cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biologic Therapies in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Risk of Opportunistic Infections: A Meta-analysis

Objective. Biologic agents are increasingly used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to review their association with opportunistic infections (OIs), including fungal, viral (with a focus on herpesvirus-related infections), tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections. Methods. We searched PubMed and EMBASE through June 24, 2013, and complemented the search with the reference lists of eligible articles. The analysis included randomized trials on RA that compared any approved biologic agent with controls and reported the risk of OIs. Results. A total of 70 trials that included 32 504 patients (21 916 patients receiving biologic agents and 10 588 receiving placebo) were deemed eligible. Biologic agents increased the risk of OIs (pooled Peto odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–2.74; I 2 = 3%), resulting in 1.7 excess infections per 1000 patientstreated (number needed to harm, 582). A significant risk was noted for mycobacterial (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.72–8.13; I 2 = 0), and viral (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.02–3.58; I 2 = 0) infections. Interestingly, no significant differences were found for invasive and superficial fungal infections (1.31; 95% CI, .46–3.72), invasive fungal infections (2.85; .68–11.91), P. jirovecii pneumonia (1.77; .42–7.47), varicella-zoster virus (1.51; .71–3.22), as well as overall mortality attributed to OIs (1.91; .29– 12.64). Conclusions. Among patients with RA, biologic agents are associated with a small but significant risk of specific OIs. This increase is associated with mycobacterial diseases and does not seem to affect overall mortality. Because OIs are a relatively rare complication of biologic agents, large registries are needed to identify the exact effect in different OIs and to compare the different biologic agents.
Re-Evaluation of Calcium and Phosphorus Requirements of Laying Hens for Optimum Performance and Eggshell Quality

Abstract A long-term experiment was conducted to re-evaluate the Ca and available P (AP) requirements of laying hens for optimum performance and eggshell quality. The experiment lasted from 20 to 64 wk of age and was divided into three phases: Phase 1, 20 to 36 wk of age; Phase 2, 36 to 54 wk of age; and Phase 3, 52 to 64 wk of age. The treatments (T) consisted of diets with 3.5 to 5.5% Ca in increments of .5% and a constant level of AP (.4%) (T1 to T5); a step-up Ca phase feeding regimen of 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5% with a constant level of AP (.4%) (T6); a step-down AP phase feeding regimen of .4, .3, and .2% with a constant level of Ca (3.5%) (T7); a concurrent step-up Ca phase feeding and step-down AP phase feeding regimen with or without substitution of 50% oyster shell for pulverized limestone (T8 and T9); and a regimen similar to T9 with a step-up cholecalciferol phase feeding of 2,200, 4,400, and 8,800 ICU/kg (T10). Increasing the dietary level of Ca did not have any beneficial effects on shell quality, indicating that the National Research Council (1984) estimated requirement of 3.75 g Ca per hen per day is adequate for optimum shell formation. A step-up Ca phase feeding regimen, a step-down AP phase feeding regimen, or their combination, were without effect on shell quality. Also, increasing the dietary level of cholecalciferol with the hen's age did not have any beneficial effects on shell quality. The presence of oyster shell had a beneficial effect on shell quality during Phases 2 and 3 even when diets contained generous levels of Ca. Percentage retention of Ca was reduced and absolute retention of Ca remained constant with an increase in the dietary level of Ca in each phase of the experiment. Plasma and bone Ca levels were not influenced by dietary treatments in each phase of the experiment. Bone ash was not different among treatments in Phases 1 and 2 of the experiment. In Phase 3, bone ash of hens fed a step-down AP regimen of .4 to .3 to .2% with a constant level of Ca (3.5%) was significantly lower than hens fed the other dietary treatments. Egg production was not influenced by dietary treatments.
Infant botulism mimicking Hirschprung's disease.

Abstract We report a case of infant botulism presenting as primary colonic ileus—mimicking Hirschprung's megacolon. Infant botulism should be considered in any infant with constipation and neurologic abnormalities.
Progress in the Development of LiCaAlF6:Cr3+ Laser Crystals

High Cr3+ doping levels, up to 8 mole percent, and low losses have been obtained with the tunable solid- state laser material LiCaAlF6:Cr3+ (Cr:LiCAF). Measurements and calculations show that high pumping and extraction efficiencies are possible with the improved material.
Classifying Force Spectroscopy of DNA Pulling Measurements Using Supervised and Unsupervised Machine Learning Methods

Dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) measurements on biomolecules typically require classifying thousands of repeated force spectra prior to data analysis. Here, we study classification of atomic force microscope-based DFS measurements using machine-learning algorithms in order to automate selection of successful force curves. Notably, we collect a data set that has a testable positive signal using photoswitch-modified DNA before and after illumination with UV (365 nm) light. We generate a feature set consisting of six properties of force–distance curves to train supervised models and use principal component analysis (PCA) for an unsupervised model. For supervised classification, we train random forest models for binary and multiclass classification of force–distance curves. Random forest models predict successful pulls with an accuracy of 94% and classify them into five classes with an accuracy of 90%. The unsupervised method using Gaussian mixture models (GMM) reaches an accuracy of approximately 80% for bi...
A Problem in Number Theory

(1914). A Problem in Number Theory. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 148-150.
Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (CAMT)

Congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder induced by mutations of the gene coding for thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor (c-MPL) despite high levels of serum TPO. Patients initially present with isolated thrombocytopenia that subsequently progresses into pancytopenia. Although the mechanisms leading to aplasia are unknown, the age of onset has been reported to depend on the severity of the c-MPL functional defect. The primary treatment for CAMT is bone marrow transplantation. This report describes a newborn girl who presented to us with symptoms of sepsis but septic profile came negative except thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow biopsy was done for thrombocytopenia which revealed amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia. She was given prednisolone.
Lifestyle Factors and Health Risk Behaviors

Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for health complications secondary to cancer treatment, and these late effects may be exacerbated by organ dysfunction, aging, and unhealthy behaviors. Despite their vulnerable health profiles, survivors engage in risky health behaviors at alarming rates, that are, in many instances, comparable to their peers who have never been treated for cancer. Tailored, lifestyle interventions that promote healthy behavioral practices and risk reduction strategies have been modestly effective across behaviors. This chapter will review prevalence, risk factors, and interventions that have been conducted to date with childhood cancer survivors in the areas of tobacco use, alcohol and illicit drug use, physical activity, nutrition, sun exposure, and risky sexual behavior. Recommendations for intervening with survivors in the healthcare setting to promote healthy behavior change will be provided.
Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava

The thirty-second case of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava and the twelfth resectable patient in the series is presented. A review of the literature demonstrates a marked female preponderance (5 to 1). The most common presenting symptom is right abdominal pain and a palpable mass. The different surgical problems generated by the involved segment of the cava are discussed. Noteworthy is the high incidence of Budd-Chiari syndrome owing to hepatic vein obstruction with involvement of the upper third of the cava in the postmortem cases. An argument is developed for debulking the tumor for palliation when it is not completely removable.
Estimation of phylogenetic distances among ascomycetous yeasts from partial sequencing of ribosomal RNA.

Etude de la relation phylogenetique entre Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pichia stipitis, Pachysolen tannophilus et Saccharomyces cerevisiae grâce a l'analyse de sequences partielles des RNA ribosomiques 18S et 26S
Spontaneous Neural Activity

Single units which discharged with regular spontaneous rhythms without intentional stimulation were isolated from the ventral nerve cord of the crayfish by intracellular recording methods in the proximity of the sixth abdominal ganglion. These units were divided into two groups: group A units in which interspike intervals varied less than 10 msec; group B units in which interspike intervals varied within a ringe of 10–30 msec. Group A units maintained “constant” interspike intervals and could not be discharged by sensory inputs, while the group B units could be discharged by appropriate sensory-nerve stimulation. Both group A and B units discharged to direct stimulation of the impaled unit, and the evoked direct single-spike activity reset the spontaneous activity. In Group B units presynaptic volleys reset the spontaneous rhythm of some units and in other units synaptically evoked spikes were interpolated within the spontaneous rhythm without resetting the rhythms. In a few units it was possible to initiate ongoing spontaneous activity by direct stimulation of the impaled unit. Spontaneously active units demonstrated the property of enhancement when driven by repetitive direct stimulation. It is concluded that endogenous pacemaker activity is responsible for much of the ongoing regular spontaneous rhythms of the crayfish central neurons and that interaction of evoked responses with endogenous pacemaker sites is responsible for the observed results.
Separate Accounting vs. Formula Apportionment: A Private Information Perspective

Should countries calculate tax liabilities for multinational firms using separate accounting methods or apportionment formulas? Separate accounting methods initiate distortions through transfer pricing decisions. Apportionment formulas initiate distortions through production decisions. Both types of distortions are due to asymmetric information between the multinational and the relevant tax authorities over the value of cross-border transfers. In this paper, I explicitly model the role of private information in two tax competition games: one in which tax liabilities are calculated under separate accounting and transfer prices are audited and one in which tax liabilities are calculated under formula apportionment. I show that differences in after-tax firm profit and tax revenues depend on the accuracy of the governments' auditing technology and non-monotonically on the firms' private information.
Challenges of lean customer discovery as invention

