cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Familial Status Discrimination: Will Employment Law Build Upon What Housing Law Started?

Clearly, housing law has it right. A person should not be discriminated against on the basis of their race, color, religious preference, sex, disability, and of course their familial status. What about employment law? Should an employer be able to refuse a promotion to a woman because she has decided to have a family? Should it be legally permissible for a company to relegate someone to part-time status because of a perceived conflict between family and work priorities? After all, in order to afford to live anywhere, one must typically be gainfully employed. Unfortunately, Stereotyping is a key feature in most family responsibilities cases (and at times results in people losing their gainful employment). Employers in these cases have made outdated and incorrect assumptions about how a parent or other caregiver will act or should act and then made personnel decisions based on those stereotypes (e.g., a man should not care for his infant, or a woman who is a mother won’t be able to concentrate on her job). Even in cases where employees have had superior records, supervisors have wrongly assumed that employees will have productivity or attendance problems because of their family responsibilities. Supervisors have also downgraded or harassed employees who have become parents or taken family related leave, sometimes in an effort to make them quit. If a person’s race, color, religious preference, disability, sex or (in the case of employment law) age (40 or above) impacts their ability to attain or maintain sustained remunerative employment, they have legal recourse. Indeed, one need simply peruse the EEOC website to find a plethora of information on how to file a charge of discrimination against their employer. The EEOC administers charges relative to a variety of laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Pregnancy Discrimination Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). This is not to say that there is absolutely no protection for working parents with familial responsibilities. There are isolated statutes and case law out there that provide a scintilla of protection.
What Can Training Do for an Experienced Mediator

This article examines the value of advanced training for experienced mediators. It is based on the experience of the author, a caucus-based mediator, of taking a training that focused on non-caucus techniques. The article describes how the training influenced the author’s thinking about the advantages of reliance on joint meetings versus caucusing, and how it changed his behavior during business mediations he conducted after finishing the program. The article also poses questions which persons considering skills training should ask when selecting a program.
Colorectal cancer: complexities and challenges in managed care.

BACKGROUND: Managed care weighs advances and associated costs to determine whether the combination of longer life at sometimes significantly increased cost represents value. The price of treatment is only 1 factor. OBJECTIVE: To review treatment decision processes for oncologic agents in managed care environments. SUMMARY: Price can be exceptionally high for individuals. But if the population size is low, the per-member-per-month (PMPM) impact can be almost negligible, unlike treatments that have moderate costs but are used ubiquitously. Cancer therapies have, for the most part, escaped managed care's notice. For 2007, the national Cancer Institute projects that antineoplastic agents will consume almost a quarter of the overall drug spend. The Medicare population is a unique concern with regard to cancer. Traditionally, Medicare reimbursement of chemotherapeutic agents was based on average wholesale price (AWP) discounting, not the oncologist's purchasing cost. This allowed oncologists to use reimbursemen...
Measuring the Wealth of Nations

The sustainability of development is closely linked to changes in total per capita wealth. This paper presents estimates of the wealth of nations for nearly 100 countries, broken down into produced assets, natural resources and human resources. While the latter is the dominant form of wealth in virtually all countries, in low income natural resource exporters the share of natural resources in total wealth is equal to the share of produced assets. For low income countries in general, cropland forms the vast majority of natural wealth. The analysis suggests the process of development can be viewed as one of portfolio management: sustainable development entails saving the rents from exhaustible resources, managing renewable resources sustainably, and investing savings in both produced assets and human resources.
Adaptive Unstructured 2D Navier-Stokes Solutions on Mixed Quadrilateral/Triangular Meshes

This paper presents a solution adaptive scheme for solving the Navier-Stokes equations on an unstructured mixed grid of triangles and quadrilaterals. The solution procedure uses an explicit Runge-Kutta finite volume time marching scheme with an adaptive blend of second and fourth order smoothing. The governing equations are solved in a 2D, axisymmetric or quasi-3D form.In viscous regions quadrilateral elements are used to facilitate the one dimensional refinement required for the efficient resolution of boundary layers and wakes. The effect of turbulence is incorporated through using either a Baldwin-Lomax or k-e turbulence model.Solutions are presented for several examples that illustrate the capability of the algorithm to predict viscous phenomena accurately. The examples are a transonic turbine, a nozzle and a combustor diffuser.© 1993 ASME
Buthionine sulfoximine spares intracellular glutamate: a possible mechanism for cell growth stimulation.

Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a selective inhibitor of glutathione (GSH) synthesis, has a dual effect on proliferation of human lung carcinoma A549 cells, i.e., at low concentrations it stimulates and at higher concentrations it inhibits A549 cell proliferation. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that BSO, by inhibiting the synthesis of GSH, spares its constituent amino acids, particularly glutamate, and thereby stimulates cell proliferation. Treatment of A549 cells with BSO significantly increased intracellular glutamate levels, while it decreased cellular GSH levels. To determine whether the increased glutamate level is responsible for the BSO-stimulated cell proliferation, A549 cells were cultured in glutamine-deficient Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. These cells did not proliferate in this medium unless glutamine (4 mM) was supplemented. When glutamine was replaced by glutamate in the medium the cells were also stimulated to proliferate, although this stimulation was not as effective as that of glutamine. Cysteine and its cellular delivery system L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate did not stimulate cell proliferation even though BSO would also increase cellular cysteine levels. The results obtained suggest that the BSO-increased cellular glutamate level is likely responsible for the BSO growth-stimulating effect.
Consumer acceptance of dishes in which beef has been partially substituted with mushrooms and sodium has been reduced

We tested the hypothesis that because of their flavor-enhancing properties, mushrooms could be used as a healthy substitute for meat and a mitigating agent for sodium (salt) reduction without reduction in sensory appeal among consumers. In a fully-randomized design for each product, 147 consumers evaluated blind two carne asada and six taco blend recipes in which beef had been partially substituted with mushrooms and/or salt had been reduced by 25%, for overall liking, liking of appearance, flavor, texture and mouth feel on the 9-point hedonic scale, and adequacy of level of saltiness, spiciness and moistness on 5-point just-about-right (JAR) scales. Overall consumer acceptance of the carne asada, and liking for its appearance, flavor and texture/mouth feel decreased significantly when half the steak was substituted with mushrooms. The taco blend recipes with full sodium were also liked more overall than those with 25% less sodium. But there was no significant difference in overall liking among the three full-salt recipes, nor among the three reduced-salt recipes, indicating that across the consumer population we tested, acceptance of the mushroom-containing recipes was on par with that of the 100% beef recipe. The preference mapping analysis of the overall liking ratings of the taco blends uncovered four preference segments, two of which, representing a majority of the consumers, gave higher acceptance scores to the mushroom-substituted recipes. Furthermore, the largest preference segment liked the full- and reduced-sodium recipes equally, and another liked the reduced-sodium recipes significantly more. This research demonstrates that through their flavor enhancing properties, mushrooms can be used successfully to substitute for beef and even possibly mitigate sodium reduction without significant change in acceptance for a majority of consumers.
Accounting for Science

In the summer of 1608 the jurist and philosopher Francis Bacon began to keep a notebook. Entitled the “Loose Commentary” (“Commentarius solutus”), in it he recorded his debts, aspirations, and health complaints, as well as rough jottings on patronage and science that would later find their way into more polished works. Bacon intended his private notebook to function “like a merchant’s waste book, where to enter all manner of remembrancia of matter, service, business, study, touching myself, service, others, either sparsim [scattered] or in schedules, without any manner of restraint.”1 Two centuries later, the German polymath and professor Georg Lichtenberg borrowed the genre of the waste book from English merchants and tradesmen and filled his with a range of notes so unrestrained they would have done Bacon proud: scientific observations, aphorisms, enthusiastic reviews of the work of Shakespeare and Hogarth, and thorough analyses of his own vivid dreams.2 Just a few decades before Lichtenberg, the natural philosopher Isaac Newton recycled an old commonplace book of his father’s, renamed it the “Wastebook,” and used it to set out his notes and queries on a set of mathematical and mechanical problems.3
African American Male Unemployment during the Great Recession in Comparison to Other Groups and Theoretical Considerations

The Great Recession pushed millions of people out of the US labor force, and this chapter uses descriptive statistics to show that this push had a disparate impact on African American men. The chapter outlines the profound impact of the recession on the landscape of the American labor market, and focuses on changes in major labor force indicators for African American men. Since no demographic group in the USA was able to escape the impact of the downturn, in order to discern whether the recession’s impact on unemployment was more devastating for African American men than for other groups, changes in labor force indicators for other groups are examined and comparisons drawn. This chapter concludes with theories about discrimination as well as why some groups appear vulnerable to unemployment during economic downturns.
Changes in Contact Area in Meniscus Horizontal Cleavage Tears Subjected to Repair and Resection.

Purpose To assess the changes in tibiofemoral contact pressure and contact area in human knees with a horizontal cleavage tear before and after treatment. Methods Ten human cadaveric knees were tested. Pressure sensors were placed under the medial meniscus and the knees were loaded at twice the body weight for 20 cycles at 0°, 10°, and 20° of flexion. Contact area and pressure were recorded for the intact meniscus, the meniscus with a horizontal cleavage tear, after meniscal repair, after partial meniscectomy (single leaflet), and after subtotal meniscectomy (double leaflet). Results The presence of a horizontal cleavage tear significantly increased average peak contact pressure and reduced effective average tibiofemoral contact area at all flexion angles tested compared with the intact state ( P P P Conclusions The presence of a horizontal cleavage tear in the medial meniscus causes a significant reduction in contact area and a significant elevation in contact pressure. These changes may accelerate joint degeneration. A suture-based repair of these horizontal cleavage tears returns the contact area and contact pressure to nearly normal, whereas both partial and subtotal meniscectomy lead to significant reductions in contact area and significant elevations in contact pressure within the knee. Repairing horizontal cleavage tears may lead to improved clinical outcomes by preserving meniscal tissue and the meniscal function. Clinical Relevance Understanding contact area and peak contact pressure resulting from differing strategies for treating horizontal cleavage tears will allow the surgeon to evaluate the best strategy for treating his or her patients who present with this meniscal pathology.
Polyiodide-Doped Graphene

