cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systems of Intellectual Capital

This essay reviews Orly Lobel's article The New Cognitive Property: Human Capital Law and the Reach of Intellectual Property. It commends Professor Lobel for outlining the contours of the “new” field of human capital law, and for emphasizing the potential consequences of the growing enclosure of cognitive capacities in contemporary markets. From this starting point the essay makes two modest suggestions for researchers. First, it suggests that those building on Lobel’s work consider more contextual description and evaluation of human and intellectual capital production systems. Doing so would avoid overly abstract, macro-level analysis that is often divorced from reality and from the critical nuances that shape actors’ individual and collective motivations and behavior. It would also avoid excessive reliance on overly specific, micro-level analysis, which can be anecdotal. Second, the essay emphasizes the importance of establishing normative baselines prior to evaluating or prescribing reform.
Prototype of radioisotope thermophotovoltaic system using photonic crystal spectral control

This work describes a prototype of a small-size radioisotope thermophotovoltaic (RTPV) system with the two-dimensional metallic photonic crystal emitter and the low bandgap TPV cell. The project demonstrates the simulation and measurement of a system powered by an electrical heat source that mimics the radioisotope fuel pellet. The photonic crystal and the polished Ta3%W substrate are both used as the emitting surfaces to demonstrate the benefits of spectral control. The rest of the system is thermally insulated to increase the overall system efficiency. The photonic crystal emitter demonstrates four times more output power over a flat metal emitter from the 1 cm2 TPV cell. With more cell areas, better TPV cells and improved insulation design, the system is expected to reach an efficiency of 7.8%.
Abstract 4819: Differential evolution of tumor heterogeneity in leiomyosarcomas and liposarcomas suggested by genomic profiling

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous set of malignant tumors originating from mesenchymal cells. Liposarcomas (LPS) and Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are two of the most common histotypes, accounting for approximately 25% and 30% of all soft tissue sarcomas, respectively. The most frequent form of LPS is represented by a spectrum of disease including well-differentiated LPS (WDLPS), a non-metastasizing but locally recurrent disease with adipocytic differentiation, and de-differentiated LPS (DDLPS), an aggressive, frequently metastasizing high grade sarcoma which can arise in conjunction with elements of WDLPS. Besides the known oncogenic KIT or PDGFRA driver mutations in GIST, somatic alterations in RB1, deletions in PTEN, MDM2 amplifications in LPS, and TP53 mutations in LMS are the most commonly reported genomic aberrancies identified in sarcomas. Both WDLPS and DDLPS share amplification of 12q13-15, a genomic region containing the MDM2 and CDK4 loci, yet little is understood about the other genetic processes that yield such different phenotypes. In LMS, recurrent mutations in TP53 have been identified, but a detailed analysis of primary and metastatic tumors has not previously been described. To evaluate genetic events in these transitions, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on trios comprising normal tissue, WDLPS, and DDLPS obtained from individual patients (n = 19), as well as on trios of normal tissue, primary and metastatic LMS tumors obtained from separate individual patients (n = 8). Consistent with prior reports of the molecular characterization of LPS, we observed arm-level amplifications in Chr 12 in all LPS samples, and Chr 17 amplification in many LMS cases. There were no shared somatic alterations across paired WDLPS and DLPS pairs from individual patients aside from the common Chr 12 amplification (MDM2 & CDK4). A higher mutation rate was observed in LMS, and there were many clonal somatic alterations shared between the primary and metastatic lesions of individuals. This study demonstrates the heterogeneity of evolution between different subtypes of sarcomas using whole exome sequencing of clinical specimens. This finding has implications for better understanding of the molecular drivers of these tumors and opportunities to identify subtype-specific therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Ali Amin-Mansour, Stefano Sioletic, Scott L. Carter, Levi A. Garraway, George D. Demetri, Suzanne George, Eliezer M. Van Allen, Andrew J. Wagner. Differential evolution of tumor heterogeneity in leiomyosarcomas and liposarcomas suggested by genomic profiling. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4819. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4819
NCO-07CASE REPORT: CARCINOMATOUS OPTIC NEUROPATHY

