cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
London: Plague and Fire

We have seen how early modern Londoners handled chronic, man-made urban problems: poverty, crime, riot, and political upheaval. Challenging as they were, none of these afflictions, not even the rebellions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, fundamentally threatened London's livelihood, the viability of its population, or its very existence. We must now examine London in extremis. Between the spring of 1665 and the autumn of 1666, two catastrophes befell the city: the Great Plague (although there is some debate whether it really was the greatest plague) and the Great Fire. In fact, neither was unprecedented, except in size. What was Londoners’ experience of these disasters? How did they cope? Perhaps more important, how did they recover? As we have seen, the 1660s were the decade of Restoration. Historians used to view the period as one of optimism and rational advance from the dark days of Civil War sectarian violence. It is true that these years saw an explosion of scientific progress, both symbolized and sustained by the foundation of the Royal Society, headquartered at Gresham College, in 1663. In addition, the English economy began a long-term recovery during this decade. National population growth began to slow down, and with it, the crippling inflation of the previous hundred years. The renewal of the Navigation Acts and the acquisition of New York in 1664 laid the groundwork for the Commercial Revolution that would make London the greatest port in Europe by the end of the century. Admittedly, only the most prescient could have anticipated the future benefits from these developments in the midst of a losing war, political tensions, and the natural disasters that characterized the middle of the decade, but a few scientists and statisticians, like John Graunt, Isaac Newton, and Sir William Petty, did try.
Commentary: Innovative Curriculum Materials: Development, Pilot-Testing, and Scaling-Up

This summary reviews the four chapters dealing with the development and implementation of innovative curriculum materials. These chapters provide a snapshot of diverse innovative curriculum materials to promote student teaching and learning in Science in Asia. Education for sustainable development (ESD) has been the central theme of two closely related curriculum reform movements in the history of Science education: Environmental education and Science-Technology-Society (STS) education. Innovative education resources, particularly digital ones, are becoming available at an unprecedented pace; one essential issue is integration of digital recourses into teachers’ current curriculum. Teacher professional development courses must consider the process of innovation adoption. In addition, the effect of integrating digital recourses must be evaluated. No matter how effective innovative curriculum materials may prove to be during its development and evaluation stages, scaling up innovative curriculum materials is a totally different and new challenge. In Asia, countries have a history of placing strong emphasis on disciplinary structures and cross-grade progression, while Western countries have a history of placing strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary nature of Science; there is much to be learned between the Asia countries and Western countries themselves.
Clarifying signal detection theoretic interpretations of the Müller-Lyer and sound-induced flash illusions.

In a recent article, Witt, Taylor, Sugovic, and Wixted (2015) made several claims about the way the Muller-Lyer and sound-induced flash illusions should influence the signal detection theory criterion and sensitivity measures, c and d'. Here, we address some crucial conceptual inconsistencies in their simulation of the Muller-Lyer illusion and clarify a previous analysis of the sound-induced flash illusion from the literature that is misinterpreted in their discussion. Alternative signal detection theoretic interpretations of both illusions are offered.
Hierarchical Event Descriptor (HED) tags for analysis of event-related EEG studies

Data from well-designed EEG experiments should find uses beyond initial reports, even when study authors cannot anticipate how it may contribute to future analyses. Several ontologies have been proposed for describing events in cognitive experiments to make data available for re-use and meta-analysis, but none are widely used. One reason for this is that the tools needed to make use of these ontologies are complex, placing a significant burden on experimenters while not providing any immediate reward for their efforts. Here we propose an extensible, user-friendly experiment event tagging method built on the BrainMap and CogPO ontologies and similar to the object tagging style used extensively on the Web. Hierarchical Event Descriptor (HED) tags, a hierarchy of standard and extended descriptors for EEG experimental events, provide a uniform human- and machine-readable interface facilitating use of an underlying event-description ontology during EEG data acquisition, analysis, and sharing. HED tags may be used to mark and annotate all known events in an experimental session. We describe an available real-time EEG experiment control and recording system that uses HED tags for annotation, transmission and storage of detailed information about events in EEG experiments.
Language identification of person names using CF-IOF based weighing function.

