cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Adolescents With Specific Language Impairment Understand Driving Terminology

Purpose This study examined if adolescents with specific language impairment (SLI) understand driving vocabulary as well as their typically developing (TD) peers. Method A total of 16 adolescents with SLI and 16 TD comparison adolescents completed a receptive vocabulary task focused on driving terminology derived from statewide driver's manuals. Results The SLI group understood fewer driving-related terms when compared with the TD comparison group. Although both groups performed comparably in understanding simple noun driving terminology, the SLI group had greater difficulty comprehending compound noun and verb driving terms. Discussion The decreased understanding of terms found in driver's manuals for adolescents with SLI has implications for how they access necessary information for learning the driving rules, regulations, and procedures important for securing a driver's license.
Enhancing Human Capability with Intelligent Machine Teammates

Every team has top performers -- people who excel at working in a team to find the right solutions in complex, difficult situations. These top performers include nurses who run hospital floors, emergency response teams, air traffic controllers, and factory line supervisors. While they may outperform the most sophisticated optimization and scheduling algorithms, they cannot often tell us how they do it. Similarly, even when a machine can do the job better than most of us, it can't explain how. In this talk I share recent work investigating effective ways to blend the unique decision-making strengths of humans and machines. I discuss the development of computational models that enable machines to efficiently infer the mental state of human teammates and thereby collaborate with people in richer, more flexible ways. Our studies demonstrate statistically significant improvements in people's performance on military, healthcare and manufacturing tasks, when aided by intelligent machine teammates.
The effect of attentional focus cues on object control performance in elementary children

Background and purpose: Attentional focus cues have been shown to impact motor performance of adults and children. Specifically, an external focus of attention results in improved motor learning an...
Pattern-based, multi-scale segmentation and regionalization of EOSD land cover

Abstract The Earth Observation for Sustainable Development of Forests (EOSD) map is a 25 m resolution thematic map of Canadian forests. Because of its large spatial extent and relatively high resolution the EOSD is difficult to analyze using standard GIS methods. In this paper we propose multi-scale segmentation and regionalization of EOSD as new methods for analyzing EOSD on large spatial scales. Segments, which we refer to as forest land units (FLUs), are delineated as tracts of forest characterized by cohesive patterns of EOSD categories; we delineated from 727 to 91,885 FLUs within the spatial extent of EOSD depending on the selected scale of a pattern. Pattern of EOSD's categories within each FLU is described by 1037 landscape metrics. A shapefile containing boundaries of all FLUs together with an attribute table listing landscape metrics make up an SQL-searchable spatial database providing detailed information on composition and pattern of land cover types in Canadian forest. Shapefile format and extensive attribute table pertaining to the entire legend of EOSD are designed to facilitate broad range of investigations in which assessment of composition and pattern of forest over large areas is needed. We calculated four such databases using different spatial scales of pattern. We illustrate the use of FLU database for producing forest regionalization maps of two Canadian provinces, Quebec and Ontario. Such maps capture the broad scale variability of forest at the spatial scale of the entire province. We also demonstrate how FLU database can be used to map variability of landscape metrics, and thus the character of landscape, over the entire Canada.
Ocular glucose extraction using vitreoperfusion in the cat.

Quantitative methods to measure ocular glucose consumption in vivo, which is dominated by the retina, could provide considerable information about retinal metabolism in healthy and disease states. Eyes that are totally ischemic for at least 4 hr retain good retinal histopathologic features if treated with vitreoperfusion. In such cases, the vitreoperfusion fluid essentially is the only extraretinal source of glucose. We developed a mathematical model to estimate the rate at which glucose is extracted from the vitreoperfusion solution by metabolism (Eglu), compensating for losses via the outflow pathways. With a glass model eye (Eglu = 0) with a known, simulated outflow facility, the measured decline in glucose closely approximated the decline predicted by the equation (r = 0.97). In six formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixed cat eyes (Eglu = 0), the measured vitreous glucose concentrations at various times correlated with the calculated values (r = 0.96). With the use of general anesthesia, lensectomy and vitrectomy were performed in 10 cat eyes. Vitreoperfusion was initiated, and the cats were killed to establish total ocular ischemia. The mean +/- SD Eglu values for intervals between 15 and 75, 105 and 165, and 195 and 255 min after ischemia were 8.0 +/- 6.9, 14.4 +/- 10.4, and 19.9 +/- 11.0 micrograms/min, respectively (P less than .05). We conclude that the eyes retained their ability to extract glucose for at least 4 hr but that Eglu values increased during this period for undetermined reasons. In the future, measurements of Eglu may become useful in the evaluation of physiologic and pathologic states of the eye.
Interferometry in Microscopy