Iodine-doped graphene has recently attracted significant interest as a result of its enhanced conductivity and improved catalytic activity. Using density functional theory calculations, we obtain the formation energy, desorption rate, and electronic properties for graphene systems doped with polyiodide chains consisting of 1–6 iodine atoms in the low-concentration limit. We find that I3 and I5 act as p-type surface dopants that shift the Fermi level 0.46 and 0.57 eV below the Dirac point, respectively. For these two molecules, molecular orbital theory and analysis of the charge density show that doping transfers electronic charge to iodine π* molecular orbitals oriented perpendicular to the graphene sheet. For even-length polyiodides, we find that I6 and I4 decompose to I2, which readily desorbs at 300 K. Adsorption energy calculations further show that I3 acts as an effective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction on graphene by stabilizing the rate-limiting OOH intermediate.
In situ particle characterization and evidence of ubiquitous particle orientation in the ocean using a submersible holographic imaging system (Conference Presentation)

Field experiments with the goal of characterizing aquatic particle properties, including size distributions and orientations in their natural environment, were conducted using a submersible holographic imaging system (HOLOCAM). Digital holography is a non-intrusive technique that allows particle fields to be mapped within a 3-D sampling volume at high resolution. The HOLOCAM was deployed at East Sound, a fjord in the US Pacific Northwest, and Lake Erie over three separate deployments from 2013 to 2015. A database of more than a million particles in the 100-10000 µm size range of varying shape and orientation was created after processing < 50,000 holograms. Furthermore, simultaneous, co-located acoustic Doppler velocimeter measurements of small-scale shear and turbulence structure were used to study the effects of the ambient flow field on particle orientation. Several interesting features presented themselves, with a Microcystis bloom dominating the surface layer of Lake Erie, while ‘thin layers’ of high particle concentrations dominated by colonial diatoms were seen in East Sound. Particle size distribution (PSD) slopes in the 50-250 µm size range were ~1.7-1.9, while for particles < 250 µm, the slopes were significantly higher. Clear evidence of ubiquitous particle alignment to the horizontal flow field in regions of low shear and turbulent dissipation was seen. This result, obtained under flow conditions representative of coastal and open oceans, can have significant consequences to ocean optics as random particle orientation is inherently assumed in theory and models. Preferential alignment can increase/decrease optical properties such as backscattering and attenuation relative to random distributions.
Awareness and Misperceptions of Hospice and Palliative Care: A Population-Based Survey Study

Background:Despite the documented benefits of palliative and hospice care on improving patients’ quality of life, these services remain underutilized. Multiple factors limit the utilization of thes...
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compression peripheral neuropathies. It affects mainly middle-aged women. The classic symptoms of CTS include nocturnal pain associated with tingling and numbness in the distribution of median nerve in the hand. There are several physical examination tests that will help in the diagnosis of CTS, but none of these tests are diagnostic on their own. The gold standard test is nerve conduction studies. The diagnosis of CTS should be based on history, physical examination, and results of electrophysiological studies. The patient with mild symptoms of CTS can be managed with conservative treatment, particularly local injection of steroids and night splinting. However, in moderate to severe cases, surgery is the only treatment that provides cure. The basic principle of surgery is to increase the volume of the carpal tunnel by dividing transverse carpal ligament to release the pressure on the median nerve.
A New Argument for the Nomological Interpretation of the Wave Function: The Galilean Group and the Classical Limit of Nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics.

In this paper I investigate, within the framework of realistic interpretations of the wave function in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, the mathematical and physical nature of the wave function. I argue against the view that mathematically the wave function is a two-component scalar field on configuration space. First, I review how this view makes quantum mechanics non- Galilei invariant and yields the wrong classical limit. Moreover, I argue that interpreting the wave function as a ray, in agreement many physicists, Galilei invariance is preserved. In addition, I discuss how the wave function behaves more similarly to a gauge potential than to a field. Finally I show how this favors a nomological rather than an ontological view of the wave function.
Bromoethylindole (BEI-9) redirects NF-κB signaling induced by camptothecin and TNFα to promote cell death in colon cancer cells

