cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lentivirus delivery by adsorption to tissue engineering scaffolds

Biomaterial scaffolds capable of localized gene delivery are being investigated for numerous regenerative medicine applications and as model systems for fundamental studies of tissue formation. In this manuscript, we investigate the delivery of lentivirus from a tissue engineering scaffold using a surface immobilization strategy. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) was employed as the biomaterial for delivery, which has been widely used for a number of tissue engineering applications. The virus was immobilized by freezing and subsequent lyophilization of the virus with the scaffold. The presence of sucrose during freezing and lyophilization maintained the activity of the lentivirus, and was similar to an adenovirus control. Collagen and fibronectin were investigated for their ability to enhance surface immobilization. Fibronectin modestly increased binding and transduction of the adenovirus, yet did not significantly impact the lentivirus delivery. Most of the immobilized lentivirus was released from the scaffold within 24 h. In vivo implantation of the scaffolds yielded transgene expression that persisted for at least 4 weeks. These findings indicate the potential for delivering lentivirus from tissue engineering scaffolds using a surface immobilization strategy. To our knowledge, this report is the first to investigate lentivirus delivery from porous tissue engineering scaffolds. Delivery of lentiviral vectors from PLG scaffolds could provide an efficient and versatile gene delivery system for use with in vitro and in vivo models of tissue formation, and ultimately for therapeutic applications.
Small signal gain for crossed-field devices

Summary form only given. The stimulated microwave emission from electrons undergoing E/sub Ospl times/B/sub O/ motion inside slow wave cavities (magnetrons, crossed field amplifiers) is analyzed. A guiding center approach is applied to single mode evolution in cross-field devices. The cyclotron motion contribution to the instability ensemble averages to zero to all orders in Larmor radius if relativistic bunching effects are negligible. The small signal gain is found by expansion in powers of the RF amplitude. It is found that (i) the lowest order contribution comes from the self-field of the rippled beam and is independent of the detuning between the phase and the drift velocity (ii) higher order contributions, due to the bunching of the GC orbits in space and the modifications of the RF profile from the vacuum profile, are symmetric relative to resonance, and (iii) the growth rate goes over to the diocotron growth when all the impedance comes from the rippled beam (i.e., smooth anode at infinite distance). The theory thus explains the experimentally observed symmetric growth relative to the detuning.
Type II alveolar epithelial cells in suspension: separation by density and velocity.

A method has been developed for obtaining a satisfactory yield of high purity Type II alveolar epithelial cell suspensions from rat lungs that does not require adherence to a surface. The technique involves buoyant density gradient sedimentation followed by unit gravity velocity sedimentation, thereby achieving separation by density and by size, respectively. Isolated, lavaged and perfused rat lungs are inflated first with albumin-fluorocarbon emulsion and then with elastase solution. The lungs are minced and sequentially filtered. The resultant crude cell mixture (48% Type II cells) is layered onto a discontinuous metrizamide gradient and centrifuged. The broad Type II cell band (67% Type II cells) is loaded onto a unit gravity cell separator and allowed to settle for 2.5 h. We obtained pooled purified fractions containing about 9×106 cells/rat which are >90% Type II cells and >95% viable by trypan blue dye exclusion. These Type II cells form confluent monolayers and exhibit active transport within three days when plated in primary culture. This preparative method (which avoids adherence of cells to a surface and subsequent re-exposure to proteolytic enzymes) results in high purity, viable Type II cell suspensions with a yield sufficient for most experimental applications.
Familial Incidence of Atrial Septal Defect: A Report of Four Siblings and Review of the Literature

Four siblings with atrial septal defects confirmed at operation are reported. They represent the largest sibship with isolated ASD reported to date. Familial aggregation of ASD has been found in single generations, and some kindreds have been traced through several generations. Inheritance follows the multifactorial mode primarily but in certain families autosomal dominant transmission is evident. Emphasis is placed on awareness of this congenital heart disease that could result in earlier diagnosis of unsuspected cases in other family members and appropriate genetic counseling.
Genetic relationships among Native American maize accessions of the Great Plains assessed by RAPDs

Genetic variation among 15 accessions of Native American maize from the Great Plains was investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). RAPDs revealed very high levels of polymorphism among accessions. Banding patterns ranged in percentage polymorphism from 46.7% to 86.2% with an overall mean of 70.7% for the primers analyzed. The construction of genetic relationships using cluster analysis and principal coordinates analysis revealed that RAPDs are successful in confirming hypothesized relationships and in identifying misclassified specimens. Furthermore, the phenogram fails to reveal a strong correspondence between genetic relationships and the geographical position of Native Americans prior to contact. This provides support for the hypothesis that multiple introductions of maize into the Great Plains via trade may have resulted in the great morphological variation found among accessions in the region. Based on these data, it is unlikely that a separate Great Plains race of maize can be distinguished. In general, we conclude that RAPDs are potentially very useful in organizing seed collections and understanding intraspecific genetic differentiation.
Revolutionary outcomes in Iran and Nicaragua: Coalition fragmentation, war, and the limits of social transformation

