cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urethral Reconstruction in Patients with Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

Prolonged urethral catheterization can lead to significant urethral defects, including strictures, diverticula, erosions, and fistulas. Although it is a potentially challenging procedure, urethral reconstruction can allow patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction to continue clean intermittent catheterization, improve or maintain their cosmetic appearance, and improve sexual function. There is a paucity of literature focusing specifically on urethral reconstruction in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction, with most studies involving small, heterogeneous populations. This article reviews published outcomes of urethral reconstruction and comments on the technical aspects of repair in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
Herakles Crowning Himself: New Greek Statuary Types and Their Place in Hellenistic and Roman Art

In the course of examining Roman imperial medallions and coins in connexion with a study of Roman cult images, representations of Herakles Crowning Himself, a figure which appears on the reverses of medallions of Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus (Plate I, 2), and Commodus (Plate I, 3), merit further comment. These reverses, whether with or without legend, exhibit identical compositions. In the centre a young, beardless Herakles stands facing, his right hand raised in the act of placing a crown on his head; his left hand, close to his left hip, holds the club upwards in the crook of the elbow. Between club and elbow, the lion's skin hangs down over the forearm to a point midway along the left leg. The head, both forepaws, and tail are clearly visible dangling below. On all the medallions the die designer has made very clear the, important point that Herakles rests his weight on the left foot, with left hip thrown out and the right foot slightly back and out, giving a pronounced bow curve to the right side of the body from foot to shoulder. To Herakles' right and slightly behind him appears an apple tree on one branch of which hang the hero's quiver and bow; to his left rear is seen a square altar, festooned with garlands and with an offering burning on the top, and in her comprehensive monograph on Roman medallions J. M. C. Toynbee suggests that ‘the picture as a whole had been inspired by some bas-relief or painting now lost to us’. The question of relating the central figure to the whole composition will be taken up in Part II, in reappraising the general problem of famous statue types in medallion compositions. For the moment we may see what further progress may be made in identifying the statue type of the young Herakles Crowning Himself.
Vesicular glutamate transporters in the spinal cord, with special reference to sensory primary afferent synapses

Spinal cord sensory synapses are glutamatergic, but previous studies have found a great diversity in synaptic vesicle structure and have suggested additional neurotransmitters. The identification of several vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) similarly revealed an unexpected molecular diversity among glutamate-containing terminals. Therefore, we quantitatively investigated VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 content in the central synapses of spinal sensory afferents by using confocal and electron microscopy immunocytochemistry. VGLUT1 localization (most abundant in LIII/LIV and medial LV) is consistent with an origin from cutaneous and muscle mechanoreceptors. Accordingly, most VGLUT1 immunoreactivity disappeared after rhizotomy and colocalized with markers of cutaneous (SSEA4) and muscle (parvalbumin) mechanoreceptors. With postembedding colloidal gold, intense VGLUT1 immunoreactivity was found in 88–95% (depending on the antibody used) of CII dorsal horn glomerular terminals and in large ventral horn synapses receiving axoaxonic contacts. VGLUT1 partially colocalized with CGRP in some large dense-core vesicles (LDCVs). However, immunostaining in neuropeptidergic afferents was inconsistent between VGLUT1 antibodies and rather weak with light microscopy. VGLUT2 immunoreactivity was widespread in all spinal cord laminae, with higher intensities in LII and lateral LV, complementing VGLUT1 distribution. VGLUT2 immunoreactivity did not change after rhizotomy, suggesting a preferential intrinsic origin. However, weak VGLUT2 immunoreactivity was detectable in primary sensory nociceptors expressing lectin (GSA-IB4) binding and in 83–90% of CI glomerular terminals in LII. Additional weak VGLUT2 immunoreactivity was found over the small clear vesicles of LDCV-containing afferents and in 50–60% of CII terminals in LIII. These results indicate a diversity of VGLUT isoform combinations expressed in different spinal primary afferents. J. Comp. Neurol. 472:257–280, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Note-Rolling Back Decision Trees Requires the Independence Axiom!

The Herstein-Milnor independence axiom is a necessary condition for recursion analysis of decisions in extensive =tree form.
Assessing Potential Nanoparticle Release During Nanocomposite Shredding Using Direct-Reading Instruments