Information about the language of origin helps in generating pronunciation for foreign words, specially person names, in a text-to-speech synthesis system. It can be used to apply language specific letter-to-sound (LTS) rules to these words during synthesis. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for using substrings of a person name (called letter N-grams) to identify the language of its origin. We use a weight for the letter N-grams that is motivated by the techniques used in text document classification, different from the usual N-gram probabilities used in earlier approaches. We also propose a tree based approach to select the letter N-grams of different lengths for language identification. Several experiments have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach and compare it with those of the earlier proposed approaches based on N-gram probabilities. We show an improvement in classification results over the earlier approaches without using any language specific rules.
Video Review as a Tool to Improve Orthopedic Residents׳ Performance of Closed Manipulative Reductions

Objective Orthopedic residents commonly perform closed manipulative reductions as a part of their training. Traditionally, this skill is taught early in training but difficult to simulate. Proficiency is achieved through repetition and experience; faculty observation and instruction is unfortunately often limited. Direct resident teaching has been shown to increase competency, comfort, and long-term skill retention. We hypothesize that video review of closed fracture reductions will provide an inexpensive and valuable tool for resident education and improve skill performance. Design Closed reductions performed by orthopaedic residents were recorded using a secured mobile tablet device in the emergency department (ED). Video review sessions were performed with both peer and faculty feedback/analysis of reduction technique. Anonymous resident and faculty surveys were completed following each session to evaluate the usage and perceived benefit of the program. Setting University-based Level I Trauma Center. Participants Orthopedic surgery residents and faculty. Results All junior orthopedic residents (postgraduate year [PGY] 1-3) reported that direct video observation by faculty was beneficial. Furthermore, 97% of junior resident and 100% of faculty responses reported that they would use this educational technology in the future. Residents and faculty both strongly agreed that video review was more useful than other methods, improved resident preparation for ED fracture care, and felt this technique would improve patient care and outcomes. Compared with senior residents (PGY 4-5), PGY-1s believed that this technique helped them prepare for ED fracture care (p = 0.02). Conclusions Video review provides a useful, innovative, and inexpensive method to improve resident competency in closed fracture reduction—a critical skill in orthopedic patient care. These procedures are uncommonly available for direct faculty observation. We have demonstrated that both residents and faculty were satisfied with the ability to review procedures, identify weaknesses, and obtain or provide direct feedback on this skill. Additionally, fracture reduction video review may help residents meet and achieve clinical milestones, an area of future investigation.
EGFR signaling pathways are wired differently in normal 184A1L5 human mammary epithelial and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Because of differences in the downstream signaling patterns of its pathways, the role of the human epidermal growth factor family of receptors (HER) in promoting cell growth and survival is cell line and context dependent. Using two model cell lines, we have studied how the regulatory interaction network among the key proteins of HER signaling pathways may be rewired upon normal to cancerous transformation. We in particular investigated how the transcription factor STAT3 and several key kinases' involvement in cancer-related signaling processes differ between normal 184A1L5 human mammary epithelial (HME) and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer epithelial cells. Comparison of the responses in these cells showed that normal-to-cancerous cellular transformation causes a major re-wiring of the growth factor initiated signaling. In particular, we found that: i) regulatory interactions between Erk, p38, JNK and STAT3 are triangulated and tightly coupled in 184A1L5 HME cells, and ii) STAT3 is only weakly associated with the Erk-p38-JNK pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells. Utilizing the concept of pathway substitution, we predicted how the observed differences in the regulatory interactions may affect the proliferation/survival and motility responses of the 184A1L5 and MDA-MB-231 cells when exposed to various inhibitors. We then validated our predictions experimentally to complete the experiment-computation-experiment iteration loop. Validated differences in the regulatory interactions of the 184A1L5 and MDA-MB-231 cells indicated that instead of inhibiting STAT3, which has severe toxic side effects, simultaneous inhibition of JNK together with Erk or p38 could be a more effective strategy to impose cell death selectively to MDA-MB-231 cancer cells while considerably lowering the side effects to normal epithelial cells. Presented analysis establishes a framework with examples that would enable cell signaling researchers to identify the signaling network structures which can be used to predict the phenotypic responses in particular cell lines of interest.
How old is endometriosis? Late 17th- and 18th-century European descriptions of the disease.

UNLABELLED DESIGN OF THE PROJECT: This study is the result of a detailed examination of numerous historical documents as well as several contemporary works describing endometriosis. The historic texts are housed in the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland, and had not been unearthed previously. Those primary sources date from 1690 to 1797 and repeatedly describe the organic damage and constitutional symptoms currently identified with endometriosis. The biologic research for this study was done during 1997 and 1998 in the Pathology Department of the Canton-Potsdam Hospital located in Potsdam, New York. CONCLUSION(S) Endometriosis was described in European history approximately 300 years ago.
Controversies in Corticosteroid use for Sepsis