In this chapter we are concerned essentially with two whole microscopical beams (rather than individual rays) which are caused deliberately to interfere with each other. The graphic result is a pattern of interference fringes analogous to Newton’s rings.(1) With incident white light, the fringes are those of Newton’s series of color bands more or less superimposed on the pictorial image. Figure 10.1, for example, shows three different micrographs of the same surface area of crystalline grains.(2) All three micrographs were taken on the same simple microscopical interferometer shown schematically in Figure 10.2. Micrograph (a) in Figure 10.1 was taken with practically no tilting angle α to the reference surface (4 in Figure 10.2); hence there was practically no interference. Incidentally, the reference beam was sufficiently out of phase with the specimen’s beam to produce interference contrast. Thus interference microscopy is related to phase-amplitude contrast (Chapter 9).
What can we learn from a small regulatory membrane protein

This chapter reviews the molecular biology, biochemical, and NMR methods that we used to study the structural dynamics, membrane topology and interaction of phospholamban (PLN), a small regulatory membrane protein involved in the regulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA). In particular, we show the progression of our research from the initial hypotheses toward understanding the molecular mechanisms of SERCA’s regulation, including the effects of PLN oligomerization and posttranslational phosphorylation. Finally, we show how the knowledge of the molecular mechanism of the structural dynamics and topology of free and bound proteins can lead to the rational design of PLN analogs for possible use in gene therapy.
Defining Disrespect: A Rural Teachers' Perspective:

Disrespect is an ambiguous term that has been shown to be predictive of emotional exhaustion and burnout of teachers. This study examined 120 rural teachers' definition of disrespect. Seventeen dif...
Proximity-Based Outlier Detection

Proximity-based techniques define a data point as an outlier, if its locality (or proximity) is sparsely populated. The proximity of a data point may be defined in a variety of ways, which are subtly different from one another, but are similar enough to merit a unified treatment within a single chapter.
Near-solidus melts of MORB + 4 wt% H 2 O at 0.8–2.8 GPa applied to issues of subduction magmatism and continent formation

Experiments on MORB + 4 wt% H2O at 0.8–2.8 GPa and 700–950 °C (Liu in High pressure phase equilibria involving the amphibolite–eclogite transformation. PhD dissertation, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 1997; Liu et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 143:161–171, 1996) were reexamined for their major and trace element melt compositions and melting relations. Degree of melting diminishes at greater pressures, with corresponding evolution of melt from andesitic at the lowest pressures and hottest temperatures to high-silica rhyolitic at the greatest pressure and coolest temperature. Quartz contributes greatly to the production of near-solidus melts of basaltic eclogite, with the result that melt productivity falls markedly following quartz exhaustion. This limits the extent of melting attainable in the basaltic eclogite portions of sub-arc subducting plates to no more than ~ 2 × the modal wt% quartz in the mafic eclogite protolith. Synthesized residual mineral assemblages lack an epidote-series mineral at temperatures > 750 °C, and as a result, melts from the rutile eclogite and rutile-amphibole eclogite facies have elevated concentrations of light rare earth elements, U, Th, have elevated Ba, K, and Sr, high Sr/Y, and are strongly depleted in Nb, Y, and the heavy rare earth elements. Models of eclogite partial melt reacting with peridotite of the mantle wedge reproduce major and trace element characteristics of parental arc magmas so long as the proportions of infiltrating melt to peridotite are relatively high, consistent with channelized ascent. Melt mass is estimated to increase roughly three- to ten-fold, consistent with H2O concentrations of 3–7 wt% in the magmas produced by reaction. Partial melts of subducting basaltic eclogite are predicted to have positive Sr concentration anomalies, relative to Ce and Nd, that persist through melt-peridotite reactions. Primitive arc magmas commonly have positive Sr anomalies, whereas such anomalies are smaller in estimates of the bulk continental crust. Overall, Sr anomalies diminish passing from primitive to more evolved arc volcanic rocks, consistent with extensive mineral-melt differentiation (crystallization, partial remelting) involving plagioclase. On the order of 50 wt% differentiation would be necessary to eliminate Sr positive anomalies, based on geochemical variations in the Cascade and western Aleutian magmatic arcs. Loss to the mantle of cumulates and restites with high Sr anomalies, in abundances broadly equal to the mass of the preserved crust, would be required to form the continents via processes similar to present-day subduction magmatism.
Dexamethasone, rituximab and cyclophosphamide (DRC) in relapsed/refractory (R/R) and treatment naïve (TN) Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM).

7552Background: WM remains an incurable cancer despite recent advances. While the DRC regimen is reportedly effective in TN patients (pts), data for R/R WM are lacking. Ibrutinib, for which the res...
Restructuring of inpatient rounds to improve quality of care in patients with cancer.

