cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of a pharmacist-managed glucose collaborative practice agreement.

Purpose The impact of a pharmacist-managed glucose collaborative practice agreement (CPA) on glycemic control at a tertiary medical center was investigated. Methods A retrospective data analysis was performed on hospitalized, noncritically ill patients admitted between December 2012 and June 2014 who received at least one dose of subcutaneous insulin and experienced at least one blood glucose concentration of 140 mg/dL or higher. The study population was divided into cohorts based on admittance before versus after implementation of the CPA, as well as glucose management by pharmacist versus nonpharmacist provider. The primary endpoint of the study was glycemic control, defined as the percentage of total admitted days spent within a goal blood glucose range of 70–180 mg/dL. Secondary endpoints included the rate of hypoglycemia (less than 70 mg/dL), the rate of severe hypoglycemia (less than 40 mg/dL), the rate of severe hyperglycemia (greater than 300 mg/dL), the length of stay, and workload metrics. Results A total of 5146 patients were included in the study. There was no statistically significant difference in glycemic control across all cohorts ( p > 0.05). Secondary outcomes showed no statistically significant differences in the rates of hypoglycemia, severe hypoglycemia, and severe hyperglycemia across all cohorts. There was a significantly longer length of stay in the pharmacist-managed cohort ( p < 0.001). Workload metrics indicated a 25.8% increase in the number of pharmacist-managed glucose consults post-CPA implementation. Conclusion Pharmacists at a tertiary medical center were able to provide an inpatient glucose management service that maintained similar glycemic control for patients with diabetes as nonpharmacist providers.
Daminozide and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine(UDMH) Residues in Fresh and Processed ‘Red Delicious’ Apples

Daminozide is a growth regulating substance widely used on apples and other fruit crops to affect various fruit and tree characteristics. Daminozide residues were determined in 'Starkrimson' Red Delicious apples orchard-sprayed at both recommended and excessive rates, at recommended periods before expected harvest, and at several application times closer to harvest than recommended. Analyses were conducted on the whole raw fruit, including the peeling, and on applesauce processed from the peeled and cored fruit, immediately after harvest, and after cold storage periods of 30, 60 and 90 d. Residues in both the fresh and processed fruit were directly proportional to the concentration of daminozide in the foliar sprays, regardless of application date. The highest residues in both fresh and processed apples were in fruit from trees sprayed 14 to 28 d before harvest at all spray concentrations. Residues from all spray concentrations and all application dates were persistent for 90 d at 0°C storage for fresh fruit and at 23°C storage for processed fruit. Only the residues in fruit sprayed with four times the recommended level at 2 or 4 wk before harvest exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tolerance level (30 ppm). Residues ranged from <2 to 32 ppm. Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) levels were directly proportional to the daminozide residues in the applesauce. Average UDMH residues ranged from 0.03 ppm for fruit sprayed with the recommended rate of daminozide to 0.8 ppm for fruit with the highest daminozide residues.
Serum and cerebrospinal fluid immune mediators in children with autistic disorder: a longitudinal study.

The causes of autism likely involve genetic and environmental factors that influence neurobiological changes and the neurological and behavioral features of the disorder. Immune factors and inflammation are hypothesized pathogenic influences, but have not been examined longitudinally. In a cohort of 104 participants with autism, we performed an assessment of immune mediators such as cytokines, chemokines, or growth factors in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (n = 67) to determine potential influences of such mediators in autism. As compared with 54 typically developing controls, we found no evidence of differences in the blood profile of immune mediators supportive of active systemic inflammation mechanisms in participants with autism. Some modulators of immune function (e.g., EGF and soluble CD40 ligand) were increased in the autism group; however, no evidence of group differences in traditional markers of active inflammation (e.g., IL-6, TNFα, IL-1β) were observed in the serum. Further, within-subject stability (measured by estimated intraclass correlations) of most analytes was low, indicating that a single measurement is not a reliable prospective indicator of concentration for most analytes. Additionally, in participants with autism, there was little correspondence between the blood and CSF profiles of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, suggesting that peripheral markers may not optimally reflect the immune status of the central nervous system. Although the relatively high fraction of intrathecal production of selected chemokines involved in monocyte/microglia function may suggest a possible relationship with the homeostatic role of microglia, control data are needed for further interpretation of its relevance in autism. These longitudinal observations fail to provide support for the hypothesized role of disturbances in the expression of circulating cytokines and chemokines as an indicator of systemic inflammation in autism. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00298246.
The assessment of the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque using MR imaging: A brief review