The concept of social revolution conjures up images of dramatic, fundamental, and enduring political, economic, and cultural change. Yet the comparative study of the actual outcomes of social revolutions work that would lend detail and pattern to such images remains in its infancy. Certainly, most Marxist writing about revolutions, as Michael Walzer has noted, "has focused on the great question: how to get started? What are the causes of revolution? There has been less inter-
Macrophages in Vascular Inflammation – From Atherosclerosis to Vasculitis

The spectrum of vascular inflammatory disease ranges from atherosclerosis and hypertension, widespread conditions affecting large proportions of the population, to the vasculitides, rare syndromes leading to fast and irreversible organ failure. Atherosclerosis progresses over decades, inevitably proceeding through multiple phases of disease and causes its major complications when the vessel wall lesion ruptures, giving rise to lumen-occlusive atherothrombosis. Vasculitides of medium and large arteries progress rapidly, causing tissue ischemia through lumen-occlusive intimal hyperplasia. In both disease entities, macrophages play a decisive role in pathogenesis, but function in the context of other immune cells that direct their differentiation and their functional commitments. In atherosclerosis, macrophages are involved in the removal of lipids and tissue debris and make a critical contribution to tissue damage and wall remodeling. In several of the vasculitides, macrophages contribute to granuloma formation, a microstructural platform optimizing macrophage-T-cell interactions, antigen containment and inflammatory amplification. By virtue of their versatility and plasticity, macrophages are able to promote a series of pathogenic functions, ranging from the release of cytokines and enzymes, the production of reactive oxygen species, presentation of antigen and secretion of tissue remodeling factors. However, as short-lived cells that lack memory, macrophages are also amendable to reprogramming, making them promising targets for anti-inflammatory interventions.
Patterns of postoperative analgesic use with adults and children following cardiac surgery

Abstract The postoperative prescription and administration of analgesics following cardiac surgery for 50 children were compared with those of 50 adults. Six children were the only patients in the sample who were prescribed no postoperative analgesics. Overall, children were prescribed significantly fewer potent narcotics. The administration data revealed even more pronounced group differences. During the observation period, children received 30% of all analgesic administrations while adults received 70%. Some possible reasons for these age differences in analgesic usage are presented and implications regarding the adequacy of postoperative pain control in children are discussed.
Nonprofit Financing to the Rescue? The Slightly Twisted Case of Local Educational Foundations and Public Education in New Jersey

Scholars have suggested myriad characterizations of the relationship between organizations of the nonprofit sector and government. We expand upon Young’s “slight twist” of the economic supplementary view of government/nonprofit partnership to develop a model to explain the variation in levels of funding by local educational foundations (LEFs) in New Jersey public school districts. Seeking to better understand this private financing of public education, we empirically test for correlates of these funding variations using Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 data. Although we could not empirically verify an inverse relationship between state aid to education and level of LEF granting, we did find some evidence of a direct relationship between such private financing and median household income. Our analysis supports a more historically nuanced explanation of the role of LEFs in New Jersey public education.
Longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning in adult day care participants.

This study examines longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning over the course of 2 years in participants of adult day care programs. Cognitive measures included the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale...
Examining Provider Perspectives within Housing First and Traditional Programs.

Pathways' Housing First represents a radical departure from traditional programs that serve individuals experiencing homelessness and co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. This paper considered two federally funded comparison studies of Pathways' Housing First and traditional programs to examine whether differences were reflected in the perspectives of frontline providers. Both quantitative analysis of responses to structured questions with closed-ended responses and qualitative analysis of open-ended responses to semistructured questions showed that Pathways providers had greater endorsement of consumer values, less endorsement of systems values, and greater tolerance for abnormal behavior that did not result in harm to others than their counterparts in traditional programs. Comparing provider perspectives also revealed an “implementation paradox;” traditional providers were inhibited from engaging consumers in treatment and services without housing, whereas Housing First providers could ...
Organic Matter Added to Bareroot Nursery Beds Influences Soil Properties and Morphology of Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Quercus rubra Seedlings