38 years old female presented with progressive double vision followed by decreased visual acuity in left eye to almost 20/400 and later right eye. Her initial MRI B was unremarkable. LP showed opening pressure of 60, WBC 2, protein 144, normal glucose. Fundoscopic examination did not reveal any papilloedema. Considering her progressive vision loss and double vision, EVD was placed with resolution of her double vision and very mild improvement in her visual acuity. After 2 days, VP shunt was placed but her visual acuity got worse afterwards. MRV brain showed possible venous sinus thrombosis left transverse, sigmoid and internal jugular vein. At this point she also started having progressive numbness/tingling and weakness in her lower extremities. CT abdomen showed colon mass so she had colon biopsy showing poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. At this point she was transferred to our facility for further evaluation. MRI T and L spine showed spinal root enhancement, repeat LP showed protein 1501, WBC 3 and normal glucose. EMG showed early intraspinal process at multiple levels affecting the lumbar and cervical spinal roots. Colon biopsy was repeated and confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Her CA 125 was 447 so ovarian carcinoma was suspected. CONCLUSION: Opthalmoplegia in our patient was probably from ICP secondary to carcinomatous meningitis. Even with progressive vision loss, she did not have papilledema so retrobulbar optic neuropathy was suspected which was thought to be secondary to paraneoplastic syndrome.
Is coverage enough? Persistent health disparities in marginalised Latino border communities

What has been the fate of those living in the place once dubbed the ‘county that needs the Affordable Care Act the most’? This article presents results from a longitudinal, five-year ethnographic s...
Antecedents and consequences of Franchisee satisfaction in the U.S. restaurant industry

This study surveyed 3,177 franchisees from 58 restaurant brands with the purpose of examining the antecedents and consequences of franchisee satisfaction in the U.S. food service sector. Findings i...
Quality Control and Applications

(1989). Quality Control and Applications. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 145-145.
The mitochondrial unfolded protein response is activated upon hematopoietic stem cell exit from quiescence

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR mt), a cellular protective program that ensures proteostasis in the mitochondria, has recently emerged as a regulatory mechanism for adult stem cell maintenance that is conserved across tissues. Despite the emerging genetic evidence implicating the UPR mt in stem cell maintenance, the underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. While it has been speculated that the UPR mt is activated upon stem cell transition from quiescence to proliferation, the direct evidence is lacking. In this study, we devised three experimental approaches that enable us to monitor quiescent and proliferating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and provided the direct evidence that the UPR mt is activated upon HSC transition from quiescence to proliferation, and more broadly, mitochondrial integrity is actively monitored at the restriction point to ensure metabolic fitness before stem cells are committed to proliferation.
The Genetic Basis of Albinism in the Hermaphroditic Freshwater Snail Planorbella trivolvis

In many species, the difference between pigmented and non-pigmented individuals is due to a single recessive Mendelian gene. We have demonstrated that this is also the case in the freshwater hermaphroditic snail, Planorbella trivolvis (Say, 1817), and established an albino population with comparable genetic background to a wild population so that pigmentation can be used as a visible genetic marker to better understand the reproductive biology of these mollusks. We carried out Mendelian crosses between albino (A) individuals from an inbred laboratory strain and pigmented (P) individuals one generation removed from a natural population and assessed pigmentation of progeny from eggs collected immediately after mating and 11 weeks later. Results of parental, F1, and F2 generations and backcrosses to pure-breeding albinos were consistent with a Mendelian single gene inheritance pattern. Because we never observed albino progeny from any albino snails mated to pigmented sperm donors, we also confirmed that selfing is rare in P. trivolvis. A simple non-invasive paternity marker in this unusual hermaphrodite snail that displays almost no self-fertilization will facilitate experiments to understand its reproductive biology and provide a more complete picture of hermaphrodite mating strategies.
Change of Control Board: Federal Preemption of the Law Governing A Target's Directors

This article sets out a proposed federal uniform standard governing the actions by the board of directors of a publicly held corporation that is the target of a change of control transaction. This proposal would apply in each of the following four merger and acquisition transactions: (1) the acquisition of a target in an arm's length negotiated merger or acquisition; (2) the acquisition of a target in a management buyout; (3) the proposed acquisition of a target in a hostile tender offer; and (4) the acquisition by a target's controlling shareholder of the minority interests in such target in a freezeout merger. Under this proposal, an independent and knowledgeable change of control board would be appointed for the target, and this board would have complete authority over the acquisition process. Because of the board's obvious independence, a uniform governance standard, the business judgment rule, would apply in determining if the board acted properly. Thus, this article proposes that federal law preempt state law rules governing the actions of a publicly held target's board in each of these transactions. However, this is only a default rule because a corporation's shareholders could elect not to have the provision apply or could elect to have it apply only in certain circumstances, such as in a hostile tender offer. The adoption of this provision would enhance the competition for corporate governance rules in change of control transactions. This proposal would replace the four separate governance rules generally applicable to a target's directors under Delaware and other state law in arm's length transactions, management buyouts, tender offers, and freezeouts. This article also rejects the four sets of rules proposed for these transactions in the American Law Institute's PRINCIPLES OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION. This proposal would also override all state takeover laws, such as control share statutes, business combination statutes and disgorgement statutes, which generally have the purpose or effect of protecting incumbent management. By placing the control of the change of control process in the hands of truly disinterested directors and applying the business judgment rule in all cases in which a change of control board acts, this proposal should cure the problem of unpredictability and vagueness, should result in a substantial decrease in litigation in change of control situations, and should enhance the efficiency of the change of control market.
Potential Vorticity Hydraulics

