–3. This distinctive topography results in a cone-dominated fovea and a rod-dominated periphery whose developmental patterns can be studied separately.
Identification and quantitation of nucleosides, bases and other UV-absorbing compounds in serum, using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. II. Evaluation of human sera.

Abstract The reversed-phase mode of high-performance liquid chromatography was used to investigate the profiles of low-molecular-weight, UV-absorbing compounds in human serum. Identification techniques are described which allow for the identification of picomole amounts of the nucleosides, bases and other compounds in several microliters of serum ultrafiltrate. The sera from 31 normal subjects (17 males, 14 females) showed very consistent profiles. A total of 12 compounds were identified and quantified in normal serum. The analysis of sera from over 150 patients with various types of neoplasia and other diseases showed serum profiles significantly different from normal profile.
esigning automated help using searcher system dialogues

This research utilizes a cognitive model of interactive information retrieval seeking to improve the performance of Web information retrieval (IR) systems. Building on the stratified model, we define interactions at the surface stratum that shed light on the cognitive, affective, and situational strata during the information retrieval process. We propose that one can utilize these interactions to improve the design information retrieval systems. This paper presents the development technique used to modify an existing IR system that monitors these interactions and, using associated assumptions about situational relevance, recommends search tactics to the user. The result is an increase in the performance of an IR system as measured by precision. The system design and results of an evaluation are presented. Research thus far indicates that user-system interactions at the surface stratum can be used to improve system performance. Using these interactions, one can develop the stratified model to a level of granularity useful for the design of Web IR systems.
Glutamine or fiber supplementation of a defined formula diet: impact on bacterial translocation, tissue composition, and response to endotoxin.

Despite provision of adequate calories, defined formula diets in rats lead to bacterial translocation (BT), fatty infiltration of the liver, and an increased susceptibility to endotoxin. These deleterious effects may be due in part to a loss of intestinal barrier integrity resulting from bowel atrophy. Defined formula diets lack both glutamine and fiber, substances which may help maintain intestinal mass. To determine whether supplementation of defined formula diets with either glutamine or fiber might prevent bowel atrophy and, thus, BT, hepatic steatosis, and the altered response to endotoxin, Wistar rats were fed (1) defined formula diet ad libitum (DFD), (2) (DFD + 2% (w/v) glutamine, (GLUT), or (3) DFD + 2% (w/v) psyllium (FIBER). Rats given standard food isocalorically pair-fed to DFD were used as controls. Nutritional status was assessed by daily weight gain, as well as the ability to maintain serum albumin, hematocrit and white blood counts. After 2 weeks of these feeding regimens, animals were sacrificed, and organ weights and composition were determined, with rates of bacterial translocation determined by mesenteric lymph node, abdominal viscera, and cecal cultures. Additional animals receiving the same experimental diets were subsequently challenged with endotoxin and observed for mortality with rates of post-endotoxin BT and the responses of acute phase proteins and cytokines measured. All dietary regimens resulted in equivalent weight gain and other nutritional parameters. Both glutamine and fiber supplementation maintained small bowel mass, but only GLUT preserved normal jejunal mucosal architecture. Neither fiber nor glutamine supplementation prevented cecal bacterial overgrowth or BT, resulting from the DFD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Portrayal of the Late 1950s in GDR Literature, Published Before and After the Fall of the Wall in 1989

This essay examines different literary portrayals of the late 1950s in the GDR in texts of Anna Seghers, Christoph Hein, and Wolfgang Hilbig. While in Seghers’ narrative Vierzig Jahre der Margarete Wolf , published in 1957, the GDR of this time is shown as the embodiment of the utopia of a classless and truly democratic society, in her Der gerechte Richter , published after the Fall of the Wall, the GDR of the late 1950s is portrayed as a Stalinist society whose leaders are betraying the ideas of humanism and justice. Christoph Hein in his literary depiction of the late 1950s in the GDR in the novel Horns Ende (1985) points to a severe lack of political justice in that country. Wolfgang Hilbig in the narrative Der Brief (1985) shows convincingly that not only political justice, but also social justice was lacking there.
Cutting Edge: B-1 Cells Are Deficient in Lck: Defective B Cell Receptor Signal Transduction in B-1 Cells Occurs in the Absence of Elevated Lck Expression

