cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orientation in Neotropical Bats. I. Natalidae and Emballonuridae

The orientation pulses of Natalus (Natalidae) have been recorded for the first time. These pulses are of a frequency modulated design with an initial frequency of about 85 kc and a terminal frequency of about 40 kc (roosting) or 55 kc (flying). A second harmonic component is also present. Pulses average 2.5 msec in duration. The orientation pulses of Balantiopteryx ( Emballonuridae ) are of a harmonic pattern with a slight fundamental frequency drop of 3–4 kc from beginning to end. Initially the fundamental of about 20 kc is accompanied by its second and third harmonics. These pulses average 3.2 msec in flight and are very similar to previously described pulses of Taphozous and Saccopteryx .
Writing a Wikipedia Article on Cultural Competence in Health Care

ABSTRACTThis article describes how librarians created a Wikipedia article on cultural competence in health care to support the medical school’s curriculum. Wikipedia, often considered not as reliable as scholarly articles, continues to be popular. Rutgers librarians conducted a Wikipedia project to improve its content to benefit students. The importance of cultural competency in health care is widely recognized due to increasingly diverse patient populations. Medical schools integrate cultural competency in curricula to train students to be culturally competent. Therefore, this topic was chosen for the Wikipedia Project. It is hoped that health sciences librarians and educators will benefit from their experience.
Oviposition by an Isolated Parasite Abdomen

Development of artificial hosts for mass production of parasites is currently of considerable interest in biological control. Creation of a suitable artificial host will require not only provision of all nutritional requisites but also incorporation of factors required to release oviposition. Arthur et al. (1969) isolated a factor from the hemolymph of host insects which induced oviposition by Itoplectis conquisitor (Say) into artificial hosts, but they had to condition the parasites to probe these host facsimiles before the effect of test substances could be assessed.
Cost and Outcomes in Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

The modern era of advanced laparoscopic surgery is the direct result of the disruptive work of Prof. Dr. Erich Muhe with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1985 (Reynolds Jr, JSLS 5(1):89–94, 2001). Since his original work in the field of minimally invasive surgery has incorporated diverse and aggressive refinements of instrumentation and techniques for many operative indications (Reynolds Jr, JSLS 5(1):89–94, 2001). These efforts at reducing surgical stress while improving cosmesis have included reductions in port size/number, altered extraction sites, attempts at hand assistance, and ultimately single port access (Bucher et al., Br J Surg 98(12):1695–1702, 2011). The ultimate goal of all these innovations is to provide our patients with high quality surgical care while maintaining high value.
School-Community Partnerships in Rural Settings: Facilitating Positive Outcomes for Young Children Who Experience Maltreatment

Challenging conditions put young children at risk for maltreatment around the world, including in rural, southeastern Ohio. To combat these situations, several strategies are helpful in facilitating positive outcomes for young children. Specifically, when community entities and local school professionals work together, there is a greater likelihood of positive outcomes for children. This article describes meaningful partnerships that contribute to increased school success in rural settings and offers suggestions for developing effective school-community partnerships in other regions of the United States, as well as in other countries. The benefits of the practices described in this article may be felt across multiple layers of a community and are advantageous for all stakeholders.
Two-dimensional lateral heterojunction through bandgap engineering of MoS2 via oxygen plasma.

The present study explores the structural, optical (photoluminescence (PL)), and electrical properties of lateral heterojunctions fabricated by selective exposure of mechanically exfoliated few layer two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) flakes under oxygen (O2)-plasma. Raman spectra of the plasma exposed MoS2 flakes show a significant loss in the structural quality due to lattice distortion and creation of oxygen-containing domains in comparison to the pristine part of the same flake. The PL mapping evidences the complete quenching of peak A and B consistent with a change in the exciton states of MoS2 after the plasma treatment, indicating a significant change in its band gap properties. The electrical transport measurements performed across the pristine and the plasma-exposed MoS2 flake exhibit a gate tunable current rectification behavior with a rectification ratio up to 1.3 × 103 due to the band-offset at the pristine and plasma-exposed MoS2 interface. Our Raman, PL, and electrical transport data confirm the formation of an excellent lateral heterojunction in 2D MoS2 through its bandgap modulation via oxygen plasma.
Food insecurity and diabetes self-management among food pantry clients