To this point we have dwelt with applications in which the velocity of the current is comparable with the speed of long, internal gravity waves. This situation can arise in channels, along coastlines, in the lee of mountains, or in other special locations, but is less likely to occur in the relatively slow and broad general circulation of the ocean or atmosphere. Even the jet-like currents such as the Gulf Stream tend to be substantially subcritical with respect to long, gravest-mode, internal gravity waves. On the other hand, Rossby waves and other types of potential vorticity waves are important to the general circulation. As discussed in Section 2.1, these waves depend on lateral gradients of potential vorticity to provide a restoring mechanism. For the gradients that typically exist in geophysical applications, the waves are generally much slower than long gravity waves and can have wave speeds in the range of the current velocity.
Immune Response(Ir)Genes of the Murine Major Histocompatibility Complex

Publisher Summary This chapter opens up with a detailed analysis of the early experiments of these scientists, culminating in the discovery by McDevitt that these genes were linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). One of the major unifying threads in cellular immunology that ended in the identification of MHC-encoded molecules as the Ir gene products and the merging of the two phenomena: Ir gene control and MHC restriction (the requirement for T cells to recognize an MHC-encoded molecule in addition to the antigen in order to become activated). The recent developments in cellular and molecular cloning have moved the problem of Ir gene function to the biochemical level. Ir genes are genetically linked to the MHC. A formal proof of the genetic linkage of Ir-genes to the MHC was performed using the segregating population in a backcross to the low responder parent.
Geographic Access to CT for Lung Cancer Screening: A Census Tract-Level Analysis of Cigarette Smoking in the United States and Driving Distance to a CT Facility.

Abstract Purpose Spatial access to health care resources is a requisite for utilization. Our purpose was to determine, at a census tract level, the geographic distribution of US smokers and their driving distance to an ACR-accredited CT facility. Methods The number of smokers per US census tract was determined from US Census Bureau data (American Community Survey, 2011-2015) and census tract smoking prevalence estimates. Driving distance, from the centroid of each census tract to the nearest CT facility, was determined using a geographic information system. Distance variations were assessed, and relationships with tract population density were examined with regression models. Results Most US smokers (81.8%) were within 15 miles of a CT facility; however, there was considerable inter- and intrastate variability. For census tracts containing ≥500 smokers, median distance to a CT was 4.3 miles. At the state level, median distance ranged from 1.4 (Washington DC) to 29.1 miles (Wyoming). Within each state, this variation was higher, with Washington, DC, exhibiting the lowest range (range, 4.3; 0.2-4.5 miles) and Maine exhibiting the highest range (range, 244.8; 0.2-245.0 miles). Distance to a CT facility was inversely associated with census tract population density. Conclusions Geographic variability in CT facility access has implications for lung cancer screening (LCS) implementation. Individuals in densely populated areas have relatively greater spatial access to CT facilities than those in sparsely populated tracts. Further work is needed to identify access disparities to LCS to optimize LCS for all eligible populations.
Environmental perfluoroalkyl acid exposures are associated with liver disease characterized by apoptosis and altered serum adipocytokines.

Abstract Exposures to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are associated with increased liver enzymes in cohort studies including the C8 Health Study. In animal models, PFAAs disrupt hepatic lipid metabolism and induce apoptosis to cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). PFAAs are immunotoxic and inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine release from stimulated leukocytes in vitro. This cross-sectional study tests the hypothesis that environmental PFAAs are associated with increased hepatocyte apoptosis and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum. Biomarkers previously associated with PFAS exposures and/or NAFLD were evaluated as secondary endpoints. Two hundred adult C8 Health Study participants were included. Measured serum biomarkers included: perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); cytokeratin 18 M30 (CK18 M30, hepatocyte apoptosis); adipocytokines; insulin; and cleaved complement 3 (C3a). Confounder-adjusted linear regression models determined associations between PFAS and disease biomarkers with cut-offs determined by classification and regression tree analysis. CK18 M30 was positively associated with PFHxS (β = 0.889, p = 0.042); PFOA (β = 2.1, p = 0.005); and PFNA (β = 0.567, p = 0.03). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) was inversely associated with PFHxS (β = −0.799, p = 0.001); PFOA (β = − 1.242, p = 0.001); and PFOS (β = −0.704, p
Savage or satire: Individual differences in perceptions of disparaging and subversive racial humor