This study was conducted to determine if engineered nanoparticles are released into the air when nanocomposite parts are shredded for recycling. Test plaques made from polypropylene resin reinforced with either montmorillonite nanoclay or talc and from the same resin with no reinforcing material were shredded by a granulator inside a test apparatus. As the plaques were shredded, an ultrafine condensation particle counter; a diffusion charger; a photometer; an electrical mobility analyzer; and an optical particle counter measured number, lung-deposited surface area, and mass concentrations and size distributions by number in real-time. Overall, the particle levels produced were both stable and lower than found in some occupational environments. Although the lowest particle concentrations were observed when the talc-filled plaques were shredded, fewer nanoparticles were generated from the nanocomposite plaques than when the plain resin plaques were shredded. For example, the average particle number concentrations measured using the ultrafine condensation particle counter were 1300 particles/cm(3) for the talc-reinforced resin, 4280 particles/cm(3) for the nanoclay-reinforced resin, and 12,600 particles/cm(3) for the plain resin. Similarly, the average alveolar-deposited particle surface area concentrations measured using the diffusion charger were 4.0 μm(2)/cm(3) for the talc-reinforced resin, 8.5 μm(2)/cm(3) for the nanoclay-reinforced resin, and 26 μm(2)/cm(3) for the plain resin. For all three materials, count median diameters were near 10 nm during tests, which is smaller than should be found from the reinforcing materials. These findings suggest that recycling of nanoclay-reinforced plastics does not have a strong potential to generate more airborne nanoparticles than recycling of conventional plastics.
Recapitulation of the pathway for trophoblast giant cell differentiation in vitro: stage-specific expression of members of the prolactin gene family.

The trophoblast giant cell lineage is characterized by endoreduplication and expression of members of the PRL gene family. This report describes the functional consequences following in vitro manipulation of a rat trophoblast cell line, termed Rcho-1. Rcho-1 cells can be cultured under conditions that promote proliferation or differentiation. Proliferation is maintained by culturing the cells in the presence of fetal bovine serum under subconfluent conditions. Differentiation is induced by growing the cells to confluence and removing the mitogenic source. Differentiation is characterized by continued synthesis of DNA in the absence of proliferation (endoreduplication) and the sequential expression of members of the PRL gene family. Western and Northern blot analyses demonstrated that placental lactogen-I (PL-I) was first expressed, followed sequentially by PL-II, PRL-like protein-A, and PRL-like protein-C. The ontogeny of expression of members of the PRL gene family by the Rcho-1 cells recapitulated the pattern of in situ expression by trophoblast giant cells of the junctional zone of the chorioallantoic placenta. A notable difference between in viuo trophoblast giant cell differentiation and in vitro Rcho-1 cell differentiation is the termination of PL-I expression in normal trophoblast giant cells developing in vivo and the continued expression of PL-I in differentiated Rcho-1 cell cultures. The &ho-l cell line provides a unique in vitro model for investigating the initiation and maintenance of the trophoblast giant cell differentiation pathway. (Endocrinology
Hierarchical detection of multiple organs using boosted features

We propose a framework for fast and automated initialization of segmentation algorithms in Computed Tomography images. Based on the idea that time-consuming voxel classification should be done only on spatially constrained areas, we build classifiers at body and slice levels which quickly define a constrained region of interest. Voxel classification is then performed by a divide-and-conquer strategy using a probabilistic-boosting tree. In addition, this framework can incorporate additional information on the volume, if available, such as the position of another organ to improve its accuracy and robustness. The framework is applied to seed extraction in kidneys and liver.
Going with the Flow: Parameterized Verification Using Message Flows

A message flow is a sequence of messages sent among processors during the execution of a protocol, usually illustrated with something like a message sequence chart. Protocol designers use message flows to describe and reason about their protocols. We show how to derive high-quality invariants from message flows and use these invariants to accelerate a state-of-the-art method for parameterized protocol verification called the CMP method. The CMP method works by iteratively strengthening and abstracting a protocol. The labor-intensive portion of the method is finding the protocol invariants needed for each iteration. We provide a new analysis of the CMP method proving it works with any sound abstraction procedure. This facilitates the use of a new abstraction procedure tailored to our protocol invariants in the CMP method. Our experience is that message-flow derived invariants get to the heart of protocol correctness in the sense that only couple of additional invariants are needed for the CMP method to converge.
Evaluating radiographic parameters for mobile chest computed radiography: Phantoms, image quality and effective dose