Objective To examine the association between level of food security and diabetes self-management among food pantry clients, which is largely not possible using clinic-based sampling methods. Design Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting Community-based food pantries in California, Ohio and Texas, USA, from March 2012 through March 2014. Subjects Convenience sample of adults with diabetes queuing at pantries (n 1237; 83 % response). Sampled adults were stratified as food secure, low food secure or very low food secure. We used point-of-care glycated Hb (HbA1c) testing to determine glycaemic control and captured diabetes self-management using validated survey items. Results The sample was 70 % female, 55 % Latino/Hispanic, 25 % white and 10 % black/African American, with a mean age of 56 years. Eighty-four per cent were food insecure, one-half of whom had very low food security. Mean HbA1c was 8·1 % and did not vary significantly by food security status. In adjusted models, very-low-food-secure participants, compared with both low-food-secure and food-secure participants, had poorer diabetes self-efficacy, greater diabetes distress, greater medication non-adherence, higher prevalence of severe hypoglycaemic episodes, higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, more medication affordability challenges, and more food and medicine or health supply trade-offs. Conclusions Few studies of the health impact of food security have been able to examine very low food security. In a food pantry sample with high rates of food insecurity, we found that diabetes self-management becomes increasingly difficult as food security worsens. The efficacy of interventions to improve diabetes self-management may increase if food security is simultaneously addressed.
Parasitic inductance extraction and verification for 3D planar bond all module

In this paper, the parasitic inductance extraction method is studied in detail. It is analyzed that the value of the lumped power loop inductance will be varying at different switching transients. With the aid of Ansys Q3D Extractor, different values of lumped power loop parasitic inductance are obtained at different time intervals during turn-off process for both upper and lower devices. A dedicated 3D Planar Bond All Module with access to both kelvin and terminal drain-to-source voltage is built, and the parasitic inductance of the module is experimentally extracted by comparing those two voltages in double pulse tests. The experiment result shows good agreement with the simulated parasitic inductance value thus validating the extraction and simulation method.
Clinicopathologic factors associated with de novo metastatic breast cancer

Abstract While breast cancers with distant metastasis at presentation (de novo metastasis) harbor significantly inferior clinical outcomes, there have been limited studies analyzing the clinicopathologic characteristics in this subset of patients. In this study, we analyzed 6126 breast cancers diagnosed between 1998 and 2013 to identify factors associated with de novo metastatic breast cancer. When compared to patients without metastasis at presentation, race, histologic grade, estrogen/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) and HER2 statuses were significantly associated with de novo metastasis in the entire cohort, whereas age, histologic grade, PR and HER2 status were the significant parameters in the subset of patients with locally advanced breast cancer (Stage IIB/III). The patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer had a significant older mean age and a lower proportion of HER2-positive tumors when compared to those with metastatic recurrence. Further, the HER2-rich subtype demonstrated a drastically higher incidence of de novo metastasis when compared to the luminal and triple-negative breast cancers in the entire cohort [odds ratio (OR) = 5.68 and 2.27, respectively] and in the patients with locally advanced disease (OR = 4.02 and 2.12, respectively), whereas no significant difference was seen between de novo metastatic cancers and those with metastatic recurrence. Moreover, the luminal and HER2-rich subtypes showed bone-seeking (OR = 1.92) and liver-homing (OR = 2.99) characteristics, respectively, for the sites of de novo metastasis, while the latter was not observed in those with metastatic recurrence. Our data suggest that an algorithm incorporating clinicopathologic factors, especially histologic grade and receptor profile, remains of significant benefit during decision making in newly diagnosed breast cancer in the pursuit of precision medicine.
Ab initio computational study of 1-methyl-4-silatranone and attempts at its conventional synthesis

1-Methyl-4-silatranone could exhibit the structural aspects of a typical silatrane including a short N–Si bond distance reflecting a dative bond. But given the significant amide resonance in a [3.3.3] bridgehead bicyclic lactam, the lone pair could be shared with the carbonyl group leading to a very long N–Si bond, essentially a “non-silatrane.” Ab initio calculations (MP2/6-311 + G*) predict that ground state conformations of this molecule are best regarded as lactams rather than silatranes, the most stable having a calculated N–Si bond length of 2.902 A and an N–CO bond length of 1.387 A. The calculated transition state for inversion of the amide ring retains very little amide resonance (N–CO, 1.440 A). Some of this loss is compensated through tightening of the N–Si bond (2.422 A), leading to a net energy of activation of ca 8 kcal/mol. Attempts to synthesize 1-methyl-4-silatranone using conventional pathways successful for 1-methylsilatrane [condensations employing N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycolamide in place of tris(2-hydroxyethyl)amine] were unsuccessful. This is due to the net loss in resonance energy of the amide reactant relative to that in the [3.3.3] system, the essential absence of the N–Si dative bond, and the rigidity introduced by the planar amide linkage in the starting material. A more likely pathway to successful synthesis should be formation of the amide linkage in the final step.
Generating Human Immune Responses to Mutations in Bcr-Abl Kinase Selected by Imatinib.