Abstract Background Severe sepsis and septic shock are potentially deadly conditions managed in the emergency department (ED). Management centers on source control, fluid resuscitation, broad-spectrum antimicrobials, and vasopressors as needed. The use of corticosteroids is controversial. Objective To evaluate the evidence behind corticosteroid therapy in patients with septic shock. Discussion Septic shock is associated with severe mortality and morbidity. Cytokine release produces a systemic inflammatory state. Vasopressor-resistant septic shock warrants consideration of the disease state and other pathologies such as adrenal insufficiency. Many studies and meta-analyses have been conducted evaluating corticosteroid therapy for this population. High-dose corticosteroid therapy is associated with increased harm, but physiologic-dose corticosteroids may decrease the need for vasopressors. Mortality benefit is controversial, with much of the literature demonstrating no effect. The risk of superinfection is not suggested by the majority of studies. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign advises consideration of corticosteroids in patients with vasopressor and fluid-resistant septic shock. Patients with vasopressor-resistant septic shock with no contraindications to corticosteroids may benefit from hydrocortisone 100 mg intravenously (i.v.) every 8 h or 50 mg i.v. every 6 h. Fludrocortisone is not recommended at this time. Conclusions Septic shock is associated with higher mortality, specifically for patients with vasopressor and fluid-refractory shock. The use of physiologic-dose steroids can reduce vasopressor requirements and improve time of shock resolution. Current literature suggests corticosteroids do not improve mortality, but further studies are required.
Flexible printed circuit meshed ground plane modeling methodology

Flexible Printed Circuits (FPC's) are widely used inside electronic devices because they are easy to customize, enable relatively dense interconnect routing, and are the most physically flexible. Physical flexibility can be further enhanced by using a meshed ground/reference plane. Unfortunately, meshed ground planes can induce significant signal integrity problems that can roadblock high-speed channel design if not properly modeled. This introduces unique modeling challenges that commercially available software are ill equipped to solve. This paper presents a new simulation methodology to model FPC meshed ground planes in high-performance compute systems using existing quasi-TEM solvers with excellent measurement correlation.
Calcium Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease: A Target for New Drug Development

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia among aged people whose population is rapidly increasing. AD not only seriously affects the patient’s physical health and quality of life, but also adds a heavy burden to the patient’s family and society. It is urgent to understand AD pathogenesis and develop the means of prevention and treatment. AD is a chronic devastating neurodegenerative disease without effective treatment. Current approaches for management focus on helping patients relieve or delay the symptoms of cognitive dysfunction. The calcium ion (Ca2+) is an important second messenger in the function and structure of nerve cell circuits in the brain such as neuronal growth, exocytosis, as well as in synaptic and cognitive function. Increasing numbers of studies suggested that disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, especially the abnormal and excessive Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the ryanodine receptor (RYR), plays important roles in orchestrating the dynamic of the neuropathology of AD and associated memory loss, cognitive dysfunction. Dantrolene, a known antagonist of the RYR and a clinically available drug to treat malignant hyperthermia, can ameliorate the abnormal Ca2+ release from the RYR in AD and the subsequent pathogenesis, such as increased β-secretase and γ-secretase activities, production of Amyloid-β 42 (Aβ 42) and its oligomer, impaired autophagy, synapse dysfunction, and memory loss. However, more studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety repurposing dantrolene as a therapeutic drug in AD.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound is Associated With Decreased Length of Stay in Children Presenting to the Emergency Department With Soft Tissue Infection.

Abstract Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly being used to differentiate cellulitis from abscess in the pediatric emergency department (ED). POCUS has also been shown to decrease length of stay (LOS) for other applications among adult patients. Objective We sought to determine if ED LOS differed for children presenting with skin and soft tissue infections who received POCUS versus radiology-performed ultrasound. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of children presenting to an urban pediatric ED between January 2011 and June 2013 with a diagnosis of cellulitis or abscess who underwent soft tissue ultrasound. Patients who received a surgical consult, had significant medical comorbidities, or had a lesion located on the face, hands, feet, or groin were excluded. We compared ED LOS among children who received radiology-performed ultrasound to children who received POCUS, adjusting for relevant clinical variables. Results Among 3094 children with a diagnosis of cellulitis or abscess, we identified 202 who underwent a POCUS and 118 who underwent radiology-performed ultrasound. The POCUS group had a shorter median LOS than the radiology-performed ultrasound group (adjusted median difference –73 min; 95% confidence interval –93.6 to –52.4 min). In the subset of patients discharged from the ED, this difference was more pronounced (adjusted median difference –89 min; 95% confidence interval –109.9 to –68.1 min). Conclusion Among children presenting to a pediatric ED with superficial skin and soft tissue infections, children receiving POCUS experienced shorter LOS compared to children receiving radiology-performed ultrasound.
Patient-Reported Outcomes and Opioid Use by Outpatient Cancer Patients