Bareroot hardwood seedling production involves intensive soil management. To increase soil organic matter (OM), nurseries commonly grow a cover crop for 1 year after every 1–2 year of seedling production. Raising soil OM levels can also be achieved through addition of soil amendments. We studied the influence of chicken manure (CM) and composted leaf, tree, and lawn trimmings (Cp) on soil properties and morphology of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings. CM was applied at 725, 1450, or 2900 kg ha−1 (CM725, CM1450, and CM2900, respectively) and Cp was applied at 200 m3 ha−1. Addition of CM and Cp significantly raised soil OM levels and altered soil chemical properties compared to the control (Ctrl). Root-collar diameter increased with addition of CM1450, CM2900, or Cp compared to CM725 or Ctrl plots for northern red oak, but was largest in soils amended with CM2900 for green ash. Conversely, height was greatest with addition of CM725 for northern red oak, but green ash seedlings were shorter in Ctrl plots than in all amendments except for CM725. Root volume of green ash and northern red oak seedlings was positively influenced by addition of CM or Cp. Seedling responses to nursery soil amendments vary with different forms and amounts of OM. Benefits to seedling growth through application of appropriate materials in the proper balance can improve seedling morphological quality and positively influence soil chemical properties.
Challenges to Care

Here are next week’s lessons. I would like to state as a preface for the lessons that I am overtly frustrated with these students and my lesson planning. I am investing far too much energy into planning compared to the pitiful engagement of the students. My desire for creativity has waned, as well as any desire to be inspirational.
A phenomenological model for giant magnetoresistance hysteresis in magnetic discontinuous multilayer films

A simple phenomenological model for giant magnetoresistance (GMR) is employed for current and field parallel (CIP) to the magnetic multilayer planes in ordinary and discontinuous multilayer films. To our knowledge, it is the first model to include hysteresis in the field (H) dependence of the GMR. The computed GMR versus H curves qualitatively reproduce the GMR hysteresis seen experimentally. In particular, two GMR peaks are found to be symmetrically placed about H=0, and the GMR hysteresis curve itself is found to have an inverted butterfly shape. Also seen in the computed results is the general increase in GMR magnitude found for annealed discontinuous multilayer films. Various parameter variations are examined in the computed results. While the model reproduces GMR hysteresis quite well and the general increase in GMR for discontinuous multilayer films, it does not, in its present form, account for the oscillations seen in the GMR when the nonmagnetic layer thicknesses are varied, which is expected as a strictly quantum mechanical result.
Short-Term Retention as a Function of Recall Point Coding

Recall is facilitated if items to be stored are easily coded into familiar chunks. The means of coding the items is usually obvious at the time they are presented. The purpose of the present study was to learn if recall was facilitated when the basis for coding a stored item was delayed until the time of recall. The results indicated a substantial improvement in recall as the appropriateness of the recall point for the stored item was increased. This improvement varied inversely with the storage requirements of the task.
Does accessibility of positive and negative schema vary by child physical abuse risk

Objective: To examine differences in accessibility of positive and negative schema in parents with high and low risk for child physical abuse (CPA). Methods: This study combined picture priming and lexical decision making methods to assess the accessibility of positive and negative words following presentation of child and adult faces. The child and adult faces depicted positive, ambiguous, and negative affective valences. The sample included 67 (51 low and 16 high CPA risk) general population parents. Results: CPA risk status was associated with accessibility of positive/negative words only following priming with faces of the opposite affective valence. More specifically, high CPA risk parents were slower to respond to positive (negative) words following priming with negative (positive) faces. Exploratory analyses indicated that this pattern of findings was more clearly apparent when picture primes involved adult faces. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that high and low CPA risk parents differ in how they process affectively incongruent information. Research is needed to further examine schema accessibility, as well as to examine whether processes involved in attention and affect integration play a role in CPA risk.
Hip and Pelvic Problems in Athletes

In the athletic population, the differential diagnosis of hip pain is quite broad and must include intra-articular pathology, extra-articular pathology, and central pubic pain associated with athletic pubalgia. In addition to an appropriately performed history and physical examination, advanced imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, often are required to narrow the differential diagnosis. MRI is an excellent modality to image the pelvis and hip because of its ability to screen the pelvis for other etiologies of pain, its superior soft-tissue contrast, which allows visualization of the articular cartilage, fibrocartilaginous labrum, and myotendinous junctions, and its lack of ionizing radiation. During the last decade, the management of hip injuries has evolved substantially as a result of the advancement in techniques and flexible instrumentation for hip arthroscopy. Currently, a variety of hip pathologies may be addressed arthroscopically, including labral tears, loose bodies, femoroacetabular impingement, coxa saltans, ligamentum teres injuries, and capsular laxity. This article will focus on common etiologies of hip and pelvis pain in the athletic population with an emphasis on the use of hip arthroscopy to treat these disorders.
Parents' Experiences With and Preferences for Immunization Reminder/Recall Technologies