Chemotherapeutic regimens containing camptothecin (CPT), 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin are used to treat advanced colorectal cancer. We previously reported that an indole derivative, 3-(2-bromoethyl)indole (BEI-9), inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells and suppressed NF-κB activation. Here, we show that a combination of BEI-9 with either CPT or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) enhances cell death. Using colorectal cancer cells, we examined the activation of NF-κB by drugs, the potential of BEI-9 for inhibiting drug-induced NF-κB activation, and the enhancement of cell death by combination treatments. Cells were treated with the chemotherapeutic drugs alone or in combination with BEI-9. NF-κB activation, cell cycle profiles, DNA-damage response, markers of cell death signaling and targets of NF-κB were evaluated to determine the effects of single and co-treatments. The combination of BEI-9 with CPT or TNFα inhibited NF-κB activation and reduced the expression of NF-κB-responsive genes, Bcl-xL and COX2. Compared to CPT or BEI-9 alone, sequential treatment of the cells with CPT and BEI-9 significantly enhanced caspase activation and cell death. Co-treatment with TNFα and BEI-9 also caused more cytotoxicity than TNFα or BEI-9 alone. Combined BEI-9 and TNFα enhanced cell death through caspase activation and cleavage of the switch-protein, RIP1 kinase. BEI-9 reduced the expression of COX2 both alone and in combination with CPT or TNF. We postulate that BEI-9 enhances the effects of these drugs on cancer cells by turning off or redirecting NF-κB signaling. Therefore, the combination of BEI-9 with drugs that activate NF-κB needs to be evaluated for clinical applications.
Herencias del terror y del consenso: hijas perversas en ‘Árbol genealógico’ de Andrea Jeftanovic y ‘Pájaros en la boca’ de Samanta Schweblin

Este ensayo analiza ‘Arbol genealogico’ (2011) de Jeftanovic y ‘Pajaros en la boca’ (2009) de Schweblin dentro del marco teorico del relato de filiacion y la posmemoria, y en el contexto de la produccion creativa reciente que mira criticamente la sociedad posdictatorial y la memoria colectiva en el Cono Sur por los ojos de los hijos. Las hijas representadas en estos textos muestran conductas perturbadoras que se pueden interpretar como una expresion de la herencia reprimida de la violencia del estado militar y la politica oficial de impunidad bajo los gobiernos civiles posteriores. Mientras estas historias manifiestan caracteristicas del relato de filiacion, y las hijas encarnan literalmente la nocion de la posmemoria, la estructura narrativa de los cuentos tambien los distingue de otros textos filiales. Los modos de que se distinguen otorgan reflexiones sobre la narracion del pasado, y sobre la responsabilidad para la memoria colectiva que abarca a la sociedad entera, no solo a los directamente afectados.
Elective induction of labor at 39 weeks among nulliparous women: The impact on maternal and neonatal risk.

Objective Optimal management of pregnancies at 39 weeks gestational age is unknown. Therefore, we sought to perform a comparative effectiveness analysis of elective induction of labor (eIOL) at 39 weeks among nulliparous women with non-anomalous singleton, vertex fetuses as compared to expectant management (EM) which included IOL for medical or obstetric indications or at 41 weeks in undelivered mothers. Materials and methods A Monte Carlo micro-simulation model was constructed modeling two mutually exclusive health states: eIOL at 39 weeks, or EM with IOL for standard medical or obstetrical indications or at 41 weeks if undelivered. Health state distribution probabilities included maternal and perinatal outcomes and were informed by a review of the literature and data derived from the Consortium of Safe Labor. Analyses investigating preferences for maternal versus infant health were performed using weighted utilities. Primary outcome was determining which management strategy posed less maternal and neonatal risk. Secondary outcomes were rates of cesarean deliveries, maternal morbidity and mortality, stillbirth, neonatal morbidity and mortality, and preferences regarding the importance of maternal and perinatal health. Results A management strategy of eIOL at 39 weeks resulted in less maternal and neonatal risk as compared to EM with IOL at 41 weeks among undelivered patients. Cesarean section rates were higher in the EM arm (35.9% versus 13.9%, p<0.01). When analysis was performed only on patients with an unfavorable cervix, 39 week eIOL still resulted in fewer cesarean deliveries as compared to EM (8.0% versus 26.1%, p<0.01). There was no statistical difference in maternal mortality (eIOL 0% versus EM 0.01%, p = 0.32) but there was an increase in maternal morbidity among the EM arm (21.2% versus 16.5, p<0.01). There were more stillbirths (0.13% versus 0%, p<0.0003), neonatal deaths (0.25% versus 0.12%, p< 0.03), and neonatal morbidity (12.1% versus 9.4%, p<0.01) in the EM arm as compared to the eIOL arm. Preference modeling revealed that 39 week eIOL was favored over EM. Conclusions and relevance Mathematical modeling revealed that eIOL at 39 weeks resulted in lower population risks as compared to EM with induction of labor at 41 weeks. Specifically, eIOL at 39 weeks resulted in a lower cesarean section rate, lower rates of maternal morbidity, fewer stillbirths and neonatal deaths, and lower rates of neonatal morbidity.
Transition in the Weeds: Heading to College with a Cannabis Use Disorder