The lean startup approach to developing products and businesses has become central to entrepreneurial culture. Touted as a scientific approach to creating successful startups, the lean approach relies on customer discovery—a process in which entrepreneurs validate hypotheses about their business models via a rhetorically specific model of interviews with potential customers. In this article, we examine canonical texts of the movement and our own experiences in three lean startup boot camps, in the process exploring the notable absences and silences in the narrow range of texts that define Lean Startup. Lean methods as practiced by government agencies tend to exclude research on user experience design, technology transfer, and qualitative research methods, and foster an underlying suspicion of academic expertise in favor of relying solely on the self-reporting from potential customer segments.
Reconstructing the Habitats of Australopithecus: Paleoenvironments, Site Taphonomy, and Faunas

Hominin paleoecology is reconstructed using many types of evidence from fossils and their geological context. This evidence is limited by vagaries of the fossil and geological record. What questions can be asked regarding Australopithecus ecology given these limitations? We address this topic by reviewing the major issues concerning hominin synecology and taphonomy and discuss methods for deriving ecological information from fossil assemblages and their geological context. We provide basic information about the context of the six Australopithecus species known from 22 collecting sites and review their environment of deposition and other paleoecological evidence. Using this information we attempt to answer a series of questions, such as whether we can determine the habitat preferences of the different species, and whether more than one Australopithecus species shared an ecosystem at any given place and time. We conclude that Australopithecus as a genus was eurytopic because of the wide range of well-documented habitat reconstructions, but only Australopithecus afarensis, and possibly Australopithecus anamensis, have enough time range and fossil material to support the interpretation that these species were eurytopic. The dietary differences between east and south African species are intriguing given microwear analyses differentiating the two groups, although the carbon isotope data are similar. Further evidence of the ecological context of these species is needed and should be standardized using an appropriate scale of evidence (temporal and spatial) for the desired scale of habitat reconstruction.
Who has trouble reporting prior day events

Research has shown that surveys that require respondents to recall events can be subject to fairly high measurement error. Recall error tends be less problematic for highly salient events and events that have recently occurred. However, there is less information on whether some respondents are more or less prone to having problems with answering questions that involve recalling an event. This research uses data from the American Driving Study where people are asked to report the length of driving trips that they made yesterday. We analyze of over 16,000 reported driving trips from data collected from 7,913 respondents who reported having been the driver for at least one driving trip on the day before they were interviewed (yesterday). For this analysis, we are concerned with two types of recall problems; 1) the inability of the respondent to provide an estimate of either the length or duration of a driving trip; 2) providing an estimate of miles driven that is inconsistent given the duration and purpose of the trip. This paper finds difference in the characteristics of respondents who are more likely to have problems reporting their prior day driving behavior. But, the main finding is that longer trips were harder to report on and have a bigger impact on key survey estimates. We conclude with some discussion of important considerations that survey practitioners should keep in mind when designing surveys that include recall questions.
Medical Students Rate Black Female Peers as Less Socially Connected.

Abstract Background Social and cultural outcomes are critically important in medical education. A large medical school located in the United States implemented a learning community model intended to promote social and cultural growth among its medical students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree to which medical students from the same peer cohort were socially connected across racial and sex groups. Methods Because most assessments involving social and cultural outcomes involve self-reported data of a personal nature, the possibility of social desirability bias is increased. To mitigate this threat, this study utilized a novel method for measuring medical students social connectedness by having peers in one's advisory college provide social connectedness ratings about one another. Results While surface level results did not reveal any significant differences, a closer inspection of data revealed Black females were less socially connected with medical student peers from their cohort than other peer groups. Discussion Possible explanations for this are discussed. Future research should continue to investigate the experiences of Black females in medical schools so as to better understand the needs of this important and valuable subpopulation of students.
A Life Span Perspective for Sibling Research

This chapter is an attempt to provide a framework for the purpose of guiding future sibling research. Obviously, each existing research study reported in this book has had its own rationale, whether based on some theoretical notion, or an inductive empirical approach.
Building emergy analysis of Manhattan: Density parameters for high-density and high-rise developments

Abstract To better understand how cities work, this study performs emergy (spelled with an “m”) synthesis of buildings on Manhattan Island. Conventional emergy studies have focused on much larger unit of analysis; however, architects, urban designers, and policymakers are operating on a smaller scale of building, block, neighborhood, and district. This study contributes to overcoming the scale and resolution mismatch between the macro- and micro-levels. Overall emergy for entire buildings on Manhattan Island is computed by adopting square-foot-base building cost estimation technique to emergy synthesis. We found that high-density and high-rise developments can achieve their maximum empower at the range of 1–5 Floor Area Ratio (FAR; an indicator of development density computed as total building floor area divided by total parcel area) and building height under 40 stories.
Connecting the Mathematics Identity of Early Childhood Educators to Classroom Experiences for Young Children