OBJECTIVE: To describe parents9 experiences and preferences regarding the use of different communication modes for immunization reminder/recall messages. METHODS: A cross-sectional, Internet-based survey of a nationally representative sample of parents of children 0 to 17 years of age was performed. Survey items included questions regarding previous receipt of reminder/recall notices; preferences for how to receive notices in the future; recentness of changes to home address, home telephone, cell phone, and e-mail information; child9s usual site for immunization; and willingness to register cell phone numbers with the child9s immunization provider to receive future cell phone or text messages about immunization. RESULTS: Overall, 31% of parents had ever received an immunization reminder/recall notice, usually by mail. For future immunization messages, approximately one-third of parents preferred mail or calls to the home telephone, 16% preferred e-mail, and 8% preferred calls to a cell phone. More than one-half of parents had maintained the same home address, home telephone number, cell phone number, or e-mail address for the previous 3 years. More than one-half of parents were willing to register their cell phone numbers with their child9s usual immunization provider. CONCLUSIONS: Although most parents continue to prefer the traditional modes for immunization reminder/recall messages, 1 in 4 preferred newer technologies, and parents9 e-mail and cell phone information was surprisingly stable. More than one-half of the parents were willing to register their cell phone numbers for future immunization messaging via cell phone calls or text messages. Research and implementation efforts might benefit from focusing on this willing population.
Cost-effectiveness of quantitative pretest probability intended to reduce unnecessary medical radiation exposure in emergency department patients with chest pain and dyspnea.

Objectives Quantitative pretest probability (qPTP) incorporated into a decision support tool with advice can reduce unnecessary diagnostic testing among patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and pulmonary embolism (PE), reducing 30-day costs without an increase in 90-day adverse outcomes. This study estimates long-term (beyond 90-day) costs and outcomes associated with qPTP. The authors hypothesized that qPTP reduces lifetime costs and improves outcomes in low-risk patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS and PE. Methods This was a cost-effectiveness analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of adult emergency patients with dyspnea and chest pain, in which a clinician encountering a low-risk patient with symptoms suggestive of ACS or PE conducted either the intervention (qPTP for ACS and PE with advice) or the sham (no qPTP and no advice). Effect of the intervention over a patient's lifetime was assessed using a Markov microsimulation model. Short-term costs and outcomes were from the trial; long-term outcomes and costs were from the literature. Outcomes included lifetime transition to PE, ACS, and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH); mortality from cancer, ICH, PE, ACS, renal failure, and ischemic stroke; quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs); and total medical costs compared between simulated intervention and sham groups. Results Markov microsimulation for a 40-year-old patient receiving qPTP found lifetime cost savings of $497 for women and $528 for men, associated with small gains in QALYs (2 and 6 days, respectively) and lower rates of cancer mortality in both sexes, but a reduction in ICH only in males. Sensitivity analysis for patients aged 60 years predicted that qPTP would continue to save costs and also reduce mortality from both ICH and cancer. Use of qPTP significantly reduced the lifetime probability of PE diagnosis, with lower probability of death from PE in both sexes aged 40 to 60 years. However, use of qPTP reduced the rate of ACS diagnosis and death from ACS at age 40, but increased the death rate from ACS at age 60 for both sexes. Conclusions Widespread use of a combined qPTP for both ACS and PE has the potential to decrease costs by reducing diagnostic testing, while improving most long-term outcomes in emergency patients with chest pain and dyspnea.
Targeting Protein Kinase C Activity Reporter to Discrete Intracellular Regions Reveals Spatiotemporal Differences in Agonist-dependent Signaling

Protein kinase C (PKC) family members transduce an abundance of diverse intracellular signals. Here we address the role of spatial and temporal segregation in signal specificity by measuring the activity of endogenous PKC at defined intracellular locations in real time in live cells. We targeted a genetically encoded fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based reporter for PKC activity, C kinase activity reporter (CKAR) (Violin, J. D., Zhang, J., Tsien, R. Y., and Newton, A. C. (2003) J. Cell Biol. 161, 899-909), to the plasma membrane, Golgi, cytosol, mitochondria, or nucleus by fusing appropriate targeting sequences to the NH2 or COOH terminus of CKAR. Measuring the phosphorylation of the reporter in the presence of PKC inhibitors, activators, and/or phosphatase inhibitors shows that activity at each region is under differential control by phosphatase activity; nuclear activity is completely suppressed by phosphatases, whereas membrane-associated activity is the least suppressed by phosphatases. UTP stimulation of endogenous P2Y receptors in COS 7 cells reveals spatiotemporally divergent PKC responses. Imaging the second messengers Ca2+ and diacylglycerol (DAG) reveal that PKC activity at each location is driven by an initial spike in Ca2+, followed by location-specific diacylglycerol generation. In response to UTP, phosphorylation of GolgiCKAR was sustained the longest, driven by the persistence of DAG, whereas phosphorylation of CytoCKAR was of the shortest duration, driven by high phosphatase activity. Our data reveal that the magnitude and duration of PKC signaling is location-specific and controlled by the level of phosphatase activity and persistence of DAG at each location.
Endovascular stent-graft treatment of a ruptured thoracic aortic ulcer.