Abstract The Memorial Sloan Kettering Pain Registry contains patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes for a prospective cohort of 1,534 chronic pain cancer patients who were seen at outpatient pain service clinics. Average pain intensity (Brief Pain Inventory) was reported as mild by 24.6% of patients, moderate by 41.5%, and severe by 33.9%. The patient's report of average percent pain relief and health state (EuroQOL 5 dimensions) was inversely related to average pain intensity category, whereas measures of pain interference, number of worst pain locations, and physical and psychological distress were directly related to pain intensity category. Eighty-six percent of patients received an opioid at 1 or more clinic encounters. Regression analysis revealed that male sex or being younger (65 years of age or younger) was associated with a greater likelihood of an opioid ordered. Male sex nearly doubled the likelihood of a higher dose being ordered than female sex. Bivariate analysis found that patients receiving opioids reported significantly more pain relief than no-opioid patients. However, patients receiving opioids had higher pain interference scores, lower index of health state, and more physical distress than no-opioid patients Our results identify the need to consider opioid use and dosage when attempting to understand patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and factors affecting pain management. Perspective This report describes the results of the analyses of PROs and patient-related electronic health record data collected under standard of care from cancer patients at outpatient pain management clinics of Anesthesiology and Palliative Care at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Consideration of sex and age as predictors of opioid use is critical in attempting to understand PROs and their relationship to pain management.
Development and psychometric evaluation of a rapid intimate partner violence perpetration screening tool

Current methods of identifying intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration rely upon lengthy screening instruments, partner injury, and legal involvement. There exist no viable, brief screening tools to facilitate the rapid and early identification of IPV perpetration. The development of a brief IPV screening tool would reduce participant burden and compensation in research as well as aid in self-identification and appropriate consultation for treatment. Three samples were recruited and administered an IPV assessment measure. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to determine a critical subset of items that could be rapidly administered and used to accurately detect physical IPV perpetrators. A set of four items emerged that were capable of differentiating between partner violent and nonviolent participants in Samples 1 (the Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) = .95, SE = .02), 2 (AUC = .98, SE =.01), and 3 (AUC = .94, SE = .04). Internal consistency of the screening items was acceptable across samples and the scores on the screening tool were significantly associated in the expected direction with all assessed risk factors for IPV. Initial evaluation of the rapid IPV perpetration screening tool suggests that it may help satisfy the growing need to quickly determine research eligibility and to help college students self-identify risk, offering objective data upon which to base the decision for follow-up consultation.
“Those Magic Initials, G.B.S.”: Copywriting for the Irish Clipper

The author explores Shaw’s foray into tourism via his participation in a 1948 campaign for Pan-American air service to Ireland. In order to continue to repair the public image of the celebrity testimonial against charges of insincerity and fraud, the campaign decided to foreground Shaw’s role in the copywriting process, nearly obscuring the actual product. Revising descriptions of Ireland and inducements to travel there, the playwright struggles against the imperialist undertones inherent in advertising discourse trying to appeal to American tourists. Nonetheless, the author argues, his “near testimonial” once more illustrates the symbiotic relationship between Shaw and modern advertising.
Social network body size is associated with body size norms of South Asian adults

Abstract Aims To examine the association between social network body size and body size norms in South Asian adults. Methods Participants (n = 766) from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study (2014–2018) provided detailed information about their five closest network members. Participants' perceptions of their network members' body sizes, their own body size (self-body size), and a healthy body size for men and women (body size norms) were assessed using the Stunkard 9-figure scale. Adjusted hierarchical linear regression models were used to examine associations between the average body size of network members and perceived body size norms. Results Participants' average age was 59.1 years (SD = 9.2) and 44.1% were women. Participants reported an average network body size of 4.0 (SD = 1.1). The average body size norm for male and female Stunkard images was 3.6 (SD = 1.0) and 3.4 (SD = 0.8), respectively. Social network body size was positively associated with increasing body size norms (β-coefficient = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.36), independent of self-body size. Discussion Social networks may influence body size norms in South Asian adults. Long-term follow up of the MASALA cohort will determine if social network body size and body size norms are associated with weight-control behaviors and weight change.
IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS BY RAPID MICROROSETTE TECHNIQUE