232Background: Traditionally, hospital units function as multidisciplinary teams which work in silos and communicate via notes in the Electronic Health System. This often leads to communication breakdown, frequently translating to adverse clinical outcomes and prolonged hospital length of stay. Our primary objective was to introduce Inter-Professional Team (IPT) rounds on the oncology unit and evaluate the impact on length of stay (LOS) within a Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle. Methods: The care transition team planned the IPT rounds structure and training curriculum which included team goals, post-rounds structure for addressing barriers to care progression, and member roles/scripting. Change in LOS and case mix index (CMI)-adjusted LOS post-IPT round implementation (Do) in July 2017 was analyzed (Study) using hierarchical linear models for patients with an admission to the oncology service from September 2016 to March 2018. Beta coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated and mod...
MUC1 contributes to the immunosuppressive microenvironment in pancreatic tumors.

1586 MUC1 is a membrane tethered mucin glycoprotein overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated in >60% of human ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Overexpression of MUC1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has long been known, but its function has been difficult to elucidate, partly due to the lack of appropriate models. We have recently generated a triple transgenic mouse model of PDA that expresses human MUC1 as a self molecule. Mice were generated by crossing the P48Cre to LSL-KRASG12D mice, which spontaneously develop a full-spectrum of intraepithelial neoplastic lesions (PanINs) and advances to ductal adenocarcinomas. Bitransgenic mice were further crossed to the human MUC1 transgenic mice (MUC1.Tg) to generate the triple transgenic model. This unique model allows us to evaluate the role of MUC1 during pancreatic cancer progression and test MUC1-targeted therapies for treatment of the disease. Results: Histologically, in PDA mice that express human MUC1, PanIN lesions appear sooner and advance more rapidly to higher-grade PanINs and adenocarcinomas as compared to PDA mice that do not express MUC1. PanINs are filled with mucous and express high levels of MUC1, and as tumors progress, neutral mucins are replaced by acidic mucins making the microenvironment non-conducive to immune cells. Compared to PDA mice, higher T regulatory (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+) cells are detected in the tumor draining lymph nodes of PDA mice expressing MUC1. Consequently, we observe lower MUC1-specific cytotoxic T cell activity with a skewed T effector : memory cell ratio is observed in these mice. Further analysis of the tumor microenvironment showed high levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and indoleamine 2,3, dioxygenase (IDO) along with their metabolites, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and kynurenine. IDO is an enzyme that catabolizes tryptophan to kynurenine and T cells in particular, are extremely sensitive to this essential amino acid. Tumor-associated IDO is one of the major players in T cell suppression and in the induction of immune tolerance to tumors. When triple transgenic mice were immunized with a MUC1-targeted vaccine in combination with a COX-2 inhibitor, a significant decrease in tumor burden with increased survival was observed. A robust and sustained anti-tumor CTL activity was elicited associated with downregulation of PGE2 and kynurenine. Thus, by targeting MUC1 and inhibiting COX-2 activity, IDO expression and function was decreased allowing CTL activity to be sustained within the tumor microenvironment. These data suggest a significant role of MUC1 in regulating immune responses during pancreatic cancer progression.
Toward a thinking microscope: deep learning-enabled computational microscopy and sensing (Conference Presentation)

Deep learning is a class of machine learning techniques that uses multi-layered artificial neural networks for automated analysis of signals or data. The name comes from the general structure of deep neural networks, which consist of several layers of artificial neurons, each performing a nonlinear operation, stacked over each other. Beyond its main stream applications such as the recognition and labeling of specific features in images, deep learning holds numerous opportunities for revolutionizing image formation, reconstruction and sensing fields. In fact, deep learning is mysteriously powerful and has been surprising optics researchers in what it can achieve for advancing optical microscopy, and introducing new image reconstruction and transformation methods. From physics-inspired optical designs and devices, we are moving toward data-driven designs that will holistically change both optical hardware and software of next generation microscopy and sensing, blending the two in new ways. Today, we sample an image and then act on it using a computer. Powered by deep learning, next generation optical microscopes and sensors will understand a scene or an object and accordingly decide on how and what to sample based on a given task – this will require a perfect marriage of deep learning with new optical microscopy hardware that is designed based on data. For such a thinking microscope, unsupervised learning would be the key to scale up its impact on various areas of science and engineering, where access to labeled image data might not be immediately available or very costly, difficult to acquire. In this presentation, I will provide an overview of some of our recent work on the use of deep neural networks in advancing computational microscopy and sensing systems, also covering their biomedical applications.
Pyrrolidinones as potent functional antagonists of the human melanocortin-4 receptor.

Abstract A series of pyrrolidinones derived from phenylalaninepiperazines were synthesized and characterized as potent and selective antagonists of the melanocortin-4 receptor. In addition to their high binding affinities, these compounds displayed high functional potencies. 12a had a Ki of 0.94 nM in binding and IC50 of 21 nM in functional activity. 12a also demonstrated efficacy in a mouse cachexia model.
Measurement of Abrasion on Concrete Surfaces with 3D Scanning Technology

AbstractHydraulic structures play an important role in regulation and transport of water in reservoirs and open channels. Examples of such structures include concrete spillways, stilling basins, fl...
Rural Kansas Family Physician Satisfaction with Caring for Spanish-Speaking Only Patients.