Imatinib mesylate is now standard treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia. In spite of its high efficacy in controlling the disease, residual bcr-abl cells measured by RT-PCR are still detectable in more than 95% of the patients treated with this drug. In addition, recent reports describe the emergence of resistance to Imatinib mesylate. A major mechanism for the appearance of resistance, are point mutations changing amino acids in the bcr-abl tyrosine kinase that make imatinib ineffective. We hypothesized that some bcr-abl kinase mutations selected by imatinib would generate new immunogenic peptide-epitopes that could be recognized by the human immune system. For this purpose, we selected with predictive computer algorithms potentially immunogenic mutated amino acid sequences and synthetic analogues of mutated bcr-abl kinase sequences to study for immunogenicity and anti-leukemia activity in an in vitro human system. Initially we designed a number of synthetic peptides derived from the most frequent bcr-abl kinase mutations induced by imatinib in which single amino acid substitution was introduced at different MHC-binding positions. We investigated the most common mutations: E255V, E255K, Y253H, Y253F, F311L, T315I, M351T and H396P. Specific single and combined mutations improved the predicted binding of peptides to HLA A0201. Further additional single amino-acid substitutions on mutated peptides generated high predicted binding. Selected sequences were evaluated for eliciting MHC-restricted, peptide-specific CTL responses in an in vitro model using T-cells from different HLA A0201 healthy donors after stimulation with monocyte-derived DC. CTL lines were assessed by either IFN gamma ELISPOT or by a chromium51 release assay. Mutated derived peptides from E255K, E255V, Y253F and T315I were shown to be immunogenic in vitro by the specific release of IFN gamma. Furthermore, single amino-acid substitutions in key residues improved the immunogenicity of these peptides. Finally, T cell lines generated with optimized peptides derived from E255K and T315I (the most common imatinib-induced mutations) were able to kill peptide pulsed targets; more important, these T cell lines cross-reacted with the mutated peptides (a heteroclitic response). In conclusion, Imatinib-selected mutations of peptides from bcr-abl kinase have a better predicted binding than native kinase sequences. Selected peptides from the most common mutations are immunogenic in vitro in a HLA A0201 restricted manner. T cells generated with optimized peptides from these mutations are able to elicit heteroclitic peptide-specific cytotoxicity.
AIDS (Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome)

The AIDS epidemic of the 1980s shone a dark light on the assumptions of contemporary biomedicine. The world was confronted with a disease which it did not understand, could not treat, and which often attacked previously healthy young men. It had echoes of the great plagues of medieval times that decimated the cities of Europe and Asia. Theories abounded about its cause, until it was discovered that a rare retrovirus instigated the destruction of human immune cells. What was particularly challenging about AIDS was its impact on society that extended beyond the usual concerns of biological medicine. Western medicine prided itself on its research methodology and development of new instruments and techniques to study organic processes. What medicine did not do particularly well at the time was to attend to the psychological, social, political, and ethical dimensions of illness. The onslaught of AIDS altered all of that and forced the biomedical world to broaden its conception of illness and consider elements that went beyond the physical basis of pathology. Every aspect of this illness compelled medicine to ask new questions, challenge old assumptions, and build new collaborative relations with the patients. This article deals with the history of the AIDS infection, its clinical manifestations and course, and issues in understanding its virology and immunology. It also considers contemporary treatment options and the psychological and economic issues which they generate. It also discusses the neuropsychiatric complications of AIDS, the psychosocial stressors accompanying the disease, and ethical and policy issues regarding diagnosis and treatment, as well as special problems confronted by minorities, women, carers and their families, and people with AIDS from underdeveloped countries.
Biometric encryption system for increased security

Security is very important in present day life. In this computer-networked world, most of the activities are computer based, and the data transactions arc protected by passwords. These passwords identify various entities such as bank accounts, mobile phones, etc. People might reuse the same password, or passwords might be related to an individual that can lead to dictionary attacks. Indeed, remembering several passwords become a tedious task. Biometrics is a science that measures individual physical characteristics in a unique way. Thus, biometrics serves as a method to replace the cumbersome use of complex passwords. Our research uses the features of biometrics to efficiently implement a biometric encryption system with high level of security.
Basement membrane synthesis by human corneal epithelial cells in vitro