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the results of identification of human lymphocyte subpopulations by rapid microrosette technique. A close relation exists between morphologically defined membrane surface receptors and immune function of human lymphocyte subpopulations. Human thymic-dependent lymphocytes nonspecifically bind sheep RBC to form E rosettes. Fc-receptor-bearing lymphocytes by binding the Fc piece of IgG form EA rosettes with IgG sensitized ox RBC, while complement receptor-bearing bone marrow derived lymphocytes form EAC rosettes by binding complement-IgM sensitized RBC. Based on these rosetting properties, a rapid microrosette technique to identify subpopulations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes has been developed. The ability to mark 90–95% of lymphocytes and the rapidity with which subpopulations can be readily differentiated makes the microrosette technique ideal for routine surface marker studies. Because of the very small volume of blood (< 1 ml) required, this technique can be effectively utilized in the serial follow-up of patients with immune deficiency disorders or in organ transplant recipients where blood loss secondary to laboratory investigations needs to be minimized.
Neurohumoral regulation of coronary collateral vasomotor tone.

As a result of gradual coronary occlusion, coronary collaterals are stimulated to develop. This maturation process involves not only dilatation of the vessel, but the development of new vascular smooth muscle. Experiments have been performed to examine vasomotor characteristics of mature coronary collaterals from dogs 3 to 6 months following ameroid constrictor placement. Studies in Langendorff blood-perfused hearts have shown that transcollateral resistance does not change during either the administration of α1-or α2-adrenergic agonists. Isolated collateral vessels studied as rings in organ chambers do not constrict to either α1- or α2-adrenergic agonists. These studies show that mature collateral vessels are not likely to possess functioning α-adrenergic receptors. Subsequent experiments using a cover slip autoradiographic ligand-binding approach have demonstrated a population of β-adrenergic receptors on mature coronary collaterals. Studies of isolated collaterals have demonstrated β-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation that appears due to a population of mixed β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors.
Apical Charge Flux-Modulated In-Plane Transport Properties of Cuprate Superconductors.

For copper-based superconductors, the maximum superconducting transition temperature ${T}_{c,\mathrm{max}}$ of different families measured from experiment can vary from 38 K in ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ to 135 K in ${\mathrm{HgBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ at the optimal hole doping concentration. We demonstrate herein, using ab initio computations, a new trend suggesting that the cuprates with stronger out-of-${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$-plane chemical bonding between the apical anion (O, Cl) and apical cation (e.g., La, Hg, Bi, Tl) are generally correlated with higher ${T}_{c,\mathrm{max}}$ in experiments. We then show the underlying fundamental phenomena of coupled apical charge flux and lattice dynamics when the apical oxygen oscillates vertically. This triggers the charge flux among the apical cation, apical anion, and the in-plane ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ unit. The effect not only dynamically modulates the site energy of the hole at a given Cu site to control the in-plane charge transfer energy, but also can modulate the in-plane hole hopping integral simultaneously in a dynamic way by the cooperative apical charge fluxes.
Utilising social media to improve relationship quality: the case of the university library

As the centre of academic life at a university, the university library plays an important role in how students perceive their relationship with the university. This study analyses the effect that participation in library social media has on student perception of relationship quality with the university. The hypotheses proposed in this study were found to be substantiated: following the library on social media is positively related to a student's perception of their relationship quality with the university; students interested in multiple library services are likely to report the perception of a higher quality relationship with the university.
Which Way Is Better? Comparison of Two Interactive Modeling Approaches for Teaching Meiosis in an Introductory Undergraduate Biology Course

The processes of mitosis and meiosis are oft-cited and long-standing examples of concepts that are difficult for students to learn and understand. While there are many examples in the literature of “how-to-do-it,” innovative instructional approaches for teaching mitosis and meiosis, publications that include measurement of learning gains are fewer. Moreover, when measurement of learning gains are reported, the outcomes of innovative approaches are most often compared to outcomes from traditional lecture-format instruction. In contrast, this research compares two active-learning approaches to teaching meiosis through modeling in an introductory undergraduate biology course for health sciences majors. Items from the published, validated Meiosis Concept Inventory were used for pre- and post-instruction assessment. In addition, we collected data regarding student perceptions of the learning experience in each modeling scenario through two Likert-scale items and two free-response items. Overall, students demonstrated significant learning gains from pre- to post-assessment. We found no significant differences in performance on the posttest between the two modeling approaches, indicating that the selection of the modeling activity used to support student learning can be made on the basis of other criteria, such as instructor preference, physical classroom layout, or available supplies.
Abstract 218: Cardiac Side Population Cells Give Rise to Cardiomyocytes in the Adult Heart

Therapies that enhance cardiac regeneration have the potential to improve heart failure outcomes. One strategy to enhance cardiac regeneration is by activating endogenous cardiac progenitor cells. ...
The Fishtown Hipster