The study of atherosclerotic disease during its natural history and after therapeutic intervention may enhance our understanding of the progression and regression of this disease and will aid in selecting the appropriate medical treatments or surgical interventions. Several invasive and non-invasive imaging techniques are available to assess atherosclerotic disease vessels. Most of these techniques are strong in identifying the morphological features of the disease such as lumenal diameter and stenosis or wall thickness, and in some cases provide an assessment of the relative risk associated with the atherosclerotic disease. However, none of these techniques can fully characterize the composition of the atherosclerotic plaque in the vessel wall and therefore are incapable of identifying the vulnerable plaques. High-resolution, multi-contrast, magnetic resonance (MR) can non-invasively image vulnerable plaques and characterize plaques in terms of lipid and fibrous content and identify the presence of thrombus or calcium. Application of MR imaging opens up whole new areas for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Toddlers in Transition: Linear Enamel Hypoplasias in the Hadza of Tanzania

Bioarchaeologists often use linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH) as a proxy for systemic physiological stress in prehistoric populations. Increased incidences of LEH have been observed in many cases associated with rapid social or environmental changes, such as with the Neolithic transition and agricultural intensification. Still, there have yet to be studies published of LEH incidence among living peoples in the process of transitioning from a foraging to a farming economy. It is important to document LEH occurrence in living groups with known subsistence strategies to better contextualize interpretations of bioarchaeological populations. Here we present LEH data for a sample of the Hadza of Tanzania. We compare LEH incidence and frequency on the permanent anterior teeth of individuals who spent their infancy and early childhood 1) in the bush consuming wild foods, 2) in the village with a weaning diet dominated by domestic cereals, and 3) transitory, dividing their time between the bush and village. Our results demonstrate that Hadza living in the bush during the period of tooth formation less frequently have LEH on these teeth, and have fewer of them on average, than do villagers. This is particularly so for the comparison of males. The transient group is intermediate in LEH incidence, though not significantly different from the bush and village samples. A lower LEH frequency in the bush Hadza is consistent with a diet that meets nutrient requirements of tooth formation, but higher incidence in the village sample suggests interruption of enamel secretion, most likely due to malnutrition. Such studies provide valuable context with which to interpret and understand bioarchaeological evidence, and to track effects of sedentization on the biology of modern foragers.
Bile salts and alkaline pH reciprocally modulate the interaction between the periplasmic domains of Vibrio cholerae ToxR and ToxS.

ToxR is a transmembrane transcription factor that is essential for virulence gene expression and human colonization by Vibrio cholerae. ToxR requires its operon partner ToxS, a periplasmic integral membrane protein, for full activity. These two proteins are thought to interact through their respective periplasmic domains, ToxRp and ToxSp. In addition, ToxR is thought to be responsive to various environmental cues, such as bile salts and alkaline pH, but how these factors influence ToxR is not yet understood. Using NMR and reciprocal pull down assays, we present the first direct evidence that ToxR and ToxS physically interact. Furthermore, using NMR and DSF, we show that the bile salts cholate and chenodeoxycholate interact with purified ToxRp and destabilize it. Surprisingly, bile salt destabilization of ToxRp enhanced the interaction between ToxRp and ToxSp. In contrast, alkaline pH, which is one of the factors that leads to ToxR proteolysis, decreased the interaction between ToxRp and ToxSp. Taken together, these data suggest a model whereby bile salts or other detergents destabilize ToxR, increasing its interaction with ToxS to promote full ToxR activity. Subsequently, as V. cholerae alkalinizes its environment in late stationary phase, the interaction between the two proteins decreases allowing ToxR proteolysis to proceed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Patterns of high-intensity drinking among young adults in the United States: A repeated measures latent class analysis.

Abstract Objective Using a national sample of young adults, this study identified latent classes of alcohol use including high-intensity drinking (10+ drinks) from ages 18 to 25/26, and explored associations between time-invariant covariates measured at age 18 and class membership. Method Longitudinal data from the national Monitoring the Future study were available for 1078 individuals (51% female) first surveyed as 12th grade students in 2005–2008, and followed through modal age 25/26. Repeated measures latent class analysis was used to identify latent classes based on self-reported alcohol use: no past 30-day drinking, 1–9 drinks per occasion in the past 2 weeks, and 10+ drinks per occasion. Results Four latent classes of alcohol use from ages 18 to 25/26 were identified: (1) Non-Drinkers (21%); (2) Legal Non-High-Intensity Drinkers (23%); (3) Persistent Non-High-Intensity Drinkers (40%); and (4) High-Intensity Drinkers (16%). Membership in the High-Intensity Drinkers class was characterized by higher than average probabilities of high-intensity drinking at all ages, with the probability of high-intensity drinking increasing between ages 18 and 21/22. Both gender and race/ethnicity significantly differentiated class membership, whereas neither parental education (a proxy for socioeconomic status) nor college plans at 12th grade showed significant associations. Conclusions More than one in seven individuals who were seniors in high school experienced a long-term pattern of high-intensity drinking lasting into middle young adulthood. Young adult high-intensity drinking is often preceded by high-intensity drinking in high school, suggesting the importance of screening and prevention for high-intensity drinking during adolescence.
An Improved Kit Formulation for the Preparation of 99mTc-EC0652

