cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A retrospective review of cyproheptadine for feeding intolerance in children less than three years of age: effects and side effects

Aim Premature infants and those with brain injury often suffer from feeding intolerance and vomiting in the first several years of life. Cyproheptadine is a medication with antihistaminergic, antiserotonergic and anticholinergic effects, thought to increase gastric accommodation. We aimed to retrospectively review our experience using cyproheptadine for feeding intolerance and/or vomiting in children under the age of three. Methods This is a retrospective chart review of 39 patients less than three years of age who were prescribed cyproheptadine for feeding intolerance or vomiting and had follow-up information available. Results Starting dose ranged widely (from 0.069 to 0.825 mg/kg/day). Side effects such as sleepiness and constipation were rare. The medication had a significant positive effect, defined as resolution of vomiting, improved feeding tolerance or improved comfort with feeds, in 67% of children. An additional 28% showed possible improvement, defined as some improvement in vomiting or improvement in vomiting or feeding tolerance in conjunction with other changes in addition to cyproheptadine. Conclusion In our experience, cyproheptadine appears to be safe and effective in decreasing vomiting and feeding intolerance in children less than three years of age. A trial of cyproheptadine could be considered before invasive testing in infants with feeding issues.
Management of mal de debarquement syndrome as vestibular migraines.

Objective Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a balance disorder that typically starts after an extended exposure to passive motion, such as a boat or plane ride. Management is typically supportive (e.g. physical therapy), and symptoms that persist beyond 6 months have been described as unlikely to remit. This study was conducted to evaluate the response of patients with MdDS to management with migraine prophylaxis, including lifestyle changes and medical therapy. Study Design Prospective review. Setting Ambulatory setting at a tertiary care medical center. Methods Clinical history, detailed questionnaires, and audiograms were used to diagnose patients with MdDS. Those patients with the diagnosis of the MdDS were placed on our institutional vestibular migraine management protocol. Treatment response was assessed with a quality-of-life (QOL) survey and visual analog scale. Results Fifteen patients were diagnosed with MdDS, with a predominance of females (73%) and a mean age of 50 ± 13 years. Eleven patients (73%) responded well to management with a vestibular migraine protocol, which included lifestyle changes, as well as pharmacotherapy with verapamil, nortriptyline, topiramate, or a combination thereof. In comparison, a retrospective control group of 17 patients demonstrated a lower rate of improvement when treated with vestibular rehabilitation and physical therapy. Conclusion Management of MdDS as vestibular migraine can improve patients' symptoms and increase the QOL. Nearly all the patients suffering from MdDS had a personal or family history of migraine headaches or had signs or symptoms suggestive of atypical migraine. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 127:1670–1675, 2017
Bringing Robotics in Classrooms

Learning with educational robotics provides students, who usually are the consumers of technology, with opportunities to stop, question, and think deeply about technology. When designing, constructing, programming, and documenting the development of autonomous robots or robotics projects, students not only learn how technology works, but they also apply the skills and content knowledge learned in school in a meaningful and exciting way. Educational robotics is rich with opportunities to integrate not only STEM but also many other disciplines, including literacy, social studies, dance, music, and art, while giving students the opportunity to find ways to work together to foster collaboration skills, express themselves using the technological tool, problem-solve, and think critically and innovatively. Educational robotics is a learning tool that enhances students’ learning experience through hands-on mind-on learning. Most importantly, educational robotics provides a fun and exciting learning environment because of its hands-on nature and the integration of technology. The engaging learning environment motivates students to learn whatever skills and knowledge needed for them to accomplish their goals in order to complete the projects of their interest. For school-age children, most robotics activities have mainly been part of informal education, such as after school programs and summer camps (Benitti in Computers & Education, 58:978–988, 2012; Eguchi 2007b; Sklar and Eguchi in Proceedings of RoboCup-2004: Robot Soccer World Cup VIII, 2004), even though it has the potential to make learning more effective in formal education. It is very difficult for teachers to include robotics in regular curriculum because of the heavy focus on standardized testing and pressure to cover academic standards set by the government and/or their States. This chapter aims to promote robotics in classroom by connecting robotics learning with various STEM curriculum standards.
Bifurcation Analysis of Shallow Spherical Shells with Meridionally Nonuniform Loading