Background Patient satisfaction with the care they receive can be influenced negatively by a language barrier between the physician and patient. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the consequences of a language barrier on physician satisfaction, although this barrier has the potential to decrease physician wellness. This study sought to determine if a language barrier is a source of professional dissatisfaction in family medicine physicians in rural Kansas. Methods In a cross-sectional study, members of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians who practiced in the rural Kansas counties with the highest percentage of Hispanic residents were surveyed. A questionnaire was developed to determine the demographics of the physician, details regarding his or her practice, and percentage of Hispanic and Spanish-speaking only (SSO) patients in their practice. Physicians also were queried as to their level of Spanish-speaking ability, availability of certified interpreters, and their satisfaction with caring for their SSO patients. Results Fifty-two physicians were identified and sent questionnaires by mail. Eighteen questionnaires were completed and returned, resulting in a 34% response rate. Respondents remained anonymous. In the practices surveyed, 61% of practice settings had a Hispanic-patient population greater than 25%. Only one of the eighteen respondents had greater than 25% of SSO patients in his or her practice. A certified interpreter was used less than 25% of the time in over 75% of the clinical encounters with SSO patients. Seventy-five percent of physicians reported no difficulty establishing trust and rapport with their SSO patients. Eighty-nine percent of respondents rated their relationship with SSO patients as good to excellent, and 83% were satisfied with the care they were able to provide this group. Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported that their ability to care for SSO patients decreased or had no effect on their professional satisfaction. Seventy-eight percent of physicians also rated their overall professional satisfaction in regards to their physician/patient relationship as good to excellent. However, language barriers affected physician-patient relationships, physician satisfaction with care, and professional satisfaction. Conclusion Language barrier affected physician's relationships with SSO patients, led to decreased physician satisfaction with the care they provided and to decreased professional satisfaction.
Nicotine Bound to Its Receptors: New Structures for a Vexing Pathopharmacological Problem

In this issue of Neuron, Gharpure et al. (2019) nearly complete atomic-level descriptions for binding, permeation, and subunit interactions at the two major heteropentameric nicotinic receptors—those governing nicotine’s rewarding and aversive effects. Can we finally design highly selective and useful nicotinic drugs?
Levonorgestrel modulates innate immune activation in human endocervical epithelium and monocytes during Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Abstract Problem Our group has previously shown that baboons with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) have delayed clearance of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Based on this result, we hypothesized that LNG results in changes to development of the immune response by epithelial and resident innate immune cells. Method of Study Using the end1 endocervical cell line or the THP.1 monocyte-like cell line, cells were exposed to increasing levels of progesterone (P4) or a dose of LNG representative of LNG in reproductive tract tissues of women with an LNG-IUS. Ct was used at an MOI of 1 and supernatants were collected for ELISA at 48 hours post-infection. Select nuclear receptors were inhibited to determine which receptor contributed to LNG-mediated immunosuppression. Results Cervical epithelial cells infected with Ct expressed IL-1β when treated with vehicle control. P4 further increased IL-1β expression during Ct infection, while LNG decreased IL-1β expression. Treatment with the androgen receptor blocker ailanthone prevented LNG-mediated immunosuppression. Conclusions LNG in the presence of increasing P4 suppresses IL-1β production in response to Ct infection in vitro. This appears to be mediated at least in part by the androgen receptor. This has implications for women with LNG-IUS at high risk for sexually transmitted infections.
From Surviving to Thriving: Older Adults Adapting and Coping after Hematopoietic Cell Transplant

Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/Rationale Due to advances in treatment regimens and supportive care, there are a growing number of older adults with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). While these advances have improved overall survival for this population, patients continue to experience rapid decline in physical, emotional, social, and role functioning post-HCT. Nursing interventions can assist with returning to life activities, an important goal for older patients. Current literature on adaptation and coping post-HCT has focused on younger survivors. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to describe the experience of returning to life activities in patients 60 years of age and older who were more than three months post-HCT. Of particular interest was how coping resources and strategies help older patients adapt and cope to limitations in physical, psychological, and cognitive limitations. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis Twenty English speaking adults 60 years and older with hematological malignancy 3 to 12 months post-HCT completed semi-structured interviews. Open-ended questions and probes were guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping to explore adaptive functioning, coping resources, and coping strategies. An integrated grounded theory approach was used to code the textual data to identify themes. Saturation was reached when the interview generated no new substantial information. Findings & Interpretation Eight allogeneic and twelve autologous HCT recipients participated in the interviews. Three main themes emerged from the interviews. Adaptive functioning: all participants described adapting to physical and psychological changes. Coping resources: family (95%) and the healthcare team (80%) helped participants overcome physical, psychological, and cognitive limitations. Coping strategies: participants reported using emotion-focused, problem-focused, and meaning-based coping strategies. Overall, engaging in life activities and social support were significant in the recovery of physical, psychological and cognitive function. Discussion & Implications Older HCT recipients are an understudied population at high risk for functional decline. Patient-centered information on how HCT treatment influences cognitive function, functional outcomes, and quality of life will have broad implications for patient education and development of interventions for HCT patients. The next phase of this study will use these findings to guide development of health promoting interventions that nurses and the healthcare team can implement to help HCT recipients return to life activities.
Loss of AMPKalpha1 Triggers Centrosome Amplification via PLK4 Upregulation in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