Conventional chest radiography is technically difficult because of wide variations in tissue attenuations in the chest and limitations of screen-film systems. Mobile chest radiography, performed bedside on hospital inpatients, presents additional difficulties due to geometric and equipment limitations inherent in mobile x-ray procedures and the severity of illness in the patients. Computed radiography (CR) offers a different approach for mobile chest radiography by utilizing a photostimulable phosphor. Photostimulable phosphors overcome some image quality limitations of mobile chest imaging, particularly because of the inherent latitude. Because they are more efficient in absorbing lower-energy x-rays than rare-earth intensifying screens, this study evaluated changes in kVp for improving mobile chest CR. Three commercially available systems were tested, with the goal of implementing the findings clinically. Exposure conditions (kVp and grid use) were assessed with two acrylic-and-aluminum chest phantoms which simulated x-ray attenuation for average-sized and large-sized adult chests. These phantoms contained regions representing the lungs, heart and subdiaphragm to allow proper CR processing. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurements using different techniques were obtained for acrylic and aluminum disks (1.9 cm diameter) superimposed in the lung and heart regions of the phantoms, where the disk thicknesses (contrast) were determined from disk visibility. Effective doses to the phantoms were also measured for these techniques. The results indicated that using an 8:1, 33 lines/cm antiscatter grid improved the SNR by 60-300 % compared with nongrid images, depending on phantom and region; however, the dose to the phantom also increased by 400-600%. Lowering x-ray tube potential from 80 to 60 kVp improved the SNR by 30-40%, with a corresponding increase in phantom dose of 40-50%. Increasing the potential from 80 to 100 kVp reduced both the SNR and the phantom dose by approximately 10%. The most promising changes in technique for trial in clinical implementation include using an antiscatter grid, especially for large patients, and potentially increasing kVp.
Social Networking And Pedagogical Variations: An Integrated Approach For Effective Interpersonal And Group Communications Skills Development

Electronic communication and social networking are effective and useful tools in the process of teaching and learning and have increasingly improved the quality of students’ learning outcomes in higher education in recent years. The system encourages and supports students’ active engagement, collaboration, and participation in class activities and provides a process of information dissemination in a unique method that yields measurable results. Faculty members are capable of monitoring and evaluating collaborative and independent efforts and activities of students and can provide immediate and timely feedback to students. While there are some issues and concerns regarding social networking and students’ learning, numerous studies indicate that performance assessment and learning outcomes are adequately and objectively measured and managed as a result of social networking mechanism. Additionally, electronic media enhance collaborative learning activities and experiences. Effective and selective use of electronic and social networking tools in learning environments by innovative-minded and interactive faculty can sustain the quality of instructions and skills-development in communications disciplines.
Debt Refunding: The State and Local Government Sector

Most corporate debt refunding is motivated by interest savings, but similar studies for the state-local sector have found little correlation between cyclical interest rates and refunding. Interest savings is only one reason for refunding and there are possible institutional constraints on state and local call-refunding activities. When annual refunding is deflated by outstandings, the state-local demand to refund is highly sensitive to cyclical interest rates (elasticity coefficient of âˆ’2.82 for 1901â€“1975). This characteristic is also typical for general obligation and nonguaranteed bonds considered separately, and for both â€œlargeâ€ and â€œaverageâ€ size issues. Interest savings appears to be an important motivation for state-local refunding activity. Finally, state and local governments issue refunding debt in approximately the same relative proportions as private corporations.
Do explicit number names accelerate pre-kindergarteners’ numeracy and place value acquisition?

The purpose of this longitudinal study is to investigate whether an early childhood intervention using an explicit and transparent number naming system will have a lasting benefit to English and Spanish speaking children in their mathematics achievement related to number sense by accelerating their acquisition of concepts of numeracy and place value recognition. Statistical analysis of the results of the Stanford Achievement Test administered to school children in grades 1 through 5 at a school in Texas (USA) over a 6-year period of time showed consistent differences between those children who had participated in the intervention program by learning to count using explicit numbers names in Pre-Kindergarten and those who had not participated in the program. The advantages of this study were most apparent in children in the fourth grade, 6 years after their Pre-Kindergarten experience with explicit number names, particularly with those who had 2 years of experience with explicit number names.
Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy

This chapter describes how engineering principles can be used to estimate joint forces. Principles of static and dynamic analysis are reviewed, with examples of static analysis applied to the hip and elbow joints and to the analysis of joint forces in human ancestors. Applications to indeterminant problems of joint mechanics are presented and utilized to analyze equine fetlock joints.
Performance of Insecticides Against Cabbage and Green Peach Aphids on Leafy Vegetables and Persistence of Residues During Cool Weather

In a series of 6 experiments conducted in southern California during the late falls and winters of 1961, 1962, and 1963 on control of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.); and the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), results generally showed that when maximum temperatures were below 70°F, parathion, endosulfan, naled, and azinphosmethyl did not provide effective control. Data indicated that insecticide residues of parathion, endosulfan, demeton and dimethoate on the crops sampled volatilize and are taken up more slowly and persist longer on leafy vegetables and on greens than on cabbage. This finding emphasized the need for a more thorough study of insecticides and their residues on different kinds or varieties of crops as well as of the various factors including weather conditions and insecticide formulation that might influence persistence of residues.
A Note on the Teaching of Dumping in International Economics Textbooks