1165 Objectives 99mTc-EC0652 is a prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted imaging agent that is being developed to identify tumors that express PSMA receptors. It has been evaluated in clinical trials for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The current EC0652 formulation kit has two challenges: (1) the kit requires heating for labeling with 99mTc, which is not convenient in the nuclear pharmacy; (2) the kit contains sodium glucoheptonate as the transchelating agent, which is not an FDA approved excipient and requires production as a cGMP product. The purpose of this study is to develop a robust formulation kit that contains only FDA approved excipients and to prepare 99mTc-EC0652 using a simpler method with good labeling efficiency. Methods A variety of formulation kits containing different excipients were prepared. Labeling with 99mTc was conducted by adding ≤ 50 mCi (1-2 mL) of 99mTc pertechnetate and incubating at room temperature (17°C - 27°C) for 15 - 25 minutes. The radiochemical purities were determined by radio-HPLC and TLC. The effect of each excipient and pH on radiochemical purity and stability of 99mTc-EC0652 was investigated. Results The current EC0652 formulation kit contains EC0652, sodium glucoheptonate dihydrate and tin (II) chloride dihydrate. Labeling using this formulation kit by heating at 100 °C for 10 min gave radiochemical purities of 95-98%. However, labeling at room temperature gave a lower radiochemical purity of about 84%. We evaluated the effects of different excipients on the labeling yield and developed a new kit formulation. Preparation of 99mTc-EC0652 using the new formulation kits was easily conducted at room temperature. High radiochemical purities of 95-98% were obtained by adding 50 mCi of 99mTc peretchnetate to a kit vial and incubating at room temperature for 15 minutes. The 99mTc-EC0652 solutions were stable at room temperature for at least 6 hours. Conclusions The new EC0652 formulation kit provided efficient labeling at room temperature and exhibited good stability of 99mTc-EC0652 suitable for clinical use.
Applications of Modern Mass Spectrometry Techniques in Natural Products Chemistry

Of the many tools in use to characterize natural products and their biosynthetic machinery, mass spectrometry (MS) is rapidly becoming one of the most essential. The importance of MS is highlighted by the fact that scientific journals are unlikely to accept the characterization of a new natural product without the inclusion of MS data. Within the general biosynthetic natural products community, the creative use of MS has been minimal, and in many cases, MS analysis is carried out only after the majority of the activities within the biosynthetic pathway have been determined by other means. In recent years, this trend has begun to change as more advanced, yet more user-friendly, mass spectrometers are made commercially available. Although the improvements in instrument capacity and design are driven in large part by the clinical ‘omics’ community, these changes have allowed MS to move to the forefront of natural products chemistry. Current methods and applicationis used to study both polyketide and nonribosomal peptide biosynthetic pathways will be the focus of this chapter, in particular utilization of the phosphopantetheinyl ejection assay to determine the specific functions of various components of natural biosynthetic pathways. This chapter will also provide a preview of up-and-coming advances in MS analysis of natural products biosynthesis.
Safety, Clinical Response, and Microbiome Findings Following Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background The role of fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in the treatment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. The aims of this study were to assess safety, clinical response, and gut microbiome alterations in children with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), or indeterminate colitis (IC). Methods In this open-label, single-center prospective trial, patients with IBD refractory to medical therapy underwent a single FMT by upper and lower endoscopy. Adverse events, clinical response, gut microbiome, and biomarkers were assessed at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months following FMT. Results Twenty-one subjects were analyzed, with a median age of 12 years, of whom 57% and 28% demonstrated clinical response at 1 and 6 months post-FMT, respectively. Two CD patients were in remission at 6 months. Adverse events attributable to FMT were mild to moderate and self-limited. Patients prior to FMT showed decreased species diversity and significant microbiome compositional differences characterized by increased Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Haemophilus, and Fusobacterium compared with donors and demonstrated increased species diversity at 30 days post-FMT. At 6 months, these changes shifted toward baseline. Clinical responders had a higher relative abundance of Fusobacterium and a lower diversity at baseline, as well as a greater shift toward donor-like microbiome after FMT compared with nonresponders. Conclusions A single FMT is relatively safe and can result in a short-term response in young patients with active IBD. Responders possessed increased Fusobacterium prior to FMT and demonstrated more significant microbiome changes compared with nonresponders after FMT. Microbiome characteristics may help in predicting response.
Inter-View: Emily Dickinson and the Displaced Place of Passion