PURPOSE Collagen gels may prove to be potential carriers for transplantation of cultured corneal epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of collagen gels in comparison with corneal stromal blocks as the substrate to support the growth of human corneal epithelial cells in culture and the synthesis and deposition of the basement membrane components by these cells. METHODS Corneal epithelial sheets, freed from the culture dishes using Dispase II (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, IN), were cultured on corneal stromal blocks. Deposition of laminin, type IV collagen, type VII collagen, and perlecan (heparan sulfate proteoglycan) were evaluated immunohistochemically after 4 days, 7 days, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks. Human limbal explant cultures were established on collagen gels prepared from bovine type I collagen with or without addition of cultured human corneal fibroblasts. After 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, the deposition of the basement membrane components was evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS Corneal epithelial cells, cultured on corneal stromal blocks as well as on collagen gels with or without fibroblasts, deposited laminin, type IV collagen, perlecan, and type VII collagen at the interface of the cells and the substrates. However, different substrates differentially influenced the temporal pattern of the deposition of various basement membrane components. On the stromal blocks, deposition of laminin, type IV collagen, and perlecan by the epithelial cells was evident at 1 week. Type VII collagen was detected at 2 weeks. On the collagen gels with fibroblasts, deposition of laminin, type IV collagen and perlecan was detectable at 1 week. In the epithelial cultures on the collagen gels without fibroblasts, only perlecan was detectable at 1 week. At 2 weeks, all of the basement membrane components, including type VII collagen were detectable on the collagen gels, either with or without fibroblasts. CONCLUSION Human corneal epithelium cultured on collagen gels or on corneal stromal blocks can synthesize and deposit basement membrane components, including laminin, type IV collagen, type VII collagen, and perlecan within 2 weeks in culture. Therefore, collagen gels may serve as potential carriers for human corneal epithelial transplantation.
Les Poètes français de la Renaissance et leurs “libraires.” Actes du Colloque international de l’Université d’Orléans

Denis Bjai and Francois Rouget (eds.). Les Poetes frangais de la Renaissance et leurs "libraires." Actes du Colloque international de l'Universite d'Orleans. Geneva: Droz, 2015. Pp. 552. The twenty-one chapters of this volume, which began as a conference held in Orleans (June 5-7, 2013), offer a rich and variegated study of the complex relationships between Renaissance poets and their libraires. Taken as a whole, the volume demonstrates the material, economic, intellectual, and human networks at the heart of how poetic texts came into print in Renaissance France. All chapters are focused, erudite, and illuminating. Michele Clement opens the first part, on editorial strategies, with a mini-history of the privilege, showing how "de la prevention d'un deni de justice fait a l'auteur, son premier usage [...] il va evoluer dans sa valeur symbolique vers la reconnaissance d'un service rendu au royaume" (50). Isabelle Pantin studies typography in books of poetry, looking in particular at the special case of Sceve's Delie. Jean Balsamo examines the networks of libraires around the Paris Parliament, adding to what we know of the Palais's intimate connections with poets and publishers, as recently shown with great insight by Marie Houllemare in her Politiques de la parole (2011). Francois Rouget, with the same perspicacity as he did for Ronsard (in his two-part Ronsard et le livre), brings to light the careful and intelligent ways that Philippe Desportes managed his relationship with libraires. The second part--"La Pleiade et ses libraires"--features three chapters: Genevieve Guilleminot-Chretien studies books published by la veuve Maurice de La Porte, especially by Ronsard and Baif, showing in particular their proximity to the style bellifontain; Daniel Menager elucidates how close French Renaissance poets were to those libraires most responsible for printing classical texts; and Emmanuel Buron studies how, despite publishing only his Recueil des inscriptions, Jodelle is central to the world of the libraires via the liminary texts he wrote for other volumes. Part 3 focuses specifically on the publishing practices of poetes de province. Denis Bjai analyzes the practices of Orleans-based Eloi Gibier. Nicolas Ducimetiere's chapter is groundbreaking in its presentation of a "galerie de portraits" (212) of precocious and mainly forgotten Renaissance student-poets, who clearly did have their own place in the publishing world, both in the provinces (e. …
Colonization and Maize Growth Promotion Induced by Phosphate Solubilizing Bacterial Isolates

Phosphorus (P) limits the production of maize, one of the major food crops in China. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) have the capacity to solubilize phosphate complexes into plant absorbable and utilizable forms by the process of acidification, chelation, and exchange reactions. In this study, six bacteria, including one Paenibacillus sp. B1 strain, four Pseudomonas sp. strains (B10, B14, SX1, and SX2) and one Sphingobium sp. SX14 strain, were those isolated from the maize rhizosphere and identified based on their 16S rRNA sequences. All strains could solubilize inorganic P (Ca₃(PO₄)₂, FePO₄ and AlPO₄), and only B1 and B10 organic P (lecithin). All strains, except of SX1, produced IAA, and SX14 and B1 showed the highest level. B1 incited the highest increase in root length and the second increase in shoot and total dry weight, shoot length, and total P and nitrogen (N), along with increased root length. In addition, by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), we found that green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled B1 mainly colonized root surfaces and in epidermal and cortical tissue. Importantly, B1 can survive through forming spores under adverse conditions and prolong quality guarantee period of bio-fertilizer. Therefore, it can act as a good substitute for bio-fertilizer to promote agricultural sustainability.
ON THE USE OF FOURIER TRANSFORMS TO IMAGE SEISMIC REFLECTION DATA