The teaching of dumping can be improved by identifying oversights in its presentation in undergraduate textbooks in International Economics. These oversights include misstating the relationship between elasticity and slope and also labeling foreign demand as being more elastic than domestic demand without reference to a specific price. A more precise yet intuitive explanation of dumping is suggested as an alternative to those presented in these textbooks.
How much does it cost to identify a critically ill child experiencing electrographic seizures

Objectives:Electrographic seizures in critically ill children may be identified by continuous EEG monitoring. We evaluated the cost effectiveness of 4 electrographic seizure identification strategies (no EEG monitoring and EEG monitoring for 1 hour, 24 hours, or 48 hours).Methods:We created a decisi
The decline and fall of Richmond Hill: Commodification and place-change in late 18th–early 19th century New York

This essay focuses on the mutations of a place. It looks at some small disappearances involved in large urban transformations by examining how a notable New York place called ‘Richmond Hill’, an estate centered in an 18th-century Georgian-style mansion and the hill on which it stood, was embroiled over its lifetime in commodifying or monetizing practices. These practices worked their way through it over time via certain transformative (and potentially transformative) situations, acts, events and personal financial difficulties. The essay looks, in particular, at the role of Aaron Burr, a key resident of the house, in this process; it considers the objectification of his personalized social values in the place and tensions for him between holding Richmond Hill intact and extracting its wealth in the form of monetary value by releasing it or parts of it to others. However, the discussion is concerned more generally with place-change. Examining change along three complex dimensions – a place’s material-sensu...
A thirty year perspective on posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum: Enigma or just another intra-articular injury

Abstract Investigators dealing with a relatively small number of patients with posterior wall fractures have found unsatisfactory clinical outcomes, estimated to be approximately 30%. Consequently, conventional wisdom has professed that these fractures do poorly relative to other acetabular fracture types and are somehow different. The main questions to be answered in the treatment of these injuries include: (1) how can the need for operative versus non-operative treatment best be determined, (2) can the fixation of comminuted and marginally impacted fracture fragments be improved, (3) what are the risk factors for an adverse outcome after operative fracture fixation, and (4) what are the expected clinical and functional outcomes after operative treatment? A review of my long-term body of work investigating posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum, published over an extended period of time, was conducted to address these questions. Answers to the proposed questions are as follows: (1) dynamic stress examination under anaesthesia is the only reliable way to determine hip joint stability; (2) fixation of comminuted and marginally impacted fracture fragments can be improved by using a two-level fixation construct, as well as a non-traditional surgical approach for certain fracture patterns; (3) delayed reduction of hip dislocation and comminuted fractures in older patients are associated with poor clinical outcome and the accuracy of surgical reduction is highly predictive of clinical outcome; and (4) good-to-excellent hip function should be expected in a high percentage of these patients. However, residual functional deficits may still remain.
An Observational Study of Abstracts Presented at the American College of Veterinary Surgeon Annual Meetings (2001–2008) and Their Subsequent Full-Text Publication

Objective To determine the frequency of abstracts presented at American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) meetings from 2001 to 2008 that were published as complete articles, to identify abstract characteristics associated with final full-text publication, and to examine consistency of information between abstracts and final full-text publications. Study Design Observational bibliographic study. Methods Abstracts were retrieved from published proceedings. Published articles were retrieved from bibliographic databases. Features of abstract and article authorship, design, and content were recorded. Regression analysis identified abstract features associated with article publication, and evaluated consistency between abstracts and final publications. Results Seven hundred eighty-two of 1078 (73%) abstracts were published as complete articles. Median time to publication was 1 year; 90% were published within 3 years. Abstracts originating from academic institutions were published more often than abstracts from practice or industry sites (odds ratio 2.61, 95% confidence interval 1.68–4.05). Compared to their conference abstracts, 49% of articles contained major inconsistences including changes in study design, interventions, outcomes, sample size, and results. For each year elapsed between presentation and publication, the odds of major inconsistency increased 2.4 times (odds ratio 2.36, 95% confidence interval 1.57–3.55) for retrospective studies and 1.4 times (odds ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.17–1.56) for other study designs. Changes in study title and authorship were frequent, particularly in publications that contained major inconsistencies. Conclusion ACVS abstracts were promptly and reliably published, but final full-text publications often differed substantially from the original abstracts.
Psychophysical and behavioral peripheral and central auditory tests

Diagnostic batteries to assess the integrity of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) include behavioral (i.e., psychophysical) tests, electrophysiologic procedures, and to some degree, electroacoustic procedures. In this chapter, we focus on behavioral tests used to identify lesions (including diffuse lesions), abnormalities, or dysfunction of the CANS, as well as identify associated functional deficits (e.g., listening in noise deficits). Following a brief review of several tests considered more peripheral in their application (e.g., pure-tone thresholds, otoacoustic emissions, acoustic reflex), we provide some historic context and a review of tests currently in use which are sensitized by design to measure central auditory function, as well as others which have not been adopted clinically and new tests and procedures which hold promise for clinical diagnosis. Tests reviewed include those of dichotic listening, temporal processing (e.g., temporal resolution and temporal patterning), binaural interaction (e.g., masking level differences), monaural low-redundancy measures (e.g., speech in noise or competition, filtered speech, time-compressed speech), and new paradigms which measure auditory evoked potentials in response to test stimuli typically used in behavioral tests.
Helping physicians use laboratory tests.

