cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Over the Wall: Experiences with Multicultural Literacy:

In a multicultural country with businesses operating in global markets, our students need more than just a descriptive exposure to differences in culture. They need practice in acting effectively across different cultural groups in order to develop cultural competency. The first step in helping students develop multicultural competency is for an instructor to develop himself or herself in this area. This is so for the same reason that a diagnostician must be able to see symptoms before he or she can teach students to observe the same signs. This article is a personal account of an instructor moving down a path from cultural myopia toward cultural literacy. An experiential international marketing course is described that has been developed as a direct result of this journey.
College student contraceptive use: a multivariate analysis.

This study investigated the relationship of 22 variables—categorized as relating to sexual history, relationship, social support, contraception beliefs, and personality factors—to contraceptive use by college women and men. The use of effective contraception by both women and men was primarily associated with partner support for contraception; and the choice between oral contraceptives and condoms was associated with frequency of intercourse.
Consolidation In The U.S. Banking Industry Since Riegle-Neal

The Riegle-Neal Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 eliminated previous restrictions on interstate banking and branching in the U.S. banking industry. It was expected that this deregulation would accelerate the consolidation already underway among U.S. banks. Previous research examined the initial impact of Riegle-Neal on the number of banking institutions and branches by analyzing data from immediately before the act was passed in 1994 to immediately after it became fully effective in 1997. That research found an increase in the rate of consolidation among U.S. banks, with an increase in the number of mergers, an increase in the number of newly chartered banks, a decrease in the number of bank failures, and an increase in the number of new bank branches. This paper considers whether these immediate effects of Riegle-Neal have persisted into the longer term or have moderated in the years since the act became fully effective. The analysis of data since 1998 presented here indicates that the initial effects of the act have moderated. The rate at which the number of banking institutions is decreasing has slowed. The rate of merger and acquisition activity has decreased. Bank failures are very low. There has been a slow down in the increase of new bank branches.
Robustness in Biological Systems: A Provisional Taxonomy

Biology is a domain of tension: on the one hand, biology is concerned with transformation and the generation of diversity; on the other, biology is concerned with the persistence of improbable structural regularities. The historical sciences in biology, principally evolution, have focused on change. The mechanistic sciences in biology, principally medicine, have focused on stability. Robustness, as a research program, aims to uncover those evolved mechanisms promoting the persistence of regularities. Here I organize mechanisms of robustness into a phenomenological taxonomy, grouping biological mechanisms into principles of robust organization. These include: Redundancy, Purging, Feedback, Modularity, Spatial Compartmentalization, Distributed Processing, and the Extended Phenotype. I present case studies in which mechanisms representative of each principle are described. These case studies serve to illustrate the ubiquity of specialized robustness mechanisms in all complex biosystems.
Dark-period induction of zygospores in Mucor

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the factor responsible for erratic mating behavior among certain Mucor species is a requirement for an induction period of darkness. Zygospores are formed with continuous natural or artificial light after a dark period. When strains are mated near one another (10 mm apart) and far apart (70 mm) in the same plates, zygospores typically form in the close matings but rarely in the far matings even though the colonies grow together. At 25 C and 20 C the dark effect is pronounced except for M. lusitanicus; at 32 C the effect is less. When 81/2 h of light and 151/2 h of darkness were alternated, some zygospores were produced from da 2 onward, but the numbers, even at da 5, were greatly reduced. Zygospores of the homothallic M. genevensis were formed in both light and darkness but more developed in the dark. When various isolates from ragi were contrasted with appropriate mating types and exposed to daylight and darkness no zygospores were usually formed in the light, but in darkness all but one strain produced numerous zygospores. Different wavelengths of light had little effect on zygospore formation.
A comparison of three induction therapies on patients with delayed graft function after kidney transplantation.

We compare the outcomes of induction therapies with either methylprednisolone (group 1, n = 58), basiliximab (group 2, n = 56) or alemtuzumab (group 3, n = 98) in primary deceased donor kidney transplants with delayed graft function (DGF). Protocol biopsies were performed. Maintenance was tacrolimus and mycophenolate with steroid (group 1 and 2) or without steroid (group 3). One-year biopsy-confirmed acute rejection (AR) rates were 27.6, 19.6 and 10.2 % in group 1, 2 and 3 (p = 0.007). AR was significantly lower in group 3 (p = 0.002) and group 2 (p = 0.03) than in group 1. One-year graft survival rates were 90, 96 and 100 % in group 1, 2 and 3 (log rank p = 0.006). Group 1 had inferior graft survival than group 2 (p = 0.03) and group 3 (p = 0.002). The patient survival rates were not different (96.6, 98.2 and 100 %, log rank p = 0.81). Multivariable analysis using methylprednisolone induction as control indicated that alemtuzumab (OR 0.31, 95 % CI 0.11–0.82; p = 0.03) and basiliximab (OR 0.60, 95 % CI 0.23–0.98; p = 0.018) were associated with lower risk of AR. Therefore, alemtuzumab or basiliximab induction decreases AR and improves graft survival than methylprednisolone alone in patients with DGF. Alemtuzumab induction might also allow patients with DGF to be maintained with contemporary steroid-withdrawal protocol.
An efficient, FPGA-based, cluster detection algorithm implementation for a strip detector readout system in a Time Projection Chamber polarimeter