Emily Dickinson’s writings incessantly posit a time when one would not be writing, when there would be no need for writing because one would be face to face with another person. Yet this ideal of a face to face encounter is itself posited in writing, because only in writing can she distance herself from the place of passion and recognize it as passion — understood as both a passive suffering in one’s self, and as an active desire for another. This distancing involves her in a paradox because only in writing can she face facing another.
User-Centered Software Evaluation Methodologies

Publisher Summary The focus of evaluating software has been shifting. The meaning has moved from the world of experimental design focused on hypothesis testing and statistical analysis to a view of evaluation as a means of gathering information to inform iterative design. While it is still important to ask how to do an evaluation of a designed system, it seems more important to ask about the broader role of evaluation in the design of a system. This chapter briefly deals with the more traditional experimental methods of behavioral science evaluation. While these remain important for some aspects of system development, there has been numerous account of why people need to shift focus to formative rather than summative evaluations. The methods and techniques for gathering design ideas are different than those that aim at measurement of the goodness of a system.
A Model of the Disappearance of Time-Dependence in the Flow Pattern in the Taylor-Dean System

The transition to chaos in diverse physical systems far from thermodynamic equilibrium is one of the challenging problems of modern physics. The most commonly studied models in hydrodynamics are the Rayleigh-Benard thermal convection system and the Taylor-Couette instabilityl, 2, both of which have been intensively investigated during the last two decades. The transition to chaos has been characterized and various scenarios have been discovered experimentally and in numerical simulations of those systems3. These two systems possess several symmetries, the breaking of which gives rise to new patterns. However, the real world is far from these simple cases and an effort is underway to study more complicated systems such as thermal convection in superposed layers of immiscible fluids4, the horizontal Taylor-Couette system with a partially filled gap5, the flow in curved channel6 or the boundary layer flow over a concave wall2.
Abstract PR02: Exploring the effects of PARP inhibition on CHK1 activation as a potential determinant of synergy with CHK1 inhibition

PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have improved the outcomes of patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOC) whose tumors harbor mutations in homologous recombination genes such BRCA1 and BRCA2. However, only 20% of cases with this aggressive subtype of ovarian cancer benefit from PARPi, thus highlighting the essential need to identify novel therapeutic strategies for the remainder of these patients. We have recently reported that off-target effects vary among two PARP inhibitors with different trapping potencies. The FDA-approved PARPi, Olaparib, activated the checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) protein at serine 345 and arrested cells in the G2/M phase; however, these effects were not observed after treatment with Veliparib, the least potent PARPi measured by the PARP trapping ability. In this study, we treated HGSOC cell lines with the five most clinically advanced PARP inhibitors and investigated the effect of varying PARP trapping potencies on the expression levels of major proteins that are involved in cell cycle pathways via Western blot and cell cycle analysis. The synergy between the most potent (Talazoparib) or least potent PARP trappers and a CHK1 inhibitor was also explored in HGSOC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. We hypothesize that PARP inhibitors that do not have an effect on the cell cycle will have greater synergy with CHK1 inhibitors. Our results reveal that the four most potent PARP trappers—olaparib, rucaparib, niraparib, and talazoparib--activate CHK1 protein and decrease total protein levels of CHK1’s downstream substrate CDC25C. However, we did not observe any significant changes in expression levels in these two proteins after treatment with veliparib. We also observed an arrest in the S/G2 phase of the cell cycle after treatment with the four most potent PARP inhibitors. Finally, the growth of our PDX model was significantly inhibited by combined treatment with veliparib and the CHK1 inhibitor MK-8776 compared to either single-agent therapy or talazoparib combined with MK-8776. These results suggest that there is a distinct off-target effect that differs among the least and most potent PARP inhibitors, with veliparib being more synergistic with CHK1 inhibition. This study will help to expand the use of PARP inhibitors in combination with CHK1 inhibitors and emphasizes the importance of single-agent off-target effects to develop optimal combination therapies. This abstract is also being presented as Poster A11. Citation Format: Monicka Wielgos-Bonvallet, Paulina Cybulska, Elke Van Oudenhove, Petar Jelinic, Douglas A. Levine. Exploring the effects of PARP inhibition on CHK1 activation as a potential determinant of synergy with CHK1 inhibition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Conference: Addressing Critical Questions in Ovarian Cancer Research and Treatment; Oct 1-4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(15_Suppl):Abstract nr PR02.
Optimum Design of Decoupled Concentric Coils for Operation in Double-Receiver Wireless Power Transfer Systems