Use of the clinical laboratory can be improved by viewing laboratory tests in terms of medical problem solving instead of endless lists of tests. The authors categorize many of the clinical problems that rely heavily on laboratory testing for their solutions and suggest ways for readers to develop their own lists for their own facilities. This approach can improve the effectiveness and cost efficiency of laboratory testing.
Fences Make Good Neighbors: Who Is “German” without the Wall?

In the film Goodbye Lenin, a mother who has faithfully served the East German state collapses in the street from a heart attack after seeing her son beaten up by police in a pro-democracy demonstration. She falls into a coma just before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, and remains unconscious until after German reunification has occurred. Her son, fearful for her delicate condition, brings her home and devises elaborate ruses to make her believe that the East German state still exists. The film serves as a metaphor for the construction of national identity, its vulnerability (symbolized by the woman’s fragile condition), and its connection to personal identity.
Sedimentary serpentinite and chaotic units of the lower Great Valley Group forearc basin deposits, California: updates on distribution and characteristics

ABSTRACTSedimentary serpentinite and related siliciclastic-matrix melanges in the latest Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous lower Great Valley Group (GVG) forearc basin strata of the California Coast Ranges reach thicknesses of over 1 km and include high-pressure (HP) metamorphic blocks. These units crop out over an area at least 300 km long by 50 km wide. The serpentinite also contains locally abundant blocks of antigorite mylonite. Antigorite mylonite and HP metamorphic blocks were exhumed from depth prior to deposition in the unmetamorphosed GVG, but the antigorite mylonite may be mistaken for metamorphosed serpentinite matrix in localities with limited exposure. These olistostrome horizons can be distinguished from intact slabs of serpentinized peridotite associated with the Coast Range Ophiolite (CRO) or serpentinite melanges of the Franciscan subduction complex (FC) on the basis of internal sedimentary textures (absent in CRO), mixing/interbedding with unmetamorphosed siliciclastic matrix and blocks (diff...
Why strategy is key for successful social media sales

Abstract Many successful companies spend substantial time and effort engaging with potential consumers on social media sites. They determine how consumers spend their time online and develop interesting content to increase awareness and enjoyment of the brand—often only to lose those potential customers because the purchase process becomes too difficult once consumers have decided to buy the product. New technology recently introduced by third-party vendors allows companies to offer a sales option directly on social media websites such as Facebook and Instagram. In this article, we present the effects on the consumer decision process created by the ‘Buy Now’ option across the consideration, evaluation, purchase, and post-purchase stages. We compare and contrast three distinct decision models: (1) traditional media only, (2) traditional media and social media with only a communication capability, and (3) traditional media and social media with the added function of immediate purchase. We argue that though the possibility of buying on social media will decrease the number of brands considered and evaluated, the number of purchases and amount of brand advocacy will increase significantly due to the ease of purchase. We conclude with some recommendations on future research.
Targeting Foxm1 Improves Cytotoxicity of Paclitaxel and Cisplatinum in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer.

Objective Aberrantly activated FOXM1 (forkhead box protein M1) leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation and dysregulation of FOXM1 transcription network occurs in 84% of ovarian cancer cases. It was demonstrated that thiostrepton, a thiazole antibiotic, decreases FOXM1 expression. We aimed to determine if targeting the FOXM1 pathway with thiostrepton could improve the efficacy of paclitaxel and cisplatin in human ovarian cancer ascites cells ex vivo. Methods Human ovarian cancer cell lines and patients’ ascites cells were treated with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and thiostrepton or a combination for 48 hours, and cytotoxicity was assessed. Drug combination effects were determined by calculating the combination index values using the Chou and Talalay method. Quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine changes in FOXM1 expression and its downstream targets. Results Ovarian cancer cell lines and the patients’ ascites cancer cells had an overexpression of FOXM1 expression levels. Targeting FOXM1 with thiostrepton decreased FOXM1 mRNA expression and its downstream targets such as CCNB1 and CDC25B, leading to cell death in both cell lines and patients’ ascites cancer cells. Furthermore, addition of thiostrepton to paclitaxel and cisplatin showed synergistic effects in chemoresistant ovarian cancer patients’ ascites cells ex vivo. Conclusion Targeting FOXM1 may lead to novel therapeutics for chemoresistant epithelial ovarian cancer.
A Comparison of Methods for Calculating the Basic Reproductive Number for Periodic Epidemic Systems