A seismic reflection profile, which is the response measured with a coincident source and receiver at equally spaced sampling points, can be regarded as the convolution of the profile for a point reflector with a distribution of points representing the subsurface reflectivity. Imaging, or migration, inverts this convolution. This paper shows that sampling the recorded signal at equal increments in t2 (instead of t) makes the convolution time-invariant for a constant velocity medium. Examples are shown when the convolution is inverted by division in the Fourier plane. An example is also shown to illustrate the effect when the inversion is based on a velocity that is 10% too low.
The Practice of Academic Freedom in Classroom Speech in U.S. Catholic Higher Education: A Case Study with Suggestions Concerning Religious Mission

This article reports a case study of seventeen faculty leaders teaching at a Catholic university who responded to a questionnaire concerning academic freedom and its practice in classroom speech. Situating the responses within a heuristic model, this article offers a portrait that provides insight into how these faculty leaders defi ne academic freedom and its practice in classroom speech. The article closes with suggestions to administrators about how they might address the anxiety of faculty members who do not understand what academic freedom means in light of the American Association of University Professors’ policy and Ex corde Ecclesiae or who were hired without a clear understanding of the university’s religious mission.
Obesity and survival in the neoadjuvant breast cancer setting: role of tumor subtype in an ethnically diverse population.

Background Obesity may negatively affect survival in breast cancer (BC), but studies are conflicting, and associations may vary by tumor subtypes and race/ethnicity groups.
Hair sheep performance in a mid-stage deciduous Appalachian silvopasture

Silvopastoral management has potential to diversify and increase the output from livestock systems. Silvopastures offer solutions to many management issues associated with grazing systems in Appalachia (USA). Several tree species have been proposed for silvopastures in humid temperate regions, but few data comparing animal performance from systems with different deciduous tree species are available. The objective of this project was to compare early-stage honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) or black walnut (Juglans nigra) silvopastures with open pastures in terms of forage botanical composition, yield, and nutritive value, and in terms of gain, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of hair sheep (Ovis aries) that grazed these systems. Forage and animal performance from open systems (i.e., no trees) was compared with that from silvopastures containing 13- and 14-year-old honeylocust or black walnut trees. Cool-season grass-legume pastures were rotationally stocked with crossbred hair sheep from mid-June through September in 2008 and 2009. Forage production varied by year and pre-graze forage mass in black walnut silvopastures generally was less (P ≤ 0.05) than in open pastures at most measurement periods. Averaged over the season, forage production in honeylocust silvopastures tended (P = 0.0937) to be lower than in open systems in 2008 and was lower (P = 0.0001) in 2009. Few differences in forage nutritive value among systems were observed. Total and average daily gains (ADG) did not differ among treatments in 2008, but black walnut silvopastures supported less (P ≤ 0.05) ADG and total gain than open pastures and honeylocust silvopastures in 2009. Carcass characteristics evaluated did not vary among treatments although hot carcass weights were lower (P < 0.05) for lambs that grazed black walnut silvopastures. Although walnut-based systems were less productive and will need modification to improve output, similar levels of performance between open pastures and honeylocust systems show the potential of silvopasture systems to supply multiple products from the land base without reducing agricultural system production.
Lanthanide Triangles Supported by Radical Bridging Ligands

The first examples of metallacycles containing rare earth ions bridged by radicals are reported. The molecular triangles [Ln3(hfac)6(bptz•–)3] (Ln = DyIII, YIII; hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate; bptz = 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine) consist of lanthanide ions bridged by bptz radical anion (bptz•–) ligands. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and CASSCF calculations performed on [Dy3(hfac)6(bptz•–)3] reveal the presence of antiferromagnetic coupling between the DyIII centers and the bptz•– ligands, with J = −6.62 cm–1.
Curating Research Assets: A Tutorial on the Git Version Control System

Recent calls for improving reproducibility have increased attention to the ways in which researchers curate, share, and collaborate on their research assets. In this Tutorial, we explain how versio...
Association Between Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Nonfatal and Fatal Drug Overdoses: A Systematic Review