Numerical solutions of the relevant boundary value problem suggest that the first bifurcation from the basic solution for a spherical cap under a class of meridionally nonuniform loading is to a dimple state. Delicate asymptotic analysis of the linearized buckling problem confirm this observation.
Substance Use Disorder Among Current Cancer Patients: Rates and Correlates Nationally in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Background Substance use disorders (SUDs) are known to cause or complicate treatment of many types of cancers. Objectives We sought to systematically assess rates of current SUDs among patients currently in treatment for cancer. Methods The National Veteran Health Administration administrative data from fiscal year 2012 were used to compare veterans with both cancer and comorbid SUDs to veterans with cancer but no SUDs and those with a SUD but no cancer. Bivariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression were used to compare groups on sociodemographic characteristics, medical and mental health diagnoses, service use, and psychotropic and opioid medication fills. Results Of 482,688 veterans with cancer diagnoses, 32,037 (6.64%) had a comorbid SUD diagnosis. Veterans with cancer and a SUD had more medical and psychiatric disorders than those with cancer alone, a greater risk of homelessness, and a greater use of both mental and medical health services, with 60% receiving mental health outpatient treatment. These veterans had fewer differences from veterans with SUDs only, although they were older and had more medical illnesses. Notably the cancer SUD group had higher rates of hepatic disease and received a greater number of opioid prescriptions than both veterans with cancer alone and veterans with SUD alone. Conclusions Veterans with cancer and SUD showed a specific risk for liver disease and a higher use of opioids. Collaborative teams involving oncology, palliative care, and psychiatry may be best able to address the challenge of providing adequate and safe opiate pain control for this vulnerable population.
Teaching Executive Functioning Processes: Promoting Metacognition, Strategy Use, and Effort

Students’ success in the digital age is increasingly linked with their ability to take responsibility for their own learning by organizing and integrating a rapidly changing body of information that is available in textbooks and online. From the early grades, they are expected to work independently to complete numerous multistep projects and writing assignments, all tasks that rely on cognitive flexibility and the ability to shift rapidly between different processes. Students’ academic performance therefore depends on the ease with which they plan their time, organize and prioritize materials and information, separate main ideas from details, think flexibly, memorize and mentally manipulate information, and monitor their own progress. As a result, it is essential that all students develop an awareness of how they think and how they learn and that they master strategies that address these executive function processes.
Ethical Issues in Testing and Assessment

Ethical standards and guidelines for testing are necessary, as they promote and regulate professional behavior. While there are many professional association codes of conduct promoting ethical issues in testing and assessment, The Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists is discussed, as it is a document reflecting the principles and values expected of a code of conduct. In addition and more specifically, standards, guidelines and the responsibilities for ethical test usage are reflected on, such as that found in the International Test Commission, which promotes effective testing and assessment policies. There are a variety of issues pertinent to tests and assessment and these are discussed, namely cross-cultural applicability and transportability of tests, translation guidelines, telepsychology, computer and Internet-based assessment, privacy and confidentiality, feedback and assessment, test publishers and authors, culturally competent career assessment practice, and special populations such as children and adolescents.
Surgical techniques: Axillary artery reconstruction for ATOS

Extrinsic compression of the distal axillary artery or its immediate branches can cause unique vascular lesions that represent a variant of arterial TOS. These lesions are occasionally reported in overhead athletes, such as baseball pitchers and volleyball players, for whom positional compression of the artery opposite the head of the humerus has led to aneurysm formation, with thrombosis and/or embolism to the arteries of the arm or hand. The unique clinical setting of these lesions requires different considerations from those applicable to other forms of TOS or vascular disease. This chapter describes the spectrum of pathology and the outcomes of treatment for compressive axillary artery lesions, with particular emphasis on the methods of surgical treatment and the subsequent return to high-­performance overhead athletic activity.
Anti-CD33 Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapy For Acute Myeloid Leukemia

CD33 is a protein expressed on most myeloid leukemia cells and committed myelomonocytic and erythroid progenitor cells, but not on other cell types. This makes it an attractive therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CD33 positive cells can be specifically targeted for destruction through the use of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressed on cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL). We have expressed a CD33-specific 41BB/CD3z second generation humanized chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) on human T cells by MSCV retroviral transduction, allowing for the generation of large numbers of CAR-modified CTLs. We assessed the activation and specific lytic ability of these CAR-modified T-cells by using murine and human CD33-transduced cell lines, as well as control CD33 negative lines. Our experiments show that anti-CD33 CAR CTLs specifically kill CD33-transduced 1498 and EL4 cells lines, with greater than 90% killing at 24 hours at a 1:1 effector to target ratio. These CTLs do not kill 1498 and EL4 cells that have not been transduced with CD33. In addition, anti-CD33 CTLs show significant (>90%) killing of multiple CD33 positive AML cell lines, including CHRF-288-11, HU-3, and UT-7, CMK, HL-60, Molm13, and Mv4-11. We have transduced a similar murine anti-CD33 CAR onto mouse CTLs. When these CTLs are injected into C57BL/6 mice with 1498 tumor cells transduced with CD33, the mice have a reduction in tumor burden compared with mice that have been injected with tumor cells and MSCV-negative control CTLs. This data suggests that our anti-CD33 CAR shows promise of therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of AML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Induction cisplatin-irinotecan followed by concurrent cisplatin-irinotecan and radiotherapy in locally advanced esophageal cancer: A single institution’s initial clinical experience