A fundamental challenge in a spaceborne application of a gas-based Time Projection Chamber (TPC) for observation of X-ray polarization is handling the large amount of data collected. The TPC polarimeter described uses the APV-25 Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) to readout a strip detector. Two dimensional photo- electron track images are created with a time projection technique and used to determine the polarization of the incident X-rays. The detector produces a 128x30 pixel image per photon interaction with each pixel registering 12 bits of collected charge. This creates challenging requirements for data storage and downlink bandwidth with only a modest incidence of photons and can have a significant impact on the overall mission cost. An approach is described for locating and isolating the photoelectron track within the detector image, yielding a much smaller data product, typically between 8x8 pixels and 20x20 pixels. This approach is implemented using a Microsemi RT-ProASIC3-3000 Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), clocked at 20 MHz and utilizing 10.7k logic gates (14% of FPGA), 20 Block RAMs (17% of FPGA), and no external RAM. Results will be presented, demonstrating successful photoelectron track cluster detection with minimal impact to detector dead-time.
Emotional attention of contemporary interior design

The historial changing process of the question of emotional attention to interior design is analysed. And the form and role of the emotional attention in the contemporary interior design are expounded. Traditionoriented, futureoriented, paying more attention to human beings, and loving nature should be advocated in interior design to create the work and life spaces which are beneficial to nature, society and mankind.
Research on Flood Operation Decision Support System based on WebGIS

Geographic information and flood operation information are inseparable.The geographic information system technology used in the flood operation information plays a key role in information acquisition,processing,management,analysis and expression.In this paper,we use WebGIS technology and service oriented architecture to design flood operation decision support system based on the analysis of characteristics of flood information.System meets the requirement of hydropower information,modernization,scientific development,also provides technical support and powerful guarantee for flood operation decision support.
Resistance and electromigration performance of 6 nm wires

A process to achieve 6 nm minimum dimension interconnect wires is realized using standard 193 nm lithography. Various metals including copper are optimized to gap fill features, and tested for electrical performance and reliability. Measurements showing line electrical resistance and electromigration as functions of material, conducting area, and interfaces are presented.
Fantasy Sports and Gambling: A Comparison of Antecedent Traits and Motivations

Fantasy sports have witnessed remarkable growth in the USA and around the world. While most fantasy sports players prefer free leagues, pay-to-play (P2P) fantasy sport contests are growing in popularity, with 46.9 % of players paying league participation fees (FSTA 2014). The nature of P2P fantasy sports, with its focus on entry fees, uncertain outcomes, and cash prizes, leads many to classify fantasy sports as a form of gambling. The trend toward P2P fantasy sports also raises questions regarding the nature of fantasy sports players and their motivations.
Wave climatology of Lake Erie based on an unstructured-grid wave model

Hindcast of wave dynamics in Lake Erie during 2002 to 2012 was conducted using a state-of-art finite-volume coastal ocean surface wave model (FVCOM-SWAVE). After model calibration, the surface gravity wave dynamics were examined from the aspects of wave climate and seasonality, inter-basin wave interactions, as well as its potential susceptibility to regional climate change. Compared to the Central and Eastern Basins, the Western Basin has relatively gentle wave climate. The Western Basin and the nearshore areas are most susceptible to the wave-induced bottom orbital oscillations on the seasonal mean scale, and the offshore Central Basin is sensitive to them as well during episodic events. Profound seasonality was found in both mean and extreme wave dynamics during ice-free cycles. Mean significant wave height (SWH) is highest during fall with more occurrences of extreme events (SWH > 3.1 m) and is lowest during summer, which is controlled by wind speed and direction collectively. Besides, swells generated in the Central and Eastern Basins could interact with each other under various wind directions, whereas wave generated in the Central Basin could hardly propagate into the Western Basin. In addition, the regression analysis of surrounding meteorological stations indicates increasing SWH in the Western Basin and decreasing SWH in the Eastern Basin.
Utilizing Raman Spectroscopy for Stress Imaging in MEMS Devices

Abstract MEMS devices are becoming a pervasive part of today’s technology world. Currently, MEMS designers have to take residual stresses into account when designing microdevices. A more ideal state would be for the developer to design to function and to control the residual stresses to fit within designed parameters. For this to occur, methods of mapping residual stresses must be found and used. In this paper, micro-Raman spectroscopy is used to map both residual and induced stress in beam structures on silicon MEMS device.
Genomic alterations as predictors of survival among patients within a combined cohort with clear cell renal cell carcinoma undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy.