This chapter examines the mathematics identities of early childhood educators in birth to five-year-old settings. Connections are explored between how these educators perceive their role in promoting mathematics in child care settings and the opportunities afforded to the children in these settings. Results are presented from a phenomenological investigation of how participants view teaching and learning mathematics and how they experience mathematics teaching with young children. Participants (n = 8) were Head Start and Early Head Start teachers involved in a year-long mathematics professional development experience. They were chosen based on their level of implementation of practices recommended to them through professional development. In-depth interviews and classroom observations were conducted and results compared to determine how mathematics identity influenced practice. Example vignettes describe how these teachers implemented mathematics with young children. Embedded in these examples is a discussion of next steps for these teachers in terms of their own professional growth.
Binge ethanol effects on prefrontal cortex neurons, spatial working memory and task-induced neuronal activation in male and female rats

Excessive alcohol intake is associated with a multitude of health risks, especially for women. Recent studies in animal models indicate that the female brain is more negatively affected by alcohol, compared to the male brain. Among other regions, excessive alcohol consumption damages the frontal cortex, an area important for many functions and decision making of daily life. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in female rats is selectively vulnerable to alcohol-induced damage. In humans, loss of prefrontal grey matter resulting from heavy alcohol consumption has been documented, however this volume loss is not necessarily due to a decrease in the number of neurons. We therefore quantified both number and nuclear volume of mPFC neurons following binge alcohol, as well as performance and neuronal activation during a prefrontal-dependent behavioral task. Adult male and female Long-Evans rats were assigned to binge or control groups and exposed to ethanol using a well-established 4-day model of alcohol-induced neurodegeneration. Both males and females had significantly smaller average neuronal nuclei volumes than their respective control groups immediately following alcohol binge, but neither sex showed a decrease in neuron number. Binged rats of both sexes initially showed spatial working memory deficits. Although they eventually achieved control performance, binged rats of both sexes showed increased c-Fos labeling in the mPFC during rewarded alternation, suggesting decreased neural efficiency. Overall, our results substantiate prior evidence indicating that the frontal cortex is vulnerable to alcohol, but also indicate that sex-specific vulnerability to alcohol may be brain region-dependent.
A Preliminary Investigation of Pathways to Inflated Responsibility Beliefs in Children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Background Cognitive theorists posit that inflated responsibility beliefs contribute to the development of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Salkovskis et al. (1999) proposed that experiencing heightened responsibility, overprotective parents and rigid rules, and thinking one influenced or caused a negative life event act as 'pathways' to the development of inflated responsibility beliefs, thereby increasing risk for OCD. Studies in adults with OCD and non-clinical adolescents support the link between these experiences and responsibility beliefs (Coles et al., 2015; Halvaiepour and Nosratabadi, 2015), but the theory has never been tested in youth with current OCD. Aims We provided an initial test of the theory by Salkovskis et al. (1999) in youth with OCD. We predicted that childhood experiences proposed by Salkovskis et al. (1999) would correlate positively with responsibility and harm beliefs and OCD symptom severity. Method Twenty youth with OCD (age 9‒16 years) completed a new child-report measure of the experiences hypothesized by Salkovskis et al. (1999), the Pathways to Inflated Responsibility Beliefs Scale-Child Version (PIRBS-CV). Youth also completed the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-Child Version (Coles et al., 2010) and the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Child Version (Foa et al., 2010). Results Consistent with hypotheses, the PIRBS-CV was significantly related to responsibility and harm beliefs and OCD symptom severity. Conclusions Results provide initial support for the theory proposed by Salkovskis et al. (1999) as applied to youth with OCD. Future studies are needed to further assess the model in early-onset OCD.
Effects of salinity and hypoxia-induced hyperventilation on oxygen consumption and cost of osmoregulation in the estuarine red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus).

Abstract Understanding the physiological responses of fishes to salinity changes and aquatic hypoxia is essential for the conservation of marine species. Salinity changes affect the osmotic gradient across the gill epithelium, while hypoxia increases gill ventilation and the flow of water over the gills. Both processes affect the diffusive movement of ions and water across the gill epithelium, and the rate of active ion transport required for maintaining osmotic homeostasis. Consequently, salinity and hypoxia may affect the energetic cost of osmoregulation, and consequently the energy available for other physiological functions such as migration, growth, and reproduction. Historically, studies have assessed the costs of osmoregulation and ventilation in fishes via standard metabolic rate (SMR); however, few studies have used a multi-stressor approach that fully accounts for the osmorespiratory compromise. Here, we determined the combined effects of salinity and hypoxia on SMR, routine metabolic rate (RMR), and plasma ion concentrations in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) acclimated to salinities ranging from freshwater to hypersalinity. Surprisingly, there was no significant change in any parameter as a consequence of salinity or hypoxia, including the relatively extreme scenario of combined hypersalinity and hypoxia exposure. We conclude that changes in the osmotic gradient across the gill epithelium and the flow of water over the gills have a negligible effect on the whole animal energy budget of S. ocellatus, suggesting that the cost of osmoregulation is a minor component of basal metabolism regardless of oxygenation status.
Diesel-powered heavy-duty vehicles in Japan – latest emission regulations and responding technologies, fuel economy standards, and challenges for alternative fuels