B-1 cells constitute a unique B cell subset that is primarily responsible for producing nonimmune Ig. This natural Ig acts as a principal line of defense against infection. A key feature of B-1 cells is the failure of BCR-triggered signal transduction. Recently, defective BCR signaling in B-1 cells has been attributed to elevated expression of the canonical T cell src kinase, Lck. In the present study, we re-examined Lck expression in normal B-1 cells. We found that B-1 cells expressed less Lck at both the protein and RNA levels than did B-2 cells. The same B-1 cells manifested defective BCR-mediated induction of IKKβ phosphorylation, IκBα degradation, and intracellular Ca 2+ mobilization. Thus, the failure of BCR signaling in B-1 cells does not relate to subset-specific elevation of Lck.
Capriciousness or Fairness

Abstract Previous research on capital sentencing have discovered quantitative proof of discrimination, especially by race of the victim. The present study examines prosecutorial decision making in Kentucky. Using a method of analysis developed by Berk et al., it seeks to determine the level of capriciousness (uncertainty) present in the prosecutorial decision to seek the death penalty. Kentucky prosecutors were most likely to seek the death penalty in cases where black offenders killed white victims.
Researching Online Foreign Language Interaction and Exchange: Theories, Methods and Challenges

Telecollaboration refers to the use of online communication tools to connect language learners in different countries in collaborative projects and intercultural exchange (Belz, 2001). The last twenty years mark an intensive period of research in online interactions and intercultural exchange. The growth of telecollaboration and online foreign language (FL) interaction in educational settings is irrefutable. This is clearly evident in the volume and concentration of research on it and its related topics, with research developing in parallel to and closely reflecting the unfolding of online interaction and exchange in the field of foreign language education (Reinhardt & Thorne, 2011). Conscious of the wide variety of approaches, paradigms, and challenges that researchers are confronted with when approaching the field of online interaction and exchange in FL education, this book presents a comprehensive guide for practitioners and newcomers alike by two of the veterans in the field, M. Dooly and R. O’Dowd.
Preparing material for the international marketplace: more than technical localization required

When a Web-based distance learning program is designed to be delivered to an international and culturally diverse audience, it has a special set of concerns with content localization. Often content localization issues are less obvious and more subtle than many information technology (IT) issues. While the latter deals with such challenges as differing character sets and text expansion during translation, content localization issues involve taking the content of the soft-skills training product and making it linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target locale where it will be sold and used. This paper presents a case study of a Web-based, English language training program in the field of aviation. The challenges of an attempt at standardization while facing the need for some localization of radiotelephony phraseology form the basis for this discussion.
ECONOMIC INJURY LEVELS OF THE ALFALFA WEEVIL (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Economic injury levels of the alfalfa weevil on alfalfa were investigated in New York State. The dry weight food consumption for the larval stage of the alfalfa weevil averaged 7.34 mg/larva. For every gram (dry weight) of alfalfa consumed, 1.59 g (live weight) in insect tissue was produced. In the laboratory, it was found that insect food consumption could account for only about 50% of the total weight loss in alfalfa plants after 10 days of larval feeding. Therefore, alfalfa weevil damage to alfalfa was more than the larval food consumption, and this was believed to be due to the loss of the plant’s photosynthetic potential. In the field on first growth alfalfa, the economic injury level was calculated to be 56 larvae/stem. First growth alfalfa was less severely injured by alfalfa weevil larvae than our second growth alfalfa infested with equal populations of alfalfa weevils. It was shown that first growth alfalfa was able to compensate for 87% of the insect feeding while second growth alfalfa could compensate for only 50%. Since the alfalfa plant’s capacity to compensate for alfalfa weevil feeding can vary due to environmental conditions and plant characteristics, economic injury levels must be adjustable. To provide more reliability to economic injury levels, we propose that in alfalfa the following seven measurements be made: (1) alfalfa weevil larval density; (2 and 3) parasites and predators of the weevil; (4) rainfall and moisture level; (5) plant nutrients; (6) alfalfa variety; and (7) stage and previous management of alfalfa stand.
Sapropterin Dihydrochloride Tablets