Purpose To describe a ruptured ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta treated with an endovascular stent-graft deployed under transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) guidance. Case report An 82-year-old man with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure presented with sharp pain in the back radiating to the left flank. Computed tomography (CT) and angiography demonstrated a penetrating ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta associated with aortic dissection commencing 6 cm from the origin of the left subclavian artery with extravasation of contrast outside the aortic wall. The patient remained symptomatic with a decrease in hematocrit from 36% to 23%. Endovascular repair was performed using self-expanding nitinol stents sutured to a 35-mm x 12-cm Dacron conduit. The device was deployed with a 24-F delivery system under TEE guidance and fluoroscopy. Successful exclusion of the ruptured ulcer was demonstrated by TEE Doppler, arteriography, and CT. The patient remains asymptomatic 18 months after the procedure with no CT evidence of endoleak. Conclusions Endovascular stent-graft repair under TEE guidance assists in the oftentimes difficult treatment of ruptured penetrating thoracic aortic ulcer.
Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Growth Factor Inhibits Cytokine-Induced NF-κB Activation and Nitric Oxide Production via Activation of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Pathway

NO produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in various pathophysiological processes including inflammation. Therefore, inhibitors of NO synthesis or iNOS gene expression have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory agents. We have previously demonstrated that heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF) decreases proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 and NO production in cytokine-stimulated intestinal epithelial cells by interfering with the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, the upstream signaling mechanisms involved in these responses have not yet been defined. In this report, we show that in intestinal epithelial cells, HB-EGF triggered PI3K-dependent phosphorylation of Akt. Inhibition of PI3K reversed the ability of HB-EGF to block NF-κB activation, expression of iNOS, and NO production. Small interfering RNA of PI3K also reversed the inhibitory effect of HB-EGF on iNOS expression. Alternatively, transient expression of constitutively active PI3K decreased NO production by ∼2-fold more than treatment with HB-EGF alone. This PI3K effect was HB-EGF dependent. Thus, activation of PI3K is essential but not sufficient for decreased NO synthesis. PI3K and HB-EGF act synergistically to decrease NO synthesis. Neither overexpression or inhibition of MEK, Ras, or Akt affected HB-EGF-mediated inhibition of NF-κB activation. These data demonstrate that HB-EGF decreases proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated NF-κB activation and NO production via activation of the PI3K signaling pathway. These results also suggest that inhibition of NF-κB and activation of the PI3K-dependent signaling cascade by HB-EGF may represent key signals responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of HB-EGF.
Genetic Correlates of Adult Attachment Style

Attachment theory attempts to explain effects of social experiences, not genes, on personality development. Most studies of the development of attachment insecurities support this emphasis on social experiences rather than genes, although there are exceptions. In the present study, the authors examine associations between attachment insecurities and particular genetic polymorphisms related to emotions and social behavior. They find that (a) anxious attachment is associated with a polymorphism of the DRD2 dopamine receptor gene, (b) avoidant attachment is associated with a polymorphism of the 5HT2A serotonin receptor gene, and (c) the rs53576 A polymorphism of the OXTR oxytocin receptor gene is not associated with attachment insecurities. These findings suggest that attachment insecurities are partially explained by particular genes, although there is still a great deal of individual difference variance that remains to be explained by other genes or social experiences.
Volatility Studies of Lead Silicate Melts

The volatility of various lead silicate melts was determined by measuring the loss in weight at various temperatures from 800° to 1300° C. Platinum crucibles containing the melts were Suspended from an analytical balance into a vertical Global furnace. The crucible studies showed that the loss of lead oxide from melts could be decreased by as much as 80% when lead oxide was combined with silica in monosilicate melts and by as much as 95% when combined with silica in bisilicate melts. Comparative trials on raw lead glazes showed that most of the volatilization occurred in the early stages of glaze melting.
Including Information from Records in Later Herds in Animal Model Evaluations