Isuzu Motors Limited (ISUZU) is a commercial vehicle manufacturer founded in 1916 and established in 1937. Isuzu has 2 main manufacturing plants, Fujisawa & Tochigi in Japan and 47 other sites in 30 countries abroad. The annual production volume is now 617 thousand of commercial vehicles, buses, and pickup trucks and these products are sold in well over 120 countries.
Naturalistic Epistemology and the Harakiri of Philosophy

Bertrand Russell, in the early part of the twentieth century, labored vigorously on a proper foundation for mathematics. One of his efforts resulted in a set theory along with a theory of types, a theory of levels of discourse. The existence of sets was made relative to the level of discourse already employed in the construction of the theory. This is the beginning of what can be termed constructive set theory, the attempt to tie talk of mathematical entities to linguistic operations of a certain kind, and hence to provide a philosophical justification for mathematics. Having embarked on this constructivist path, Russell detoured because he thought it was necessary to talk about collections of sets across levels. Consequently, he introduced his famous axiom of reducibility and committed what Hermann Weyl called the harakiri of reason. This attempt to justify mathematics resulted in suicide.
Redox Changes in Perfusates Following Intracerebral Penetration of Microdialysis Probes

Microdialysis probe insertion into rat cerebral cortex significantly affects the levels of redox-active substances in brain extracellular fluid. Ascorbic acid levels are high immediately after probe insertion, decline rapidly, and then rise as the rat recovers from anesthesia 5-8 hours after surgery. Uric acid is at a low level for 5 hours and then rapidly increases in parallel with ascorbic acid. High ascorbic acid levels immediately after probe insertion are likely due to a shift from intracellular to extracellular fluids, whereas the delayed increase in uric acid may be due to increased enzymatic formation. After removal from the brain, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in microdialysis samples produces catalase-sensitive oxidative chemiluminescence. Microdialysis samples also produce high level catalase-resistant chemiluminescence associated with ascorbic acid levels after penetration injury. Although ascorbic acid is likely an antioxidant at concentrations estimated to be in brain extracellular fluid, it may have prooxidant effects when complexed with transition metals released into the neuronal microenvironment during traumatic brain injury.
The thermal structure of the solar upper atmosphere

In the present work we review the thermal structure of the solar atmosphere. We first discuss the main diagnostic techniques used to measure it, outlining their pitfalls and limitations. Then, we review the recent measurements of the thermal structure of the solar atmosphere carried out with the SOHO spectrometers CDS and SUMER. The review shows that the solar upper atmosphere is made by an ensemble of few, nearly isothermal plasmas with fixed temperatures, disconnected from the colder, thermally continuous lower atmosphere.
The impact of HPV infection on survival of patients with non-oropharyngeal head and neck cancer.

6048Background: The role of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in non-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (non-OPSCC) of the head and neck is unknown. Current available studies have yielded co...
Borderline Personality Disorder with Narcissistic Features

This case illustrates important principles of treating patients with BPD and narcissistic problems. Initial assessments should include evaluation and discussion of narcissistic and self-esteem problems, using language that is acceptable to patients. This allows treatment planning that considers evidence-based treatments for BPD, adapted for focusing on difficulties related to narcissism and self-esteem fluctuations. For general clinicians without specialty BPD training, the most useful treatment approach may be built on the model of interpersonal hypersensitivity in BPD. This simplified approach can be modified to address intrapersonal hypersensitivity, in which patients reject themselves (and others) when they fail to meet excessively high internal standards. This treatment builds on principles helpful for patients with BPD alone, including use of case management techniques, emphasis on collaboration, focus on work functioning initially, and examination of problems using the lens of interpersonal hypersensitivity. The concept of intrapersonal hypersensitivity provides guidance in difficult treatment situations that arise when patients elicit powerful reactions in their treating clinicians.
Stability and Reliability of Lateral GaN Power Field-Effect Transistors