Abstract Purpose To establish prognostic genomic biomarkers for patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Materials and methods We identified 60 patients who presented with metastatic ccRCC at our institution between 2001 and 2015 and had genomic sequencing on their primary tumor. We pooled these patients with 107 other patients with the same inclusion criteria from three well-known public databases. Five commonly mutated genes were chosen for analysis: VHL , PBRM1 , BAP1 , SETD2 , and KDM5C . Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was used for comparisons between groups. Results Median OS in the cohort was 2.5 years. Higher Fuhrman grade was associated with decreased median OS ( P SETD2 ( P = 0.027) and KDM5C ( P = 0.019) were associated with reduced risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.58 [95% CI: 0.35–0.94] and HR = 0.43 [95% CI: 0.22–0.85], respectively). BAP1 mutations ( P = 0.008) were associated with increased risk of death (HR = 1.81 [95% CI: 1.16–2.83]). There were significantly more female patients with a BAP1 mutation than females in the overall cohort ( P = 0.001). Conclusions Mutations in BAP1 negatively affected OS, whereas SETD2 and KDM5C mutations were associated with prolonged OS in our pooled cohort of 167 patients with metastatic ccRCC. Our results expand upon efforts at understanding genomic biomarkers in localized disease. Those efforts set the stage for our novel investigation examining associations of select recurrent somatic mutations in stage IV patients with ccRCC.
Commentary on Problem Solving Heuristics, Affect, and Discrete Mathematics: A Representational Discussion

The chapter by Goldin in this volume can be viewed as an attempt to suggest one future direction of problem solving in school mathematics. The major theme in Goldin’s chapter is that the domain of discrete mathematics has a great potential to increase students’ interest in exploring mathematics and develop problem-solving heuristics. In this commentary, I would like to situate my discussion of his chapter in the context of future directions of mathematical problem-solving research. I will start with a discussion of Goldin’s idea about discrete mathematics as a content domain to solve problems, then I will specifically discuss instructional objectives and problem-solving heuristics in the discrete mathematical domain. I end this commentary by pointing out a future direction for problem-solving research.
Chemistry and Chemical Education as a Bridge to Peace

Chemistry and chemical education can be important tools to advance the peace process, especially in the Middle East. The Middle East is a region in conflict for many years. This part of the world is of particular importance because it has a source of energy that is a strategic resource: fossil fuel. This nonrenewable source of energy not only fuels economic and political conflicts, but its worldwide use also places at risk the sustainability of life on Planet Earth, by polluting the environment and contributing to climate change. The Middle East also has major problems of air and water quality, which will require regional cooperation to solve. Geopolitical borders are only lines on a map; air and water do not recognize these lines. Therefore, any work concerning the environment - especially air and water quality - must be done in collaboration between nations. Chemistry is an international language. A chemist from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the USA, and a chemist from Bethlehem, Palestine, use the same chemical notations, and can communicate scientifically to one another without understanding each other's spoken language. Building on the international language of chemistry, three major international conferences called the “Malta Conferences” and formally titled “Frontiers of Chemical Science: Research and Education in the Middle East” were held in 2003 [1, 2, 3], in 2005 [4, 5, 6], and in 2007 [7, 8, 9]. In these conferences, chemists from 14 Middle East nations gathered to discuss solutions to the problems of air and water quality, energy resources, and chemical education in the Middle East. These collaborations between the chemists have yielded results that are a cornerstone for a bridge to peace.
Indium-111-Platelets in Bypass Grafts: Experimental and Clinical Applications

Carrel and Guthrie made original and significant contributions in arterial and venous grafting in 1906 in dogs (1). Carrel was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1908 for these vessel transplantations with autologous, homologous, and heterologous blood vessels. Advance in surgical techniques (2–14) and understanding the cell biology of endothelial, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts; mechanism of activation of platelet and of coagulation cascades; risk factors for loss of protective endothelial cells and subsequent thrombosis and atherosclerosis of native vessels and vein grafts (15–54); development of platelet inhibitors; anticoagulant drugs and new diagnostic techniques for evaluation of graft patency (54–96) led to the present status of arterial and venous reconstructions.
Development and adaptation of heart mitochondrial respiratory chain function in fetus and in newborn.

The ability of mitochondria to undergo alterations in response to changes in oxygen availability is suggested by the data from animals studied at high altitude (1,2). During the transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life, the animal experiences a marked change in oxygen environment which might affect mitochondrial function. In order to investigate the roles of development and adaptation, freshly isolated cardiac mitochondria from lambs and puppies were studied. The development of mitochondrial respiratory function was examined in fetal lambs. The changes in respiratory capacity, cytochrome concentration, and calcium transport subsequent to the increase in oxygen environment following birth were determined in newborn lambs and puppies.
Unsupervised Dense Object Discovery, Detection, Tracking and Reconstruction