Background Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are a key component of the president's Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan to prevent opioid overdoses in the United States. Purpose To examine whether PDMP implementation is associated with changes in nonfatal and fatal overdoses; identify features of programs differentially associated with those outcomes; and investigate any potential unintended consequences of the programs. Data Sources Eligible publications from MEDLINE, Current Contents Connect (Clarivate Analytics), Science Citation Index (Clarivate Analytics), Social Sciences Citation Index (Clarivate Analytics), and ProQuest Dissertations indexed through 27 December 2017 and additional studies from reference lists. Study Selection Observational studies (published in English) from U.S. states that examined an association between PDMP implementation and nonfatal or fatal overdoses. Data Extraction 2 investigators independently extracted data from and rated the risk of bias (ROB) of studies by using established criteria. Consensus determinations involving all investigators were used to grade strength of evidence for each intervention. Data Synthesis Of 2661 records, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. These articles examined PDMP implementation only (n = 8), program features only (n = 2), PDMP implementation and program features (n = 5), PDMP implementation with mandated provider review combined with pain clinic laws (n = 1), and PDMP robustness (n = 1). Evidence from 3 studies was insufficient to draw conclusions regarding an association between PDMP implementation and nonfatal overdoses. Low-strength evidence from 10 studies suggested a reduction in fatal overdoses with PDMP implementation. Program features associated with a decrease in overdose deaths included mandatory provider review, provider authorization to access PDMP data, frequency of reports, and monitoring of nonscheduled drugs. Three of 6 studies found an increase in heroin overdoses after PDMP implementation. Limitation Few studies, high ROB, and heterogeneous analytic methods and outcome measurement. Conclusion Evidence that PDMP implementation either increases or decreases nonfatal or fatal overdoses is largely insufficient, as is evidence regarding positive associations between specific administrative features and successful programs. Some evidence showed unintended consequences. Research is needed to identify a set of "best practices" and complementary initiatives to address these consequences. Primary Funding Source National Institute on Drug Abuse and Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Mechanisms Underlying Essential Hypertension: Neurogenic and Nonneurogenic Contributors

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the USA and a leading cause of incapacitation, often leaving individuals permanently impaired and unable to work or live independent lives. One of the leading risk factors for stroke is hypertension, and the risk of stroke is directly proportional to the elevation and duration of high blood pressure [1–3]. Furthermore, hypertension also contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease, which itself increases the risk of stroke. Despite the prevalence of hypertension, its significant negative impacts on health, and nearly a century of research, the mechanisms underlying the chronic increase in arterial pressure in most hypertensive individuals remain elusive. As initially elucidated by Guyton and others, renal factors are a prominent contributor to hypertension in many individuals, but an increasing amount of research indicates that the sympathetic nervous system and its interactions with vasoactive hormones and intracellularly generated substances also contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension.
Molecular Genetics of Mature T/NK Neoplasms

The mature (postthymocyte; peripheral) T/natural killer (NK) lymphomas/leukemias represent 5–15% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and vary according to geography. Peripheral T cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS), is the most common type worldwide. There are more nodal presentations in Europe and North America, where the second most common types in each region are angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), respectively. There is more extranodal disease in Asia, due to Epstein–Barr virus related NK/T lymphoma and human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-1 associated adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). With the exceptions of the indolent mycosis fungoides (MF) and the chemo-sensitive anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive ALCL, the prognosis in most peripheral T/NK neoplasms is poor, with a 5-year survival less than 30%. (Table 25.1)
Multichannel Sales Services for Enterprise Cloud Vendors

For fast delivery and pay-as-you-go cost, corporations have begun to run application development and deployment projects on servers from cloud vendors. Value-add resellers (VARs) have even built dynamic, higher-level computing services using public cloud offerings as infrastructure. Amazon, as a cloud offerings pioneer deeply rooted in consumer web commerce, has led public cloud vendors in serving IT needs in a B2C direct fashion. This paper describes the overlooked importance of understanding enterprise buying practices and multichannel enterprise sales mechanisms. It is shown how existing sales services can be reused and modified to sell cloud computing resources in B2B direct and indirect ways. More important, the role of dealers/distributors, who manage their own customer relationships, is emphasized. To accommodate the various procurement systems being used by the different distributors, B2B gateway architecture for standard protocols and transactions is illustrated. This paper also suggests business models on how distributors can collaborate with a vendor in cloud resource planning by applying optimized inventory control.
Objective knowledge, subjective knowledge, and prior experience of organic cotton apparel

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationships between objective knowledge, subjective knowledge, and prior experience of organic cotton apparel and their effects on purchase behaviors. The sample of the present study consisted of Millennial consumers living in the United States. Multiple regression and cluster analysis were used to assess the relationship among variables. Objective and subjective knowledge related to organic cotton apparel had a weak relationship suggesting they are distinct measures of knowledge. Direct experience, indirect experience, and education level were significant predictors of subjective knowledge, however, they had insignificant effects on objective knowledge. Furthermore, consumers who are willing to pay more for organic cotton and willing to search actively for organic cotton apparel displayed a higher level of subjective knowledge and had more experience with the product. Objective knowledge was found to have a limited relationship with pro-environmental behaviors. The current study examined distinct types of knowledge associated with organic cotton apparel and their relationship to pro-environmental behaviors which provides a sound basis for better understanding consumers’ organic apparel purchase. It is widely accepted that product knowledge affects consumer behaviors, however, how product knowledge is measured varies extensively across consumer research. The findings offer a valid explanation for the contradictory findings in previous research in terms of the effect of product knowledge on purchase behaviors.
Urine Specific Gravity and the Accuracy of Urinalysis