GaN electronics constitutes a revolutionary technology with power handling capabilities that amply exceed those of Si and other semiconductors in many applications. RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave GaN-based power amplifiers are now deployed in commercial communications, radar, and sensing systems. GaN power transistors for electrical power management are also starting to reach the marketplace. From the dawn of this technology, inadequate transistor stability and reliability have represented stumbling blocks preventing widespread commercial use of GaN electronics. Intense research has been devoted to addressing these issues, and great progress has taken place recently. This article reviews some of the most interesting and significant stability and reliability issues that have plagued GaN power field-effect transistors for RF and power management applications.
In Vivo Calcium Imaging in C. elegans Body Wall Muscles

The model organism C. elegans provides an excellent system to perform in vivo calcium imaging. Its transparent body and genetic manipulability allow for the targeted expression of genetically encoded calcium sensors. This protocol outlines the use of these sensors for the in vivo imaging of calcium dynamics in targeted cells, specifically the body wall muscles of the worms. By utilizing the co-expression of presynaptic channelrhodopsin, stimulation of acetylcholine release from excitatory motor neurons can be induced using blue light pulses, resulting in muscle depolarization and reproducible changes in cytoplasmic calcium levels. Two worm immobilization techniques are discussed with varying levels of difficulty. Comparison of these techniques demonstrates that both approaches preserve the physiology of the neuromuscular junction and allow for the reproducible quantification of calcium transients. By pairing optogenetics and functional calcium imaging, changes in postsynaptic calcium handling and homeostasis can be evaluated in a variety of mutant backgrounds. Data presented validates both immobilization techniques and specifically examines the roles of the C. elegans sarco(endo)plasmic reticular calcium ATPase and the calcium-activated BK potassium channel in the body wall muscle calcium regulation.
Arachnida: Spiders and Scorpions

Though there are over 40,000 species of spiders and 2,000 species of scorpions worldwide, many spiders are incapable of biting humans and very few spiders and scorpions produce clinically significant bites or stings. Most spider bites and scorpion stings in humans cause minimal or no effects and rarely result in more than a local cutaneous reaction. The two spiders in the United States that are associated with potentially serious health consequences are the brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) and the black widow (Latrodectus mactans) spiders. Bites from the brown recluse spider can produce necrotic ulceration, while black widow spider bites can cause severe systemic features. The two scorpions in the United States causing medical relevant symptomatology are the Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides exilcauda or sculpturatus) and striped bark scorpion (Centruroides vittatus). The Arizona bark scorpion is known to cause systemic neurotoxic symptoms and may be life-threatening, while the striped bark scorpion causes only local pain. Maintaining a broad differential diagnosis when considering a spider bite is essential due to the lack of confirmatory diagnostic testing. Scorpion stings are typically evident and also lack diagnostic testing. The treatment of spider bites and scorpion stings should include local wound care, pain management, and monitoring of systemic toxicity with a low threshold for antivenom administration. Spider bites can be prevented with the use of appropriate clothing and chemical repellents, such as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), as well as other personal and domestic measures. Scorpion stings may be prevented through wearing appropriate protective clothing. Morbidity and mortality can be decreased through public awareness of endemic scorpion behavior and education as to when to seek medical care.
“How Do We Stop Trying to Do It All?” Application of the Family Business Parallel Planning Process:

Keith Lang, a then college senior, and his mother, Lori, launched Global Logistics & Shipping Partners (GLS) overnight when an opportunity presented itself to secure a number of clients. From Week ...
Simulating Next-Generation User Interfaces for Law Enforcement Traffic Stops

We present the design of a next-generation user interface for law enforcement officers, developed to assist with current traffic procedures. Our design leverages the futuristic capabilities of augmented reality displays, integrating real and virtual elements. Our team has created a traffic stop scenario in immersive virtual reality, where the participant assumes the role of a police officer and interacts with a simulated augmented user interface and a virtual driver.
Switching Between Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: Rationale and Practical Guidance

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of incretin-based therapies for the management of hyperglycemia and, in some cases, cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes. These agents act on multiple physiological pathways involved in type 2 diabetes with the effect of increasing insulin secretion and decreasing glucagon to control glucose levels (1,2). They also transiently slow gastric emptying, reduce appetite, and facilitate weight loss and other metabolic improvements (3). Consensus recommendations from the American Diabetes Association (ADA)/European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology advocate that GLP-1 receptor agonists, among other therapies, should be considered as a second-line treatment option in people with type 2 diabetes when glucose levels are not well controlled on metformin (4–6). Additionally, in patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease, a GLP-1 receptor agonist or sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor with proven cardiovascular benefit is recommended as a first-line therapy for the reduction of cardiovascular risk (4–6). GLP-1 receptor agonists may also be used as a first-line treatment in those who cannot use metformin or when reduced renal function precludes metformin use (human-based GLP-1 receptor agonists only) (4–6). In particular, the recommendations favor GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors because they have a low risk of hypoglycemia and promote weight loss (5). Several GLP-1 receptor agonists are available in the United States and worldwide, some of which are analogs of human GLP-1 (dulaglutide, liraglutide, and semaglutide), whereas others are exendin-based (exenatide and lixisenatide) (7–13). The GLP-1 receptor agonist albiglutide was also approved, but has been withdrawn for commercial reasons. Until recently, all GLP-1 receptor agonists were administered by subcutaneous injection, although a once-daily oral formulation …
Prevalence of Salmonella enterica on poultry processing equipment after completion of sanitization procedures.