Cannabis is one of the most common drugs used by college students and carries multiple risks for those who are vulnerable to other psychiatric disorders. This chapter describes an 18-year-old college freshman who has been using marijuana throughout high school and has been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. He was hospitalized in the summer before college matriculation with psychosis, most likely precipitated by large amounts of high potency cannabis smoked in a 3-day binge. After a few weeks into the semester, he became anxious and depressed while denying cannabis use. He was able to complete the semester after withdrawing from two classes, but did not return to college. The case discussion highlights the need for transition planning involving the patient and parents, careful treatment planning between referring and accepting providers, and greater knowledge of campus mental health services. Many suggestions and resources are provided which can lead to a successful transition for patients suffering from cannabis use disorder and comorbid psychiatric disorders.
Dry Settling and Pressing at IUCF

A variety of pressed powder targets of 2-cm dia. have been produced using a compact, simple, and material-conservative technique. Although the attainable thicknesses are highly specific to the material and experiment, the basic method, and variations of it, have been useful in making very thin binder-supported targets, two to twenty-five mg/cm2 unsupported targets and very thick conventionally pressed targets. Rudiments of the method are: 1. two mechanical vibrators linked by a wire loop, 2. a narrow glass tube capped with an appropriately sized stainless steel screen, 3. vacuum evaporated carbon-coated glass slide pieces as the substrate for the settling and pressing operations, and 4. counter rotation of the substrate and sifting tube during settling.
The Cost of Financing in a Regulated Industry: Managerial Incentives and the Impact of Cash Flow Subsidies

We document that mandatory debt accounting impacts managerial incentives and influences the use of debt covenants restricting dividends and additional borrowing in the defense industry. To examine the economic implications of mandatory debt accounting, we consider a unique accounting treatment and its resulting cash flow or debt subsidy in this industry, the Facilities Capital Cost of Money (FCCOM). We find that variables explaining debt covenants restricting dividends and additional borrowing are decidedly different for defense firms than for commercial firms. We also demonstrate that the FCCOM debt subsidy leads to lower cost of debt but an increased cost of equity capital in the defense sector.
The Synthesis of Chlorophyll a

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the synthesis of chlorophyll a . The basic approach to the synthesis involved making suitably substituted porphyrins and then introducing the still-missing substituents along with the two extra hydrogens in positions 7 and 8. Fischer discussed various methods for synthesizing porphyrins. All these reactions involve condensations of two pyrromethene halves under drastic conditions and usually give poor yields. Whenever the two components are different from one another, mixtures of isomeric porphyrins are produced. The synthesis of phylloporphyrin in 3.7% yield, in admixture with numerous other porphyrins, for example, is accomplished by melting the two pyrromethene halves with pyruvic acid.
The effects of stabilization exercise on low back pain and pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women

Introduction/Background Pain in the lumbar or sacroiliac region during pregnancy is common. However, it should not be considered a normal part of pregnancy. There are non-invasive approaches to treatment to effectively manage symptoms not only during pregnancy but also postpartum. A systematic review was performed to examine the effects of stabilization exercises on low back and pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women. Material and method A database search of EBSCO (CINAHL, HealthSource, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) was conducted from September 2017 to January 2018. Our search terms included “pregnancy”, “pregnan*”, “stab* exercis*”, “back pain”, “pelvic pain”, and “pelvic floor”. The studies were reviewed for content to determine if they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles were then examined for quality on a hierarchy of evidence scale and the PEDro Scale by four researchers. Results Twenty-three articles were included in the systematic review. Most concluded that stabilization exercises had a positive effect on low back and pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women. A few articles found no significant reduction in pain. The discrepancies may be due to differences in protocol such as administering a home exercise program, frequency of exercises, weeks of gestation, and direct supervision exercises. These factors may influence the effectiveness of stabilization exercise in this population. Conclusion The effects of stabilization exercise vary based on type of pain, type of exercise, location of pain and timing of intervention. Overall, the use of stabilization exercises is beneficial in reducing low back and pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women. Further, rehabilitation during pregnancy may prevent future episodes of low back and pelvic girdle pain in subsequent pregnancies.
Movies and Radio

This chapter looks at the public response to movies and radio in the lives of young people from the 1920s to the 1940s. Both were criticized for promoting violence and inappropriate content, and parents were concerned about the time young people spent with both forms of media, which were frequently discussed together in articles. Movies and radio serials that depicted crime and violence, including westerns, horror, and detective programs, were alarming to parents whose children loved the shows, but then had nightmares. Articles suggested that juvenile delinquency was on the rise due to these violent depictions, which were seen as instruction manuals to crime.
Effects of temperature on bacterial microbiome composition in Ixodes scapularis ticks.