15151 Background: Phase I and Phase II trials of induction Cisplatin (C) and Irinotecan (I) followed by concurrent C+I and radiotherapy (RT) have produced encouraging clinical and pathologic respon...
Optimized nonviral gene delivery for primary urinary renal progenitor cells to enhance cell migration

Progressive loss of glomerular podocytes during kidney disease leads to irreversible kidney failure, and is exacerbated by the fact that podocytes are terminally differentiated epithelial cells and unable to proliferate. Regeneration of lost podocytes must therefore derive from nonpodocyte sources. Human urine-derived renal progenitor cells (uRPCs) are attractive podocyte progenitors for cell therapy applications due to their availability from patient urine and ability to migrate to injured glomeruli and differentiate into de novo podocytes after intravenous administration. Because gene delivery has emerged as an important strategy to augment the functionality and survival of cell therapies prior to injection, in this work we optimized nonviral gene delivery conditions (cell density, DNA dose, % FBS, and transfection material composition) to primary uRPCs. Using the cationic polymer-peptide conjugate VIPER for gene delivery and the Sleeping Beauty transposon/transposase constructs for gene integration, we optimized transfection parameters to achieve efficient transgene expression (up to 55% transfected cells) and stable transgene expression (>65% integration efficiency) lasting up to 10 days. With these methods, we transfected uRPCs to overexpress CXCR4, an important chemokine receptor that mediates uRPC migration to the kidneys after intravenous injection, and demonstrate that CXCR4-uRPCs exhibit enhanced migration compared to mock-transfected cells.
Immunology of Cytokine Storm Syndromes: Natural Killer Cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune lymphocytes that rapidly produce cytokines upon activation and kill target cells. NK cells have been of particular interest in primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (pHLH) since all of the genetic defects associated with this disorder cause diminished cytotoxic capacity of NK cells and T lymphocytes, and assays of NK cell killing are used clinically for the diagnosis of HLH. Herein, we review human NK cell biology and the significance of alterations in NK cell function in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of HLH.
Abnormalities Outside the Thorax

Although the vast majority of abnormalities on chest radiographs and CT scans involve the heart and lungs, it is important to also examine all other areas on the images. This chapter describes a broad spectrum of abnormalities outside the heart and lungs, such as masses impressing or displacing the lower cervical trachea, gastrointestinal abnormalities, pneumoperitoneum, and injuries to the bones of the thorax.
X-Ray Diffraction Methods

The application of x-ray diffraction to surface characterization requires some consideration of the definition of the material surface. If it is the present-day surface definition of one, five, or twenty monolayers that the ion-scattering, Auger, or ESCA techniques see, then x-ray diffraction probably has no place in surface characterization. However, by returning to the definition used a decade ago, where the first 5–10 K A of a bulk material or any thin film deposited upon a substrate was considered the material surface, then x-ray diffraction does have an important application.
Poor Solvents Improve Yield of Grafting-Through Radical Polymerization of OEO19MA

Radical polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEO19MA, Mn ∼ 950) at an initial monomer concentration of 150 mM was investigated as a function of solvent composition. Co...
Fabrication of a Toe Prosthesis with Paintable and Interchangeable Nail: A Clinical Report

This report describes the treatment of a 44-year-old woman with history of left great toe amputation due to surgical complications from metatarsophalangeal joint fusion procedure. The fabrication of a prosthetic great toe with interchangeable nail that is paintable is described in detail. This prosthetic demonstrates that the clinical and laboratory techniques used in fabrication of traditional maxillofacial prosthetics can be adapted for the fabrication of somatic prosthetics to enhance quality of life.
Diets Containing High Levels of Corn Oil Suppress Immunoresponsiveness and Exacerbate UV-Carcinogenesis

Although ultraviolet radiation (UV) is considered a “complete” carcinogen, an irradiation protocol has been devised that approximates the classic two-stage chemical carcinogenesis protocol, allowing inferences to be made as to the segment of the carcinogenic continuum at which dietary lipid exerts its principal effect upon UV-induced skin cancer. Employing this protocol, we have determined that enhancement of UV-carcinogenesis by high levels of polyunsaturated fat (12% corn oil) occurs during the promotion/progression stage; that replacement with a low fat (0.75% corn oil) diet after initiation will negate the exacerbating effect of high fat; and that an omega-3 fatty acid source (12% menhaden oil) inhibits UV-carcinogenesis even at high dietary levels, although apparently exerting its inhibitory effect during UV-initiation. In addition, both dietary lipid sources (corn oil vs. menhaden oil) and level of corn oil markedly influence delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to the hapten, dinitrochlorobenzene. As level of corn oil also influences tumor expression and prostaglandin E2 levels in a near linear fashion and as PGE2 has been reported to modulate immune hypersensitivity responses, we have examined the influence of low/high corn oil levels on DTH during various time intervals within the UV-carcinogenesis protocol. DTH response was significantly (p < 0.01) suppressed in animals receiving high fat diet prior to irradiation. Although both dietary groups exhibited UV-induced immunosuppression, there remained a significant (p = 0.01) difference in response between the dietary groups through nine weeks of irradiation. These data indicate that level of dietary lipid has a pronounced effect upon immunoresponsiveness during carcinogenesis and may partially explain the exacerbation of carcinogenic expression by high corn oil diets.
3-D Adaptive Navigation: Multirobot Formation Control for Seeking and Tracking of a Moving Source