Salmonella is a poultry-borne pathogen that causes illness throughout the world. Consequently, it is critical to control Salmonella during the process of converting broilers to poultry meat. Sanitization of a poultry processing facility, including processing equipment, is a crucial control measure that is utilized by poultry integrators. However, prevalence of Salmonella on equipment after sanitization and its potential risk to food safety has not been evaluated thoroughly. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the persistence of Salmonella on poultry processing equipment before and following cleaning and sanitization procedure. A total of 15 locations within 6 commercial processing plants were sampled at 3 time points: (A) after processing; (B) after cleaning; and (C) after sanitization, on 3 separate visits for a total of 135 samples per plant. Salmonella-positive isolates were recovered from samples using the United States Department of Agriculture MLG 4.09 conventional method. Presumptive Salmonella colonies were subjected to biochemical tests for confirmation. Salmonella isolates recovered after sanitization were serotyped and tested for the presence of specific virulence genes. A completely randomized design with a 6 × 3 × 15 factorial arrangement was utilized to analyze the results for Salmonella prevalence between processing plants. Means were separated using Fishers protected least significant difference when P ≤ 0.05. For Salmonella prevalence between processing plants, differences (P < 0.0001) were observed in the 6 plants tested where the maximum and minimum prevalence was 29.6 and 7.4%, respectively. As expected, there was a difference (P < 0.0001) in the recovery of Salmonella because of sampling time. Salmonella prevalence at time A (36%) was significantly higher, whereas there was no difference between time B (12%) and C (9%). There was a location effect (P < 0.0001) for the prevalence of Salmonella with the head puller, picker, cropper, and scalder having a significantly higher prevalence when compared with several other locations. At sampling time C, a trend toward a difference (P = 0.0899) was observed for Salmonella prevalence between the 6 plants, whereas significant differences were observed because of location (P = 0.0031). Five prominent Salmonella enterica serovars were identified, including Kentucky, Schwarzengrund, Enteritidis, Liverpool, and Typhimurium with S. Kentucky being the most prevalent. PCR analysis of 8 Salmonella virulence genes showed that the invA, sipB, spiA, sseC, and fimA were detected in all isolates, whereas genes carried on plasmids and/or fimbriae varied remarkably among all isolates. This study established Salmonella prevalence and persistence in poultry processing facilities after antimicrobial application through sanitization procedures which could result in contamination of poultry carcasses and food safety risks because of poultry meat.
Metabolomics: Impact of Comorbidities and Inflammation on Sickness Behaviors for Individuals with Chronic Wounds

Significance: Approximately 6.5 million people in the United States suffer from chronic wounds. The chronic wound population is typically older and is characterized by a number of comorbidities associated with inflammation. In addition to experiencing wound-related pain, individuals with chronic wounds commonly experience multiple concurrent psychoneurological symptoms such as fatigue and depression, which delay wound healing. However, these distressing symptoms have been relatively overlooked in this population, although their adverse effects on morbidity are well established in other chronic disease populations. Recent Advances: Inflammation is involved in multiple pathways, which activate brain endothelial and innate immune cells that release proinflammatory cytokines, which produce multiple symptoms known as sickness behaviors. Inflammation-based activation of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway and its metabolites is a mechanism associated with chronic illnesses. Critical Issues: Although putative humoral and neuronal routes have been identified, the specific metabolic variations involved in sickness behaviors in chronic wound patients remain unclear. To improve health outcomes in the chronic wound population, clinicians need to have better understanding of the mechanisms underlying sickness behaviors to provide appropriate treatments. Future Directions: This article presents a synthesis of studies investigating associations between inflammation, metabolic pathways, and sickness behaviors in multiple chronic diseases. The presentation of a theoretical framework proposes a mechanism underlying sickness behaviors in the chronic wound population. By mediating the immune system response, dysregulated metabolites in the KYN pathway may play an important role in sickness behaviors in chronic inflammatory conditions. This framework may guide researchers in developing new treatments to reduce the disease burden in the chronic wound population.
Central venous catheter fracture leading to TPN extravasation and abdominal compartment syndrome diagnosed with bedside contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Central venous lines may require contrast injection under fluoroscopy to evaluate for dysfunction such as occlusion, fibrin sheath development or catheter fracture. Rarely, some patients may be too ill to travel to the interventional radiology suite for this examination. We present a case utilizing contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) at the bedside to assess catheter integrity in a critically ill infant with a large intra-abdominal fluid collection. CEUS demonstrated extravasation into the collection, confirming catheter fracture and prompting immediate cessation of line use and recommendation for exchange. This case shows the utility of CEUS to evaluate central venous access devices in children who are unable to travel to interventional radiology for a standard contrast injection.
Addressing opioid misuse and mental health conditions through interdisciplinary workforce development programs