BACKGROUND: A recent study in young infants found that different cutoffs maximized the accuracy of the urine white blood cell count in dilute versus concentrated urine samples. We aimed to confirm this finding and to determine its impact on clinical care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data gathered on consecutive children RESULTS: We included 10 078 children. The ability to rule in UTI (as measured by the positive likelihood ratio [LR]) was similar in dilute and concentrated urine for the leukocyte esterase test (11.76 vs 10.71, respectively). The positive LR for urine white blood cell count per high-powered field was higher in dilute urine (9.83 vs 6.12). In contrast, the positive LR for the nitrite test was lower in dilute urine (20.54 vs 47.44). Despite these differences, we found little change in the number of children treated with antibiotics in predictive models that took urine SG into consideration. CONCLUSIONS: Although we found that urine SG influences the accuracy of some components of the urinalysis, its inclusion in the decision-making process had negligible effect on the clinical care of children with UTI.
From Biochemistry to Patent Law: An Undergraduate Journey

A University of Iowa student, Sophia Vogeler, pursues discovery in the research lab of Dr. Charles Brenner in the Department of Biochemistry. While her undergraduate major, biochemistry, is a popular one on campus, Vogeler’s future directions will take her to Law School. Biochemistry and Law School seem like a disconnect to many, but this was the logical path for Vogeler. For a future in patent law, participation in research as an undergraduate was instrumental to her understanding of how research leads to the creation of patents and development of drugs. In this article, Vogeler and Dr. Brenner highlight the undergraduate research experience and how it can play a key role in future careers. Research can start and end in different places for many, but continues to be an important undergraduate experience at the University of Iowa. This article is one of four included in the series Readsearch. All articles can be found on stem-o-sphere.org.
Anti-corruption, transparency and accountability in health: concepts, frameworks, and approaches

Background: As called for by the Sustainable Development Goals, governments, development partners and civil society are working on anti-corruption, transparency and accountability approaches to control corruption and advance Universal Health Coverage.Objectives: The objective of this review is to summarize concepts, frameworks, and approaches used to identify corruption risks and consequences of corruption on health systems and outcomes. We also inventory interventions to fight corruption and increase transparency and accountability.Methods: We performed a critical review based on a systematic search of literature in PubMed and Web of Science and reviewed background papers and presentations from two international technical meetings on the topic of anti-corruption and health. We identified concepts, frameworks and approaches and summarized updated evidence of types and causes corruption in the health sector.Results: Corruption, or the abuse of power for private gain, in health systems includes bribes and kickbacks, embezzlement, fraud, political influence/nepotism and informal payments, among other behaviors. Drivers of corruption include individual and systems level factors such as financial pressures, poorly managed conflicts of interest, and weak regulatory and enforcement systems. We identify six typologies and frameworks that model relationships influencing the scope and seriousness of corruption, and show how anti-corruption strategies such as transparency, accountability, and civic participation can affect corruption risk. Little research exists on the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures; however, interventions such as community monitoring and insurance fraud control programs show promise.Conclusions: Corruption undermines the capacity of health systems to contribute to better health, economic growth and development. Interventions and resources on prevention and control of corruption are essential components of health system strengthening for Universal Health Coverage.
31 – Market Failures: Monopolies

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses how monopolies cause market failures. Monopolies are a source of economic problems because monopolies do not produce the same amounts of goods that competitive producers would in the same situation. Government regulation of monopolies is necessary because monopoly pricing and production practices reduce social welfare. The monopolist produces little total output, causing a loss in the net benefits from production. The government uses a variety of tools to influence monopoly production. Subsidies can be used to increase monopoly output, as can the use of price discrimination. More used, however, is the government's power to regulate production directly or to break up monopolies into competitive firms. A natural monopoly exists when average costs are greater than marginal costs at levels of output consistent with competition. Many competitive firms would go out of business under these conditions. Monopoly is the only form of market organization that can survive in these markets.
Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure alters the number and function of GABAergic interneurons in the murine orbitofrontal cortex.