Ixodes scapularis, the blacklegged deer tick, is the principal vector of Lyme disease in North America. Environmental factors are known to influence regional and seasonal incidence of Lyme disease and possibly the endemicity of the disease to the northeastern and upper mid-western regions of the United States. With a goal to understand the impact of environmental temperature on microbial communities within the tick, we investigated the bacterial microbiome of colony-reared I. scapularis ticks statically incubated at different temperatures (4, 20, 30, and 37°C) at a constant humidity in a controlled laboratory setting by comparison of sequenced amplicons of the bacterial 16S V4 rRNA gene to that of the untreated baseline controls. The microbiomes of colony-reared I. scapularis males were distinct than that of females, which were entirely dominated by Rickettsia. In silico removal of Rickettsia sequences from female data revealed the underlying bacterial community, which is consistent in complexity with those seen among male ticks. The bacterial community composition of these ticks changes upon incubation at 30°C for a week and 37°C for more than 5 days. Moreover, the male ticks incubated at 30 and 37°C exhibited significantly different bacterial diversity compared to the initial baseline microbiome, and the change in bacterial diversity was dependent upon duration of exposure. Rickettsia-free data revealed a significantly different bacterial diversity in female ticks incubated at 37°C compared to that of 4 and 20°C treatments. These results provide experimental evidence that environmental temperature can impact the tick bacterial microbiome in a laboratory setting.
ASPECTS OF CHEMICAL ADDITIVES IN FOODS1

The history of man is closely associated with his food supplies; survival, migrations, community development, formation of government, military campaigns, religious worship, functions of politics. ...
Sir William Osler: a brief review.

This review is far from comprehensive but provides a brief glimpse into the personality of William Osier, rather than just a biographical sketch of names and dates, in hopes that Osier becomes more than just an eponym for endocarditis or telangiectasias. He was a “medical man for all seasons” whose counsels and ideals remain timely. Despite the crush of administrative details and the push of technology, Osier’s example will help all physicians serve society and preserve the profession.
Pruning convolution neural network (squeezenet) using taylor expansion-based criterion

Recent research in the field of deep learning focuses on reducing the model size of the Convolution Neural Network (CNN) by various compression techniques like Pruning, Quantization and Encoding (eg. Huffman encoding). This paper proposes a way to prune the CNN based on Taylor expansion of change in cost function ΔC of the model. The proposed algorithm uses greedy criteria based pruning with fine-tuning by backpropagation on SqueezeNet architecture. Transfer learning technique is used to train the SqueezeNet on the CIFAR-10 dataset. The proposed algorithm achieves 70% model reduction on SqueezeNet architecture with only 1% drop in accuracy.
A Computable Definition of Sepsis Facilitates Screening and Performance Improvement Tracking.

Background Sepsis kills almost 5,000 children annually, accounting for 16% of pediatric health care spending in the United States. Objectives We sought to identify sepsis within the Electronic Health Record (EHR) of a quaternary children's hospital to characterize disease incidence, improve recognition and response, and track performance metrics. Methods Methods are organized in a plan-do-study-act cycle. During the "plan" phase, electronic definitions of sepsis (blood culture and antibiotic within 24 hours) and septic shock (sepsis plus vasoactive medication) were created to establish benchmark data and track progress with statistical process control. The performance of a screening tool was evaluated in the emergency department. During the "do" phase, a novel inpatient workflow is being piloted, which involves regular sepsis screening by nurses using the tool, and a regimented response to high risk patients. Results Screening tool use in the emergency department reduced time to antibiotics (Fig. 1). Of the 6,159 admissions, EHR definitions identified 1,433 (23.3%) between July and December 2016 with sepsis, of which 159 (11.1%) had septic shock. Hospital mortality for all sepsis patients was 2.2% and 15.7% for septic shock (Table 1). These findings approximate epidemiologic studies of sepsis and severe sepsis, which report a prevalence range of 0.45-8.2% and mortality range of 8.2-25% (Table 2).1-5. Conclusions/implications Implementation of a sepsis screening tool is associated with improved performance. The prevalence of sepsis conditions identified with electronic definitions approximates the epidemiologic landscape characterized by other point-prevalence and administrative studies, providing face validity to this approach, and proving useful for tracking performance improvement.
Frequent Use of Local Therapy Underscores Need for Multidisciplinary Care in the Management of Patients With Melanoma Brain Metastases Treated With PD-1 Inhibitors.