The purpose of this article is to describe two innovative, interdisciplinary workforce development programs that aim to meet the needs of individuals who misuse opioids and may contend with mental ...
Teaching Social Justice Through Project-Based Learning in Engineering

This chapter provides an overview of a semester-long engineering exploration project used to teach social justice through project-based learning and two social justice frameworks, STEMJ and the transgressive STEM teaching model. Rather than simply trying to help underrepresented students close the STEM achievement gap and join the dominant STEM culture, these social justice models instead aim to empower students to create change by valuing each student’s unique perspectives and encouraging their contributions. Project-based learning shares similar key elements, emphasizing student voice and choice to address challenging problems in an authentic way, making it an ideal complement to introduce and reinforce social justice principles alongside the teaching of technical skills.
Hybrid route choice model incorporating latent cognitive effects of real-time travel information using physiological data

Abstract The proliferation of information systems is enabling drivers to receive en route real-time travel information, often from multiple sources, for making informed routing decisions. A robust understanding of route choice behavior under information provision can be leveraged by traffic operators to design information and its delivery systems for managing network-wide traffic. However, most existing route choice models lack the ability to consider the latent cognitive effects of information on drivers and their implications on route choice decisions. This paper presents a hybrid route choice modeling framework that incorporates the latent cognitive effects of real-time information and the effects of several explanatory variables that can be measured directly (i.e., route characteristics, information characteristics, driver attributes, and situational factors). The latent cognitive effects are estimated by analyzing drivers’ physiological data (i.e., brain electrical activity patterns) measured using an electroencephalogram (EEG). Data was collected for 95 participants in driving simulator experiments designed to elicit realistic route choices using a network-level setup featuring routes with different characteristics (in terms of travel time and driving environment complexity) and dynamic ambient traffic. Averaged EEG band powers in multiple brain regions were used to extract two latent cognitive variables that capture driver’s cognitive effort during and immediately after the information provision, and cognitive inattention before implementing the route choice decision. A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes model was used to test the effects of several explanatory factors on the latent cognitive variables, and their combined impacts on route choice decisions. The study results highlight the significant effects of driver attributes and information characteristics on latent cognitive effort and of route characteristics on latent cognitive inattention. They also indicate that drivers who are more attentive and exert more cognitive effort are more likely to switch from their current route by complying with the information provided. The study insights can aid traffic operators and information service providers to incorporate human factors and cognitive aspects while devising strategies for designing and disseminating real-time travel information to influence drivers’ route choices.
Caulerpa Bikinensis (Chlorophyta) Preference for the Mesophotic Depths of Pacific Atolls1

The marine green alga Caulerpa bikinensis W. R. Taylor was described as a new species in 1950 from dredged specimens (37–57 m depth) from Bikini Atoll and Rongelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Its relative rareness in collections from waters less than 30 m deep from these atolls indicated that it favored the mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCE) at depths of 30–150 m. Published and unpublished records of this species over the past 70 years show its habitat preference on the seaward slopes of atolls and in lagoons. Observations were based on collections from Pacific atolls of the Marshall Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, and Johnston Atoll, and on the deep lagoonal reefs of Palau. Caulerpa bikinensis has also been recorded in shallow waters 1 m deep in dark microcavities on lagoonal pinnacles at Takapoto Atoll (Tuamotu Islands) and in Chuuk Lagoon, and 2 m deep at Raroia Atoll (Tuamotu Islands). Caulerpa bikinensis favors the deeper depths of the MCE for its low light intensity rather than its cooler temperature, and definitely shows a strong affinity to the high energy seaward slopes of calcareous Pacific atolls.
Demonstration of Extensible Disaggregated NE Management based on a SONiC-compliant Software-Agent Optical OpenConfig/gNMI Telemetry Go Implementation

The proof-of-concept of a robust and extensible disaggregated network element management using a SONiC-compliant Go-based software agent implementation of OpenConfig gNMI optical streaming telemetry, is demonstrated and evaluated in a multivendor testbed.