In this paper, we present an unsupervised framework for discovering, detecting, tracking, and reconstructing dense objects from a video sequence. The system simultaneously localizes a moving camera, and discovers a set of shape and appearance models for multiple objects, including the scene background. Each object model is represented by both a 2D and 3D level-set. This representation is used to improve detection, 2D-tracking, 3D-registration and importantly subsequent updates to the level-set itself. This single framework performs dense simultaneous localization and mapping as well as unsupervised object discovery. At each iteration portions of the scene that fail to track, such as bulk outliers on moving rigid bodies, are used to either seed models for new objects or to update models of known objects. For the latter, once an object is successfully tracked in 2D with aid from a 2D level-set segmentation, the level-set is updated and then used to aid registration and evolution of a 3D level-set that captures shape information. For a known object either learned by our system or introduced from a third-party library, our framework can detect similar appearances and geometries in the scene. The system is tested using single and multiple object data sets. Results demonstrate an improved method for discovering and reconstructing 2D and 3D object models, which aid tracking even under significant occlusion or rapid motion.
With Friends Like These: E. D. E. N. Southworth and Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes’s Pathological Poisoners

Crosby examines how two of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s colleagues, E. D. E. N. Southworth and Oliver Wendell Holmes, kept her medical frame for the poisonous woman but nonetheless tried to contain the radical political potential of her medicinal poisoner. Southworth’s novel Vivia; or the Secret of Power reconceived the medically empowered woman as sociopathic, while Holmes’s bestseller, Elsie Venner, presented the mixed-race “Spanish” female poisoner as a medical problem rather than a medical hero. Both worked to maintain the white woman as a pure, all-giving resource for white men, rather than an agent for women’s or minorities’ own power. Stowe answers these arguments with her magnum opus, The Pearl of Orr’s Island, and with My Wife and I, which insist on a cross-racial, self-preserving, and medically-informed female heroism.
Integrating Storytelling into a Communication Skills Teaching Program for Medical Oncology Fellows

Oncology training focuses primarily on biomedical content rather than psychosocial content, which is not surprising in light of the enormous volume of technical information that oncology fellows assimilate in a short time. Nonetheless, the human connection, and specifically communication skills, remains as important as ever in caring for highly vulnerable patients with cancer. We previously described a year-long communication skills curriculum for oncology fellows that consisted of monthly 1-hour seminars with role play as the predominant teaching method (Epner and Baile, Acad Med. 89:578-84, 2014). Over several years, we adapted the curriculum based on learner feedback and reflection by faculty and teaching assistants and consolidated sessions into quarterly 3-4-hour workshops. We now describe integrating stories into the curriculum as a way of building empathy and warming fellows to the arduous task of dealing with highly emotional content, such as conversations with young patients about transitioning off disease-directed therapy. Learners read and discussed published, medically themed stories; discussed their own patient care stories; and completed brief writing reflections and discussions. They then worked in small groups facilitated by faculty and upper level fellows who functioned as teaching assistants to work on applying specific skills and strategies to scenarios that they chose. Fellows completed anonymous surveys on which they rated the curriculum highly for relevance, value, organization, content, and teaching methods, including storytelling aspects. We conclude that sharing stories can help highly technical learners build reflective ability, mindfulness, and empathy, which are all critical ingredients of the art of medicine.
Let's Talk About Sex: A Survey of Patients' Preferences When Addressing Sexual Health Concerns in a Family Medicine Residency Program Office.

Introduction Comprehensive medical care should embody the biopsychosocial care model and encompass all aspects of health. Sexual health topics may be overlooked or avoided because of patient and provider discomfort. Our purpose was to better understand patients' preferences about discussing sexual concerns in primary care. We hypothesized that most individuals have sexual concerns, but many barriers prevent them from seeking care. Method We surveyed patients at a family medicine residency program office. The survey explored whether patients had experienced sexual concerns, preferences for addressing concerns in the office, and barriers and facilitators to addressing concerns. Results were analyzed using counts and proportions. Pearson correlations, Pearson χ2 analyses, and independent samples t-tests were used to explore demographic differences in responses. Results Most participants indicated that physicians should ask all patients about having sexual concerns and that physicians should initiate these conversations. Younger participants were more likely to have this preference. Participants identified embarrassment as the most common barrier to sexual health conversations. Participants indicated it was easier to discuss sexual concerns with physicians of the same gender and/or a physician they had seen before. Conclusions The majority of patients prefer active inquiry about sexual health concerns from primary care physicians. However, because a large minority prefer not to be asked about sexual health, physicians should inquire sensitively, particularly with older patients. Continuity of patient-physician relationship and allowing patients to choose their provider based on gender may also help facilitate these discussions.
Caffeine Augments the Prothrombotic but Not the Fibrinolytic Response to Exercise.