Purpose An increasing number of clinical trials are studying immunotherapy for the treatment of brain metastases. The role of local therapy in this setting has not been well described. Methods and Materials Twenty-three melanoma patients with brain metastases were treated with pembrolizumab in a prospective phase 2 trial, NCT02085070, and included in this secondary analysis. Patients had at least 1 untreated or progressive brain metastasis, 5 to 20 mm in size, without any associated neurologic symptoms. Local therapy (stereotactic radiosurgery, surgery, or laser interstitial thermal therapy) was used to treat concerning lesions immediately before trial enrollment and was also allowed on trial in patients whose brain metastases were progressing, but who were otherwise deriving benefit. Results In total, 13 out of 23 patients (57%) received local therapy immediately before or during the trial—4 patients received local therapy before the trial owing to lesion size or location in sensitive areas; 6 during the trial because of tumor growth, hemorrhage, or radiation necrosis/cystic changes; and 3 both before and during the trial. Of the 10 patients who did not receive local therapy immediately before or during the trial, 8 patients (35%) did not later receive local therapy owing to rapid disease progression, and only 2 patients (9%) lived for 2 years without requiring any local therapy. Conclusions Local therapy continues to play an important role in the management of melanoma patients with brain metastases being treated with immunotherapy. These patients should be closely monitored via serial brain imaging, with a multidisciplinary team involved in clinical decision making to ensure each patient's neurologic safety.
Fertile Soil? How Information does (and does not) Shape Attitudes toward School Choice in Rural America

ABSTRACTThe role of political factors, specifically of public opinion, in the relatively low penetration of charter schools into rural America remains unclear. We use 8 years of national survey dat...
Insurance Coverage, Employment Status, and Financial Well-Being of Young Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Background: The economic cost of breast cancer is a major personal and public health problem in the United States. This study aims to evaluate the insurance, employment, and financial experiences of young female breast cancer survivors and to assess factors associated with financial decline. Methods: We recruited 830 women under 40 years of age diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2013 and December 2014. The study population was identified through California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina population-based cancer registries. The cross-sectional survey was fielded in 2017 and included questions on demographics, insurance, employment, out-of-pocket costs, and financial well-being. We present descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis to assess factors associated with financial decline. Results: Although 92.5% of the respondents were continuously insured over the past 12 months, 9.5% paid a “higher price than expected” for coverage. Common concerns among the 73.4% of respondents who were employed at diagnosis included increased paid (55.1%) or unpaid (47.3%) time off, suffering job performance (23.2%), and staying at (30.2%) or avoiding changing (23.5%) jobs for health insurance purposes. Overall, 47.0% experienced financial decline due to treatment-related costs. Patients with some college education, multiple comorbidities, late stage diagnoses, and self-funded insurance were most vulnerable. Conclusions: The breast cancer diagnosis created financial hardship for half the respondents and led to myriad challenges in maintaining employment. Employment decisions were heavily influenced by the need to maintain health insurance coverage. Impact: This study finds that a breast cancer diagnosis in young women can result in employment disruption and financial decline.
Survey on life quality of peptic ulcer older than 60 years

Objective To study the status of the life quality (QOL) of the peptic ulcer older than 60 years in Panyu district of Guangzhou city and to find the solutions of the peptic ulcer old health problem reasonable method.Methods A questionnaire based on SF-36 QOL questionnaire was developed and used in the survey.Respectively age ≥ 60 years old patients with peptic ulcers and General face-to-face survey of older persons.Results In age ≥ 60 years older crowd,Panyu,Guangzhou,the QOL scores in PF,RP,GH,VT,SF,RE,MH domains were lower than the General elderly people,there were significant differences (P＜ 0.05).Same gender comparison shows that male and female patients with PF,GH,VT,RE domains were less than the General older persons.Furthermore,in PF in patients with female dimension is also lower than the General elderly people,there were significant differences (P＜ 0.05).Different genders in elderly patients with peptic ulcer of PF BP,and GH score were lower than other older persons,there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions In Panyu district of Guangzhou city,the QOL of peptic ulcer older than 60 years were lower than the General elderly people,and should increase social support,improve the quality of life of patients. Key words: The elderly; Peptic Ulcer; Life Quality; SF-36; Survey
Can Pay-for Performance Incentive Levels be Determined Using a Cost-Effectiveness Framework?

Background: Healthcare payers in the United States are increasingly tying provider payments to quality and value using pay-for-performance policies. Cost-effectiveness analysis quantifies value in ...
What affects how far individuals walk

The number of studies that explore contributing factors that encourage individuals to do more walking trips is proliferated in recent years. However, there is still a lot to know about differentiating between short and long walking trips and their associated influencing factors. The current research investigated the impact of the influencing factors on the share of short and long walking trips across four different trips in 112 traffic analysis zones of Rasht, Iran. The share of walking trips was defined as the proportion of walking trips that originated/ended in an area on all trips that originated/ended in that area. In four trip purposes in short, long, and all trips, the factors associated with the share of walking in origins and destinations were investigated in 24 separate models. The factors included built environmental indices, such as transportation network connectivity and land-use variables, as well as socio-demographic. To differentiate between short and long walking trips, 600 m walking distance was recognized as a proxy. According to the results, the population density was found significantly increase share of walking in both the origins and destinations of short walking trips. Moreover, the models’ goodness of fits were relatively higher in short walking trips comparing long walking trips. This research's findings would give a profound assessment to city planners and decision makers who favor expanding walking as a sustainable mode of transportation.
Introduction to a Book Forum on Pastoral Aesthetics: A Theological Perspective on Principlist Bioethics by Nathan Carlin

The author offers an introduction to the essays in a book forum on Carlin in Pastoral Aesthetics: A Theological Perspective on Principlist Bioethics (2019).
Sequential modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway enhances tumor-intrinsic MHC I expression and tumor clearance.