Wireless power transfer is becoming ubiquitous in consumer electronics and electrified transportation, providing a convenient method to supply power or charge various devices, such as cell phones, watches, laptops, electric vehicles, and so on. Delivering power from one transmitter unit to more than one receiver can save space and reduce the cost of the overall system. For applications where the sizes of transmitter and receiver units are commeasurable, a frequently used design is the one with carefully overlapped D-shaped coils (also named bipolar pad) to achieve decoupling between coils. In this paper, an alternative optimized design of two concentric decoupled coils is proposed. The design allows the receiver coils to operate at close proximity, collecting power from a shared magnetic field generated by a single transmitter pad. The design methodology is based on a bucking coil layout where the coils’ decoupling is achieved by means of flux cancellation caused by alternating the winding direction of turns in one of the coils. Apart from eliminating coupling between the two receivers, the proposed design maximizes the coupling between the transmitter and the second receiver coil and consequently increases the power transfer capability, offering the equivalent coupling coefficient similar to or better than a pair of bipolar DD coils. Finally, the number and space between turns are selected to improve the quality factor of the proposed receiver. The proposed solution is designable analytically and the second receiver can be added even after the first receiver is already built. Moreover, the proposed design demonstrates superior misalignment tolerance, particularly in the lateral direction, compared to other decoupled coil designs. The proposed methodology is validated through simulations and experimental tests and has proved to be accurate and easy for implementation.
High-throughput in vivo mapping of RNA accessible interfaces to identify functional sRNA binding sites

Herein we introduce a high-throughput method, INTERFACE, to reveal the capacity of contiguous RNA nucleotides to establish in vivo intermolecular RNA interactions for the purpose of functional characterization of intracellular RNA. INTERFACE enables simultaneous accessibility interrogation of an unlimited number of regions by coupling regional hybridization detection to transcription elongation outputs measurable by RNA-seq. We profile over 900 RNA interfaces in 71 validated, but largely mechanistically under-characterized, Escherichia coli sRNAs in the presence and absence of a global regulator, Hfq, and find that two-thirds of tested sRNAs feature Hfq-dependent regions. Further, we identify in vivo hybridization patterns that hallmark functional regions to uncover mRNA targets. In this way, we biochemically validate 25 mRNA targets, many of which are not captured by typically tested, top-ranked computational predictions. We additionally discover direct mRNA binding activity within the GlmY terminator, highlighting the information value of high-throughput RNA accessibility data.
Turning the Tables: How Trump Turned Fake News from a Weapon of Deception to a Weapon of Mass Destruction of Legitimate News

Fake news has been with us for centuries and indeed had great impact in the American election of 2016. But the man who became President in that election has cleverly turned fake news into something far more dangerous. By denouncing any news he finds unwelcome as fake news, Donald Trump has launched an attack of unprecedented scope and virulence against legitimate media that endeavor to report the truth. Although the press and the First Amendment in America have always been under attack from the government, Trump’s new line of attack puts freedom of expression in a kind of peril it has never seen before.
Methane Leak Detection and Localization Using Wireless Sensor Networks for Remote Oil and Gas Operations

Oil and gas operations contribute on the order of 31% (according to EPA) to the portion of methane emissions due to human activities. Identifying and localizing these emission sources requires continued development of better sensing modalities. We present a sensor network and cloud based methods for detecting, localizing, and quantifying methane leaks with a focus on natural gas fracking sites. The sensor network is designed for year round remote autonomous operation and includes methane and wind sensing abilities.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a man with no trigger and multiple cardioembolic complications—A rare constellation

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TC) is an uncommon, transient, reversible cardiomyopathy, with a classic pattern of wall-motion abnormalities, usually seen in women after an emotional stressor. Despite its increased recognition, there remain gaps in the exact mechanisms, predisposing factors, and predictors of recovery; this is particularly true for males where the condition occurs far less frequently than in females. TC typically resolves within weeks, and the prognosis is favorable compared to acute coronary syndromes. Nonetheless, about 1% of cases may be complicated by left ventricular (LV) thrombus and embolism. Herein we describe an atypical case of a man with no obvious trigger, who developed TC with left ventricular thrombus and multiple embolic complications, but subsequently showed complete and full resolution. Multimodality imaging including echocardiography, cardiac CT and cardiac MRI was instrumental in this diagnostic dilemma, as well as useful in guiding treatment options and informing prognosis.
The C. elegans AWA Olfactory Neuron Fires Calcium-Mediated All-or-None Action Potentials

