cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nursing Home Work Practices and Nursing Assistants' Job Satisfaction

Purpose: To estimate the impact of nursing home work practices, specifi cally compensation and working conditions, on job satisfaction of nursing assistants employed in nursing homes. Design and Methods: Data are from the 2004 National Nursing Assistant Survey, responses by the nursing assistants ’ employers to the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey, and county-level data from the Area Resource File. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate effects of compensation and working conditions on nursing assistants ’ overall job satisfaction, controlling for personal characteristics and local labor market characteristics. Results: Wages, benefi ts, and job demands, measured by the ratio of nursing assistant hours per resident day, were associated with job satisfaction. Consistent with previous studies, job satisfaction was greater when nursing assistants felt respected and valued by their employers and had good relationships with supervisors. Nursing assistants were more satisfi ed when they had enough time to complete their work, when their work was challenging, when they were not subject to mandatory overtime, and where food was not delivered to residents on trays. Implications: This is the fi rst investigation of nursing assistant job satisfaction using a nationally representative sample of nursing assistants matched to information about their employing nursing homes. The fi ndings corroborate results of previous studies in showing that compensation and working conditions that provide respect, good relationships with supervisors, and better staffi ng levels are important to nursing assistant job satisfaction.
Education and Job Satisfaction: The Influences of Gender, Wage-Earning Status, and Job Values

The match between workers' expected and actual job conditions has long been recognized as one determinate of job satisfaction. Research has suggested that education is an important variable in cond...
Efficient credit assignment through evaluation function decomposition

Evolutionary methods are powerful tools in discovering solutions for difficult continuous tasks. When such a solution is encoded over multiple genes, a genetic algorithm faces the difficult credit assignment problem of evaluating how a single gene in a chromosome contributes to the full solution. Typically a single evaluation function is used for the entire chromosome, implicitly giving each gene in the chromosome the same evaluation. This method is inefficient because a gene will get credit for the contribution of all the other genes as well. Accurately measuring the fitness of individual genes in such a large search space requires many trials. This paper instead proposes turning this single complex search problem into a multi-agent search problem, where each agent has the simpler task of discovering a suitable gene. Gene-specific evaluation functions can then be created that have better theoretical properties than a single evaluation function over all genes. This method is tested in the difficult double-pole balancing problem, showing that agents using gene-specific evaluation functions can create a successful control policy in 20% fewer trials than the best existing genetic algorithms. The method is extended to more distributed problems, achieving 95% performance gains over tradition methods in the multi-rover domain.
Serum tumor markers and their utilization in the management of germ-cell tumors in adult males

One of the factors that helped improve the management of testicular germ-cell tumors (GCTs) was the introduction of serum tumor markers (STMs). GCTs are associated with two highly specific and sens...
MICROBIOLOGICAL AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF COOKED ROAST BEEF PACKAGED IN A MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE

Sliced cooked roast beef was packaged in a modified atmosphere (MA) consisting of 75% CO2, 15% N2 and 10% 02 and stored at 4.4°C for 42 days to evaluate the MA's effectiveness at controlling the outgrowth of Pseudomonas fragi, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium after inoculation. Additionally, a taste panel was conducted to monitor the effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on sensory parameters of uninoculated samples. P. fragi was able to grow only to a limited extent in the MA, but grew to high numbers in air. The three pathogens were unable to grow in the MA, probably due to the effects of temperature. Numbers in S. typhimurium and C. perfringens declined more rapidly in the MA than in air but S. aureus numbers did not decrease in either atmosphere. High numbers of molds were recovered from the uninoculated samples stored in air but none were recovered from MAP samples. Sensory analysis indicated that most product deterioration occurred within the first 7 days of storage.
Ethnic Differences in Fertility and Assisted Reproduction: Ethnic Disparity in Stem Cell Availability and Research

In addition to the great promise for tissue replacement therapies, research on human embryonic stem cells provides insights into developmental mechanism of disease. However, the lack of diversity in pluripotent stem cell lines limits the discovery for the mechanism of diseases with known ethnic disparities. It also reduces the chance for minority groups to be the recipients of stem cell treatments. In this article, we discuss the current status of the racial disparity in available stem cells, including hematopoietic stem cells from both bone marrow and cord blood, as well as pluripotent stem cells. The application of pluripotent stem cells, as tools for investigating the mechanism of racially implicated disease conditions is proposed. We also report the derivation of 12 African-American iPS cell lines as an initial effort to address the disparity in the availability of pluripotent stem cells for minority populations.
A Vector with a Single Promoter for In Vitro Transcription and Mammalian Cell Expression of CRISPR gRNAs

