cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enthalpy of fusion of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) by differential scanning calorimetry

The enthalpy of fusion for a perfect, infinite poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) crystal (ΔHm∞) must be known to evaluate the absolute crystallinity of P3HT. This value, however, is still ambiguous as different values have been reported using various experimental techniques. Here, we extrapolate the enthalpy of fusion for extended chain crystals of oligomeric P3HT to infinite molecular weight and obtain a value of ΔHm∞≈ 42.9 ± 2 J/g employing differential scanning calorimetry with a correction based on grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering data. Also, we define the onset of chain folding within P3HT crystallites at a chain length of 5 Kuhn segments. Knowledge of ΔHm∞ allows calculation of P3HT percent crystallinity in thin films for applications such as organic field effect transistors and solar cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 1469–1475
Community involvement for sustainable heritage tourism: a conceptual model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore why and how to involve community stakeholders to achieve sustainability in heritage tourism operations. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model and three propositions are created based on stakeholder theory and the social capital perspective. Findings – The study highlights the challenges facing heritage tourism operators and recommends that these organizations focus on inter-stakeholder group collaboration, participative decision making, responsibility and benefits sharing, and building an institutional power structure to involve hosting communities for sustainable operations. Practical implications – Instead of approaching from the traditional philosophic perspective at the overall societal level, community involvement is studied at individual organizational level to provide more specific recommendations on how tourism companies can empower and involve community stakeholders. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to synthesize the...
Market Inalienability Once Again: Reply to Radin

The world of political economy can be divided into two camps: those who wish to rid society of all commercial interactions, and those who think that engaging in any market activity should be legal. These are of course end points on the spectrum; most views fall in between. Radin occupies a position very much toward the anti free enterprise end of this continuum. The goal of the present essay is to defend economic freedom against her critique. This shall be done by citing, and then critically commenting on, her text.
Root Cause Analyses of Transfers of Skilled Nursing Facility Patients to Acute Hospitals: Lessons Learned for Reducing Unnecessary Hospitalizations.

Abstract Background Performing root cause analyses (RCA) on transfers of skilled nursing facility (SNF) patients to acute hospitals can help identify opportunities for care process improvements and education that may help prevent unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and hospital readmissions. Objectives To describe the results of structured, retrospective RCAs performed by SNF staff on hospital transfers to identify lessons learned for reducing these transfers. Design SNFs enrolled in a randomized, controlled implementation trial of the INTERACT (Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers) quality improvement program submitted RCAs on hospital transfers during a 12-month implementation period. Setting SNFs from across the United States that volunteered and met the enrollment criteria for the implementation trial. Participants Sixty-four of 88 SNFs randomized to the intervention group performed and submitted retrospective RCAs on hospital transfers. Interventions SNFs received education and technical assistance in INTERACT implementation. Measures Data were summarized from the INTERACT Quality Improvement (QI) tool, a structured, retrospective RCA on hospital transfers. Results A total of 4856 QI tools were submitted during the 12-month implementation period. Most transfers were precipitated by multiple symptoms and signs, many of them nonspecific. Patient and/or family preference or insistence was noted to have played a role in 16% of the transfers. Hospital transfers were relatively equally distributed among days of the week, and 29% occurred on the night or evening shift. Approximately 1 in 5 transfers occurred within 6 days of SNF admission from a hospital, and 1 in 10 occurred within 2 days of SNF admission. After completing the RCA, SNF staff identified 1044 (23%) of the transfers as potentially preventable. Common reasons for these ratings included recognition that the condition could have been detected earlier and/or could have been managed safely in the SNF, and that earlier advance care planning and discussions with patients and families about preferences for care may have prevented some transfers. Conclusion Summarizing findings from RCAs of transfers of SNF patients to acute hospitals can provide important insights into areas of focus for care process improvements and related education that may help prevent unnecessary ED visits, hospital admissions, and readmissions.
Repsponding to Industry Consolidation in Fragmented Industries: The Role of Capabilities in Small Business Survival

Driven by the competitive pressures that accompany industry consolidation in fragmented industries, small business owners and managers are searching for new ways to gain and sustain competitive advantage. This paper reports the results of a study designed to examine which capabilities help small business managers react to the intensified competition that accompanies industry consolidation. Profiles of capability bundles used by managers in a fragmented industry undergoing industry consolidation, specifically the neighborhood drugstore, are developed and differences in performance among the drugstores are examined Our results suggest that developing capabilities is important to responding effectively to industry consolidation. Further, firms that focus on developing a broad range of capabilities significantly outperform those firms that develop only a narrow range of capabilities.
The Association Between Sleep Duration and Leptin, Ghrelin, and Adiponectin Among Children and Adolescents