Recent evidence indicates that activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a highly conserved sensor and modulator of cellular energy and redox, regulates cell mitosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for AMPKα subunit regulation of chromosome segregation remain poorly understood. This study aimed to ascertain if AMPKα1 deletion contributes to chromosome missegregation by elevating Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) expression. Centrosome proteins and aneuploidy were monitored in cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from wild type (WT, C57BL/6J) or AMPKα1 homozygous deficient (AMPKα1-/-) mice by Western blotting and metaphase chromosome spread. Deletion of AMPKα1, the predominant AMPKα isoform in immortalized MEFs, led to centrosome amplification and chromosome missegregation, as well as the consequent aneuploidy (34-66%) and micronucleus. Furthermore, AMPKα1 null cells exhibited a significant induction of PLK4. Knockdown of nuclear factor kappa B2/p52 ameliorated the PLK4 elevation in AMPKα1-deleted MEFs. Finally, PLK4 inhibition by Centrinone reversed centrosome amplification of AMPKα1-deleted MEFs. Taken together, our results suggest that AMPKα1 plays a fundamental role in the maintenance of chromosomal integrity through the control of p52-mediated transcription of PLK4, a trigger of centriole biogenesis.
Gastrointestinal Complications in Critically Ill Patients With and Without COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appears to have significant extrapulmonary complications affecting multiple organ systems.1-3 Critically ill patients with COVID-19 often develop gastrointestinal complications during their hospital stay, including bowel ischemia, transaminitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis, Ogilvie syndrome, and severe ileus.3 Whether the high incidence of gastrointestinal complications is a manifestation of critical illness in general or is specific to COVID-19 remains unclear. We compared the incidence of gastrointestinal complications of critically ill patients with COVID-19–induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) vs comparably ill patients with non–COVID-19 ARDS using propensity score analysis.
The inclusion-based boundary element method (iBEM) for virtual experiments of elastic composites

Abstract This paper introduces the inclusion based boundary element method (iBEM) to calculate the elastic fields and effective modulus of a composite containing particles for both three dimensional (3D) and two dimensional (2D) cases. Considering a finite bounded domain containing many inclusions, the isotropic Green’s function has been used to obtain the elastic field caused by source fields on inclusion domains and applied loads on the boundary. Based on Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method (EIM), the material mismatch between the particle and matrix phases is simulated with a continuously distributed source field, namely eigenstrain, on particles. Because explicit integrals can be obtained for ellipsoidal particles, no mesh is needed for those particles, which enables virtual experiments of a composite containing a large number of particles. The classic Eshelby’s tensor is extended from a constant eigenstrain for the single particle in the infinite domain to a form of a Taylor series for particle-boundary interaction and particle-particle interactions. Using the Hadamard regularization, the 2D formulation is derived from the 3D case by the integral of the elastic solution in the third direction together with an analytical circular harmonic potential integral scheme. The iBEM is particularly suitable to conduct virtual experiments for studying the local elastic field with the integrals of all sources and calculating the effective material properties by the volume average of local fields. A parametric study of accuracy on stress field for uniform, linear, quadratic eigenstrain fields was performed and case studies have been presented to demonstrate the capability of the iBEM for virtual experiments of composites. Some interesting discoveries of microstructure-dependent material behavior are reported with the aid of virtual experiments.
Who Owns Lebanon's Town Green?

Lebanon’s mile-long town green, said to be the second largest in New England, is deservedly listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With a rich 300-year history, the green is one of Connecticut’s unrivaled gems. So perhaps it’s surprising that this peaceful place recently found itself at the center of two lawsuits. The legal question for Connecticut courts to decide is who owns the green.
Anti-immigrant Rhetoric and the Experiences of Latino Immigrants in the Emergency Department.