INDICATIONS Sapropterin dihydrochloride is indicated to reduce blood phenyl alanine levels in patients with hyperphenylalaninemia caused by tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-responsive phenylketonuria. Sapropterin should be used in conjunction with a phenylalanine-restricted diet. Phenylketonuria is an autosomal recessive metabolic disease caused by mutations in the gene that encodes phenylalanine hydroxylase. These mutations prevent hepatic conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine, which leads to hyperphenylalaninemia. Prolonged elevations in phenylalanine concentration in the blood can produce profound neurocognitive and developmental defects so early detection and dietary restrictions are important to avoid these complications. However, compliance with the dietary restrictions are difficult, and noncompliance after successful treatment in early childhood can result in below-average IQ scores, behavioral problems, and emotional dysfunction. Dietary restriction and supplementation is the mainstay of therapy for patients with phenylketonuria. The phenylalanine content of the food must be counted daily. Dietary restriction is recommended for life with a treatment goal of blood phenylalanine levels between 120 and 360 mcmol/L through 12 years of age and concentrations between 120 and 900 mcmol/L acceptable for those 13 years of age and older (120 to 600 mcmol/L preferred). High-protein foods are restricted and a medical food is often used to provide adequate protein with additional tyrosine and no phenylalanine.
SWNT−MWNT Hybrid Architecture for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Cathodes

A thin film of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and SWNT−multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) hybrids loaded with Pt have been evaluated as the cathode catalyst layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The optimum Pt loading and thickness for SWNT films is found to be in the range of 20−100 µg Pt/cm2 and 0.3−1.4 µm, respectively. In this optimum range, Pt-SWNT thin films show excellent proton conductivity and are able to reach peak performance without additional nafion in the catalyst layer. Cathode-specific mass activity of Pt on a SWNT support is found to decrease as the Pt loading and thickness increase due to mass transfer limitations. Addition of Pt-MWNTs to Pt-SWNT thin films is found to increase the mass transport characteristics and cathode-specific mass activity. A SWNT−MWNT hybrid support shows three times higher mass activity than a SWNT support at about the same power output, and the optimum hybrid is found for a blend composed of 20−30 µgPt/cm2 on SWNTs and 5−10 µgPt/cm2 on MWNTs.
Ethical Considerations in Listing Fetuses as Candidates for Neonatal Heart Transplantation

SINCE Dr Christian Barnard performed the first adult heart transplant in 1967, this procedure has evolved into a lifesaving surgery for many people with end-stage cardiac function. The first efforts at neonatal heart transplantation were undertaken in 1967 and 1968. 1,2 Both of the infants died within a few hours, temporarily dampening enthusiasm for this procedure in the neonate. In the 1980s, with the advent of improved immunosuppression, solid-organ transplantation became a more feasible treatment for end-stage organ disorders, and interest in neonatal cardiac transplantation was renewed. In the United States, the number of cardiac transplants performed in children less than 1 year of age rose from two in 1984 to 82 in 1990. 3 By 1989, surgeons had performed pediatric cardiac transplantation in 61 centers. 4 Survival with 4 to 40 months of follow-up ranges between 63% and 84%. 5-7 Evaluations to date show normal growth and development of
Nitrosative Stress-induced Apoptosis through Inhibition of NF-κB

Nitrosative stress produced by cytokines predisposes to apoptotic cell death. However, the molecular mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood. We have shown previously that nitric oxide (NO) regulates the activity of the anti-apoptotic transcription factor NF-κB. Here we demonstrate that the inhibition of NF-κB by NO sensitizes A549 and Jurkat T cells to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-induced apoptosis. The molecular basis of NF-κB inhibition is different in the two cell types. In A549 cells, NO functions at the nuclear level to inhibit NF-κB byS-nitrosylation. In Jurkat cells, NO inhibits the NF-κB activating pathway in the cytoplasm at a step proximal to the degradation of IκBα. The inhibition of NF-κB is reflected in the level of intracellular S-nitrosothiols, which are constitutively metabolized. These data suggest that NO can influence cell death by modulating NF-κB activity with the sites of inhibition being cell type-specific. The data also show that NO bioactivity regulates tumor necrosis factor-α signaling.
An Overview of Current Developments in Computer‐Assisted Learning in the United States