Adaptive navigation enables a vehicle to autonomously modify its direction or motion path based on real-time measurements. This may be advantageous to achieve more time- and energy-efficient exploration of the scalar characteristics of an unknown and possibly dynamic region of interest (e.g., temperature, magnetic field, concentration level, etc.). Capabilities include finding local maximum/minimum points and following contours within the scalar field of interest. These capabilities have the potential to benefit a variety of applications such as environmental monitoring, disaster response, and exploration. This paper documents the initial results of a comprehensive program to develop, verify, and experimentally implement 3-dimensional adaptive navigation capability using the author's multilayer control architecture. This initial work focuses on source seeking/tracking, and describes the approach used for formation control of an appropriate multirobot formation, estimation of a field gradient, and the adaptive navigation control policy. Simulation results verify the functionality of this work for a fixed formation geometry navigating in both static and dynamic scalar fields.
Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis of the cytotoxicities of aminohydroxyguanidine derivatives and their antiviral activities in vitro.

Substituted Schiff bases of l-amino-3-hydroxyguanidine (SB-HAG) were tested for the first time against noninfected T4 lymphocytes (CEM-6 cells) and the same cell line infected by HIV-1 in vitro. Twenty-one of 23 compounds at micromolar levels did not inhibit the growth of the noninfected T4 cells, suggesting minimal cytotoxicity. The antiviral effects of these compounds in a micromolar concentration range have been shown to be nonsignificant (<30%) against HIV-1. Three-dimensional parameter focusing of the physicochemical properties (i.e., log P and Vw) and the marginal antiviral activities shows that the marginally active compounds lie in a region different from the inactive compounds. QSAR analysis of the two subsets shows that the cytotoxicity correlates well with the electronic and lipophilic parameters. The results of the QSAR analysis can serve as guidelines for further structural modification of this series of compounds to minimize the cytotoxicity against host cells.
Seed Stocking Via Multi-Task Learning.

Sellers of crop seeds need to plan for the variety and quantity of seeds to stock at least a year in advance. There are a large number of seed varieties of one crop, and each can perform best under different growing conditions. Given the unpredictability of weather, farmers need to make decisions that balance high yield and low risk. A seed vendor needs to be able to anticipate the needs of farmers and have them ready. In this study, we propose an analytical framework for estimating seed demand with three major steps. First, we will estimate the yield and risk of each variety as if they were planted at each location. Since past experiments performed with different seed varieties are highly unbalanced across varieties, and the combination of growing conditions is sparse, we employ multi-task learning to borrow information from similar varieties. Second, we will determine the best mix of seeds for each location by seeking a tradeoff between yield and risk. Third, we will aggregate such mix and pick the top five varieties to re-balance the yield and risk for each growing location. We find that multi-task learning provides a viable solution for yield prediction, and our overall analytical framework has resulted in a good performance.
A Computational View of the Emotional Regulation of Disgust using Multimodal Sensors

Emotion regulation can be characterized by different activities that attempt to alter an emotional response, whether behavioral, physiological or neurological. The two most widely adopted strategies, cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression are explored in this study, specifically in the context of disgust. Study participants (N = 21) experienced disgust via video exposure, and were instructed to either regulate their emotions or express them freely. If regulating, they were required to either cognitively reappraise or suppress their emotional experiences while viewing the videos. Video recordings of the participants’ faces were taken during the experiment and electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyography (EMG), and galvanic skin response (GSR) readings were also collected for further analysis. We compared the participants behavioral (facial musculature movements) and physiological (GSR and heart rate) responses as they aimed to alter their emotional responses and computationally determined that when responding to disgust stimuli, the signals recorded during suppression and free expression were very similar, whereas those recorded during cognitive reappraisal were significantly different,. Thus, in the context of this study, from a signal analysis perspective, we conclude that emotion regulation via cognitive reappraisal significantly alters participants’ physiological responses to disgust, unlike regulation via suppression.
Robust, sensitive, and quantitative single-cell proteomics based on ion mobility filtering