Abstract Computing strategies were developed to allow information from later herds to be included in animal model evaluations for cows that changed herds. Records from later herds were modeled as containing the same permanent environment and herd-sire interaction as did the cow's records from the first herd. This allowed later herd records to contribute to estimation of these effects and made repeatability the same across herds as within herd. The national evaluation system was changed to store management group deviations from later herds and include them when processing information from the first herd. This method of including all lactation records for cows that changed herds was tested on United States data for Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Guernseys, and Jerseys. Correlations between parent average and yield deviation generally increased slightly for daughters of cows with lactations in more than one herd compared with the corresponding correlations if lactations from later herds were excluded. For January 1990 USDA-DHIA genetic evaluations, records from later herds were included for all breeds, which eliminated the need for two evaluations for cows that changed herds (the main evaluation with data from only the first herd and a supplemental evaluation with all lactations through fifth included).
Do Audit Fees Reflect Risk Premiums for Control Risk

This study examines whether audit fees reflect risk premiums in the presence of control risk after controlling for audit effort through audit delay. Our results indicate that auditors adjust risk premiums as well as audit efforts in response to altered control risk. Further analysis shows that the extent of risk premium adjustment varies depending on the severity of the underlying internal control problems. Overall, these findings provide insights into the distinct role of audit effort and risk premium in audit pricing decisions.
The impella recover 2.5 and TandemHeart ventricular assist devices are safe and associated with equivalent clinical outcomes in patients undergoing high‐risk percutaneous coronary intervention

Objectives To compare the practical use, safety and clinical outcomes associated with the TandemHeart (TH) versus Impella Recover 2.5 (IR2.5) devices when used for circulatory support during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Theoretical Applications of Positive Psychology to Vocational Rehabilitation After Traumatic Brain Injury

Purpose Traumatic brain injury (TBI) produces broad-reaching and often persistent challenges that impact an individual’s ability to engage in vocational productivity. Return to work (RTW) rates after TBI are markedly poor and the efficacy of current TBI vocational rehabilitation (VR) practices is unclear. Positive psychology, the practice of fostering positive emotions and traits, offers novel approaches that might enhance the effectiveness of existing TBI VR practices. This article assesses the potential relevance of positive psychology principles and practices to VR for clients recovering from TBI. Methods A literature search was conducted using the database resources of a large university hospital, including PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Content from this search was reviewed and synthesized, including literature on VR for TBI, vocational applications of positive psychology, and general rehabilitation applications of positive psychology. Results Ten guiding principles for positively-informed TBI VR are proposed. Specific positive psychology measures and interventions for improving emotional, social, and cognitive functioning are identified and discussed as they might be applied to TBI VR. Conclusions Theoretically, positive psychology principles and practices appear to be well suited to improving VR outcomes for individuals with TBI. In addition to examining the feasibility of incorporating positive psychology techniques, future research should examine the impact of positive psychology interventions on RTW rates, job satisfaction, job stability, and other vocational outcomes. With additional investigation, positive psychology measures and interventions may prove to be a beneficial compliment to existing VR practices.
Statistical analysis of RF circuits using combined circuit simulator-full wave field solver approach

As technologies continue to shrink in size, modeling the effect of process variations on circuit performance is assuming profound significance. Process variations affect the on-chip performance of both active and passive components. This necessitates the inclusion of the effect of these variations on distributed interconnect structures in modeling overall circuit performance. In this work, first it is shown through field-solver simulations that larger process variations lead to non-Gaussian PDFs (probability density functions) for the circuit equivalent parameters of distributed passives. Next, a method for accurate statistical analysis of coupled circuit-EM (Electromagnetic) systems without computing the equivalent circuit parameters of EM-modeled objects is demonstrated. This method also obviates the need to generate random variables representing the equivalent circuit parameters, from distributions which are correlated, non-Gaussian and non-closed-form. The proposed approach relies on application of the response surface (RS) methodology to the y-parameters of both the circuit and the distributed structures independently and expressing the eventual performance measures through a suitable combination of the y-parameters. The eventual performance measures are expressed through a hierarchical approach in terms of the underlying Gaussian random variables representing the process parameters. A rapid response surface Monte Carlo (RSMC) analysis on these derived response surfaces furnishes the PDFs and can also be used to predict the yield based on different qualifying criteria and objective functions.
Strategic corporate social responsibility as global brand insurance

Abstract When the competitive strategies of multinationals rely on global brands, corporate social responsibility (CSR) offers insurance against management lapses. The practical need for CSR as brand insurance comes from changing social expectations, affluence, and globalization. Corporate actions that violate societal expectations damage, even destroy, brand image among networked stakeholders who are affluent enough to buy branded products and services. The premiums for CSR brand insurance are paid by leaders who create an organization-wide commitment to CSR as a means of redefining ‘profit maximization.’ By integrating a stakeholder perspective, management is best placed to optimize stockholder returns over the longer term.
NAA Reduces Vegetative Shoot Growth on Rootstocks of Ornamental Peach