The genomes of more than 50 organisms have now been manipulated due to rapid advancement of gene editing technology. One way to perform gene editing in the mouse using the CRISPR/CAS system, guide RNA (gRNA) and CAS9 mRNA transcribed in vitro are microinjected into fertilized eggs that are then allowed to develop to term. As a rule, gRNAs are tested first in tissue culture cells and the one with the highest locus-specific cleavage activity is chosen for microinjection. For cell transfections, gRNAs are typically expressed using the human U6 promoter (hU6). However, gRNAs for microinjection into zygotes are obtained by in vitro transcription from a T7 bacteriophage promoter in a separate plasmid vector. Here, we describe the design and construction of a combined U6T7 hybrid promoter from which the same gRNA sequence can be expressed. An expression vector containing such a hybrid promoter can now be used to generate gRNA for testing in mammalian cells as well as for microinjection purposes. The gRNAs expressed and transcribed from this vector are found to be functional in cells as well as in mice.
Towards Overcoming Miscommunication in Situated Dialogue by Asking Questions

Situated dialogue is prominent in the robot navigation task, where a human gives route instructions (i.e., a sequence of navigation commands) to an agent. We propose an approach for situated dialogue agents whereby they use strategies such as asking questions to repair or recover from unclear instructions, namely those that an agent misunderstands or considers ambiguous. Most immediately in this work we study examples from existing human-human dialogue corpora and relate them to our proposed approach.
The Security Exchange: Explanation of Trading Rules

The Security Exchange is an on-line trading platform for educational purposes. This note describes the trading rules used and the types of securities that can be traded.
Biopsychosocial Correlates of Binge Eating Disorder in Caucasian and African American Women with Obesity in Primary Care Settings

This study examined racial differences in eating-disorder psychopathology, eating/weight-related histories, and biopsychosocial correlates in women (n = 53 Caucasian and n = 56 African American) with comorbid binge eating disorder (BED) and obesity seeking treatment in primary care settings. Caucasians reported significantly earlier onset of binge eating, dieting, and overweight, and greater number of times dieting than African American. The rate of metabolic syndrome did not differ by race. Caucasians had significantly elevated triglycerides whereas African Americans showed poorer glycaemic control (higher glycated haemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]), and significantly higher diastolic blood pressure. There were no significant racial differences in features of eating disorders, depressive symptoms, or mental and physical health functioning. The clinical presentation of eating-disorder psychopathology and associated psychosocial functioning differed little by race among obese women with BED seeking treatment in primary care settings. Clinicians should assess for and institute appropriate interventions for comorbid BED and obesity in both African American and Caucasian patients.
Ants Oras: Did He Know Russian “Formalists”?

The article compares two approaches to studying line segmentation in verse. Line segmentation probably corresponded to pauses in declamation. The Estonian scholar Ants Oras studied syntactic breaks in Elizabethan dramas using punctuation as a signal of a “pause”. His research yielded valuable results, and his method has recently been followed by Professors Mac Donald P. Jackson and Douglas Bruster: places of punctuation can be quickly found by a computer. However, punctuation came from the random choices of copiers, editors and typesetters, therefore it is not too reliable. The Russian school of thought to which I belong looks for places of syntactic breaks of various strength. These do not change from edition to edition. Ants Oras’s tables at first glance remind us of those by Russian “Formalists”, for example, Boris Tomashevsky. However, no Russian scholar is quoted in Oras’s works, so the question is: did he know about the Russian works?
Teachers, School Boards, and the Power of Money: How the Right Wins at the Local Level

AbstractThis article examines national conservative political advocacy groups' growing interest in local politics, and analyzes how they form alliances and gain political power. Following efforts to restrict collective bargaining for Wisconsin public employees, Kenosha school board members' attempts to legally protect teachers' rights provoked concern from nationally financed conservative groups. This article discusses why a small-town school board election attracted such attention, and the significance of increased attention to the local by these national groups.
Burn camp: an unforgettable summer experience for children and teenagers.

Since 1991, a special and unforgettable summer camp experience for children and teenagers who have experienced a burn injury has been offered annually by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA). In the summer, all campers have the chance to be outside in an atmosphere of openness and excitement. Campers are free to show their scars and not be embarrassed or ashamed. This article provides details on this special camp and how to find out more about similar camps around the U.S.
Self-Organized Tubular Structures as Platforms for Quantum Dots

The combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches offers great opportunities for the production of complex materials and devices. We demonstrate this approach by incorporating luminescent CdSe-ZnS nanoparticles into macroscopic tube structures that form as the result of externally controlled self-organization. The 1–2 mm wide hollow tubes consist of silica-supported zinc oxide/hydroxide and are formed by controlled injection of aqueous zinc sulfate into a sodium silicate solution. The primary growth region at the top of the tube is pinned to a robotic arm that moves upward at constant speed. Dispersed within the injected zinc solution are 3.4 nm CdSe-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) capped by DHLA-PEG–OCH3 ligands. Fluorescence measurements of the washed and dried tubes reveal the presence of trapped QDs at an estimated number density of 1010 QDs per millimeter of tube length. The successful inclusion of the nanoparticles is further supported by electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, with ...
Valence-bond determination of bond lengths of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: comparisons with recent experimental and ab initio results.