Abstract Unbiased single-cell proteomics (scProteomics) promises to advance our understanding of the cellular composition of complex biological systems. However, a major challenge for current methods is their ability to identify and provide accurate quantitative information for low abundance proteins. Herein, we describe an ion mobility-enhanced mass spectrometry acquisition method, TIFF (Transferring Identification based on FAIMS Filtering), designed to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of label-free scProteomics. The TIFF method enabled unbiased proteome analysis to a depth of >1,700 proteins in single HeLa cells with >1,100 proteins consistently quantified, a significant improvement in overall performance. We applied the TIFF method to obtain temporal proteome profiles of >150 single murine macrophage cells during a lipopolysaccharide stimulation experiment and uncovered unanticipated temporal response trajectories. Further, we demonstrated, to our knowledge, the first application of scProteomics to classify cell populations of a human organ (the lung) without prior antibody labeling.
Enhancing Patient-Provider Breastfeeding Conversations: Breastfeeding Intention and Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy among a Sample of Pregnant Women.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify which sociodemographic factors may be associated with breastfeeding intention and breastfeeding self-efficacy among pregnant women. Methods Pregnant women at a medical center in Alabama completed a cross-sectional survey. The Prenatal Rating of Efficacy in Preparation to Breastfeed Scale (PREP to BF) was used to assess prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy. A valid 3-item breastfeeding intention scale and the Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale also were used. Nonparametric tests were used to assess differences in breastfeeding intention, locus of control subscales, and PREP to BF scores by history with breastfeeding, planned mode of delivery, and sociodemographic factors. Results The participants in the final analysis (N = 124) had a mean prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy score of 299.5 (±92.33), with a range of 0 to 390. Significantly lower scores related to intention and PREP to BF were found among Black women (P ≤ 0.05), those with a high school education or less (P ≤ 0.019), single women (P ≤ 0.028), and those who had no breastfeeding experience (P ≤ 0.035). Conclusions Identifying pregnant women with low breastfeeding self-efficacy and intention and recognizing the effects of social and cultural influences on breastfeeding are vital. Healthcare providers can engage in meaningful dialog to address ways to increase social support, communication, goal-setting skills, and overcoming mental and emotional barriers.
Parameter and Feature Selection in Stochastic Linear Bandits.

We study two model selection settings in stochastic linear bandits (LB). In the first setting, the reward parameter of the LB problem is arbitrarily selected from $M$ models represented as (possibly) overlapping balls in $\mathbb R^d$. However, the agent only has access to misspecified models, i.e., estimates of the centers and radii of the balls. We refer to this setting as parameter selection. In the second setting, which we refer to as feature selection, the expected reward of the LB problem is in the linear span of at least one of $M$ feature maps (models). For each setting, we develop and analyze an algorithm that is based on a reduction from bandits to full-information problems. This allows us to obtain regret bounds that are not worse (up to a $\sqrt{\log M}$ factor) than the case where the true model is known. Our parameter selection algorithm is OFUL-style and the one for feature selection is based on the SquareCB algorithm. We also show that the regret of our parameter selection algorithm scales logarithmically with model misspecification.
Correction: Phase mechanics of colloidal gels: osmotic pressure drives non-equilibrium phase separation.

Correction for ‘Phase mechanics of colloidal gels: osmotic pressure drives non-equilibrium phase separation’ by Lilian C. Johnson et al., Soft Matter, 2021, 17, 3784–3797, DOI: 10.1039/D0SM02180F.
The impact of shoulder pathology on individuals with distal radius fracture.

Abstract Background Shoulder pathology can occur concurrently with a distal radius fracture (DRF) but few studies have examined this population. Purpose The purpose of this study was to expand the understanding of the impact of shoulder pathology on individuals with DRF. Study Design: Mixed Methods Design. Methods A total of 45 participants with a DRF were categorized into a DRF only (n = 29) and shoulder pathology concurrent with DRF (SPCDRF) (n = 16) groups. Quantitative data gathered included demographics, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11, Visual Analog Scale, and Compensatory Mechanism Checklist. Qualitative interviews were performed with 7 participants in the SPCDRF group. Within group correlations were analyzed via the Spearman Rank. The Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups. Qualitative analysis was performed to describe the experience of participants in the SPCDRF group. A mixed methods analysis compared quantitative and qualitative data. Results Sixteen participants (35.6%) in the sample presented with shoulder pathology; 6 participants (37.5%) presented at initial evaluation due to the fall; 10 participants (62.5%) developed shoulder pathology due to compensation or disuse. Average number of days to develop shoulder pathology after the DRF was 43 days. SPCDRF participants had significantly greater pain levels (p = .02) and more activity avoidance (p = .03) than the DRF only group. Four qualitative themes emerged: It's difficult to perform occupations and changes had to be made; There is fear and uncertainty; The impact of pain; Tried to be normal but could not Mixed methods analysis found that qualitative data further illuminated quantitative findings. Conclusions Individuals with shoulder pathology concurrent with a DRF may present with higher pain levels and avoid activity more. In addition, they may describe fearfulness in using their injured upper extremity especially if they have high levels of pain. Study Design Mixed Methods Design.
Residential Segregation: Recent Trends