When using mathematics to study epidemics, oftentimes the goal is to determine when an infection can invade and persist within a population. The most common way to do so uses threshold quantities called reproductive numbers. An infection's basic reproductive number (BRN), typically denoted [Formula: see text], measures the infection's initial ability to reproduce in a naive population and is tied mathematically to the stability of the disease-free equilibrium. Next-generation methods have long been used to derive [Formula: see text] for autonomous continuous-time systems; however, many diseases exhibit seasonal behavior. Incorporating seasonality into models may improve accuracy in important ways, but the resulting non-autonomous systems are much more difficult to analyze. In the literature, two principal methods have been used to derive BRNs for periodic epidemic models. One, based on time-averages, is simple to apply but does not always describe the correct threshold behavior. The other, based on linear operator theory, is more general but also more complicated, and no detailed explanations of the necessary computations have yet been laid out. This paper reconciles the two methods by laying out an explicit procedure for the second and then identifying conditions (and some important classes of models) under which the two methods agree. This allows the use of the simpler method, which yields interpretable closed-form expressions, when appropriate, and illustrates in detail the simplest possible case where they disagree. Results show that seasonality alone cannot affect disease persistence, but must act in conjunction with non-hierarchical heterogeneity in the infected population, in order to do so.
Analysis of Hepatitis C Virus Particle Heterogeneity in Immunodeficient Human Liver Chimeric fah-/- Mice

Background & Aims Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic liver diseases and the most common indication for liver transplantation in the United States. HCV particles in the blood of infected patients are characterized by heterogeneous buoyant densities, likely owing to HCV association with lipoproteins. However, clinical isolates are not infectious in vitro and the relative infectivity of the particles with respect to their buoyant density therefore cannot be determined, pointing to the need for better in vivo model systems. Methods To analyze the evolution of the buoyant density of in vivo–derived infectious HCV particles over time, we infected immunodeficient human liver chimeric fumaryl acetoacetate hydrolase-/- mice with J6/JFH1 and performed ultracentrifugation of infectious mouse sera on isopicnic iodixanol gradients. We also evaluated the impact of a high sucrose diet, which has been shown to increase very-low-density lipoprotein secretion by the liver in rodents, on lipoprotein and HCV particle characteristics. Results Similar to the severe combined immunodeficiency disease/Albumin-urokinase plasminogen activator human liver chimeric mouse model, density fractionation of infectious mouse serum showed higher infectivity in the low-density fractions early after infection. However, over the course of the infection, viral particle heterogeneity increased and the overall in vitro infectivity diminished without loss of the human liver graft over time. In mice provided with a sucrose-rich diet we observed a minor shift in HCV infectivity toward lower density that correlated with a redistribution of triglycerides and cholesterol among lipoproteins. Conclusions Our work indicates that the heterogeneity in buoyant density of infectious HCV particles evolves over the course of infection and can be influenced by diet.
Monoamines: Human Brain Imaging

With the advent of neuroreceptor and neurotransmission imaging by means of positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography in vivo, it is now possible to directly record the normal and pathophysiological processes served by monoamines in the brain, as well as to examine the possibilities and potential impact of treatment of disorders of monoaminergic neurotransmission. This article describes the methods of noninvasive brain imaging and the benefits that this imaging can bring to the understanding of disturbed monoaminergic neurotransmission, the mechanisms underlying the disturbances, and the impact of possible therapies.
Photostasis in Plants

Life on earth is sustained by oxygenic photosynthesis, a process that involves the absorption and utilization of light energy from the sun. The chemical energy released by this endergonic process results in the oxidation of water molecules, the release of oxygen, and the generation of reductant (reduced ferredoxin and NADPH) and high-energy phosphate bond (ATP). This process takes place in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. It requires coordinated interaction between a large number of electron carrier compounds and enzymatic proteins that facilitate the lateral transport of electrons in the thylakoid membrane from H2O molecules to ferredoxin and NADP+ and the transverse transport of H+ from the surrounding stroma to the enclosed space of the thylakoid lumen. The electron-transport components are localized in the thylakoid membrane and catalyze the transfer of electrons laterally in the plane of the membrane from the grana regions, where oxidation of H2O takes place, to the stroma-exposed thylakoid regions, where the reduction of ferredoxin and the generation of ATP take place (Andersson and Anderson, 1980; Anderson and Melis, 1983). Functionally, electron transport occurs from intermediate to intermediate in a sequential manner formulated as the Z-scheme of photosynthesis (Hill and Bendall, 1960). The overall process of electron transport from H2O to NADP+ is strongly endergonic and is realized through the input and utilization of light energy in two distinct steps. The absorption of light and the conversion of excitation energy to chemical energy takes place in photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) in the thylakoid membrane (Duysens et al., 1961). Light energy in PSII facilitates the generation of a strong oxidant capable of oxidizing H2O molecules. Light energy in PSI facilitates the generation of a strong reductant capable of reducing ferredoxin and NADP+.
Women from racial or ethnic minority and low socioeconomic backgrounds receive more prenatal education: Results from the 2012 to 2014 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