Pauling’s valence-bond (VB) method for determining bond lengths is compared to ten recent literature experimental and theoretical results and is shown to give comparable results. His method only requires computation of the number of Kekule (K) and Dewar structures (DS) of conjugated hydrocarbons. Both K and DS are obtained from the last two coefficients of the matching polynomial which is also used to obtain topological resonance energy (TRE). A molecular fragmentation method is given for determining DS of essentially disconnected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Both Kekulean alternant and nonalternant PAHs, including essentially disconnected and non-Kekulean systems, have bond lengths that are easily determined by this method.
How Do We Certify For The Unexpected

By their very nature, loss of control accidents are unanticipated and rare, and their precursors are rare also. Onboard systems to detect and mitigate these precursors must work|and work correctly|when required but must not introduce new malfunctions or unintended functions. How can we provide assurance that software invoked in such rare and unanticipated circumstances is t for certication? We argue that software systems such as these are but an extreme example of general trends that undermine much of the standards-based approach to software assurance used in aircraft certication. These trends include component-based software, complex integration, continuous modication, and load- and run-time adaptation. We propose that safety cases based on explicit goals, evidence, and argument provide a rmer foundation for assurance, and a framework within which it is possible to address the rare and the unexpected. Specically, we propose that just as methods to prevent loss of control move certain software adaptation processes to runtime, so should some of the assurance and verication processes move to runtime also. The paper outlines a technical approach to such \just-in-time certication."
Cetuximab use without chronic antihistamine premedication

13521 Background: Cetuximab is a human-murine chimeric monoclonal antibody against EGFR with approximately a 3% reported incidence of severe (≥ grade 3) anaphylactoid reactions. The overwhelming ma...
Preliminary Study of Hemodynamics in Human Carotid Bifurcation by Computational Fluid Dynamics and Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Objective To investigate hemodynamic parameters at the carotid artery bifurcation in vivo by combining computational fluid dynamics(CFD)with magnetic resonance angiography(MRA)imaging.Methods Human volunteers un- derwent MRA of the carotid arteries with SIEMENS 3.0T MR.Three dimensional reconstructions were performed with shade sur- face display(SSD)and maximal intensity projection(MIP).Hemodynamic parameters at the carotid bifurcation were calculated and visualized by combining vascular imaging post-processing with CFD.Results Three volunteers were recruited for this stud- y.The range of mean velocity was 0.03～0.56 m/s.A region of high velocity was seen at outer wall of internal carotid artery (ICA)0.06～0.54 m/s,and inner wall of external carotid artery(ECA)0.03～0.73 m/s respectively.The largest contiguous region of low velocity at the carotid bulb ranged from 0.02 to 0.18 m/s.The eddy current and reversed flow were observed at bi- furcation and proximal of ICA and ECA.Their shapes changed with the phase of cardiac cycle.They were significant in the mid- dle of systolic and faded quickly downstream in the ICA and ECA.The mean absolute pressure,dynamic pressure,static pres- sure and total pressure were 101 080.50～101 353.3 Pa,0.90～215.81 Pa,-244.45～28.33 Pa,and-28.65～29.23 Pa respectively.The mean wall shear stress(WSS)of the carotid bifurcation was 0.37～9.21 Pa.There was a large region of low WSS at the carotid bulb,ranging from 0.23 to 0.28 Pa.Also there was a small region of low WSS at the outer wall of the ECA (0.37～0.42 Pa)and the inner wall of the ICA(0.32～0.37 Pa)respectively.WSS was high at the apex.Conclusion CFD combined with MRA imaging can calculate and visualize hemodynamic parameters at the carotid artery bifurcation in vivo.CFD MRA can visualize flow separation,eddy currents and reversed flow in the carotid bifurcation and the time-depended wall shear stress and flow pressure.This is an interdisciplinary computational radiological and hemodynamics investigation that can be fast, convenient,accurate and flexible.
Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Constitutively Express High Levels of Cytochrome P4501B1 that Metabolize 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) is a potent carcinogen that produces immunotoxic effects in bone marrow. Here, we show that bone marrow stromal cells metabolize DMBA to such products as 3,4-dihydrodiol, the precursor to the most mutagenic DMBA metabolite. The BMS2 bone marrow stromal cell line constitutively expressed higher levels of CYP1B1 protein and mRNA than C3H10T½ mouse embryo fibroblasts. BMS2 cells also produced a DMBA metabolite profile that was consistent with CYP1B1 activity. Treatment with the potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced a ∼2-fold increase in CYP1B1 mRNA, protein, and activity in BMS2 cells. Two forms of the AhR (97 and 104 kDa) and the AhR nuclear translocator were detected in BMS2 cells. The AhR translocated to the nucleus after treatment with TCDD or DMBA but was ∼5 times slower with DMBA. Primary bone marrow stromal (BMS) cell cultures established from AhR−/− mice showed similar basal CYP1B1 expression and activity as cell cultures established from heterozygous littermates or C57BL/6 mice. However, primary BMS cells from AhR−/− mice did not exhibit increased CYP1B1 protein expression after incubation with TCDD. BMS cells therefore constitutively express functional CYP1B1 that is not dependent on the AhR. This contrasts with embryo fibroblasts from the same mouse strain, in which basal CYP1B1 expression is AhR dependent. We therefore conclude that bone marrow toxicity may be mediated by CYP1B1-dependent DMBA metabolism, which is regulated by factors other than the AhR.
Effects of Electromagnetic Interference on Implanted Cardiac Devices

Cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are remarkable devices with the ability to provide marked symptom relief and life-saving therapy. An ever-expanding list of indications continues to enlarge the pool of patients who live with implantable devices. Intrinsic to the function of these devices is the ability to sense intra-cardiac signals. An unfortunate by-product is the potential for electromagnetic energy in the environment to interact with and disturb the normal functioning of these devices. This chapter will review the way electromagnetic interference (EMI) can affect cardiac devices and then discuss specific situations and optimal techniques to minimize the chance of untoward interaction.
“Father versus Mother”: Slavery and Its Apparatuses

This chapter uses Machado’s short story to reinterpret the structuring role of slavery in nineteenth-century Brazil, tracing how in a microcommunity of Afro-descendants, even those who were free continued to experience slavery as it permeated all aspects of everyday life. Machado’s story begins with the assertion that, with slavery, there came occupations and apparatuses that were specific to it, such as slave catching. What interests Rocha is the extent to which occupation and apparatuses constitute fields in which this microcommunity moves. By means of these apparatuses and this occupation, Machado elaborates a close struggle between Afro-descendants who, being socially so close, clash due to their liminal proximity with the subjugation and death instituted by slavery.
Two different “tales” of ATG7: Clinical relevance to myelodysplastic syndromes

Somatic mutations in U2 Small Nuclear RNA Auxiliary Factor 1 (U2AF1) are associated with various cancers including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Mutant U2AF1 promotes malignant transformation by inhibiting autophagy, partly as a result of alterations in the 3' tail of ATG7. This results in altered mitochondrial function, increased reactive oxygen species production, and genomic instability.
Social cognition in Intermittent Explosive Disorder and aggression

Social-emotional information processing (SEIP) was assessed in individuals with current DSM-5 Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED: n = 100) and in healthy (n = 100) and psychiatric (n = 100) controls using a recently developed and validated self-rated questionnaire. SEIP vignettes depicted both direct aggressive and relationally aggressive scenarios of a socially ambiguous nature and were followed by questions assessing subjects' reactions and judgments about the vignettes. IED subjects differed from both healthy and psychiatric controls in all SEIP components. While hostile attribution was highly related to history of aggression, it was also directly correlated with negative emotional response. Further analysis revealed that this component, as well as response valuation and response efficiency, rather than hostile attribution, best explained history of aggressive behavior. A reformulated SEIP model, including self-reported history of childhood trauma, found that negative emotional response and response efficiency were the critical correlates for history of aggressive behavior. Psychosocial interventions of aggressive behavior in IED subjects may do well to include elements that work to reduce the emotional response to social threat and that work to restructure social cognition so that the tendency towards overt, or relationally, aggressive responding is reduced.
Studying how digital logic instructors solve canonical problems

Sketches and other forms of graphical communication are central to both the practice and learning of engineering. Visual representations play a critical role in helping students learn engineering concepts, socialize them into the engineering discipline, and facilitate or hinder the design process. Despite the importance of graphical communication and visual representations, our understanding of how students learn these representations and use them is poor. This paper describes part of a larger expert-novice comparison study to document how sketches moderate engineering problem solving. We present preliminary findings on how digital logic instructors use sketches to solve canonical problems.
Introduction: History’s Pathways

“History” is a deceptively simple concept. It invokes the notions of change over time, human agency, the role of material circumstances in human affairs, and the question of the putative meaning of historical events. It raises the possibility of “learning from history”—whether from the experience of the Peloponnesian War or the Korean War, the 1918 avian influenza pandemic or the Chinese Great Leap Forward famine. And it suggests the possibility of better understanding ourselves in the present, by understanding the forces and circumstances that brought us to our current situation.
Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Health-Related Quality of Life and Sleepiness in High Cardiovascular Risk Individuals With Sleep Apnea: Best Apnea Interventions for Research (BestAIR) Trial.