Introduction Anti-immigrant rhetoric and increased enforcement of immigration laws have induced worry and safety concerns among undocumented Latino immigrants (UDLI) and legal Latino residents/citizens (LLRC), with some delaying the time to care. In this study, we conducted a qualitative analysis of statements made by emergency department (ED) patients - a majority of whom were UDLI and LLRC - participating in a study to better understand their experiences and fears with regard to anti-immigrant rhetoric, immigration enforcement, and ED utilization. Methods We conducted a multi-site study, surveying patients in three California safety-net EDs serving large immigrant populations from June 2017-December 2018. Of 1684 patients approached, 1337 (79.4%) agreed to participate; when given the option to provide open-ended comments, 260 participants provided perspectives about their experiences during the years immediately following the 2016 United States presidential election. We analyzed these qualitative data using constructivist grounded theory. Results We analyzed comments from 260 individuals. Among ED patients who provided qualitative data, 59% were women and their median age was 45 years (Interquartile range 33-57 years). Undocumented Latino immigrants comprised 49%, 31% were LLRC, and 20% were non-Latino legal residents. As their primary language, 68% spoke Spanish. We identified six themes: fear as a barrier to care (especially for UDLI); the negative impact of fear on health and wellness (physical and mental health, delays in care); factors influencing fear (eg, media coverage); and future solutions, including the need for increased communication about rights. Conclusion Anti-immigrant rhetoric during the 2016 US presidential campaign contributed to fear and safety concerns among UDLI and LLRC accessing healthcare. This is one of the few studies that captured firsthand experiences of UDLI in the ED. Our findings revealed fear-based barriers to accessing emergency care, protective and contributing factors to fear, and the negative impact of fear. There is a need for increased culturally informed patient communication about rights and resources, strategic media campaigns, and improved access to healthcare for undocumented individuals.
Neuronal mTORC1 inhibition promotes longevity without suppressing anabolic growth and reproduction in C. elegans

ABSTRACT One of the most robust and reproducible methods to prolong lifespan in a variety of organisms is inhibition of the mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1) pathway. mTORC1 is a metabolic sensor that promotes anabolic growth when nutrients are abundant. Inhibition of mTORC1 extends lifespan, but also frequently has other effects such as stunted growth, slowed development, reduced fertility, and disrupted metabolism. It has long been assumed that suppression of anabolism and resulting phenotypes such as impaired growth and reproduction may be causal to mTORC1 longevity, but this hypothesis has not been directly tested. RAGA-1 is an upstream activator of TORC1. Previous work from our lab using a C. elegans model of mTORC1 longevity, the long-lived raga-1 null mutant, found that the presence of raga-1 only in the neurons suppresses longevity of the null mutant. Here, we use the auxin-inducible degradation (AID) system to test whether neuronal mTORC1 inhibition is sufficient for longevity, and whether any changes in lifespan are also linked to stunted growth or fertility. We find that life-long AID of RAGA-1 either in all somatic tissue or only in the neurons of C. elegans is sufficient to extend lifespan. We also find that AID of RAGA-1 or LET-363/mTOR beginning at day 1 of adulthood extends lifespan to a similar extent. Unlike somatic degradation of RAGA-1, neuronal degradation of RAGA-1 doesn’t impair growth, slow development, or decrease the reproductive capacity of the worms. Lastly, while AID of LET-363/mTOR in all somatic cells shortens lifespan, neuronal AID of LET-363/mTOR slows aging. This work demonstrates that targeting mTORC1 specifically in the neurons uncouples longevity from growth and reproductive impairments, challenging previously held ideas about the mechanisms of mTORC1 longevity and elucidating the promise of tissue-specific aging therapeutics.
El mercado de futuros como mecanismo de protección en las actividades de comercio exterior de las pymes colombianas.

The objective of this article is to analyze the futures market as a protection mechanism against exchange risk for foreign trade activities carried out by Colombian SMEs, given the impasses they have faced for decades to enter international trade. Therefore, it begins by explaining the exchange risk, followed by a theoretical compilation on the derivatives market, especially future contracts, as one of the most attractive hedging mechanisms for Colombian companies and interesting for investors in terms of risk reduction. In international prices, in the exchange rate of currencies and in stock prices. Therefore, the research method used is descriptive, since a recount is made of the inconveniences that these companies currently face in accessing international markets.
Ireland and the Irish in Interwar England

To what extent did the Irish disappear from English politics, life and consciousness following the Anglo-Irish War? Mo Moulton offers a new perspective on this question through an analysis of the process by which Ireland and the Irish were redefined in English culture as a feature of personal life and civil society rather than a political threat. Considering the Irish as the first postcolonial minority, they argue that the Irish case demonstrates an English solution to the larger problem of the collapse of multi-ethnic empires in the twentieth century. Drawing on an array of new archival evidence, Moulton discusses the many varieties of Irishness present in England during the 1920s and 1930s, including working-class republicans, relocated southern loyalists, and Irish enthusiasts. The Irish connection was sometimes repressed, but it was never truly forgotten; this book recovers it in settings as diverse as literary societies, sabotage campaigns, drinking clubs, and demonstrations.
Employee Assistance Programs in South Africa