Several studies suggest that habitually shorter-sleep duration is associated with higher risk for overweight and obesity among children. Multiple plausible mechanisms may link chronic short sleep to weight gain among humans, including pathologic alterations in energy-regulating and appetite-influencing hormones. In this manuscript, we review the literature that examines associations between three such hormones—leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin—and sleep duration, in studies of children and adolescents. The results of this review suggest that there is not currently sufficient evidence to definitively implicate each of these hormones in the sleep duration-obesity pathway in children. However, there are several studies with significant findings, such that a role for sleep curtailment-induced hormonal changes is plausible. Further work is required to elucidate the specific role these hormones play in metabolic dysregulation associated with chronic short sleep.
Assessment and Planning for a Pediatric Bilateral Hand Transplant Using 3-Dimensional Modeling: Case Report

Children are not typically considered for hand transplantation for various reasons, including the difficulty of finding an appropriate donor. Matching donor-recipient hands and forearms based on size is critically important. If the donor's hands are too large, the recipient may not be able to move the fingers effectively. Conversely, if the donor's hands are too small, the appearance may not be appropriate. We present an 8-year-old child evaluated for a bilateral hand transplant following bilateral amputation. The recipient forearms and model hands were modeled from computed tomography imaging studies and replicated as anatomic models with a 3-dimensional printer. We modified the scale of the printed hand to produce 3 proportions, 80%, 100% and 120%. The transplant team used the anatomical models during evaluation of a donor for appropriate match based on size. The donor's hand size matched the 100%-scale anatomical model hand and the transplant team was activated. In addition to assisting in appropriate donor selection by the transplant team, the 100%-scale anatomical model hand was used to create molds for prosthetic hands for the donor.
Growth Mechanism of Highly Branched Titanium Dioxide Nanowires via Oriented Attachment

Understanding fundamental crystal nucleation and growth mechanisms is critical for producing materials with controlled size and morphological features and uncovering structure–function relationships in these semiconducting oxides. Under hydro-solvothermal conditions, uniform branched and spherulitic TiO2 rutile nanostructures were formed via (101) twins. On the basis of detailed, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses, we propose a mechanism of branched growth and the (101) twin formation via oriented attachment and subsequent transformation from anatase to rutile.
Theory of Disclinations: II. Continuous and Discrete Disclinations in Anisotropic Elasticity.

A general theory of stationary disclinations for a linearly elastic, infinitely extended, homogeneous body is developed. Dislocation theory is extended in three different ways to include disclinations, i.e., from continuous distributions, discrete lines, and continuous distributions of infinitesimal loops. This leads to three independent definitions of the disclination, which can be uniquely related to each other. These interrelationships clarify Anthony and Mura's approaches to disclination theory, which at first appear to diverge from the present theory. Mura's "plastic distortion" and "plastic rotation" are identified as the dislocation and disclination loop densities. The clastic strain and bend-twist are derived as closed integrals in terms of the defect densities, and shown to be state quantities. The theory reduces to classical dislocation theory when the disclinations vanish. For every discrete disclination line, it is always possible to find a "dislocation model," which is a dislocation wall terminating on the line that gives exactly the same elastic strain and stress.
Endocrine Activity of the Testis of the White Plymouth Rock

Abstract THE testes of mammals and birds have two important functions. The first and primary function is to produce the specialized cells of reproduction known as spermatozoa. The second is the endocrine function, namely, to secrete the male hormone which influences the secretion of the secondary sex glands, the growth of the comb and wattles of birds, and the sex urge associated with reproduction. The source of the germinal cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes has been recognized for many years. Recently, the writers (Kumaran and Turner, 1949) reported the results of a study of the normal development of the testes in the White Plymouth Rock. Emphasis was given to the stages in the development of the spermatozoa with advancing age although the interstitial tissue changes were also described. While it has been believed for a number of years that the endocrine activity of the testes is localized in . . .
Current status and epidemic trend of pneumoconiosis in coal mining industry of Changsha City