Caffeine, a popular ergogenic supplement, induces neural and vascular changes that may influence coagulation and/or fibrinolysis at rest and during exercise. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a single dose of caffeine on measures of coagulation and fibrinolysis before and after a single bout of high-intensity exercise. METHODS Forty-eight men (age, 23 ± 3 yr; body mass index, 24 ± 3 kg·m) completed two trials, with 6 mg·kg of caffeine (CAFF) or placebo (PLAC), in random order, followed by a maximal cycle ergometer test. Plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, factor VIII antigen, active tissue plasminogen activator (tPA:c), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA:g), and active plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1:c) were assessed at baseline and immediately after exercise. RESULTS Exercise led to significant changes in tPA:c (Δ 8.5 ± 4.36 IU·mL for CAFF, 6.6 ± 3.7 for PLAC), tPA:g (Δ 2.4 ± 3.2 ng·mL for CAFF, 1.9 ± 3.1 for PLAC), fibrinogen (Δ 30.6 ± 61.4 mg·dL for CAFF, 28.1 ± 66.4 for PLAC), and PAI-1:c (Δ -3.4 ± 7.9 IU·mL for CAFF, -4.0 ± 12.0 for PLAC) (all P < 0.05), but no effect of condition or time-condition interactions were observed. Main effects of time, condition, and a significant time-condition interaction were observed for factor VIII, which increased from 1.0 ± 0.4 IU·mL to 3.3 ± 1.3 IU·mL with CAFF and 1.0 ± 0.4 IU·mL to 2.4 ± 0.9 IU·mL with PLAC. CONCLUSIONS Coagulation potential during exercise is augmented after caffeine intake, without a similar increase in fibrinolysis. These results suggest caffeine intake may increase risk of a thrombotic event during exercise.
Forging Ahead or Grasping at Straws? The Affects and Outcomes of Social Enterprise Legal Structure Change

Cases of legal structure change within social enterprises were examined using case study and qualitative comparative analyses to understand how legal structure change altered core business model co...
De la competencia a la cooperación: reformas de la administración pública para ciudades sostenibles

El siglo XXI es el siglo urbano. Las ciudades se encuentran a la cabeza en lo que se refiere al crecimiento y la innovacion, pero lamentablemente tambien en terminos de desigualdad. En este contexto, ?de que manera puede la administracion publica responder a los desafios del cambio demografico, el cambio climatico y la sostenibilidad fiscal? Durante las ultimas decadas del siglo XX se otorgo importancia vital a la busqueda de la eficiencia y se promovieron elocuentemente las herramientas de la descentralizacion y la privatizacion. Se asumia la competencia como la fuente ultima de esa eficiencia. Pero la competencia tiene sus limites y, en el siglo XXI, la nueva reforma se orienta hacia la cooperacion. La administracion publica esta otorgando mas importancia a la coordinacion, la equidad y la expresion democratica. Lo anterior pretende reequilibrar la relacion entre el Estado y el mercado, y entre el Estado y el gobierno local. Deben incorporarse de nuevo los valores de lo publico al mercado para la prestacion de los servicios publicos. Se requiere cooperacion a lo largo del sistema intergubernamental, porque las nuevas e innovadoras tecnologias tienen el potencial de alterar y fragmentar la region urbana. El reto para la administracion publica es promover la cooperacion de manera que el Gobierno se transforme en el tejido conectivo que mantenga unida la sociedad mientras se hace frente a los desafios del siglo XXI
Annulated bacteriochlorins for near-infrared photophysical studies

Molecules with strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region are of interest for a variety of applications in the photosciences. Nature's NIR absorbers are bacteriochlorophylls, which contain a tetrahydroporphyrin chromophore accentuated by attached auxochromes, including a β,meso-bridging isocyclic ring. Modification of the isocyclic ring has provided a convenient means of wavelength tuning. In other tetrapyrroles, annulation at the β,meso-, β,β-, and β-meso-β-positions also has enabled wavelength tuning. Here, synthetic bacteriochlorins bearing a gem-dimethyl group in each pyrroline ring have provided the foundation for studies of annulation. Seven new free base bacteriochlorins have been prepared and seven others have been elaborated therefrom. Six distinct routes known among porphyrins were explored. Ultimately, annulation of phenaleno or benzo groups at the β,meso-sites (i.e., spanning the 3,5- and 13,15-positions) of bacteriochlorins was achieved by a new route that entails two successive Pd-mediated coupling reactions of a dibromobacteriochlorin with a bromoarylboronic acid. The corresponding Phen-BC or Benz-BC absorbs at 913 or 1033 nm, respectively. Examination by time-resolved spectroscopy revealed an excited-state lifetime of 150 ps or 7 ps, with commensurably low fluorescence quantum yield (Φf) values estimated to be ∼0.004 or 3 × 10−5, respectively. The origin of the short excited-state lifetimes due to β,meso-annulation is unknown, but is not simply a consequence of the energy-gap law for non-radiative decay.
One-unit compared to two-unit platelet transfusions for adult oncology outpatients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Platelet dosing has been studied in adult oncology inpatients, but there is almost no published evidence to guide platelet dosing for adult outpatients. We evaluated transfusion indices after 1 unit and 2 unit apheresis platelet transfusions at our hospital to determine whether a benefit to 2-unit transfusions could be detected. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted of all adult oncology patients who received an outpatient platelet transfusion over a 16-month period (July 2016-November 2017). Pre- and post-transfusion platelet count, and chronology of subsequent platelet transfusions were compared. RESULTS A total of 8467 platelet transfusions were administered to 602 patients during the study period. 59·8% of patients (n = 360) were transfused interchangeably with one or two platelets throughout the study period. The primary study population were comprised of these patients. On average, a 2-unit platelet transfusions resulted in a higher immediate post-transfusion platelet count (43 vs. 37 x 103 /μl, P < 0·001) and a lower corrected count increment (9707 vs. 14 060, P < 0·001). Transfusion with 2 platelets did not increase the number of days between outpatient transfusions (median; 4 vs. 4, P = 0·959) or the platelet count at the time of next transfusion (11 vs. 11 x 103 /μl, P = 0·147). CONCLUSION Among adult, oncology outpatients that were transfused interchangeably with one or two units of platelets, transfusion with two platelets did not offer a durable improvement in platelet count or impact the subsequent transfusion schedule.
Do Vigilante Groups Reduce Cartel-Related Violence? An Empirical Assessment of Crime Trends in Michoacán, Mexico