Vegetative bud growth was controlled on dormant peach rootstock of budded Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. ‘Bon Fire’ with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) applied as a trunk paint. Vegetative bud growth was suppressed with all test concentrations (2,875 to 11,500 ppm) throu gh 210 days after treatment (DAT), although scion b ud mortality of ‘Bon Fire’ was greater with concentrat ions above 8,625 ppm. Naphthaleneacetic acid applied at 5,750 ppm provided excellent vegetative bud control, vigorous scion bud growth, and minimal scion bud mortality. Index words: auxin, growth regulator, NAA, nursery production. Growth regulators used in this study: K-Salt™ FruitFix™ (NAA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, potassium salt; Tre-hold ® RTU (NAA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. Species used in this study: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch . ‘Bon Fire’.
Informed consent and parental permission for research: rules, roles, and relationships.

This is a multicenter, placebo-controlled, clinical trial involving pregnant women at high risk and “extremely premature infants.” The regulations do not specify who can obtain parental permission,...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) detects the invasive rusty crayfish Orconectes rusticus at low abundances

Early detection is invaluable for the cost-effective control and eradication of invasive species, yet many traditional sampling techniques are ineffective at the low population abundances found at the onset of the invasion process. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a promising and sensitive tool for early detection of some invasive species, but its efficacy has not yet been evaluated for many taxonomic groups and habitat types.We evaluated the ability of eDNA to detect the invasive rusty crayfish Orconectes rusticus and to reflect patterns of its relative abundance, in upper Midwest, USA, inland lakes. We paired conventional baited trapping as a measure of crayfish relative abundance with water samples for eDNA, which were analysed in the laboratory with a qPCR assay. We modelled detection probability for O. rusticus eDNA using relative abundance and site characteristics as covariates and also tested the relationship between eDNA copy number and O. rusticus relative abundance.We detected O. rusticus eDNA in all lakes where this species was collected by trapping, down to low relative abundances, as well as in two lakes where trap catch was zero. Detection probability of O. rusticus eDNA was well predicted by relative abundance of this species and lake water clarity. However, there was poor correspondence between eDNA copy number and O. rusticus relative abundance estimated by trap catches. Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates a field and laboratory protocol for eDNA monitoring of crayfish invasions, with results of statistical models that provide guidance of sampling effort and detection probabilities for researchers in other regions and systems. We propose eDNA be included as a tool in surveillance for invasive or imperilled crayfishes and other benthic arthropods.
Archaeology and the Social History of Ships: The future of shipwreck archaeology

T he most serious challenge to shipwreck and underwater archaeology today is counteracting the effects of treasure-hunting. These effects are both direct and indirect. The direct ones have to do with the destruction of submerged archaeological sites, and the indirect ones arise from the confusion created by the appropriation of the techniques of underwater archaeology for profit instead of preservation. Author Peter Benchley (1989: 74) celebrates the joys of finding and taking objects from shipwrecks in Bermuda as follows: Have you ever lain on the bottom in a sand hole, surrounded by ancient timbers, let some seawater trickle past your mouthpiece and tasted something wondrous and exotic and suddenly realized that what you were tasting was 300-year-old cedar? It is a taste so rich, so redolent of yore, that you can imagine yourself standing on the quarterdeck, can feel the roll of the sea beneath your feet, can hear the slap of canvas and the thunder of cannon. However romantically phrased, the approach advocated by Benchley and others is entreprenurial, aimed at increasing the sale value of artifacts recovered from shipwrecks whenever possible. Behar (1986) and Wilkinson (1991) warn investors to regard treasure-hunting schemes as high-risk ventures with little likelihood of profit, pointing to a tendency for otherwise rational people to make irrational decisions when it comes to investments of this kind. The best litmus test for distinguishing treasure-hunting from archaeology is to see what happens to the materials after they are recovered.
Study of Current Trade-In Programs Available for Used Consumer Electronics: Investigation of Cellphones Design Features