Residential segregation continues to be an important topic of research within studies of the spatial structure of metropolitan areas. Although segregation has declined from the high levels of the 1960s and 1970s, considerable racial and ethnic segregation in US and European cities remains, especially, in large metropolitan areas. New methods of measuring spatial segregation are being developed, and a more nuanced approach to understanding the reasons behind continuing residential segregation is emerging. Once, discrimination was invoked as the primary explanation for continuing separation in the residential mosaic, but now most studies emphasize that the explanation is more likely to be a result of the combined effect of incomes, resources, and preferences. Varying combinations of access to resources, preferences for varying proportions of other races and ethnicities, and the urban structure underpin the continuing patterns of spatial separation. Models using agent-based formulations have expanded understanding of how segregation occurs and why it continues in an era of increasing tolerance.
Infusing User Experience into the Organizational DNA of an Enterprise IT Shop

This case study describes how an enterprise IT user experience (UX) group evolved from its genesis as a tactical, backend fixer of usability issues to a strategic partner within a large IT department. We share specifics as to how UX emerged as a skillset, how UX professionals evolved their methods to increase their effectiveness, and how operational changes facilitated the adoption of UX practices within the corporate IT shop. We detail how data-driven UX decision-making was essential in transforming the traditional IT shop into a more user experience driven organization that better understands their target workforce and uses this understanding to set product strategy for the organization and drive strategic improvement of IT solutions. Learnings and insights from this journey provides guidance to others wanting to maximize the value of enterprise UX investments.
Writing in Mathematics: Evidence of Learning through Writing.

Writing about mathematics, from the most elementary ideas about numbers to the most sophisticated principles of mathematics, is an excellent way for students to personalize their knowledge. I use journal writing in all my classes to help students explore what they do or do not understand, and to help them apply new concepts to their own experience. For example, the athlete might use a journal to write about similarities between mathematical reasoning and game strategies. Or the musician's journal writing might explore new understanding about patterns in both mathematics and music. A business student's journal might open questions about formulas for relationships between sales and profits. Regardless of their backgrounds, students are expanding their levels of mathematical literacy through writing. Colleagues observe my stack of student journals waiting to be read and responded to, and they ask, "What are the benefits of all this extra work?" During writing workshops, fellow faculty inquire, "What are the effects of using writing? How does writing help your students?" And particularly, I am asked, "Can you prove that the journals contribute to a better understanding of mathematics?" I could reply to these questions that I believe that writing is beneficial in many ways that cannot be measured and that therefore my use of writing, like my use of many other teaching devices, is based on a personal sense of valuable learning tools. On the other hand, I could refer to studies by Minja Paik, a professor at George Mason University (Thaiss 1982), or by professors at Michigan Tech (Selfe, Petersen, and Nahrgang 1986) who have attempted to measure the achievement of students who write in mathematics and statistics classes. However, quantitative studies generally concentrate on tests and grades, and hence fail to
Comment on “Band gap bowing and electron localization of GaXIn1−XN” [J. Appl. Phys.100, 093717 (2006)]

Some previous density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the band gap of wurtzite and cubic InN, before the work of Lee and Wang [J. Appl. Phys. 100, 093717 (2006)], are in agreement with the screened-exchange findings of these authors and with experiment. These previous findings point to an intrinsic capability of DFT, in the local density approximation, to correctly describe the band gap of semiconductors. These comments also discuss some recent results [Phys. Rev. B 76, 037101 (2007)] on an extensive hybridization of the In 4d and N 2s bands that is lost when the d electrons are included in the core. Our discussions in these comments indicate that when the two inherently coupled equations of DFT are both solved self-consistently, the resulting bands, including low-lying conduction ones, appear to have much more physics content than previously believed.
The cia operon of Streptococcus mutans encodes a unique component required for calcium‐mediated autoregulation

Streptococcus mutans is a primary pathogen for dental caries in humans. CiaR and CiaH of S. mutans comprise a two-component signal transduction system (TCS) involved in regulating various virulent factors. However, the signal that triggers the CiaRH response remains unknown. In this study, we show that calcium is a signal for regulation of the ciaRH operon, and that a double-glycine-containing small peptide encoded within the ciaRH operon (renamed ciaX) mediates this regulation. CiaX contains a serine + aspartate (SD) domain that is shared by calcium-binding proteins. A markerless in-frame deletion of ciaX reduced ciaRH operon expression and diminished the calcium repression of operon transcription. Point mutations of the SD domain resulted in the same phenotype as the in-frame deletion, indicating that the SD domain is required for CiaX function. Further characterization of ciaX demonstrated that it is involved in calcium-mediated biofilm formation. Furthermore, inactivation of ciaR or ciaH led to the same phenotype as the in-frame deletion of ciaX, suggesting that all three genes are involved in the same regulatory pathway. Sequence analysis and real-time RT-PCR identified a putative CiaR binding site upstream of ciaX. We conclude that the ciaXRH operon is a three-component, self-regulatory system modulating cellular functions in response to calcium.
Rabbit lymphocyte subpopulations. I. Separation of Ig+ and Ig- cells and their interaction in cultures stimulated by mitogens.