This chapter starts by briefly discussing the relevant literature on “hipsters,” and proceeds to point out that Fishtown/Kensington’s bohemian community has helped generate and maintains overlapping membership with a community of hipsters. For the most part, this hipster community has been confined to Fishtown. This chapter focuses on the ways in which Fishtown artists and other local hipsters make a relatively conscientious effort to engage in hip consumption and DIY activities designed to avoid mass production, support local establishments, promote creative personal expression, and protect the environment. In addition, this chapter discusses the nature, characteristics, and activities of a local Christian Church that is constituted by individual members and institutional practices that are integrated with the area’s hipster community. These practices go beyond the stereotypical hipster emphasis on trendy consumption, and encompass the realms of religion, charity, community engagement, art, and political activism.
Factors influencing nurse practitioners' decisions to join nurse practitioner associations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The benefits of professional association membership to individual health care providers are well established. However, not all nurse practitioners (NPs) are members of professional associations. Research is available on factors that influence registered nurses' decisions to join professional associations, but little is known regarding factors influencing the decisions of NPs. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting NPs' decisions to join NP associations. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of NPs (N = 537) was conducted electronically in accordance with the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys guidelines. The Professional Association Membership Questionnaire was used to develop the survey. Three hundred twenty-eight respondents (61.1%) had a current membership in a professional association and 209 (38.9%) were nonmembers. Although both members and nonmembers expressed a desire for professional programs, improvement in the profession, and personal development, current members scored significantly higher in each of these factors (p < .001 to p = .015). CONCLUSION The results suggest that factors influencing NPs' decisions to join professional associations include the desire for professional programs, improvement of the profession, and personal development. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Professional associations seeking to improve health outcomes by creating more competent, safe NPs and keeping the public's trust should consider focusing on efforts that foster education, professional networking and new ideas, and self-improvement.
Myeloid Cell-Targeted Nanocarriers Efficiently Inhibit Cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Summary Immune-checkpoint blockers can promote sustained clinical responses in a subset of cancer patients. Recent research has shown that a subpopulation of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells functions as gatekeepers, sensitizing tumors to anti-PD-1 treatment via production of interleukin-12 (IL-12). Hypothesizing that myeloid cell-targeted nanomaterials could be used to deliver small-molecule IL-12 inducers, we performed high-content image-based screening to identify the most efficacious small-molecule compounds. Using one lead candidate, LCL161, we created a myeloid-targeted nanoformulation that induced IL-12 production in intratumoral myeloid cells in vivo, slowed tumor growth as a monotherapy, and had no significant systemic toxicity. These results pave the way for developing combination immunotherapeutics by harnessing IL-12 production for immunostimulation.
An Approach to Prognostic Decision Making in the Aerospace Domain

Abstract : The field of Prognostic Health Management (PHM) has been undergoing rapid growth in recent years, with development of increasingly sophisticated techniques for diagnosing faults in system components and estimating fault progression trajectories. Research efforts on how to utilize prognostic health information (e.g. for extending the remaining useful life of the system, increasing safety, or maximizing operational effectiveness) are mostly in their early stages, however. The process of using prognostic information to determine a system s actions or its configuration is beginning to be referred to as Prognostic Decision Making (PDM). In this paper we propose a formulation of the PDM problem with the attributes of the aerospace domain in mind, outline some of the key requirements for PDM methods, and explore techniques that can be used as a foundation of PDM development. The problem of satisfying the performance goals set for specific objective functions is discussed next, followed by ideas for possible solutions. The ideas, termed Dynamic Constraint Redesign (DCR), have roots in the fields of Multidisciplinary Design Optimization and Game Theory. Prototype PDM and DCR algorithms are also described and results of their testing are presented.
GenAtSeq GAN with Heuristic Reforms for Knowledge Centric Network with Browsing Characteristics Learning, Individual Tracking and Malware Detection with Website2Vec

Identification of individuals through the use of electronic footprints can be a security vulnerability and also a blessing in disguise. In this work, we have introduced how we can scale up and enhance representations using the generalized form of GAN architecture, capable of learning from generative features and differences in generalized representation. We applied the architecture for accurate person identification and person tracking using a series of browsing footprint patterns and, at the same time, can easily be extended for detection of anomaly, malware, and other browser-based phishing software activity detection. Our proposed GAN network is characterized for the detection of individuals through dissimilarity between real and generated samples and quantification of detected difference, both of which enhanced learning content. Our contributions are in the architectural definition of Generalized Attentive Sequential Generative Adversarial Network (GenAtSeq-GAN), identification of log characteristics for discrimination, and the procedure for scaling up the detection system. We achieved the effectiveness of 80.7% for GenAtSeq, 46 units higher than the older sequential GAN versions.
News Frames and Story Triggers in the Media’s Coverage of Human Trafficking