Study Objectives The long-term effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with high cardiovascular disease risk and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) without severe sleepiness is uncertain. We aimed to determine the effect of CPAP treatment on HRQOL in individuals with moderate or severe OSA and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or multiple CVD risk factors without severe sleepiness. Methods In this randomized, controlled, parallel group study, 169 participants were assigned to treatment with CPAP or the control group (conservative medical therapy [CMT] or CMT with sham CPAP). Analyses were based on an intention-to-treat approach. Linear mixed effect models were fitted to compare the changes in the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and in subjective sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) between groups from baseline to the average of 6- and 12-month measurements. Results CPAP improved several domains of HRQOL including bodily pain (treatment effect 9.7 [95% confidence interval, CI 3.9 to 15.4]; p = .001), vitality (5.7 [95% CI 1.5 to 9.9]; p = .008), general health (8.2 [95% CI 3.7 to 12.7]; p < .001), physical functioning (5.5 [95% CI 1.1 to 10.0]; p = .016), and the physical health summary score (3.3 [95% CI 1.4 to 5.3]; p = .001). CPAP also resulted in less daytime sleepiness (mean change in ESS -1.0 point [95% CI -2.0 to -0.0]; p = .040). Conclusions In patients with moderate-severe OSA at high risk of cardiovascular events and without severe sleepiness, CPAP improved daytime sleepiness and multiple domains of HRQOL over 6 to 12 months of follow-up, with the largest improvement observed for bodily pain.
Easy and difficulty Fitts's Law task performance is correlated

Fitts’s Law states that movement time, T, is related linearly to the logarithmic ratio of the distance to the target width. All explanations for Fitts’s Law posit the potential for two phases of control, a distance-covering phase, potentially followed by a closed-loop error correction phase. According to Crossman and Goodeve (QJEP, 1963;1983) adherence to Fitts’s Law is the result of the time needed for the closed-loop correction phase. On the other hand, Meyer et al. (Psych. Review, 1988) posit that Fitts’s Law is the result of the choice of the duration of the initial submovement, and that the submovement duration choice adheres to the linear speed accuracy trade-off principles outlined by Schmidt et al. (Psych. Review, 1979). We decided to investigate this matter in an indirect fashion by examining individual differences in Fitts’s Law performance as a function of difficulty. As tasks become more difficult, the closed loop portion of the movement should become more important. However, according to Meyer and colleagues, it is the speed-accuracy characteristics of the individual that determines Fitts’s Law behavior. Twenty-three subjects performed six trials at each of eight Fitts’s Law repetitive aiming tasks. Distance was either 12.5 or 25.0 cm and target width was 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 or 1.00 cm. The ID values ranged from 4.64 to 7.64 bits. We found that virtually all of the tasks were correlated for the Index of Performance (IP). In other words, the correlation values were not scaled to the similarity of the ID values, as we inferred should be the case if visual feedback processing was more important at high ID values. Thus, these results, we believe, are more consistent with the Meyer et al. (1988) optimized sub-movement model of Fitts’s Law.
Transitioning from university to teaching in schools located in rural and remote settings

This paper reports the findings of research which focused on fourth year pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the issue of their transition from pre-service university student to in-service teaching, specifically in rural and remote settings. The results of a survey which focused on students’ perceived levels of readiness and comfort when considering teaching in a rural or remote school as a first posting are presented. Background data were collected revealing that the majority of the pre-service teachers ( n =39) identified their hometown as rural and/or as a small city within a 400 km radius from the regional University. Analysis of data indicated 32 of the participants wanted to teach in a rural school, two wanted to move closer to the coast and five were unsure. Leximancer text-mining software was employed to examine the responses to five questions including: how they would describe themselves as a teacher; what differences existed between rural and urban teaching; what their ideas were regarding what constituted good rural teaching; and what may be the difficulties in rural teaching. The last section of the results provides a profile of the number of preservice teachers (PSTs) intending to teach in rural settings. The findings confirmed previous research that suggested that many teachers in rural settings originate from small rural and remote communities. The concepts and themes emerging from the analysis of the open ended survey data are presented as the major findings. Implications of the research include recommendations that pre-service teacher education programs could be more responsive to student needs, resulting in greater preparation for teachers entering the teaching profession in rural and remote settings.
Trends in prescribing behavior of systemic agents used in the treatment of acne among dermatologists and nondermatologists: A retrospective analysis, 2004-2013.