Contents Returning to Africa * First World EAPs Serving Third World Clients: A U.S. Perspective of the South African Experience* The State of the Art of EAPs in South Africa: A Critical Analysis * EAPs in South Africa: A Macro Model * Cultural Issues in South African EAPs: The Perspective of the Black Client * Ethical Issues in the South African Workplace * Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Treatment Alternatives in South Africa * Minimizing Post-Traumatic Stress in Critical Mining Incidents * Enuresis Among Black Mining Employees: A Preliminary Study * Cost Effective Quality Services in the Context of the Health Crisis: Implications and Opportunities for South African EAPs * Occupational Social Work Education in South Africa * Reference Notes Included
SU-E-T-232: Custom High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy Surface Mold Applicators: The Importance Source to Skin Distance

Purpose: Surface mold applicators can be customized to fit irregular skin surfaces that are difficult to treat with other radiation therapy techniques. Optimal design of customized HDR skin brachytherapy is not well-established. We evaluated the impact of applicator thickness (source to skin distance) on target dosimetry. Methods: 27 patients had 34 treated sites: scalp 4, face 13, extremity 13, and torso 4. Custom applicators were constructed from 5–15 mm thick thermoplastic bolus molded over the skin lesion. A planar array of plastic brachytherapy catheters spaced 5–10 mm apart was affixed to the bolus. CT simulation was used to contour the target volume and to determine the prescription depth. Inverse planning simulated annealing followed by graphical optimization was used to plan and deliver 40–56 Gy in 8–16 fractions. Target coverage parameters (D90, Dmean, and V100) and dose uniformity (V110–200, D0.1cc, D1cc, and D2cc) were studied according to target depth (<5mm vs. ≥5mm) and applicator thickness (5–10mm vs. ≥10mm). Results: The average prescription depth was 4.2±1.5mm. The average bolus thickness was 9.2±2.4mm. The median CTV volume was 10.0 cc (0.2–212.4 cc). Similar target coverage was achieved with prescription depths of <5mm and ≥5mm (Dmean = 113.8% vs. 112.4% and D90 = 100.2% vs. 98.3%). The <5mm prescription depth plans were more uniform (D0.1cc = 131.8% vs. 151.8%). Bolus thickness <10mm vs. ≥10mm plans also had similar target coverage (Dmean = 118.2% vs. 110.7% and D90 = 100.1% vs. 99.0%). Applicators ≥10mm thick, however, provide more uniform target dosimetry (D0.1cc = 146.9% vs. 139.5%). Conclusion: Prescription depth is based upon the thickness of the lesion and upon the clinical needs of the patient. Applicators ≥10mm thick provide more dose uniformity than 5–10mm thick applicators. Applicator thickness is an important variable that should be considered during treatment planning to achieve optimal dose uniformity.
Interactions of the Arabidopsis Type II Phytochromes

The need to distinguish between two different “pools” or “types” of phytochrome in higher plants dates to the early 1960s, when efforts to correlate plant physiological light responses with the spectroscopic properties of phytochrome were sometimes confounding and inconsistent with the activity of a single molecular species of the photoreceptor ([Pratt 1995]). Moreover, it progressively became clear that phytochrome regulates responses to remarkably different parameters of the light environment (LFRs,VLFRs, HIRs and responses to ratios of R :FR) and the likelihood that all of these responses were mediated by one pigment seemed remote. In 1985, the three groups led by Furuya, Pratt, and Quail independently described forms of phytochrome that were present at low levels in extracts of both light-grown and dark-grown plants. These appeared to be distinct from the form of phytochrome that was abundant in etiolated plant tissues but rapidly degraded upon exposure to light ([Furuya 1993]).The distinction made by all three of these groups between a pool of phytochrome called “etiolatedtissue,” “light-labile,” or “type I” phytochrome and a pool called “green-tissue,” “light-stable,” or “type II” phytochrome has largely been supported by the identification and analysis of PHY gene families and the phytochrome apoproteins encoded by those genes, and by characterization of phy mutants that illuminate the individual activities of those genes.
Malaria eradication and economic outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Uganda

This study evaluates the economic consequences of a 1959-1960 malaria eradication campaign in southwestern Uganda. The effort constitutes a rare, large-scale, and well-documented attempt to eliminate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and produced an immediate disease reduction. We use this quasi-experimental health shock to identify long-term changes in educational and economic outcomes. Comparing the treatment district to a similar synthetic control, we find malaria eradication raised educational attainment by about a half year for both males and females, increased primary school completion among females and generated an almost 40% rise in the likelihood of male wage employment.
Opportunities for Human Development: Access and Quality of Education in Nicaragua