[Objective]To investigate the distribution characteristics and pathogenic regularity of pneumoconiosis in coal mining industry of Changsha City,to predict epidemic trend,and provide scientific evidence for developing pneumoconiosis prevention and control measures in coal mining industry.[Methods]The retrospective epidemiology was adopted to collect coal workers pneumoconiosis(CWP) cases for the establishment of pneumoconiosis database.SPSS 170 statistics method was used to analyze CWP prevalence,county distribution,diagnosis year,and difference between onset age and service length.[Results]A total of 712 CWP cases were reported,mainly distributed in LiuYang County(50.84%),Ningxiang County(36.38%) and Wangcheng County(5.20%),85.53% cases were in coal industry.Five hundreds and two cases(70.51%) were pneumoconiosis phaseⅠ,193(27.11%) were pneumoconiosis phaseⅡ,17(2.39%) of pneumoconiosis phase III.The case distribution of pneumoconiosis ranked first in 1980s,accounting for 50.84%.The average service length of onset was(19.82 ± 8.28) years,and the average age was(48.33 ± 8.53).The concurrency rate of TB was12.08%,cumulatively reported 47 death cases,the fatality rate was 6.60%.[Conclusion]The new cases of pneumoconiosis shows a gradual growth trend from 1960-1980,and decrease trend after year 2000.It is necessary to enhance dust hazard monitoring and risk control in coal industry,and improve health care system for the dust exposure population.
Proteoglycan: Site Mapping and Site-Directed Mutagenesis

Identification of proteoglycan chain modification sites cannot yet be reliably predicted from primary amino acid sequence data. A number of studies have shown that serine is the predominant amino acid that is modified and it is frequently flanked by a C-terminal glycine and proximal N-terminal acidic amino acids; however, not all simple Ser-Gly motifs constitute a modification site. Here we present a rapid method for cloning small, defined segments of putative proteoglycan attachment sites and expressing them as a mini-reporter protein in an insect tissue culture system that is expandable to high throughput analysis. Reporter proteins with attached proteoglycans can be readily discerned from their unmodified form, by a simple gel-shift assay and Western blot detection for an epitope tag engineered into the reporter. Unmodified proteins are generated as a reference standard by treating cells with dsRNA to knock down the endogenous polypeptide xylose transferase, which is responsible for initiating proteoglycan site attachment. Examination of proteoglycan attachment by different metazoan organisms can be studied in the same cell line by cotransfecting a polypeptide xylose transferase expression plasmid and reporter construct from human, mouse, frog, or worm, for example. Reporter proteins engineer with point mutations can be rapidly generated with this system to pinpoint the exact residue that is glycosylated, to verify the mapping data.
Nuclear Imaging Techniques for the Assessment of Myocardial Viability

Regional and global left ventricular dysfunction caused by coronary artery disease may be reversible in a significant proportion of cases. This fact has important clinical implications. The choice of the optimal nuclear imaging technique for the detection of myocardial viability is a matter of ongoing debate. Currently the choice of technique depends on the clinical question to be answered, the local availability of the technique, and local expertise. Cost considerations may also play an important role in choice of technique.
The combination of antiangiogenic therapy with other modalities.

A B S T R A C T Angiogenesis is critical for a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes, and several angiogenesis inhibitors are now in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Antiangiogenic therapy offers a number of potential benefits including lack of drug resistance for some agents, synergistic interaction with other modalities, lack of significant toxicity compared with conventional agents, and a potent antitumor effect. However, no angiogenesis inhibitor has been approved for clinical use. Although antiangiogenic agents offer great therapeutic potential, preclinical and early clinical trial results suggest that these agents will have a delayed onset of activity and may induce stabilization of disease, and not regression, in patients with advanced disease. Studies suggest that regulation of angiogenesis in various capillary beds may be differentially regulated, suggesting that antiangiogenic therapy may require organ-specific optimization. By combining antiangiogenic agents with each other and/or with other modalities used in the treatment of cancer, the limitations of each therapeutic approach will be overcome, leading to enhanced efficacy with diminished toxicity. However, the optimal strategies for the use, monitoring, and validation of antiangiogenic agents in the clinic remains unclear. Before these agents can be integrated into clinical practice, a better understanding of their mechanism of action and regulation is required.
TU-H-CAMPUS-TeP2-05: Selective Protection of Normal Tissue by Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles During Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) have unique pH dependent properties such that they act as a radical modulator. These properties may be used in radiation therapy (RT) to protect normal tissue. This work investigates the selective radioprotection of CONPs in-vitro and potential for in-situ delivery of CONPs in prostate cancer RT. Methods: i) Normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) were treated with 0 or 2 ng/mL CONPs (NP size: 5 nm). 2 Gy of 100 kVp radiation was delivered to the cells 4 hours after the CONP treatment. Cell viability was checked 48 hours later using MTS assays. ii) A prostate tumor was modeled as a 2-cm diameter sphere. CONPs were proposed to be loaded in a hollow radiotherapy fiducial marker. The concentration profile for the CONPs within the tumor was modeled with a previously validated diffusion equation employed in other studies for nanoparticles 10 nm or less. Results: i) Without radiation, cell viability was above 90% when treated with 2 ng/mL CONPs for both HUVEC and PC-3. After irradiation, a slightly higher viability was observed in HUVEC with CONPs than the ones without CONPs, and this effect was not observed in PC-3. ii) Based on the calculations, 2 ng/mL of CONPs could be delivered to normal cells by diffusion with a 1 µg/mL initial concentration within two weeks. Conclusion: We conclude that CONPs can provide selective radioprotection. The delivery of needed concentrations of CONPs is feasible via in-situ release from radiotherapy biomaterials (e.g. fiducials) loaded with the CONPs.
Trading off usability and security in user interface design through mental models