Abstract Rabbit lymph node cells (Ig + Ig − ) were rosetted with anti-Ig antibody-coated erythrocytes and the rosetted Ig + cells (B cells) were separated from unrosetted Ig − cells (T cells) by centrifugation through Ficoll-Hypaque medium. The Ig − cells were recovered from the top and the Ig + cells from the bottom of the Ficoll-Hypaque layer. Some of the purified Ig + cells lost their ability to form rosettes when cultured with the mitogen associated with streptolysin O. This suggested that the Ig + population might contain two distinct subpopulations. The response of Ig + Ig − , Ig + , and Ig − cells to various mitogens was studied. The Ig − cells incorporated more 3 H-TdR when they were incubated by themselves than when they were cultured with Ig + cells in an Ig + Ig − culture. On the other hand, the Ig + cells incorporated less 3 H-TdR when they were incubated by themselves than when they were incubated with Ig − cells in an Ig + Ig − culture. Thus, Ig + cells suppressed the response of Ig − cells whereas Ig − cells enhanced the response of Ig + cells. We conclude that rabbit Ig + cells (B cells) and Ig − cells (T cells) interact with a feedback pattern of regulation.
Association of GATA4 sequence variation with alcohol dependence

To further explore reports of association of alcohol dependence and response to acamprosate treatment with the GATA4 rs13273672 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), we genotyped this and 10 other GATA4 SNPs in 816 alcohol-dependent cases and 1248 controls. We tested for association of alcohol dependence with the 11 SNPs individually and performed a global test for association using a principle components analysis. Our analyses demonstrate significant association between GATA4 and alcohol dependence at the gene level (P = 0.009) but no association with rs13273672. Further studies are needed to identify potential causal GATA4 variation(s) and the functional mechanism(s) contributing to this association.
Injection treatment and back pain associated with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis in older adults.

Background: Lower back pain is one of the most common health-related complaints in the adult population. Thirty percent of Americans 65 years and older reported symptoms of lower back pain in 2004 (NCHS, 2006). Injection treatment is a commonly used non-surgical procedure to alleviate lower back pain in older adults. However, the effectiveness of injection treatment, particularly in older adults, has not been well documented. Objective: This study quantified the effectiveness of injection treatment on pain relief among adults 60 years and over who were diagnosed with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, a common cause of lower back pain in older adults. The variations of the effectiveness were examined by selected patient attributes. Study Design: Prospective, non-randomized, observational human study. Setting: Single institution spine clinic. Methods: Patients scheduled for lumbar injection treatment between January 1 and July 1, 2008 were prospectively selected from the study spine clinic. Selection criteria included patients age 60 and over, diagnosed with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and no previous lumbar injection within 6 months or lumbar surgery within 2 years. The pain sub-score of the SF-36 questionnaire was used to measure pain at baseline and at one and 3 months post injection. Variations in longitudinal changes in pain scores by patient characteristics were analyzed in both unadjusted (univariate) analyses using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and adjusted (multiple regression) analyses using linear mixed effects models. Limitations: This study is limited by its sample size and observational design. Results: Of 62 patients receiving epidural steroid injections, the mean Pain score at baseline was 27.4 (SD =1 3.6), 41.7 (SD = 22.0) at one month and 35.8 (SD = 19.0) at 3 months. Mean Pain scores improved significantly from baseline to one month (14.1 points), and from baseline to 3 months (8.3 points). Post injection changes in pain scores varied by body mass index (BMI) and baseline emotional health. Based on a linear mixed effects model analysis, higher baseline emotional health, as measured by the SF-36 Mental Component Score (MCS≥50), was associated with greater reduction in pain over 3 months when compared to lower emotional health (MCS <50). In patients with higher emotional health, pain scores improved by 14.1 (P < .05: 95% CI 6.9, 21.3). Patients who were obese also showed significant improvement in pain scores over 3 months compared to non-obese patients. In obese patients, pain scores increased by 7.9 (P <.05; 95% CI:1.0, 14.8) points. Conclusion: Lower back pain in older adults with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis might be clinically significantly alleviated after injection treatment. Pain relief varies by a patient’s personal and clinical characteristics. Healthier emotional status and obesity appears to be associated with more pain relief experienced over 3 months following injection.
Women and States: Norms and Hierarchies in International Society