Abstract Subversive racial humor intends to confront and challenge racist beliefs to subvert traditional status hierarchies. However, because of its racial content, such humor can be misconstrued as disparaging. To understand why, we examined how individual differences relate to perceptions of disparaging and subversive racial humor. In three studies (Ns = 204, 134, and 200), college students and MTurk workers completed established measures of individual differences in tendencies to perceive racial prejudice (Studies 1–3), motivations to suppress racial prejudice (Study 3), and modern racism (Study 3), and responded to examples of disparaging or subversive racial humor. General tendencies to perceive racial prejudice were associated with more negative reactions to disparaging humor (e.g., perceiving it as less funny and more racist) and more positive reactions to subversive humor (e.g., perceiving it as more funny and more antiracist). Individual differences in motivations to suppress racial prejudice showed similar patterns, and modern racism showed opposite patterns. In general, our findings suggest that although subversive racial humor can be misconstrued, believing racial prejudice is pervasive and problematic is associated with a greater understanding and appreciation of subversive racial humor, an increasingly prevalent social phenomenon that requires further empirical attention.
Towards insight-driven sampling for big data visualisation

Creating an interactive, accurate, and low-latency big data visualisation is challenging due to the volume, variety, and velocity of the data. Visualisation options range from visualising the entir...
Workplace health promotion and safety in state and territorial health departments in the United States: a national mixed-methods study of activity, capacity, and growth opportunities

State and Territorial Health Departments (SHDs) have a unique role in protecting and promoting workers’ health. This mixed-methods study presents the first systematic investigation of SHDs’ activities and capacity in both Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) in the United States (US). National survey of OSH and WHP practitioners from each of 56 SHDs, followed by in-depth interviews with a subset of survey respondents. We calculated descriptive statistics for survey variables and conducted conventional content analysis of interviews. Seventy percent (n = 39) of OSH and 71% (n = 40) of WHP contacts responded to the survey. Twenty-seven (n = 14 OSH, n = 13 WHP) participated in follow-up interviews. Despite limited funding, staffing, or organizational support, SHDs reported a wide array of activities. We assessed OSH and WHP surveillance activities, support that SHDs provided to employers to implement OSH and WHP interventions (implementation support), OSH and WHP services provided directly to workers, OSH follow-back investigations, and OSH standard and policy development. Each of the categories we asked about (excluding OSH standard and policy development) were performed by more than half of responding SHDs. Surveillance was the area of greatest OSH activity, while implementation support was the area of greatest WHP activity. Respondents characterized their overall capacity as low. Thirty percent (n = 9) of WHP and 19% (n = 6) of OSH respondents reported no funds at all for OSH/WHP work, and both groups reported a median 1.0 FTEs working on OSH/WHP at the SHD. Organizational support for OSH and WHP was characterized as “low” to “moderate”. To increase SHDs’ capacity for OSH and WHP, interview respondents recommended that OSH and WHP approaches be better integrated into other public health initiatives (e.g., infectious disease prevention), and that federal funding for OSH and WHP increase. They also discussed specific recommendations for improving the accessibility and utility of existing funding mechanisms, and the educational resources they desired from the CDC. Results revealed current activities and specific strategies for increasing capacity of SHDs to promote the safety and health of workers and workplaces – an important public health setting for reducing acute injury and chronic disease.
Power Law Model to Predict Creep Movement and Creep Failure

AbstractSoils deform as a function of time because of the consolidation and the creep processes. Under undrained conditions, the consolidation process is prevented and the creep deformations are is...
Eating “junk food” has opposite effects on intrinsic excitability of nucleus accumbens core neurons in obesity-susceptible versus -resistant rats

Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens of obesity-prone rats are hyperexcitable compared with MSNs from obesity-resistant rats. We found that 10 days of “junk food” exposure reduces M...
Implicit gender bias among US resident physicians

The purpose of this study was to characterize implicit gender bias among residents in US Emergency Medicine and OB/GYN residencies. We conducted a survey of all allopathic Emergency Medicine and OB/GYN residency programs including questions about leadership as well as an implicit association test (IAT) for unconscious gender bias. We used descriptive statistics to analyze the Likert-type survey responses and used standard IAT analysis methods. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors that were associated with implicit bias. We conducted a subgroup analysis of study sites involved in a multi-site intervention study to determine if responses were different in this group. Overall, 74% of the programs had at least one respondent. Out of 14,234 eligible, 1634 respondents completed the survey (11.5%). Of the five sites enrolled in the intervention study, 244 of 359 eligible residents completed the survey (68%). Male residents had a mean IAT score of 0.31 (SD 0.23) and females 0.14 (SD 0.24), both favoring males in leadership roles and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). IAT scores did not differ by postgraduate year (PGY). Multivariable analysis of IAT score and participant demographics confirmed a significant association between female gender and lower IAT score. Explicit bias favoring males in leadership roles was associated with increased implicit bias favoring males in leadership roles (r = 0.1 p < 0.001). We found that gender bias is present among US residents favoring men in leadership positions, this bias differs between male and female residents, and is associated with discipline. Implicit bias did not differ across training years, and is associated with explicit bias.
Playing with history and tradition: television educational programs in contemporary China:

TV educational programs mushroomed in China in the 1990s and beyond. They combined education and entertainment, and for the first time in Communist Chinese history, used TV ratings to determine the...
A Frightened Heart

This chapter deepens a period of disappointed love, homelessness, serious illness, and continued writing in her life. Having abandoned the fantasy that Bowen’s Court would shelter her and Charles Ritchie, Bowen bought a modest house in Hythe, a return to her childhood landscape, a period in which she finished The Little Girls (1964), “A Nativity Play” with Derek Hill, and Eva Trout (1966). Her work was interrupted with a serious bout of bronchitis and radium treatments for lung cancer, yet she struggled to complete part of her memoir, Pictures and Conversations before her death in 1973. Her memorial in Farahy Church reawakened rifts in Irish society.
Laser Scribed Carbon Layers: Process Optimization & Sensor Applications

Justifiably large interest on graphene as an extremely versatile and high-conductivity flexible electronic material led to ongoing push for novel low-cost preparation techniques. Recently it has been demonstrated that polyimide (commercially available as Kapton®) films carbonizes in a surprisingly effective and simple fashion by illumination of medium power $(\sim 100$ mW) ns to ms range laser pulses in air. The resulting carbon layers have been shown to be of a random network of 3D and 2D graphitic structures that bestow the final layer sufficient conductivity (1 to 10 W-cm) that can be used in practical applications, especially for sensor and electrochemical applications. However, being a relatively novel process, a detailed account of process optimization and reliability of the conducting structures have not been yet provided, which is provided in this work. Moreover, additional examples of materials responsive to laser scribing process and passive RC-based sensors are also introduced. In addition, we methodically explore typical process parameter space to decouple the complex interplay between laser speed, pulse width, line spacing and laser power for the laser scribe process as well as investigating the longevity and statistical nature of device performance. In particular, we pay attention to humidity conditions and indicate how some of potential weakness can be turned to strengths for sensor applications. Therefore, we report on the optimal processing conditions, reliability of passive device performance and chemical stability of laser scribed carbon electrodes which can be applied to practical sensor development.
Sperm–oocyte signaling: the role of IZUMO1R and CD9 in PTK2B activation and actin remodeling at the sperm binding site†

Sperm–oocyte binding initiates an outside-in signaling event in the mouse oocyte that triggers recruitment and activation of the cytosolic protein kinase PTK2B in the cortex underlying the bound sperm. While not involved in gamete fusion, PTK2B activity promotes actin remodeling events important during sperm incorporation. However, the mechanism by which sperm–oocyte binding activates PTK2B is unknown, and the present study examined the possibility that sperm interaction with specific oocyte surface proteins plays an important role in PTK2B activation. Imaging studies revealed that as IZUMO1R and CD9 became concentrated at the sperm binding site, activated (phosphorylated) PTK2B accumulated in the cortex underlying the sperm head and in microvilli partially encircling the sperm head. In order to determine whether IZUMO1R and/or CD9 played a significant role in PTK2B recruitment and activation at the sperm binding site, the ability of oocytes null for Izumo1r or Cd9, to initiate an increase in PTK2B content and activation was tested. The results revealed that IZUMO1R played a minor role in PTK2B activation and had no effect on actin remodeling; however, CD9 played a very significant role in PTK2B activation and subsequent actin remodeling at the sperm binding site. These findings suggest the possibility that interaction of sperm surface proteins with CD9 or CD9-associated oocyte proteins triggers PTK2B activation at the sperm binding site.Summary sentenceSperm binding triggers PTK2B activation in the oocyte through a CD9-dependent mechanism.
Coombs-Negative Haemolytic Anaemia, Direct Hyperbilirubinaemia and Splenomegaly: A Rare Amalgam.

Introduction Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is notorious for its varied presentation in adults. Reactivation of EBV can occur at any time and is often due to weakened cellular immunity. Case description Here we report the case of a young woman with no previous medical history who presented with cholestatic hepatitis, Coombs-negative haemolytic anaemia and splenomegaly. Due to the initial disjointed picture with no other localizing symptoms, she underwent extensive work-up for the same. Discussion EBV has been associated with many malignancies, autoimmune diseases and chronic fatigue syndrome. EBV causes elevated liver enzymes; however, cholestatic hepatitis is exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported. Haemolytic anaemia is a common complication of EBV infection and is often Coombs positive. Conclusion EBV testing should be considered before more invasive and expensive work-up in a patient presenting with multi-systemic abnormalities. Learning points Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can have myriad manifestations in all age groups.Coombs-negative haemolytic anaemia can occur as a complication of EBV.EBV testing should be considered prior to more expensive work-up in anyone presenting with abnormalities in the reticuloendothelial system.
Restorative justice: a qualitative analysis of school security perspectives

Grounded in Restorative Justice theory, the current study examines the perspectives of School Resource Officers (SROs) and other School Security Personnel (SSPs) during a professional development t...
Rapid preparation of nanodiscs for biophysical studies.