May 2008 Abstract Analysis of poverty in Nicaragua emphasizes the welfare gains from education: non-poor households have higher levels of educational attainment than poor ones (especially in post- primary education), and welfare gains have been associated with higher educational attainment. Despite rather equitable access to primary school, we find that there are substantial inequities in access and quality of preschool and post secondary education between richer and poorer households, between urban and rural areas, and between regions. Furthermore, Nicaragua still falls behind in the Latin America Contexts in primary and secondary education service delivery (both in relation to access and quality). This document is organized in three main sections: the first section quantifies returns to investments on education; the second section analyses constraints and inequities in access to school by socioeconomic level, area of residence, ethnic group and gender; and the third section examines inequalities in education quality. While it is important for Nicaragua to continue to invest in achieving universal primary education, the education system needs to pay attention to improving education quality and expanding access to pres-school and secondary education.
Socialization of Risks without Socialization of Investment: The Minsky Paradox and the Structural Contradiction of Big Government Capitalism

A big government sector is indispensable for the normal operations of modern capitalist economy. However, the very success of the big government institutions encourages private investors to engage in excessive risk-taking activities, leading to growing financial fragility and frequent financial crises. The crises necessitate government interventions, forcing the government to run large deficits during recessions. These deficits, however, are not offset by surpluses during expansions. As a result, there is a tendency for the government debt to rise in relation to GDP. The government debt-GDP ratios cannot keep rising indefinitely. Beyond certain point, the debt-GDP ratio could be so high that the government’s ability to intervene with and stabilize the economy would be severely undermined. This may be characterized as the structural contradiction of big government capitalism.
The effect of potassium deficiency on the kidney.

Evidence is presented that the histologic lesion and the defect in urinary concentrating capacity seen in potassium deficiency are a consequence of the potassium deficiency per se and their progression is a function of the duration of the potassium deficiency, not of its severity. Prolonged potassium deficiency results in irreversible scarring of the kidney and in an irreparable defect in the urinary concentrating capacity. Dilution of urine in potassium deficiency is minimally impaired at a time when a defect in urinary concentrating capacity is present. A relation between the histologic lesions in the collecting tubules of the potassium deficient animals and the defect in the urinary concentrating capacity of these animals is discussed.
On two relaxations of quadratically-constrained cardinality minimization

This paper considers a quadratically-constrained cardinality minimization problem with applications to digital filter design, subset s election for linear regres- sion, and portfolio selection. Two relaxations are investi gated: the continuous relax- ation of a mixed integer formulation, and an optimized diagonal relaxation that ex- ploits a simple special case of the problem. For the continuous relaxation, an absolute upper bound on the optimal cost is derived, suggesting that the continuous relaxation tends to be a relatively poor approximation. In computational experiments, diagonal relaxations often provide stronger bounds than continuous relaxations and can greatly reduce the complexity of a branch-and-bound solution, even in instances that are not particularly close to diagonal. Similar gains are observed with respect to the mixed integer programming solver CPLEX. Motivated by these results, the approximation properties of the diagonal relaxation are analyzed. In part icular, bounds on the ap- proximation ratio are established in terms of the eigenvalues of the matrix defining the quadratic constraint, and also in the diagonally dominant and nearly coordinate- aligned cases.
Assessing the prevalence of hybridization between sympatric Canis species surrounding the red wolf (Canis rufus) recovery area in North Carolina

Predicting spatial patterns of hybridization is important for evolutionary and conservation biology yet are hampered by poor understanding of how hybridizing species can interact. This is especially pertinent in contact zones where hybridizing populations are sympatric. In this study, we examined the extent of red wolf (Canis rufus) colonization and introgression where the species contacts a coyote (C. latrans) population in North Carolina, USA. We surveyed 22,000km(2) in the winter of 2008 for scat and identified individual canids through genetic analysis. Of 614 collected scats, 250 were assigned to canids by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing. Canid samples were genotyped at 6-17 microsatellite loci (nDNA) and assigned to species using three admixture criteria implemented in two Bayesian clustering programs. We genotyped 82 individuals but none were identified as red wolves. Two individuals had red wolf mtDNA but no significant red wolf nDNA ancestry. One individual possessed significant red wolf nDNA ancestry (approximately 30%) using all criteria, although seven other individuals showed evidence of red wolf ancestry (11-21%) using the relaxed criterion. Overall, seven individuals were classified as hybrids using the conservative criteria and 37 using the relaxed criterion. We found evidence of dog (C. familiaris) and gray wolf (C. lupus) introgression into the coyote population. We compared the performance of different methods and criteria by analyzing known red wolves and hybrids. These results suggest that red wolf colonization and introgression in North Carolina is minimal and provide insights into the utility of Bayesian clustering methods to detect hybridization.