We find, unexpectedly, that C. elegans neurons can encode information through regenerative all-or-none action potentials. In particular, AWA olfactory neurons generate membrane potential spikes with defining characteristics of action potentials. Ion substitution experiments, pharmacology, and mutant analysis identified a voltage-gated CaV1 calcium channel and a Shaker-type potassium channel that underlie action potential dynamics in AWA. Additional potassium channels are predicted by simulation of AWA action potentials with Hodgkin-Huxley and bifurcation models. Simultaneous patch-clamp recording and calcium imaging in AWA revealed spike-associated calcium signals that were also observed after odor stimulation of intact animals, suggesting that natural odor stimuli induce AWA action potentials. The stimulus regimes that elicited action potentials match AWA9s proposed specialized function in climbing odor gradients. Our results provide evidence that C. elegans can use digital as well as analog coding schemes, expand the computational repertoire of its nervous system, and inform future modeling of its neural coding and network dynamics.
108. HEPATITIS B VACCINATION IN DUKE UNIVERSITY AND DUKE REGIONAL HOSPITAL NEWBORN NURSERIES

Background Vertical transmission continues to be a mode of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection despite implementation of prenatal maternal screening. HBV vaccination induces seroprotection in 98% of term infants. The CDC recommends that all infants should receive the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth or within the first 12- 24 hours of life before they leave the hospital. Nevertheless, HBV vaccination rates prior to discharge were sub-optimal in the Duke newborn nurseries, which consist of the main Duke University Hospital (DUH) nursery and the community-based Duke Regional Hospital (DRH) nursery. Aim Statement We aimed to increase all HBV vaccination rates from a baseline of 94% to 96% at the DUH and from 88% to 90% at the DRH nurseries within 1 year. Interventions Baseline HBV vaccination rates were obtained from the electronic medical record (EMR) by using the 12 months preceding first intervention. The first intervention educated clinicians and nurses on the updated CDC guidelines by displaying posters in work areas. The second intervention aimed to increase project awareness among nursing staff in the nursing newsletter. The third intervention was an interdisciplinary effort among the nursing, physician, and pharmacy teams to coordinate administration of the HBV vaccine with the routine administration of vitamin K injection and erythromycin eye ointment at delivery. Measures After each intervention, a PDSA cycle was completed, assessing vaccination rates over the next three months on average. We assessed the effect on nursing workflow through a survey as a balancing measure. Results At both DUH and DRH nurseries respectively, we saw the rates of HBV vaccination increase slightly from baseline rates of 88% and 94% to 92% and 95% after the first two cycles. The third intervention at DUH resulted in a robust response in vaccination rates (up-trending to 95.8% in the month of November). Rates have been above the means for 7 and 10 consecutive months for DUH and DRH since the project began. Conclusions and Next Steps We have demonstrated a trend in improvements in HBV vaccination rates in the DUH and DRH newborn nurseries over several PDSA cycles. Most notably, the multi-disciplinary intervention of administering HBV with the vitamin K injection and erythromycin eye ointment at DUH had a marked impact. Continued multi-disciplinary efforts to improve HBV vaccination in the newborn nursery at both hospitals will optimize the care of newborn infants in prevention of HBV.
Understanding Gray Networks Using Social Media Trace Data

In contrast to dark (illegal, covert, illicit) or bright (legal, overt, above-ground) networks, gray networks conduct a mixture of legal and illegal activities and have an organizational structure that may be only partially known. The goal of this research is to demonstrate techniques for using trace data from Venmo, a payment network, and Facebook, a social networking site, to understand the organizational structure of one particular gray network: a membership organization of self-described “Western chauvinists” called Proud Boys. Using publicly-available data from the Facebook API and from the Venmo web site, this research reveals the underlying organizational structure for this group as it grew and matured from October 2016–March 2019. The payment network is modeled as a one-mode directed network of payers and payees conducting transactions such as dues payments and activity fees. A two-mode network of the Venmo users and their memberships in Proud Boys groups on Facebook further illuminates the structure of the organization. Supplementary data from news reports and arrest records is used to confirm the findings from this network analysis. Results will be useful for understanding the extent to which trace data from online activities can expose the offline organizational structure of semi-clandestine groups.
Striped Lynx Spider Oxyopes salticus (Hentz 1845) (Arachnida: Araneae: Oxyopidae)

The striped lynx spider, Oxyopes salticus (Hentz), is a small, spiny-legged spider and generalist predator that feeds on a wide variety of insect prey, including several economically important insect pests. This lynx spider species is one of the most abundant beneficial spider species in gardens, yards, and agricultural fields throughout North America. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1259 The article is a Featured Creature article on the striped lynx spider, Oxyopes salticus.http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/SPIDERS/striped_lynx.html
Motivation? The Effects of High-Impact Experiential Learning Activities on Political Science Students