Abstract Current developments and trends in computer‐assisted learning (CAL) in the United States are described for persons from other countries seeking information about present activities and future possibilities. Materials selected call attention to new directions encouraged by dramatic changes in the technology, associated trends, and possible futures. The domain of CAL is interpreted broadly to include learning about, with and through computers. For example, learning about computers (general literacy in computer uses) may contribute to learning with computers (simulation, gaming, problem‐solving, and creative activities). After a brief statement about trends, the article provides a summary of kinds of use of computing in learning in the US and commentary on applications in various areas. Additional interpretation is offered in a description of needed developments in various aspects of the technology and selected areas of application, and in closing comments on the future.
Histologic studies on the extension of the inflammatory infiltrate in human periodontitis

Abstract This study was undertaken to re-examine early and recent morphologic descriptions of gingival and periodontal inflammation based on a study of gingival biopsies and block sections of human jaws. A collection of 350 autopsy and surgically retrieved jaw sections containing multiple teeth and displaying various stages of periodontal inflammation were subjected to routine histologic preparation and analyzed with step serial sections. 105 gingival biopsies, serially sectioned, including 15 clinically normal specimens, were also studied. The results of these investigations suggest that the inflammatory lesion extends into the alveolar process and elicits a response, often before evidence of crestal resorption or connective tissue attachment loss has occurred. Similarily, deep penetrations of inflammatory cells into the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and periapical tissues, along with fibrosis and enlargement of the marrow spaces, were common findings with advancing disease. More widespread distributions of inflammatory cells than previously described were found in clinically normal gingiva, while in more inflamed gingiva, the inflammatory cell types found and their pattern of distribution varied greatly from individual to individual. These observations cast doubt on the perception of human periodontitis as a localized and marginal disease and suggest that its effects may be much more pervasive than previously thought.
Toxocariasis presenting as eosinophilic ascites in a post-partum female

Toxocariasis remains a problem throughout the world, and the overall prevalence is estimated to be 2.8 % within the United States. The clinical spectrum of toxocariasis in humans varies from asymptomatic infection to severe organ injury, and is determined by parasitic load, sites of larval migration from the gut, and the host’s inflammatory response. We present a case of eosinophilic ascites with diarrhea in a post-partum woman attributed to toxocariasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of toxocara infection presenting in the post-partum period.
Genesis of the reproductive system of mosquitoes. III. Supernumerary male genitalia.

The origin of supernumerary gonapophyses in a polymorphic variant of Aedes stimulans has been determined histologically. Genotypic males (Mm) will develop gonapophyses on abdominal segment 8 when primordia on the larvae are subjected to a high-to-low thermal regimen. The gonapophyses develop from the normally evanescent podal buds of the eighth imaginal disc. Their course of development is similar to that of the normal gonapophyses that arise from the podal buds of the ninth imaginal disc.
Retaining and retraining: An innovative approach to educating engineers in a changing economy

Changing economic and technological conditions require that talented and experienced engineers adapt and update their engineering skills. Communities support education and retraining in order to retain the human talent. This paper describes an innovative approach to helping engineers overcome barriers to career transitions, which incorporates career and personal development, an engineering skills refresher, a semester-long course at a top-tier engineering school, and an internship at a company in a high-growth sector. We describe the motivation for embarking on a career reengineering program. A large percentage of the engineering population in the Austin community is engaged in semiconductor design and manufacturing, an industry in decline. In order to harness the collective skills and talents of engineers in the semiconductor industry and to redirect those skills, the Center for Lifelong Engineering Education provides training to help engineers to re-tool their skills for growth industries. We describe success factors for a career re-engineering program, including (1) the engagement with multiple stakeholders: a university engineering faculty, community development organizations such as workforce commissions, companies in high-growth sectors, the university career counseling center, and governmental agencies; (2) the acquisition of funding to help support engineers as they embark on a retraining curriculum; and (3) the application process and selection criteria. We describe the curriculum, including an initial orientation and assessment program; the selection of appropriate and available fall-semester engineering classes in fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and environmental sciences; monthly workshops designed to improve communication, presentation, adaptability, and networking skills; weekly small-team meetings designed to keep participants accountable; regular meetings with individual mentors; and a spring-semester internship with a firm in a high-growth sector. Programs to help retrain engineers and to retain engineering talent within a society are critical to community sustainability and growth.
Control design based on a linear state function observer