Nanodiscs, which are disc-shaped entities that contain a central lipid bilayer encased by an annulus of amphipathic helices, have emerged as a leading native-like membrane mimic. The current approach for the formation of nanodiscs involves the creation of a mixed-micellar solution containing membrane scaffold protein, lipid, and detergent followed by a time consuming process (3-12 h) of dialysis and/or incubation with sorptive beads to remove the detergent molecules from the sample. In contrast, the methodology described herein provides a facile and rapid procedure for the preparation of nanodiscs in a matter of minutes (<15 min) using Sephadex® G-25 resin to remove the detergent from the sample. A panoply of biophysical techniques including analytical ultracentrifugation, dynamic light scattering, gel filtration chromatography, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and cryogenic electron microscopy were employed to unequivocally confirm that aggregates formed by this method are indeed nanodiscs. We believe that this method will be attractive for time-sensitive and high-throughput experiments.
An integrated approach to evaluate different tetracycline derivatives for formulary decisions

Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as a critical opportunistic pathogen associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Tetracycline derivatives have been recognized as alternative treatment options, but they have varied pharmacokinetic properties. An integrated approach to different tetracycline derivatives for formulary decisions is reported. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data from clonally diverse bloodstream S. maltophilia isolates were examined, along with the pharmacokinetic profiles of 4 tetracycline derivatives, to predict achievable pharmacodynamic exposures with standard intravenous dosing regimens. Antimicrobial therapy was assessed using the ratio of daily drug acquisition cost relative to the ratio of the free-drug area under the time-concentration curve (fAUC) to the 90th percentile for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for isolates (fAUC/MIC90). Results In our analysis, minocycline had the greatest fAUC/MIC90. Doxycycline was the most financially preferred agent, as calculated using 2020 average wholesale price for base-case estimates of drug acquisition cost. Conclusion An integrated evaluation for antimicrobial formulary decision-making addressed local susceptibility data, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, dosing regimens, and drug acquisition costs. This comprehensive method is more objective than the conventional approach and warrants validation.
Haiti: A Failed State? Democratic Process and OAS Intervention

Graham Greene, in response to criticism of his novel, "Les Comedians," openly admitted that he was not concerned about the authenticity of his characters so long as Haiti, Doctor Duvaliar, and the Tontons Macoute, were "real enough."2 The novel, set in a Port-au-Prince hotel in the 1960s, portrays both the island's unique and vibrant culture, and simultaneously, its political unrest. Fifty years after the novel's first publication, Haiti has yet to progress much beyond the country depicted in those pages. The 2010 earthquake destroyed the landmarks the novel described, and the power of the Tontons, Macoutes, and Duvaliers has dissi pated; the gangs of Cite Soleil, however, still roam the capital's streets, and violence remains a steady presence in the everyday lives of Haitians.3 Haiti's future—though uncertain—relies heav ily on the Organization of American States ("OAS") involvement and its continued provision of foreign aid. The island nation faced a massive cholera outbreak in 2010, following the devastating earthquake that decimated many popu lated areas. At most recent count, approximately 6,500 Haitians have been killed by the water-borne disease.4 Many Haitians
ADVANCED BATTERIES FOR VEHICLE PROPULSION

The development of batteries for electric vehicles, performance goals for these batteries, and the strategy being followed in the United States to promote commercialization of electric vehicles are discussed. Intensive battery development is underway in the U.S. and other countries to reduce the consumption of petroleum by shifting the energy source to coal and nuclear power. Through the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1976, the U.S. has authorized a large research and development program on battery and electric vehicle technologies and a demonstration program designed to promote the commercialization of electric vehicles. The existing lead-acid battery does not have sufficiently high performance, in terms of vehicle range, to attract a large market. Near-term research is aimed at improving the lead-acid battery and developing iron-nickel oxide and zinc-nickel oxide batteries. One of these is expected to advance sufficiently to achieve commercialization and capture the near-term market. Advanced batteries such as lithium-aluminum/iron sulfide, sodium/sulfur, and zinc/chlorine promise much higher performance than any near-term battery, vehicle ranges approaching 200 miles with the speed, acceleration and hill-climbing capabilities of gasoline-powered vehicles. Market penetration through the early stages of commercialization may be through limited markets of submarines, postal vans, buses, and mining vehicles. Batteries for vehicle propulsion purposes are not likely to find application in earthmoving or large farming equipment.
The Efficacy of Casual Videogame Play in Reducing Clinical Depression: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Abstract Background: Depression is a debilitating illness that is estimated to affect more than 300 million people worldwide. Although there has been some success in treatment of this illness with pharmaceuticals and behavioral techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy, these are often costly and have stigma associated with them. The purpose of this study was to test whether a prescribed regimen of casual videogame (CVG) play could reduce symptoms associated with depression. Subjects and Methods: Participants were screened for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). They were then randomized into the control (n=29) or experimental (n=30) group. Experimental participants were prescribed to play CVGs three times per week (with 24 hours between each session), for 30 minutes, over a 1-month period. Control participants surfed the National Institute of Mental Health's Web page on depression. The instrument used to test the hypothesis was the PHQ-9. Results: Repeated-measures statistical...
Robert, Mary, And Katrina