BACKGROUND Racial or ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in adverse birth outcomes are well known, but few studies have examined disparities in the receipt of prenatal health education. The objectives of this study were to examine racial or ethnic and socioeconomic variations in receiving (1) comprehensive prenatal health education and (2) education about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, breastfeeding, alcohol, and smoking cessation from health care practitioners. METHODS Data were drawn from the 2012 to 2014 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Twenty-seven states were included with an analysis sample size of 68 025 participants. Receiving counseling on all listed health topics during prenatal care visits was denoted as comprehensive prenatal health education. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of racial or ethnic and socioeconomic variables with receiving comprehensive prenatal health education, and HIV testing, breastfeeding, alcohol, and smoking cessation advice separately. RESULTS Multivariable results showed that racial or ethnic minorities and women with a high school degree or less; receiving Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) assistance; and on Medicaid during pregnancy have higher odds of receiving comprehensive prenatal health education (all P ≤0 .001). Results were similar for receiving HIV testing, breastfeeding, alcohol, and smoking counseling. Low household income was associated with receiving counseling on HIV testing, alcohol, and smoking (all P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION Despite reporting higher levels of prenatal health education on a variety of health-related topics, disadvantaged women continue to experience disparities in adverse birth outcomes suggesting that education is insufficient in promoting positive behaviors and birth outcomes.
Pregnancy hemoglobin levels in the rural south; an evaluation of the use of the copper sulfate screening test in clinics.

Abstract The copper sulfate falling-drop hemoglobin test is accurate, rapid, and can be performed by a technically untrained person. It has been adapted by the Mississippi State Board of Health to screen pregnant women. In tests on 1,669 rural pregnant women, 876 (52.5 per cent) were found to have hemoglobin levels below 11 Gm./100 ml. There is no consistent variation in the percentage of anemic women by month of pregnancy but there is a real difference by county. One hundred twenty-four (45.6 per cent) of 272 women were found to be anemic six weeks after delivery. This is an anemia survey of a group never before explored. The test is widely acceptable to county health units throughout the state and the number of tests being done is increasing. Our experience recommends that 10 Gm./100 ml. of hemoglobin be used as the level to screen pregnant women.
Utilizing Emerging Technologies for Construction Safety Risk Mitigation

AbstractDespite the use of traditional and novel approaches to improve construction safety management, safety performance in the construction industry is still considered poor, especially when comp...
Abstract TP104: Post Stroke Depressive-Like Behaviors in Middle-Aged Female Rats is Associated With Gut Dysbiosis and Improved by Mir363-3p

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) occurs in one-third of stroke survivors, is more prevalent in women, and negatively impacts quality of life and recovery. Our previous work showed that acyc...
Solubilization of Hydrophobic Substances by Block Copolymer Micelles in Aqeous Solutions

Block copolymer molecules consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks display the tendency to aggregate in aqueous solutions, forming structures well-known as micelles. In these micelles, the hydrophilic blocks constitute the shell region while the hydrophobic blocks form the micellar core. This phenomenon is entirely analogous to the formation of micelles by the conventional low molecular weight surfactant molecules. The concentration at which the micelles are fust detected is known as the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In the case of block copolymers, because of the large size of the hydrophobic block, the CMC is often negligibly small when compared to the CMCs of low molecular weight surfactant systems.
“Postconcussive” Symptoms Explained by PTSD Symptom Severity in U.S. National Guard Personnel

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the unique associations between self-report history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on functiona...
Adapting Improvement: Screen Afterlives of Nineteenth-Century Progress

Kao argues that development economic theory collapses the difference between a flexible definition of improvement as self-determined change and a prescriptive definition of improvement as an ideology in which all nation-states and individuals must participate in global capitalism in order to achieve “progress.” The chapter further argues that this collapse reduces possible understandings of “development.” Focusing on differentiating between agential and coerced improvement, Kao traces a chain of ideological resemblances that runs from early agrarian capitalism and Enlightenment notions of teleology to Victorian coercive progress and twenty-first-century neoliberalism. The introduction concludes by situating the distinction made between the two kinds of progress described above within the scholarship of postcolonial cinema, adaptation theory, and heritage film criticism. The theoretical and critical engagement provided suggests that adaptation transforms colonial texts for postcolonial purposes; thus, the nineteenth-century British novel can be used to engage creatively with contemporary global problems.
Human mammary epithelial cells in a mature, stratified epithelial layer flatten and stiffen compared to single and confluent cells