Background Progress in immunotherapy use for gynecologic malignancies is hampered by poor tumor antigenicity and weak T cell infiltration of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation demonstrated patient benefit in clinical trials as well as enhanced immune cell recruitment in preclinical studies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the pathways by which Wnt/β-catenin modulation facilitates a more immunotherapy-favorable TME. Methods Human tumor samples and in vivo patient-derived xenograft and syngeneic murine models were administered Wnt/β-catenin modulating agents DKN-01 and CGX-1321 individually or in sequence. Analytical methods included immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, multiplex cytokine/chemokine array, and RNA sequencing. Results DKK1 blockade via DKN-01 increased HLA/MHC expression in human and murine tissues, correlating with heightened expression of known MHC I regulators: NFkB, IL-1, LPS, and IFNy. PORCN inhibition via CGX-1321 increased production of T cell chemoattractant CXCL10, providing a mechanism for observed increases in intra-tumoral T cells. Diverse leukocyte recruitment was noted with elevations in B cells and macrophages, with increased tumor expression of population-specific chemokines. Sequential DKK1 blockade and PORCN inhibition decreased tumor burden as evidenced by reduced omental weights. Conclusions Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation increases MHC I expression and promotes tumor leukocytic infiltration, facilitating a pro-immune TME associated with decreased tumor burden. This intervention overcomes common tumor immune-evasion mechanisms and may render ovarian tumors susceptible to immunotherapy.
HOW MARGINAL TAX RATES AFFECT FAMILIES AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF POVERTY

High marginal tax rates can make moving above poverty very difficult for low-income families. These high tax rates result from increasing direct taxes (both state and federal) as well as decreasing...
Avoiding early complications and reoperation during occipitocervical fusion in pediatric patients

Object Surgical arthrodesis for pediatric occipitocervical (OC) instability has a high rate of success in a wide variety of challenging circumstances; however, identifying potential risk factors can help to target variables that should be the focus of improvement. The aim of this paper was to examine risk factors predictive of failure in a population of patients who underwent instrumented OC arthrodesis using a uniform surgical philosophy. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who underwent OC fusion from 2001 to 2013 at a single institution to determine risk factors for surgical failure, defined as reoperation for revision of the arthrodesis or instrumentation. The primary study outcome was either radiographic confirmation of successful OC fusion or surgical failure requiring revision of the arthrodesis or instrumentation. The secondary outcome was the underlying cause of failure (hardware failure, graft failure, or infection). Univariate analysis was performed ...
Identification of substrate specificity determinants for the cell cycle-regulated NIMA protein kinase.

NIMA is a cell cycle-regulated protein kinase required for the G2/M transition in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Previous biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme indicated that NIMA is a protein serine/threonine specific kinase with beta-casein being the best substrate from the many proteins and peptides tested (Lu, K.P., Osmani, S.A., and Means, A.R. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 8769-8776). However, substrate specificity or physiologically relevant substrates for NIMA remained unknown. In search for a peptide substrate for this enzyme, we screened an assembled library of synthetic peptides that each contained a phosphorylation site for a known protein kinase and found an excellent peptide substrate for NIMA, phospholemman 42-72 (PLM(42-72)). NIMA kinase phosphorylated PLM(42-72) uniquely and stoichiometrically on Ser63 with a Vmax of 1.4 mumol/min/mg and apparent Km of 20.0 microM. These kinetic constants were about 10-fold higher and 3-fold lower than those for beta-casein, respectively. A detailed analysis of substrate specificity determinants using synthetic peptide analogs of PLM(42-72) indicated that Phe-Arg-Xaa-Ser/Thr represents the optimal primary sequence for NIMA kinase phosphorylation. Replacement of the Arg at P-2 with Ala resulted in a 6-fold increase in Km and 2-fold decrease in Vmax, while substitution of the Phe at P-3 with Ala abolished NIMA phosphorylation. These results reveal the unique nature of substrate recognition by the NIMA kinase and should prove valuable in the search for biologically relevant NIMA substrates.
Gamma-irradiation of deoxyribonucleic acid in dilute solutions. I. A sensitive method for detection of single-strand breaks in polydisperse DNA samples.

Abstract A relatively simple and rapid method has been developed which allows quantitation of the rate of production of single-strand scissions in polydisperse populations of DNA molecules. This method, which is based on determination of the progressive loss of the rapid renaturability (zippering-up) of cross-linked DNA, was applied as a quantitative assay of strand breakage by ionizing radiation and by DNase I. Radiosensitivity to single-strand scissions was proportional to the molecular size but independent of the average base composition or substitution of bromouracil for thymine. The protective effects of cysteine and cysteamine, and self-protection at higher DNA concentrations were demonstrated.