This research examines whether high-impact experiential learning activities in politics motivate students positively in learning, personal development and establishing career goals? Using participant observations and student journals recorded during their participation in the Osgood Center for International Studies 2017 Presidential Inauguration Seminar and the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminar’s 2016 Democratic and Republican Convention seminars, this research identifies specific outcomes related to the impact of such experiential learning opportunities on students of political science.
Phenotypic and genetic characterization of lower LDL cholesterol and increased type 2 diabetes risk in the UK biobank

Although hyperlipidemia is traditionally considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D), evidence has emerged from statin trials and candidate gene investigations suggesting that lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) increases T2D risk. We thus sought to more comprehensively examine the phenotypic and genotypic relationships of LDL-C with T2D. Using data from the UK Biobank, we found that levels of circulating LDL-C were negatively associated with T2D prevalence (odds ratio 0.41 [95% CI 0.39, 0.43] per mmol/L unit of LDL-C), despite positive associations of circulating LDL-C with HbA1c and BMI. We then performed the first genome-wide exploration of variants simultaneously associated with lower circulating LDL-C and increased T2D risk, using data on LDL-C from the UK Biobank (n = 431,167) and the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (n = 188,577), and data on T2D from the Diabetes Genetics Replication and Meta-Analysis consortium (n = 898,130). We identified 31 loci associated with lower circulating LDL-C and increased T2D, capturing several potential mechanisms. Seven of these loci have previously been identified for this dual phenotype, and nine have previously been implicated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. These findings extend our current understanding of the higher T2D risk among individuals with low circulating LDL-C and of the underlying mechanisms, including those responsible for the diabetogenic effect of LDL-C-lowering medications.
Using AAC to unlock communicative potential in late-talking toddlers

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to report on modifications we made to a standardized input-based word learning treatment for two late-talking toddlers. The modifications were the addition of an augmentative alternative communication (AAC) device and the requirement that the children use this device, or speech, to communicate. Method We used a single-subject design to track late-talking toddlers’ progress through an input-based word learning treatment, which was part of a larger study. Because the input-based treatment protocol was not effective for each toddler based on absent or clinically insignificant treatment effect sizes, we modified the protocol. The modifications were meant to address each child’s potential over-reliance on nonverbal communication and the potential impact of speech sound delay. We then measured their linguistic output. Results Both toddlers showed no evidence of learning during the input-based treatment. Each child’s linguistic output increased by over 600 % once we made the protocol modification and introduced the AAC device. They used both AAC and vocal speech to communicate. Both toddlers produced novel words, and one began to produce multiple word combinations. Discussion While input-based therapy has an evidence base and has been successful for some toddlers, it may require modifications for children who have not learned the pragmatic convention of using spoken language, and for children with difficulty with speech sound production.
“I Didn’t Really Have Anybody to Turn To”: Barriers to Social Support and the Experiences of Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence:

Social support is crucial for adapting to stress and trauma, processing adverse emotions, developing better mental health, and garnering relationship success. Yet, social support may not always be ...
Interaction of Ras Binding Domain (RBD) by chemotherapeutic zinc oxide nanoparticles: Progress towards RAS pathway protein interference.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) NP is considered as a nanoscale chemotherapeutic. Thus, the drug delivery of this inorganic NP is of considerable importance. Ras mutations are common in cancer and the activation of this signaling pathway is a hallmark in carcinoma, melanoma and many other aggressive malignancies. Thus, here we examined the binding and delivery of Ras binding domain (RBD), a model cancer-relevant protein and effector of Ras by ZnO NP. Shifts in zeta potential in water, PBS, DMEM and DMEM supplemented with FBS supported NP interaction to RBD. Fluorescence quenching of the NP was concentration-dependent for RBD, Stern-Volmer analysis of this data was used to estimate binding strength which was significant for ZnO-RBD (Kd 50%) zone of killing as shown by light and fluorescence microscopy after intra-vital staining. ZnO 100 nm was superior to ZnO 14 nm in terms of anticancer activity. When bound to ZnO NP, the anticancer activity of RBD was enhanced. These data indicate the potential diagnostic application or therapeutic activity of RBD-NP complexes in vivo which demands further investigation.
The Value of Supporting Education Research in the Academic Environment: The Hospital for Special Surgery Academy of Rheumatology Medical Educators.