When the Knights Templar cartel targeted the people of Michoacan, vigilantes formed for protection. This study uses a paired sample t-test to investigate the effect that the emergence and subsequen...
Ultrasound Triggered Microbubble Destruction for Disrupting Biofilms in Synovial Fluid

This study investigated the combination of antibiotics and ultrasound triggered microbubble destruction (UTMD) to disrupt free-floating bacterial biofilms in synovial fluid (SynF) of infected joints. In vitro , 1x107 colony forming units (CFU) of S. aureus aggregated in human SynF had $100\ \mu\mathrm{L}$ of Definity® (Lantheus Medical Imaging, N Billerica, MA, USA), and $30\ \mu\mathrm{g}/\text{mL}$ of amikacin added. Samples were insonated either at a high MI of 1.06 for 10 min or a low MI of 0.04 for 6 min. In vivo , 6 pigs (mean weight 35 kg) had their left femorotibial joint inoculated with 1x106 CFU of S. aureus . A SynF sample was collected from all animals 24 hrs post-inoculation. Control animals (2) received amikacin (250 mg) into the joint, while the remaining animals received $100\ \mu\mathrm{L}$ of Definity and 1 mL of amikacin. UTMD was performed using an S9 Pro scanner with a curvilinear probe (SonoScape, Shenzhen, China) and a flash replenishment sequence ( $\text{MI} ) with 4 $s$ destructive pulses ( $\text{MI} > 0.6$ ) for the duration of contrast visualization. SynF samples were collected from all animals after the therapeutic intervention for cytological analysis and quantitative bacteriology. UTMD and antibiotics resulted in large decreases in bacterial numbers (>2-4 logs) in vitro compared to antibiotic alone. In vivo the infection protocol consistently caused clinical septic arthritis by 24 hrs post-inoculation. Nucleated cell counts and cytology parameters were all consistent with septic arthritis. Floating bacterial aggregates were occasionally observed in the joint aspirates obtained prior to UTMD. No biofloats were detected on joint aspirates obtained following intra-articular therapy and no bacterial growth was noted in any dilutions in the post-treatment SynF samples, while pre-treatment samples and amikacin only animals presented with bacterial counts of greater than 2000 CFU/mL. In conclusion, UTMD demonstrates synergism with antimicrobials against SynF biofilm aggregates.
A Changing Landscape: Exploring Resident Perspectives on Pursuing Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowships.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) was approved as a subspecialty in 2016. Perspectives of pediatric and combined pediatric residents regarding barriers and facilitators to pursuing PHM fellowships have not previously been assessed. METHODS: A survey to explore residents’ perspectives on PHM fellowships, with questions regarding demographics, likelihood of pursuing PHM after fellowship introduction, and influencing factors was distributed to pediatric and combined pediatric residents via program directors. RESULTS: The survey was distributed to an estimated 2657 residents. A total of 855 (32.2%) residents completed the survey; 89% of respondents had at least considered a career in PHM, and 79.4% reported that the introduction of the PHM fellowship requirement for subspecialty certification made them less likely to pursue PHM. Intent to practice in a community setting or only temporarily practice PHM, Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatric trainee status, and high student loan burden were associated with decreased likelihood of pursuing PHM (P CONCLUSIONS: Many survey respondents expressed interest in the opportunity to acquire new skills through PHM fellowship. However, the majority of respondents reported being less likely to pursue PHM after the introduction of fellowship requirement for board certification, citing financial and personal opportunity costs. Understanding factors that residents value and those that discourage residents from pursuing PHM fellowship training may help guide future iterations of fellowship design.
Multivariate Time Series Forecasting: Nonparametric Vector Autoregression Using NNS

This quick note is intended to introduce the intuition behind the 'NNS.VAR' function in the "NNS" R-package, which serves as a nonparametric vector autoregression.
Social distancing and anxiety among female caregivers of children ages zero-to-five during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown in the United States