This paper carries out an analysis of various trade-in programs available for cellphones in the United States. Product trade-in is one of the methods to recover End-of-Life (EoL) products from consumers. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge amongst consumers about such programs. The study aims to determine the factors which influence the product trade-in price. Cell phone trade-in programs of the following types of companies are studied: Phone network operator, online retailer and recycler, and educational institution. Apple’s iPhone was selected to carry out a case study to analyze various features of the trade-in programs. Age of the cell phone model, memory size of the phone, cellphone condition and phone carrier were found to be the most significant factors of a cell phone trade-in program. Newer phone models and higher memory size capacity phones were found to be offered higher price to the consumer. Cellphones of one particular phone carrier and unlocked cell phones were found to obtain the highest price quote. An attempt is made to evaluate and discuss the prospect of trade-in programs as an effective end of life recovery method. Product recovery by trade-in programs and conventional methods is compared based on factors drawn from consumer behavior studies. Improvements in trade-in programs are suggested, followed by a discussion on ways in which data from trade-in programs can benefit product designers.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Further Results on the Use of Material Tailoring to Improve Buckling Capacity of Elliptical Composite Cylinders

The focus of a previous study was the development and use of a so-called circular cylinder analogy for the purpose of tailoring material properties to improve the axial buckling load of a elliptical laminated fiber-reinforced composite cylinder. Tailoring was accomplished by using the analogy to vary the angle of the fibers with circumferential position to account for the circumferential variation of the radius of curvature. Though not pursued, the study suggested that a simple linear variation of fiber angle with circumferential position might lead to an improved buckling load. Using the results of the previous work as motivation, the present work expores this idea. The previous work is reviewed and then the influence on the axial buckling load of linearly varying the fiber angle is investigated. The impact of the linear variation on the buckling load is illustrated with numerical results obtained from a finite element model of an axially compressed elliptical cylinder. It is shown that the axial buckling load can be improved or degraded, depending on the particular linear variation. It is also shown that the character of the circumferential distribution of the prebuckling axial stress resultant, which is directly dependent on the circumferential distribution of fiber angles, can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a linear variation of fiber angle. Additionally, it is shown that the buckling deformation pattern is also an important indicater of the effect a linearly varying the fiber angle can have on the axial buckling capacity.
Preferential Protection of Cerebral Autoregulation and Reduction of Hippocampal Necrosis With Norepinephrine After Traumatic Brain Injury in Female Piglets.

Objectives:Traumatic brain injury contributes to morbidity in children and boys is disproportionately represented. Cerebral autoregulation is impaired after traumatic brain injury, contributing to poor outcome. Cerebral perfusion pressure is often normalized by the use of vasopressors to increase me
The Direction of Force 1: Imperial Policing

The need to use force in a highly selective manner compelled the British to develop a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy, one that combined limited military action with broad-based social, economic and political reform. Reform attacked the causes of unrest on which the insurgency fed, while military operations provided a shield behind which reform could be implemented. This strategy involved basically two components. First, the government had to identify and remedy the sources of discontent. By so doing, the British could convince people that they had far more to gain by backing the government than they could ever hope to obtain from the insurgents. This aspect of counterinsurgency came to be known as winning the ‘hearts and minds of the people’. Such an approach also strengthened Britain’s case in the propaganda battle. Second, the government had to insure that the hearts-and-minds campaign meshed with the military effort. It had to create an administrative apparatus to insure civil-military co-operation at all operational levels. Co-ordination was particularly important in the vital area of intelligence gathering. The principle of minimum force can only be made effective if the security forces have precise information on when and where to strike the insurgents. Such information usually came from the local police and district magistrates and had to be passed on to the military in a timely manner.
Frontier Democracy: Constitutional Conventions in the Old Northwest

Frontier Democracy examines the debates over state constitutions in the antebellum Northwest (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) from the 1820s through the 1850s. This is a book about conversations: in particular, the fights and negotiations over the core ideals in the constitutions that brought these frontier communities to life. Silvana R. Siddali argues that the Northwestern debates over representation and citizenship reveal two profound commitments: the first to fair deliberation, and the second to ethical principles based on republicanism, Christianity, and science. Some of these ideas succeeded brilliantly: within forty years, the region became an economic and demographic success story. However, some failed tragically: racial hatred prevailed everywhere in the region, in spite of reformers' passionate arguments for justice, and resulted in disfranchisement and even exclusion for non-white Northwesterners that lasted for generations.
Synopsis of insect orders

Abstract Disagreement exists over the higher classification of insects. Some suborders may be considered as orders, while some orders may be considered as suborders. There is value in understanding the basis for grouping the various orders of insects, because each grouping relates to the development or morphology of the insects in question. Here, we use the term hexapod to refer to wingless arthropods with six legs and three body tagmata. Hexapods can be further classified into two groups, Entognatha and Ectognatha, depending on whether the mouthparts are concealed within the head or exposed. In the following list, alternative ordinal names are given in parentheses and common names are given in brackets. The primitive insects with concealed mouthparts (Entognatha) include the following orders.