The aim of this paper is to establish the foundations for developing a mental model that bridges the gap between usability and security in user-centred designs. To this purpose, a meta-model has been developed to align design features with the users’ requirements through tacit knowledge elicitation. The meta-model describes the combinatorial relationships of Security, Usability and Mental SUM and how these components can be used to design a usable and secure system. The SUM meta-model led to the conclusion that there is no antagonism between usability and security. However, the degree of usable security depends on the ability of the designer to capture and implement the user’s tacit knowledge. In fact, the SUM meta-model seeks the dilution of the trading-off effects between security and usability through compensating synergism of the tacit knowledge. A usability security cognitive map has been developed for the major constituents of usability and security to clarify the interactions and their influences on the meta-model stipulations. The three intersecting areas of the three components’ relationships are manipulated to expand the Optimal Equilibrium Solution OES δ expanse. To put the SUM meta-model into practice, knowledge management principles have been proposed for implementing user-centred security and user-centred design. This is accomplished by using collaborative brainpower from various knowledge constellations to design a system within the user’s current and future perception boundaries. Therefore, different knowledge groups, processes, techniques, tactics and practices have been proposed for knowledge transfer and transformation during the mental model development.
Clinical guidelines: Thyroid and pregnancy - time for universal screening?

The 2017 American Thyroid Association thyroid and pregnancy guidelines provide an exhaustive review of a rapidly evolving literature and comprehensive recommendations. Although agreeing with most of the recommendations, I present an alternative perspective on the normal range of TSH in pregnancy, management of women on levothyroxine preconception and universal screening for thyroid disorders during pregnancy.
A holistic approach for performance evaluation using quantitative and qualitative data

A hybrid MCDM model with Fuzzy AHP, DEA (Cross-Efficiency) and TOPSIS is presented.A real life case study involving twenty franchised food stores is provided.Qualitative and quantitative performance measures are introduced. Sustainability of business is often reliant on the efficiency of its internal and external operations as well as on overall customer satisfaction. Evaluating overall operational performance via utilizing both qualitative and quantitative information is an essential first step towards a sustainable and reliable business environment. With this motivation, this study proposes a hybrid approach combining Fuzzy AHP, DEA and TOPSIS methodologies for retail performance evaluation. A food industry case study is considered to illustrate its implementation.
Electroneurodiagnostic Monitoring In Interventional Neuroangiography

ABSTRACT.Current trends in neurosurgery suggest there are progressive changes in the way neurovascular abnormalities will be treated (Higashida et al. 2007). Recent technological advancements have been made in the field of Interventional Neuroangiography (IN) which, in some instances, have enabled it to provide better outcomes than surgical treatment. Research is currently being done which promises to increase the effectiveness of IN far beyond that of neurosurgical techniques. How should we, as electroneurodiagnostic technologists, view this change and what does it mean to our field?
Using GIS to Support Midland County Parks and Recreation Department’s Trail Management Plan

Using GIS to support Midland County Parks and Recreation Department’s Trail Management Plan
Impurity scattering in f-wave superconductor UPt 3

We study theoretically the effect of impurity scattering in f-wave (or E2u) superconductors. The quasi-particle density of states of f-wave superconductor is very similar to the one for d-wave superconductor as in hole-doped high T c cuprates. Also in spite of anisotropy in Δ( ), both the reduced superfluid density and the reduced electronic thermal conductivity is completely isotropic.
Sustainable futures for music cultures: an ecological perspective

In Sustainable Futures for Music Cultures, 14 specialists contribute to a tightly woven book illustrating diverse musical practices from around the world using a theoretical framework regarding the...
Unpacking the Associations Among Maltreatment, Disengagement Coping, and Behavioral Functioning in High-Risk Youth