Background Past studies have linked measures of social isolation to mental health among caregivers of children. As people across the world adjust to social distancing measures, there is a need to understand consequences of social distancing measures on mental health. Thus, the objective of this study is to examine the association between adherence to social distancing measures and feeling worried/anxious among female caregivers of children ages zero-to-five. Methods Data for this study came from an online survey that was administered between May and June 2020 to understand stress and mental health among caregivers of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 358 female caregivers was analyzed using binary logistic regression with feeling worried/anxious as the outcome variable. Results More than a third of the female caregivers (35.2%) reported feeling worried/anxious during the past month and about 42% reported strictly adhering to social distancing measures. Controlling for the effect of other factors, caregivers who reported strictly adhering to social distancing had 1.86 times higher odds of feeling worried/anxious when compared caregivers who were not strictly adhering to social distancing (AOR=1.86, 95% C.I.=1.07-3.24). Caregivers who felt bothered by withdrawal from activities of interest had 4.11 times higher odds of reporting feeling worried/anxious (AOR=4.11, 95% C.I.=2.32-7.24). Conclusions As COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it is important to build community response to better support caregivers of infants and young children. Implications for practice, policy, and research as they relate to caregiver's mental health are discussed.
Preexisting right ventricular systolic dysfunction in high-risk patients undergoing non.emergent open abdominal surgery: A retrospective cohort study

Background: The prognostic value of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in high-risk patients undergoing non-emergent open abdominal surgery is unknown. Here, we aim to evaluate whether presence of preexisting right ventricular systolic dysfunction in this surgical cohort is independently associated with higher incidence of postoperative major adverse cardiac events and all-cause in-hospital mortality. Methods: This is a single-centered retrospective study. Patients identified as American Society Anesthesiology Classification III and IV who had a preoperative echocardiogram within 1 year of undergoing non-emergent open abdominal surgery between January 2010 and May 2017 were included in the study. Incidence of postoperative major cardiac adverse events and all-cause in-hospital mortality were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was performed in a step-wise manner to identify independent association between preexisting right ventricular systolic dysfunction with outcomes of interest. Results: Preexisting right ventricular systolic dysfunction was not associated with postoperative major adverse cardiac events (P = 0.26). However, there was a strong association between preexisting right ventricular systolic dysfunction and all-cause in-hospital mortality (P = 0.00094). After multivariate analysis, preexisting right ventricular systolic dysfunction continued to be an independent risk factor for all-cause in-hospital mortality with an odds ratio of 18.9 (95' CI: 1.8-201.7; P = 0.015). Conclusion: In this retrospective study of high-risk patients undergoing non-emergent open abdominal surgery, preexisting right ventricular systolic dysfunction was found to have a strong association with all-cause in-hospital mortality.
Double jeopardy?: Exploring the intersectionality of sexual/gender group membership, racial/ethnic group membership, and victimization risk

Little research has been conducted to explore the impact of intersectionality among racial/ethnic minority groups and sexual/gender minority groups as it relates to violent, sexual, and stalking vi...
Lipid Peroxidation in Late Radiation Injury of the Rat Spinal Cord

Radiation therapy is a highly effective treatment for malignant gliomas and there is good evidence that increasing radiation dose results in increased survival (1,2). However, damage to the surrounding normal tissue limits the total dose of radiation which can be delivered (3). Because CNS tumors rarely metastasize, local control in these devastating conditions can translate into cure. It was thought that interstitial brachytherapy might alleviate the problem of therapeutic ratio, yet it has become quite clear that radiation necrosis is the limiting factor for this technique as well (4).
Molecular pharming’s foot in the FDA’s door: Protalix’s trailblazing story

Objectives This short commentary examines the factors that led to Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first plant-derived biologic.
The Electrochemical Double Layer in Solid Electrolytes

When a d.c. voltage is applied across an electrochemical cell, the response of its electrodes can be considered in terms of two possible modes of idealized behavior. These are illustrated in Fig. 1. The left-side electrode is composed of the parent metal M(s) of an electrolyte for the conduction of a cation species M+. Because of the presence of M(s) and M+ at the electrode interface, an equilibrium M(s)⇋ M++ e is assumed to obtain. If establishment and maintenance of the equilibrium is ideally rapid, then the response of the interface to a nonequilibrium field is to drive the equilibrium predominantly in one of its component directions and result in a basically nonresistive transfer of charge across the interface. This is the well-known behavior of the ideally reversible electrode.
Obesity and the HPO Axis

Obesity is an increasingly prevalent problem in the United States. Obesity, defined as a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 affects nearly 40 % of adults in the United States today. Obesity has several negative effects on fertility and reproductive physiology. Obesity is associated with increased time to fertility and overall decreased fecundity. In addition, obesity seems to lead to changes to the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis. Obesity is associated with changes in luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Levels of ovarian hormones, such as estradiol and progesterone, are altered in obese women compared to normal controls. Levels of leptin and two adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, are affected by BMI. These hormones can modulate both pituitary and ovarian function. Overall, obesity seems to lead to a state of relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This chapter reviews studies that have examined obesity and the different aspects of the HPO axis.
Fabrication of cell-laden macroporous biodegradable hydrogels with tunable porosities and pore sizes