Since 2000, there has been a flurry of policy activity to address the problem of human trafficking. A wide consensus has formed in most of the international community on the nature of the problem. However, there is considerable disagreement among scholars and activists over definitions and how best to address the problem. A content analysis of relevant articles in The New York Times and Washington Post between 1980 and 2006 reveals that media coverage has relied mostly on official sources and is framed in a way that has mirrored the dominant view of trafficking. This has helped legitimize the consensus among policymakers while marginalizing alternative views that also might be critical of official policy. This analysis also shows that articles initiated by investigative journalists are more likely to break away from the official frame and report alternative views than articles generated from traditional news beats.
Utility of cerebral embolic protection in non-TAVR Transcatheter procedures

Abstract Background Cerebrovascular events that occur during structural and interventional procedures are a well known risk which is associated with increased mortality. The FDA has approved the use of the Sentinel device in TAVR . Hereby we report on our experience on the safety and efficacy of using Sentinel in a patient population undergoing non-TAVR transcatheter procedures. Methods Retrospective analysis of a single center experience with using the Sentinel device for non-TAVR transcatheter procedures. Results We identified 33 patients (average age was 73.8 years, 36.7% females, and 30% with history of a prior stroke) felt to be at high risk for cerebroembolic events that underwent Sentinel device placement. Sentinel placement was successful in all patients. Examples of high risk features included high atheroma burden in the aortic arch, left sided valve vegetations, intra-cardiac thrombi and severe left sided valve calcifications/thrombi. No patients developed periprocedural stroke or vascular complications. Conclusion Overall, the use of Sentinel for non-TAVR indications appears feasible and safe. The use of cerebral protection devices should be studied further in non-TAVR patients to establish its role and its benefits, especially with expanding the number of non-TAVR transcatheter interventions.
Redox Control of Integrin-Mediated Hepatic Inflammation in Systemic Autoimmunity

Significance: Systemic autoimmunity affects 3%–5% of the population worldwide. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypical form of such condition, which affects 20–150 of 100,000 people gl...
From Dickens to Dracula: Gothic, Economics, and Victorian Fiction

Ranging from the panoramic novels of Dickens to the horror of Dracula, Gail Turley Houston examines the ways in which the language and imagery of economics, commerce and banking are transformed in Victorian Gothic fiction, and traces literary and uncanny elements in economic writings of the period. Houston shows how banking crises were often linked with ghosts or inexplicable non-human forces and financial panic was figured through Gothic or supernatural means. In Little Dorrit and Villette characters are literally haunted by money, while the unnameable intimations of Dracula and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are represented alongside realist economic concerns. Houston pays particular attention to the term 'panic' as it moved between its double uses as a banking term and a defining emotion in sensational and Gothic fiction. This stimulating interdisciplinary book reveals that the worlds of Victorian economics and Gothic fiction, seemingly separate, actually complemented and enriched each other.
Conducting Feasibilities in Clinical Trials: An Investment to Ensure a Good Study

Conducting clinical trial feasibility is one of the first steps in clinical trial conduct. This process includes assessing internal and environmental capacity, alignment of the clinical trial in terms of study design, dose of investigational product, comparator, patient type, with the local environment and assessing potential of conducting clinical trial in a specific country. A robust feasibility also ensures a realistic assessment and capability to conduct the clinical trial. For local affiliates of pharmaceutical organizations, and contract research organizations, this is a precursor to study placement and influences the decision of study placement. This article provides details on different types of feasibilities, information which is to be included and relevance of each. The article also aims to provide practical hands-on suggestions to make feasibilities more realistic and informative.
Integratively balancing structured and unstructured thinking: A prescription for success in both doing and teaching management

This paper explores the answers to two questions, “Can management educators and scholars become effective managers?”; and “Can managers become effective management educators and scholars?”. “The qualified answers, as in other management areas, are that it all depends on the person and the situation”. This paper first describes how successful managers/leaders continually strive to balance structured and unstructured approaches and thinking, as well as how the failure to balance them has led especially recently to many burst financial bubbles, such as the one in the dot.com area. Second, the paper describes how educators can help students learn this basic management skill and in the process, when supplemented by ample workplace experience, acquire that management skills which would enable educators to function as competent business managers. Third, the paper describes how managers can nurture and acquire educator skills through building on their successful work experiences in balancing structured and unstructured approaches and thinking.
The Experimental Verdict on Spacetime from Gravity Probe B