Given the association between child maltreatment and a host of negative behavioral consequences, there remains a need to continue to identify mechanisms underlying this association as a means of improving intervention efforts. The present study examined one potential mechanism, namely, disengagement coping. We asked 6- to 17-year-old maltreated ( n = 249) and comparison ( n = 133) youth questions about emotional experiences that induced sadness and anger, strategies they used to cope with those emotions, and behavioral functioning (i.e., behavioral problems and aggression). Maltreated adolescents reported higher levels of behavioral problems and aggression relative to comparison adolescents, and adolescents who disengaged from emotional situations reported more behavioral problems relative to those who did not disengage. Tests of mediation suggested that, for adolescent-age youth, part of the association between maltreatment status and behavioral problems was explained by disengagement. In children, maltreatment was not associated with disengagement or behavioral problems. Results have implications for understanding age-related differences in the emotional and behavioral consequences of maltreatment.
Marsupial Centomeres and Telomeres: Dynamic Chromosome Domains

What has become clear from a synthesis of work on marsupial chromosomes over the last 100 years is that the centromere is more than simply an architectural feature of the chromosome. Rather, it has been participant, either directly or indirectly, in the evolution of the diversity of karyotypes observed in marsupials. Across marsupial lineages, a family of model species stands out as an ideal system in which to study centromere function and evolution: macropodines (kangaroos and wallabies). This chapter focuses on the study of centromeres in marsupials, as both a region critical to ensuring the distribution of sister chromatids to daughter cells during cell division and a chromosomal domain involved in karyotypic stability and evolution. We will explore the role played by elements found at centromeres and telomeres in cell division and karyotypic change as supported by both historic and current experimental evidence.
Understanding the Interpretation of Disease Incidence and Prevalence

One of the main goals in epidemiology is to describe the disease of interest, quantify the frequency of the disease, and study the risk factors and potential causes of the disease. “Measures of occurrence,” which are used to describe frequency of diseases, are the descriptive values in clinical epidemiology that describe events or outcomes, such as mortality or morbidity. Two of the main measures of occurrence that are used in the field of epidemiology are “incidence” and “prevalence.” These types of measures of occurrence are used in different ways by experts from various backgrounds. Clinicians can use incidence and prevalence in direct patient care to describe the frequency of a disease of interest, to help predict the course of a patient, and to estimate an individual’s risk for a disease and its complications. Public health professionals can use incidence and prevalence to describe the conditions and burden of a disease of interest, to identify the areas/conditions/disease where resources should be directed, and to compare between patients, subgroups of population, and finally, health care systems. Finally, researchers can use incidence and prevalence to compare diseases and define clinical outcomes in studies. In this chapter, we will discuss the basics of incidence and prevalence, which are essential to the comprehension and interpretation of different indices of disease frequency.
A Phase I/II Placebo-Controlled Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial of Recombinant Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) Eye Drops Use in Patients With Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose To determine whether DNase eye drops have the potential to reduce signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). Methods A placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of DNase eye drops 0.1% four times a day for 8 weeks in patients with severe tear deficient DED. The change in safety outcome measures (drug tolerability and proportion of adverse events) and efficacy outcome measures (Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI] score, corneal and conjunctival staining) were analyzed between baseline and week 8. Results Tolerability and adverse events were similar in placebo group and DNase group. Within the DNase group (but not placebo group), corneal staining showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction at week 8 compared with baseline. The OSDI score also showed a significant median reduction of 27.3 at week 8 compared with baseline within the DNase group. The median reduction in corneal staining and mucoid debris/strands was significantly greater in the DNase group as compared with the placebo group. In the DNase group, the median reduction in OSDI (-20.75) was more than placebo group (-8.43); however, the difference between groups was borderline significant. Conclusions In this pilot study, treatment of severe tear deficient DED patients with DNase eye drops appears safe, well tolerated, and has the potential to reduce the severity of signs and symptoms. Translational relevance Data from this pilot clinical trial demonstrate the therapeutic potential of DNase eye drops in dry eye disease, possibly due to degradation neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) from the ocular surface.
Repeat Assault Injury Among Adolescents Utilizing Emergency Care: A Statewide Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background Violent injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among youths. Little is known about adolescents’ patterns of and risk factors for repeat assault injuries, yet understanding who is at risk for repeated assaults is important for intervention and prevention efforts. Investigating these questions in population-based adolescent samples is particularly critical. Objective Our aim was to estimate the 5-year cumulative incidence of and risk factors for repeat emergency department (ED) visits for assault injury among adolescents experiencing an index assault visit, and compare the method of injury for adolescents’ first and second visits. Methods Statewide, longitudinal data from California were used to follow 17,845 adolescents who reported to an ED with assault-related injuries in 2010. Incidence rate ratios were estimated to examine risk factors for repeat assault injury within 1 year and 5 years following the index visit. Results A total of 3273 (18.3%) assaulted adolescents experienced one or more additional assault injury ED visits during the full follow-up period. Only 37.3% of these repeat assaults occurred within the first year following the index assault. Of adolescents with a repeat assault injury, the method of injury often changed and followed no clear pattern. Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., older age, black race) and history of prior ED visits for assault and mental health problems predicted increased risk of repeat assault. Conclusions Previous work may underestimate the rate of repeated assault among adolescents. Adolescents with a history of violence involvement and mental health problems are at elevated risk for repeated assault, and should be targeted for intervention.
Anatomical, Regional, Targeted (ART) Botulinum Toxin Injection for Migraine and Chronic Headaches