In this work, we investigated a cytocompatible particulate leaching method for the fabrication of cell-laden macroporous hydrogels. We used dehydrated and uncrosslinked gelatin microspheres as leachable porogens to create macroporous oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) hydrogels. Varying gelatin content and size resulted in a wide range of porosities and pore sizes, respectively. Encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibited high viability immediately following the fabrication process, and culture of cell-laden hydrogels revealed improved cell viability with increasing porosity. Additionally, the osteogenic potential of the encapsulated MSCs was evaluated over 16 days. Overall, this study presents a robust method for the preparation of cell-laden macroporous hydrogels with desired porosity and pore size for tissue engineering applications.
Pedotransfer functions for soil erosion models

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some historical soil pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for erosion prediction, some PTFs for modern erosion models, and procedures to develop infiltration and erodibility parameters for these types of models. A range of techniques are available to parameterize soil erosion models and develop appropriate PTFs. Experimental techniques and simulation and statistical procedures are discussed in the chapter. For widespread applicability, soil erosion prediction models often rely on a variety of soil PTFs to address soil erodibility and soil infiltration parameters. Development of these functions may be accomplished through experimental studies on a representative group of soils that cover a range of properties of a larger set of soils where the erosion model is to be applied. In some cases, existing long-term historical erosion plot data may provide sufficient information to create erosion model pedotransfer equations.
Personality and the Foundations of Political Behavior

1. Personality and politics 2. The Big Five approach 3. Measuring the Big Five 4. Personality and political information 5. Personality, attitudes, and political predispositions 6. Personality and political participation 7. The multiple bases of political behavior.
Fully-differential poly-SiC Lame mode resonator and checkerboard filter

In this paper, we report the first fully-differential, electrostatically transduced RF MEMS resonator. The fully-differential electrode configuration not only cancels capacitive feedthrough between the drive and sense terminals but also eliminates the reduction in electromechanical quality factor (Q) from the large ohmic resistance of the polycrystalline silicon carbide (poly-SiC) suspension and anchor. Using this configuration, we have demonstrated a 173 MHz poly-SiC Lame-mode resonator with a Q of 9,300 in air. By mechanically coupling five Lame-mode resonators into a 2-D checkerboard, we have realized a 173 MHz center frequency band-pass filter with 110 kHz bandwidth and < 2 dB pass-band ripple.
LA LETRA Y EL CUERPO: LA IMAGEN VISUAL DE GABRIELA MISTRAL, 1905-1922

Gabriela Mistral, una mujer de un metro y ochenta centimetros de altura, rasgos indigenas, vestir franciscano, que no usaba joyas ni maquillaje, construye una imagen publica compleja y altamente funcional para su exito como sujeto intellectual panamericano. La imagen publica de los escritores e intelectuales latinoamericanos en las primeras decadas del siglo veinte se crea y se pone en circulacion por medio de mecanismos de difusion y recepcion que involucran nuevas tecnologias y medios, sobre los que una escritora como Gabriela Mistral posee diversos grados de control. El explosivo crecimiento de la prensa, en conjunto con la importancia progresiva de la fotografia, abrio nuevas formas de difusion, circulacion y representacion tanto para la obra como para la imagen de los escritores. La imagen publica de Mistral es un producto –inestable y en permanente re-significacion– que no esta determinada unicamente por representaciones visuales, sino que mediante la interaccion de textos literarios, testimonios, imagenes, discursos orales y practicas simbolicas, que dan forma al icono cultural que fue y es Gabriela Mistral.
Performing functional studies of Xenopus laevis intermediate filament proteins through injection of macromolecules into early embryos.

Publisher Summary The small size of Xenopus laevis embryos and their external development make it easy to study early developmental stages in their systems. This chapter discusses Xenopus laevis as a vertebrate model for studying intermediate filament (IF) involvement in development, and provides procedures for obtaining, dejellying, and injecting embryos. The injection of macromolecules into Xenopus embryos has proven to be an effective method of manipulating IFs to study their function during vertebrate development. Although, IFs are generally dispensable for vertebrate development to proceed, they nonetheless enhance many of its essential processes such as gastrulation, muscle organization, and axonal outgrowth. Although IFs may not be essential for the survival of individual cells, they are arguably indispensable for the survival of the species. It is now also relatively straightforward to create transgenic Xenopus embryos by fertilizing oocytes with sperm nuclei that have been incubated with transgenes. By using Xenopus appropriately with other model systems, it is yet to explore the way this complex family of genes, with its exquisitely regulated patterns of expression, contributes to the cell and to the organism. Thus, Xenopus is likely to remain an important model system for IF studies for some time to come.
The Ethical Limits of Taxation

Normative tax theory has concentrated on the distribution of tax shares to the neglect of the absolute level of taxation. The first Rawlsian principle of maximal equal liberty is introduced to derive limits on the absolute level of taxation. The critical requirement is that the freedom of persons, singly or in coalitions, to form new political associations be counted as a relevant liberty in the Rawlsian array. Simple examples illustrate the argument, and critical parameters are identified and discussed briefly.