Robert, Mary, and Katrina begins starkly: a black screen. A 911 operator advising an elderly caller to escape to higher ground. The sound of a helicopter—an elusive promise of rescue. In the second...
Different articular outcomes of Still's disease in Chinese children and adults.

The clinical manifestations, treatment and course, and articular outcomes of 24 children with juvenile-onset Still’s disease (JOSD) and 21 adults with adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) were compared retrospectively. There was no significant difference in the initial clinical and laboratory manifestations except that more adults presented with a sore throat (81% vs 46%, p = 0.03). Although serum ferritin was almost always elevated in both diseases, adults had significantly higher serum ferritin concentrations compared with those of children. Steroid treatment was required in 71% of children and 52% of adults, while disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were used in 42% of children and 24% of adults during the course. Chronic arthritis (>6 months) occurred in comparable proportions of patients with JOSD and AOSD (46% vs 38%, p = 0.82), irrespective of the disease pattern (monocyclic or polycyclic). However, severe deforming arthritis with marked functional limitation occurred only in JOSD, particularly with polyarthritis at disease onset (more than five affected joints). In contrast, AOSD patients with chronic arthritis had a favourable functional outcome at the end of the follow-up. Our study suggested different articular outcomes of Still’s disease in Chinese children and adults.
Highway alert radio

A roadside-to-vehicle communications system, known as Hy-Com is proposed for bringing voice messages pertinent to driving conditions into moving vehicles. It fills the void left by visual aids which tend to lose their efficacy under conditions of darkness, inclement weather, heavy traffic and when driving at elevated speeds. Safer and more comfortable highway travel is Indicated. Also, the improvement in communications can help to increase the volume of traffic handled by existing facilities. The method proposed to transmit the message is through an amplitude-modulated magnetic induction field having a carrier frequency in the 10- 14 kc range. The use of an induction field makes it possible to control the coverage to include only that Traffic directly concerned. Interference to other services or other Hy-Com transmitters is avoided by the abruptness of the message field and thereby Permits all Hy-Coms to operate on one and the same frequency channel. The operation of Hy-Com is automatic once the ignition is turned on. It can share the audio output circuit and speaker with the standard broadcast radio in the car. The standard broadcast will be muted for the duration of the safety message and returned to normal after passing through the message field. If the radio is not on, the Hy-Com receiver will power the audio output stage so the message can be heard. Portable transmitters using ferrite rod-type antennas can be used for emergency applications. Single wire, loop antennas, buried beneath the shoulder surface, and transmitters kept in tamperproof concrete bunkers are proposed for permanent installations.
The importance of habitat temperatures for growth in the tropical cichlid Tilapia rendalli Boulenger

Like many cichlids living in shallow tropical freshwater systems of Africa, Tilapia rendalli exhibit a marked daily movement into warm shallow water during the day and return to cooler, deeper water at night. Such movements have an important impact on the growth of juvenile fish. Growth is enhanced by this movement and is predicted to be optimal if the fish occupy water with a temperature of 30°C during the day but retire to nocturnal habitats with temperatures of 18°C. The reasons for this phenomenon are discussed using a bio-energetic model incorporating measurements of feeding intensity, metabolic energy demands and assimilation efficiencies at temperatures ranging from 18°C—3°C and the ecological implications discussed using examples from natural systems.
Description of the cascade of care and factors associated with attrition before and after initiating antiretroviral therapy of HIV infected children in a cohort study in India