The anatomical, regional, and targeted (ART) Botox injection paradigm for migraine improves upon traditional injection patterns and is based on the theory that Botox acts directly on peripheral pain receptors. Rather than a shotgun approach, the ART technique is targeted and relies on accurate anatomy of known trigger points. Only regions that are involved with headache perception are injected and not necessarily all the tender areas.
Carotenoid Metabolism at the Intestinal Barrier

Abstract Carotenoids exert a rich variety of physiological functions in mammals and are beneficial for human health. These lipids are acquired from the diet and metabolized to apocarotenoids, including retinoids (vitamin A and its metabolites). The small intestine is a major site for their absorption and bioconversion. From here, carotenoids and their metabolites are distributed within the body in triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins to support retinoid signaling in peripheral tissues and photoreceptor function in the eyes. In recent years, much progress has been made in identifying carotenoid metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and binding proteins. A diet-responsive regulatory network controls the activity of these components and adapts carotenoid absorption and bioconversion to the bodily requirements of these lipids. Genetic variability in the genes encoding these components alters carotenoid homeostasis and is associated with pathologies. We here summarize the advanced state of knowledge about intestinal carotenoid metabolism and its impact on carotenoid and retinoid homeostasis of other organ systems, including the eyes, liver, and immune system. The implication of the findings for science-based intake recommendations for these essential dietary lipids is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.
Shift the default in “broadening participation” in STEM equity research

There seems to be a disconnect between the purported goal of engineering education (and perhaps STEM education broadly) to become a more inclusive discipline, and the means by which this is accomplished. Efforts from thousands of dedicated researchers and program directors around the country continue in full force to develop theory and programming to better recruit, hire or admit, retain, promote, and sustain underrepresented women and men in engineering education; and yet overall the needle budges little. In this perspectives paper, I join with others in thinking through a new way for thinking about gender and race in engineering education research. While the careful investigation of psychological constructs in education have brought great value to the broadening participation in STEM research space, less interrogated are the structural aspects of how gender and race are baked into the very institution of higher education and of engineering education into which we are hoping to recruit, hire or admit, retain, promote, and sustain underrepresented women and men. This paper draws on feminist and critical race theory to help us collectively continue to “shift the default” away from the White male backdrop of higher and engineering education, and join our research voices with those who have been in this space a while to more insistently question how Whiteness and maleness has been baked into the structure of our educational institutions.
Retreat to Advance: A Lifelong Learning Opportunity for Research Student Development

While team-building activities are commonplace in professional environments, the team dynamic of academic research groups is often overlooked. Herein, we outline a setting that aims to develop a collegial and cohesive culture through a research group-based retreat. The Genzer research group at North Carolina State University self-organizes and hosts two group retreats each year where students participate in academic and professional development activities in addition to social events. In this document we share details of our group retreats and hope that others will benefit from learning about our activities.
Evaluating News Media Reports on the 'Blue Whale Challenge' for Adherence to Suicide Prevention Safe Messaging Guidelines

The Blue Whale Challenge (BWC) is an online viral "game" that allegedly encourages youth and young adults towards self-harming behaviors that could eventually lead to suicide. The BWC can be situated within a larger phenomenon of viral online self-harm challenges, which may be propagated through both social media and news sources. Research has established that suicide is a global public health issue that is known to be influenced by media reporting. Violation of safe messaging guidelines has been shown to increase imitative suicides, particularly in youth and young adults. Given the confirmed effects of news media reporting, we analyzed 150 digital newspaper articles reporting on the BWC to assess whether they adhered to suicide prevention safe messaging guidelines. Overall, 81% of the articles violated at least one contagion-related guideline, most commonly normalizing suicide, discussing means of suicide, and sensationalizing. Even though the majority (91%) of the articles adhered to at least one health-promotion guideline, such as emphasizing prevention, the articles did not follow these guidelines on a deep and comprehensive level. Through thematic analysis, we also found evidence of potential misinformation in reporting, where the articles unequivocally attributed many suicides to the BWC with little or no evidence. Additionally, articles often stated an individual's reason for participating in the challenge without interviewing the individual or those close to the individual, another aspect of potential misinformation due to lack of evidence. A contribution of the current study is the synthesis of safe messaging guidelines that can be used in future research. This study contributes to the understanding of news reporting practices regarding suicide and self-harm in regard to the BWC and similar online challenges. We discuss how sensationalized news media reports on the BWC could unintentionally propagate suicide contagion effects that normalize self-harming behaviors among youth. We then examine implications for practice and policy, such using automated approaches to aid reporters in adhering to safe messaging guidelines.
Results of the KRUSTY Nuclear System Test

The Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) was a prototypic nuclear-powered test of a 5-kW(thermal) Kilopower space reactor. This paper presents results from the KRUSTY nuclear system ...
Protecting endangered species in the USA requires both public and private land conservation

Crucial to the successful conservation of endangered species is the overlap of their ranges with protected areas. We analyzed protected areas in the continental USA to assess the extent to which they covered the ranges of endangered tetrapods. We show that in 80% of ecoregions, protected areas offer equal (25%) or worse (55%) protection for species than if their locations were chosen at random. Additionally, we demonstrate that it is possible to achieve sufficient protection for 100% of the USA’s endangered tetrapods through targeted protection of undeveloped public and private lands. Our results highlight that the USA is likely to fall short of its commitments to halting biodiversity loss unless more considerable investments in both public and private land conservation are made.
Hyaluronic Acid Biomaterials for Central Nervous System Regenerative Medicine.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a primary component of the brain extracellular matrix and functions through cellular receptors to regulate cell behavior within the central nervous system (CNS). These behaviors, such as migration, proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation contribute to maintenance and homeostasis of the CNS. However, such equilibrium is disrupted following injury or disease leading to significantly altered extracellular matrix milieu and cell functions. This imbalance thereby inhibits inherent homeostatic processes that support critical tissue health and functionality in the CNS. To mitigate the damage sustained by injury/disease, HA-based tissue engineering constructs have been investigated for CNS regenerative medicine applications. HA’s effectiveness in tissue healing and regeneration is primarily attributed to its impact on cell signaling and the ease of customizing chemical and mechanical properties. This review focuses on recent findings to highlight the applications of HA-based materials in CNS regenerative medicine.
Fintech to the Rescue or Predators in Disguise

It is not clear whether those locked out of the small-loan market are better off without a loan. Affordable credit remains out of reach for many low-income households. Lending small sums is expensive, risky and the product invites negative publicity and criticism. Technology might offer new opportunities to disrupt the high-cost credit sector. Whether fintech offers a long-term and financially viable alternative to fringe providers is unknown. Some consumer advocates think these companies are yet another form of predatory lending profiting off of poor and vulnerable households. Two questions remain unanswered: What does financial inclusion actually mean for the poor and is there a way to responsibly overcome the inherent tension in pricing risk for a market segment that has experienced financial difficulties before seeking credit.
Endoscopic Anti-Reflux Procedures: Ready for Clinical Use?

Endoscopic intervention is one of the therapeutic modalities that are currently available for GERD. Endoscopic treatment for GERD has been recently positioned as an alternative for chronic medical therapy or anti-reflux surgery. Patients who are candidates for these procedures include those with typical symptoms of GERD, low-grade erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles A and B), abnormal esophageal acid exposure if normal endoscopy, small hiatal hernia (< 3 cm), and partial or complete response to PPI treatment. This review will highlight the present and emerging data available about current and new endoscopic therapeutic modalities for GERD. Presently, there are three endoscopic techniques that are approved for GERD, including the Stretta procedure, transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), and Medigus ultrasonic surgical endostapler (MUSE). Overall, all endoscopic techniques for GERD have reported excellent control of GERD-related symptoms, improvement of health-related quality of life, durability, and safety. However, the quality of evidence to support these claims varies greatly from one procedure to the other. Furthermore, there is an important discrepancy between improvement of subjective clinical parameters versus objective clinical parameters. There is a growing interest in positioning the endoscopic techniques in patient’s post-bariatric surgery, after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), and in those who also require hiatal hernia repair. There are several new endoscopic interventions for GERD that are currently under investigation. Endoscopic techniques are currently part of our therapeutic armamentarium for GERD. Criticism about their limited effect on objective clinical endpoints has tempered the enthusiasm of patients and physicians alike about their therapeutic value. However, endoscopic therapy for GERD is here to stay as more patients are looking for alternatives to medical and surgical therapy.
Original ContributionsDeclining prevalence of opportunistic gastrointestinal disease in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE: Opportunistic disorders (OD) are the most frequent GI manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), there appears to be have been a reduction in the incidence of many of these OD; however, the effect of HAART on the prevalence of GI OD has not been well studied. METHODS: From 4/95 through 3/98, all HIV (HIV)-infected patients undergoing GI endoscopy were prospectively identified; mucosal biopsies were obtained in a standardized fashion and histological specimens were examined by a single GI pathologist. Patients were divided into three groups based on the time of evaluation: group I: 4/95 to 3/96; group II: 4/96 to 3/97; and group III: 4/97 to 3/98. RESULTS: A total of 166 patients (90% men; mean age 36 ± 10 yr; median CD4 lymphocyte count 62 cells/μl, range 2–884, median viral RNA level 1,357 copies/ml, range undetectable to 7,721,715) underwent 279 upper and/or lower endoscopies during the study period. There were no statistical differences in patients’ demographics and indications for endoscopy although the CD 4 lymphocyte count was higher in group III. The percentage of patients receiving HAART at the time of endoscopy increased from 0% to 57% over the three periods (p < 0.01), and the percentage of patient receiving combination antiretroviral therapy increased from 37% to 82% over the study period (p < 0.01). In contrast, the prevalence of OD decreased from 69% (group I) to 13% (group III) (p < 0.01), whereas the prevalence of non-OD, including a normal endoscopy increased from 31% to 87% (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: GI OD now seem to be an uncommon problem in HIV-infected patients undergoing endoscopy despite a low CD4 lymphocyte count, and this reduction of OD was associated with the use of HAART.
Feeding broiler litter to beef cows