Abstract Background The epithelium forms a protective barrier against external biological, chemical and physical insults. So far, AFM-based, micro-mechanical measurements have only been performed on single cells and confluent cells, but not yet on cells in mature layers. Methods Using a combination of atomic force, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, we determined the changes in stiffness, morphology and actin distribution of human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) as they transition from single cells to confluency to a mature layer. Results Single HMECs have a tall, round (planoconvex) morphology, have actin stress fibers at the base, have diffuse cortical actin, and have a stiffness of 1 kPa. Confluent HMECs start to become flatter, basal actin stress fibers start to disappear, and actin accumulates laterally where cells abut. Overall stiffness is still 1 kPa with two-fold higher stiffness in the abutting regions. As HMECs mature and form multilayered structures, cells on apical surfaces become flatter (apically more level), wider, and seven times stiffer (mean, 7 kPa) than single and confluent cells. The main drivers of these changes are actin filaments, as cells show strong actin accumulation in the regions where cells adjoin, and in the apical regions. Conclusions HMECs stiffen, flatten and redistribute actin upon transiting from single cells to mature, confluent layers. General significance Our findings advance the understanding of breast ductal morphogenesis and mechanical homeostasis.
J. C. Penney: The

This case is used in Darden's required EMBA first-year Marketing course. It can also be used in course modules covering Pricing or Brand Management. In the case. a financial analyst considers a presentation by an investor in J. C. Penney and the implications of the company's turnaround strategy. This case provides an alternative approach to the market positioning discussion in the two-part case, “J. C. Penney: Reinventing Fair and Square Deals (A and B)” (UVA-M-0835 and UVA-M-0836). It includes the views of the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, who holds more than 18% of the company's stock and believes the company is poised for a major turnaround. Excerpt UVA-M-0841 Rev. Apr. 11, 2014 J. C. PENNEY: THE “THINK BIG” STRATEGY In late June 2012, Morgan Garcia, a senior financial analyst based in New York, had about a week to submit her report on J. C. Penney (JCP). In January 2012, Garcia had joined the investment bank's retail industry group. Her first major assignment was to generate a report on JCP, and she had welcomed the assignment. JCP was undergoing significant changes, so it was a chance for her to highlight her skills as an analyst to her new boss. The main objective of her report was to provide an independent assessment of JCP's new strategy in light of the “Think Big” presentation given by Bill Ackman on May 16, 2012, at the 17th annual Ira Sohn Investment Conference in New York, a day after the release of JCP's quarterly earnings. Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, held 18.3% of JCP shares and was its single largest investor. As a keynote speaker, Ackman argued that JCP was set for a major turnaround and that its stock was significantly undervalued. Garcia had obtained background information on JCP by studying public records and company filings. She had also reviewed the company's exciting new management team. Over the previous six months, as part of the retail industry team, she had participated in several major retail events including JCP's January 2012 “In Praise of Fresh Air” event at which it launched its bold new strategy. As part of her assessment, Garcia had to critique its new strategy, including its daring new pricing program. She had worked her way through all the information she had gathered but she still had questions. Could a return to JCP's roots of “Fair and Square” pricing revitalize sales? Was it the right time to execute a major pricing strategy shift, or would it be better to wait until the new store format was rolled out? Were the shocking first-quarter results for 2012 an indication of a fundamental problem with the strategy or just a temporary dip before the turnaround took hold as projected by Ackman? And most important, could Ron Johnson, JCP's new CEO, return JCP to its historical place among the ranks of America's top retailers? . . .
Examining the Validity of Pediatric Resident Self-Assessment in the Delivery Room.

Objective The validity of resident self-assessment of competence in neonatal resuscitation skills has not been studied. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that residents are accurate in self-assessment of basic delivery room resuscitation and bag-and-mask ventilation (BMV) skills by comparing resident self-assessed performance with assessment by observers. Study Design We conducted a prospective repeated measures observational study. After each delivery residents and observers completed 13-question standardized assessments evaluating resident performance. Results A total of 99 paired assessments were completed by 36 residents. Residents competently performed and identified correct versus incorrect performance of basic resuscitation steps. Residents were less competent in recognizing the need for BMV and were unable to self-assess BMV-associated performance accurately. In multivariable analysis, only basic resuscitation steps versus BMV were significantly associated with accurate self-assessment. Conclusion Pediatric residents are less competent at performing advanced neonatal resuscitation skills and are unable to accurately self-assess performance of skills essential for neonatal resuscitation. Key Points