Momentous changes in the relation between women and the state have advanced women's status around the globe. Women were barred from public affairs a century ago, yet almost every state now recognizes equal voting rights and exhibits a national policy bureau for the advancement of women. Sex quotas for national legislatures are increasingly common. Ann E. Towns explains these changes by providing a novel account of how norms work in international society. She argues that norms don't just provide standards for states, they rank them, providing comparative judgments which place states in hierarchical social orders. This focus on the link between norms and ranking hierarchies helps to account better for how a new policy, such as equality for women in public life, is spread around the world. Women and States thus offers a new view of the relationship between women and the state, and of the influence of norms in international politics.
The Relationship of the Oe to the Be Stars

Oe stars are earlier type analogues of the better known Be class. These stars have relatively narrow emission in the hydrogen lines and sometimes in the helium lines, which often appears to be double. In several Oe stars, the emission is intermittent. Other properties of the class include relatively broad absorption lines and luminosities near the main sequence. Line profiles in three representative Oe stars are presented and discussed. The similarity of the spectra of Oe and Be stars suggests that the formation mechanism for the emitting region, whatever it is, must extend to the mid O-type stars, at least.
Reaching out to older veterans in need: the Elko clinic demonstration project.

Context: The challenge of providing meaningful health care services to veterans living in rural communities is a major public health concern that involves redefining the traditional facility-based model of care delivery employed in urban areas. Purpose: This paper describes the steps of a demonstration project, the Elko Telehealth Outreach Clinic. The clinic, located in Elko, Nevada, was created to meet the health care needs of veterans who expressed a desire for greater access to VA services. Methods: The Elko Telehealth Outreach Clinic is a specific example of the real-life implementation of the community-as-partner model as an operational framework for coordinating local, regional, and VA resources. The Elko Clinic provides a limited set of health care services including medication management, health education, prescription refills, routine lab tests, and specialty services through telehealth. Findings: From December 2006 to December 2007, a total of 84 unique veterans received health care services through the Elko Clinic. Conclusions: Our findings support the usefulness of an expanded community-as-partner model to guide a process for addressing the health care needs of veterans in Elko, Nevada, and they have implications for the development and maintenance of outreach clinics in other rural settings.
A simple, comprehensive type system for Java bytecode subroutines

A type system with proven soundness is a prerequisite for the safe and efficient execution of Java bytecode programs. So far, efforts to construct such a type system have followed a "forward dataflow" approach, in the spirit of the original Java Virtual Machine bytecode verifier. We present an alternative type system, based on conventional ideas of type constraints, polymorphic recursion and continuations. We compare it to Stata and Abadi's JVML-0 type system for bytecode subroutines, and demonstrate that our system is simpler and able to type strictly more programs, including code that could be produced by Java compilers and cannot be typed in JVML-0. Examination of real Java programs shows that such code is rare but does occur. We explain some of the apparently arbitrary constraints imposed by previous approaches by showing that they are consequences of our simpler type rules, or actually unnecessary.
Chemical Reactions as Dynamical Systems on the Interval

We consider the most general chemical reaction of the typen 1 A 1+...+n N A N ⇌m 1 B 1+...+m M B M whereN,M⩾1,n 1,...,n N andm 1,...,m M are positive integers defining the stoichiometry, andA 1,...,A N andB 1,...,B M are the names of chemicals or ions. We assume that ∑ i=1 N ni=∑ j=1 M mj. The time evolution of the concentrations is given by the law of mass action and leads to a dynamical system (with discrete or continuous time) which is governed by a polynomial map of the interval [B, C], where B⩾0 and C⩽1. We define the physically meaningful range for the parameters of the map, and we show that, within such a range, the map has a unique fixed point, which is stable and a global attractor, with the exception of one particular case, where bifurcation is observed.
Secondary electron emission yields from PEP-II accelerator materials

Abstract The PEP-II B-Factory at SLAC operates with aluminum alloy and copper vacuum chambers, having design positron and electron beam currents of 2 and 1 A, respectively. Titanium nitride coating of the aluminum vacuum chamber in the arcs of the positron ring is needed in order to reduce undesirable electron-cloud effects. The total secondary electron emission yield of TiN-coated aluminum alloy has been measured after samples of beam chamber material were exposed to air and again after electron-beam bombardment, as a function of incident electron beam angle and energy. The results may be used to simulate and better understand electron-cloud effects under actual operating conditions. We also present yield measurements for other accelerator materials because new surface effects are expected to arise as beam currents increase. Copper, in particular, is growing in popularity for its good thermal conductivity and self-radiation-shielding properties. The effect of electron bombardment, “conditioning”, on the yield of TiN and copper is shown.