Background Despite recommendations to limit the use of oral antibiotics and increasing support for hormonal agents in the treatment of acne, it is unclear whether there have been any significant changes in practice patterns. Objective To characterize changes in prescribing behavior for systemic agents in the treatment of acne in the United States between 2004 and 2013. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis using the OptumInsight Clinformatics DataMart (Optum, Eden Prairie, MN). Results The number of courses of spironolactone prescribed per 100 female patients being managed for acne by dermatologists and nondermatologists increased from 2.08 to 8.13 and from 1.43 to 4.09, respectively. The median duration of therapy with oral antibiotics was 126 and 129 days among patients managed by dermatologists and nondermatologists, respectively, and did not change significantly over the study period. Limitations The OptumInsight Clinformatics DataMart lacks information on acne severity and clinical outcomes. Conclusions Additional work to identify patients who would benefit most from alternative therapies such as spironolactone, oral contraceptives, or isotretinoin represents a potential opportunity to improve the care of patients with acne.
Transitioning to 100% Tobacco-Free: Perspectives from a Jesuit University

Aim : The purpose of this study is to examine the current social climate around tobacco at a Jesuit University and begin implementation procedures to transition the campus to a 100% tobacco free environment in a manner consistent with Jesuit and personal values. Background : Smoke-free campus policies are shown to be successful in reducing the amount of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. A comprehensive policy which includes traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, smokeless products, and hookah is recommended to eliminate the cultural acceptance of all tobacco products. Methods : A web-based survey was conducted following feedback from student led focus groups. Results : The majority of students (71%) agreed or strongly agreed with a transition to a tobacco-free policy with only 18% of the participants reporting negative feelings towards the policy change. Slightly more than half of the sample (53%) reported having a knowledge deficit related to available smoking cessation resources. Conclusions : There is an important balance between individual freedoms and upholding core Jesuit values in caring for the whole person. When implementing a new tobacco-policy, the current social climate, educational and cessation resources, and policy enforcement should be considered.
Invasive Validation of the Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Filling Pressures Using the 2016 Diastolic Guidelines: Head-to-Head Comparison with the 2009 Guidelines.

Background Recent American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) guidelines for echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function provide a practical, simplified diagnostic algorithm for estimating LV filling pressure. The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of this algorithm against invasively measured pressures and compare it with the accuracy of the previous 2009 guidelines in the same patient cohort. Methods Ninety patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography immediately before left heart catheterization. Mitral inflow E/A ratio, E/e′, tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and left atrial volume index were used to estimate LV filling pressure as normal or elevated using the ASE/EACVI algorithm. Invasive LV pre-A pressure was used as a reference, with >12 mm Hg defined as elevated. Results Invasive LV pre-A pressure was elevated in 40 (44%) and normal in 50 (56%) patients. The 2016 algorithm resulted in classification of 9 of 90 patients (10%) as indeterminate but estimated LV filling pressures in agreement with the invasive reference in 61 of 81 patients (75%), with sensitivity of 0.69 and specificity of 0.81. The 2009 algorithm could not definitively classify 4 of 90 patients (4.4%), but estimated LV filling pressures in agreement with the invasive reference in 64 of 86 patients (74%), with sensitivity of 0.79 and specificity of 0.70. Conclusions The 2016 ASE/EACVI guidelines for estimation of filling pressures are more user friendly and efficient than the 2009 guidelines and provide accurate estimates of LV filling pressure in the majority of patients when compared with invasive measurements. The simplicity of the new algorithm did not compromise its accuracy and is likely to encourage its incorporation into clinical decision making.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes among scheduled versus unscheduled deliveries in women with prenatally diagnosed, pathologically proven placenta accreta

Objective: To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes among scheduled versus unscheduled deliveries in cases of prenatally diagnosed, pathologically proven placenta accreta.Study design: Retrospect...
Structure and Function of Muscle Cells

This chapter introduces the structure and the function of three muscle types (skeletal, cardiac, and smooth). With the skeletal and cardiac muscle cells, their sarcomere organization, molecular make up with thick and thin filaments, and differences in the cross-bridge kinetics are discussed. This chapter then describes how the contraction is regulated at the molecular, cellular, and organ levels, and how cardiac and smooth muscle cells are different from the skeletal muscle cells. It further discusses the elementary steps of the cross-bridge cycle and the step that generates force. The discussion includes controversies associated with the interpretation of the experimental results. Then this chapter discusses the effects of temperature and ionic strength to characterize the molecular forces associated with contraction. It further discusses k TR measurement and the effect of series elasticity on this measurement. Finally, it discusses on the thin-filament extraction and reconstitution methods as implemented in my laboratory with some of the important findings.
Quantifiable me: fitness and health trackers and the trope of holisticism