Abstract Exposure to alcohol during development produces Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), characterized by a wide range of effects that include deficits in multiple cognitive domains. Early identification and treatment of individuals with FASD remain a challenge because neurobehavioral alterations do not become a significant problem until late childhood and early adolescence. Understanding the mechanisms underlying low and moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) effects on behavior and cognition is essential for improved diagnosis and treatment. Here, we examined the functional and morphological changes in an area known to be involved in executive control, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). We found that a moderate PAE model, previously shown to impair behavioral flexibility and to alter OFC activity in vivo, produced moderate functional and morphological changes within the OFC of mice in vitro. Specifically, slice electrophysiological recordings of spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents in OFC pyramidal neurons revealed a significant increase in the amplitude and area in PAE mice relative to controls. Immunohistochemistry uncovered an increase in calretinin-, but not somatostatin- or parvalbumin-expressing cortical interneurons in the OFC of PAE mice. Together, these data suggest that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure alters the disinhibitory function in the OFC, which may contribute to the executive function deficits associated with FASD.
Burden of chronic diseases among sarcoma survivors treated with anthracycline chemotherapy: results from an observational study.

Aim Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality among long-term cancer survivors treated with large total doses of doxorubicin. An increase in coronary artery disease (CAD) among childhood cancer survivors by age 45 has been observed and is driven by primarily anthracycline chemotherapy and to a lesser extent chest radiation that includes the heart in the radiation field. The risk factors and associated chronic diseases (hypertension, etc.) are well known for CAD and can be often prevented or treated, thus reducing the risk of CAD in these patients. We piloted a risk-based survivorship clinic in an academic medical center to characterize the distribution of risk factors for CAD and improve the quality of life in a population of sarcoma survivors treated with doxorubicin. Methods We followed a prospective cohort of sixty-one survivors of bone and soft tissue sarcoma treated with doxorubicin chemotherapy (> 400 mg/m2) and at least 2 years post-therapy attending the sarcoma survivorship clinic. We collected clinical, demographic data, and patient reported outcomes via PROMIS questionnaires annually. Results We demonstrated a high burden of chronic diseases in this population. Among six chronic conditions that are known risk factors for CAD (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic inflammation, kidney disease and dyslipidemia), more than one-fourth (26%, 16/61) of patients had three or more of these risk factors at baseline visit, and 49% (30/61) had two or more. Conclusion The results of this pilot study support the presence of modifiable CAD risk factors in this population of sarcoma survivors. Evidence-based guidelines for high-risk survivors of rare cancers are needed.
Glycan Node Analysis of Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Blood plasma is a readily accessible source of extracellular vesicles (EVs), i.e., cell-secreted nanosized carriers that contain various biomolecules, including glycans. Previous studies have demonstrated that glycans play a major role in physiological and pathological processes, and certain plasma glycans have been associated with disease conditions. However, glycome studies have been limited by a lack of analytical techniques with the throughput capacity necessary to study hundreds of clinical samples. This study is the first to characterize the EV plasma glycome based on all major glycan classes. The results based on glycan node analysis revealed, as expected, that plasma-derived EVs have distinct glycan features from donor-matched whole plasma. Specifically, glycan nodes corresponding to those observed in chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, type I keratan sulfate, and type II keratan sulfate were enriched on EVs. The identification of specific differences in glycan features in plasma vs. plasma-derived EVs is relevant for understanding the physiological role of EVs and as a reference for future diagnostic studies. Additionally, the results indicate that EV glycan nodes do not substantially differ among a small set of healthy donors. These results lay the framework for the further evaluation of all EV glycan classes as diagnostic markers, therapeutic targets, and biologically active components in health and disease.
Salvage Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection and Current State of Imaging for Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Does a Standard Exist?

We aim to evaluate the efficacy of salvage lymph node dissection (SLND) for nodal recurrent prostate cancer after primary treatment. We also provide a review of the diagnostic performance of next-generation sequencing (next-generation imaging (NGI)) radiotracers in the salvage setting. Most studies evaluating SLND include a heterogeneous population with a small sample size and are retrospective in design. The 5-year clinical recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival following SLND are 26–52% and 57–89%, respectively, among prospective studies. NGI improves accuracy in detecting nodal recurrence compared to conventional CT, with PMSA PET-CT showing the most promise. However, limited studies exist comparing imaging modalities and performance is variable at low PSA values. SLND is a promising treatment option, but more prospective data are needed to determine the ideal surgical candidate and long-term oncologic outcomes. More studies comparing different NGI are needed to determine the best imaging modality in patients who may be candidates for salvage treatment.
Polemic Collision: Race, Immigration, and Gender Violence in Olimpita

Coleman’s analysis of Hernan Migoya and Joan Marin’s Olimpita tackles two issues that have dominated Spanish news media since the 1990s: African immigration and gender violence. Coleman explains how the use of binary black and white drawings and various stereotypes takes readers on an emotional roller coaster with a crash ending. This polemic collision not only facilitates a better understanding of how race and gender are constructed and hierarchized, but also recognizes the importance of graphic novels within Spanish cultural production. Despite a fatalistic view in which the exploitation of immigrants and the abuse of women are ingrained into Spanish society, Coleman suggests that the novel leaves readers better equipped to spot the red flags that surround them in their daily lives.