Broiler litter has been a valuable feed stuff for many years,1 and has been successfully utilized in the rations of growing-weaning calves, stockers, cattle, brood cows, and bulls. The total digestible nutrients (TDN) in litter averages 50%, which is comparable to good quality hay (Table 1). The crude protein content usually averages 24%2 to 31%3, with much of this nitrogen in the form of non protein nitrogen (NPN). The NPN in broiler litter is utilized most efficiently when fed to animals with a functional rumen.2 When broiler litter is fed it should have a crude protein content of>18%, with <25% of protein in a bound form. Feed grade litter should have an ash content of <28%, and all litter should be inspected for uniform color and odor. Litter not meeting these specifications should not be fed.2 Where possible, litter should be passed over a magnet or screened in order to remove nails, wire, and other metallic particulate. Broiler litter is very abrasive and corrosive and may accelerate wear and reduce the working life of feed handling equipment more quickly than other commonly used feed stuffs. Moist litter does not flow through auger systems well, while litter <12% moisture is dusty and less palatable to cattle.2
Conceptual engineering: when do we need it? How can we do it?

This paper addresses several foundational questions in conceptual engineering: When is conceptual engineering needed? When we engage in conceptual engineering, should we think of ourselves primaril...
Treatment Feedback Research

Treatment feedback research is a relatively new field of study aimed at reducing treatment failure and nonresponse by measuring patient mental health functioning on a weekly basis and providing this information to clinicians and patients as they undergo psychological and psychopharmacological interventions. Substantial evidence has accumulated indicating that patients have better treatment outcomes when such procedures are put into place, particularly when the feedback to clinicians and patients include alerts that a patient is not responding to treatment as expected. These interventions can be recommended for routine practice because they reduce deterioration rates by two thirds and double the proportion of patients who improve or recover, and they are easy and inexpensive to implement. Progress feedback with alerts is an evidence-based practice. Keywords: feedback; practice in clinical psychology; psychotherapies; quality assurance; assessment; therapy
Real equivariant bordism and stable transversality obstructions for Z/2

In this paper we compute homotopical equivariant bordism for the group Z/2, namely MO Z/2 * , geometric equivariant bordism n Z/2 * , and their quotient as modules over geometric bordism. This quotient is a module of stable transversality obstructions. We construct these rings from knowledge of their localizations.
Isolation of Specialized Transducing Bacteriophages for Gluconate 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (gnd) of Escherichia coli

Specialized transducing phages for gluconate 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (gnd), a constitutive enzyme in Escherichia coli, have been isolated using a method previously described for other genes. The gnd-his region, carried on an F′ episome, was first transposed to tonB. Rare phages carrying gnd were selected, by transduction, from φ80 lysogens of these strains; one phage also carried his (φ80gndhis). From the transductants, high-frequency transducing lysates were obtained; low multiplicity of infection then yielded defective lysogens. tonB deletion analysis of the φ80dgndhis lysogen shows the order of genes in the prophage to be imm80...hisOGD...gnd; according to a marker rescue experiment most phage late genes have been replaced by bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid. A heat-inducible, lysis-defective λ-φ80 hybrid derivative of φ80dgndhis has been prepared.