As fitness trackers have proliferated, many now collect information about both physical and mental health indicators. Arguably, such capabilities promote the notion that achieving and maintaining health is holistic, pushing back against the mind/body divide that has long characterized how we tend to perceive health and disease in Western cultures (see Segal, 2005). In this article, the author argues that the visual (photographs and data visualizations) and language-based communication strategies used on Bellabeat Leaf's website, a smart jewelry device for women, employ a narrative of holisticism. Further, this narrative functions as a rhetorical trope that reinforces power relationships that align with a dominant underlying ideology of Western medicine---the notion that disease and illness can be controlled. The author proposes that future designs of the Leaf's smartphone application might allow users to visualize quantitative and select user-contributed qualitative, sensorial-based feedback to potentially provide a more balanced perspective of health.
CT Angiography of the Peripheral Arteries

Computed tomographic (CT) angiography is a useful modality in imaging the peripheral arterial tree and has become an integral component of many cardiovascular imaging practices. Large portions of the arterial system can be easily imaged with excellent spatial resolution, low radiation dose, and minimal risks to the patient. Additionally, the skill set of 3D data manipulation in evaluation of coronary arteries and vascular structures elsewhere in the body can be translated into skills useful in the interpretation of peripheral studies. Advancements in CT angiography, including scanners with 64 row detectors and higher, have made submillimeter isotropic voxel resolution possible, enabling more detailed visualization of arterial structures. Simultaneous increases in computational speed and widespread availability of dedicated 3D workstations make visualization and evaluation of peripheral arterial anatomy much more facile.
Alcohol and Opioid Use in Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Differences in Functioning Based on Misuse Status.

Abstract Opioid misuse is regularly associated with disrupted functioning in those with chronic pain. Less work has examined whether alcohol misuse may also interfere with functioning. This study examined frequency of opioid and alcohol misuse in 131 individuals (61.1% female) prescribed opioids for the treatment of chronic pain. Participants completed an anonymous survey online, consisting of measures of pain, functioning, and opioid and alcohol misuse. Cut scores were used to categorize individuals according to substance misuse status. Individuals were categorized as follows: 35.9% (n = 47) were not misusing either opioids or alcohol, 22.9% (n = 30) were misusing both opioids and alcohol, 38.2% (n = 50) were misusing opioids alone, and only 3.0% (n = 4) were misusing alcohol alone. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to examine differences in pain and functioning between groups (after excluding individuals in the alcohol misuse group due to the small sample size). Group comparisons indicated that individuals who were not misusing either substance were less disabled and distressed in comparison to those who were misusing opioids alone or both opioids and alcohol. No differences were indicated between the latter 2 groups. Overall, the observed frequency of opioid misuse was somewhat higher in comparison to previous work (approximately 1 out of every 3 participants), and misuse of both alcohol and opioids was common (approximately 1 out of every 5 participants). While these data are preliminary, they do suggest that issues of substance misuse in those with chronic pain extends beyond opioids alone. Perspective Opioid and alcohol misuse was examined in 131 individuals prescribed opioids for chronic pain. In total, 35.9% were not misusing either, 22.9% were misusing both, 38.2% were misusing opioids, and 3.1% were misusing alcohol. Individuals not misusing either were generally less disabled and distressed compared to those misusing opioids or both.
The cost and quality of life outcomes in developing a robotic lobectomy program.

The use of the robotic platform is increasingly being utilized for lung resections. Our aim was to compare outcomes of thoracoscopic (VATS) versus robotic-assisted thoracoscopic (RATS) lobectomy early in a program’s adoption of robotic surgery, including perioperative outcomes, cost, and long-term quality of life. A prospective database was retrospectively reviewed for all patients undergoing minimally invasive lobectomy by either VATS or RATS techniques from 2010 to 2012. Patients’ operative, post-operative complications, cost (operating room and hospital) and quality of life were compared between the two resection techniques. Long-term follow-up including assessment using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire was documented. During the first 25 RATS lobectomies, there were 73 VATS lobectomies performed, for a total of 98 cases. There was no significant difference in cancer stage, operative time, estimated blood loss, lymph node count, or hospital length of stay. The RATS resections had significantly higher operative and total hospital cost (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05). At a median of 65-month follow-up, 29 patients (9 robotic; 20 VATS) completed the EORTC questionnaire. The global health status and symptom scale median scores were similar to the general population and did not significantly differ between groups. While transitioning from thoracoscopic to robotic lobectomy incurs increased operative and total hospital cost, equivalent operative outcomes, length of hospitalization, and long-term quality of life can be maintained during this transition. With increasing patient and surgeon interest in robotic resection, it appears both safe and feasible to adopt this approach while maintaining outcomes.
FORWARD GENETICS IN MAMMALIAN CELLS