In low- and middle-income countries, the attrition across the continuum of care of HIV infected children is not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of mortality and loss to follow up (LTFU) in HIV infected children from a cohort study in India and to describe the cascade of care from HIV diagnosis to virological suppression after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Multivariable analysis was performed using competing risk regression. The cumulative incidence of attrition due to mortality or LTFU after five year of follow-up was 16% from entry into care to ART initiation and 24.9% after ART initiation. Of all children diagnosed with HIV, it was estimated that 91.9% entered into care, 77.2% were retained until ART initiation, 58% stayed in care after ART initiation, and 43.4% achieved virological suppression on ART. Approximately half of the attrition occurred before ART initiation, and the other half after starting ART. Belonging to socially disadvantaged communities and living >90 min from the hospital were associated with a higher risk of attrition. Being >10 years old and having higher 12-month risk of AIDS (calculated using the absolute CD4 lymphocyte count and the age) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. These findings indicate that we should consider placing more emphasis on promoting research and implementing interventions to improve the engagement of HIV infected children in pre-ART care. The results of this study can be used by HIV programmes to design interventions aimed at reducing the attrition across the continuum of care of HIV infected children in India.
Kwara?ae Ethnoglottochronology: Procedures Used by Malaita Cannibals for Determining Percentages of Shared Cognates

How hungry Kwara?ae cannibals are to divide a slain relative poses a non-trivial formal problem for the savage mind. Here a mathematical model is proposed for the rigorous segmentation of a corpus—keeping in mind the highest ethnoscience standards of ethnographic rigor, psychological reality, methodological precision, explicitness, productivity, elegance, replicability, incomprehensibility, and irrelevance.
Books and Good Stuff: A Strategy for Building School to Home Literacy Connections

Engaging young children in literacy activities at home is one way for families to augment and enrich the home literacy setting and to participate in their child’s education at an early age (St. Pierre et al. in Dev Psychol 41(6): 953–970, 2005). Burgess et al. (Read Res Quart 4(4): 408–426, 2002) suggested that the resources families have at their disposal, the quality of literacy role models provided by parents, and the types of literacy and language activities in which parents and children engage, are all related to young children’s developing literacy and language abilities. Other studies demonstrated that even modest literacy-promoting interventions can significantly enhance a young child’s early literacy environment by increasing the frequency of parent–child book-sharing activities (Weitzman et al. in Pediatrics 113(5):1248–1253, 2004). Dever (J Early Educ Fam Rev 8(4):17–28, 2001) and Dever and Burtis (Early Child Dev Care 172(4):359–370, 2002) emphasize the use of family literacy bags for early childhood development. Developing and sharing take-home literacy bags is an exciting literacy-promoting activity that may be shared with children and families to provide support for emergent literacy. This article explores the development of the BAGS (Books and Good Stuff) take-home literacy kits and provides suggestions for content, construction, implementation, and evaluation. Sixteen current books are reviewed and recommended by theme.
Remote excitation of a bulk acoustic wave sensing platform

The remote excitation of the transverse shear mode (TSM) in bare AT-cut quartz crystals used in sensor applications would eliminate the deleterious effects introduced by the electrodes deposited on the quartz crystal. Antenna structures ranging from spiral coil antennas to simple line antennas have been examined for remote TSM excitation. However, factors such as the antenna type and orientation, the orientation of the crystals relative to the electric field emanating from the antenna and the geometry of the quartz sample, all of which are critical to efficient TSM excitation were often not addressed. In the present work, a study of the remote excitation of the TSM in AT-cut quartz as a function of the afore mentioned factors is performed. All of these factors were found to be critical to efficient TSM excitation. Finally, it is demonstrated that an electrode-less sensor array can be realized to detect multiple target analytes.
High dimensional cohomology of discrete groups.

Abstract For a large class of discrete groups Γ, relations are established between the high dimensional cohomology of Γ and the cohomology of the normalizers of the finite subgroups of Γ. The results are stated in terms of a generalization of Tate cohomology recently constructed by F. T. Farrell. As an illustration of these results, it is shown that one can recover a cohomology calculation of Lee and Szczarba, which they used to calculate the odd torsion in K3(Z).
Infrastructure Stimulus Spending: Lessons for Assessment and Engineering Education

According to the ASCE (2012), the United States earns an overall grade of D on its infrastructure and faces a funding shortfall of approximately $1.18 trillion over 5 years, or $236 billion per year. However, even in response to the deep crisis of 2009, only approximately $141 billion of $819 billion in one-time stimulus funds was committed to infrastructure (Yourish 2009). Why is it that the United States has such urgent infrastructure needs, but more funding is not provided even with opportunities such as the massive 2009 stimulus program? What are the implications for making the case for infrastructure investments and for engineering education? This paper addresses those questions by reviewing evolving practices in infrastructure stimulus and job programs and analyzing the problem of underinvestment in them during recessions and average economic conditions. The discussion includes a brief review of infrastructure stimulus programs during the Great Depression, which were then called public works spending and pioneered Keynesian tools to stimulate economic activity and create jobs. The central proposition offered is that emphasis today on infrastructure stimulus spending is lower than in the past because of greater complexity in the economy, more available fiscal and monetary tools, more government decentralization, and more diverse infrastructure types. The diminished level of infrastructure investment is then examined in an analysis of the effectiveness of education in preparing engineers to make the case for higher levels of infrastructure investment.