Concepts of space and time have been closely connected with matter since the time of the ancient Greeks. The history of these ideas is briefly reviewed, focusing on the debate between "absolute" and "relational" views of space and time and their influence on Einstein's theory of general relativity, as formulated in the language of four-dimensional spacetime by Minkowski in 1908. After a brief detour through Minkowski's modern-day legacy in higher dimensions, an overview is given of the current experimental status of general relativity. Gravity Probe B is the first test of this theory to focus on spin, and the first to produce direct and unambiguous detections of the geodetic effect (warped spacetime tugs on a spin- ning gyroscope) and the frame-dragging effect (the spinning earth pulls spacetime around with it). These effects have important implications for astrophysics, cosmol- ogy and the origin of inertia. Philosophically, they might also be viewed as tests of the propositions that spacetime acts on matter (geodetic effect) and that matter acts back on spacetime (frame-dragging effect).
A Broken Windows Theory of International Corruption

The Article re-conceptualizes corruption through the lens of the broken windows theory of community policing, focusing on the root consequences of corruption as well as its secondary effects. Part II of the Article posits that corruption is a broken window that signals the breakdown of community controls necessary for the maintenance of social order. A government that abuses its power for private gain is a government that cannot be trusted to pursue the general welfare. Empirical evidence finds ample support for this claim, confirming that corruption negatively alters the public’s perception of government and society.Part III of the Article illuminates how corruption is associated with other matters of grave public concern, such that the struggle against corruption is the struggle to promote a variety of public benefits. Corruption is inextricably linked to many other public concerns. Empirical evidence finds a positive relationship between a country’s corruption ranking and its ranking on other major indices measuring public welfare. Communities that are perceived to take corruption seriously score well on their commitment to other social goods, such as global competitiveness and productivity, increased standards of living, enhanced children’s health, protection of civil liberties, and the safeguarding of political freedom. These corruption correlations provide an evocative snapshot of the connection between corruption and social order. Part IV of the Article analyzes the legal efforts to combat corruption, with particular focus on the utility of cooperative efforts to regulate and prosecute corruption. Empirical studies show that coordination strategies between OECD enforcement authorities alter the behavior of corporations, foreign officials requesting bribes, and government officials prosecuting the payment of bribes.Part V of the Article discusses how these findings have important implications when considered from the perspective of a “broken windows” theory of international corruption. How would a broken windows theory of corruption alter the legal landscape of anti-bribery laws? I offer three suggestions. First, a broken windows approach would redefine and reframe corruption as distrust and disorder. Conceptualizing corruption as a matter of public trust heightens its importance. Public trust is essential to the rule of law. Second, a broken windows approach would augment the battle against corruption with a greater emphasis on petty bribery. Thus far the legal enforcement strategies have focused on high-profile, large-scale corruption. A broken windows strategy would not ignore those cases, but would also focus on low-profile, petty corruption that alters quality of life and undermines public trust. Third, a broken windows theory would place greater emphasis on a partnership between the public and private sectors to combat corruption. This approach would mean that corruption should be considered in the local context, with a focus on its destabilizing effects in specific countries and communities.
Why patients should arrive late: The impact of arrival time on patient satisfaction in an academic clinic.

Abstract Introduction When considering quality improvement of healthcare practices, patient flow, wait time, and satisfaction are important factors to monitor. Patient wait time can affect satisfaction with the care received, and it can be dependent on many different factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of patients' arrival times to his/her appointment (early vs. on time vs. late) on patients' wait times and satisfaction. Methods 171 patients in an otolaryngology outpatient clinic completed surveys that asked them to record wait times in various areas of the clinic and to provide a satisfaction level for these wait times. Statistical analysis tested for any significant differences in wait time and satisfaction for patients that arrived early, on time, or late. Results Late, on time, and early arriving patients spent 18.2, 30.7, and 38.8 min in the waiting room, respectively. Late, on time, and early arriving patients had a total visit length of 57.4, 68.6, and 81.9 min, respectively. There was a significant difference with total time spent in the clinic ( p =0.0034) and for overall satisfaction with the total length of the visit ( p =0.0202) between late and early arriving patients. Conclusions This study indicates patients arriving late had shorter wait times and, not surprisingly, were more satisfied with the visit. The study provides evidence that patients view their wait as starting when they arrive to the clinic and not the actual time of the appointment. It questions the traditional scheduling systems that many clinics still use and proposes that there may be “out-of-the-box” approaches that positively impact patient satisfaction.