Genetic methods have played a large and vital role in revealing the depth and complexity of mammalian biology. These methods fall into two broad classes, reverse genetics (manipulations of known genes) and forward genetics (creation of mutants through random genetic changes). The tools of reverse genetics are powerful and include knockout or knockin alteration of specific genes by homologous recombination, abnormal expression of known genes from constructs (in transgenic animals or cultured cells, including the expression of mutant or dominant negative proteins) and the recent, very impressive application of RNAi to mammalian cells, providing the opportunity, in principle, to knock down the expression of any known RNA (and protein) target. All of these approaches have been reviewed extensively and will not be dealt with further here.
Myocardial Effects of Alcohol Abuse Clinical and Physiologic Consequences

The clinical and physiologic characteristics of alcohol-associated cardiomyopathy are presented. These data presented consist of a review of the signs, symptoms, prognosis, and electrocardiographic and physiologic effects of alcohol administration or use. In addition, the histologic appearance of the heart muscle in alcohol-associated myocardial disease is described.
The importance of religion and spirituality in social work practice to strengthen practitioners, communities, couples, and individuals and in the cultivation of a praxis of love

This volume of the Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought begins with an article that examines an under-researched area of religion and spirituality in social work, tha...
An Experimental Investigation on the Effects of Learning Style and Presentation Methods on Knowledge Acquisition in a University Classroom Environment

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of four learning styles (accommodator, assimilator, converger, and diverger) and two different presentation methods (traditional and computer-based) on knowledge acquisition in a university classroom.
Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management

Paraneoplastic syndromes are most frequently associated with lung cancer. This review considers a variety of paraneoplastic syndromes associated with lung cancer and discusses their pathophysiology, clinical features and management options.
IDEAL-ICU in Context.

Mortality rates among critically ill patients with AKI requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT) remain unacceptably high ([1][1]). Various therapeutic strategies have been investigated to improve outcomes in this high-risk patient population, including alterations to the intensity of KRT ([2][2
Steel-Plate Composite Walls: Local Buckling and Design for Axial Compression

AbstractThis paper focuses on local buckling and axial compressive behavior of steel-plate composite (SC) walls. SC walls are comprised of a concrete wall sandwiched between two steel faceplates on...
Automatic Textual Evidence Mining in COVID-19 Literature

We created this EVIDENCEMINER system for automatic textual evidence mining in COVID-19 literature. EVIDENCEMINER is a web-based system that lets users query a natural language statement and automatically retrieves textual evidence from a background corpora for life sciences. It is constructed in a completely automated way without any human effort for training data annotation. EVIDENCEMINER is supported by novel data-driven methods for distantly supervised named entity recognition and open information extraction. The named entities and meta-patterns are pre-computed and indexed offline to support fast online evidence retrieval. The annotation results are also highlighted in the original document for better visualization. EVIDENCEMINER also includes analytic functionalities such as the most frequent entity and relation summarization.
Angioplasty for Femoral-Tibial in Situ Vein Bypass Stenosis

Stenosis in the femoral-popliteal and infrapopliteal vein bypass grafts may occur in distal, midsegment, or proximal site (in reversed vein) and is secondary to myointimal hyperplasia or thickened valve. Duplex imaging of the vein bypass is essential for proper diagnosis. Percutaneous angioplasty is preferred as first-line approach. Role of antegrade puncture in endovascular treatment of infrainguinal occlusive disease is discussed.
Reducing High-Attaining Readers to Middling: The Consequences of Inadequate Foundational Skills Instruction in a High-SES District

This cross-sectional study measures decoding and fluent reading skills of a random sample of 250 first- through third-grade students attending a high-SES school. Growth was compared between profici...
An Economic Study of the Impact of Agricultural Policies on Maize

The research deals with measuring the impact of agricultural policies for the maize crop in Egyptduring the period (2000-2018), through study of production, consumption, imports, prices of maize, wholesale and retail, measurement of policy matrix analysis. Analysis of the partial equilibrium model of maize , calculation of nominal protection factors, effective, net social returns and loss, on producer and consumer, distributional effects of producers and consumers, total government revenues, foreign exchange earnings for the maize during the study period. It also deals with estimating the marketing efficiency, distribution of consumer Egyptian pound for the maize during the study period, estimating the consumption demand function, external import function of maize, forecasting the gap of maize until 2025, through the four standard models: Increase in demand, straight line model of trend equations, Braun single-parameter model for the double-sided exponential smoothing, Holt double-sided model for the double-sided exponential smoothing. In order to identify the impact of agricultural policy on the maize , the study period (2000-2018) was divided into two time periods, the first period is in the period before the revolution and exchange rate liberalization policies (2000-2010), while the second period is in the post-revolution period and exchange rate liberalization policies (2011-2018), while the results of development of prices shows the increasing in the prices of producer, wholesale, consumer of maize by about 175.8%, 165.3%, 148.9% during the period policies Second about the first period of study.