An approach to the design of low-order controllers for large scale systems is proposed. The method is derived from the theory of linear state function observers. First, the realization of a state feedback control law is interpreted as the observation of a linear function of the state vector. The linear state function to be reconstructed is the given control law. Then, based on the derivation for linear state function observers, the observer design is formulated as a parameter optimization problem. The optimization objective is to generate a matrix that is close to the given feedback gain matrix. Based on that matrix, the form of the observer and a new control law can be determined. A four-disk system and a lightly damped beam are presented as examples to demonstrate the applicability and efficacy of the proposed method.
Partisan Conversion in the Northeast: An Analysis of Split Ticket Voting, 1952-1976

Gerald Pomper and others who have studied realignment/ dealignment contend that the study of change in geographic subunits is necessary to understand change observed from a national perspective. The South has been the most common regional focus, yet the Northeast has experienced disproportionate partisan change as well. This research docu ments declining Republicanism in the Northeast since the early 1960s, draws parallels with the South, identifies social and political sources of that decline, and speculates about the future of partisan identification in the Northeast.
Polarimetric Feature Characterization Methods for Target Detection In Coastal Areas

Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been successfully applied for, terrain and land-use classification, soilmoisture and biomass measurements, and many other areas of remote sensing. However, its application to ocean and coastalareas has not been developed fully. This paper describes several remote-sensing applications for the littoral zone usingpolarimetric SAR. SIR-C L-band and C-band images are used for illustration.
Risk of Travel-Associated Tuberculosis

Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis might be acquired at home or during travel. The risk is determined by exposure frequency to a source case and the duration of the exposure. Thus, whether travel increases the background risk depends on origin, destination, and duration of travel. Infection might be acquired indoors or outdoors, but the overall risk seems small, whatever the setting. Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination and preventive therapy have both been discussed as possible preventive interventions, but the disadvantages associated with both approaches appear to outweigh any benefits. Because the risk of acquisition of infection with M. tuberculosis is small, the most rational approach is likely to delay intervention until a traveler presents with clinically active tuberculosis, as is done with any other patient.
WE-A-500-01: Quality Control of Lung SBRT: Minimizing Uncertainties From Simulation to Treatment

Stringent quality control is critical to the success of lung SBRT. However, uncertainties exist in each step of the lung SBRT procedure. Characterization of organ motion using 4DCT may not present true tumor motion excursion due to its low temporal resolution and patients' breathing irregularity. In treatment planning, tumor ITV could be significantly under/over‐estimated by 4DCT. Different delivery techniques such as 3D‐conformal, IMRT/VMAT, may introduce different degrees of uncertainties. The relative pros/cons of each motion management technique are usually not patient‐specifically quantified, leading to uncertainty in finding the optimal technique for the patient. Other uncertainties include the choosing of planning CT, the determination of PTV and gating window, etc. At patient positioning, image guidance is prone to uncertainties due to technical limitations: CBCT may not present true ITV due to patient's irregular breathing. Rotational errors may not be fully corrected without six degree‐of‐freedom couch. At dose delivery, correlation between external motion and tumor motion is uncertain for respiratory‐gated treatment. Tumor motion and size during treatment may be different from those measured at simulation, and may vary between fractions. For physics QAs, uncertainties in dose measurement devices and delivery devices could be substantial with inhomogeneity tissues. Quality control of lung SBRT requires accurate quantification of target motion by using the proper 4D‐imaging technique and parameters based on patient's conditions, quantitative evaluation of different planning techniques, QA of treatment plan using 4D dosimeter and 4D phantom simulations, optimal patient positioning and motion monitoring during treatments. Learning Objectives: 1. Provide an evidence‐based systematic review of uncertainties during lung SBRT 2. Discuss the root causes of the uncertainties and corresponding quality control strategies 3. Present data‐driven practical and effective solutions to minimize the uncertainties
EEG abnormalities in Tourette's syndrome.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities in a series of 45 patients with Tourette's syndrome were related to clinical and historical factors in this study. Twenty-one of the 45 tracings (47%) exhibited abnormalities; the most common abnormalities noted included sharp waves and slowing. A posterior focus of abnormal activity was noted in 16 cases. Subjects with an earlier age of onset were significantly more likely to have abnormal EEGs.