Problem Medical education academies have been instrumental in providing greater recognition of and promotion for clinician-educators. However, producing education scholarship is essential for clinician-scholar-educator career advancement. Grant funding for education research and protected time to produce scholarship are still lacking for interested physicians, in part due to institutional budget constraints and competing priorities. Approach The Hospital for Special Surgery Academy of Rheumatology Medical Educators was founded in 2011 to promote education scholarship though grants awarded to educators interested in research. Educators were asked to submit proposals aimed at the development of new teaching programs and curricular change. Selected applicants received up to $50,000 per year for one year. Grant money was obtained through directed fundraising from donors. Information from annual grant updates and survey responses from grant recipients in 2017 were used to assess the academy's effectiveness. Outcomes Since 2012, 32 grants have been awarded, totaling $954,045 in funding. Recipients have produced national meeting abstracts, posters, oral presentations, and manuscripts and created unique curricula and electronic learning tools for medical students, residents, fellows, faculty, and patients. Four educators with demonstrated interest and research outcomes were identified during the pilot and received additional funding and support from a dedicated education research assistant. Next steps The academy and the innovation grants program highlight the talents of under-supported and under-recognized teaching faculty by allowing them to distinguish themselves academically as clinician-scholar-educators. The success of these educators emphasizes the clear advantages of a formalized structure to achieve the hospital's education goals. Next steps include providing support for a rheumatology fellow to develop an education research career rather than one in bench, clinical, or translational research.
Visualizing the Surveillance Archive: Critical Art and the Dangers of Transparency

This paper investigates a number of critical art projects that construct counter-archives of visual material as a response to institutional surveillance programs. Some of these works seek to reveal the materiality of state surveillance infrastructures, such as secret military installations and satellites; others demonstrate the objectifying effects of routine corporate surveillance systems like Google Street View; and still others take advantage of social media platforms to intentionally oversaturate viewers with personal images as a way to highlight the irrationality of government programs targeting suspected terrorists. These artworks call attention to the failures of transparency to accurately contain the opaque, even as the artists seek to make institutional authorities accountable through exposure. In these ways, the artists show the resilience and allure of transparency frames, which may keep dominant surveillance logics intact even under critique.
Crowding in the time of COVID: Effects on rapport and shopping satisfaction

Abstract Decades of research in marketing has established that crowding (human and spatial) in retail contexts significantly affects shopping satisfaction. Prompted by the profound changes in retail supply and demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this study expands knowledge in two ways: uncovering new relationships and replicating some of the critical findings previously demonstrated in the pre-pandemic context. Two studies (Study 1 scenario and Study 2 actual shopping trip) show that higher levels of human crowding results in lower levels of shopping satisfaction, and this effect is mediated by a new construct introduced into the crowding literature, namely, customer rapport with employees, emerging as a significant factor in the pandemic era. Importantly, the results show that these relationships differ according to customers’: a) perceptions about the appropriateness of retailer precautions, b) beliefs about the severity of threat that the pandemic presents, and c) perceived vulnerability to Covid-19, all of them new to crowding dynamics during the time of Covid. Finally, with Study 2, we replicate and extend selected findings from prior research on crowding. Overall, the results expand our understanding of crowding effects and provide novel insights in the “new normal” retail context.
Help for Family Caregivers Available from Government Programs and Policies

This chapter describes the major government programs and policies that provide direct and indirect assistance to caregivers of Americans aged 65 and older who require human and technological assistance with functional activities, such as personal care tasks (e.g., bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, and using the toilet), as well as other aspects of daily living (e.g., grocery shopping, cooking meals, housework, taking medications, using the telephone, and managing money). We focus exclusively on caregiver support policies and programs that operate under federal legislative authority, including programs that, though administered by state or local government entities or nonprofit organizations, are federally financed (even if they also receive state or local funding).
Collaboration in online teaching: Library instruction and education research.

Recent explosion of online teaching has brought unique challenges for libraries as they strive to provide access to necessary resources and services for distance learners. These challenges are increased by the desire to provide the same level of library services to distance learners as to their on-campus counterparts. In response, many libraries are increasing electronic resources and developing special services, including online library instruction. However, little has been done to document the impact of this access on students’ learning and their satisfaction. This paper presents some evidence of students’ satisfaction and increased proficiency in research, as a result of direct library instruction for students in an action research course offered through SUNY Learning Network (SLN). Distance learning and library support
Multiple spectral parameter imaging

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the requirements for performing multiple spectral parameter imaging on living cells. Many of these considerations also apply to fixed preparations. Cell functions, such as cell division, endocytosis, and cell migration involve a complex temporal and spatial interplay of multiple organelles, macromolecules, ions, and metabolites. Goal of cell biology is to define the role of each cellular constituent and to define the molecular interplay of multiple constituents that are required for the completion of specific cell functions. Therefore, a technique is required that will permit the quantitation of multiple physiological parameters in time and space within the same cells. Quantitative fluorescence microscopy, when combined with the increasing number of sensitive fluorescent and other luminescent probes available, offers a powerful approach for defining the chemical and molecular dynamics within living cells in time and space. An approach is developed that allows the analysis and correlation of up to five separate parameters based on the spectral isolation of distinct fluorescent probes. The use of a properly designed imaging workstation helps to employ these methods in both two and three dimensions and to harness the power of video-enhanced contrast microscopy.